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diff --git a/16711-8.txt b/16711-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25ba23e --- /dev/null +++ b/16711-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19791 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the +Martyr Missionary, by John Kline + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary + Collated from his Diary by Benjamin Funk + +Author: John Kline + +Editor: Benjamin Funk + +Release Date: September 17, 2005 [EBook #16711] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE AND LABORS OF ELDER *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +[Illustration: RESIDENCE OF ELDER JOHN KLINE.] + + + +LIFE AND LABORS OF ELDER JOHN KLINE + +THE MARTYR MISSIONARY + + + +COLLATED FROM HIS DIARY + +By + +BENJAMIN FUNK + + + +ELGIN, ILL.: +BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE, +1900. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +In the burying ground of the Linville's Creek German Baptist church in +Rockingham County, Virginia, there is to be seen a marble slab engraved +with the name JOHN KLINE. + +In walking through a cemetery and pensively viewing the memorials of +the departed, one question of deep interest often presses upon the +mind and heart: Are these, whose names are here recorded on slab and +obelisk, still alive and in the possession of conscious being, or are +they dead-- + + "All to mouldering darkness gone; + All of conscious life bereft?" + +We turn to earth, and from her lips the ear of reason catches +deep-toned words of assurance that death is not the end of life. The +hue of the butterfly's wing, "the flower of the grass," the beauty of +the vernal year, these all, all teach the sublime truth that "all +great endings are but great beginnings." The voice of God from the +unrolled page of plainer if not diviner truth, says: "These are not +dead, but sleeping--they shall wake again." + +Satisfied on this point, the next question turns to the lives and +characters, works and words of those who lie buried here. Were they +good or bad? Are their spirits now in heaven, or somewhere else? There +are two classes, however, concerning whom no such questions arise. The +first class is made up of those who have died in their infancy; and +ever and anon while looking at the "little lamb," or "rose bud," or +"young dove" not yet fledged, the words flow into the mind as from the +lips of Jesus: "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." The other class is +composed of such as have given clear evidence, by profession and life, +that they are the children of God. The words for them come as did the +others, from the page of Heavenly Truth, "Therefore are they +continually before the throne, and praise him day and night in his +temple." + +The epitaph of John Kline is read without a doubt ever springing up in +the mind of any one who knew him. We saw him, not as Elisha saw Elijah +in sight, ascend to heaven; but with the eye of faith we saw him +clothed in a celestial body; and with the ear of faith we heard the +welcome: "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." + + +THE ANNUAL MEETING OF 1878. + +In the year 1878 the Brethren's Annual Meeting was held with the +Linville's Creek church. Brethren and sisters from many sections of +our Union were present. Many graves in the cemetery by the +meetinghouse were to be seen. Epitaphs were read by the throngs of +people who walked around to view them. Few of these bore anything +beyond the simple inscription of the name and the two facts that fall +to the lot of all: The time of birth and the time of death. + +But there was one grave from whose humble mound each visitor seemed +eager to pluck a flower, a leaf, or any other little thing that might +be carried back home and enshrined in a casket for a memento of one +never to be forgotten. That grave was the grave of John Kline. + +One sister, with tears in her eyes, said: "He preached my mother's +funeral." Another said: "He used to visit us in Ohio; and we always +loved so much to see him come." A brother said: "I traveled with him +over two thousand miles, and he was always one thing." Others said: +"The meeting is lonesome without him." "He was at our love feast in +Pennsylvania the year he was killed," said another. It would be vain +to attempt to follow up all the affectionate memories that were +expressed by the loving throngs of sanctified hearts that surrounded +his tomb. + +In this book ELDER JOHN KLINE is set forth not as dead, but as alive; +as living and moving amongst us again. His life work stands recorded +on earth as well as in heaven. With untiring perseverance Brother +Kline kept a record of his work every day for a period of TWENTY-NINE +YEARS. These records contain two great facts common to the life of +every man, woman and child. + +FIRST FACT.--Where he spent the day and night. + +SECOND FACT.--How he spent the day and night. + +A truthful record of these for many, made public, would blast their +reputation abroad and blight their peace at home. But not so with our +beloved brother. Whilst it is true that he had no expectation of his +Diary ever being published, it is equally true that it does not +contain a single entry of which he has cause to be ashamed before man +or God. That the entries are faithful and true needs no proof other +than the testimony that thousands still living are ready to bear to +his untarnished name as a man honest and honorable in all things. + +As a Christian, the beloved ministering brethren who spoke at his +funeral are to-day not ashamed to apply to him the same words they +applied to him then, and which were taken as the subject of discourse +on that occasion. In speaking of his appointment to the ministry they +took these words: "And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of +the Holy Ghost." Acts 6:5. They also added the other words spoken of +Stephen in the eighth verse of the same chapter, a man "full of grace +and power." Can anything loftier be said of a man's qualification for +the work of the ministry? + +As Stephen was the first Christian martyr, and Brother Kline the last +then known, they closed their discourses in heartfelt realization of +these words: "_And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made +great lamentation over him._" We all took part in the lamentation--the +writer himself being present and speaking on the occasion--and felt +that the ruthless hand of violence had wickedly torn from our midst a +friend and counsellor whose place could not be filled by any other. + +As a kind-hearted, loving mother puts her child's best new dress on it +before taking it to church or in public, so have I endeavored to +clothe the diary of Brother Kline in a suitable attire of Sunday +clothes. I sincerely believe that the work in this form will be highly +acceptable to the Brotherhood at large; and as Brother Daniel Hays +says in a letter to me, "productive of much good." + + +PART II OF INTRODUCTION. + +This book, if carefully read, will instruct both young and old. In +this age of progress, when the forces of nature and art are being +applied to practical ends; when "men are running to and fro and +knowledge is wonderfully increased," it becomes us as intelligent +Christians to look around and see whether we are not living in +perilous times. + +Far be it from me to discourage any one from seeking that knowledge +which is good, or from availing himself of the benefits to be derived +from the arts and sciences; but if this knowledge and these benefits +are sought and gained only for worldly ends, only to add to worldly +accomplishments or worldly treasure, they are dangerous for time and +ruinous for eternity. What support can the soul have in its deep +conflict with temptation, or in the dark hour of affliction or +bereavement, when stayed on this world only? In all the tenderness of +a father's heart I turn to the youth of our land and say to them in +the words of the best Friend that God himself could give: "Seek FIRST +the kingdom of God and his righteousness," and all earthly blessings +will be added unto you. + +In the following pages you may see what one man may do by "patient +continuance in well doing." Brother Kline was a man "subject to like +passions as we are." He was once an infant just as you were, and lay +at his mother's breast. He very well remembered, when an old man, how +he felt when she made for him his first pair of "_pants_." When that +kind mother put them on him, pleased and smiling in the tenderness of +her nature, "the first use that I made of my hands," said he to me +shortly before his death, "was to feel for the pockets." "We incline," +continued he, "to carry this feature of our boyhood into youth and +age. The pocket never ceases to be a very important appendage to our +dress, and the hand inclines to put into it every valuable thing it +can." + +Brother Kline never went to school very much. He learned to read and +write both German and English; and he also studied arithmetic. Further +than this he never went in school. He did not have the advantages of +free schools as young people now have. But you may learn from this +that one may carry on his education after leaving school. In fact, +schools only _open the way_ for acquiring an education. + +When a boy I was very fond of reading the lives of great men. I did +not then know very much about poetry, but I surely did feel something +of the fire that Longfellow has made to glow with so much heat and +light in his "Psalm of Life." I am glad to add, by means of this book, +one more name to the list of great men, so that in the lines which +follow he too may be included. + + "Lives of GREAT MEN all remind us + We can make our lives sublime; + And departing, leave behind us + Footprints on the sands of Time: + Footprints, that perhaps another + Sailing o'er life's troubled main-- + A forlorn and shipwrecked brother-- + Seeing, may take heart again." + +Elder John Kline will be set forth in this work as one of the great +PIONEER PREACHERS of the Cross. A brief but clear outline of many of +his sermons, together with the time and place of preaching them, will +be given. Many of the love feasts which he attended, and the substance +of what he said at some of them will also be noted. + +He has left a record of the name of every family he ever visited in +all the States, together with the day and year when such visits were +made. Those brethren and sisters of the Lord who still remember him, +will, while reading this work, live over again the years that have +passed away and been almost forgotten. You will again listen to the +voice of his holy, healing words at some love feast long ago gone by. +You will again sit with him by the "old home hearthstone" as it used +to be when father and mother were living, and all the brothers and +sisters together in the room, and hear him talk and sing, and read and +pray. And will not this exercise of the mind and heart be pleasant? +Will it not be profitable? Will it not serve to refresh your love to +Christ and the Brotherhood? May it not rekindle in your heart a flame +of that first and tender love which shone so brightly when first you +saw the Lord? You then could sweetly sing: + + "Jesus, I my cross have taken, + All to leave and follow thee." + +Since that time many cares and toils and afflictions and bereavements, +perhaps, have caused you to sigh in mournful memory: + + "What peaceful hours I then enjoyed!" + +and the heart-sobs sadly echo: + + "But they have left an aching void + The world can never fill." + +In such seasons of sadness and despondency it is helpful to the heart +to hold communion with the great and the good through the medium of +their writings. Men who leave such comforting testimony behind them +are a blessing to all within the circle of their influence while +living, and when dead they continue to speak. Their words are felt and +blessed on both banks of the "River of Time" as it flows down through +the ages. + +There were a few points in the life and character of Elder John Kline +which may very appropriately be referred to here. I sincerely hope +that all the youthful members of the Brotherhood, especially, may +become acquainted with these points. + +THE FIRST POINT.--_He was truthful._ He never spoke positively about +anything without first examining the matter carefully; and even then +he said about it only what he knew to be true. How different this +habit from that of many who speak positively about things which they +do not well understand, or which they are for the most part ignorant +of! + +THE SECOND POINT.--_He never spoke evil of any one._ It is not to be +understood from this that he spoke _good_ of every one. On the contrary, +he spoke freely of the sinner and to the sinner; warning him of his +danger and pointing him to his impenitent doom. But it is to be +understood that he never spoke evil to _injure_ any one. Whatever he +said in that way was to reform and to bless. His heart overflowed with +love to all. + +THE THIRD POINT.--_He was temperate._ During a long personal acquaintance +with him, I never knew or heard of his taking a drink of ardent +spirits or intoxicating liquor of any kind. If he ever did use any at +all, it was only as a _medicine_. But as he was very temperate in his +eating, and judiciously careful of himself generally, he was rarely +ever sick. + +THE FOURTH POINT.--_He was abstemious._ This, in connection with strict +temperance and pure morality, made him a clean man. His mouth was not +polluted with _chewing tobacco_. His nose was not defiled with _snuffing +tobacco_. His breath was not vitiated with _smoking tobacco_. He +consequently never used tobacco in anyway. My dear young reader, in +all the love of my heart, I urge you to "go and do likewise, that it +may be well with thee." + + + + +LIFE AND LABORS + +OF THE + +MARTYR MISSIONARY + +ELDER JOHN KLINE. + + +We have no certain account of the time and place at which Brother Kline +was set forward to the ministry of the Word. On Sunday, Feb. 8, 1835, +he spoke for the first time after his appointment to the ministry of +the Word. This much, at least, is inferred from its being the first +entry made in his Diary. + +He, and Elder Daniel Miller, from near the head of Linville's Creek, in +Rockingham County, Virginia, were together at John Goughnour's, west +of the town of Woodstock, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. The meeting +was at Goughnour's dwelling house. Brother Miller put John Kline +forward to take the lead in speaking. Brother Kline had previously +selected the subject, and thought upon it, to be ready, in the event +of his being required to take the lead in speaking. Matthew 11 was +read; and Brother Kline took his text. It was verses 4, 5 and 6 of the +chapter read. These are the words: "Go and show John again those +things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and +the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead +are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And +blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." + +"It may be proper in the first place," said he, "for us to inquire why +John sent the message to Jesus which gave rise to the words of the +text. The message may appear strange to some, as John had, not long +before, pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin +of the world. He had seen the 'Heavenly Dove' descend from the open +heavens and abide upon him as he came up from the baptismal wave, and +had heard the Father's voice from beneath the same uplifted veil: +'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' It is my belief +that John had become doubtful. The iron gates of Herod's castle had +shut out from him all bodily comfort, and with this his hope seemed to +vanish. This experience has had many a repetition in the realizations +of good men since John's day. He felt himself neglected. If Jesus is +the friend I took him to be, why does he not come to my rescue? I do +not understand him. How can he feel satisfied to know that I am lying +here in great bodily distress and perplexity of mind, and put forth no +effort to release me, and thus restore me to useful activity in his +service? Many, many, not in Herod's castle, but in other castles, such +as beds of affliction, castles of poverty, castles of persecution, +castles of bodily infirmity, castles of bereavement, castles of losses +and crosses in one way and another, have had the same experiences, the +same doubts and misgivings. + +"John resolved to try to find out about all this if possible. So he +sent the messengers. Here note the love of Christ. He does not upbraid +John for this half reproachful message. He calmly returns to him in +the shape of an answer a series of the most wonderful truths the world +has ever heard; truths which, in their spiritual sense, comprehend the +work of salvation on the part of Jesus from the alpha to the omega. +'Go and show John again the things which ye do hear and see.' The use +of the word '_again_' implies that a similar answer had been returned +to John at least _once_ before. This testimony, with the love in which +it was sent, may have refreshed John's love for Jesus, and reassured +his faith. The last words of the returned message contain something +like a gentle reproof to John, '_And blessed is he that is not +offended in me_.' + +"I think the Lord knew that John had been somewhat _offended in him_; +that he had doubted his love, or his wisdom, or his power, or all +these together; and that the Lord's apparent neglect of him was +traceable to a want of these perfections. Doubts of this kind, from +weakness of the flesh and spirit, have often been known to invade the +hearts of other good men, when the divine love has been partially +veiled from sight in seasons of great distress. Even our Lord himself +upon the cross cried out, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' +I cannot think that the divine love ever did forsake him for one +instant. It was so only in appearance to him. + +"The things connected with the life-work of Jesus, which John's +messengers had just seen and heard, bore a much stronger testimony to +his divinity and Messiahship than any declaration he could have made +by mere affirmation. Here is verified the old proverb: 'Actions speak +louder than words.' All may see a valuable lesson here. We are +commanded to let our light shine. What an honor it would be to Christ +and the church, if every member of it would be able to point to his +good works as proofs of the sincerity and genuineness of his religious +profession! + +"Notwithstanding John's doubts and impatience, the Lord still loved +him tenderly; and after the messengers had departed, he said to the +multitude: 'Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a +greater than John the Baptist.' Our way would have been to include +this encomium in the message, and let John hear it. In our way of +thinking this would have done him more good than the other. But as the +heaven is high above the earth, so high are the Lord's thoughts above +our thoughts, and his ways above our ways. + +"Could our eyes catch a glimpse of the bliss that thrills John's heart +in heaven to-day, we would no longer wonder why the Lord left him lie +in Herod's castle." + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at Forrer's, in Page County, Virginia, +Sunday, February 15, 1835._ + + TEXT.--And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy + sandals: and so he did. And he saith unto him: Cast thy garment + about thee, and follow me.--Acts 12:8. + +Peter's hands were chained, and he was lying in a cold and gloomy +prison in Jerusalem. Herod, who was at that time viceroy of Jerusalem +and Judea, had imprisoned Peter just to please the Jews. These were +the bitter enemies of Christ. + +It looks to us as if it would hardly be worth while to pray for the +recovery of a sheep already dragged into a den of wolves, and lying +there only waiting to be devoured. But the saints at Jerusalem did +pray for Peter, and they had to pray secretly too. You may be sure +they did not pray to be heard of men. They were only afraid that men +might hear. But there was one that did hear. For "the angel of the +Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote +Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And +his chains fell off from his hands." + +You know something about Peter's disposition. He often spoke without +thinking very well what it might be best to say; and sometimes he +acted without thinking what it might be best to do. On this occasion I +do believe that he would have followed the angel through the streets +of Jerusalem, bare-footed and in his night clothes, if he had not +kindly ordered him to gird himself and bind on his sandals and cast +his garment about him. + +I, for one, do believe that all the miracles and providences wrought +by the Lord and recorded in his Word are for the instruction and +ultimate good of all who read or hear them. + + +THE LESSONS OF INSTRUCTION. + +I. Sometimes men who have been subject to very bad habits are, by the +Gospel and the Holy Spirit, led to forsake them. They form new loves. +They find joy in a new life. Old things with them have passed away. +They come from the baptismal wave clad, as it were, in a new garment, +even the beautiful garment of salvation; and the new song in their +mouth is praise to our God. I can name some of this class in our +church who have run well; some who have fought the good fight of faith +with unflinching courage and resolution to victory complete. But +others have been made to weep and lament from the fearful truth that +this same beloved Brother Peter tells us, that "our adversary, the +devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," +for they have been devoured by him. + +In the garden of Eden the devil came to Eve in the form of a serpent. +I imagine this to be his most natural form. We sometimes see him +caricatured as a man with horns and cloven feet. This is a mistake. +A man in this form would make a frightful appearance. But the devil +never approaches any one in a way to frighten him. He is too cunning +for that. A fox takes care not to frighten away his prey. Even the +lion, when he is seeking his prey, never roars at that time, but +crouches and hides in the tall grass or thicket until his prey comes +near enough, and then he springs upon it with a single bound. The +reason why Peter calls him a _roaring_ lion is because he roars +furiously after his prey is in his power. His roaring then is but a +note of victory and defiance. The devil knew that he would not +frighten Eve by coming to her in the form he did, because she had +never then, as yet, known anything of evil. But when he comes to men +now in the serpent form, he comes as "_a snake in the grass_." + +I sometimes think that age adds shrewdness to the devil's plans. He +comes to men in so many forms and ways, first to delude and then to +destroy, that they may be called _legion_. But, as Paul says, "We +are not ignorant of his devices, for Satan is transformed into an +angel of light." + +He learns to know every brother's and sister's weak point. To the +brother who has been fond of ardent spirits he comes behind the +deceitful, covetous smile of the rumseller. In this instance the order +of the fable is reversed. There the ass put on the lion's skin; here +the lion puts on the skin of the ass. To the brother whose weakness is +adultery he comes in the form of a harlot, "jeweled and crowned." To +the brother whose special sin has been covetousness he comes as a +friend. He takes him by the hand, leads him to the top of some high +mountain, there shows him the kingdoms of the world and the glory of +them, and pledges to him the enjoyment of all this glory and power if +he will but fall down and worship him. + +Now, Herod was a type of this devil, and the prison in which Peter was +chained is a type of the "horrible pit" into which many a good-meaning +Christian has been cast by him. But even for such there is quite as +much hope as there was for Peter. The Lord is ever nigh to redeem and +to save. But there must be a willing mind. If Peter had said in his +half-asleep state, "Just leave me alone--I'll come after awhile--I'm +too sleepy to go now"--what then? It would have been impossible for +the Lord to rescue him, if he had not been willing to be rescued by +the Lord. + +Some, who have "been taken captive by the devil at his will," keep +awake in a certain sense. The pall of darkness and deep sleep has not +yet settled down upon them. They are conscious of their situation. +They know and feel that they are in the hands of the enemy, but how to +escape is the trouble with them. If such would only have the mind and +will to do as Christian and Hopeful did in "Doubting Castle," they +could readily find a key in their bosoms with which to unlock every +gate, and thus make their escape. + +II. In this respect they differ from Peter, for "_he was sleeping +between two soldiers_." Besides this, there were men stationed at +the door to keep watch all night. But the Lord is prepared for every +emergency. What storm can sink a ship when Omnipotence is at the helm? +If you or I, brethren, were to see a brother confined and guarded as +Peter was, I greatly fear we would utterly despair of ever seeing him +rescued; especially so if public sentiment were rife with malice and +rage against him. I fear we would say, It is no use to _pray_ for +that man. Nothing short of a miracle can save that man; and miracles +are not wrought by prayer nowadays. But the loving hearts gathered +together in secret places in Jerusalem thought not so. They "made +unceasing prayer for him." + +Now let us note the order in which the Lord proceeded to answer these +prayers. He came to Peter and smote him. Whether the stroke was light +or heavy is a thing of little consequence. It succeeded in awaking the +man. This was its object. I think the Lord gave Peter only a _slight_ +tap on the side, because he was not hard to wake up that night. But +there are some, and I have known such, whom the Lord had to smite very +hard to stir them from their sleep. They open their eyes in amazement +and wonder why they have been so smitten. Unfortunately for some of +this class, they open their eyes, but they see not; they hear, but +they heed not. I think I have known a few such; and I fear the Lord +said of them what he said of Ephraim: "He is joined to his idols, let +him alone." + +III. There is a third class, and they compose a great multitude, who +have, so to speak, grown up in the devil's prison house, and have +grown so used to his ways that they are willing to stay there. These +may be said to be bound with _two chains_. Their love of the world is +one chain, and their love of self is the other. I may be addressing +some now who are thus bound. Let us see. Jesus says: "Thou shalt love +the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with +all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And a second is +like to it which is this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." +Does every one who is now under the sound of my voice do this? Are you +sure, my friend, that you love God more than the world, and that you +love your neighbor as yourself? What proof have you to give of this? +Jesus again says: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. He that loveth +me will keep my words." There can be nothing more perfectly in harmony +with human nature in all its phases than these declarations of our +Lord. Where is the subject that is unwilling to render obedience to +the prince or king that he loves? Where is the loving child that +refuses to obey its parents? I tell you that obedience is the test and +proof of love. Do you obey our Lord Jesus Christ? Do you say "No"? +Then, my dear friend, let me say to you, in all candor and love, you +do not love him. You may imagine that you do, but your imagination on +this point is a delusion. But perhaps you are ashamed to confess him. +Hear again what the Lord says: "He that is ashamed of me and my words, +of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his +glory." + +But perhaps you ask: "How am I to get rid of my chains?" Get rid of +them, my dear unconverted friend, just as Peter got rid of his. The +Lord is just as willing and as able to rescue you from the chains of +sin and the thraldom of bad habits as he was to rescue Peter from the +chains with which the Roman guard had bound him. The Lord came to him, +not in darkness, but in light. He brought the light with him. He never +works in darkness. Even when he was about to fashion the world, the +first thing he did was to throw a flood of light all over its wide, +chaotic surface. But the light which he caused to shine in the prison +did not wake Peter up, although it must have shone in his eyes. So he +smote him on the side, and no doubt shook him gently. + +Peter opened his eyes and saw the light. The angel "raised him up, +saying, Arise up quickly." At the very first move he made to stand on +his feet, his chains got loose, and when he rose to his feet they fell +right off. This is the way you are to get rid of your chains. The Lord +comes to you as he is present now and says to you, "Arise up quickly, +and follow me." The very moment you firmly resolve to obey him in +love, that very moment will your chains begin to get loose; and when +you arise to follow him in the way his Word directs, they will fall +off. + +You may here see how the Lord works with man. It is said the angel +raised Peter up; and at the same time, while he had hold of him, he +ordered Peter to arise up quickly. This is just the way we would do in +trying to get one awake and up, whom we dearly loved if he was in +great danger. An infant we would pick up and carry out; but one in +health and strength we would expect to act for himself; we, at the +same time, doing what might be necessary on our part. Just so the Lord +acts with every poor sinner. He comes with light and he comes in love. +Sinner, I am sure he has come to you to-day. He is saying to you now, +Rise up quickly, and follow me. + +And where does the good Lord propose to lead the sinner? He offers to +lead you out of your prison house of sin into "the glorious liberty of +the children of God." He proposes to take you out of darkness into +"his marvelous light." He will, if you but rise up and follow him, +give you _eternal life_, and a home in heaven forever, free from +sickness, sorrow, pain and death. Will you not go with him? + + +VISIT TO A SICK WOMAN. + +After preaching the above sermon, Brother Kline, in company with +Brother Kagey, visited a sick woman living on Forrer's land. He says: +"She seemed to be suffering a good deal in body; but more, I think, in +spirit. We told her that Christ Jesus was the only substantial hope we +had to set before her; that faith in him would bring salvation and +peace to her soul. I read to her from the Sermon on the Mount: 'Ask, +and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it +shall be opened unto you: for if ye know how to give good gifts unto +your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give +good things unto them that ask him.' The best thing that our heavenly +Father can give us is a heart to love and obey him. God works in us +both to will and to do the things that please him; but we at the same +time must have a willing mind to do them. In this way we come to be +co-workers with God. + +"'Baptism,'" I said to her, "is the first public act of obedience +required at our hands. Here our sins are _in figure_ washed away; for +baptism is called in the Word 'the washing of regeneration.' As a +newborn child is washed before it is clothed and set before the +family, so the newborn child of God must be washed and made pure +before he or she can come into the church as a full member. But the +baptism of the child of God denotes a spiritual cleansing; whilst the +washing or bathing of a newborn infant means only bodily cleansing. +Hence Peter says that 'baptism is not the putting away of the filth of +the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.' This means +that it fills the heart with a sense or feeling of 'righteousness, +peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.'" + +"After instructing her awhile in this way we ended our call with +prayer." + +On Sunday, March 15, there was meeting in + + +DANIEL MILLER'S DWELLING HOUSE. + +This is about five miles north of Harrisonburg, in Rockingham County, +Virginia. It is at present occupied by Benjamin Miller, the youngest +son of Daniel Miller. He stands high as overseer of the Greenmount +church. He has a numerous family of intelligent and godly children, +all now grown up, and members of the Brethren church. + +At the time of this meeting, Brother Daniel Miller's family was young, +and most of the children were at home, _eighteen in all_; and all +children of one mother. Brother Kline says: "I felt deeply impressed +with the weighty responsibility resting upon the father and mother of +this pleasant and orderly household; and not upon them only, but upon +us also, who are preachers of the Word. In this feeling, I proposed +the reading of the fifteenth chapter of John's Gospel. I spoke briefly +from these words: '_If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had +not had sin._' John 15:22." + + +_Sermon._ + +"These words are a part of our Lord's farewell counsel to his little +band of chosen disciples. This was just before his betrayal into the +hands of his murderers. He spoke to them about this sinful world. He +told them how the people of the world would treat them, and what they +would think of the glorious Gospel which they were soon to proclaim. +'In the world,' said he to them, 'ye shall have tribulation; but in +me, ye shall have peace.' The text does not teach that men who are +ignorant of God's Word are sinless; neither does it teach that the +doctrine which our blessed Savior taught tends to make men sinners. +Oh, no! But this is what it means: That God is so merciful and +gracious that until men are instructed and warned of their danger, he +does not hold them severely accountable. But when the light of truth +is shed around them, and the way of life and salvation pointed out to +them, and they then shut their eyes to the light and close their +hearts to knowledge, he holds them accountable, and deals with them as +sinners. + +"I feel now to address a few words to the dear young people who are +assembled here. The Lord bless you in the dew of your youth, while +your hearts are yet tender; before age and sin have made you hard, +give your hearts to God. This you can do by loving our Lord Jesus +Christ, who laid down his life for you. When you love him with the +heart, you believe on him with the heart; and when you believe on him +with the heart, you have a desire in your heart to obey him by doing +his commandments. You will purify your souls by obeying the truth. +'Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.' 'Seek the Lord +while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near;' for, saith +he, 'they that seek me early shall find me.' + +"But you may desire to know how you are to seek the Lord, and where +you are to look for him. I hope you are thinking of this now; so I +will tell you. The only place where the Lord can be found is in his +Holy Word. There you find him in the form of the man Christ Jesus. And +whilst he is there set forth as the 'man of sorrows and acquainted +with grief,' he is also set forth as the 'true God and eternal life.' +He there says: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.' +'And he that drinketh of the water that I will give unto him shall +never thirst.' This water is the TRUTH of his Word. It so fills the +soul with love and light and joy and peace, as to become a fountain of +delight within us. Reading God's Word in the right spirit is drinking +of the Water of Life. When this truth finds a place in the memory +through the love of it, the memory keeps our thoughts perpetually +supplied with it, and thus it becomes, as our Lord says, 'a fountain +within us unto everlasting life.'" + +SATURDAY, March 21, Brother Kline, in company with Brother Daniel +Miller, went to Brock's Gap, and spent the night at Brother +Sunafrank's. + + +BROCK'S GAP. + +This is a small area of country in Rockingham County, Virginia, +containing about one hundred and fifty square miles. It is the head +basin of the north fork of the Shenandoah river. It is almost +completely surrounded by high and rugged mountains; and where the +river has broken a gap for its outlet the scenery is not surpassed by +that of Harper's Ferry. + +A considerable number of people live in it, and there are some good +farms and thrifty farmers. In Brother Kline's day Brock's Gap was only +a mission field. At this time the German Baptist Brethren have two +well-built and commodious houses of worship in it. At the time Brother +Kline commenced preaching there they had no house of worship and the +membership was very small. The membership at this time includes some +from nearly all the leading families in the section. The Fulks, +Fawleys, Richies, Hevners, Moyerses, Smiths, Doves, Lambs, Shoemakers, +and many others are represented in the Brotherhood. + +SUNDAY, March 21.--The two brethren crossed the Shenandoah mountain +and arrived in + + +SWEEDLIN VALLEY. + +This valley lies in Pendleton County, West Virginia. It extends +northward along the west foot of the Shenandoah mountain for about +eight miles, and is separated from the South Fork valley west of it by +Sweedlin mountain. It is the habitation of a good many families, is +exceedingly picturesque, and is in some respects beautiful. + +The two brethren were called here to preach the funeral of old Brother +Nazlerode. His father had been a Hessian, and served under British +colors in the American Revolution. At the close of the war he, with +many others, declined returning to his native home in Hesse-Darmstadt +in Germany, and decided to stay in America. But this class of citizens +was not very welcome among the patriots of American liberty. They were +looked upon with a degree of opprobrium; and hence they sought homes +in the more remote and secluded valleys among the mountains. Brother +Nazlerode had died some time before. The preaching was at the house +where the old brother had lived. + + +_Sermon by Daniel Miller._ + +Brother Daniel Miller spoke first in the German language. He took for +his subject 1 Pet. 1:24, 25. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the +glory of man as the flower of grass: ... but the word of the Lord +endureth forever." + +He spoke very beautifully and impressively on the short-lived +pleasures of earth. He said that the new birth and the new life, which +lift man to God and fit him for heaven, are not begotten of the +corruptible seed of man, but of God through the Word of his Truth, +which liveth and abideth forever. He pointed them to Jesus as the +"Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." He then, in a +very affectionate manner, exhorted all to accept the salvation offered +and walk in the way that our Lord has made plain in his Word. + +Brother Kline followed and said: "Brother Daniel and I both felt moved +to pity when we considered the situation of these people. They have a +poor chance to hear the Gospel, and but few of them can read the +Bible. We closed the services suitably, and then went to friend Jacob +Wansturf's and spent the night." + +MONDAY, April 13.--Brother Kline, in company with Brother Frederic +Kline, went to Brock's Gap on the yearly visit. He says: "We found +some of the members in a very poor condition. One sister, in +particular, moved my feelings deeply. Her husband is somewhat +dissipated and does not provide for his family as he should. She is +the mother of three small children; and, judging from their present +appearance, they have undergone a good deal of suffering for want of +food and clothing. None of them have any shoes; and the thin coverings +they have on are so patched and darned that one can hardly tell the +kind of goods they were originally made of. + +"I inquired how they were off in the way of food. She replied that +they had about a peck of corn meal in the house and several bushels of +potatoes buried in the garden; and she reckoned they could do right +well till she could get some more washing and other work to do. I gave +that patient, uncomplaining sister three dollars out of my own pocket +money. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' There is a day +coming when we shall more fully realize this truth than now." + + +THE YEARLY VISIT CONTINUED. + +TUESDAY, April 14.--"We have found a quiet and peaceable state of +feeling in the Brotherhood generally. There is, however, among the +younger members, too great a tendency to conform to the world in dress +and conversation." + + +MEETING AT BENJAMIN BOWMAN'S. + +FRIDAY, April 17.--"His son, Samuel Bowman, was baptized to-day, and +the subject of discourse was the baptism of Jesus as recorded in +Mark's Gospel. John seems to have been a sort of open link by which +the chain of prophecy in the Old Testament was united with the chain +of its fulfillment in the New. As a prophet, he went forth in the +spirit and power of Elijah. But Elijah of old uttered his prophecies +surrounded by midnight darkness. John utters his in the light of the +rising Sun of Righteousness; and they all point to the future glory of +that Sun. The Sun rose publicly from the waters of Jordan in the +person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when the Spirit of God in +the form of a dove descended upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, +'This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.' + +"What a recognition! What a reception! And will not our heavenly +Father meet every true-hearted believer in the same way, as he rises +from the baptismal wave? Not visibly, to his natural eye; not audibly, +to his natural ear; but by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with his +spirit that he is a child of God. For 'baptism is the answer of a good +conscience toward God.' This is its first blessed power." + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_A Funeral Sermon at Sunafrank's in Brock's Gap, +Sunday, April 26._ + + TEXT.--Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour cometh, and now is, + when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they + that hear shall live.--John 5:25. + +The Lord spoke these words to the Jews. They would not believe that he +was the Son of God. They sought to kill him, not only because he had +broken the Sabbath by healing a man on that day, but also because he +said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. In his +reply to them he uttered some of the most wonderful truths the world +has ever heard. He said: "THE DEAD SHALL HEAR." + +In the ear of a Jew these words had an ominous ring. They could not +gainsay them in a direct way, because the Lord had, that very day, and +before their eyes, wrought a miracle which was almost equal to that of +making a dead man hear. It appears strange to us that any class of +people could harbor feelings of enmity toward one so kind and good as +Jesus was. But the Jews were a very proud people, and exceedingly +_vain_ in their imaginations. And because the Lord would not flatter +them, and give them credit for great knowledge and wisdom in divine +things, they fell out with him and hated him. + +Jesus does not say that _all the dead shall hear_. But he does mean +that all shall have a chance and the power to hear if they will. But +who are the DEAD of whom he speaks? They are all who are not spiritually +alive; Jews and Gentiles. The Scriptures in many places speak of men +as _dead_ who are bodily alive. They are dead in one way, and alive in +another. I will explain this. In respect to faith in the Lord and love +to him, the Jews were dead. There was no spiritual life in them. +Jewish worship was all an outward, external thing. But God regards a +man's spirit, his heart. "For they that worship him must worship him +in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him." + +There stands a tree. It is just now in full bloom, and the sight is +beautiful. A few months ago that tree was dead in one sense and alive +in another. It was winter-dead. There were neither leaves, blossoms +nor fruit upon it. Had it continued in that state, it would be cut +down as a worthless thing. But it had a receptacle of life, and that +life is in the sun which imparts heat and light to everything. The sun +makes the earth warm; the watery vapors to ascend and form clouds +which give rain; the sap to rise and form itself into leaves, blossoms +and fruits. Every unconverted man and woman, just like that tree in +winter, is dead as to all divine or heavenly life in the soul. Let us +see: He is dead as to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He does not love +him. He lives just as if there were no God to love and obey; no hell +to shun; no heaven to obtain. He does not love the people of God as +such. But, notwithstanding all this, he has a capacity, such as God +has given to every man, to be made alive in Christ Jesus. Christ is +called the Sun of Righteousness. He is so called because he, like the +sun in our sky, rises and shines upon the evil and the good; and +whosoever opens his heart to the light of this Sun is filled with the +light of _truth_ and _love_, and made alive to walk in the way of +righteousness before him. + +This light comes through his Word, the Gospel of our salvation, as it +is proclaimed by his faithful ministers, and falls upon every sinner. +If the sinner will open his ears to the voice, and his eyes to the +light, the promise in the text is that he "_shall live_." Jesus says: +"I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall have the +light of LIFE. In him is light, and the light is the LIFE of men." But +if the sinner, like the owl, closes his eyes to the light of truth, +and his ears to the voice of the Lord, he will abide in death, and, +like the owl, love darkness rather than light forever. + +SUNDAY, July 19, Magdalena Wampler and John Miller's wife baptized. + + +_Sermon by Elder Daniel Miller._ + +_In the German Language, at the Linville's Creek Meetinghouse._ + + TEXT.--And there went out unto him all the country of Judæa, and + all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river + Jordan, confessing their sins.--Mark 1:5. + +Judging from the multitudes that went out to John's baptism, his +preaching must have created a lively sensation in Jerusalem and Judæa. +All who went out were Jews. In justice to the text, we must notice the +fact that the word ALL, as there used, applies only to the common +people. These came to John confessing their sins. He pointed them to +the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." The scribes +and Pharisees and lawyers, the chief men of Judæa and Jerusalem, went +not out to be baptized of John. These had no sins to confess; no +ignorance to deplore; no spiritual ailments or infirmities. "They that +be whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick." + +It was with the common people that John succeeded in preparing the +"way of the Lord." May we not also do the same? When we induce men to +think upon the subject of religion, when we persuade them to repent +and believe the Gospel, we too are preparing the way of the Lord. The +Word of Truth does not have free course all over the world yet. Many +amongst us oppose it. Millions far away are still in pagan darkness. +But every soul that truly believes in Jesus and is baptized has the +promise of salvation; and every such soul is a fresh light in the +world's darkness. The more of such lights we can get to shine in the +world the lighter will it grow, and the more and more will the way of +the Lord be prepared. + +In John's day the people were not ashamed to come and be immersed in +the Jordan. There does not seem to have been any doubt or uncertainty +with them as to the mode or form of baptism. Every one went to the +river Jordan. If a few drops of water, applied to some part of the +body, had answered the end of baptism as well as the immersion of the +whole body in water, I think most of them would have saved themselves +this long journey. They would have called John to Jerusalem, to that +wealthy and populous city. He could have just passed through the +streets with a pail or pitcher of water in his hand, and with little +trouble could have applied a few drops to the head or face of each one +that asked it. + +For want of room, we now pass over all the entries in the Diary from +July 19 to September 11. This time was actively taken up by our +beloved brother in attending love feasts, council meetings and regular +appointments. In body he was robust, vigorous and active: in spirit he +had long reaches of faith and hope and love. This incited him to great +activity; and I often heard him say: "An hour misspent or trifled away +is just so much time given to Satan." + + +JOURNEY TO OHIO AND RETURN THROUGH KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. + +This journey occupied _two months_ to the day. Friday, September 11, +he passed up through Brock's Gap, and down the Lost River Valley. + + +LOST RIVER. + +This is a small but very clear and beautiful stream in Hardy County, +West Virginia. It flows through a rich and delightful valley between +Church mountain on its eastern side next to Shenandoah County, +Virginia, and the South Branch mountain on its western side. After a +course of about twenty miles in a northeasterly direction it suddenly +disappears at the base of a mountain extending like a huge dam across +the valley. After a subterranean passage of a few miles it reappears +on the opposite side "clear as crystal." From this point to its mouth +in the Potomac it bears the name of Ca-capon or Capon. Tradition says +this is an Indian name, and means FOUND. This stream, from its head to +its mouth, may aptly represent the life, death and resurrection of the +Christian. + + +STATE OF THE COUNTRY. + +For the information of the young especially, many of whom it is hoped +will read this book, I will give a brief description of the state of +the country through which our beloved brother expected to travel, +partly alone and on horseback. No doubt you have read the story of +George Washington, not quite twenty-one years of age, starting on +horseback with only a single companion, to carry a letter from +Dinwiddie, Governor of Virginia, to the commander of the French +military forces at Venango, in the extreme northwestern part of +Pennsylvania. Washington delivered the letter and returned the answer. +Many books of American history give an account of this wonderful +achievement, and praise the man who performed it. + +Brother Kline, in part, passed over very nearly the same ground on +this journey that Washington had passed over on his. Washington went +with a motive altogether worldly. He was complying with the wish of +the governor of his State. Brother Kline went with a motive as far +transcending in sublimity and importance anything appearing in that of +Washington as heaven is high above the earth, and the thoughts and +ways of God are above those of men. He went to raise men from the +depths of sin into which they had so deeply fallen, and exalt them to +companionship with angels in the skies. His mission was to turn men +from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. He laid no +claim to any power within himself to do this; but he went in the +fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and in the power of him who is able and +mighty to save. + +We must bear in mind, too, that this journey was undertaken more than +fifty-eight years ago. A very large part of the country through which +he had to pass was yet in a state of virgin forest. No railroads bore +the lightning trains on their bosoms. Very few houses in much of the +country were to be seen; and many of these offered little besides +shelter, and some barely that. There were hardly any bridges. Broad +and deep rivers had to be forded on horseback, or crossed in what the +Indians called a CANOE. This is a kind of long boat made from the body +of a single tree, by cutting or burning out the inside, and leaving +the bottom, ends and sides like a trough. He reports having crossed +some streams in this kind of a boat. His life was several times +endangered by crossing deep waters. + +SATURDAY, September 12, he arrived at Abbey Arnold's, in Hampshire +County, West Virginia. On the thirteenth he attended a love feast at +Daniel Arnold's nearby, and reports a very joyful meeting with the +Brethren whom he had not seen for a time. + +MONDAY, September 14, he took leave of the Brethren in Hampshire +County, and directed his course through Maryland into Pennsylvania; +and on Friday, September 18, he crossed the Ohio river, two and +one-half miles below Acreton. He was ferried across in a flatboat. + +SUNDAY, September 20, he arrived at Brother George Hoke's. He says: "I +have been exposed to some bad weather, and have passed over some bad +roads; but to meet such a dear and kind brother as George Hoke, and be +received in such a pleasant way as I have been by the dear brother and +family, is more than a compensation for all the exposure and toil it +has cost." + +As nearly as I can, I will now give the substance and manner of a +conversation which took place the same evening between Brother Kline +and Brother Hoke. The Diary is silent upon it, but Brother Kline +related it to me himself in the year 1862. Brother Jacob Miller, of +Greenmount, Virginia, told me afterwards that Brother Kline had +related the same to him. The weather being a little cool and damp, the +two brethren sat by the fire. I will name the parties in the order of +the conversation. + +KLINE.--Why do not we ordain deacons in the same way the +seven were ordained at Jerusalem? + +HOKE.--Do you think the seven were deacons? + +K.--Yes, I have always thought so. + +H.--I do not think they were. + +K.--Well, here is a difference of opinion between brethren. + +H.--Let us try to get together on this point. + +K.--I desire, above all things, to know the truth, and to see eye to +eye with all the Brethren on every point of Holy Writ. + +H.--So do I. Now let us see. I do not think the seven were deacons, +because they are nowhere _called_ deacons. Have we a just right to +call them deacons when the Word does not call them so? Again: I must +think the church at Jerusalem was fully organized before any demand +was found for the appointment of the seven. Did it not have deacons at +the start? Who attended to gathering up food and hunting shelter, and +making general provisions for the comfortable entertainment of +thousands of brethren and sisters, and their children besides? I +rather think that the deacons already in office attended to these +things. But the number of the brethren increased so rapidly that the +deacons needed help in the way of general oversight, and the most +natural thing in the world would be for them to apply to the apostles +for advice in regard to the matter. But the apostles replied, "It is +not reason that we should LEAVE the Word of God and serve tables." +This proves that they had not done so before, and that it would not be +right for them to do so now. Hence the importance of getting men of +real executive ability to serve the present necessity. Such ability +and fitness they found in the seven whom they set apart to that work. +But they must not only possess business tact; they must be "men full +of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, and men of _honest_ report," whose +record in life proved their HONESTY. This, Brother John, is my opinion +as to the reason why the apostles were so particular on this point. +These seven men would certainly have a great deal entrusted to their +general keeping; and unless they were _honest_, they might take +advantage and make personal gain out of it. They soon got things so +arranged in the hands of the deacons, that Stephen, one of the seven, +could leave and give all of his time, or most of it, to preaching; for +we are directly informed that the opposing Jews "were not able to +withstand the wisdom and the spirit in which he spake." Right on the +strength of this began the terrific persecution which soon resulted in +the martyrdom of Stephen, and eventuated in the dispersion from +Jerusalem of all the leaders and most of the influential and +well-known members of the body. Philip only, of all the seven except +Stephen, is mentioned in the New Testament after this. It seems that +after he had preached for some time he married and settled down at +Cæsarea, where, years after, Paul found him, and spoke of him as one +of the seven--not deacons--although it would have been very easy for +Paul to call him such, had he been a deacon. Paul here calls him +Philip the evangelist. Acts 21:8. + +K.--I must admit, Brother George, that your argument is fair and +pointed, and I will reconsider the whole subject. I never before saw +the office and appointment of the seven in the light in which you have +presented it to me this evening. + +H.--I believe there are points in addition to those already given, but +you may find them yourself. + +MONDAY, September 21, Brother Kline attended a love feast at Brother +Snider's. + +WEDNESDAY, September 23, he attended another at Brother Samuel +Mishler's. He spoke beautifully on 1 John 3:2: "Beloved, now are we +the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we +know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him." + + +A SHORT DISCOURSE. + +In my view, there is no passage in the Bible which requires a stronger +faith to believe it fully than the one just quoted. No passage that I +know of sets forth in such lofty terms of description the exaltation +and glory of the redeemed. Often have I heard persons express their +wonder that Jesus did not tell us more about heaven and the future +state. This text itself tells us infinitely more about this than we +are capable of comprehending. Let us think a little. + +I. It tells us that we are _now_ the SONS OF GOD. To be the son of a +_rich man_ is esteemed a great boon; to be the son of a king is an +honor and fortune enjoyed by few. But what are favors like these +compared with being a son of God! No wonder John says in another +place: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, +that we should be called the sons of God!" Take the words of my text +all to yourself, my brother, my sister: believe it; love it; and ever +rejoice in the light of it. You desire to know how you attained to +this high distinction. I will tell you. Jesus came to you in his +blessed Word with the assurance that "as many as receive him, to them +gives he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on +his name; which are born, not of blood; nor of the will of the flesh; +nor of the will of man; but of God." + + "This promise ever shall endure, + Till suns shall rise and set no more." + +You received the Lord by believing on his name. This is faith. You +believed with your heart; that is, your faith was full of love, and +your love was attended and followed by obedience, and this made your +faith complete. It is yours now to rejoice in hope of the glory of +God. + +II. But you can hardly believe that you are to be just like Christ. On +the mount you saw him glorified. "His face did shine as the sun, and +his outward form was white as the light." Now Paul says: "He shall +change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto the body +of his glory." "Then shall the righteous shine as the sun in the +kingdom of their Father." + +O brethren, let us look at the _bright_ side of the Christian's life, +for it has a bright side, and that is the side next to heaven, on +which the light of heaven forever falls. I am not unmindful of the +fact that, figuratively speaking, one side is turned to earth, and the +earth in many respects is a very dark place. On the earth-side "clouds +and darkness are the habitation of his throne;" but on the heaven-side +"the city hath no need of the sun to shine in it, for the Lord God and +the Lamb are the light thereof; and there shall be no night there." +"We are fellow-citizens with the saints [in glory], and of the +household of God." Oh, brethren, let us walk worthy of our high +calling. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give +thanks: for this is the will of God concerning you." + +FRIDAY, September 25. Brother Kline passed through Jerome, Petersburg +and Mansfield and got to Brother John Hoover's. + +MONDAY, September 28. "This evening," says he, "I am at Judge Watts's. +Having been unavoidably delayed by having to get my horse shod, +darkness overtook me five miles away from here, and nothing but a +continuation of thick woods appeared in every direction. More than +this, the wolves set up a howling in a very threatening manner. Had I +been compelled to pass the night in the woods, I would have been in +danger of being devoured by them. Whilst alone in the darkness I +thought, How quickly would these ravenous creatures fall upon and +devour an unprotected sheep! And how surely would the wolves from +Satan's den fall upon us and make a prey of our souls if Jesus, the +Good Shepherd, did not guard and protect us through the spiritual +darkness of this world! Several verses of one of Watts' old 'cradle +hymns' came to my mind whilst thinking over these things. They run +thus: + + "'Once, as oppressed with sleep I lay, + With pining hunger bold, + A prowling enemy came by, + And robbed my little fold. + But Thou, Great Shepherd, dost not sleep + Nor slumber oft like me; + So that no foe can steal a sheep + Eternally from Thee.'" + +TUESDAY, September 29. "This evening I am at Brother Abraham Miller's +in Allen County, Ohio. From Judge Watts's to this place is only five +miles. But how different my feelings this evening from what they were +last evening! Then I was alone in the woods, in hearing of wolves in +several directions, with darkness on every side; now I am here with my +beloved brother and his pleasant family. Oh, what will it be, what the +ineffable joy to find ourselves, some day, in heaven, eternally safe +from all danger and harm!" + +Brother Kline spent the time between this and the next Sunday in +traveling and visiting. + +SUNDAY, October 4, he attended a love feast at which he made some very +beautiful and appropriate remarks on Luke 4. "There is," said he, +"much of human nature set forth in this chapter. So long as Jesus +spoke of the things that pleased the assembled Jews they 'all wondered +at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.' They applied +these gracious words to themselves, and flattered themselves into the +belief that they were 'God's favorites' on account of their inherent +virtues. But when the Lord indirectly spoke of them as starving widows +in God's sight, and filthy lepers, 'all in the synagogue were filled +with wrath.' When flowers are thrown upon the surface of a calm +lake--so the poets say--the lake is made to smile with dimples of +delight; but when heavy storms of truth are thrown in, the mud at the +bottom is stirred up, and the lake boils with filth. Brethren, let us +try to 'cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, +perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord;' and then we will not get +angry when the truth is presented." + +I would like very much to give the name of every family with which +Brother Kline passed a night throughout this entire journey, and also +the name of every brother and sister and family called on, but want of +space absolutely forbids. + +October 5 and 6 were spent at a council meeting near Brother +Butterbaugh's. He does not say, but I guess this was in Montgomery +County, Ohio. The names--Samuel Fouse, David Miller, Abraham Erbaugh, +Samuel Kline, John Brower, Abraham Flory--all occur in close +connection as having been visited by him. + +SUNDAY, October 11. Brother Kline attended a meeting at which he +reports Jacob Rife, John Garber, James Smith and George Miller, all +from Virginia, as being present with their families. They have come to +find homes in Ohio. They had arrived there on Friday before, which was +October 9. It may be very gratifying to the children and grandchildren +of these parents to find out the exact day on which their fathers and +mothers arrived in the county and State where they settled. + +MONDAY, October 12. Meeting at Brother Hoffert's. Brother Kline spoke +to-day on Matthew 25. I can give only a slight touch of his discourse: +"This chapter," said he, "is full of wonders. The parable of the +talents; the parable of the ten virgins; and a description of the +general judgment. Both parables are intimately connected with the +judgment, and indicate the broad basis on which it will be conducted. +I believe that the virgins in the parable represent professors of +Christianity. They all had lamps. They all slumbered and slept. In +these two respects they were all alike. + +"But the great difference between them at once appears, when the +announcement is suddenly made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh! go ye +out to meet him.' Then the folly of the foolish, and the wisdom of the +wise is first disclosed. The foolish had provided no oil for the +replenishing of their lamps. I fear they were like too many now, who, +in the heat of excitement, under the influence of misguided +instructors, blindly fall into the ranks of those who take the name of +Christ in one hand and the fashions and pleasures of the world in the +other, and thus move on through life. Alas! such have lamps that may +answer for this life, and oil enough and of a kind to keep their lamps +aglow while living in this world; but when the day of trial shall come +their lamps will prove useless for want of the right kind of oil. The +only oil that will burn in the presence of Jesus, and whose light he +will own, is the oil of heavenly love proved by a life of self-denial +and obedience to his Word. Lord, help us, that we all may love thee +more, and through obedient faith in thee find the door of heaven open +to our ransomed spirits." + +WEDNESDAY, October 14. Our beloved brother now takes leave of the +brethren and sisters in Ohio and starts on his way to Tennessee. On +the fifteenth he is ferried across the river from Cincinnati to +Covington in a flatboat, and from this point he pushes on to +Lexington, Ky., which he reaches on the seventeenth, having traveled +from home to that point, 788 miles. Think of it! The toil of this +journey, on horseback; over rough or bad roads; through thinly settled +sections of country, and dark forests; in sight of Indians, and in +hearing of wolves; more than sixty years ago; and all for Christ and +a burning love for his people. Well could he say what he publicly +expressed at a love feast at the Linville's Creek meetinghouse some +years after this: "I have a house that will accommodate fifty: and a +heart to accommodate a hundred if they could find room in my house." + +He pushed on, scaled the Cumberland mountains; got across the +Cumberland and Clinch rivers as best he could, as both were high from +the recent rains, and arrived + +FRIDAY, October 23, at Christian Shank's, in East Tennessee. On the +day before he stood by the tree that marks the spot where the States +of Virginia and Kentucky corner on the line of Tennessee. He says: "I +could not help thinking while there, What a glorious country we have +in prospect, and what a goodly land it may come to be, if the people +can be induced to turn to the Lord and become faithful followers of +the meek and lowly Jesus. What a work we have to do! How much +wickedness have I witnessed on my way since I left home! In our way of +looking at it, enough to sink a world. By turning once around I can +look over a part of three States; but how few of the followers of the +Lord are found in each, compared with the number who know him not, and +who ask not for him." + +He reports delightful weather. After spending some days among the +Bowmans, Zimmermans, Crouses, Garbers, Basehores, and others, +attending love feasts, councils and appointments for preaching, he +reports a night meeting at Hase's schoolhouse. This was on the night +of + +THURSDAY, October 29. The people were somewhat Calvinistic in their +views, and his discourse was so pointed in that direction that I will +give a few thoughts presented in it. + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at Hase's Schoolhouse, Tennessee._ + + TEXT.--Enter ye in at the strait gate.--Matt. 7:13. + +I tried to impress upon all present the danger of continuing in the +broad road of sin. This includes every lust of the flesh, everything +the heart desires through the eyes, and all the pride and vanity +of life. I said to this audience: I learn that there is quite a +Calvinistic or predestinarian sentiment in this community; and from +the expression of the countenances of some of you I fancy I hear some +of you saying to yourselves: "How can a dead man hear, except the Lord +first give him life; or a blind man see, except the Lord first open +his eyes?" I will answer your questions in order. + +Lazarus had been dead four days. Jesus called to him with a loud voice +to "_come forth_." How could Jesus expect the dead Lazarus to hear? +Why did he call? Why did he not first make him alive; and then after +he found out that he _was alive_, and stirring round in the grave, +call to him and tell him to come out of that dark place? This is +precisely the way a Calvinist would think he ought to have done. But +Calvinism was not known in the Lord's day, and so he took a very +different way. He threw his voice into that cave, and it went right +into the ear of the dead Lazarus, because his power went with the +words, and the very instant they struck the ear of Lazarus the life +was in his body and he heard. Thunder and lightning always go +together; but Calvinists think the lightning must always be first. + +The resurrection of Lazarus is a clear exemplification of our Lord's +meaning where he says: "My words are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE." No +sooner did the Lord call to Lazarus than his heart began to beat and +his lungs began to breathe. The Lord's words to him were _life_ and +_breath_. _Spirit_ [in one sense] means breath; and _life_ means a +beating of the heart; for as long as man's heart beats there is life +in him. Is any one here to-night willing to charge our Lord with the +folly, the _madness_ of commanding one of his creatures to do what he +knows he cannot do? + +Sinner, if the popular view of election be correct, I have a word of +comfort for you right here. In Jer. 13:21 we read this question: "What +wilt thou say when he shall punish thee?" I will tell you what to say. +When you stand before his judgment seat and hear from his lips, +"Depart, thou cursed into everlasting fire," just say to him: "Why do +you condemn _me_? You told me to enter in at the straight gate, it is +true; but you did not give me the power to move in that direction. I +was blind, too, and you did not open my eyes. I was all leprous with +sin; I knew that all the time; but you did not cleanse me, although +you cleansed others. I am told that you say in your Word that you are +no respecter of persons; how then can you make such a difference in +your treatment of men, when you have 'included all under sin?'" + +Now I say to you, poor sinner, the Lord never will and he never can +send you to hell with such questions in your mouth and in your heart. + +There is no need of one sinner under the sound of my voice going to +hell, because Jesus is the STRAIT GATE and he is the NARROW WAY OF +LIFE; and wherever his Gospel is preached his power goes with it, just +as it went with his voice into the grave of Lazarus, or fell upon the +bier of the widow's son. The blind man did not see until he went to +the pool of Siloam and washed; but did not the power of Christ go with +him? + +Say not then, O sinner, "I have not the power to believe, repent and +obey the Gospel." You have the power. God is giving you now, this very +moment, all the power you need to reach hither your hand and take the +gift of his grace. He has already opened your eyes to see the light of +his truth; and were I to say to you this night that you are too dead +to feel your duty; too blind to see the path; and too grossly ignorant +to know your right hand from your left hand in spiritual things, you +would feel yourself grossly insulted by me. But I do not say so; I do +not believe so; and in this connection--and I beg you to think +seriously upon it, to read the Bible and pray over it--I must repeat +the language of Jeremiah: "What wilt thou SAY, when he shall punish +thee?" + +SUNDAY, November 1. Meeting and love feast at Bowman's meetinghouse. +This was Brother Kline's last meeting with the Tennessee Brethren on +this visit among them. I must extend the outlines of his discourse as +it was his last among them for some years. + + +_A Short Discourse by Elder John Kline._ + + TEXT.--He died for all, that they which live should no longer live + unto themselves, but unto him, who, for their sakes, died and rose + again. + +This was Christ. Our natural feelings and desires are selfish. Jesus +has given us the clearest example of unselfish love the universe has +ever witnessed. "For God commendeth his love to us"--that is, he shows +the exceeding greatness of it--"in that, when we were enemies, Christ +died for us." I do not believe that we ever, in this world, can fully +understand the merits of our Savior's life, death and resurrection. +Enough for us to know that he has opened a "new and living way" by +which we may come back to our heavenly Father and be his children +again. + +Do you know that Adam was a son of God? Luke calls him so. But he, +like Esau after him, sold his birthright, lost the divine image in +which God had created him, and fell from his sonship. But now we read: +"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how +shall he not, with him also, freely give us all things?" The phrase, +"all things," as here used, includes a restoration to our former +sonship with God. We, as the children of God, are exhorted to follow +in the steps of our blessed Lord. This not only means that we are to +shun evils and bear reproach, but it also means that we are not to +live unto ourselves and for ourselves alone, but unto him and his +people; for "He went about doing good." + +John says: "We love him because he first loved us." We, who are here +assembled in his name, can truthfully repeat this language. But how do +we prove to ourselves and the world that we DO love him? It is by +letting our light shine. Men do not light a candle and put it under a +bushel. A city on a hill cannot be hid. Brethren, I hope we have all +made clean "the INSIDE of the cup and the platter;" for this is the +only way in which the outside can be kept clean. A pure life flows out +of a _clean_ heart, and it can come from no other source. We show our +love to the Lord by observing his ordinances: by baptism, by washing +one another's feet, by partaking with each other of the Lord's Supper, +by communing with him in his broken body and shed blood, symbolized by +the bread and wine: next, in "denying ourselves of all ungodliness and +worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this +present world." + +Think on this last text a little bit. "Soberly" means _calmly sincere_; +not moved by fits of excitement. "Righteously" means _doing right_; +right toward God by obedience, and right toward men in our dealings +with them and in our influence upon them. Many a brother has ruined +his power for good by not being _watchful_. He told "jokes." He +delighted in frivolous, trifling things. He put on a square face at +church, to be sure; but a little disappointment would lengthen it +fearfully, and a little fun or glee would broaden it out of all +Christian shape. + +For the benefit of such and all, I will define the last but _not +least_ word in the apostle's category--"godly." Brethren, this means +LIKE God; and it includes all the rest, for "God is love." To abide in +God is to live in holy, heavenly love. "Abide in me, and I in you." +Wonderful, wonderful words! This is heaven on earth. + +The apostle says: "We have been made to sit together in heavenly +places in Christ Jesus." A beautiful figure. We sit in the sun, or in +sunny places, when the light of the sun falls upon us in that +position. We sit in heaven, or in heavenly places, when the light of +heaven with its love falls full into our souls. I feel like giving +utterance to the emotion of my heart in that sweet old love-song of +ours: + + "My willing soul would stay + In such a place as this; + And sit and sing herself away, + To everlasting bliss. + + "Here the Redeemer's voice + Sheds heavenly peace around; + And life and everlasting joys + Attend the blissful sound." + +And now I will close in the words of Paul's valedictory to the saints +at Corinth: "Finally, brethren, farewell: Be of good comfort; be of +one mind; live in peace. And the God of love and peace shall be with +you." Amen! + +TUESDAY, November 3. Our beloved brother started on his homeward way +down the Valley of Virginia. He passed through Abingdon, Salem, +Lexington and Staunton, and on + +TUESDAY, November 10, he reached home after an absence of two months +to the day. He says: "I have been absent from home just two months to +the day; and in this time I have traveled on horseback 1,317 miles. +With much thankfulness to our Father in heaven, do I recount my +protection and preservation through the dangers and toils of +traveling; the strength and support given me in preaching the Word; +and the great joy I have had in meeting so many dear brethren and +sisters in the Lord. Amen!" + +Thus closes one of the most remarkable missionary tours on record. One +would feel sad to think that no memorial should be reared in +commemoration of it. But the heart finds relief in the thought that +this book will perpetuate the memory of it to future generations, as a +tale that will never grow old. + +Brother Kline spent the remainder of the year about home; in visiting +the sick; in attending to his domestic interests; and in preaching at +the different appointments in the district. The Brethren at this time +had but few houses of worship. They consequently held meetings in the +dwelling houses of Brethren; some of which had been constructed with +an eye to that end. + + +BROTHER KLINE'S OPINIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. + +The Diary shows that in the course of this year, Brother Kline entered +a new field of useful activity. In his desire to do good; in his heart +of general beneficence, we are reminded of the philanthropy of Howard +and Wilberforce. They, it is true, wrought in a wider sphere, and +operated on a grander scale; but it may be seriously questioned +whether they had any more of the love of God in their hearts, or any +deeper sympathy for suffering humanity in their souls, than was to be +found in our truly devoted pattern of genuine benevolence, Elder John +Kline. This new field was that of administering medical relief to the +afflicted. + +FRIDAY, January 1, 1836. He says: "I have long had doubts in +regard to the curative efficacy and health-restoring virtue of the +regularly established course of medical practice of the present day. +Active depletion of the body, by copious blood-letting, blistering, +drastic cathartics and starving, is, to my mind, not the best way to +eradicate disease and restore the diseased human body to its normal +state. I am well aware that every age has had its own way of treating +diseases, and every age has thought its own way the best; but fashion +and custom have, no doubt, had quite a controling power in this as in +other things; and 'the fashion of the world passeth away,' because +there is little or nothing of substantial good in it." + + +SAMUEL THOMPSON. + +"Dr. Samuel Thompson, of Vermont, is introducing a new system of +medical practice which I believe to be more in accordance with the +laws of life and health than any I know of. His maxim, applied to +disease, is: 'REMOVE THE CAUSE, AND THE EFFECT WILL CEASE.' + +"Every diseased condition of the body is the effect of some cause. +This cause being removed, the disease, either simple or complex, must +yield to the restorative forces of nature. But to diminish the +activity of these forces, by copious depletion of the body, to be +followed by a regimen so severe as to withhold, almost absolutely, +the nourishment and support nature demands, is, in my view, to say +the least, irrational." + +Had Brother Kline penned these words fifty years later in the century, +they could not be more in harmony with the popular theory of medical +science as it is taught in the schools of the present day. They are +almost prophetic. He goes on: "I am therefore determined to try the +new way of treating disease, and see what I can do with it. I feel +sure it will do no harm, even if it does but little or no good." + +His subsequent success as a physician for many years proves that he +was not mistaken in the conclusions at which he arrived preparatory to +his entering the field of medical practice. + +He procured his remedies in their virgin purity from the mountains, +meadows and woods, either in person, with hoe in hand, or through +agents whom he employed for the work. Lobelia, Boneset, Pleurisy-Root, +Black-Cohosh, Blue-Cohosh, Lady's-slipper, Red Raspberry, Ginseng, +Spignet, Black-Root, Seneca-Snake-Root, Gentian, May-Apple, Golden-Rod, +and many other roots and herbs were quite familiar to him, not only as +they were seen growing in their native mountains, fields and forests, +but also as to their medical properties and uses. + +No recreation could be more delightful to the true lover of nature +than to get on a good horse and go with him to see the Brethren, as he +called it. This may sound a little odd; but the reader must know that +Brother Kline rarely went on an errand with a single aim. His object +seemed to be to crowd into his life all the service for both God and +man that it was possible for him to do. In this desire to do good he +would sometimes humorously repeat the old saying: "Kill as many birds +with one stone as you can." + +When the season approached for gathering "_roots and herbs_" he would +sometimes write to the Brethren among the mountains of West Virginia, +that they might expect him to be with them at a given time. This +announcement always sent a thrill of joy through their hearts. The +news of his coming spread rapidly; and he was sure of large +congregations for that sparsely settled country. + +One Sunday, toward the close of his life, he said to me: "Brother +B----, would it suit you to go with me over to Pendleton and Hardy? I +have a line of meetings in view; and if it would suit you to go with +me I will be very glad of your company. I want to gather some +medicines by the way, and as you are fond of rambling among the +mountains you may enjoy the trip and make yourself useful at the same +time." + +I agreed to go. So on Thursday morning about the latter part of July, +very early, we mounted our horses. "Old Nell"--as he called his +favorite riding mare, that had up to that time, as his Diary will +show, carried him on her back over _thirty thousand miles_--seemed to +understand where we were starting for, and how fast she ought to go. +In the early part of the day she walked very moderately; but as the +hours went by she quickened her gait, and really walked with a +livelier step in the evening than she had in the fore part of the day. +Soon after our arrival the people began to come together for night +meeting at the house where we staid. + +After a most refreshing supper and a little rest we were ready to +engage in the sacred duties of worship. Brother Kline very kindly took +the lead in the services, and in a very plain way delivered one of the +best discourses I have ever heard on Col. 1:12. This is the TEXT: +"_Giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers +of the inheritance of the saints in light._" + +He showed, in a very impressive way, that if an heir to an estate is +not qualified to appreciate that estate, to enjoy it by making a right +use of it, it can do him but little good. From this thought his mind +ascended heavenward; and he said that heaven, with all its glory and +bliss, can never be a desirable inheritance to any but to those who +are qualified or prepared for it. Those who are thus qualified are +described in the text as "_the saints in light_." He then drew a most +lively picture of the difference between a saint in light and a sinner +in darkness. It almost chilled my blood to see how low in the scale of +intelligent beings the one stands contrasted with the lofty elevation +of the other. + +The next day we repaired to the Shenandoah mountain to procure medical +herbs. We went up into a very deep and rich hollow, where it looked as +if the rays of the sun could hardly penetrate, and soon I saw his face +light up with something that evidently pleased him. "Ah! here it is," +said he. "What is here?" I asked. "Don't you see this patch of +Ginseng?" he replied. "Is this Ginseng? It is my first sight of it." + +As I was much younger than he I insisted upon using the hoe; but no! +He was so pleased that he seemed to want to do all the digging himself. +When a supply of Ginseng was obtained we went to the top of the ridge, +where we found a considerable quantity of Seneca-Snake-Root, an article +very much in demand at the present day. + +The next thing sought for was the Red Raspberry. We hunted and hunted, +and were on the point of giving up the quest, when, at the extreme +head of a very rough mountain hollow, we discovered a "patch" of the +bushes. They were full of berries of a bright scarlet, resembling +somewhat in form the common raspberry, but in some other respects they +were quite different. They were very beautiful. If the plant would +bear domestication it would be highly ornamental. Having filled a +"poke" with the raspberry leaves, we set out to return to the place +where we had left our horses. I doubt exceedingly whether I could have +found the spot; but his familiarity with the mountains generally, and +his acute perception of topographical relations in particular, enabled +him to find the place without difficulty. + +On our way back to where we had left our horses, however, we came +across a "patch" of Golden Seal. This is a graceful plant, each one +having a single calyx enclosing the seeds, somewhat in the shape of a +button or seal of a bright yellow color; hence its name. "The root of +this plant," said he, "is an excellent alterative and tonic." We dug +up the yellow roots with zest; but being by this time very hungry, I +began to fear that we might come across a "patch" of something else +that might still longer delay our return. But he seemed satisfied with +his success, and we found our horses all right. "Old Nell" had, +however, loosed the strap of her halter, and was quietly browsing +around. When she heard us coming she threw up her head; and at the +call of his voice she came up to him. + +It was past two o'clock when we got back to Brother Judy's. Dinner was +soon served; and to this day I do feel that if ever I have been truly +thankful for the good things of this life it was then. + +We followed up the line of appointments to the last one, and returned +home. + +And now, my dear reader, I can truly say, that if it is as pleasant to +you to _read_ these reminiscences as it is to me to _write_ them, you +are well repaid. + + +_Sermon by Peter Nead._ + +_Preached at the Linville's Creek Meetinghouse, +Sunday, January 3, 1836._ + + TEXT.--Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.--I Pet. 2:7. + +Dear Brethren, this chapter is full of instruction and encouragement. +Peter knew by experience what it is to backslide. Now, that he is +restored again to full fellowship with the Lord and the church, Jesus +seems nearer and more precious to him than ever before. In the seventh +verse he says: "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious." I +know he must be so, because he is so precious to me. I shamefully +denied him when he most needed my loving support, and swore that I did +not know him in the darkest hour of his temptation. Who can comprehend +his grace? The meekness, the gentleness, the calmness of his forgiving +heart under trials the deepest, under persecutions the greatest, even +unto death, are surely worthy of God incarnate. + +"'_I know not the man_' were the very last words he heard me utter on +his way through tribulations to the cross; and I added oaths to the +declaration. I now fail to find words to express my surprise and joy +at the message he sent me on the morning of his resurrection. When he +was placed in the tomb I had no hope of his ever coming out thence. +But what surprised and overcame me more than the direct news of his +rising was the special message of love he sent me by the women who saw +him first. He said to them: 'Go and tell my disciples AND PETER, that +I go into Galilee, and there they shall see me.' His forgiving love +singled me out as one of its special objects, because I was such a +vile sinner, and had treated him so badly. Brother Paul calls _himself_ +the 'chief of sinners,' because he persecuted the saints of God; but I +feel that _I_ must be, for I denied his Son. Truly did Paul say of all +such great sinners as we are: 'Where sin abounded, grace did also much +more abound.' Thanks to my risen Lord, I can now with heart and voice +join the chorus of those that sing: + + "'O, the length and the breadth, + And the depth and the height + Of the love of Christ! + It passeth all understanding!" + +I have here represented Peter as giving us some of his experiences; +and I believe that my representations are correct; for in the chapter +next preceding the one just read, we find this joyful exclamation: +"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which +according to his ABUNDANT MERCY hath begotten us again unto a lively +hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." I must think +that the mercy was much more _abundant_ than Peter expected, for it +wrought an effect upon him which he calls a _regeneration_, or a sort +of new birth. At any rate, he says he was "BEGOTTEN AGAIN." It looks +as if it made a new man of him. It gave him new life. He never denied +his Lord again. When called to fulfill the prophecy of the Lord +concerning "the death by which he was to glorify God," he faltered +not, but met it "as seeing him who is invisible." + +Brethren, some of us may, at times, have a taste of Peter's experience. +We feel so vile in our own eyes, that, like him, we go out, and over +our sins "weep bitterly." Ah, but these are "pearly tears" in God's +sight. Though we may not know it, though we may still feel too bad to +repair, on bended knees, to a "throne of grace," yet God knows how to +value them. They are precious in his sight; and it is your experience +and mine that after seasons of this kind he sends us the brightest +tokens of his love, and we are joyfully amazed that it is so. + +I once, when a boy, disobeyed my father. I have in mind a particular +instance of disobedience, and of a character very trying to his +patience. When I came rightly to myself and realized my sin I was +afraid to meet him. He discovered, without any confession on my part, +what I had done. I expected severe punishment. To my surprise he met +me with a smile. Taking me by the hand he said: "Let us go out into +the orchard." We sat down upon the fallen trunk of an apple tree, and +gently placing one arm around my neck, he said: "Peter, do you know +that I love you?" I instantly broke down under the weight of this arm +of love, and answered as well as my sobs would let me, "Yes, sir!" "Do +you love me?" he next said. Again I answered, "Yes, sir!" "Then never +again disobey me, my boy, and we will have a sweet and happy life +together." And I can say from my heart, right here, I never did. + +I now think, dear Brethren, that you are prepared to understand what +Peter meant by the words: "Unto you therefore which believe he is +precious." You feel that he is precious to you, because he has taken +away your sins by giving you a _new heart_ and filling you with his +love. You can now say with the Apostle John: "We love him because he +first loved us." Now then, inasmuch as ye love him, "abide in his +love," and "the God of love and peace shall be with you." May his +grace, mercy and peace be with us all forever. Amen! + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at Tobbins, +Sunday, January 10._ + + TEXT.--As ye therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk + ye in him.--Col. 2:6. + +Paul addressed these words to the church at Colosse, a city of Asia +Minor, in the Roman province called Phrygia. It may be of interest to +you for me to tell you something about the character of these people +at the time Paul first visited them. Ancient history gives a very dark +picture of this. What Paul said of Athens applied equally to Colosse: +"The city was wholly given to idolatry." The lower classes, especially, +were very ignorant, having no knowledge of God save that which the +light of nature gave them. + +But when Paul went into their midst, preaching the Gospel of +salvation, the prophecy of Isaiah, concerning Zebulon and Naphtali, +was fulfilled unto them, as it had been before at Capernaum on the +shore of the Galilean Sea: "The people which sat in darkness saw a +great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, +to them did light spring up." They opened their eyes to the light and +rejoiced to see it; and their hearts to the love it revealed, and they +took it in. They accepted Christ Jesus the Lord in all his fullness. +Faith became to them a living principle. They felt its truth as surely +as though with their natural eyes and ears they saw and heard all that +it comprehended for time and eternity, for earth and heaven. + +But you want to know how I find all this out. Turn with me to the +first chapter of Paul's letter to them, and I will show you. Now +notice that right in the beginning he addresses them as "SAINTS and +FAITHFUL BRETHREN in Christ." By "saints" he means that they are +_holy_; and by "faithful brethren" he means to tell how they got to be +so. This, I think, is saying a good deal for them; but he goes on: "We +give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying +always for you; having heard of your FAITH in Christ Jesus; and of the +LOVE which ye have toward ALL the saints, because of the HOPE which is +laid up for you in the heavens." + +You now see that these Colossian brethren had the three essentials +that distinguish a Christian from a pagan, a saint from a sinner, and +an angel of light from a demon of darkness. These three are _faith_, +_hope_ and _love_; but of these Paul says that "love is the greatest." +This they had in large measure, because it extended "toward ALL the +saints." It is natural for every Christian to love SOME of the saints +when he is free "to pick and choose;" but to love ALL is quite another +thing. + +If you will thoughtfully read this first chapter through, you will see +the high place these Colossian brethren held in Paul's confidence, not +only as to faith and love, but also as to the enlightenment of their +understandings with heavenly wisdom. He sets forth our Lord Jesus +Christ as the triune God--Creator, Redeemer and Savior--in loftier +terms than are to be found anywhere else in his epistles. Had there +been any doubt in his mind as to their ability to understand these +revelations, and thus profit by them, they would have been withheld. +He would have fed them with milk, as he did his Corinthian and Hebrew +brethren, and not with strong food. + +My text says: "As ye therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so +walk ye in him." They had received him in _faith_, and _hope_, and +_love_. So were they instructed to walk in him. "Ye have been buried +with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through +faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead." "Inasmuch +then, as ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that +are above where Christ is seated on the right hand of God." "Set your +affections on the things above, not on the things that are upon the +earth. For ye died; and the new life which ye now live, ye live by +faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave himself for you." +"Avoid fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness +which is idolatry; for the wrath of God is revealed against all these +things. And ye know that a little while ago YE LIVED AND WALKED IN ALL +THESE THINGS." This last quotation tells what these brethren _had +been_, and the foregoing quotations show what they were when Paul +wrote to them. + +After a careful study of these good instructions, these faithful +brethren could not mistake the way in which they were to walk. Paul +not only showed them how to get into the good way in the first place, +but he also told them how to _keep_ in the way. It is one thing _to +get into_ the right road to any place, but it is quite another thing +to keep it. In writing to his Galatian brethren, Paul says: "Ye did +run well for awhile; who turned you out of the way?" Ah, brethren, +there are many by-roads leading off from "the king's highway." I have +known brethren and sisters to start well, to all appearance, and run +well for a time; but by and by the cares of the world and the +deceitfulness of riches, and other things, like the thorns in the +parable, choked the Word in their hearts, so that they brought forth +no fruit unto perfection. + + +AN ILLUSTRATION. + +In my travels among the mountains of our Virginia I have often seen +the laurel holding out its evergreen but poisonous leaves in sprays +of most enticing beauty. Miles and miles of road, in one unbroken +stretch, may there be seen densely hedged on either hand by this +beautiful emblem of sin and death. Herds of cattle and flocks of sheep +are every year driven over these roads. Every herdsman and shepherd +knows the danger to be apprehended from the inclination of some of +either kind to "sidle" off from the plain and beaten track and pluck +the green leaves of the laurel to their own destruction. + +Many a time have I overtaken flocks of sheep, some of which were lying +along the road "_down with the staggers_." This last is the name of +the disease which is brought on by taking laurel. The old sheep avoid +it. They will not taste it. The young sheep and lambs are the only +ones that incline first to taste and then eat it. It is hardly +necessary for me to point out to you the lesson of instruction to be +gathered from what I have just said. The _staggers_, by veterinary +surgeons, is said to be a kind of drunkenness often fatal in its +effects. + +The Prophet Isaiah speaks of some who "are drunken, but not with wine; +who stagger, but not with strong drink." I fancy I hear someone in the +congregation say: "I guess they must have taken laurel." Precisely so, +friend! They took the very laurel that has been the ruin of thousands +of the Lord's sheep and lambs. Let me tell you exactly what I mean. + +The love of _worldly pleasure_ is laurel of _one kind_. It blooms +forth in the desire for fine dress, gay company, night gatherings, +social parties, and the like things. + +_Worldly treasure_ is laurel of _another kind_. It blooms forth in the +desire for worldly possessions, no matter how obtained, and only to +gratify selfish ends. I have known some old sheep to take this kind. + +_Ambition to be great and highly honored_ is still _another kind_. +This is the "deer-tongued" laurel, the very tallest kind that grows, +and has the richest looking flowers. But it is just as poisonous as +any, and it blooms forth in the desire to be admired for beauty, to be +looked up to for superior power and wisdom, and to be held in high +honor for great deeds. I have known some _old sheep_ and even _leaders +of the flock_ to eat of this kind until they staggered considerably. +It was plainly visible in their steps that their heads were not +exactly level. I am glad, however, to be able to say, that in the +flock to which we belong, I have met with very few who ever gave any +signs of being afflicted in the way last described. + +In his letter to the Philippian brethren, Paul says: "For many walk, +of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are +the enemies of the cross of Christ." + +But, brethren, there is a remedy for all these evils. God has provided +the remedy. Nor is it a bitter draught. It is the "milk and wine" of +his Word. Both mean TRUTH. I used to wonder why the Prophet Isaiah +used both terms, when both mean the same thing. Now I will tell you. +He says: "Come unto me, buy WINE and MILK, yea, buy WINE and MILK +without money, and without price." _Milk_ is TRUTH in its simplest and +plainest forms. Gospel truth presented in a way that very young and +uninstructed minds may readily take it in, is what Paul calls "_milk +for babes_." But wine is the very same TRUTH extended and expanded +into forms of instruction adapted to the understandings of "men in +Christ Jesus." + +All are invited and even exhorted to come; to come to the "fountain +that was opened in the house of David." It is the same that is meant +by the "river of the water of life which proceedeth from the throne of +God and of the Lamb." I exhort every one, both old and young, to study +God's Word for the truth it contains, represented by the beautiful +symbols set before you therein. Even the unconverted sinner is invited +to come and take of the "water of life freely." + + "Here pardon, love, and joy divine + In rich effusion flow, + For guilty sinners lost in sin + And doomed to endless woe." + +The interval between the last given date and MONDAY, February 15, has +nothing in it claiming special notice. But here he says: "To-day I +attended the funeral of little Susanna Brower, who died yesterday +morning. As it is our privilege to 'rejoice with those who do +rejoice,' so it is our duty to 'weep with those that weep." I could +but weep to see the remains of this interesting little girl laid in +the cold and silent grave. I think it was the ancient Romans who +personified DEATH in the form of a walking skeleton, scythe in hand, +cutting down whatever the whim of his fancy might suggest. This +representation may accord with the relentless strokes his scythe is +sometimes seen to make; but the light of heaven reveals a Hand that +holds his bony arm within its grasp; and that Hand is the hand of our +God. For, + + "'Not a sparrow to the ground may fall + But our Father's in it: Heart of Love that governs all. + Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.'" + +"Heaven is largely made up of children; and until every crown shall +have a head, and every white robe have a wearer, God will recall his +own." + +WEDNESDAY, March 16. Brother Daniel Trump and Sister Polly Moyers were +both buried to-day. These make six funerals that I have attended in +the space of four weeks. + + "One by one, we cross the River; + One by one, we're ferried o'er; + One by one, the crowns are given + On the bright, celestial shore." + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at the Old Brick Meetinghouse, Augusta County, Virginia, +Sunday, April 24._ + + TEXT.--Lest there be any ... profane person, as Esau, who for one + morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, + when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he + found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with + tears.--Heb. 12:16, 17. + +Esau and Jacob were twin sons of Isaac. But Esau was born first; and +this, according to the law of primogeniture in that day, gave him +special privileges, among which was the right on his part to a double +portion of the heritage to be received from the father. + +This right Jacob treacherously bought of his brother Esau. Rebekah, +their mother, was favorable to the contract, and laid the plan for its +successful completion. Esau had been unsuccessful in his pursuit of +game, and soon found himself in a famishing condition. Jacob took +advantage of this, and proposed to purchase the birthright. He said to +Esau: "Sell me this day thy birthright." And Esau said: "Behold, I am +at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" +And he sold his birthright to Jacob. "Then Jacob gave Esau bread and a +mess of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up and went his +way: thus Esau despised his birthright." + +Esau is here regarded as a profane or wicked person, because he did +not more highly esteem the blessing to which he was born. Paul refers +to this fact, to teach us that it is our duty, as the regenerated or +"firstborn" children of God, to place a very high value upon our +relation to him conferred by this birth. + +"Esau found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with +tears." This means that all his sorrow or regret for the foolish +bargain he had made would not and could not place him back where he +was before. The blessing of his father had been given to another past +all possibility of calling it back. I do not, and can not, however, as +some do, apply this to the sin against the Holy Ghost. The blessing of +Jacob was all external. It comprehended only earthly things. I will +read it, so that you may hear it: "God give thee of the dew of heaven, +and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: let people +serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, +and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that +curseth thee; and blessed be he that blesseth thee." There is nothing +in all this giving Jacob any claim to special favor from God, beyond +that of mere earthly good. Neither does the sale of the birthright +exclude Esau from any higher claim. He did not sell his right to serve +the Lord, and thus inherit a heavenly blessing. + +The people of God sometimes do things in the way of sin that cause +them deep distress. At the same time they do not shut themselves +irrevocably out of heaven, because repentance and reformation of life +will reinstate them into the divine favor, and place them back into +the good way again. But such may lose much, both in the church and the +world by the misstep. After the sin of adultery, for example, has been +fairly proved against a brother or sister, he can hardly reinstate +himself fully into his former standing either in the church or in +society at large. Thus is he like Esau. He has sold his birthright; +yet still the Lord is ready, with outstretched arms, to receive him +the moment he resolves to return, just as the loving father received +his prodigal son. Thus it is with many other sins. They leave a sting +in the heart which may rankle and fester a long time; and a stigma in +the character which may never, in this world, be entirely wiped out. + +In regard to the relation of Esau and Jacob, one more thought presses +upon my mind, and I will give it utterance. In Jehovah's prophecy to +Rebekah before the birth of the children, these words from his own +lips were spoken: "_The elder shall serve the younger_." And in the +prophecy of Malachi, the Lord Jehovah is represented by the prophet as +saying: "I loved Jacob; I hated Esau." Paul to the Romans quotes both +these passages. + +The Bible reader justly enquires: "Why this opposition to Esau and +this favor to Jacob, when the children, as yet unborn, had done +neither good nor evil?" Paul says it was: "That the purpose of God +according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that +calleth." Brethren, I do sincerely believe that right here we find the +key to many obscure passages in Paul's writings on the subject of +election and predestination. God can do nothing without means. Ends as +surely imply means as effects imply causes. Esau and Jacob are the +Lord's chosen, elected, predestinated means of teaching his people +a lesson of instruction that covers the whole ground of every +Christian's state and experience from the alpha to the omega. + +Every true child of God possesses two distinct natures. A knowledge of +this wonderful truth lies within the range of every one's experience. +But it is equally confirmed by divine revelation. Paul calls the one +nature or consciousness the OUTWARD MAN, and the other the INWARD MAN. +The one bears the image of the first Adam, and is of "_the earth +earthy_;" the other bears the image of the last Adam who is the Lord, +"_and is heavenly_." Esau represents the first; and, as such, he can +not inherit the heavenly birthright, because he is carnal, and "flesh +and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven." + +As the antitype of this great truth which underlies the scheme of +redemption, God could not but "hate Esau," because "the lust of the +flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are not of the +Father, but are of the world." "But Jacob he loved," because Jacob is +the child "_born of God_" in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, "_the +inner man_," which after God, is "created in righteousness and true +holiness." "The elder shall serve the younger." This means that "the +natural body" must be brought under subjection and serve "the +spiritual body." For "there is a natural body" first born, and "there +is a spiritual body" last born. + +In another place Paul uses lofty terms to designate these two. He there +calls the one "the earthly house of this tabernacle," which must perish; +the other "a building of God, a house not made with hands"--God's +hands--"eternal in the heavens." The reason why he says "in the +heavens" is because it is in the light of heaven; just as he says in +another place, "We have been made to sit together in heavenly places," +by which he correlatively means just the same that we mean when we say +we sit in the sun, meaning that we sit where the light of the sun +shines upon us. + +Now, Brethren beloved, I have been very brief on a subject that might +be profitably expanded into a volume. I hope that I have given you +points by which you may take the subject and think upon it for +yourselves; and thus add faith to faith, and knowledge to knowledge. +May God add his blessing to what I have said, that it may prove to be +strength in much weakness. + +During the interval between the twenty-fourth and the twenty-eighth, +Brother Kline visited many Brethren in Augusta County, Virginia. + +THURSDAY, April 28, he attended a love feast at the brick meetinghouse. +Of this he says: "The afternoon meeting was well attended. The second +chapter of Peter's first letter was read. Much good instruction for +self-examination was given, both in German and English, from the +general scope of the chapter. I made a few remarks on the middle +clause in the seventeenth verse: '_Love the brotherhood_.' + +"I fear we do not speak and exhort one another as plainly and warmly +as we should on this most essential part of every true believer's +experience and life. What keeps us a united and happy people? _Love of +the Brotherhood._ What keeps us from quarreling with one another, from +slandering and defrauding one another? _Love of the Brotherhood._ What +keeps alive our sympathies for each other in times of distress and in +seasons of sorrow? _Love of the Brotherhood._ + +"This is the golden chain that binds us together on earth, and will +forever bind us together in heaven. As the rain first comes from the +sea, and after refreshing and beautifying the land goes back to the +sea again, so it is through us, Brethren, that the love we receive +from Christ here will be made perfect and return to him there. Oh, +Brethren, 'let us not love in word only, but in deed and in truth.'" + +WEDNESDAY, May 4. Peter Nead and Daniel Garber started to the Annual +Meeting. + +SUNDAY, May 22. Meeting at the Linville's Creek meetinghouse. Brother +Kline spoke briefly on Acts 2. He said: "As this is the traditional +day on which the Holy Spirit was poured out in a miraculous way, so +that the whole house wherein the apostles and brethren were sitting +was filled with his presence, so that they were all baptized in the +Holy Spirit and in the heavenly fire, we think it good to meditate and +speak upon these things. + +"It may be that we err by believing that each apostle was endowed with +the gift of all the tongues here enumerated. It would be natural, I +think, for those who spoke the same tongue to sit or stand together in +companies. We may, even at the present day, see examples and instances +of this in large cities and public places. Here we see a group of +Germans. There, a company of Swedes, or Dutch, or Italians. People of +the same nationality as naturally seek for each other as birds seek +for their own kind. + +"The order appears beautiful to our minds in the light of this +interpretation. Each apostle was gifted by the Spirit to speak in +_one_ tongue at least. If we go to the pains to count, we will find +there were nearly as many apostles as nationalities represented. In +this way all could speak at the same time; each one to his own group +or class of hearers, in gentle tones of voice; and all in the house +hear at least _one_ speak in the tongue in which he was born. This +interpretation relieves the mind of the apparent confusion which seems +to have pervaded that assembly, from a mere cursory reading of the +account given of it in the second chapter of the Acts. + +"I pray God, that our dear Brethren in Yearly Meeting to-day and to +its close may all, like the apostles, be of one mind and speak the +same thing." + +SUNDAY, June 5. Meeting at the Dry Fork. Brother Kline made a few +remarks upon Eph. 5:14, "_Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the +dead, and Christ shall give thee light_." + +"We called upon the drowsy, sleeping sinner to arise from his deadness +and indifference, pointing him to the promise that Christ would shine +upon him and give him the light of life. Whilst speaking on this +subject to-day, I related what was said to be a well authenticated +fact which I lately read. + +"An Indian, one evening, tied his canoe fast to a tree not far above +the falls of Niagara. Feeling that all was secure, he lay down in his +canoe and went to sleep. Just about the break of day the fastening +from some cause got loose. Very probably the cord was untied by some +mischievous person. The Indian continued to sleep. Noiselessly the +canoe glided down the stream, nearer and yet nearer the awful brink, +softly rocking its sleeping victim to destruction. Just before the +frightful leap, roused by the thunder of the cataract, the poor Indian +awoke, only in time to see himself hurled into eternity. + +"O, how many unconverted men and women are borne down upon the stream +of time, unconcerned, thoughtless, careless of the doom that so surely +awaits them!" + + +_Sermon by Elder Daniel Miller (German)._ + +_At Lost River Meetinghouse, West Virginia, +Sunday, July 3._ + + TEXT.--But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become + the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were + born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will + of man, but of God.--John 1:12, 13. + +This Scripture has a very deep meaning; and it should be well +understood, since the power in us to become children or sons of God +depends on the nature of our birth. If this be in any other nature +than that of God, it is like counterfeit money; it may look to be all +right, and pass current for a while, but it will not bear the test of +a rigid scrutiny. + +Some are born of _blood_. Such may be those who adhere to a certain +church, and hold certain articles of faith without examining the Word, +because their father and mother and other _blood_ relatives held the +same, lived and died in that faith, and lie buried in the churchyard +where they worshiped. + +Some are born of _the will of the flesh_. Such may be those who make a +profession of religion; but because they cannot have their own way in +everything, and take the _lusts of the flesh_ with them under the +cloak of a Christian profession, they either forsake the people of God +entirely or else never come into their number. + +Some are born of the _will of man_. Such may be those who suffer +themselves to be influenced by others; coaxed, persuaded, nor even +induced by the promise of reward, to join a certain church and worship +in a certain way, because it is fashionable and in good style. + +Some _are born of God_. Such are those who out of an honest heart +bring forth the fruit of the Spirit unto perfection. + +Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, shows the striking contrast +between the fruit of man's fleshly, sensual or animal nature and that +of his spiritual or renewed nature. The first he calls THE FLESH; the +last, THE SPIRIT. Man's spirit is what is born again. In one place he +designates the new birth as "being renewed in the _spirit_ of the +mind." In another place as "dead to the world, but alive unto God." +The prayer of such is: "Lord, what wouldst THOU have me to do?" +Finding a clear answer to this prayer in the Word of Truth, they are +willing to follow its leadings. They descend into the baptismal wave +"for the remission of sins." They go into the house of God and are not +above stooping to wash one another's feet. They eat the Lord's Supper. +They commune with him in the emblems of his broken body and shed +blood. They continue to walk as nearly as they can in all the commands +and ordinances of the Lord blameless. + +The difference between the present and future state of the man who +lives after the flesh and that of the man who lives after the spirit +is very sharply marked in many places in Paul's writings, in words +that cannot be easily misunderstood. He uses such language as this: +"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the +Spirit do mortify the deeds [lusts] of the body, ye shall live." "To +be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and +peace." "He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap +corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap +life everlasting." "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of +God,"--which is the new birth,--"is eternal life, through Jesus Christ +our Lord." + +All these quotations are in perfect accord with our Lord's closing +words to the Sermon on the Mount: "Every one that heareth these +sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish +man, which built his house upon the sand: ... and it fell: and great +was the fall of it." + +I do not think it is very hard for any one to tell the kind of birth +he is of. As an individual can tell by looking in a glass, if in no +other way, whether he is black or white, so the professor of religion, +by turning to the Gospel Mirror, can see what kind of a birth he is +of. + +I sometimes feel sorry when I think that a child has no control over +its own natural birth. If it is born black and into slavery, poor +little thing, there it has to remain for life, and bear and suffer all +the evils incident to its color and condition. If one is born with +natural deformities which baffle all surgical skill; or with blindness +or deafness past all remedy; we can but pity and weep. True, our +sympathies are aroused, and but for such objects probably the very +purest and noblest springs in our nature would remain forever sealed +with ice. + +But, thanks to our God, no such unalterable conditions ever attend +man's spiritual birth. He himself is a party to the covenant under +which every spiritual birth is effected from conception to +parturition. God is one party; and man, in whom the new spiritual +birth is to be effected, is the other party. This I speak in respect +to the divine, heavenly birth. Men are the parties on both sides in +all the other births spoken of in the text. God has nothing to do with +them. + +The Jews were nearly all born after these ways. Most of them seem to +have been "born of blood." "We have Abraham to our father." Some were +born of the "will of the flesh," for when the Lord told them the truth +"they took up stones to stone him." These were included among those to +whom he said: "Ye are of your father the devil." The will of the flesh +and the will of the devil in spiritual things is one and the same. +Some among them seem to have been "born of the will of man." There may +have been a good many of this class. When the Lord was teaching in +Jerusalem many asked the question; "Have any of the rulers believed on +him?" Such were the children of the rulers, born of their will. + +One fact is true of all these births; no matter how black, or +deformed, or blind, or deaf, all these were spiritually, they were all +born just as they wished to be; and all chose, with comparatively few +exceptions, to remain in the state in which they were born. On the day +of the crucifixion spirits from all classes of births culminated in +the cry: "His blood be on us and our children." + +I hope what I have said may awaken some thought in the mind of each +hearer, as to the state of his own heart. Do I love the Lord my God +with all my heart, and my brother as I love myself? Do I show this +love in my dealings with him, and in my daily conduct towards him? Do +I show my love to the Lord by walking continually in his ways? Enoch +walked with him thus for three hundred years. Am I careful to follow +his example during the _few_ years allotted me here? If I do not love +my brother and find delight in his company here, how can I be happy +with him in heaven? If I do not love the Lord here, in whose love +alone there is bliss, what will heaven be to me? + +No wonder the doom of the hypocrite is so fearful! When his cloak is +removed and the wolf appears in the presence of the angels, will they +not shrink from him as one of us would shrink from a viper coiled +about our feet? + +Brethren, let us be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work +of the Lord; forasmuch as we know that our labor is not in vain in the +Lord. + +Brother Kline bore a hearty testimony to Brother Miller's discourse +throughout. + + +_A Short Discourse by Elder Daniel Garber._ + +_Sunday, August 7._ + + TEXT.--For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by + Jesus Christ.--John 1:17. + +By the law spoken of in the text we are to understand the Decalogue, +or Ten Commandments, as they are usually called. We are not to +understand that this law is not truth. Far from it. It is truth so +sacred and holy in God's sight that he directed Moses to construct an +ark or small chest out of pure gold and place therein the two stone +tablets on which the law was engraved by the finger of God, and keep +them there forever. + +Jesus the Lord honored it. He fulfilled it, not only in the letter, +but in the spirit. His outward life was so righteous that none could +convict him of sin. "He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate +from sinners:" not _separate_ in the sense of not eating and drinking +with them, of not associating and conversing with them; but separate +in the sense that he was not, like them, a transgressor of the law of +God. + +The Lord's heart and hand were together in all he did. His thoughts +and his words were one. His looks, and all the expressions of his +face, were but images of the love within. His denunciations against +Pharisaical hypocrisy, cloaked under the guise of outward rectitude, +were like an avalanche of snow and ice, unlocked by the rays of the +Sun of Righteousness. + +Jesus said: "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for +one tittle of the law to fail." A tittle is a very small point in a +letter. Many Hebrew letters have dots or tittles. A change in the +tittles of the letters that compose a word changes the meaning of the +word. But Jesus says not a tittle shall pass from the law. It will to +eternity mean just what it means now, and will continue to be the bond +of union with saints and angels forever in heaven. It is all love. +Love is the alpha and the omega of the law; for the law is of God, and +"God is love." + +Some people call MERCY God's _darling_ attribute. They clothe her in a +white robe down to the feet; they fill her eyes with the milk of human +kindness and her mouth with the tender words of forgiveness. But +JUSTICE is a very different personification in their eye. He is not +only masculine as to gender, but all his looks and ways have an air of +_condemnation_ in them. He is a dark-faced, frowning judge, forever +watching with keenest eye not only the outward life of every man, but +his mind and heart within; and is always ready to pass judgment +against every one guilty of the slightest transgression and +disobedience. + +Such conceptions may not be sinful; but they are very far from +agreeing with the revelations God has made of himself to men. In these +he discloses himself as "a God merciful and gracious; abundant in +goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands; slow to anger; ready +to pardon; and of great kindness." (Nehemiah 9:17.) He is just, it is +true. But what is justice? I answer that justice, in its highest and +divinest sense, _is equal good and equal right_ to all. And does not +this imply love? I do unhesitatingly declare that there is quite as +much love in the administrations of justice as there is in the +bestowments of mercy. + +In _justice_, however, the love appears in one light; and in _mercy_ +or _grace_ the love appears in another. God's love for the holy angels +and the spirits of just men made perfect is unmixed love, or the love +of complacency. This manifestation of his love is JUSTICE in its +highest and purest sense. God's love for sinners who have transgressed +his law, and who, on this account, are "miserable and wretched, and +poor, and blind, and naked," is mixed love. It is mixed with pity, and +is what is called the love of compassion. This manifestation of his +love is GRACE in its highest and purest sense. This is just what our +Lord Jesus Christ brought with him. If all the race of mankind had +continued righteous, as man was when first brought into being, the +word GRACE would never have had a place in heaven's vocabulary. But +since man has fallen, fallen into sin, into death both corporeal and +spiritual, into sickness and sorrow, into labor for his bread, into +hunger and thirst, and anxieties and cares, God has ever pitied him. +Instead of our Lord's saying, "God so loved the world," he might have +said, "God so PITIED the world." + +In reading the New Testament now you need not wonder why the word +GRACE is so often met with. It means just what Jesus has brought into +the world--_love for sinners_. "He came not to condemn the world, but +to save the world." But notice, he brought not only _love_ but _truth_ +with it, and _truth_ is neither more nor less than the forms or +manifestations of true love. Let me illustrate this. You love your +brother. But he does not know it until you manifest your love by the +thousand ways that are open for this in your associations and dealings +with him. Every manifestation of this love is a _truth_ by which you +prove that you do love him. + +How does our Lord prove that he loves sinners? By the TRUTH that +manifests or shows it. In the first place he went about doing good, in +the way of healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, cleansing the +lepers, making the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the dead to +come to life. In the next place he showed his love by the meekness and +patience with which he bore the scoffs and sneers, and persecutions of +the opposing Jews. In the next place, by the promises of eternal life +and salvation which he gave to the very worst of sinners, on the easy +terms that they repent of their sins, by turning to God and living a +life of faithful obedience to his Word. In the next place,--and all +the other proofs culminate in this,--by dying upon the cross, by which +he atoned for the sins of the whole world. In this, his last +temptation, he conquered sin, death and hell; and as a mighty +Conqueror he has become the Captain of our salvation and the Author of +eternal life to all them that obey him. + +But light will not enter the eye that is closed; neither will the +words of grace and truth enter the heart unless there be a will to +take them in. Some here present, I feel sure, have taken the words in, +and ye rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Yours is the joy that no +man taketh from you. Yours is an unfailing treasure in the heavens. +Yours to sing: + + "Should earth against my soul engage, + And fiery darts be hurled; + Now I can smile at Satan's rage + And face a frowning world. + + "Let cares, like a wild deluge, come, + And storms of sorrow fall, + So I but safely reach my home, + My God, my heaven, my all. + + "There shall I bathe my weary soul + In seas of heavenly rest; + And not a wave of trouble roll + Across my peaceful breast." + +But I am sad to think how many there are who have never yet "tasted +that the Lord is gracious." May I not induce some to look to him +to-day? There _is life in a look_ when it springs from love and +is followed by obedience. "Look unto me, saith the Lord, and be ye +saved, all ye ends of the earth." Sinner, thou art one of these ends. +Look and live. + + +BAPTISMAL SCENE AT BENJAMIN BOWMAN'S, +SUNDAY, AUGUST 29. + +Peter Driver and wife, and Benjamin Byerly were baptized to-day. + +Whilst it is our delight and joy to see even the vilest and the lowest +come into the church through the divinely appointed way, still it is +an additional pleasure, especially in the view of helpfulness to the +cause, when such excellent and true-hearted people as those above +named cast in their lot with us. + +These dear people will draw their children into the church where they +are, and many of the grandchildren will follow their steps. Thus will +they sow the seeds of a good life by the power of example, and others +will reap the harvest. These, in turn, will sow again for others, +until, after awhile, all will realize the truth of our Lord's words: +"He that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." + + +LOVE FEAST AT BEAVER CREEK MEETINGHOUSE, +SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24. + +Preparatory services began at two P.M. Second Corinthians 5 was read. +There was much good speaking. One brother's remarks on the ninth +verse deeply interested me. They were in substance as follows: +TEXT.--"_Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, +to be well-pleasing unto him._" + +No better aim can ever have place in the breast of man or angel. But +how natural it is for us to aim to please ourselves and others! There +is no wrong in trying to please others, when that aim does not +conflict with what pleases God. But for any one, especially a minister +of the Gospel, to make it his chief aim to please others, that he may +become popular and be highly esteemed of men, is an abomination to +God. + +Whether we are as humble and self-denying in all things as we should +be, is a subject for self-examination, not only on the part of our lay +brethren, but as well on the part of us who are ministers of the Word. +Self-love is self-worship. "_Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, +and him only shalt thou serve_," is as true to-day as when it was +hurled against the devil from the lips of Jesus Christ. Worship is +love; and love unites us to the Lord, as the branch is united with the +vine which is its life. Man has no spiritual life in himself other +than what comes from the Lord. + +A man's home life is his _real_ life. In the presence of his +family, when no stranger's eye or ear is nigh, he is out and out +himself, and he then and there appears in his real character. But when +absent, either among his brethren or strangers, he aims to put the +best foot foremost and leave a favorable impression. I do not say that +this is true of every one; but I _do_ say, and say it from the +depth of my soul's deepest affection, that the apostle's resolution +should be true in the heart of every brother and sister: "We make it +our aim, whether at home or abroad, _to be well-pleasing unto +God_." + + +BAPTISMAL SCENE AT THE LINVILLE'S CREEK MEETINGHOUSE, +SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9. + +John Zigler and wife, Celestine Whitmore and wife, and David Haller +were baptized to-day. + +I rejoice that these good people have cast in their lot with us; and +hope that they will prove to be a blessing and an ornament in the +church. Brother David Haller is a very sensible and active man, with a +young family, and he can do much for the good cause. Brother Celestine +Whitmore will exert a good influence on Lost River. And Brother John +Zigler will show to the world how an active business may be carried on +in a godly way. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, did +put on Christ." + +History tells us that Xenophon, in his famous retreat from Cunaxa, +wore a wolfskin about his shoulders and breast. This was becoming to +him as the general of an army of Greeks trained to slaughter, and bent +on cutting his way through all opposition with the sword. It might +also have been a suitable covering for each soldier in his army; since +the uniform of an army is thought to signify, in some measure, the +spirit by which the soldiers are incited to action. + +The uniform of the soldier in the army of the Lord should, therefore, +signify the spirit and mind that is in him. If the spirit is that of +nonconformity to the world, so should the dress or uniform be. If the +spirit is that of meekness, humility, kindness, goodness, purity, +peace and love, the dress of both sexes, each in its appropriate form, +should correspond to these affections of the heart. + +THURSDAY, October 20. Brother Kline and Daniel Garber started to + + +THE GLADES. + +The Diary does not say where THE GLADES are, but, from the churches +and Brethren visited, it is inferred that they lie in the southern +part of western Pennsylvania. + +Among the places named at which they attended meetings may be +mentioned Abraham Beachley's; Myers's schoolhouse; William Miller's; +Brother Blaugh's; Berben; Brother Moser's; Dr. Krone's; Jacob Myers's +and Bearkles. At the last-named place a council meeting was held at +which brethren Cover and Fahrney were established in the second degree +of the ministry. "They both," so the Diary says, "have a good report +from those that are without, as well as from those that are within." + +On their homeward way our two brethren had night meeting at Abbey +Arnold's in Hampshire County, Virginia. The last chapter of Revelation +was read. Brother Kline says: "Toward the close of my discourse I gave +a farewell invitation to sinners to come and take of the 'Water of +Life freely.' After meeting one man came to me and said that he was +tired of drinking of the bitter waters of sin and thirsted for the +sweet 'Water of Life.' I told him that our Lord Jesus Christ, who is +the Way, the Truth and the Life as revealed in his Word, is the Water +of Life, that _our loving acceptance of the truth of his Word as a +matter of faith, and our living a life of obedience to God in +conformity with that truth_ is drinking the Water of Life. It then +becomes eternal life to our souls. I tried to encourage him to drink +in this way; but I do not know what he may do." + + +DEPARTED MINISTERS. + +Some things may appear in this book that are of little interest to the +general reader. In this respect, however, it may not differ from many +other books. The reader should kindly bear in mind that nearly all of +the ministers and other Brethren whose names appear, in the fore part +of the work especially, are known on earth no more, save as they live +in the memory of those whom they have left behind. + +In the list of deceased ministers are to be seen the names of Peter +Nead, Abraham Flory, Daniel Garber, Daniel Miller, Martain Miller, +George Hoke, Benjamin Bowman, Jacob Wyne, John Wyne, Daniel Thomas, +John Harshberger, and a host of others. The records of these noble +ministers of the Word are on high. No earthly monuments have ever been +reared in honor of their achievements; and they need none. The good +they have done by leaving the world and the church better off than +they found them has won for them a crown of glory in heaven as +imperishable as the throne of the eternal. The reader should remember +that a sort of filial love for these men still lingers in the memory +of many, who, in their younger days were personally acquainted with +them. They heard them preach; and they looked up to them as children +to parents. A lock of hair from a loved one long since passed away, is +a little thing,--a _very_ little thing in the eye of a stranger,--but +in the eye of a loving friend it is above price. So some things in +this work, apparently trivial to the general reader, may be highly +prized by others. I will give, for an example, the following +statement: + +MONDAY, November 21. Peter Nead and Benjamin Bowman go with me to +Harrisonburg, and obtain license of the County Court of Rockingham +County, Virginia, to perform the ceremony of marriage. + +This statement, taken from the Diary, may seem of no consequence to +some; they may feel, as their eyes glance over it, that it is of no +interest to them; when at the same time, to others it will be an +incident they will never forget. Many can now say that one or the +other of these ministers performed the ceremony when their father and +mother were married. One or the other of these names stands upon the +"Marriage Record" in many an old Family Bible. Even the grandchildren +will find interest in things like these; and to learn more about +these, and many other great and good men who have lived and died in +the church of the Brethren, will not only interest the mind, but +improve the heart. + + +A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY OF THE AURORA BOREALIS. + +THURSDAY, January 26. This night, says the Diary, a very wonderful +display of the Aurora borealis was witnessed. The sky was all over a +bright red, with white streaks streaming up from the north. The sight +was wonderfully grand. As to the cause of this sublimely beautiful +phenomenon various opinions have been held, and various theories +launched upon the waves of scientific thought; but none, as yet, to my +knowledge, have covered the ground of a satisfactory solution. Let the +cause be what it may, there seems to be no good reason for fearing any +harm to the earth or its inhabitants from its occasional appearance. + +I have since learned, however, that many people were frightened at +the sight, and feared that the last day was at hand. One sister in +particular, not far from here, wrung her hands screaming almost +spasmodically, fearing in her soul that the next thing would be the +sound of "the last trumpet." + +Some may smile at this; but suppose the trumpet had then sounded! +Would those who now smile, or perhaps laugh, have been able to hear +the thunder of its voice with a steadier nerve than she? Her faith was +strong; nay, too strong for the weakness of her feeble body. She +believed every word of Divine Truth. She believed in a final judgment, +than which nothing is more positively declared in the sacred +Scriptures. But because she had never seen such a sight before, and as +no one could account for it, the conclusion was quickly reached that +it was supernatural and sent as a herald of the coming Lord. + +But he will come, and every eye shall see him. But "who shall abide +the day of his coming?" Only they who shelter under the almighty wings +of Jesus. "How often"--said he to Jerusalem, and now to every one +else--"would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen doth +gather her chickens under her wings." To those who laugh at sacred +things now, it may _then_ be said what follows in the above +connection: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." + + "Hide me, O my Savior, hide; + 'Neath the shadow of thy wing." + +The above phenomenon lasted till midnight. + +SUNDAY, February 12. "Peter Nead was with me at the Plains to-day." +Whether Brother Kline saw or heard something in Peter Nead to-day that +especially wrought upon his attention, he does not say; but this +follows in the entry: "Brother Nead gives promise of becoming a very +able speaker and a very useful man. May the Lord prosper him in all he +sets his heart and hand to in his service." The church now knows the +singular correctness of Brother Kline's estimate of the man, written +over sixty years ago. + +Brother Nead, like many other good and live men, may have had some +apparent eccentricities in the direction of practical conservatism and +the like; but, take him through and through, it is questionable if the +church has ever been favored with a purer or sounder man. + +THURSDAY, May 4. Preparations are being made to-day for the Annual +Meeting. The brethren and sisters are all alive with desire to make +all the visiting brethren and sisters as comfortable as possible +during the meeting. + +The Diary reports the arrival, during the next week, of brethren from +Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Among those named are John and +Joseph Bowman, Henry Kurtz, George Hoke and Brother Yant. + +THURSDAY, May 11. Brother Beachley arrived. Brother Kline reports +something like a heavenly feeling permeating the heart at the sight of +the arrival of those beloved brethren. They all stopped with Brother +Kline, whose house and heart both were large enough for their +reception and entertainment. + +As editor of this book, what would I not give for an exact report of +the heart-refreshing conversations and sweet interchanges of thought +and sentiment enjoyed by this group of heavenly-minded brethren, +during their sojourn here! As a relief, however, to this thought +another comes to mind, that this same group are again together, not +for a "Yearly Meeting," but for an eternal meeting. The last one has +been called to glory. The cross then; the crown now. + +The interviews of brethren with each other fifty or sixty years ago +present a striking contrast when placed side by side with those of +the present day. The native simplicity, the artless manners, and the +honest motives of all betokened a purity of heart and life that was +truly charming. We mourn the absence of these marks of genuine piety, +when at the present day, we see artistic display, formality, stiffness, +and a "putting on" of studied courtesies and civilities on the part of +many. The exterior of the hive is more ornamental now than it was +then, and the swarm may have the appearance of better order in some of +its workings, but it is a question whether there is as much pure honey +inside. The _robe_ may be more showy, but there is less wool in the +"_nap_." + +FRIDAY, May 12, and SATURDAY, May 13, were spent at the meetinghouse +preparing to have everything in order. + + +YEARLY MEETING BEGINS. + +_Introductory Sermon by Elder George Hoke, of Ohio, +Sunday, May 14._ + + TEXT.--And it came to pass, that while they communed together and + reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.--Luke + 24:15. + +To the true child of God no conceptions of bliss are worthy of being +compared with those that flow from an ideal companionship and +association with our Lord Jesus Christ. + + "To dwell with him; to feel his love, + Is heavenly bliss enjoyed above: + And the sweet expectation now + Is the same bliss begun below." + +The text selected is suited to the occasion that has brought many of +us together. We have met to commune in our thoughts with each other, +and to reason together. Since the first hour of my arrival here I +could but notice the delight, and even joy, on the part of many at +meeting former acquaintances and renewing the ties of love, both +social and Christian, that have bound us together in one common +Brotherhood for years in the past, and which are still to bind us and +our children's children together in the future on earth and the +eternity in glory. + +The subject for to-day naturally divides itself into three propositions: + + I. _They communed and reasoned together._ + II. _Jesus himself drew near._ + III. _Jesus himself went with them._ + +We readily enough, at the start, inquire who they were that communed +and reasoned together. This we never can know with certainty, until +the scales of mortality drop from our eyes. One, we are told, was +Cleopas by name. It may have been the same Cleopas whose wife had +stood by the cross. Some think the other was Luke, the writer of the +Evangel, whom Paul calls the beloved physician. + +Slowly and sadly, with crushed hopes and broken hearts, these two +loving disciples of our Lord were wending their way from the scenes of +confusion that had attended his crucifixion in Jerusalem to a quiet +little village about eight miles distant, called Emmaus. Here, at +least, they hoped to find exemption from the taunts and sneers of the +infatuated mob in the city, whose mutterings were still to be heard in +the distance, like those of a cyclone that has done its work. + + +I. "THEY COMMUNED AND REASONED TOGETHER." + +The particular point in their conversation is not stated, but it is +included in the general topic which is given as "the things which have +happened in Jerusalem concerning Jesus of Nazareth." The imagination +here finds scope to multiply themes without limit, on which they could +reason, and over which they could be sad. At this very point of time, +just when despair, like darkness at the close of an evening twilight, +had settled down upon the entire landscape of their mental sight, + + +II. "JESUS HIMSELF DREW NEAR." + +_"But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."_ This +simple statement has more than once caused "smiles in tears;" _smiles_ +at the half playfulness of Jesus talking to these two beloved +disciples as a tender father sometimes talks to his little children; +and _tears_ at the condescending love of Christ our God and Lord, +walking as a wayfaring man with two of his heartbroken creatures. Can +you take this in, and not fall at his feet and kiss them? Can you take +this in, and not look up into his face smiling through your tears? + +And then he said: "Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things +and to enter into his glory?" This very sentence, by which he shed the +first rays of light upon the dark waters of their storm-beaten bosoms, +tells the whole tale of Christ's redeeming love. The cross and crown! +Joy of earth and bliss of heaven! The cross of dishonor; the crown of +glory! The cross of death; the crown of life! + +"But their eyes were holden, that they should not know him." He came +as the divine Word. He is the truth and the life of the Word; for "the +Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Though they knew not that it +was he, still their hearts did burn within them as he opened unto them +the scriptures. "Beginning at Moses he interpreted to them in all the +Scriptures the things concerning himself." They do not tell us the +passages he quoted and explained; but it is believed we have them all +in our Bibles. I think it is evident we have all the Scriptures now +that were extant then; and it is our great privilege to hunt up for +ourselves and others these broken pieces of the Bread of Life. + +The word "HOLDEN" means simply, _held back; restrained_. For wise +reasons he _held back_ the sight of their eyes that they should not +know him. Had they known him at first sight, it would have interfered +with and prevented the accomplishment of his gracious purpose to make +himself known in the "breaking of bread." In this very act he has +taught his people one of the most precious lessons in all the +Christian's experiences. He is the Bread of eternal Life. His whole +Word is but one great loaf, and he is that loaf. And how my soul +quivers with the thought that if we invite him in as these loving +disciples did, and ask him to abide with us, he will take a seat with +us at table, and break unto us the Bread of Life. Our spiritual eyes +will be opened, and we shall joyfully know him. Then will + + "Our hearts grow warm with heavenly fire; + And kindle with a pure desire; + While our blest Savior from above + Feeds all our souls with holy love." + +None but those + + "that know the Lord, + And taste the sweetness of his Word," + +can ever know the joys of his salvation. + + +III. "JESUS HIMSELF WENT WITH THEM." + +We are not informed how many of the sixty furloughs they had already +passed over on their way when "Jesus himself drew near, and went with +them;" but from the loving kindness of our Lord we readily conclude +they had not gone very far. "Can a mother forget her sucking child? +Yea, she may forget; yet will not I forget thee." He knew the depth of +their disappointment and the grief that followed when they could say: +"We hoped that it was he which should redeem Israel." "_We hoped_--;" +but alas! all hope is now forever gone. It lies buried with him in his +tomb. + +If one born blind could unexpectedly open his eyes to see the light of +the morning sun in a cloudless sky, the surprise and joy could not be +greater than were these to the two sitting at the table. They forgot +to eat. They were so filled with the sight of the Lord that their +hunger for that which merely represented him was all gone. They not +only saw the proof of his resurrection; but in him they felt the +resurrection of their own buried _faith_, and _hope_, and _love_. + +"They rose up that very hour,--" I do not believe they sat still one +minute after he vanished out of their sight--"and returned to +Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, ... saying, The +Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." This was to them +one of the wonders connected with his rising, as Simon had so +shamefully denied him so shortly before. But such is the fullness of +his grace, that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound unto +all such as are willing to receive it. + +Some people do not believe the story of the resurrection. But, strange +to say, they can believe something a hundred times less reasonable, +and absolutely false. They can believe that a LIE has done more to +better the condition of mankind in this world than all the truth that +has ever been told. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the keystone +to the great arch upon which rest all the truths of Divine Revelation. +Destroy this, and the arch, with all upon it, falls a pile of ruins. + +There is one special fact connected with the Lord's resurrection which +we must not forget. He never appeared to any but his own. They, only, +had eyes to see him. Some may wonder why he did not go out into the +streets of Jerusalem and there, to gaping crowds, show his risen form +with the nail prints and the spear mark still fresh in his hands and +his feet, and in his side. In answer to this I have but little to say, +more than that he was ever averse to casting pearls before swine or +giving that which is holy unto dogs. I will add this, however, that as +none but spiritual eyes can see him now, so none but spiritual eyes +could see him then. This is what he meant by saying: "Yet a little +while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I +live, ye shall live also." + +And now, my dear Brethren, what have we learned by our meditation +to-day? If we have learned to know the Lord a little better, that we +may draw nearer to him, we are edified, and our preaching and hearing +have not been void. In all our communings with him, Brethren, let us +believe and love with all our hearts. In our reasonings together let +us know and _feel_ that "_he is nigh, even at hand_." When we are in +the way of duty, we love to feel that Jesus is with us, that he knows +all we think, and sees all we do; but when out of the way, when +walking in forbidden paths, how abashed and confused would we feel, if +"_Jesus himself_ were to draw near!" O brethren and sisters, let us so +live, that every thought and word and act of our lives may be fit for +his eye. Lord, give us grace so to live. Amen! + + +YEARLY MEETING OPENS + +_At the Linville's Creek Church, +Monday, May 15._ + +Brethren Henry Kurtz, John Garber, Umstead and Price spoke in +exposition of the Word and doctrine in the forenoon meeting, which +opened at 8 A.M. + +Brother Price took the lead, and spoke from 1 Peter 1:12. I will give +a faithful report of his discourse as nearly exact as it can be made +from the very brief outlines left by Brother Kline. Had the thought +ever entered Brother Kline's mind that his Diary might at some future +day be published in a regularly prepared form, I feel sure he would +have left more extended entries on points of intense interest. + + TEXT.--"Which things the angels desire to look into." + +Salvation is infinitely the most momentous subject that can engage the +thoughts of men. It embraces a knowledge of God on the one hand and a +knowledge of man on the other. It is a pleasing thought that as the +knowledge of God is unfolded to the mind, a knowledge of man's own +sinful and lost condition flows in along with it; so that the very +same light which enables him to perceive the love and goodness and +truth and holiness of God imparts to him at the same time a view of +his own sinful state. He is led to see and feel in himself a spiritual +condition which is the very opposite of that which he discovers in God +his Creator, Preserver and bountiful Benefactor. + +The Bible tells us that "in the beginning God made man upright," that +he created him in his own image, after his own likeness, and pronounced +him, with all else that he had made, "_very good_." But how is man +now? What is his moral and spiritual condition? I appeal to the heart +experience of every one in this house for an answer. Brother, there is +no charge on the part of the church against you. The church has never +at any time preferred a charge against you. You are loved and held in +high esteem by all the brethren and sisters. The laws of your land +have never brought an accusation against you. You have, in the most +minute particulars, been "a law-abiding citizen." More than all this, +you labor to do all the good you can, by feeding and clothing the +poor; by helping to keep up the church, and by aiding in the spread of +the Gospel. You also help your neighborhood, county and State by +paying all your dues and by voluntary contributions of money or labor +to public improvements, education and whatever else may be for the +general good, as necessity may demand. + +But, with all these excellencies in your character and life in full +view, I ask you, as in the presence of God: Do you feel in your +_heart_ that you are a _good_ man? Would you be willing for the world +and the church to know every thought and imagination and desire that +enters your heart and passes through your mind in the short space of +one day of your life? Do you feel that all within is fit for the eye +of God? I know, or _think_ I know, just what is in your mind, and your +answer is in words like these: "I do not feel that I am good. It is +only by constant watchfulness, by looking to Jesus in his Word, and by +reading his Word with prayer, in connection with my attendance upon +the ordinances of his house, that I am enabled to walk in the path I +go, and lead the life I do. + + "'He LEADETH me: HE leadeth me: + By his own hand he leadeth me.' + +"His promise, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the +world,' sustains my hope and assures me that 'he will never leave me, +nor forsake me.' Thus, God being my helper, I do all the good I can, +and shun the evil. In this way 'I labor, whether at home or absent, to +be well-pleasing to him; and work out my own salvation with fear and +trembling;' feeling, however, at the same time, a blessed assurance +that it is God who worketh in me both to will and to do the things +that are pleasing in his sight." + +Brethren, this is salvation. It is the sum of "the things which many +prophets and wise men desired to see, and saw them not; and to hear, +and heard them not." But let us look at the divine forces, brother, +that have wrought in you this wonderful change from a life of +_self-love_, into which you were born by nature, to a life of divine +love, joyful, holy, heavenly love to God and your brother, into which +you have been born by the Spirit. + +Peter tells us something about this in the chapter read. He here says: +"Ye were REDEEMED, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, +from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with +the precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, +even the blood of Christ.... Ye have purified your souls in your +obedience to the truth; ... having been begotten [or born] again, ... +through the word of God, which liveth and abideth." + +He now introduces the contrast between man's natural birth and his +spiritual birth: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that +which is born of the Spirit is spirit;" and he says: + + "All flesh is as grass, + And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. + The grass withereth, and the flower falleth." + +"Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," is the doom of flesh +and blood sealed to every mortal as a consequence of sin. No wonder +the grave is sad and lonely to the contemplation of those who have no +hope of aught of life or love beyond it. It is sad to think how many +have no higher claim to life and happiness than mere fleshly, bodily +existence. But our Lord hath "brought life and immortality to light," +and + + "The good Spirit of the Lord + Reveals a heaven to come; + The beams of glory in his Word + Allure and guide us home." + +"Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it is not yet made +manifest what we shall be;" but we know that we have the promise of +"an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not +away." + +Brethren, this inheritance which Peter talks of--what do you think +about it? Is it something extraneous to the man, something outside of +him? Or is it something intrinsic to the man in his renewed state, +something internal, something inside of him? I, for one, believe that +man's eternal and blissful inheritance, which Peter and John and Paul +describe in such glowing terms, is in the man himself, in his +adaptation to the bliss-inspiring garniture of heaven. It is "Christ +in him the hope of glory." + +This exalted and blissful state of man redeemed is what Peter calls +his "_inheritance which is incorruptible_." Think of it, Brethren. No +more sin to bewail; no more sickness to suffer; no more death to +dread! It is also "_undefiled_." No more "filthiness of the flesh;" +"neither idolatry, nor adultery, nor whatsoever loveth and maketh a +lie." And "_that fadeth not away_." The luster of the eye; the bloom +of the cheek; the facial expressions of beauty and love, purity and +truth, know nothing of decay in the amaranthine bowers of spotless +purity. + +We often wonder about heaven. But I will tell you, Brethren, what I +believe about it. I do believe in my very soul that every Christian +man, after the death of his body, finds himself in the very heaven he +takes with him from this world; and that every man's heaven is the +LOVE and the TRUTH that abound in his mind and heart. If his heart is +filled with _love_ to God and to his brother, and his mind stored with +the _truth_ of God as revealed in his Son Jesus Christ, that man's +heaven is _in_ him. Do you remember, Brethren, that when Jesus was on +earth he said that he was also at the same time in heaven? Now let me +show you this. He says to Nicodemus: "No man hath ascended to heaven, +but he that came down from heaven, _even the Son of man_ WHICH IS IN +HEAVEN." John 3:13. + +And right here a difficulty confronts us which we must try to settle. +Did not Elijah ascend to heaven? How about Moses? These two redeemed +saints were both of them in heaven at the very time our Lord said this +to Nicodemus. Very shortly after this conversation they made their +appearance, not only to Jesus, but to Peter and James and John on +the holy mount in glory. How had they gotten there? I will tell you +just what I think our Lord meant. He meant to teach that stupid, +_materialistic_ Nicodemus that people do not go to heaven by merely +ascending, like as one would ascend or go up from a lower room in a +building to a higher one. He meant to teach him that heaven must be in +the man, inwrought into his character and life. This follows in +perfect harmony with what he had just before told him about the new +birth and a change of heart. "That which is born of the flesh is +flesh," and nothing more. But Paul says: "Ye are not in the flesh, but +in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Elijah +had not _really ascended_. The Lord just took him up as he had taken +Enoch many years before. He was in heaven whilst on earth, just as +Jesus was. The only change he underwent in his departure from this +world was a change in the relations of his state. While here his +_state_ was a _heavenly_ state, but surrounded by earthly things. +After his departure from earth his _state_ was the same; but his +surroundings were heavenly, and he could feel at home. + + +THE ANGELS. + +No wonder, Brethren, that the angels desire to look into these things. +Some very good and wise men are of the opinion that all the angels of +heaven are none other than saints redeemed from the earth. How this +may be I do not know; but some things that the Bible says about angels +seem to favor this conclusion. The main thing in this direction is the +deep interest they have always felt, and the active part they have +always taken in the things of man's salvation. Paul covers this whole +ground by a single sweep of his pen. "Are they not all," says he, +"ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be +heirs of salvation?" Of course he means by the _heirs of salvation_ +those still tabernacling in the flesh, and still exposed to the ups +and downs of the waves of life. + +I think, though, that one reason why the angels feel such a deep +interest in the things of man's salvation is because they are +there--in heaven, I mean--always beholding the face of our Father who +is in heaven. They see and feel the glory; they know the bliss of that +celestial state. So full of love are they even for poor, fallen, lost, +ruined man that we are told by the Lord himself that "there is joy in +the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." +Their joy in this is commensurate with the exalted knowledge they have +of the blessedness of true penitence. In it they see light shining in +the darkness of the poor sinner's heart. Peace to the waves of his +storm-beaten soul,--a new creature in the image of their and our Lord +Jesus Christ coming forth into the enjoyment of a new life in him; +deliverance from the bondage and power of sin, and restoration to the +glorious liberty of the children of God! How much more than all this +they see in the return of one soul to God. I do not know; and we never +can know fully until we go up higher. + + "The blessedness of those above, + Why longs my panting soul to know? + For future bliss I know is LOVE, + And love is felt by saints below. + + "But love so pure, exalted high + Beyond compute, beyond compare-- + No eagle wing that height may fly; + No mortal breathe that upper air. + + "There, love springs pure and unrepressed; + There, all are loved, and love again. + Love fills each burning cherub's breast; + Love fires each flaming seraph train. + + "Soon, soon shall I, this conflict o'er, + From sin be freed, with love be fired; + Soon, soon in heaven, my God adore, + With love, celestial love inspired." + +And right here this thought comes to mind: If angels are so much +interested in the salvation of men, should not men be quite as deeply +interested in the salvation of one another? If there are such exultant +emotions of joy in the bosoms of _angels_ over one sinner that +repents, should there not be an equal measure of joy in the bosoms +of _men_ from the same cause? + +But the text says: "The angels _desire_ to look into these things." +We should not infer from this that their knowledge of the way of +salvation is limited, or that they meet with difficulties in the way +of understanding it. Oh, no! Their _desires_ are being constantly met +and supplied with the means of acquiring knowledge upon this subject, +fully up to the measure of each one's capacity to take it in. We may, +therefore, justly infer from the text that the subject is immensely +vast in its proportions and range. + +As salvation is infinite in respect to the TRUTHS contained in it and +connected with it, so is it also eternal in respect to the SCENES and +experiences through which the redeemed will be forever passing. + + "Could we, so rich in rapture, fear an end, + That ghastly thought would drink up all our joy; + And quite unparadise the realms of light." + +And here, dear brethren and sisters, another thought comes to mind +suggesting another question: If _angels_ desire to look into the +things of man's salvation, should not _men_ have an equal desire to +look into them? Should not those who still have the stream to cross, +and to whom the ford looks somewhat dark and uncertain, be quite as +much interested in it, and in all connected with it, as those who are +safely landed on the other shore? Think of this, will you? Let me +impress this thought: If the _angels_, who are out of the reach of all +harm and danger, feel such a glow of interest to learn all they can +about the way in which all are saved; should not _men_, who are still +exposed to danger, feel an equal or a still deeper interest? + +But how is it with the bulk of professors? Who of you, my dear +Brethren, make the Bible the man of your counsel? Who of you read and +study it with that devotion of faith which makes you feel that your +eternal life is in that Word? With joy would I give you the touch of +heaven's galvanism to quicken your souls to a livelier sense of the +transcendent importance of this matter. I feel sure that many of you +do read. You love your Bible because it tells you of your sin and your +Savior, of your cross and your crown. But how is it with many? They +read some, no doubt; partly from a sense of duty and to quiet their +consciences; but not, I fear, with a deep and inmost desire to learn +the things of salvation. + +Brethren, if the Bible be true, it is tremendously true. It is true +with a power that lifts the contrite, penitent, faithful follower of +our Lord to the gates of the Holy City, and opens them to him; and it +is true with a power that sinks the faithless, impenitent, careless, +sin-loving sinner to hell. To which class do I belong? With which +class am I going to spend a long eternity? I am happy to see in the +luster of many an eye here the evidence of your being in the class +first named, and on the side of salvation. God grant that all may be +in that number; and in a better world and a purer life, with angels on +high, sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. + +Brother Price was followed by brethren John Garber, Henry Kurtz and +Umstead, all bearing testimony more or less extended. The services +were brought to a close, and an intermission was given. In the +afternoon queries were taken in. + +TUESDAY, May 16. The meeting was continued to-day. Seven queries were +disposed of. Love and harmony abound. + +WEDNESDAY, May 17. The meeting was brought to a close to-day. The +business being all disposed of, it broke up in the afternoon by the +singing of the hymn: + + "Blest be the dear uniting love + That will not let us part; + Our bodies far apart may move, + We still are joined in heart." + +O my God, I pray that we, as thy dear people, may ever be thus joined +in heart; that we may ever be of one mind and speak the same thing; +that thy Spirit may fill us and guide us into a clear understanding of +thy revealed will that we may not err therein; that we may keep all +pride and emulation of the flesh out of our hearts; that each one may +esteem another better than himself with all lowliness and meekness; +with long-suffering; forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to +keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; till we all come in +the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a +perfect man; unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of +Christ. Amen! + +THURSDAY, May 18. Some of the Brethren from a distance start home +to-day. Set things in order at the meetinghouse. While thus engaged +our thoughts would turn to the pleasant season of brotherly communion +we had just passed through. I can but wish and pray that the same +spirit of love and union may pervade every meeting yet to be held in +the Brotherhood, through all time, to the end of the world. + +THURSDAY, August 10. Benjamin Bowman and Samuel Wampler were +established in the ministry to-day, in a council at our meetinghouse. + +TUESDAY, August 29. Brother Kline and Brother Flory start to Maryland +and Pennsylvania on horseback. Brother Abraham Flory, by the way, was +a suitable companion for Brother Kline. He loved home, it is true, and +he had a home worthy of being loved. But when he made up his mind to +go he left all his home cares behind; and, like Abraham of old, he +said to these servants of life: "Stay ye here while I go yonder to +worship; and I will return again unto you." He consequently never +fretted about home in his absence; but was habitually calm and +self-possessed. Even a rainy day or high water did not interfere with +the equilibrium of his mild temper. + +These two brethren were well mounted. Their horses were good travelers, +not only as to gait, but _bottom_ as well. This, in common _parlance_, +means great power of endurance. We must not forget that this journey +was undertaken more than sixty years ago. The two travelers did not +know what weather they might have to contend with on a journey which +was to occupy more than _five weeks_. Umbrellas were rare in that day; +but even if they had been abundant they were too much "after the +fashion" to have been used by these unfashionable brethren. Indeed +umbrellas were not used by the Brotherhood, at least in Virginia, +until many years after this. + +A GREAT COAT, made of heavy and compact stuff, with long skirts +reaching to the feet, and a large cape attached, covering completely +the shoulders, and buttoning over the breast, constituted a covering +defying both rain and storm. Superadded to this was a very +broad-brimmed hat of solid felt. Every saddle in that day was provided +with what was called a _coat-pad_. This was a flat leather pad fastened +to the saddle just behind the seat, and furnished with straps and +buckles so as to hold an overcoat, when properly rolled up and +fastened, in perfect order whilst traveling. Leather saddlebags well +stocked with changes of clean underwear completed the outfit. + +Thus equipped, these two brethren started on their journey. Their +spirit in all this reminds one of what passed between two ministering +brethren of another persuasion who were traveling together, neither so +well equipped nor mounted, but on foot. Trudging along in the face of +foul weather to meet an engagement, Comer said to Proctor: + + "I don't mind the rain + If souls I may gain." + +To which Proctor instantly replied to Comer: + + "I can face every storm of rain and foul weather, + When I and my Lord are walking together." + +Wherever Brother Kline and his companion went they were recognized, +whether personally known or not, as DUNKARD PREACHERS. No doubt the +_sneer_ was sometimes thrust at them, and the lip curled with contempt +by those whose stolid ignorance and stupid brains had locked the door +against the inflow of good breeding and truth. But in the eyes of all +honest, sincere-minded people their mission was one of mercy, truth +and love; and they were loved and respected accordingly. + +Near the close of the third day of travel, they passed + + +HARPER'S FERRY. + +Brother Kline's experienced eye took in the whole scene at one view. +He says: "The scenery here is greatly surpassed by that of many places +within the Allegheny ranges. It is not nearly equal to the South +Branch Gap below Petersburg in Hardy County, Virginia; nor does it at +all compare, in sublime grandeur, with the Rocks at the mouth of the +Seneca, in Pendleton County, Virginia. It is tame in comparison with +either of these places. But so goes the world. It is with places as +with people. When one gets a name by being lauded high by some +distinguished personage, as Thomas Jefferson, for example, he soon has +the eyes and the ears of the world; whilst others, more worthy, +perhaps, in all the elements of true greatness, are left unnoticed and +unknown. This thought awakens my recollection of a stanza in Gray's +'Elegy.' It touches tenderly and beautifully upon the neglect and lack +of appreciation often experienced by real beauty, virtue and goodness. +Here is the verse: + + "'Full many a gem of purest ray serene, + The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear; + Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, + And waste its sweetness on the desert air.' + +"But we must tone our criticisms down to a just standard. The lack of +fame with many justly meriting it is not their own fault, nor is it +the fault of the world; but the trouble lies greatly in the place of +their birth and in the surroundings of their lives. If the South +Branch Gap had had its birth at Harper's Ferry the summit of its fame +would reach the clouds; whilst Harper's Ferry, born among the rugged +recesses of the Alleghenies, would never be thought of. The world is +not so partial and full of favoritism as we think. It readily takes up +what suits its uses and its tastes, without stopping to inquire +whether there might not be something better found." + +Crossing the Potomac at the Ferry, they go to Brother Letherman's and +spend the night. + +FRIDAY, September 1. Love feast at Brother Herschman's in Middle +Valley. Luke 3 was read. Three persons were baptized. Next day the +brethren go to Beaver Dam, and pass the night at John Garber's. + +At this time letter postage was very high, as much as twenty-five +cents on some letters; and the transportation of mails very slow. +Regardless of this, however, by means of letters, Brother Kline knew +just where to go and what to expect before starting on a journey. +Appointments for preaching, councils and love feasts fell in the line +of his route from beginning to end. Have a little bit of patience, +please, and let me quote the entries just as I find them in the Diary +for this journey. If they do not interest you, they may interest +others deeply, especially the children and the grandchildren of the +good people named in them. + +SUNDAY, September 3. Love feast at Beaver Dam. Luke 14 was read. Three +persons were baptized. + +MONDAY, 4. Visit Brother Deah's and Saylor's, and stay all night at +Joseph Engle's. + +TUESDAY, 5. Meeting at Pipe Creek. Luke 16 was read. Stay all night at +Peter Royer's. + +WEDNESDAY, 6. Meeting at Rupp's. John 1 was read. Stay all night at +Christian Royer's. + +THURSDAY, 7. Stay at Brother Keeney's. + +FRIDAY, 8. Love feast at Brother Keeney's. John 18 was read. + +SATURDAY, 9. Visit Jacob Myers's. Stay all night at David Brillhardt's. + +The families visited in the order of Brother Kline and Brother Flory's +route were as follows: Christian Longenacker's, John Zug's, Abraham +Zug's, Daniel Zug's, Jacob Gipe's, John Gipe's, Abraham Harshey's, +Shoemaker's, Brother Myers's on the other side of the Susquehanna, +Andrew Deardorf's, David Pfoutz, Fogelsanger's, John Stauffer's, +Brother Royer's, Brother Holsinger's, Welty's, Fahrney's, Joseph +Emert's, Eschleman's, David Kinsey's, Brother Martain's, James +Tabler's; Carter's, in Frederick County, Virginia, Jonas Goughnour's, +in Shenandoah County, Virginia; and home Tuesday, October 3. + +Brother Flory and I did not separate for one day or night on this +journey. He preached a good deal, and has, I think, left a very good +impression. He related a little incident about a local preacher with +whom he was personally acquainted, and which he stated for a fact, +that has several times amused me. It came in at a suitable place in +one of his discourses. The preacher had been regularly receiving one +hundred dollars a year from his Conference, for stated preachings to +several poor congregations not far from his home. The preacher owned a +farm and a mill, both at the same time; and with the two combined he +became independent. His brethren saw this and concluded that he ought +_no longer be paid_ the hundred dollars a year; so the pay was +withheld. But his preaching stopped as suddenly as his pay. When asked +about the cause of this he pointed to his _mill wheel_ and said: "_Do +you suppose that that wheel will run if you keep the water off?_" + +The brethren and sisters generally appeared to be alive to their +spiritual interests. The meetings were usually well attended, and good +attention was paid to the preaching. In some places, however, +worldliness in dress and manners is becoming too apparent. + +In Maryland we happened to fall in company with a man traveling our +course, who represented himself as a United Brethren preacher. He was +very plainly dressed himself, and as we were plain I guess he thought +that to give his conversation a turn upon the _fashions_ of the world +would not be unpleasant to us. At any rate he went on to tell how +pride was gradually creeping, inch by inch, into his own denomination; +and, "worst of all," said he, "it looks like it is beginning to take +hold of some of our preachers." He then stated that at their last +yearly Conference, the bishop had scored some of them fearfully about +it. He then repeated what the bishop had said on the occasion about +the + + +ORIGIN OF FASHIONS. + +"Some of you may be curious to know from what place the American +people obtain their fashions. I will tell you. They get them from New +York City. And from what place does New York City get them? From +London. And from what place does London get them? From Paris. And +from what place does Paris get them? I answer," said the bishop, "that +Paris gets them from hell through the devil and his agents." + +In the journey from which I have just returned I preached _twenty_ +times; attended _eight_ love feasts; visited and conversed with many +families on religious topics. In all this service, if I know my own +heart, I have been actuated by no selfish motives. As Paul said: I +desire that my service may be acceptable to the saints; but to make it +so, I have used no deceit, no flattery, and have put forth no effort +of any kind save that of trying, by the grace of God, to make myself a +faithful minister of Jesus Christ. As one called to preach the Gospel, +this is my duty at all times. Conscious of this, I aim to be "instant +in season, out of season." May God bless our labors, including those +of the dear brother who was with me. "Paul may plant, and Apollos +water; but God only can give the increase." We must, by his grace, use +all means to keep the Brotherhood pure, by defending it against the +inroads of worldliness and pride in every form. May God forgive all +our sins. Amen! + +SUNDAY, October 15. Brethren Martain Myers and Samuel Lehman were with +us at our meeting to-day. They spoke beautifully on John 5:24. + + +_Resolutions Made by Elder John Kline,_ + +_Monday, January 1, 1838._ + +He says: I now resolve + + To do all the good I can this year. + + To shun all evil in thought, word, and deed as far as I can. + + To learn all I can of wholesome truth. + + To make the best use I can of what I learn and know. To do all this + with an eye single to the glory of God and the good of mankind. + +Could any one resolve better? Could an angel from heaven, if sent down +to live with men on earth, resolve to a better purpose? But it is +easier to resolve than to carry into effect; easier to think wisely +than to _act_ wisely; easier to plan well than to execute. But of this +one thing I am sure: If Brother Kline failed in any of the above +resolutions, his failure was not chargeable to his _will_, but to his +weakness. Even Paul could say: "To will is present with me, but how to +perform that which is good I find not. When I would do good, evil is +present with me." The cause of this conflict in the course of every +Christian's experience is what has been very appropriately called +"_indwelling sin_." The serpent's head may be bruised to death, but +the tail will not die until the sun goes down. It is true, the tail is +not at the dangerous end of a snake; but while the tail rattles and +wriggles it gives evidence that there is still some life left; and +before one turns away from it in the satisfied assurance that it needs +no further attention it might be well for him to look again and make +_sure_, beyond all doubt, that the _head end_ has been crushed to +death. + + +_A Funeral Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_At the Burial of Mrs. Lauck, +Feb. 7._ + + TEXT.--Man that is born of woman, is of few days, and full of + trouble He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth + also as a shadow, and continueth not.--Job 14:1, 2. + +The bulk of Divine Truth is addressed to our faith. We are not +expected to receive it as we receive knowledge that is based upon our +own experience, or upon the experience of others. God expects us to +take his Word for the truth of what he says, whether we fully +understand it or not. He addresses our faith, as a father does his +child when he seeks to inculcate some truth or principle which the +child cannot fully comprehend. But the text selected for this occasion +is not of this character. It is addressed to our knowledge and every +day's observation and experience. We have only to look at ourselves +and at others to see and feel the truth that it tells. It is not, +therefore, given to teach, so much as to remind us of what, in the +busy whirl of life, we may for a time partially forget. The benefit of +being reminded of our mortality comes to us in the way of leading us +to seek for something better than this world can give. + +The phraseology of the text is exquisitely beautiful. Notice the +smoothness of its rhythm, the simplicity of its style, the harmony of +its cadences: "_Man that is born of woman, is of few days, and full of +trouble._" This is the direct opposite of what all naturally desire. +All living human beings would rejoice in a life of many days, exempt +from trouble. "_He cometh forth like a flower._" + + "They bloom in beauty, side by side; + They fill one home with glee." + +This is pleasant to contemplate; and if the beauty could but last, +forever free from all decay, few would wish for aught of life or love +beyond the things of time and sense. But, alas! "_he is cut down_--" +and soon + + "Their graves are severed far and wide, + By mount, and stream, and sea;" + +and these graves all tell a tale of buried hopes, buried love, buried +peace. + + "The same fond mother bent at night + O'er each fair sleeping brow; + She had each folded flower in sight: + Where are those dreamers now!" + +We can but sigh our sadness in the closing lines of this beautiful +poem-- + + "Alas, for love! if thou wert all; + And naught beyond, O earth!" + +Thus do Inspiration and Poetry alike paint the sombre realities of +life and death; and point to death as the doom of life. + +But I do not love to dwell upon these sad scenes, and will turn your +attention at once to a birth that knows no death, to a flower that +never fades, to a beauty that knows no decay. And can this be true? +Can it be that there is a deathless life, a fadeless flower, a +shadowless beauty? It may be that some of you are skeptical about +things like these. You may have the unbelief that held the heart of +Aaron Burr's daughter against all comfort, when she saw her son die. +In her agony of despair she cried out: "Omnipotence itself can never +restore to me what I have lost in my only boy." + +Your faces may be turned the wrong way. You may be like Lot's wife, +_looking back_. And one might just as well talk to a pillar of salt +about the glory, and the beauty, and the bliss of the eternal state +of the righteous after death, as to talk to men whose backs are +heavenward and their faces earthward. You have no eyes in the back +part of your heads. Your ears are set to hear what is said to your +face, and to catch the sounds that meet you in front. You must turn +yourselves round. And more than all this, you must open the eyes of +your understandings that the light may shine in, and take the wads of +earthly wax out of your ears that you may hear the Savior's words of +"_spirit_ and _life_," and loose the strings of your hearts that the +_good_ and _truth_ of God's Word may enter. If you will do this I will +show you wonderful things. I will show you a fountain from which, if +you drink, you will never thirst again. Not like the fabled "Fountain +of Youth," which many sought, but never found. The fountain I mean has +been found by millions of the human race. It has quenched their thirst +forever. + +Do not, I beseech you, understand me to mean that _one_ drink of its +water is sufficient to do this. No! no! But I do mean that after you +have come to the spring and taken _one_ drink it is your privilege to +stay by it forever: nay, more; the spring, like the Rock in the +wilderness, will follow you wherever you go; and by and by a spring +will be opened up in your own heart, flowing with the same sweet water +of everlasting Life, and then you can sing: + + "I heard the voice of Jesus say, + Behold, I freely give + The Living Water: thirsty one, + Stoop down and drink, and live. + + "I came to Jesus, and I drank + Of that life-giving stream: + My thirst was quenched; my soul revived: + And now I live in Him." + +But I will show you bread also. It is wonderful bread. The Israelites, +many centuries ago, kept a representation of this bread upon the table +connected with their altar of worship; and they called it "showbread," +because it showed something to come. A kind of bread also fell upon +the face of the ground all around them, when they were encamped in the +wilderness; and they called it "MANNA." They gathered this in the +morning, and the supply never failed. But it did not keep them from +dying. They died all the same as if they had lived on wheat bread, as +we do. It is of this that Jesus says: "Your fathers did eat of the +manna in the wilderness, and they died." But our Lord, in speaking of +the Bread of Life, which is none other than the great love of God in +Christ Jesus, says: "This is the bread which cometh down out of +heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread +which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall +LIVE FOREVER." + +_Live forever!_ Does not that sound pleasant in your ears? Does it not +have the note of solid comfort? If you believe it, it does. It is on +this account that our Lord says so much about FAITH. Faith makes a man +thirsty for the water of eternal life, and faith makes a man hungry +for the bread of eternal life. Millions in heaven to-day, each one out +of his own heart, can sing: + + "I heard the voice of Jesus say: + I am the Bread of Life: + Eat of this Bread, O hungry one, + And have eternal life. + + "I took the Bread he gave me then: + My hungry soul it fed; + For this, he said, I gave my life, + And on the cross I bled." + +When our Lord was on earth he spoke to the people and to his disciples +mostly in parables. In fact we are told that "without a parable spake +he not unto them." It is from this that so many similitudes, and +metaphors, and figures of speech are found in the New Testament. Thus, +_water_ and _wine_, in many places, mean divine truth; and _bread_ +means divine love. And now I will venture to make a statement for the +consideration of every thinking mind in this house--a statement which, +if it be true, is of infinite and eternal importance--and it is this: +_Love and truth support and keep life in man's spirit, just as bread +and water support and keep life in man's body_. + +Jesus said to the tempter: "Man does not live by bread alone." Do any +of you suppose that Jesus meant to inform the devil that man needs +other kinds of food in addition, such as meats, and fruits, and +vegetables? He had no such thought. He did not mean to inform or +instruct the devil by anything he said to him. But he did mean to +teach his tried and tempted followers to the end of time that _love_ +and _truth_ are the very life and support of man's spirit. "My words," +says he, "are spirit, and they are life." Man may love, and ardently +love, what is evil. But divine truth tells him what to love. Hence our +Lord's answer is about equivalent to this: "Man does not live by bread +[_love_] alone; but by [water also, which is the _truth_ of] every +word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God." + +And now, in conclusion, I will ask you, friends, do any of you desire +everlasting life? If you do, I say unto you, Come to Jesus. Accept his +love. He loved _you_ "_and gave himself for you_." Accept him by +faith. He is the Bread of eternal Life. "Believe on the Lord Jesus +Christ, and thou shalt be saved." He invites you to come and take of +the water of life freely. This water is none other than the _truth_ of +his Word. Be filled with it. Be immersed in it. As a most impressive +emblem of your willingness to be thus, submit to the ordinance of +baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. + +By your immersion in the name of the Father you declare to the world, +and say to the church that you believe that God the Father loves you, +and wills your salvation; that you accept his love in faith, and prove +your faith by this act. By your immersion in the name of the Son you +profess your faith in the efficacy and sufficiency of what Jesus +Christ did to save you, that he is the Word made flesh, and that men +should honor him, even as they honor the Father. By your immersion in +the name of the Holy Ghost you profess your faith in the power and +everlasting presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart, to lead you +into all truth, to make you more and more holy by means of this truth, +until you are filled with it, thoroughly leavened with "the leaven of +truth and sincerity." The Holy Spirit is called "The Spirit of Truth," +and "if the truth make you free, ye shall be free indeed;" free from +falsities in your faith. What benefit can there be in believing what +is not true? Whoever yet found any substantial good in believing a +delusion, a falsehood, an error? But we do read of some who "believe a +lie that they may be damned." This sounds rough I know; but it is +their own fault, because they _love_ a lie; and "whosoever loveth a +lie" is excluded, shut out of the Holy City, because nothing but truth +and love can enter there. I again call upon every one here present to +believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and, believing, he shall have life +in his name. + + +AN ENCOURAGING THOUGHT. + +The following encouraging thought comes into Brother Kline's mind in +connection with a review of his work on Lost river. It is dated: + +SUNDAY, February 18. One man may sometimes strike a hard stone a good +many times without breaking it; when another may take the same hammer, +strike it in a slightly different place, or in a different way, and it +falls to pieces. It may be that the first man's strokes accomplished +more than he knew of. The force of his blows may have diminished the +solidity of the stone, and thus made it easier for the second man to +break. If I cannot see much fruit of my labor here now, perhaps some, +who will come after me, may. + + +THE COVE. + +SUNDAY, April 22. Brother Kline and Daniel Miller had meeting in a +place among the mountains in Hardy County, Virginia, called the Cove. +This consists of an area of country so nearly enclosed by mountains +of a somewhat circular form that it has but one outlet both for its +streams and its inhabitants. Viewed from the summit of some +neighboring peak it has the appearance of a vast amphitheatre whose +dome is the sky, whose floor is a variegation of corn and wheat fields +interspersed with beautiful green meadows, and whose walls are the +substantial mountain masonry of nature's own sublime art. Here these +two beloved brethren broke the Bread of Life to a small gathering of +people, mostly residents of the place we have described. + +Acts 3 was read. After many instructive remarks by Brother Kline +concerning the great Prophet spoken of in the latter part of the +chapter, Brother Daniel Miller followed with a brief discourse, so +clear, so pointed, so forcible, that I will give his remarks as nearly +as I can in the order and manner in which he presented them. + +He first endeavored to draw the attention of the unconverted part of +the audience specifically to these words: "_Every soul, which will not +hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed._" "I know of no +expression in the Bible," said he, "more sharply pointed than this. +The word '_destroyed_,' as here used, does not mean blotted out of +existence. But it does mean _cast out as evil_, unfit for the +companionship of God's people in heaven. In much the same sense of the +word it is said that intemperance _destroys_ men. It unfits them for +the duties of life, and for the society of the pure and the good. + +"A ship may be said to be destroyed even though its dismantled hulk +still floats upon the sea, borne by the waves and driven by the winds. +A fruit tree is destroyed when a worm, secretly gnawing at its root, +girdles it with a belt of deadness. It may still stand, but fruitless +and lifeless. An eye is destroyed when it becomes so far injured by +disease or accident as to be forever out of the reach of power to +restore its sight. + +"And is this the sense in which every soul will be destroyed who +refuses to hear this Prophet? Most assuredly it is. O, friends, how +shall I tell you the difference between a soul saved and a soul +destroyed? The one is forever happy, the other forever miserable. The +one is an eye that sees and enjoys all the beauties of earth and sky, +the other is an eye forever blind. The one is an ear that will forever +hear the melodies of heaven, the other is an ear forever deaf to all +but the wailings of hell. The one is a ship completely rigged and +fitted to bear herself nobly and safely over the surging surface of a +stormy sea, the other, a floating hulk; mastless, sailorless, only +waiting to be cast upon some desert shore to rot. + +"But no one can ever have a just excuse for being thus destroyed; for +it is plain that whosoever hears this Prophet shall be saved. Jesus +Christ is a wonderful Savior. 'He is able to save to the uttermost all +who come unto God through him.' Will not you come? 'God so loved the +world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on +him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son +into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world.' The text +does not say that GOD will destroy every soul that will not hearken to +that Prophet. I do not believe that this is meant. Our Lord says in +one place: 'Fear him, who, after he hath killed the body, is able to +destroy both soul and body in hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him.' +Who is this that is thus to be feared? I tell you that it is SIN, +impersonated in the devil. _Sin_, SIN is what is able to destroy both +soul and body in hell. Sin, disobedience to God, transgression of +God's law, has placed the seal of _death_ upon every living human body +in the world; and sin has stamped the _seal of death_ upon every +unsaved soul in hell. + +"O friends, I am _afraid_ of sin. I am afraid to disobey my God and +Savior. I am more afraid of sin than I would be of smallpox in an +infected district. I am more afraid of sin than I would be of leprosy +on the plains of Syria. That or this could only kill my body; but SIN +is able to destroy both my soul and body in hell. + +"It is plain that to hear the voice of that Prophet, who is none other +than our Lord Jesus Christ, to hear his voice with an ear to find out +what he says and what he wants us to do, and then in love and faith to +do it, is the only way any soul has by which to escape the threatened +destruction. I wish that I could implant in the heart of every sinner +here to-day such a fear of sin and its awful consequences as would +lead him to flee for refuge, to lay hold of the hope set before us in +the Gospel. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is this house of refuge. +Sinner, come to him. No, no! You need not do that, for he comes to +you, and you only need rise up and open the door and let him in." + + +A SINGULAR PHENOMENON. + +FRIDAY, June 1. This day, says the Diary, I witnessed a very wonderful +appearance about the sun. About eleven o'clock I saw a bright circle +around the sun like a rainbow, with the sun in the center. At the same +time there was another circle somewhat larger than this, on the west +side of the sun; and the east side of this ring rested upon the face +of the sun. At the points where the rings crossed each other there was +a peculiar brightness and blending of colors. The whole was a sublime +and beautiful sight. + + +_Sermon by Benjamin Bowman._ + +_Preached in Brock's Gap, Virginia, +June 17._ + + TEXT.--There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of + God.--Heb. 4:9. + + +FROM NOTES IN THE DIARY. + +We are informed by the Apostle of the Gentiles that the sojourn of the +children of Israel in the wilderness and the subsequent dealings of +Jehovah with them were examples to us who live under the gospel +dispensation. These examples comprise two great facts: + + I. Their obedience was always attended with blessings. + + II. Their disobedience was always attended with sufferings. + +These two great facts comprehend the _all_ of man's life and +experience in both worlds, from the alpha to the omega. I am well +aware that many in this assembly are not Bible readers. I will +therefore give you a brief sketch of the children of Jacob or Israel +as I find it in the books of Moses and the book of Joshua, which +comprise the first six books of the Bible. + +Jacob, who is also called Israel, was the grandson of Abraham. He had +twelve sons, of whom Joseph was the next to the youngest. These twelve +sons, with their descendants through all time, are called the children +of Israel. Later on they are also called Jews. The Jews of the present +day claim to be the descendants of these twelve sons of Jacob or +Israel. Joseph's older brothers became envious of him and sold him to +a company of merchants who carried him into Egypt. Here he was +elevated by the Lord to a position of great power, to a place and +power next to the king on his throne. + +Soon after this a very grievous famine came upon the land of Canaan, +the country in which Israel, with his other sons, still lived. They +heard that there was plenty of food in Egypt, and so Jacob sent his +sons there to buy grain for bread. When they arrived in Egypt, to +their great surprise, they found their brother Joseph there, whom they +had sold to the merchants for thirty pieces of silver. He received +them kindly, supplied their immediate wants, and very soon made +arrangements for them and their father Jacob to come down to Egypt and +live with him. And Jacob went down into Egypt and lived with his son +Joseph till he died. + +These Israelites grew and multiplied in Egypt until they became a +great people. But the time came when the Egyptians oppressed them, +laying heavy burdens upon them; and treated them as slaves. At this +time the Lord said to Moses: I have seen the affliction of my people +in Egypt; and I now send thee thither to bring them out of that land, +and into a land that I will tell thee of. Under the leadership of +Moses, the most interesting and instructive part of their history is +found. + +After a succession of miracles, wrought by Jehovah through Moses, +Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, agreed to let them go. But they had to +pass through a desert and uninhabited country, which lay between Egypt +and the land of Canaan. Pharaoh knew this, and to get revenge for the +way the Lord had compelled him to let them go he gathered a very large +army and pursued after them. Just at the time Pharaoh thought he had +them in his power, and when the whole camp of Israel trembled with +fear of being suddenly destroyed by the hosts of the Egyptians, the +Lord opened a passage for the children of Israel through the + + +RED SEA. + +The Red Sea, at this place, had a very smooth bottom of sand, as has +been discovered since, although it is very deep, and perhaps twenty +miles across. The water stood like a wall on both sides of this +passage. Some of you may think this could not be. I will here relate +the substance of a conversation, which is said to have really taken +place between the first English minister to Siam, and the king of that +country. Siam is a very hot country in the south part of Asia. There +is never any winter, or even cool weather, in that country. So the +people there know nothing of ice, and even the king himself had never +heard of any such thing. The English minister told him many things +about England and other countries, and among other things referred to +the effect of cold upon water, that it makes it hard. + +"You do not say," said the king, "that water gets _hard_ in your +country!" "Indeed I do," said the minister. "It sometimes gets so hard +all over the surface of broad rivers and lakes that men, and even +heavy beasts, may walk upon it with dry feet; and if your heavy +elephants were there, even _they_ could walk upon the hard water too." +"I have, thus far," replied the king, "been willing to listen to you, +and believe what you say; but now I _know you lie_." + +So it may be with some who read or hear the story of the children of +Israel. They may think it all reasonable and fair enough, until they +come to the passage through the Red Sea: there faith stumbles and +falls. But we must never forget that all things, not self-contradictory, +are possible with God. It is just as possible and easy for him to +crystallize the billows of an ocean as to freeze a drop of dew on a +blade of grass. At the command of Moses they enter this avenue through +the deep, walled by the waves, and roofed by the sky. Surely no eyes +but theirs ever witnessed so sublime a sight. + + "Water to right of them; + Water to left of them; + Water in front of them;" + +while over their heads passed the cloud of Jehovah's presence and +glory to follow in their rear; at once to hide them from the sight, +and to shield them from the attack of the enemy that was pursuing +them. I can hardly ever read this simple statement without a tear. The +kindness, the _love_ of the Lord in thus placing himself between +his children and their enemies, like as a tender father would shield +his offsprings from danger, always melts my heart. But this is just +the way the Lord always does. If his own dear people will but shelter +under his wings, the devil will never be able to get one of them. + +Some of you may wonder why the Lord did not close up the way behind +them, after they were all in, so that Pharaoh and his hosts would be +compelled to stay back. But God knew best. He is wiser than men. He +allowed the Egyptian army to enter. They followed just as close behind +the Israelites as the Lord would let them come. The way was still +open, and Pharaoh, no doubt, thought the way as free for him, and +quite as safe too, as for Moses. His intention was to slaughter the +whole camp of Israel as soon as his army got through. But see how he +failed! The salvation of Moses was the destruction of Pharaoh. When +the children of Israel had all reached the land in safety they +ascended the hills on the shore to look back at the long train of +Pharaoh's host. But what did their eyes behold! All at once the walls +of water broke down; and the sea closed over them. + +It seems strange to us now that Pharaoh would venture to follow the +Israelites. We now think he might have known it would prove his own +destruction. But this is one example of the folly of which Satan is +always guilty. At the very time he thinks victory is within his grasp +disappointment and defeat overtake him. Let me show you another +instance of this. + +For some time he had been plotting the destruction of our Lord Jesus +Christ. One time he tried to have him cast down a very steep place on +the side of a hill. But he failed. At another time he tried to have +him stoned to death. But the Lord escaped out of his hands. At last, +however, he succeeded in having him put to death. He entered into the +heart of a man by the name of Judas, and made arrangements with him to +betray our Lord into the hands of his enemies. The plot was successful, +and when Satan saw our Lord expiring on the cross he felt jubilant +over the victory he had gained, in the belief that he had now rid the +world of its most dangerous foe to his kingdom. But you see how it +turned out. The resurrection and glorification of our Lord have given +such a deathblow to Satan's power that, after awhile, the eyes of all +heaven will see that old Serpent, the devil, and Satan cast into the +lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. + +After the children of Israel all got through the Red Sea they formed a +camp on its eastern shore, and each family prepared the food they had +brought with them to eat. But the supply soon gave out, and as there +was none to be had in the desert where they were encamped they began +to fear that they must all starve. They complained to Moses, and he +carried their complaints to the Lord. Very soon the manna began to +fall in abundance. + + +THE MANNA. + +This was a kind of bread which fell all over the ground at night, and +looked like hoar-frost. They gathered it every morning, except the +morning of the Sabbath day. It was just what they needed to satisfy +their hunger and impart health and strength to their bodies. + +The Lord also caused a great spring of fresh water to burst out of a +solid rock near the camp; and thus they were supplied with water. + +We can hardly see how these people could ever turn against the Lord +and become unthankful and disobedient toward him after he had been so +kind and done so much for them. But they became so. They even went so +far as to make a golden calf to worship instead of Jehovah, who had +brought them through the Red Sea. For this they were sorely punished. + +After awhile Moses died, and Joshua led them into the land of Canaan, +after they had wandered about in the wilderness under Moses for the +space of forty years. The land of Canaan was a good land, flowing with +milk and honey, and if they had been willing to serve the Lord by +obeying his commands they would have found rest and peace. But they +never found either rest or peace, because they were never able to +drive their enemies from the land. They found many enemies in the land +when they entered it, and on account of their disobedience to the Lord +they were unable to rid the land of Canaan of them. This is what is +meant by the verse that next precedes my text: "_For if Joshua had +given them rest, the Lord would not have spoken of another day_." + +But as Joshua failed to do this, on account of their disobedience, we +have the words of the text: "_There remaineth therefore a rest unto +the people of God_." But where is that rest? In the beautiful lines +of Montgomery we ask: + + "Oh, where shall rest be found? + Rest for the weary soul: + 'Twere vain the ocean's depth to sound; + Or pierce to either pole. + This world can never give + The rest for which we sigh." + +Where may be found that favored spot in whose delightful shade the +soul may fold her wings and be at rest? I imagine that some of you are +now saying to yourselves, "_This rest is in heaven_." In this you are +right, in one sense. Heaven is a place of rest to those who are +prepared for it. But let me say to you in all candor and love that +_heaven_ is rest only to those who first find rest here in our Lord +Jesus Christ. He is now calling to every sin-burdened sinner: "Come +unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and _I will give you +rest_." The hardened unbeliever could no more be happy in heaven, even +if allowed to enter there, than a fish could be happy out of water. +Heaven is not the sinner's element. Besides, an unconverted sinner can +never get there. + + "Those holy gates forever bar + Pollution, sin, and shame; + For none can find admittance there, + But followers of the Lamb." + +Rest must first be found in Jesus by coming to him, accepting his +yoke, and working in his service. And to encourage all to do this he +himself says: "_My yoke is easy, and my burden is light_." If you want +to find out how easy his yoke is, and how light his burden, take it +upon you, and see if it does not give your soul rest. + +I sincerely believe that Charles Wesley, long ago, gave expression to +feelings similar to those of some in this house, in the lines of a +beautiful hymn, a part of which I will repeat. See if it does not find +an echo in your soul: + + "O, that my load of sin were gone! + O, that I could at last submit, + At Jesus' feet to lay it down! + To lay my soul at Jesus' feet! + + "Rest for my soul, I long to find: + Savior of all, if mine thou art, + Give me thy meek and lowly mind; + And stamp thine image on my heart. + + "Break off the yoke of inbred sin: + And fully set my spirit free: + _I cannot rest till pure within:_ + Till I am wholly lost in thee." + +You will realize the truthfulness of every one of these lines by +coming to Jesus and fully consecrating your life to him. But rest does +not necessarily imply _inactivity_. It means a heart and mind at +peace. It means a heart filled with love to God and his people. It +means a life of good works, wrought in righteousness, peace and joy in +the Holy Ghost. This is the rest that remaineth unto the people of +God. It begins here; it goes on eternally in the heavens. + + +THE YELLOW SPRINGS (at present Orkney Springs). + +This health and pleasure resort is near the head of Stony Creek, in +Shenandoah County, Virginia. It is now universally known by the name +of "Orkney Springs." It is beautifully situated near the eastern base +of the Church mountain. From the yellow color of the sediment, left by +its chalybeate waters, it first got the name of Yellow Springs. + +It was, for many years, a favorite health resort for the German +population of Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties in Virginia. Almost +every Sunday during the "spring season," there would be preaching +there by the ever earnest German Baptist Brethren. Attentive audiences +would assemble under the shade trees, and on rustic seats listen to +the plain but earnest sermons of such men as John Kline, Peter Nead, +Samuel Wampler and others. All was quiet and order. But the goddess of +fashion soon found her way to this lovely spot, and a long train of +worshipers at her shrine, robed in rustling silks and sparkling with +jewels, followed her leadings. In a few years not only the character, +but the very name of the place was changed. It is at this time a very +popular pleasure resort for the rich and fashionable. + +On SUNDAY, August 19, Brother Kline delivered a very interesting and +instructive discourse at the above-named place. It is with profound +emotions of gratitude that I report this sermon. I was there myself +and heard it. Whilst I do not retain in memory much of the substance +of it, being at the time very young, I do well remember the feelings +of veneration and regard for the preacher with which his earnest +manner and kind looks impressed me. Little did I then think that +fifty-five years from that date I would be expanding that discourse, +and thus preparing it for the eyes of the world, from the leaflets of +the Diary that was then being faithfully kept by that good man. + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at Orkney Springs, +Sunday, August 19._ + + TEXT.--Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life + freely.--Rev. 22:17. + +In view of our surroundings and the attractions that have drawn so +many of us to this quiet and beautiful mountain retreat, I feel that +the subject selected for to-day suits the occasion. + +When I look at a mountain spring and see the wavelets playing on their +pebbly beds, or chasing one another down their steep descent, I am +ever led to think how free from all the taints of sin these innocent +drops of water are! Not one of them has ever transgressed the divine +law of its being. Not one has ever failed in a single point to fulfill +its mission. Are you thirsty? They never refuse to quench your thirst. +Does your field need rain? They never refuse to wet the ground. Always +ready, they cheerfully serve the behests of God and man. + +The diversity of the applications and uses of water, the variety of +its forms--its frozen state in that of ice, its fluid state in that of +a liquid, its aëriform state in that of clouds and other modes of +atmospheric suspension--all these, together with its transparency and +cleansing power make it a most appropriate emblem of DIVINE TRUTH. As +such, water is much spoken of by the prophets in the Old Testament, +and by our Lord in the New. I will here quote some passages from each: + +"_Then with gladness shall ye draw waters out of the wells of +salvation._" Isaiah 12:3. What can be meant by the "wells of +salvation," but the _fountains of truth_ in God's Word? + +By way of describing the _abundance_ of the supply of truths from this +source I will here quote from the forty-first chapter of Isaiah, as +follows: "_I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the +midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and +the dry land springs of water: ... that they may see, and know, and +consider, and understand_." One man is a _hillside_; another is a +_valley_. One man is a _desert_; you think he never can be made to +produce anything. But he shall be supplied, and thus be made to +blossom as the rose. Others are _dry land_ of a general character; but +there is water enough to make all fruitful: so that instead of the +thorn, the myrtle; and instead of the thistle, the fig; and instead of +the deadly upas, the olive shall grow. + +In Jeremiah's description of the departure of the Jews from the TRUTHS +of God's Word we find the following complaint against them from the +mouth of the Lord himself, recorded in Jer. 2:13, "_My people have +committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living +waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no +water_." This can mean nothing, spiritually, but a departure from the +TRUTH of God as revealed, and substituting in its place some false +doctrine of man's own invention. + +Jesus said: "_If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink_." For, +said he: "_My words are spirit, and they are life_." His words are the +water of life. This explains my text. + +It might surprise some of you if I were to point to that spring yonder +and say, "There flows the water of life." But would I not tell the +truth? Can man or beast live one moment without it? Let us think a +little. What is your blood? It is water, holding in solution the +various elements with which your bones, and sinews, and muscles, and +nerves, and other tissues of your body are to be supplied and +nourished. Can man or beast live a moment without blood? Then they +cannot live a moment without water. Can trees and plants live a moment +without sap? They cannot, because their sap is their blood. But the +water of that spring, indispensable as it is to your bodily life, +ceases as to its uses in this respect when this end is met; and if man +had no life other than that of mere corporeal or animal existence, no +other water would ever be demanded by him. In that case there would be +no need of the invitation given in the text. + +But every human being has a twofold nature. He has a _spiritual_ body +as well as a _natural_ body. Paul says: "If there is a natural body, +there is also a spiritual body." Man's natural or physical +organization consists of _flesh and blood_. Paul calls this the +"_outer man_." This is man's animal or sensuous nature. Man's +spiritual body consists of _will_ and _understanding_. Paul calls this +the _inner man_; because it is the interior, "hidden man of the +heart." This is capable of becoming the higher, nobler, better part of +man, because it is the "house" of his affections and thoughts, of his +loves and enjoyments. + +There is a wonderful difference between the two natures; and yet the +one corresponds to the other so perfectly that in all of man's +experiences, in all that pertains to his life in this world, the two +natures make _one man_. Whilst this is so, we must not forget that our +natural bodies are _mortal_; they will soon die. But our spiritual +bodies are _immortal_; they will never die. This is quite as true of +the evil as of the good. The spiritual bodies or souls of men will +live on, after the death of their natural bodies, through the +countless ages of eternity,--the good, in the enjoyments of ineffable +bliss; the evil, in the sufferings of deepest woe. + +And is this true? Can it be that one or the other of these experiences +is sure to be realized by every one present here to-day? Can it be so? +Or am I here just beating the air to make you and me hear myself talk? +I solemnly protest that I am not here for that purpose. I have a +higher aim, a nobler end. But let me point you to my authority for +what I say, and show you the Rock on which my faith is built. All the +authority which any man dare claim on this subject is found in God's +revealed Word. I will here quote a few passages: + +"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels +with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him +shall be gathered all the nations; and he shall separate them one from +another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.... Then +shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my +Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.... Then shall he say +also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into +everlasting fire.... And these shall go away into everlasting +punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." + +These words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; he here portrays, +in one grand view, the good state of the righteous in the next world +and the evil state of the unrighteous. In the very inmost of my heart +I believe what our Lord here says, and out of the abundance of my +heart my mouth now speaks. I also sincerely believe, friends, that +every one here to-day can most surely determine for himself, even +while living in this world, whether he will be happy in heaven +forever, or miserable in an everlasting hell. You may justly ask, +"How can this be determined?" + +I answer that a man's life in this world determines this for every +individual, as surely as the fruit of a tree makes the quality of the +tree known. Notice these passages from Paul's writings: "He that +soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that +soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." "To +be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and +peace." "God will reward every man according to his works." + +Every intelligent man can know with certainty what kind of seed he is +sowing. Is he sowing the seeds of love and good will to his neighbor, +the seeds of peace, and order, and comfort, the seeds of faith, and +hope, and love? He surely can know what his _will_ is, at least; and +if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted of a man according to +what he hath; and if he does his all it is the widow's mite in God's +eye. Every intelligent man can know with certainty whether he loves +God or loves him not. His readiness to keep his commandments is the +proof of this both ways. I tell you, friends, there is no getting +around this. Your obedience to our Lord is the unquestionable and +undeviating test of your love. "He that loveth me, keepeth my words. +He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings." "A good man, out of +the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things: but an +evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth evil +things." Is not this plain? + +It may now be asked, "How is an evil man to become good?" No question +of deeper interest can ever be asked. No answer of deeper importance +can ever be given. The Lord direct me in this. Relying on his Word, I +answer, that the very first step in the direction of this change is to +respond to the invitation given in my text: "_Whosoever will, let him +take of the water of life freely_." Jesus says to Nicodemus: "Except a +man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the +kingdom of God." _To be born of water_ is to _drink_ of the water of +_life_--the TRUTH of God's Word--by _hearing it_, by _loving it_, by +_believing it_, by _obeying it_, until it makes a new man out of +him,--a new man in the image of Christ our Lord. + +As a most impressive and appropriate emblem of this change water +baptism has been ordained by the Lord; and every convert to Jesus +Christ is commanded to submit, cheerfully in love, to this ordinance. +Baptism, say what you please, is one of the first fruits of this +change. To the church it is the external act of the internal birth. To +be _born of the Spirit_ is to live the life and enjoy the blessedness +of the kingdom of God, which is a life of righteousness, a life of +peace, a life of joy in the Holy Ghost. + +All this is effected by taking the water of life freely, by drinking +in the TRUTH of God's Word because one loves it, because one desires +in the heart to be saved, because one desires in the heart to glorify +God and enjoy him forever. + +"If any man thirst," says Jesus, "let him come unto me, and drink." +The water of this mineral spring here can do no one any good except he +drink it. But not one of us can go to that spring yonder and take a +drink of water from it without the power of God in us. "In him we +live, and move, and have our being." But he gives us the power so +freely that in the use of it we are unconscious of any power within us +but our own. So with drinking of the _water of life_. The power of +every one to drink is all of the Lord, but is so freely given by him, +and so freely used by us, that it is to all intents and purposes the +very same as if it were all of ourselves: and this makes us +accountable. + +Jesus wants every man's will to drink the water of life. A sick man +may come here to regain his health. But upon tasting it he may say, "I +do not like this water; I have no thirst for it; let me have some of +another kind." But his physician says: "You must drink it or you will +die." He obeys his physician and drinks the water. After awhile he +begins to feel better, and as his health improves the water tastes +more natural to him; and by and by, as he regains his health, he loves +it and feels loath to leave the spring. But no one ever need leave the +fountain of divine love and truth: for if a man drink of it freely to +the healing of his soul, it will be in him "a well of water, springing +up into everlasting life" and he will love it more and more. + +In a large spring you will hardly ever see all the water come from one +orifice or opening. It boils up through the sand and pebbles in many +places; and one observer will think this the main stream, and another +that. So with the water of eternal life. It is not all found in one +verse; nor in one chapter: nor in one book even. Jesus said to the +devil: "Man liveth _by every word_ that proceedeth out of the mouth of +God." + +Ah, friends, time would fail me, were I to attempt to bring to your +minds the many precious promises we have in Jesus Christ. His Word is +full of them; and I most affectionately exhort every one here to-day +to go to that Word and find the water of eternal life. + + You may sit by the spring; + And in your soul you may sing: + + "I heard the voice of Jesus say: + Behold, I freely give + The Living Water; thirsty one, + Stoop down, and drink, and live. + + "I came to Jesus, and I drank + Of that life-giving stream: + My thirst was quenched; my soul revived; + And now I live in him." + + +DIRECT FROM THE DIARY. + +THURSDAY, October 4, 1838. Attended the funeral of one of Brother +Christian Niswander's sons. His age was thirteen years and one month. + +MONDAY, October 8. Attended the funeral of another one of Christian +Niswander's children to-day. Age, nine years, nine months and +twenty-one days. + +SUNDAY, October 14. I attended the funeral of Susanna, daughter of +Brother Christian Niswander, to-day. She was fifteen years and nearly +seven months old. This is the third child that this deeply bereaved +family have been called to part with in the brief space of ten days. +Gladly would we pour into their bleeding bosoms the oil of consolation. +We weep with them that weep. Our tears mingle with theirs. We lead the +way with them to the throne of grace. Our Father on high, pity them, +and do for them exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think. +Help them to feel that their dear children are not dead; that their +deathless spirits have soared above all sickness, sorrow, pain and +death. Thus we pray, and thus we try to comfort. But our feeble, +tender, sympathizing natures sink under the load of grief; and the eye +of faith but feebly catches the rays of hope that beam from the pages +of Heavenly Truth. Verily, here we see through a glass darkly. + + +_Sermon by Elder Daniel Garber._ + +_Preached at Arnold's Meetinghouse, +Sunday, October 28._ + +This sermon was delivered in the course of a visit brethren Kline and +Garber were making among the churches and Brethren in Hampshire +County, West Virginia. They left home October 25, and returned October +31, by way of Moorefield and the South Fork in Pendleton County, West +Virginia. + + TEXT.--Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and + walk in love.--Eph. 5:1, 2. + +Some one has said of this letter to the Ephesians that it is the whole +Gospel in a nutshell. This may be true; but I must confess for myself +that in some parts the shell is so very hard, that in my efforts to +crack it the broken fragments, under the hammer of investigation, fly +out of sight, with the kernel still sticking in them. It may be that +Peter had some of these hard shells in mind when he said: "Our beloved +brother Paul hath written many things hard to be understood; which +they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they also do the other +scriptures, unto their own destruction." The Lord forbid that I should +thus do with any of the Scriptures. + +I am delighted to say, in full view of all this, that there is not +much danger of the honest seeker for truth being misled by anything +Brother Paul has left on record. If there is any danger at all of this +kind, I think it is to be found in giving what he says on election and +predestination a wrong interpretation. I have been frequently asked +how I interpret his strikingly bold utterances on this subject, and +how I reconcile them with my belief in the absolute freedom of the +human will. + +In the first place, I unhesitatingly profess my belief in the absolute +freedom of man's will. How else could man comply with the injunction +given in the text: "Walk in love?" If he has no will of his own, why +give him a command? This freedom of man's will is a logical necessity. +Reason demands it. Now, let us look at this a little. If man is not +free to choose between good and evil; between right and wrong; between +truth and falsity; wherein lies the reasonableness of instructing him? +of exhorting him to do what is right, and to shun what is wrong? of +commanding him to do good, with promises of reward for his obedience, +and threatenings of judgment and fiery indignation as the sure +penalties of his disobedience and sin? + +Some admit the freedom of man's will to do evil, but not to do good. +But do you not see that if this be true man's will is only half +free--free to act in one direction, but not in another? On this +assumption, where is the reasonableness of giving him admonitions, +invitations and entreaties to do good, when he has not the power +within him to comply? + +You may answer by quoting the Lord's words: "_Without me ye can do +nothing_." I fully believe these words of our Lord. But if you apply +them specifically to the will, they prove that men can do neither good +nor evil without the Lord. This you may not admit; but I believe it is +just what our Lord meant. All life is from him as God. All beings, the +evil as well as the good, "live and move in him." I believe that our +Lord is, every hour and every moment of every man's life, seeking to +turn the heart, the WILL of the man from evil to good, from darkness +to light, and from the power of Satan to himself. "He causeth his sun +to rise on the evil and the good; and sendeth his rain on the just and +on the unjust." + +The light and heat of the sun, as well as the falling of the rain, are +beautiful emblems of the life-giving love of our heavenly Father. He +freely imparts the power to every one who hears the words of gospel +grace, to love and obey him if he will; to turn from his sins, and +walk in newness of life. It is the goodness of God that leads men to +repentance; and repentance is neither more nor less, and nothing else +than a change of one's love or _will_ from evil to good; from the +love of self and the world to God supremely. + +Thus briefly have I sought to prepare your minds for a few remarks I +propose making on the doctrine of election. + +Election simply means _a choosing_. It is an undeniable fact that our +Lord Jesus Christ elects, chooses, accepts every one that truly +repents or turns his heart from evil to good. "_Him that cometh unto +me_," says he, "_I will in no wise cast out_." "_He that believeth and +is baptized_, SHALL BE SAVED." "WHOSOEVER WILL, _let him take of the +water of life freely_." TRUTH is the broad platform on which the +_elect_ of God forever stand; and LOVE is the golden chain that first +drew and forever binds them there. + + +PREDESTINATION. + +There is not a living thing upon the face of the earth but is +predestinated to a certain end. The horse, in his very _creation_, is +predestinated to be the horse in kind, and to serve the end of his +creation; and his nature and characteristics as such admit of no +change. Predestination is one of the essentials of God's eternal +order. If the horse, or the ox, or anything else which God has +created, could be changed from the nature and order of its creation, +confusion would be the inevitable result. + +I do not wonder that Paul wrote what he did upon predestination, +because it implies the immutable, eternal order of God's love and +wisdom. Heaven and earth may pass away, but Christ's love shall never +pass away from the lowliest and poorest soul that loves and obeys him. +His love to Christ is the seal of his predestination to eternal life. + +"He that believeth the Son hath life; but he that believeth not the +Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." This is +the sum of election and predestination. God's eternal love has given +to man the way of man's salvation. All who choose that way are on that +very account elected and predestinated to eternal life in heaven. +_Elected_, because this fits them for heaven: _predestinated_, because +it is God's eternal purpose to save all such. Predestination applies +equally to the impenitent; because, according to the same plan and the +principles involved in it, they must be forever lost. + +Nothing can be more reasonable than that God's elect, the people of +his choice, should be holy and without blame before him in love; that +they should be followers of God as dear children, and walk in love. +This is both the cause and the proof of their election to eternal +life. + +If you will take the pains to look into a dictionary for the word +WALK, you will find that it means: _To conduct one's self; to order +one's life_. Every man feels in himself the power to order his own +life according to what is just and right in the sight of God and men. +To regard man in any other light would be to place him on a level with +the brute. It would be taking away from him his moral feelings, and +depriving him of the just exercise of his will through the +understanding. Whilst man feels in himself this power, still he must +not forget that all life is from God, and that without God man is +nothing. "_Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved +us._" And every true child of his can say: "_I love him because he +first loved me_." + +Sinner, let me say to you that God loves you and wills your salvation. +But he cannot save you without your will to be saved by him. You must +reciprocate his love. You must answer his call. You must obey his +voice. His Holy Spirit is now saying to you: "Be thou reconciled to +God. Turn thou, turn thou, for why wilt thou die?" You need not pause +and wonder whether or not you are one of his elect. I can answer this +myself. I say to you that in your present state you most assuredly are +_not_ one of his elect. But if you truly repent of your sins by giving +your heart to him in love and obedient faith, just as surely as his +Word is true, you will become to be one of his elect; for election is +salvation. But if you stay away, who is to blame? "_He that will not +plough by reason of the cold, shall beg in harvest._" If you fail to +sow, where will your ingathering be? But note this: "He that soweth to +his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to +the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." To sow to the +Spirit is to do the will of God from love to God; and to all who do +this, the promise is sure. + +Brethren and sisters, I must exhort you to remember the text. Don't +forget it as you go home after meeting closes. When you get home look +for it. Some of you, I fear, have already forgotten the place where it +is found; so I will tell you again. It is the first, and part of the +second verse of the fifth chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. +These are the words: "_Be ye therefore followers of God as dear +children; and walk in love_." + +You know that good children imitate good parents. They follow their +examples. Now ye are called to follow the leadings of God, to imitate +the examples of love he has set before you. Let me present to you some +of these: "_If any of you have a quarrel against any, even as Christ +forgave you, so also do ye_." This is the best way to settle a quarrel +I have ever found. + +Here is another: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do +unto you, do ye even so unto them; for this is the law and the +prophets." This means that all that God has ever spoken to man is to +the end that each one love his neighbor as he loves himself. No one +can be a true neighbor who does not love God. The neighbor, then, that +is to be loved in this way must be a brother or sister in the Lord; +and none but a brother or sister in the Lord is capable of loving in +this way, and to this degree. So you see that love to the neighbor, +such as the law of Christ sets forth, implies supreme love to God. +This love makes heaven here, and there, and everywhere. + +Here is one more: "Love not in _word_ only, but in deed and in truth. +He that hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and +shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love +of God in him?" + +Brethren, the devil does not like the odor of CHARITY and FAITH in the +church. It is worse in his nose than the smoke of burning brimstone. +If you want to keep him out of the church, all you have to do is to +keep brightly burning the fire of love on the altar of every heart; +and from these altars, all together, there will ascend the odor of an +incense that will put the devil to flight and keep him away forever. + +FRIDAY, December 7. Brother Kline, in company with brethren Brower and +Rodecap, started to + + +THE PASTURES. + +The Pastures comprise a considerable scope of rich grazing country in +the western part of Augusta County and the eastern part of Highland +County, Virginia. This section is watered by two principal rivers of +small size, respectively called the Calf Pasture and the Cow Pasture. +They are tributaries of the James river in Virginia. Here these +brethren preached day and night for some time. + +We rarely find anything amusing in the Diary. Brother Kline's mind and +heart were too deeply imbued with sincerity in religion and the life +flowing out of it, to give place to things of a light or trivial +character. But for once, on this journey, we find one entry that +brings a smile to the face: One evening, when they were all seated +around the fire at Brother Henry Snell's the conversation turned upon +a company of Indians that had, shortly before, passed along that way. +They asked permission to spend the night in one of Brother Snell's +outbuildings, which was cheerfully granted. + +These Indians, Brother Snell went on to relate, had killed a wild +turkey on their way that day, and in the evening asked the family for +a suitable vessel in which to cook it. This being furnished, they went +on to prepare the turkey for the pot. This they did in true Indian +style. Two squaws went through the performance. One took hold of one +wing, and the other took hold of the other wing; and thus between the +two most of the feathers were removed. They then opened the bird, +removing such of the internal viscera as were thought not fit for +food, washed it in a vessel of water, and then put it on to cook _in +the very same water they had washed it in_. + +Brother Kline could not help applying the last point in the above +incident to some features in the lives of men. He says: "That minister +who gets up and in a beautiful and glowing discourse sets forth the +Christian 'cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit;' and +then comes down to mix with the world, and follow its fashions and +vanities, _is cooking his turkey in the same water he washed it in_. +That professor of religion who, to appearance, makes a very humble +confession of his sins, with seeming repentance and deep contrition of +heart, only to go away and thrust himself again into the filthiness of +his former life, is cooking _his_ turkey in the same water he washed +it in." + + +REFLECTIONS ON THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR. +FROM THE ENTRY OF DECEMBER 31. + +This evening closes the work of another year. The record of this year +is now nearly complete. Have I any idea of that record? I think I +have. Of one thing I feel sure. It has not been kept with paper, pen +and ink. Neither has it been written in the skies. Each one's yearly +record is written by no hand but his own, and upon no tablet but that +of his own heart. Each one's LIFE, therefore, is his record. This, +before God and the angels, is a faithful transcript of his mind and +heart within. "A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, +bringeth forth good things; likewise an evil man, out of the evil +treasure of his heart, bringeth forth evil things." The good things of +the one and the evil things of the other constitute the life record of +every man. This makes character, and character is the basis on which +men make up their opinions of one another; but the HEART, out of which +the character grows, is the BOOK that will be opened before the +throne, out of which every one will be judged. A _good heart_ is each +redeemed saint's BOOK OF LIFE: and an evil heart is each lost soul's +book of condemnation. + +Hence we are told by our Lord "that every idle word that men shall +speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment;" and +that "whatsoever is spoken in the ear in the closet shall be +proclaimed upon the housetop." Good words leave the lines of their +light upon the heart's love-tablet; but evil words leave their shadows +in the chambers of the soul, and deepen the darkness there. + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached on Lost River, West Virginia, +March 3._ + + TEXT.--Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and + broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many be they + that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the + way, that leadeth unto life, and few be they that find it.--Matt. + 7:13, 14. + +It is declared that our Lord spake to his disciples in parables; "and +without a parable spake he not unto them." A parable is a brief +statement of such _facts_ as men are well acquainted with; which +facts are designed to correspond to or represent things they are +_not_ well acquainted with. Every parable, then, carries with it +two lines of thought. The one line is natural, and is based upon the +natural things given in the parable. The other line is spiritual, and +follows the natural line, as a shadow follows its substance. My text +is not properly a parable, but it is in the parabolic form, and must +be treated as such. + +We notice at once the two gates and the two ways. We also notice that +these two ways or roads lead in opposite directions and to opposite +destinies. These statements the simplest mind can lay hold of. Even +young children know what gates are, and what roads are. They can also +look in thought toward the ends of roads, and comprehend, in some +measure at least, what is meant when they are told that one road ends +in a great fire that will burn forever, and that the other ends in a +delightful garden where flowers of beauty and fragrance, with fruits +of exquisite taste and healthfulness, hang upon trees and vines of +unfading loveliness. + +It is never necessary to speak to the simple-minded man or child about +the freedom of the human will. Their lessons in this are learned from +observation and experience. By experience every one knows that he has +the power to choose what he likes and to reject what he does not like. +Even beasts, and birds, and reptiles do the same. They choose and +appropriate the foods they like. They mate together according to the +same free will, which is their love. Birds select their roosting +places, and construct their nests where and how they will. "Foxes have +holes;" but this is so because God first made the caverns in the +rocks, and the foxes afterward chose them for their habitations. Every +unit in the whole animate world, not only chooses the place of its +abode, but also the modes and means of its subsistence. Even plants in +a state of nature conform to this general law. Shall man, born to +glorify God and enjoy him forever, be cut short in the free exercise +of his will? I cannot believe it. But I do believe that the brightest +saint in heaven is where he is because it was first his will to go +there; and being there, it is forever his will to stay. + +I am not ignorant of the arguments advanced by the other side. Many +good, but, I believe misguided men, hold the opinion that man is so +depraved as to his will, so lost to all sense and understanding of +what is good, that he is wholly incapable of choosing the right and +shunning the wrong. But I believe the Lord knows just what man can do +and what man cannot do. And it is a thing self-evident to my mind that +Goodness and Wisdom has never yet commanded man to do anything that is +out of man's power to do. + +Let us grant that man is dead in trespasses and sins, as Paul +represents him. But does not Jesus say: "My words are spirit and they +are life"? The Lord's words have LIFE in them; and if man will but +hear them with his natural ear, as you now hear me speak, and then be +not a forgetful hearer, but be a doer of the Word; this man shall be +blessed in his deed; and soon be filled with the new life of God. + +The text opens in these words: "Enter ye in at the narrow gate." This +is impossible for any one to do without his knowing what the narrow +gate is, and where it is. Whilst we have no direct and positive +information upon this point in connection with the text, we still may +learn something by noticing into what it opens. The narrow gate opens +into the narrow way, and this leads to LIFE. The narrow gate and the +narrow way are one. I mean by this that entering the narrow gate means +making a start in the direction of a good life, and walking in the +narrow way is progress in a good life. But where is the gate, and +where is the way? I answer: + + "The Gate is before you, and so is the Way; + The Gate is wide open, and no toll to pay." + +and this gate is our Lord Jesus Christ as set forth in his Word. + + "Where'er we seek Him, He is found; + And every place is holy ground!" + +But, my dear hearers, do not for a moment imagine that it is a small +thing to make the change here implied. First, it means a change of the +heart or will. Of course no one ever leaves a road that leads in one +direction, to turn right around and enter upon another that leads in +the very opposite direction, without a great change of mind. Second, +it implies that there has been new light imparted, new truth received +into the mind. This new truth teaches the understanding that it is +neither wise nor _safe_ to keep the broad road, because it leads to +destruction. Fear of destruction, then, on the one hand, and the love +of life on the other are involved in this change. + +I am just now reminded of what we are told in history that a great +man, many years ago, left his home in Europe and came across the +Atlantic ocean in his own ship to hunt for the fountain of youth that +was confidently believed to exist somewhere in the wilds of America. +This fountain, it was said, possessed the virtue of imparting youth to +the aged, and life and health to the sick and dying. To the dying it +was, _Drink and live_; to the aged it was, _Bathe in its waters_ and +return to the _vigor_ and _beauty_ of _youth_. As this great man was +far advanced in age he thought it would be WISE to make an effort to +find this fountain, which never has existed but in the imaginations of +silly men; and never will exist in any other way in this world. Of +course he failed to find it; and, worst of all, he died in the vain +effort. + +But not so with any that have ever entered into the narrow way through +the narrow gate. It surely leads to life, as thousands now living in +this world can testify. It does appear to me that this change is quite +as rational, quite as harmonious with man's common sense, as anything +that he does in the daily course of his life's experiences and +operations. The intelligent, rational man acts from reason in all the +affairs of life. What he loves he calls good, and what he fears or +hates he calls evil. This he shuns and that he covets, and puts forth +every effort of mind and body to gain it. + +In this fact we find the truth of our Lord's words verified: "The +children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children +of light." The word GENERATION in this place means _state_ or +_condition_ from which proceeds a given manner of life, and daily +attention to business. The men of the world are active as to their +works, and watchful as to their interests. This watchfulness and +activity is what our Lord calls their _wisdom_, and in its degree it +exceeds that of the children of light. Our minds and wills act as +freely in choosing the things of religion, and doing the duties +connected therewith, as they do in the things that belong to this life +only. + +But we must not forget that every one who enters in by the narrow gate +is but a child in experience when he first enters. He is but a lamb. +But the Good Shepherd and Father go with him, leading him and feeding +him. Like Enoch, he walks with God. + +The text does not say that the narrow way _is_ life; but that it +_leads_ unto life. To my mind it is clear that whenever the "sinner +forsakes his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," he then and +there enters in by the narrow gate. This is repentance. He returns to +the Lord by the narrow way: and the Lord is life. + +It may well be asked why the gate and the way are narrow. The narrow +gate is the TRUTH of God's Word as it is first found and loved: and +the narrow way is the same TRUTH as it is followed and obeyed. Truth +is always a straight or narrow track, because any departure therefrom, +either to the right or left, is error and falsity. + +Jesus says: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be +saved." This door is just as narrow as the gate. He also says: "I am +the way." As such, he is so narrow that, as the prophet represents, it +is as if a fire of destruction were on the one hand and a flood of +wrath on the other. Ah, Brethren, the truth can never be made to bend. +It is as the builder's line to the foundation; and as the plumb line +to the column. + +To such as walk in the narrow way our Lord says: "I give unto them +eternal life; and they shall never perish." Is not this encouraging? +It is to be in the Lord, and the Lord in us. It is to be a live and +fruitful branch of the true Vine. It is to be a son of God, an heir of +God, and a joint heir with Christ. It is, when the coil of mortality +is laid aside, to shine as the sun in the kingdom of our Father in +heaven. + +It would afford me much joy to find some here to-day ready to enter in +by the narrow gate. Do I hear some one say: "I feel that I ought to +leave the broad road that ends in destruction, but I cannot"? It is +true, you can of yourself do nothing. If left to yourself you would +never draw another breath; you would never again move your hand or +foot. But for the life-supporting power of the good Lord you would +instantly be a dead man or woman in every sense. Do not forget that in +God you live, and move, and have your being. This is as certainly and +as literally true of every man's natural life as of his spiritual +life. God is constantly present with you; for without him you can do +nothing. + +Now, since he is ever present with you, sustaining a life which you +acknowledge is not being spent in his service and to his glory, will +he not much more give you at the same time power and love and faith to +do his will? O, try him. Try my Lord in one sincere, humble, honest, +fervent prayer. Say, Lord, open my eyes. Take away my heart of stone, +and give me a heart of flesh. "Create in me a clean heart; and renew a +right spirit within me." My friend, the moment you sincerely wish to +do his will by loving and obeying him he will enable you to do so, as +surely as he now enables you to rise to your feet and walk home, or go +wherever you will and do what you choose. + +It is not a small thing the Lord means when he says: "Consider the +lilies of the field, ... they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet +I say unto you, That Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one +of these. If God so clothe the grass of the field, ... shall he not +much more clothe you?" + +My friend, let me here impress your mind with the sublime truth that +it is quite as much in accordance with the Lord's way, and quite as +harmonious with his love, to clothe you with power to do his will as +to clothe the grass of the field with beauty. He gives life and beauty +to every sparrow. Are you not more in his eye than many sparrows? Even +the very hairs of your head are all numbered. O friend, think of it. +He even hears the young ravens when they cry. And will he let your +soul perish? Will he suffer your naked soul to sink into hell when you +cry to him for help? Perish the thought! For it "is a faithful saying, +and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world +to save sinners"; not to condemn them. + +WHAT IS IT TO BE SAVED? Let the Lord answer: "_He that heareth my +word, and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall +not come into condemnation; but is passed out of death unto life_." +This is salvation. + + +THE FOREST. + +This is a section of country in the southwestern part of Shenandoah +County, Virginia. In early days it was very densely timbered, and its +few scattered inhabitants were said to live in the forest or woods. In +this way they were locally distinguished from those living in the +eastern part of the county, along the North Fork of the Shenandoah +river. At present it is one of the wealthiest and most highly +cultivated sections of the county. The population is largely composed +of German Baptist Brethren. Many of these are now distinguished for +piety and usefulness. In this number we find the names of Peter Myers, +Benjamin Wine, Daniel Wine, Christian Haller, Samuel Garber, Martain +Garber and others, with their descendants, many of whom are church +members. Brother Daniel Hays married in this section, and formerly +resided there; but he now lives near Broadway, in Rockingham County, +Virginia. + +Among the deceased from this section, posterity will long remember +the name of Jacob Wine, who was, for many years, so noted for his +liberality and activity in the ministry. His uncle, Michael Wine, was, +perhaps, no less distinguished for his outspoken opposition against +everything he did not like, as well as for his earnest defense of what +he believed to be good and true. Such men, by force of character in +the direction of right, secretly carve their names upon the rock of +memory, where they defy the surges of time. + +Here may be seen the old Flat Rock meetinghouse, a substantial brick +structure, so-called from the rock on which it stands. This is +limestone, and presents a comparatively smooth and level surface, +probably two hundred and fifty feet in length, by two hundred feet in +breadth. The formation is wonderful, and affords a striking emblem of +the Rock of Truth on which are founded the doctrines and practices of +the Brethren. + +May 10, 11 and 12 were spent by Brother Kline in visiting, mostly with +a view to religious conversations and instructions. In these three +days he visited Martain Good's, Abraham Glick's, Christian Garber's, +David Wampler's, Peter Nead's, George Kline's and Daniel Glick's. + +THURSDAY, May 13, there was council meeting at Christian Garber's. +John Wine, John Harshberger and Joseph Miller were elected for +speakers. Martain Miller and Solomon Garber were elected for deacons. + +SUNDAY, June 6. Meeting at the Flat Rock. I baptized Emanuel Grabil +and Christian Funkhouser. John 3 was read. + +SUNDAY, June 13. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Matthew 3 was read. I +baptized James Mauck and Susanna Shull. + +SUNDAY, July 18. Meeting at Jesse Whetzel's on Lost River. Acts 3 was +read. Brother Daniel Miller is with me. In the afternoon we had +meeting again, and Brother Jacob Motz was baptized. + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at William Fitzwater's, +August 8._ + + TEXT.--We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to + God.--2 Cor. 5:20. + +Every chapter and every verse of Gospel Truth discloses the love of +God in one way or another. Our Lord came into the world, not to +condemn the world, but to save the world; and all the words that make +that salvation known to men are words of love. I am sure we think too +little upon + + +THE LOVE OF GOD. + +In my talks with sinners I very often discover in them a sort of +impression that God is their enemy. I would not, on any account, +intentionally misrepresent a single individual; either as to the +opinions he may hold or the secret sentiments he may entertain; but I +am impressed with the belief that if the hearts of many, if not all, +unconverted persons could be laid open to view, they would in their +inmost recesses disclose the belief or impression that God is not +their friend; that he does not wish them well; that he is only bearing +with them until it suits his time to cut them off and send them to +hell. This sentiment springs from a consciousness of sins indulged and +duties neglected. Hence, when such fall into deep affliction, when +danger threatens or destruction impends, they call on God to have +mercy upon them; and beg him to turn away his wrath. + +A wrong interpretation of many passages in the Bible tends to foster +this impression. I will here quote a few passages of this kind, and +then interpret them according to what I believe to be the truth. When +the children of Israel were about ready to cross the Jordan over into +the land of Canaan, Moses said to them: "Remember, and forget not, how +thou provokedst the Lord thy God TO WRATH in the wilderness.... Also +in Horeb ye provoked the Lord TO WRATH, so that the Lord WAS ANGRY +with you, to have destroyed you." Deut. 9:7, 8. + +The Old Testament abounds with passages of similar import, and many +are found in the New Testament. But let us examine carefully the +_kind_ of _wrath_ and _anger_ to which the Lord may be provoked. It +cannot be such wrath as men and devils feel. In Rev. 12:12 we read +these words: "The devil is come down unto you, having great WRATH, +because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." + +We can not, we dare not, think for a moment that the word _wrath_, +when spoken of God, means the same as when spoken of the devil. The +devil's wrath implies a feeling in him to do all the evil and mischief +he can. But the wrath of God cannot mean anything like this; because, +when his wrath burns the fiercest, he is still ever ready to forgive +all who repent and turn from evil. Nay, he even _entreats_ and +beseeches men to be reconciled to him, that his anger may be turned +away. I might quote many passages in proof of this. I have time to +give but one from the Old Testament. When the Lord made an end of +laying before the children of Israel the blessings and the curses, he +wound up all by saying: "And there shall cleave naught of the cursed +thing to thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his +anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and +multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; when thou shalt +hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God." + +An appeal to the light of reason must convince any unprejudiced mind +that our heavenly Father is angry and wrathful toward no one, in the +sense of willing evil to him, or of seeking an opportunity to do him +mischief. _Men_ may, and no doubt often do, have this feeling; but it +is a wicked feeling. Perish the thought of such wrath ever having a +place in the heart of our heavenly Father. The Apostle Peter says: +"The Lord is long-suffering toward us, NOT WILLING that ANY SHOULD +PERISH, but that all should come to repentance." + +But let us crown all this argument with the Lord's sunrise upon the +night of Nicodemus. Here it is: "God so loved the world,"--the very +worst, and wickedest, and most depraved and abandoned part of it; he +made no exceptions--"that he gave his only begotten Son, that +WHOSOEVER believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting +life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; +but that the world through him might be saved." + +Do not imagine that God, our Creator, took a spell of love and good +will when he sent his Son into the world. God does not take spells, +either of love or wrath. He is the same yesterday, to-day and +forevermore. The same God who brought destruction upon the +disobedient, wayward, unthankful tribes of Israel, is the God who so +loved the world. He loved it then, just as he loves it now. He loves +it now, just as he did when he sent his Son to die for its sins. But +let us inquire a little further into the nature of the + + +DIVINE WRATH. + +When I am crossing deep water I always find it best to be calm, go +slowly and steadily, and look well to the point where I expect to +land. The wrath of God is such only in _appearance_. The _real_ wrath +is in man, and upon man. Let me explain this. Our blessed Savior says: +"Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is +perfect:" "for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, +and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." + +There lies a man who gave himself up to intemperance. Alcohol had +permeated his body, carrying its deadly poison into every nerve, and +fibre, and tissue of his entire organism. He exposed himself to the +sun's rays on a very hot day, and he fell dead from _sunstroke_. The +WRATH of the sun destroyed his life. God made the sun to rise on the +morning of that day; and God filled the sun with its heat; but it was +wrathful to the man who was not prepared for it, and to no one else. +Nature everywhere rejoiced in its light and heat; the corn grew; the +hay was cured; and devout hearts thanked the Lord for that lovely day. + +Right there, on that sand, is where a man once built his house. He was +told by many that it was not a safe place to build a dwelling house, +that it would certainly be in danger of being swept away by high +water. He would not hear, but went on building; and finally he moved +in. But great WRATH came upon him; for in one night his house, with +all in it, including himself, was washed away. Wise people all over +the land rejoiced to see the rain. It had been a dry time, and +everybody said: "What a fine rain! It has replenished our wells and +flushed up our springs. The mills can now start up again. When the +ground dries off a little people can go to plowing again." But this +very same rain was destruction and WRATH to the foolish man who had +built his house in the way of its flood. + +You may now better understand what I mean by saying that the wrath of +God is not wrath as we usually understand the word to mean; but wrath +only in _appearance_. The Lord did not send the flood to destroy that +man's house; the flood was just as necessary as the rain, and its end +quite as benevolent. The destruction of the man's house was purely the +result of his own folly. + +All just laws are founded upon love, because their highest end and aim +is to protect the good. But the law, "which is holy, just, and good," +is full of WRATH to the evil doer when it overtakes and punishes him +for his crimes. But does the good law, which essentially is nothing +but love, change? Is it to-day in a good humor, and to-morrow angry? +Such is our heavenly Father. To the wise and good he is love, both in +appearance and essence; but to the foolish and evil, the very same +unchangeable love assumes the _appearance_ of anger and wrath. You are +now prepared for + + +THE TEXT. + +"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you +by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." The +life of Jesus on earth was a life of love. A part of the angelic +chorus as it floated down from the skies, announcing the birth of the +Son of God, was: "GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN." Good will toward men was +everywhere manifested by our Lord in the life he lived and in the +death he died. In his life "he went about doing good;" and no part of +that good gave him deeper joy than to see sinners repent of their +sins. + +The burden of John's ministry, by which the way of the Lord was +prepared, had for its keynote: "Repent, and bring forth fruits meet +for [corresponding to] repentance." When our Lord sent out the twelve +to preach, he charged them to say: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven +is at hand." Right here I wish to impress your minds deeply with this +thought that repentance and reconciliation mean one and the same +thing; at least, there can be no reconciliation without repentance. +Reconciliation is repentance made perfect. + +What keeps men in a state of enmity toward each other? It is pride, +self-will, and self-love. + +Pride says: "I will not bow to _him_. He has got to come to _me_." + +Self-Will says: "If he will not accede to my terms, there will be no +reconciliation." + +Self-Love says: "What would others think of _me_, were _I_ to humble +myself to him?" + +It is self-evident that just so long as this state of feeling exists +with the parties, the enmity will remain. Where deep enmity exists, +both parties may be in fault, as is often the case; but this is not +necessarily so. There are cases where the fault and enmity are all on +one side, and nothing but love and a desire for reconciliation on the +other. I just now call to mind a case of this kind. An avowed infidel +had been at considerable expense to have his daughter educated in the +refinements of learning and art. She excelled in these, and became her +father's pride. + +But a day came when her heart was stirred within her. Accidentally +meeting with these words of Paul, "She that liveth in pleasure is dead +while she liveth," her mind was led to think and wonder what they +could mean. Her father had taught her to look upon religion as a thing +of mere superstition, and to treat the Bible as a book of fables and +delusions. But these words clung to her thoughts, and with them some +others which fell from the lips of the minister who preached where she +sometimes went to church. + +Finally she opened her heart to a minister who took great care to +instruct her in the way of salvation, and gave her a Bible. This she +read to the illumination of her mind and heart, made an open +profession of her faith, was baptized, and would have gone on her way +rejoicing every day but for one thing. That one thing was her father's +displeasure. His daughter's conduct in the things of religion had +wounded his pride. He became wrathful, and for a time lost his +self-control. In this outburst of passion he ejected her from her +home, and threatened her minister with violence. In this case you +readily see that the fault and enmity are all on one side, and if a +reconciliation is ever effected it must be based upon the repentance +of the guilty party. + +I see you are interested to know how all this turned out. I will tell +you very briefly. About two years after the above occurrence the +lady's father met with a very serious accident, in which his leg was +broken and his body otherwise injured. His recovery was slow. When he +could begin to sit up a little he thought what a comfort it would be +to have his daughter's company, if she still were as she once had +been. + +Waiving all this, he resolved to ask her to come back home. She had +been with her uncle all this while. Having returned home in compliance +with her father's request, she showed him all the kindness and +attention in her power. One day, when the two were alone together in +the room, he asked her what had induced her to treat him as she had +done. Her tearful eyes and gentle words, as she told him of the love +of Christ which had constrained her to do as she had done, of the joy +and consolation she felt in his service, of her bright hope of bliss +with angels and glorified saints in heaven so impressed him that he +listened with rapt attention. He had never been so talked to before. +From this time on, up to his complete recovery, conversations on the +subject of religion were of daily occurrence; and I am happy to say +that they resulted in deep and godly repentance on his part, which +effected a reconciliation to his daughter and her minister forever. + +My dear, unconverted friends, the enmity between you and your God, +like the enmity of this father towards his daughter, is all on one +side, and that is _your_ side. No steps are needed to reconcile God to +man. No such steps ever have been needed, because God holds no enmity +in his heart towards men. His words of invitation, "Come unto me, and +I will give you rest," mean love, love to the guilty. "If any man +thirst, let him come unto me and drink," means love. His bleeding +heart on the cross, and his bleeding hands, and his bleeding feet and +his side, all, all mean love. He ever loves you, and asks you to be +reconciled to him. He is not visibly here now, but he has committed to +his faithful ministers this word of reconciliation; and as a very +humble one of their number I take up the refrain, and in the words of +my text I say to you and to all: "Now then, I am an ambassador for +Christ, as though God did beseech you by me: I pray you in Christ's +stead, be ye reconciled to God." + + +ELDER JOHN KLINE AND ISAAC LONG VISIT PENNSYLVANIA. + +THURSDAY, August 12, the two brethren started on their journey. They +attended council meeting at the Flat Rock. Here they took leave of the +Brethren, and started on a journey that was to occupy about five +weeks. Brother Kline, as was his custom when his spirit stirred him to +go on a journey of this kind, had sent many appointments ahead; and +many were eagerly expecting and hopefully awaiting his arrival. + +The imagination can find much pleasure in accompanying these two +brethren on this protracted visit to the churches. Both on horseback, +they had every opportunity to view the country as they passed along; +and many must have been the remarks and observations suggested by +things along the way. Brother Kline's mind was peculiarly active, and +his temper and social disposition genial in an eminent degree. It was +never my privilege to be with him on one of these protracted +excursions, but from the short ones I occasionally took with him in +later years, I feel sure that each day, all else favorable, was a sort +of heavenly delight. + +Seeing a fine looking tree in the forest, whose leaves and branches +and general appearance showed that it was solid to the core, straight +grained, and deeply and firmly rooted in the soil, he would say: "That +tree is a fair representation of a good church member. He stands +upright. You see he does not lean to one side or the other. He holds +his head high in the perpendicular line of justice and truth. The +squirrels that run up and down on his trunk and over his Branches do +not annoy him: these are his little charities. They feed on his fruit, +to be sure; but a pleasant smile is all the account he takes of them. +You tap him with a mallet, and his trunk gives out a dull but certain +sound of solidity to the core. There is no wind-shake about him. His +thrifty appearance proves this. The storms, in the church and out of +the church, have never disturbed the solid texture of his faith and +Christian integrity. He is not twisty. The fibers that compose his +huge trunk are just like his principles; they all run straight up and +down. You always know how to take him, and what to depend on when you +have him. + +"But there stands another tree of a very different character. Tap that +tree, and the drum-like sound tells you at once that it is hollow. You +can see, too, by the furrows in the bark not running up and down in +perpendicular lines, that it is twisty. It can hardly be said to be +wind-shaken, for there is not enough solid timber in it to be affected +in that way. The few nuts or acorns which it bears are worthless; for +there is not sufficient vitality about it to mature its fruit. It +would have been to the ground long ago but for the support given it by +that other tree on which it leans. I leave you to form your own +opinion of the church member represented by this tree. I hope there +are not many such, for if there were I fear we would not be able to +find enough solid material to build a house that would stand." + +Brother Kline was gifted with that fortunate cast of mind which +enabled him to draw from nature themes for thought and conversation, +which added much to his happiness when alone, and to his geniality in +company; and not only so, but even in his preaching he drew largely +from the magazines of God's creation. I have not a doubt that if all +the items of interest that passed between himself and Brother Long, in +the way of conversations on this journey, could be collected and +presented in proper form they would make a most instructive and +entertaining volume. I sometimes fear that the world's best thought +escapes its hands. It may, however, so turn out that after awhile +stenography will set her delicate nets and catch these wild birds +which now flit by us on such active wing that we catch but a glimpse +of their forms and beauty. + +FRIDAY, August 13, the two brethren got to Jonas Goughnour's, below +Woodstock, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. They had meeting in a +schoolhouse near by. Brother Isaac Long, at this early day, gave clear +indications of the ability and usefulness which have characterized his +ministry to the present time. Trained to correct business habits from +early youth, he carried them over into his church work; and judging by +his success, to plan and to perform, to design and to execute, with +him mean one and the same thing. + +Between the fourteenth and twentieth of August the two brethren +visited John Rowland's, Emanuel Long's, Joseph Long's, Daniel +Reichert's, Daniel Long's, David Kinsey's and John Brandt's. + +FRIDAY, August 20. The two brethren, in company with David Kinsey and +John Brandt, go to Brother Nussbaum's. They went through London, Path +Valley and Fennelsburg. They must have had a long ride this day; but +who could think the road long with such company? The next day they +went towards Huntingdon. Brother Kline says they crossed a tolerably +high mountain this day, and dined at Brother Jacob Berket's. + +I wonder how they kept him from wandering off and hunting for +medicinal roots and herbs while crossing that mountain. You may be +sure that no patch of Lady's Slipper, Golden-Seal or Golden-Rod +escaped his eye. The absence of a hoe is all that saved them from a +deal of trouble with him. They went on through Shirleysburg, and got +to Brother Andrew Spanogle's about sunset. + +Following Brother Kline on this and similar journeys, by means of the +Diary, enthuses my soul with an undefinable longing to have been with +him. The excitement, and danger, and hurry and bustle constantly +incident to travel at the present day were all unfelt and unfeared by +this company. + +Brother Kline's habit was ever to rise early; and, especially on +excursions like the present, would he often rise before the family and +walk out to take the air, as he said, and see the sun rise. This he +did even when the days were at their longest. To get up with him and +take a walk before breakfast to some elevation not distant from his +lodging place, and hear him discourse upon the rising sun, the +balminess of the air, the clearness of the water, the songs of the +birds, the delicate tints and wonderful mechanism of the flowers of +fields and woods, was a treat of rare enjoyment. + +SUNDAY, August 15. They all attended a meeting and love feast. John 15 +was read. Five persons were baptized. The four brethren stayed all +night at Brother Umbenhaver's. On the twenty-third they dined at +Brother Seacrist's; then crossed the Juniata to Waynesboro and stayed +all night at Brother Kensel's. On the twenty-fourth they attended a +love feast near Brother Samuel Myers's. Hebrews 2 was read. One person +baptized. On the twenty-fifth they went to Brother Dolyman's. On the +twenty-sixth they went through Lewistown; then down the canal to +Mifflinburg, and on to Michael Basehore's, where they had meeting. +Acts 10 was read. From this place they went to David Myers's, where +they had night meeting. Mark 11 was read. + +From some unknown cause, here is the first sermon outlined by Brother +Kline in all this journey. He may have been too busy, at times, to +give the outlines; and at other times may not have felt like doing it. +There is so much originality of thought in the outlines that I here +reproduce his discourse as nearly as possible. + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at David Myers's, in Pennsylvania, +August 26._ + + TEXT.--"By what authority doest thou these things?" + +It was an exceedingly bold act on the part of our Lord to cleanse the +temple at Jerusalem in the way he did it. In justification of his +right to do this he appealed to what was written: "My house shall be +called of all nations the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den +of thieves." But reference to this authority involved other questions +of grave import in the minds of the scribes and Pharisees. They wished +to doubt his right to appeal to this Scripture, because they were +unwilling to concede his claim to the divine sonship. To raise as +strong a breast of opposition against him as possible, there "come to +him in the temple the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, +and say to him, By what authority doest thou these things?" + +Most unexpectedly to them, they were confronted by another question +quite as direct, from whose point and power they quailed: "The baptism +of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" Whilst many of the scribes +and Pharisees and elders had never condescended to show John enough +respect even to be present at any time when he was baptizing in the +Jordan, still they knew, and felt most keenly, the power of his +teachings and work upon the common people; for "all held John to be a +prophet;" "but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God +against themselves, being not baptized of him," John. + +To all human appearance, the influence of the baptism and teachings of +John, upon the common people, saved our Lord's life upon this and +probably other occasions, for the scribes and chief priests sought +opportunity to destroy him; but they feared the _common people_. In +this we discover traces of the good accomplished by John's mission, +which was "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord;" and this +people was the _common people_. + +Our Lord, however, had a much higher thought and loftier end in the +question he put to these men than that of merely saving his life by +the facts involved in the question. + +When a minister, either diplomatic or religious, on foreign soil, is +asked for his authority, it is absolutely necessary for him to produce +satisfactory credentials of his investment with the office and the +honor he may claim. Our Lord's credentials must be clear and +satisfactory, beyond those of any other minister, because no others +ever have been or can be subjected to such a rigid scrutiny and to +such scathing tests as those were which he bore. They must present a +more imposing front than that of the power to work miracles. Others +had wrought miracles before. Moses had made the bottom of the Red Sea +dry ground; and with a single stroke of his rod had cleft a mighty +rock to the gushing forth of a flood of water from it. Elijah had +raised the widow's dead son, and had kept her cruse of oil and her +barrel of meal replenished; so that the famine came not nigh her door. +The walls of Jericho had fallen under the sound of Joshua's band of +rams'-horn trumpeters; and, in fact, miracles had, in one way or +another, been connected with almost all the events recorded in the +Jewish Scriptures. On the evidence of these facts the scribes and +Pharisees said to him in scorn: "Art thou greater than our fathers, +which are dead? and Moses, and the prophets, which are dead?" + +You may now perceive how necessary it was for our Lord to have some +higher claim to authority, in the eyes of these unbelieving Jews, than +they were willing to see in his power to work miracles. This higher +testimony to his authority was given by his Father, signed and sealed +by the Holy Spirit, in the presence of witnesses, as Jesus came up out +of the water when he was baptized. It was on the bank of the Jordan +that "the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God +descending as a dove, and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the +heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." +To this fact all four of the evangelists bear testimony, in nearly the +same words. + +Peter, in an address recorded in the first chapter of the Acts, +indirectly affirms that many witnessed our Lord's baptism and the +attendant manifestations from heaven. To his mind it was an essential +part of the qualifications of a candidate for the apostleship, that +he had been a witness of our Lord's baptism, as well as of his +resurrection. And why not? The proofs of his Sonship, of his +Messiahship, of his union or oneness with the Father, of the Father's +love for him, and of the acceptableness of the Son's work and +obedience, were as clear and undeniable in the first as in the last. + +After a brief consultation among themselves over the question +propounded unto them by our Lord, these deceitful Jews decided that +the most expedient answer they could frame would be to confess that +they "could not tell." No wonder, now, that he told them that "the +publicans and harlots would enter the kingdom of heaven before they +would." We may here see a verification of the fact that LOVE must +precede FAITH. The truth may be _forced_ upon one, and he be +_compelled_ to acknowledge it; yet, unless he falls in love with that +truth, he will not believe it as a thing of FAITH, and will not think +and act correspondingly thereto. + + "Convince a man against his will-- + He's of the same opinion still." + +We may here, very properly, inquire why the heavenly testimony was +given at our Lord's baptism. Why were the Father's acknowledgment and +approval of his beloved Son not given in the temple of Jerusalem, in +the presence of his enemies, that they might be _convinced_; or in +one of its populous streets on a public day, that the world, in a +representative sense, might know of him? It is impossible for men or +angels to know the mind of the Lord where he has not revealed it. He +has withheld from us any direct information on this point; but we may +draw some inferential conclusions, which may serve to satisfy the mind +and rest the heart. + +It is a matter of fact that the Father never put his Son on exhibition; +neither did the Son ever seek any place of honor or distinction before +men. "He was meek and lowly in heart." The Word made flesh, the Way +and the Truth and the Life did not appear on earth to be gazed at as a +thing of mere curiosity, nor examined and handled as an article of +merchandise. + +Men have their opinions; and especially at this day is there a decided +tendency with many to make a show of their denominational strength and +numerical importance; but, really, it appears to me that the Son of +God shunned observation, and apparently shrank from the echo of his +fame. More than once did he kindly request those with him to say +nothing about some sublime manifestation of divine power and love +which he had just given. + +Whatever else baptism may signify, to my mind it is plain that it is +the visible door to the visible kingdom of heaven on earth. Christ the +Lord is King of that kingdom; and as such it behooved him to enter it +by the same door through which he has commanded that all his future +subjects shall enter; and that door is water baptism. "He that +entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the +porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice." The fold is the +kingdom; the shepherd is the Lord; and the porter is John the Baptist. + +How fitting that the divine recognition be given at the _door_ of the +kingdom in which the Lord is to be crowned "King of kings." A few +honest-hearted witnesses were all the Father wished, before whom to +make known this glorious disclosure of love for his Son. + +Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh. This is not +its legitimate result. Its effect is the answer of a good conscience +toward God. When one submits to this ordinance in the right spirit, +and it is properly administered, it never fails of being followed by +this happy experience. It gives the heart peace and rest in Christ. +"The eunuch went on his way rejoicing." "The jailer rejoiced, +believing in God with all his house." These rejoicings followed +baptism in each case. The Psalmist says: "The testimony of the Lord +is sure, enlightening the eyes: the statutes of the Lord are pure, +rejoicing the heart. More are they to be desired than gold; yea, than +much fine gold; for in the keeping of them there is great reward." + +Baptism is both a testimony and a statute. It is a testimony because +it bears witness to the truth by the joy it imparts; and it is a +statute because it is a written command of God which it is the duty of +every believer to obey; and in the keeping of it there is great +reward. + +FRIDAY, August 27. They had meeting at Henry Hart's. Acts 3 was read. +Two brethren were advanced from the deaconship to the ministry of the +Word, and two were elected to the deaconship. The twenty-eighth they +spent mostly with Brother John Royer. The twenty-ninth they attended +two meetings: one at Brother Joel Royer's, and the other near the same +place. At Joel Royer's, Brother Isaac Long took the lead in speaking; +and from the outlines of his discourse, given in the Diary, I am +assured it is worthy of being expanded into a sermon, and of holding a +prominent place in this work. + + +_Sermon by Elder Isaac Long, of Virginia._ + +_Preached at Joel Royer's, in Pennsylvania, +August 29._ + + TEXT.--"A sower went out to sow his seed." + +There is one feature about my text for to-day that is likely to draw +at least momentary attention. That feature is its simplicity. I am +glad to hope that this may give rise to a query in the mind of each +hearer in substance something like this: "What can he have to say on +such a simple text as that? I am going to listen and see what he will +make of it." I see your eyes have turned to me now; but, beloved +brethren and sisters, whilst the eyes of your bodies are turned to me +from feelings of curiosity, I beg that the eyes of your understandings +and hearts may be turned to the Lord, for grace, on my part to speak, +and on your part to hear. + +The text, in its simplicity of phraseology and external sense, looks +like a nut without a kernel. It comes to the ear like the uncertain +sound of a trumpet: "_A sower went out to sow his seed_." No part of +the farmer's work, however, is more common in its seasons than this; +and I may add with emphasis, that no part of the farmer's work in its +seasons is more _important_ than this. The life of the world depends +upon two great facts--_seeding_ and _harvesting_; and when the Lord +established his covenant with Noah after the flood, two of the +essential provisions of that covenant were couched in these words: +"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest shall not cease." I +never read that covenant but with delight, because I love farming, and +when at home farming is my business. Here is my covenant with the +Lord, and my assurance that my seedings will be blessed. + +There is one thing in the provisions of that covenant to which I wish +to call special attention. It is all found in one compound word, and +that word is + + +SEED-TIME. + +It does not read _seeding_ and harvest. _Seeding_ means the act of +sowing seed. The Lord in his covenant does not say that this shall not +cease; because the act of sowing seed or _seeding_ depends upon man: +he only assures man that seedtime, or the time for sowing seed, shall +not cease. But notice the other part. He does not say harvest-time; +but he says that _harvest_ shall not cease, because _he makes the +harvest_. He speaks positively here of results, as being able and +forever willing to fulfill what he covenants to do. In this covenant, +man's work is implied as well as God's work. Man's part of the work is +to sow the seed when the time is given. God's part is to bless the +seed sown, by giving the harvest. In all of man's labor pertaining to +providing for the support and comfort of his body, "we are coworkers +with God." + +Our heavenly Father deals with us as children. By natural things he +instructs us in spiritual things. Paul says; "First that which is +natural; afterward that which is spiritual." This is God's order. + + +REASON AND FAITH. + +Some think that reason must yield to faith. Others think that faith +must yield to reason. The opinions on both sides are wrong, because +both imply a conflict between reason and faith, when in TRUTH no such +conflict ever has existed, nor can it exist. Reason is neither more +nor less than the intelligent operations of the mind in seeking +to know the truth; and faith is but a willing acceptance and +acknowledgment of that truth when it is known. In one way of looking +at it, faith and knowledge are one; only faith is a loving acceptance, +by the WILL, of what the UNDERSTANDING is assured of being true. What +the understanding doubts can never be received by the will as a thing +of faith. + +WISDOM is the union of faith and knowledge in man, and becomes more +and more his guiding light in all intelligent action. If man's wisdom +be merely that of earth, it is not genuine; but if it be heavenly, +it is true wisdom, and leads more and more to God, and eternal life +in him. Wisdom says that there must be a sort of reciprocal +correspondence between the seed and the ground on which it is sown. +This fact involves several principles based upon experience. The sower +must know what kind of seed he is sowing. "_It may be of wheat or some +other grain._" He should know what preparation the ground requires to +make the hoped-for harvest. He should know what fertilizers and +stimulants are likely to do most good. He should also know the right +_time_ for sowing his seed. + +A mere knowledge of these principles, however, is not sufficient. +There must be a practical application of them, in the way of complying +with the necessary conditions, or the sowing will prove a failure. The +seed that fell by the wayside was picked up by the birds. That which +fell on the rock perished. That which fell among the thorns was soon +overcome by their superior rankness of growth, and it made nothing. +Only that which fell into good ground made a remunerative return. + + +MAN'S WILL IS THE FIELD. + +I may say to you now that man's _will_ is the field which our Lord +meant in the parable here recorded; "and the seed is the Word of God." + +Notwithstanding the practical explanation given of this parable by our +Lord, a degree of obscurity still broods over it in the minds of many +Bible interpreters. What made the bad ground bad; and what made the +good ground good, and how the bad ground is to be made good and +productive, are questions that puzzle the minds of many. Some may not +agree with me; but I do believe that the diversities in human nature, +set forth and described by our Lord in this parable, all relate to the +WILL. What makes the difference between a good man, and a bad man? +Brethren, it is the WILL. A good man does good from a good will, and a +bad man does bad from a bad will. + +Let us take the wayside hearer. There is no defect about his +_understanding_. His head is as clear in matters of business as any +man's. He understands what the preacher says when he is sowing the +seeds of gospel truth as readily as any one in the congregation. Why +then does the devil take away the Word out of his heart? I answer, +because the devil is very fond of doing that sort of work; and the man +does not object. In other words, the wayside hearer has no WILL to +keep the Word in his heart. If he had a _will_ to keep the Word in his +heart, and live conformably to it, the gates of hell could not prevail +against it. He would then be _good ground_ according to the measure of +his capacity, and the life of love and obedience growing out of it. + +Take the rock-hearer next. He has a very thin skin of soil over the +surface of the rock that lies underneath. From the way he goes to +meeting and talks about religion, you might readily conclude that +all he needs to become a bright light in the church is a little +encouragement. He says: "That was a splendid sermon we heard to-day. +It did me good to hear that man talk. I could listen to him for a +week;" and he tells the truth; for if the man stays a week, and works +up something of an _excitement_, this rock-hearer will go every night +and praise every sermon. I am sorry to say, however, that the devil +does not try very hard to get the Word out of that man's heart, +because he knows that if he leaves it alone just a little while it +will _die_ out of itself. The real trouble with this man is a want of +WILL to reduce to practice the _truth_ received into the +_understanding_. The rock, underneath the skin of soil that hides it, +is a WILL which is wholly averse to the life of self-denial and godly +obedience set forth in the Word which he hears. He loves the world and +himself more than God; and the delight or joy with which he hears the +Word is all in the _understanding_. The words of life and salvation +fade from his memory, because there is no desire in his heart or WILL +to retain them, as the things that belong to his everlasting peace. + +Next in order comes the thorny-ground hearer. He may be a man of +talent, perhaps a genius. Naturally thoughtful and ambitious, he +covets both wealth and honors. He is not entirely forgetful of the +claims of religion upon him. He goes to church with his family; +behaves genteelly; invites the ministers to his house, and entertains +them very hospitably. He thinks religion a very good thing in society, +and one that ought to be encouraged. You often hear people say of him: +"What a pity he is not a member of the church: how much good he could +do!" In all matters of public interest he takes an active part. During +an electoral canvass he is all astir, and wonders how any one can be +indifferent at such a time, or even show a moderate degree of +coolness. He is a useful man in society, and his loss would be keenly +felt by the community. The real trouble with this man is akin to that +of all the rest. It has its seat right in the WILL. He loves the +world, and the world loves him; and to hold his place in society he +must comply with its demands. He must not be scrupulous about small +matters. He must take a drink with a friend. If invited to take part +in some pastime or popular amusement, even if it be of doubtful moral +character, he dare not decline the invitation. If memory should even +blow the ashes from some live coals of truth, and conscience +remonstrate, he must ignore all weakness of that kind. Such and +such-like are the thorns that choke the Word, and it brings no fruit +to perfection. + +Last, but not least, comes the good-ground hearer. I have reason to +believe that most of you know him from your own experience; therefore +I will not describe him here. But before I conclude I desire to direct +your attention to a few points more in the line of my thought. + +Who is to blame or to incur the responsibility for the failures of +fruit in the three classes of hearers given in the parable? Some say +the devil is to blame, because he throws every obstacle and impediment +that lies in his power in the way of the growth of the seed. Others +say the Lord is to blame for not having made the ground better by +nature. Others again say--and these say what is true--that the hearers +are to blame. The Word came with just as much power to these +unfruitful classes as it did to the good-ground hearer. "But it was +not mixed with faith in them that heard." Whose fault was it that they +did not believe? Manifestly their own. + +I fully believe that man's will is free. And I do also believe in my +very soul that it would be the pleasure of the Lord _to save_ every +human being born into existence. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I +have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn +from his way and live. Make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why +will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezekiel 33:11 and 18:31. + +But man's will cannot be forced. The Lord cannot compel any one to +love him, any more than one of us can force a man to be our friend who +inwardly hates us. The Lord is every day seeking to turn the hearts of +men to himself through the life-giving, holy, healing power of the +Word of gospel grace. He does this through the faithful ministers who +preach it. In this way he causes the sun of truth and love to rise and +shine upon even the very worst of sinners, and sends the rain of his +grace to fall upon them. Without the sun and the rain the seed would +forever lie dead in the ground; but what is very wonderful in the +gospel seed is the fact that it carries along with itself, as it falls +upon the ground, all the light, and heat, and moisture it needs. Our +blessed Lord says: "My words are spirit, and they are life." + +In illustration of this let us notice the power of his words in +several instances recorded in the New Testament Scriptures. Let me +refer to Jairus's daughter. _She was dead._ Every one could know this +that saw her. Jesus said to this dead girl: "Maiden, arise." Her +spirit came back into her. The heart, that before was pulseless and +still, began to beat; and the breast, over which the pall of death had +fallen, began to heave. In obedience to his word she rose up and +lived. Were not his words _spirit_ and _life_ to this girl? The very +same thing took place with the dead boy, the only son of the widow of +Nain. Things no less wonderful were of daily occurrence in the life of +Jesus. The cleansing of the lepers, the healing of the sick, the +casting out of devils, all, all proved the spirit and life that are in +his words. + +His words, however, have not only natural life and breath in them; but +they have spiritual life and breath; and this means eternal life. My +brother, my sister, if the Word of Christ is in your heart you have a +holy, heavenly beating there of love to God and love to all his dear +people; and you have a holy, heavenly breathing after more knowledge +of his words, and for larger and clearer views of the revelations of +his grace. These are proofs of the inward, heavenly life in the soul. + + +DO NOT FORGET THE TEXT. + +Every intelligent human being is a sower of some kind of seed. Every +one is either sowing the Word of God or the word and spirit of some +one else; but let the seed be of whatever kind it may, this thing is +sure: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that +soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that +soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." +Sowing to the flesh is living after the flesh with its affections and +lusts; but sowing to the Spirit is crucifying and mortifying the +flesh, and living the new life of faith, and hope, and love. + +Brethren and sisters, there is a mighty, _mighty_ difference between +the two. What has the mere fleshly, carnal mind to hope for in the +world to come? It can feel no delight, no enjoyment in heavenly +things, such as love to God and love to man. It knows nothing of that +love which is the bond of perfectness. + +You can always tell what a man's love is by the company he keeps. If +his love is of worldly things only, you will see him in worldly +company, and hear him talk only of worldly things. Notice the books +and papers he reads. They are of the same character. He enjoys no +other readings. He delights in no other company and conversations. +This man is sowing to the flesh, and he will be sure to reap +corruption. His treasure is all on the earth; his harvest is here; and +he is sowing no seed for a harvest of glory and bliss in the world to +come. + +The good ground hearer is a very different man, and he sows far +different seed. HIS SEED IS DIVINE TRUTH, AND HIS FIELD IS HIS OWN +SPIRIT. He digs up the thorns and the thistles by the roots; destroys +the serpents, and drives out the wolves and the foxes. In this way he +mortifies the body of sin and crucifies the flesh with its affections +and lusts. In a well prepared soil he plants the fig and the olive, +the vine and the pomegranate. In the place where the lion lay, the +calf shall lie down in peace; and instead of the wolf and the fox, the +sheep and her lamb shall feed in safety. Where the serpent hissed and +the basilisk was waiting to sting, the myrtle and the rose shall +bloom. Thus is the desert made to rejoice and the wilderness to bloom. +The man who thus subdues and cultivates his own spirit that is within +him, all by the help of God, is sure to be everlastingly blessed in +his deed. He will reap a rich harvest of righteousness, peace and joy +in the Holy Ghost, here and eternally in the heavens. + +FRIDAY, September 17. The two brethren reached home. Of this Brother +Kline says: "Brother Isaac Long and I have been together nearly all +the time on this journey, which has occupied just five weeks. It makes +me feel somewhat lonely to part hands with such an agreeable companion +in labor; so cheerful; so full of the Spirit; so wise in counsel; so +clear in judgment. I feel that we have been together in heavenly +places in Christ Jesus. Ah, well! not long till we shall no more take +the parting hand! The Brethren everywhere showed us much love. May the +Lord continue to bless them, both temporally and spiritually." + +Between the twenty-ninth of August and the above date they attended +quite a number of love feasts and other meetings. The Diary reports +many families visited in Huntingdon and Bedford Counties. Probably +many of the older brethren and sisters, then belonging to the families +named, may still remember this visit. Among the names reported are to +be found the Spanogles, Altebergers, Becks or Bocks, Allebaughs, +Browns, Bicheys, Sniders, and others. + +Want of space absolutely forbids any further notice of the Diary for +this year. + +SUNDAY, January 23. Peter Nead is with us to-day at our meetinghouse. +He spoke at some length from Acts 13. To those who could follow him +his discourse was very instructive. He traced Paul in his journeys +with Barnabas and John, from the first place named in the chapter to +the last. + +SUNDAY, April 3. Meeting at Samuel Wine's in the Brush. Luke 14 was +read. + +TUESDAY, May 10. Brother Kline, in company with Abraham Stoner and +David Kline, started to the Annual Meeting. On the evening of the +twelfth they got to William Deahl's, near the place of meeting. + +FRIDAY, May 13. Council meeting opened. Many Brethren present. He +says: "The acquaintance, brethren and sisters form with each other at +these meetings, is not the least good accomplished by them. We stay +to-night at Solon Garber's." + +SUNDAY, May 15. Public meeting to-day. Matthew 11 was read. Love feast +to-night. We stay all night at William Deahl's. + +MONDAY, May 16. Started homeward, and got as far as to Brother B. +Bear's. + +FRIDAY, May 20. Got home this evening. Often will my thoughts return +to the churches attended and the homes visited. I could not help +cautioning the Brethren in some of the congregations against the +inroads of pride and fashion. The younger members, particularly, need +to be instructed in regard to these things, that they may avoid +conformity to the world in dress and other things; not because the +church, as such, opposes them in it; but because the Word and Spirit +of the Lord opposes them in it. The love of Christ, that is, our love +for him and his people, and the way of holiness, lead to a life of +self-denial for his sake. The new nature in Christ does not crave the +vain and often hurtful fashions of the world. It is best, for both +body and soul, to dress plainly, but comfortably; and to live, in +every respect, according to the same rule. The godliness that is +profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and +also of that which is to come, is not conformed to this world. + +THURSDAY, June 2. Council meeting at the old Garber meetinghouse. The +subject of marrying was under consideration. It was laid to continue +as the church has heretofore held it. The enemy of souls was ready to +interfere with the holiness and innocence of our first parents in the +garden of Eden. Time has not changed his nature. Nothing but the +flaming sword of God's Word and Spirit can keep him out of the church. +The flaming sword! It gives light and heat to the children of God; but +threatens destruction to their enemies. All should bear this sword; +not sheathed in a scabbard, but forever held high in the right hand, +ready to be used whenever the enemy approaches. + +SATURDAY, August 13. Daniel Miller and I go to Brother Nasselrodt's in +Brock's Gap and take dinner with him. In the afternoon we go on to +Lost River, and stay all night at Jacob Motz's. + +SUNDAY, August 14. Meeting at Brother Motz's. John 15 was read. After +meeting we went to the Yellow Spring, where we stayed all night. + +SUNDAY, August 21. Meeting at Neff's schoolhouse. Matthew 25 was read. +Also meeting at Samuel Wine's in the Brush. Matthew 25 was read there. +Also meeting at Pleasant Valley. Brother Koontz was baptized. + +WEDNESDAY, August 24. Went to Benjamin Bowman's and back home. We have +had a wonderful rain to-day. Waters higher than they have been for +twenty-eight years. + +SUNDAY, September 4. Meeting in our meetinghouse. Romans 6 was read. +John Miller and Abraham Deitrich's wife were baptized by Benjamin +Bowman. + +THURSDAY, September 8. Anna [Brother Kline's wife] and I go to Lost +River to attend a love feast. We stay all night at Celestine +Whitmore's. + +SUNDAY, September 11. Meeting and love feast at Mathias's. Hebrews 8 +is read. We have a delightful day and night, and many people are +assembled. I speak on the chapter read, and also upon the general +scope and design of the epistle to the Hebrews. Hebrews, and Jews, and +Israelites are all one; each being only a different name for the same +race of people. The name Hebrew and Hebrews appears to have been +derived from Eber or Heber, the grandson of Shem. The name Jew and +Jews is supposed to have been derived from Judah, one of the sons of +Jacob. The name Israelite and Israelites was derived from Jacob, whom +the angel of the Lord called Israel. + +This epistle was written to the Hebrews, or Jewish Christians, to +remove from their minds some difficulties and obscurities in their way +of rightly understanding the way of salvation provided by our Lord +Jesus Christ. On account of their former connection with the +ceremonial law and the Mosaic ritual, it was hard for them to see and +appreciate the simplicity that is in Christ. Like Naaman the Syrian, +they thought the ceremonial part should possess more parade and show, +to have in it the required virtue. He thought that bathing his body +seven times in the river Jordan was a ceremony too simple to remove +his leprosy: so these Hebrew Christians thought the simple ordinances +of the house of God were too insignificant to take away their sins. +They had been instructed in the ordinances of a worldly sanctuary and +a worldly priesthood. As Christ had abolished all these, by giving to +the church the spiritual substance of which these were the shadow, it +was necessary that they be very particularly and plainly taught how +this was done. The writer of this epistle has shown this in very clear +light. + +The chapter read speaks of the True Tabernacle, which the Lord +pitched, and not man. It presents Jesus as the Mediator of a better +covenant, which has been established upon better promises. This is the +covenant: "I will put my laws into their mind, and on their heart also +will I write them: I will be to them a God; and they shall be to me a +people. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their +sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." These are cheering +words: "Their sins will I remember no more." Beloved brethren and +sisters, this is precisely the way God deals with every one of his +truly penitent and obedient children. He remembers their sins no more. +No matter how great sinners they have been, no matter how they have +abused and dishonored him, he holds nothing against them. In this we +may see the spirit we should all possess. We are all commanded to be +followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love. + +I have sometimes heard a brother or a sister say: "I can forgive, but +I cannot forget." Brethren, we would not feel very well if the Lord +were to say this to us and of us. How would we be made to feel if our +blessed Lord were to say to each of us: "I am willing to forgive your +trespasses against me; I am willing to save you, because I have +promised to save all who repent and believe my Gospel; but I can never +forget the way you have treated me, and will never be willing to trust +you as I could have trusted you; and can never again have the same +confidence in you that I would have had, had you treated me in a +different way"? Such forgiveness as this on the part of our Lord +toward us would rob salvation of all its joy. It would turn the sun +into darkness and the moon into blood. It would change the harmony of +heaven into notes of discord in our ears. But this would be the very +sort of forgiveness that is implied in the saying: "I can forgive, but +I cannot forget." + +Notice, however, the care and the order apparent in the insertion of +that loving clause, "and your sins will I remember no more." Notice +the introduction: "I will be to you a God; and ye shall be to me a +people." In what follows the Divine Love is strongly marked: "For I +will be merciful to your iniquities, and your sins will I remember no +more." This last crowns it all. The same thing is meant by the prophet +in another place where the Lord says: "As far as the east is from the +west, so far have I removed your sins from you;" and again: "He hath +cast our sins into the bottom of the sea;" so deep down are they that +they will never rise up against us any more. + +Such must our forgiveness of one another be, brethren and sisters, if +we would imitate the Lord. We should never forget that genuine +forgiveness implies a complete forgetfulness of all trespasses in the +past. Our Lord says: "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither +will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." To forgive from +the heart is to forgive in love; and love thinketh no ill of one's +brother or sister. + +Let each one examine himself. If you feel in your heart that you love +the Lord your God with all your heart, and your brother and your +sister in the Lord as you love yourself, I feel authorized in behalf +of Christ and the church to say to you that Jesus will remember your +sins no more. You have a right to sing the song: + + "Savior, more than life to me, + I am clinging close to thee; + Let thy blood, by faith applied, + Keep me ever near thy side. + Every day and every hour, + Let me feel thy cleansing power, + Till my soul is lost in love, + In a brighter world above." + +TUESDAY, September 20. Love feast at our meetinghouse. John 3 was +read. David Correll and Abraham Miller and his wife were baptized. + +WEDNESDAY, September 21. Benjamin Bowman and I start very early to +Hampshire County, Virginia. We get dinner at Rorabaugh's, and reach +Moorefield by night, after a ride on horseback of forty-seven miles. + +THURSDAY, September 22. Go to David Vanmeter's for breakfast; reach +Abbey Arnold's for dinner, and get to the love feast at David Arnold's +just after the first meeting. We have delightful weather, good order +in the house, and a pleasant meeting. + +FRIDAY, September 23. Meeting again. Revelation 3 is read. Stay at +David Arnold's all night. + +SATURDAY, September 24. Go to Joseph Arnold's, and in the afternoon to +Joseph Leatherman's, where we have night meeting. I speak on Luke +24:48. + +SUNDAY, September 25. Attend a love feast at Solomon Michael's. +Revelation 3 is read. + +MONDAY, September 26. Homeward through Petersburg; dine at Isaac +Shobe's; then to night meeting at Sister Chlora Judy's. We speak on +Matthew 11. Stay all night. + +TUESDAY, September 27. Cross the South Fork mountain over to Jacob +Warnstaff's, where we have an afternoon meeting. Speak on Luke 28. We +also have night meeting at the same place. Brother Benjamin speaks on +Luke 16. His talks are not lengthy, but they are very pointed, and +prove that they come from a thoughtful and studious mind. + +WEDNESDAY, September 28. We both get home. + +SUNDAY, October 2. Meeting at Henry Huffman's in Page County, Virginia. +Mark 1 is read. Isaac Spitler is baptized. + +SATURDAY, December 3. Samuel Wampler and I go to Lost River. We stay +all night at Silas Randall's. + +SUNDAY, December 4. Meeting at Brother Celestine Whitmore's. Matthew 7 +is read. Silas Randall and his wife are baptized. We stay all night at +Celestine Whitmore's. + +SUNDAY, January 1, 1843. I and Frederic Kline go to George Fulk's +schoolhouse in the Gap. We have meeting, and I speak on John 15. We +dine at George Fulk's, and in the evening return home. + +SUNDAY, February 19. Meeting at our meetinghouse. John 3 is read. In +afternoon Peter Nead and I go up to Benjamin Bowman's, at the head of +Linville's Creek, where we have night meeting. Brother Nead speaks +very beautifully on John 15:14, "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever +I command you." + +THURSDAY, March 30. Visit Dr. Newham, and take him through "_a course +of medicine_." This last expression frequently appears in Brother +Kline's Diary. The phrase, "_course of medicine_," was first +introduced by Dr. Samuel Thompson, the founder and propagator of what +afterwards assumed the name of "The Thompsonian System of Medical +Practice." To the minds of many very worthy and sensible people in +Virginia and other States, Dr. Thompson's definitions of disease, and +his corresponding views of their treatment, appeared quite reasonable. +They met with great favor in some communities, and by many were +enthusiastically received. Among the latter Brother John Kline stood +in the foremost rank. He espoused the "Theory and Practice of Dr. +Samuel Thompson" with unreserved confidence. In his zeal to do good +with it he furnished the medicines and administered them to hundreds +of the afflicted; and to many free of charge. + +The phrase, "_course of medicine_," was meant to comprehend in its +signification the whole routine of treatment demanded by nature to rid +itself of disease. This usually consisted of a Lobelia emetic or +vomit, more or less thorough as the symptoms of the impending disease +appeared to require. Preparatory to this vomit, and in connection with +it, warm and stimulating infusions or teas were administered to induce +very active sweating, or "free perspiration," as it was called. As an +aid to this, steaming the patient was sometimes resorted to. The +"_course_" usually took up several hours. After all was gone through +with, the patient was allowed to rest, excepting, however, the +administration of a few mild sedatives or soothing nervines, to induce +sleep. The reader may conclude that the patient very likely needed +rest after all this treatment. + +Prejudice against the system has grown old, and nearly died out; and, +at this point of distance in time, it may be calmly said that "_the +course of medicine_" very often seemed to do much good. Many were +ready, at any time, to bear testimony in behalf of its efficacy in +their own individual cases, and in those in their families; and it is +hard to conclude that mere confidence in the treatment, and in the +hands by which it was administered, could effect so much good. + +Brother Kline went into it with a sort of zest and zeal that looked +a little as if he might have hitched it to his train of religious +duties. Be this as it may, one truth is sure, a truth which Wordsworth +has beautifully woven into the poetic lines which follow: + + "The sick he soothed; the hungry fed; + Bade pain and anguish flee: + He loved to raise the downcast head + Of friendless poverty." + +SUNDAY, May 28. To-day we held our first regular meeting in our new +house. It has been decided to name it "The Brush Meetinghouse." This +is a frame building, constructed by Christian and John Wine, sons of +Samuel Wine. + +"The Brush" is a small section of country in Rockingham County, +Virginia. It lies between the North mountain on the west side and +Linville's Creek on the east; and between the North Fork of the +Shenandoah river on the north and the head waters of Muddy Creek on +the south. It comprises, probably, sixteen square miles. + +Samuel Wine, one of the pioneers of the German Baptist Brethren, +raised a very useful and respectable family in the very heart of the +Brush. Of his sons, Christian, and John, and Samuel, and George were +set to the ministry of the Word in the church of their father's +choice. Michael, the only other son, is a deacon. + +Jacob Mitchell, who spent his last years in the same Brotherhood, +raised a very respectable and intelligent family in the Brush, at the +place now occupied by his son Joseph A. Mitchell, and officially known +as Cherry Grove; that name having been given to the post office kept +at the place, from the great abundance of sweet cherries which for +many years have grown there and in the vicinity to great perfection. + +Anthony Showalter, father of John A. Showalter, and grandfather of +Anthony J. Showalter, both favorably known as composers and teachers +of music,--raised a numerous family of noble boys and girls in the +same section, nearly, if not quite all of them, members of the +Brethren church. + +All of the above-named brethren were personal friends of Brother +Kline, who often visited them at their homes. + +David Haller, whose name is often seen in the Diary, was another +intimate friend of Brother Kline. He held membership in the church +many years, and assisted in building the Brush meetinghouse. From what +has been said of the Brush, it appears to have been favorable to the +reproduction of the race, both numerically and substantially. Brother +David Haller had born unto him from a first and second marriage +twenty-two children, nearly all of whom grew up to manhood or +womanhood. The question was once asked: "Can any good thing come out +of Nazareth?" History forever answers, yes! Truth echoes the same +answer to the same question, applied to the Brush. + +SUNDAY, June 4. Meeting at the Flat Rock. Mary Pope is baptized. + +SUNDAY, June 25. Meeting at the Powder Spring. Peter Beacher is +baptized. We dine at Abraham Funkhouser's and stay all night at +Abraham Swartz's. + +THURSDAY, June 29. Attend a very sad funeral to-day. Brother John +Zigler's child was drowned, and quite dead when discovered. It was one +year, seven months and twenty-eight days old. The death of a child is +always distressing; but when death comes by accident, it is much more +so. Brother John Zigler lives in Timberville, Rockingham County, +Virginia. + +MONDAY, July 10. Dine at Sister Judy Deitrick's. Call on Dr. Biggs, +whose headquarters are at John Higgins's. He is a straight up and down +Thompsonian doctor. He seems to fear no opposition. He says that such +plain, common-sense principles as underlie Thompson's System of +medical practice must stand the test of time, and eventually win the +day. He says that Dr. Thompson was the first to formulate the Axiom: +"Remove the cause, and the effect will cease." Disease is removed from +the body by expelling the cause. Nature, when the cause of disease is +removed, will of herself, restore health to the body. Reduce the +strength of the patient, and you reduce the patient's power to get +well. Do bleeding, blistering, starving and drastic purges strengthen +the vital forces, or add power to the recuperative system? No! All +these tend to reduce the restorative forces by weakening the +alimentary, respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems of the body; +the only powers upon which the physician may rely, and to which he +dare look for the restoration of the sick to health. Such are the +convictions which the doctor expressed to me in the brief interview I +had with him to-day. Stay all night at Joseph Miller's. + +SATURDAY, July 15. Brother Daniel Miller and I go to Brock's Gap, dine +at George Moyers's, and stay all night at Celestine Whitmore's. + +SUNDAY, July 16. I baptize Magdalena Moyers and Barbara Tusing. We +stay all night at Charles Snider's. + +FRIDAY, August 11. Attend harvest meeting at the Flat Rock. It +behooves us, at these meetings, to be on our guard, lest we fall into +a feeling of self-satisfaction. I mean by this that it is possible for +us to become so well satisfied with ourselves now that we have +returned thanks to the Lord for the rich gifts of his love, in the +bountiful harvest we have just gathered, that we have no need of being +watchful as to the use we make of it. Brethren, if our thankfulness be +from the heart, this very feeling will lead us into a desire to make a +right use of what the Lord has given. Perhaps it would be better for +us to take up more time at our harvest meeting in talking about the +ways and means of using the gifts of God, and how best to apply them +to the end that will do most good to one another and the poor, and +thus most honor and glorify him. I made remarks similar to these, and +think that I will speak more on the same line of thought to-morrow. + +SATURDAY, August 12. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse. After +meeting, go up to Isaac Ritchey's in Brock's Gap, and stay all night. + +SUNDAY, August 13. Jacob Stirewalt, a Lutheran minister, preaches and +administers the sacrament at Sowders's church to-day. I happen to be +present, and am reminded of my boyhood experience in Pennsylvania, +when I used to be in the Lutheran church on such occasions, and when +it often fell to my lot to pump wind for the organ. In the afternoon +we have meeting at Jacob Whetzel's. I stay all night at James +Fitzwaters's. + +SUNDAY, August 27. Meeting at Daniel Garber's. Matthew 13 is read. +Brother Daniel Miller baptized three persons to-day. This day also +Samuel and Joseph Good and their wives are baptized. + +FRIDAY, September 15. Creek and river very high. A great freshet. A +very wonderful washout occurred in the side of the North mountain, +above Turleytown, back of Elijah Baker's. It is supposed to have been +caused by a waterspout or cloud-burst, as it is sometimes called. A +great flood of water seemed to fall on the side of the mountain on a +small patch of ground, uprooting trees, overturning rocks, and +carrying all in one huge mass into the hollow below, where they +lodged. The flood, rolling on, carried off Moses Pumphrey's +milk-house, and did some other damage. + +WEDNESDAY, October 4. Meeting and love feast at Beaver Creek. Hebrews +12 is read. The brethren and sisters were exhorted to "follow after +peace, and the holiness without which no one shall see the Lord; to +take heed lest any fall short of the grace of God by living unholy +lives." Whilst it is the duty of the housekeepers to look after the +purity and order of the church at all times, still it does appear that +a special eye should be had on the body at the times of our love +feasts. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we +have to do." There should be no spots in our feasts of love. All +should be unspotted love and purity in Christ Jesus. Otherwise our +services may not be acceptable to him. If there be anyone amongst us +to-day who feels and knows in his own heart that he is a fornicator or +profane person as Esau was, any one that is conscious of having in +himself any feeling of bitterness towards the body or any member of +it; I hereby, according to authority from the Lord, admonish such not +to approach the table of the Lord. Such sins should be publicly +confessed before the church; and according to the words of the Lord, +the church has authority to loose the brother or sister from such +sins, when deeply and duly repented of. "Whatsoever ye shall loose on +earth, shall be loosed in heaven." + +But I here entreat all to think soberly. Let none stay away from the +table of the Lord on account of a feeling of unworthiness before God. +"For the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a +contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." When we are meek and +lowly in heart under a deep sense of unworthiness and shortcomings, +then it is that the spirit is bearing witness with our spirits. Though +free from sin, still our Lord confessed that he himself was "meek and +lowly in heart." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand +of God, that he may exalt you in due time. He that humbleth himself +shall be exalted. + +After such exhortations and instructions the brethren and sisters +joined in singing that heart-cheering old hymn: + + "Arise, my soul, arise; + Shake off thy guilty fears: + The Bleeding Sacrifice + In my behalf appears. + Before the Throne my surety stands; + My name is written on his hands." + +We have had good weather all this day and night, and a fine meeting. + +MONDAY, October 16. Between this date and the twenty-third Brother +Kline, in company with Anna, his wife, visited the following named +families: Daniel Glick's, David Wampler's, Widow George Kline's, +Samuel Miller's, Jonas Wampler's, Daniel Wampler's, Jacob Hoover's +above Staunton, Joel Garber's, Jacob Zigler's, Christian Kline's, +Jacob Wine's, Martain Good's, Joseph Miller's, Daniel Garber's, +Frederic Kline's, Jacob Earley's and Flory's. He attended a number of +meetings in connection with the foregoing visits, and reports the +Brethren and relatives generally well. + +WEDNESDAY, October 25. Brother Kline started to Hampshire County, West +Virginia. He went by way of the South Fork and Moorefield in Hardy +County, West Virginia; and got to Brother Nicolas Leatherman's by +Thursday night, after two very hard days' ride on horseback. On this +journey he visited John Leatherman's, Daniel Arnold's, Joseph +Arnold's, David Good's, Solomon Michael's and others. He attended a +love feast and one other meeting at Arnold's meetinghouse, and had +night meeting at Solomon Michael's. Here his subject was the baptism +of John. From Solomon Michael's he went to Brother Stingley's in the +west part of Hardy County, West Virginia, where he met and filled an +appointment for preaching. From this place he went to Parks's; and on + +WEDNESDAY, November 1, he took dinner at Saul Hyre's, above Petersburg, +and stayed all night at Isaac Shobe's. + +THURSDAY, November 2. He had meeting at the widow Chlora Judy's on +Mill Creek, where he spoke from John 1:29. "Behold the Lamb of God, +which taketh away the sin of the world." The next day he had meeting +at Rorabaugh's on the South Fork; and in the afternoon went across the +Shenandoah mountain to Brother Nesselrodt's. He says: "I crossed two +very high mountains to-day. It is cloudy and cold, threatening snow." + +SATURDAY, November 4. Snowing fast this morning. Go on to Mathias's on +Lost River, where I meet a small gathering of people at night. Snows +fast all day, and meeting small; but I nevertheless speak as best I +can on the last two verses of the ninth chapter of John. These are the +words, and what follows is an outline in substance of what I said: +"And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but +all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true. And many +believed on him there." Our Lord's work on earth in the flesh, was now +fast drawing to a close. Honest hearts were accepting him as the +Savior of the world. His enemies, on the other hand, were becoming +more violent in their opposition to him, on the ground that if they +would let him go all men would believe on him. One striking feature of +our Lord's spirit and doctrine was that of "_nonresistance_" of +personal or bodily enemies. "My kingdom," said he, "is not of this +world; else would my servants fight." Ignorant of the power of love, +these Jewish enemies of our Lord could foresee nothing in the +tendencies of his doctrines but the destruction of their city +Jerusalem, and the same also of their nationality as a people. + +Although John did no sign or miracle, still he told the truth about +Jesus; and inasmuch as he did this in the beginning of our Lord's +ministry, and was beheaded soon after, it was in itself strong +evidence in favor of our Lord's Messiahship. The people could plainly +see the agreement between the life and teachings of Christ and what +John had said they would be. The agreement was too exact and uniform +to be accidental. This led many to believe on him. They alleged that +all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true; and they came +unto him. In this they showed their wisdom. How they hung upon his +words! How their hearts did burn as he opened unto them the +Scriptures! Like Mary, many sat at his feet and heard his words. + +At the present day, when any begin to inquire the way of salvation, +instead of going to the Word wherein the way is plainly revealed, and +the Lord may be found, they go to their preacher, or to others whom +they regard as safe guides, or to books that purport to lead inquirers +into the right way; and very often they are wrongly taught and misled. +If there be one here to-night who is anxiously inquiring the way to +Jesus, I say to him: "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin +of the world!" "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I +confess before my Father and the holy angels." "Whosoever shall call +on the name of the Lord shall be saved: for with the heart man +believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made +unto salvation." A good many tongues are found in the mouth with which +men make "confession unto salvation." But they all speak the same +thing, and the thing which they all speak is humble obedience to the +Word of the Lord. Baptism is one tongue. Feet-washing is another +tongue. The Lord's Supper is another tongue. The Communion is another +tongue. A quiet, honest and peaceable life is another tongue, and one +that speaks very loud for Christ. Temperance in eating and drinking, +and abstemiousness in the way of rejecting the use of all unnecessary +or injurious things is another tongue of power on the Lord's side. +Come to Jesus. Confess him in these ways, and thou shall live. + +SUNDAY, December 31. Meeting on Lost River. Matthew 2 is read. Stay +all night at Christian Halterman's. + +It is said that the centipede has a hundred feet. It may have; and it +does seem that superstition, or the belief in supernatural things of a +trivial nature has quite as many; and, like the fabled animal of +ancient times, has also a hundred heads. + +This evening I overheard a conversation among some young people where +I stayed, in which one said that every New Year's night, that is, the +night in which the New Year comes in, the cattle and sheep all get on +their knees, as if they might be in a devotional posture of body. They +talked as if they really believed that this might be so. I do not know +how this impression has come about; but I have heard this before, and +guess that some mischievous or sportive person tried to make some one +else believe that cattle and sheep kneel _only_ on New Year's night, +when the truth is that they kneel whenever they lie down to rest. I +have often thought it a pity that people are so ready to believe in +marvelous and supernatural things which can do them no good, and so +backward to believe the most marvelous truth the world has ever known; +the truth that God has provided eternal life and salvation for all who +are willing to accept it on the easy terms upon which it is offered. + +In this year I have traveled, mostly on horseback, three thousand, two +hundred and sixty miles. + +MONDAY, January 1, 1844. I feel sure that the work of the year cannot +be entered upon more suitably than by making arrangements for building +a house of worship unto the Lord. The need of a house of this kind has +long been felt among the Brethren on Lost River. We have here, as +elsewhere, "not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God" publicly, +as Paul says he did among the Ephesian brethren, "and that from house +to house." But it is best to have a stated place of worship, and with +this in view we have this day made arrangements to build a +meetinghouse, to be known as the Lost River meetinghouse. Celestine +Whitmore, Jacob Mathias and Silas Randall have been elected trustees; +and Celestine Whitmore, one of the number, has been elected master +builder. + +SATURDAY, February 24. Raise the new meetinghouse on Lost River. Stay +all night at Silas Randall's. + +TUESDAY, March 26. My dear old father dies this night, at forty +minutes past three o'clock in the morning. He has lived to a great +age, has seen all of his children settled in life and doing well, has +served his day and generation to good purpose by a faithful discharge +of duty as a husband and father in his own family; as a kind and +ever-obliging neighbor in his community; and far, very far outweighing +all these, he has honored his God by embracing the faith set forth in +the Gospel of the Son of God, the faith that works by love, that +purifies the heart, and that overcomes the world. All great endings +are but great beginnings. The end of our Savior's life on earth was +but the beginning of his life of ineffable glory and exaltation in +heaven. As the Head is, so shall the members be. In his own measure, +as it hath pleased the Lord to give my father grace, so shall his +reward in glory be. Death is the door through which we enter life. + + "Farewell! we meet no more + On this side heaven: + The parting scene is o'er, + The last sad look is given, + + "Farewell! O may we meet + In heaven above: + And there, in union sweet, + Sing of a Savior's love." + +THURSDAY, March 28. Daniel Miller and Benjamin Bowman preach father's +funeral. The earth that covers the body and hides it from sight does +not bury our hopes. The anchor of the soul is sure and steadfast. It +has its hold upon the things within the veil, which are eternal and +immovable. I will not sorrow as those who have no hope. Father's age +was eighty years, eight months and twenty-two days. + + +_Sermon by Elder John Kline._ + +_Preached at Old Father Kagey's, +Sunday, March 31._ + + TEXT.--For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man + perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.--2 Cor. 4:16. + +Our heavenly Father makes known to his children the things necessary +for their instruction in the way of a holy life, that they may do his +will in all things and live well-pleasing to him at all times. To this +end many precious promises are held up to our spiritual vision, and +many encouragements set forth to animate us to love and duty. Hence +Paul says: "For this cause we faint not. Even though our outward man +perish," that is, show signs of decay and approaching death, "yet the +inward man is renewed day by day." This natural body in which we live +and move, in which we serve and suffer, is what Paul calls "the +outward man." Elsewhere it is called "a natural body." It is the +offspring of the natural act of generation between the father and +mother, and is in its nature bone of their bone and flesh of their +flesh. This is why it is called a natural body. In the text it is +called "the outward man," because it is the external part of the man; +is visible; has weight; may be handled and felt; and is the medium of +direct sensation. It is also the seat of suffering and sin, and is +subject to death and decomposition as its end. Of this body it is +written: "Dust thou art; and unto dust shalt thou return." Paul says: +"In me, that is, in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing." He is +very particular to tell us in which part of him it is where no good +thing dwelleth. He says: "In my flesh." + +But there is "an inward man" about which none of these things can be +said. This is elsewhere called "a spiritual body." It is so called +because it is born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of +the will of man, but of God." It is also called "a new creature in +Christ Jesus." Generation, in a natural sense, implies the begetting +and bringing forth of the "natural body" the "outward man," "the old +man;" but regeneration implies the begetting and bringing forth of +"the spiritual body," "the inward man," "the new man," which after God +is created in righteousness and true holiness. Peter says: "Born +again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of +God, which liveth and abideth forever." + +But it matters not how good a thing may be, if it is out of our reach +or beyond our power to get, it can do us no good. But the new life in +the soul, the eternal life of the spirit, is not out of the reach of +any, is in reach of all. Even the dead shall hear his voice, and they +that hear shall live. "He that heareth my word, and believeth him that +sent me, hath everlasting life." "Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in +no wise cast out." "He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit +reap life everlasting." "This is life eternal that they might know +thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." "If +any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed +away; behold, all things have become new." + +Obedience to the ordinances of God's house has its place here in +connection with faith. By works is faith made perfect. The first +command that Paul received in connection with his conversion was: +"Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name +of the Lord." The instruction of Peter to the convicts on the day of +Pentecost was: "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name +of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the +gift of the Holy Ghost." In preaching Jesus to the eunuch Philip +evidently preached our Lord's baptism, else what would the eunuch have +known about baptism? How else can we account for his remark to Philip +and implied request: "See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be +baptized?" "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest," was +Philip's answer. Sinner, you are invited to come and take of the water +of life freely. Come, believe, obey, and live forever. + +FRIDAY, April 12. Plant corn in the lower field. + +SATURDAY, April 13. Finish planting the lower field. I never plant +corn or commit any seed to the earth, but I am filled with wonder in +the contemplation of God's power. In my thoughts over things of this +kind my mind and heart find pleasant relief, by recalling in memory +the beautiful similitude which Mark, alone of all the evangelists, has +left on record for us. These are his words: "And he [the Lord] said, +So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth, +and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up +and grow, he knoweth not how. The earth beareth fruit of herself; +first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." These +words greatly encourage me to labor more faithfully in the ministry of +the Word: for as we know the Lord has power to make the dry seed in +the dry ground grow unto a rich harvest, we know not how, so has he +power to make the seeds of his truth spring up and grow in the hearts +of men unto a harvest of eternal blessedness in heaven. But as the +corn must be tended, the field kept clean, and the ground kept in +order during the growing season, so must the Word in the heart be +guarded from the inroads of evils, such as are clearly described in +the Lord's own words. + +SATURDAY, April 20. Council meeting to-day on Lost River. Celestine +Whitmore elected speaker, and Silas Randall elected deacon. Stay all +night at John Miller's. + +SUNDAY, April 21. Meeting at Whitmore's. Luke 14 is read. _Humility_ +was my subject to-day, founded on the words of the eleventh verse. +Pride is the opposite of humility. The proud man exalts himself and +refuses to follow in the footsteps of the meek and lowly Jesus. + +"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." So says the +Apostle James. And why is this so? Because the proud man, in his sense +of self-sufficiency, feels no want at the present which he thinks he +is not able to supply, and dreads no want in the future, either +because he does not think of any future life, or because he has +persuaded himself to believe there is no future state of existence. +God can never give grace to such a man, in such a state, because he +will not receive it. A thing may be offered, but it can never be said +to be given unless it is received. Wherefore the Apostle Peter says: +"Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he +may exalt you in due time." When God exalts a man, when God lifts a +man up, he then is lifted up, he then is exalted, sure enough. This is +the exaltation to which we may truthfully apply Paul's exultation: +"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the +heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love +him." + +SUNDAY, May 12. Meeting in our meetinghouse. Ephesians 4 is read. +Samuel Myers and his wife are baptized. + +TUESDAY, May 14. Council meeting to-day at our meetinghouse. John +Bowman, of Franklin County, Virginia, and Brother Barnhardt, of +Roanoke County, Virginia, were with us to-day; and they are with me +this evening to stay all night. + +THURSDAY, May 16. Raise the mill, and in the afternoon go to the Gap +and marry George Fawley and Catharine Fulk. + +SATURDAY, June 1. Love feast to-day at our meetinghouse. Brother +Daniel Barnhardt, of Roanoke County, Virginia, and Brother John +Bowman, of Franklin County, Virginia, and Brother Peter Nead were with +us. We had much good speaking by the visiting brethren on the 10th +chapter of John and other passages of Scripture. + +SUNDAY, June 2. Go to Daniel Miller's to meeting. Luke 14 is read. I +then go to Joseph Miller's where I stay all night. + +MONDAY, June 10. This morning the intelligence comes of the sudden +death of Reuben Yount. He was found lying dead in the road. It is +supposed that he was killed by being thrown from his horse on his way +home last evening. + +TUESDAY, June 11. Reuben Yount was buried to-day. Age, twenty-five +years and thirteen days. Verily the sons of men sink into the grave +like raindrops into the sea, and are seen no more. As unexpectedly as +the pitcher is broken at the fountain, even before it is filled with +water, so unexpectedly does death come to many. + +MONDAY, June 24. Finish making hay. We have about twenty-two tons in +all. + +SUNDAY, June 30. Meeting at Frederic Kline's, near Dayton, Virginia. +Six persons baptized. + +SUNDAY, July 7. Meeting at our meetinghouse. John Kave and wife, Katy +Keysayer, Betsy Holsinger, Polly Knopp, Katy Fry and Betsy Andes were +baptized to-day. Daniel Miller baptized them. + +SATURDAY, July 27. Harvest meeting at Copp's schoolhouse in Shenandoah +County, Virginia. + +WEDNESDAY, July 31. Harvest meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. + +THURSDAY, August 1. Go to harvest meeting at Daniel Garber's +meetinghouse. Stay all night at John Myers's in Augusta County, +Virginia. + +FRIDAY, August 2. Love feast at the Brick meetinghouse. Luke 14 was +read. One brother spoke impressively on the last three words in the +first verse: "THEY WATCHED HIM." Said he, "The enemies of the Lord +most likely did this. They were ever eager to find some ground of +accusation against him. But the Lord was not alone in this. 'A servant +is not greater than his lord.' We, Brethren, are liable to be watched. +And I think I may say truthfully that we are watched not only by our +enemies, but by our friends too. But there is a great difference +between the eye of an enemy and the eye of a friend. The eye of an +enemy seeks for faults with which to accuse and persecute; and when no +real fault can be found the evil eye seeks to make faults by looking +at our actions and motives in a false light, and if possible getting +others to regard them in the same false light. But not so the eye of a +friend. A wise father watches his children, not to find faults with +which to accuse, but in love to correct by pointing out their evil +tendencies and the end to which they lead. + +"So, dear brethren and sisters, should we watch one another in the +house of God. We should never be quick to take offense when some +brother or sister out of pure love for us kindly warns us of some +fault that we may not be fully conscious of." + +In words as nearly like the above as I can give them, and in many +others, did the brother exhort the church. + +SUNDAY, August 25. Attend meeting at the Flat Rock. First Corinthians +1 is read. Louis Nasselrodt and wife and Henry Strawdeman and wife +were baptized. I baptized them. + +SUNDAY, September 1. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Colossians 2 was +read. Philip Bible and wife, Adam Hevner and wife, William Andes, +Samuel Zigler, Christian Krider and old Mother Minick were baptized +to-day. + +SUNDAY, September 8. Meeting at Stoner's to-day. Romans 6 was read. I +baptized Christian Krider's wife to-day. + +[With Elder John Kline to plan was to do; to propose in mind was to +perform in act; ever though, let it be remembered, by the help of the +Lord. "His will, and not mine, be done," was Brother Kline's motto. +The following notes are word for word from the fly leaves of his Diary +for the present year. They are inserted here for two reasons. First, +to show that he formed a purpose and laid down a plan before acting. +In the following pages it will be seen how faithfully the plan laid +out in the Diary was executed. Second, to show something of the +confidence reposed in his genuine honesty, and his business capacity +as a man.--EDITOR.] + +I have in contemplation to take the following route to Ohio: Start on +the seventeenth of September, and on the eighteenth have an afternoon +meeting at Parks's, in Hardy County, Virginia [now West Virginia]; on +the twenty-first to stop at Jacob Thomas's in Preston County, Virginia; +on the twenty-second to be at George's Creek; on the twenty-sixth to +be at Bull Creek, Columbiana County, Ohio; on the eighth and ninth of +October to be at Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio; on the twelfth to be +at Sugar Creek, in Allen County, Ohio; on the sixteenth, seventeenth, +eighteenth and nineteenth in Henry County, Indiana; on the evening of +the twenty-third to be at Bear Creek, Montgomery County, Ohio. Things +which I have to attend to on my trip to Ohio and Indiana: + +To inquire of George Weaver about a legacy of William Toppin, orphan +of Thomas Toppin. + +Received of Jacob Hoover $73.42 to be paid over as follows: + + To George Hoover, $17.57 + To Peter Fesler, 17.57 + To Elizabeth Fesler, 38.28 + ------ + $73.42 + +To get some rents of Joseph Garber for Susanna Garber. + + To pay over to Betsy Fesler, $200.00 + To pay over to George Hoover, 50.00 + +This money I received of Aunt Katy Hoover. + +To collect some money of Mahoney and of John Kline for Ziglers. I hold +papers for the same. + +To collect money of Jacob Leedy in Columbiana County, Ohio, for Peter +Nead. + +To collect money of John Garber, of Montgomery County, Ohio, for +Solomon Garber, of Rockingham County, Virginia. I am to let John +Garber have the note if he pays $150.00. + +TUESDAY, September 17. Brother George R. Hedrick and I start from my +home this morning, on horseback, for Ohio. We dine at William +Fitzwater's, in Brock's Gap, and arrive in the evening at Isaac +Dasher's on the South Fork, Hardy County, Virginia, where we stay over +night. + +WEDNESDAY, September 18. Come to Isaac Shobe's for breakfast, and on +to Parks's for dinner. Meeting in the afternoon at Parks's. John 3 +is read. On the way to-day Brother Hedrick and I talked over the +interpretation we are to give the Lord's words in the thirteenth verse +of the chapter read this afternoon. These are the words: "And no man +hath ascended up to heaven." I asked Brother Hedrick if Elijah had not +ascended to heaven? I quoted to him the very words recorded in the +eleventh verse of the second chapter of Second Kings: "And Elijah went +up by a whirlwind into heaven." Brother Hedrick confessed that a first +thought on our Lord's words might lead the mind to conclude that there +is a want of harmony between what he says to Nicodemus and what is +plainly said of Elijah. But he removed the difficulty from my mind at +once by explaining the Lord's words to mean that no one in his own +strength or by virtue of his own power had ascended to heaven. "Elijah +went up to heaven, it is true," said he, "but the horses of fire and +the chariot of fire by which he went up, beautifully and impressively +symbolize the Lord's hand by which he was taken up. And besides this, +we read in 2 Kings 2:1, 'And it came to pass when the Lord would take +up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha +from Gilgal.' Here it is plainly implied that the Lord took up Elijah +into heaven. And this falls in as a part of the great lesson the Lord +was seeking to impress upon the mind of Nicodemus, the great truth +that the Lord alone has power to lift men, through the regeneration, +up to heaven." Stay all night at Parks's. + +THURSDAY, September 19. We go to Stingley's for breakfast; to Eliza +Hays's for dinner (still in Hardy County, Virginia), and stay all +night at Gilpin's. We are now within sixteen miles of the Maryland +line. + +FRIDAY, September 20. To-day we passed through what is called the +Glades and Wilderness, to the Briery mountain. A very lonely road; but +the companionship of a man and a brother like George Hedrick makes +solitude enjoyable. Only those who have experienced the agreeableness +of a bright, serene, calm and contented mind and heart, such as I find +in Brother Hedrick, can ever realize the pleasure of such company. +It does seem to me that we can almost adopt toward each other the +beautiful sentiment of love which Ruth expressed for Naomi: "Whither +thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge. Thy people +shall be my people. Where thou diest I will die, and there will I be +buried." We fed our horses and took breakfast at Smith's tavern, in +Preston County, Virginia; took dinner at Bransonville, and find +ourselves here at Brother Jacob Thomas's, where we are spending the +night. + +SATURDAY, September 21. Meeting in the schoolhouse near Brother +Thomas's. Deuteronomy, eighteenth chapter is read. I spoke on the +latter portion of the chapter read, from the fifteenth verse to the +end. I spoke particularly on the following words: "The Lord thy God +will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy +brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." This was spoken to +the children of Israel. What follows was spoken directly to Moses: "I +will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto +thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto +them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that +whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my +name, I will require it of him." I tried to show these people the +great danger there is in a life of sin. The great Prophet spoken of +and promised in the words of my text is none other than the Lord Jesus +Christ. In the fullness of time he appeared. The prophecy just read +was recorded by Moses very nearly fifteen hundred years before it was +fulfilled by the appearing of our Savior. This single consideration +may serve to remind us of the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his +Word. And our blessed Lord while in the flesh more than once turned +the eyes of his disciples to the prophecies that foretold his coming. +In one place he said to the people: "Think not that I am come to +destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to +fulfill." After his resurrection, on his way to Emmaus, in company +with two of his sorrowing disciples who had not yet fully learned the +truth of his having risen, he said in reference to his sufferings and +death: "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet +with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the +law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." + +I am now prepared to tell you, and I trust you are prepared to hear +some of the particulars in which Christ Jesus was like unto Moses. You +know the text says: "A Prophet like unto me." This is the language of +Moses. The Lord God had just before told him this. We will now turn +to some of the points in the comparison of Moses with Christ. Moses +told the people to believe what he told them and obey the commands he +gave them. He taught them that if they would obey the commands and +ordinances which God gave and established through him they would +receive the favor of the Lord, and that as a reward for their +obedience he would bless them exceedingly. But if they would turn away +from him, he would turn away from them, and multiply their troubles +greatly. Christ Jesus does the same. Just at the close of the most +wonderful sermon the world has ever heard preached, a sermon in which +all the moral and spiritual relations of men to each other and to God, +together with the duties growing out of these relations, are set forth +the Lord says: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth +them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a +rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, +and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a +rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them +not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon +the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds +blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of +it." + +Friends, let me say to you that each and every one of you is building +a house for himself on one or the other of these foundations. Your +life, your every-day life, from beginning to end, is the house you are +building. If your life, from love to the Lord, is based upon the solid +rock of his Revealed Truth, it will stand the temptations and trials +symbolized by the floods and winds; but if not, it will never be able +to stand, and great will be its fall. Some may think that because God +is long-suffering, and does not punish sin in this world so manifestly +as he sometimes did in former times, he is becoming more merciful and +takes less account of sin than formerly. But this is a very great +mistake. God has always been quite as merciful as he could be +consistently with his justice and holiness; and the warning given +in Hebrews 2:2 should be heeded. This is the warning: "If every +transgression and disobedience" under Moses, "received a just +recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great +salvation?" Notice this also from the same book: "He that despised +Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how +much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who +hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of +the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath +done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" + +Again: The children of Israel were baptized unto Moses, that is, into +a visible covenant with him, in the cloud and in the Red Sea, as they +passed through. In this act of baptism, by which they declared their +willingness to follow him as their leader, but the one action was +required, and that action was their passing between the walls of water +on the right hand and on the left hand, with the cloud overhead +completely shutting them in from the world. But the Christian, to be +a true follower of the great Prophet of whom we are particularly +speaking, is required to submit to a threefold baptism, which is an +immersion of the body in water in the name of the Father who loved us +and gave his Son; another immersion in the name of the Son who redeems +and saves us; and lastly an immersion in the name of the Holy Ghost +who convinces of sin, who comforts us, enlightens us as to our duties, +sanctifies and makes us meet for heaven. + +Again: Moses gave the people water from the Rock. Christ Jesus gives +his people the water of life. He says: "If any man thirst, let him +come unto me, and drink." + +Again: Moses fed the people with manna, which they gathered every +morning from the ground. Christ feeds his people with the heavenly +manna, which I take to be the great and eternal love of the Father +contained in the blessed words of truth which his Son has declared to +the world. + +In such and many other words did I speak unto these people, seeking +to instruct them in the things of salvation, and induce some of them, +at least, to turn to the Lord. After meeting we dined at Brother +Thomas's, and started for George's Creek; crossed Laurel mountain to +Hagtonsville, then to Brother Joseph Leatherman's, in Fayette County, +Pennsylvania, where we stay all night. + +SUNDAY, September 22. Go to George's Creek meetinghouse. We have +forenoon and afternoon meeting. Second Corinthians 6 is read in the +forenoon meeting. In the 3 o'clock meeting Luke 14 is read. I speak on +the great supper, from the sixteenth to the twenty-fourth verse. + +Whilst I am a stranger to most of you, I nevertheless feel assured by +the signs I witness that I can confidingly and affectionately address +some of you, and I trust a goodly number too, as beloved brethren and +sisters. This is, so far, as it should be. But what would be the joy +of my heart, and what would be the joy of heart with each one of you, +could it be said that this entire congregation is of one mind and all +speak the same thing! But the words of my text, harmonizing with the +closing words of another parable, recorded by Matthew, which declare +that "many are called, but few chosen," may continue to be true, for +a long time yet to come. Whilst the advocates of election and +predestination claim this as one of their proof texts, to my mind it +proves the exact reverse. "Many are called." Here, if I mistake not, +the German has it: "The many are called." I take this to mean that all +are called. Now compare this with what is said here in my text: "Then +the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out +quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither +the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant +said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. +And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and +hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." This +surely proves that all are called or invited to the great supper. +First, the Jews were invited. When Jesus sent forth the twelve he +commanded them saying; "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into +any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost +sheep of the house of Israel." Here it is plain that the Jews were +the first to be invited. "But they all with one mind began to make +excuse." Next then the poor of the city were invited. Still there was +room. Next the off-casts and beggars were invited. These included the +very lowest of the Gentile nations, and comprehend all that live, +every creature. + +Now I ask, in the name of all that is reasonable, can we, dare we, +accuse the Lord of dealing deceitfully? Perish the thought forever. +No! He invites all because it is his blessed will to see all come +and sit at his table spread with the great love feast which he has +prepared for all who are willing and desire to come. This very thought +is the joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue. And it is a joy +which no man taketh from me, because it rests on the rock of Divine +Truth. But a preparation is necessary. We can hardly separate the +parable under consideration from the one recorded in Matthew +twenty-second chapter. There we read of a wedding dinner made by a +king, to celebrate the marriage of his son. And when the king came in +he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. And the king +said: "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? +And he was speechless." And why was he speechless? If he would have +had any reasonable excuse to offer for the unprepared appearance which +he made, would he have been speechless? Reason says at once. He would +have urged his inability to procure a suitable dress for the occasion, +as the cause for his appearing in the way he did, if any such cause +had existed. And the king knew this full well; otherwise he would not +have required all to have on the wedding garment. + +I now call your attention to the closing words of the parable: "I say +unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my +supper." The reason for this is found in the fact that they would not +come. They were the first to be invited. Had they come, they would +have received the right hand of welcome. But notice the unreasonable +excuses they made. One had bought a piece of ground, and he must go +and see it, as if night were the time to look at land. Another must +try the five yoke of oxen he had that day bought, as if night were the +best time to do this. Another had married a wife and could not come, +as if night were not a suitable time to enjoy a rich supper with his +bride. We wonder at these vain and almost unnatural excuses; but do we +find the excuses of men any more reasonable to-day? Men hazard their +souls in a life of sin, not for want of invitations, entreaties and +warnings from the Lord to come unto him, but because they will not. +The Lord pleads with men to-day, just as he pleaded with Israel +centuries ago. Hear what he says to Israel by the mouth of the Prophet +Ezekiel: "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; +so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your +transgressions, ... and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why +will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of +him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves and live +ye." + +And now, Brethren and friends, to make a brief application of some of +the great principles laid down, I will say that the Lord's Supper is +the great love feast which he has prepared for you, for me, for all. +This great love feast, of which our own ordinance by his appointment, +and bearing the same name, is a beautiful and fitting emblem, is +neither more nor less than the bountiful provisions Christ has made +for the salvation of all. These provisions are the great truths of his +Word, filled with his love. The Lord Jesus says: "I am the bread of +life." To the Jews he said: "Your fathers did eat the manna in the +wilderness, and they died." "If any man eat of the bread which I shall +give him, he shall live forever." When we are faithfully obeying the +Lord from love in our hearts, we are eating this life-giving bread. +Every truth which the Lord has revealed, and by which the spiritual +man is fed as to his soul, may be regarded as a component part of this +great feast. + +Jesus said to the tempter: "Man doth not live by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The tempter here +meant material bread for the body, and the Lord answered him according +to that meaning. This is the kind of bread, material bread, with which +the devil seeks to satisfy every demand of our being. It embraces +everything the natural appetite of man craves. The devil is ever +seeking to lead men to feed on the husks which the swine do eat, and +to be satisfied with that kind of food. But the blessed Lord Jesus +resists the tempter, and continually seeks to lead men into a higher, +nobler and heavenly life. He says to every sinner: "Arise, and go to +thy Father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned before heaven, and +in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." This is +repentance. This is the first move man makes in the way of approach +to the feast the Lord has prepared. "Man liveth by every word that +proceedeth out of the mouth of God." This embraces all of Revealed +Truth. Every law, every precept, every prophecy, every parable has +some outflowing, healing virtue, some life-imparting power. We touch +the hem of its garment when we read or hear in sincerity of heart. O +sinner, come and partake of this feast, and thy soul shall live. + +We stay all night with David Longenacre. + +MONDAY, September 23. On towards Ohio. Dine and feed our horses at +Brother David Wise's. This evening we are at Hays's tavern in +Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania, where we[1] stay all +night. + +TUESDAY, September 24. Go to Hickorytown where we feed our horses and +get breakfast. Then on through Burgitsville and Florencetown to +Frankford, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where we feed and dine at +Duncan's tavern. Then on to Georgetown, where we cross the Ohio river +in a horse-boat, and stay all night at Smith's tavern. A lonesome ride +to-day, because we have seen no Brethren. + + [1] Brother Kline in the Diary almost invariably puts it "_Stay + all night_." I am not willing to depart from his usage in + this.--ED. + +WEDNESDAY, September 25. Breakfast and feed in Darlington at Dunlap's +tavern. Then on to New Middletown to Daniel Summers's; and this evening + reach Brother Henry Kurtz's in Columbiana County, where we stay all +night. + +THURSDAY, September 26. Meeting at Brother Haas's. Hebrews 8 is read. +Love feast this evening. Come back to Brother Kurtz's and stay all +night. Paul has told us more than once of the joy he felt, and how his +heart was refreshed on meeting dear brethren and sisters whom he had +not seen for a time. In meeting the brethren and sisters here and +elsewhere we experience much of the same feeling. They everywhere make +us feel at home, and show us more love and give us more attention than +we deserve. What a blessed thing it is to be filled with the love of +Christ! This implants love in the heart for the Brethren. John says: +"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love +the brethren." This is the first-fruits of the tree of life in our +hearts. + +FRIDAY, September 27. Go westward through Greene, Salem, Damascus, +Westville, and on to Brother Joseph Bollinger's, where we stay all +night. + +SATURDAY, September 28. Meeting. John 3 is read. Evening meeting at +Brother Metse's, where we stay all night. Hebrews 12 is read. Begins +to snow this evening, and continues all night. + +SUNDAY, September 29. Meeting in the Franklin Lutheran church. Matthew +7 is read. After meeting we come to Brother David Sommers's. Evening +meeting. John 10 is read. Stay all night with Brother Sommers. The +weather has cleared up. + +MONDAY, September 30. Visit Michael Dickey who is very sick. We then +attend a meeting at Eli Dickey's, in Starke County. Galatians 3 is +read. Stay all night with Brother Dickey. + +TUESDAY, October 1. On westward, through Canton, Massilon, Brooklin, +Dover, Wayne County, to Brother Jacob Kurtz's, where we have night +meeting. Matthew 9 is read. Fine weather. + +WEDNESDAY, October 2. Pass through Jefferson, Pittsburg, and on to +Brother Lucas's, where we have meeting. Second Corinthians 2 is read. +I spoke awhile on the last verse, particularly on these words: +"Corrupting the word of God." In the margin the translation of this +part of the verse is somewhat different, and, if I mistake not, is +sustained by the German of Luther. It is this: "Making merchandise of +the word of God." I regard this as the more literal of the two +renderings. But they both mean very nearly the same, with this slight +difference, that the one strikes more at the cause, while the other +regards particularly the effect of "handling the word of God +deceitfully." Men who make merchandise of the Word of God are exactly +in line with the Pharisees as the Lord described them: "Verily, they +have their reward." Jesus says: "Provide yourselves purses which wax +not old; a treasure in the heavens which faileth not." But those who +make merchandise of the Word of God provide purses for themselves, for +this life, which do wax old; and they lay up their treasures here. Sad +to say, such corrupt the Word by handling it deceitfully, that they +may make the things of religion pleasing to the natural man, and +thereby draw numbers to their side. But, brethren and sisters, I +hardly need tell you that this world is no friend to grace--no friend +to God--no friend to your souls. "Except a man deny himself, and take +up his cross daily, he cannot be my disciple." How different these +words of Jesus are from some remarks I heard one of those gospel +merchants make from his stand not long since. I give them as nearly as +I can. Said he: "Religion is natural to man. And that religion is the +best which enables a man or a woman, in the easiest and most +respectable way, to lead a good moral and civil life in this world. +Christ is your righteousness, and he gives you your necessary fitness +for heaven without any effort on your part, any more than to just +believe on him; so all you have to do is to sustain a respectable +standing in the church, by attending to its ordinances, and you are +and forever will be all right." + +Now I would ask if such talk as this is not corrupting the Word? How +any man, in the face of the sermon on the Mount, in which the deepest +humility of heart--in the way of self-denial, forgiveness of enemies, +love of the truth, obedience to every commandment, from supreme love +to God--and the lowest self-abasement is laid down and set forth in +the clearest light and plainest injunctions--how, I say, in the face +of all this, can a man speak in this way? And more. Hear the awful, +terrific denunciation at the close of this sermon: "He that heareth +these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a +foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain +descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that +house, and it fell: and great was the fall of it." Ah! Brethren, +something more than a desire to appear respectable in the eyes of the +world, and hold an honorable place in the church, so called, is +necessary to withstand the floods and storms of temptations that are +sure to try us in this world. This is why so many make shipwreck. They +do not count the cost; and this is why they desire to make peace, when +they see and feel the army of twenty thousand temptations coming +against them, and they have only ten thousand, very poorly equipped, +to resist their attack. + +The temptations to conform to the vain fashions of the world, especially +with the young, may be called legion. The temptations to commit +adultery are a host. I speak plainly, Brethren, but I must not corrupt +the Word. The temptation to acquire property from the avaricious love +of wealth, more than we can use ourselves or handle to good ends, +comes as the prince of darkness with clouds that shut out the light of +heaven from our sight. Brethren and sisters, as I love you all dearly, +let me say to you at the close of my remarks that the Lord says: "The +scriptures cannot be broken." No man can intentionally break the +Scriptures and be saved. We dare not corrupt the Word of God. + +After meeting we go to Brother John Shoemaker's, where we have night +meeting, and stay all night. Ephesians 6 is read. + +THURSDAY, October 3. Take the Ashland road to Brother Joseph Rupp's, +near Ashland, Ashland County, where we have meeting. Luke 14 is read. +Stay this afternoon and night with Brother Rupp. + +FRIDAY, October 4. Go to Brother Jacob Whisler's, six miles north of +Mansfield. Meeting at 3 o'clock. John 14 is read. To-day we crossed +the Black Fork of the Mohican. Stay all night with Brother Whisler. + +SATURDAY, October 5. On westward through Shelby, to Brother Samuel +Cover's in Crawford County, where we have night meeting. Last part of +Acts 3 is read. Stay all night with Brother Cover. + +SUNDAY, October 6. Meeting. Matthew 7 is read. Stay all night with +Brother Martain Hestand. + +MONDAY, October 7. Visit William Lupton, but not finding him at home, +make settlement with his son of business connected with Hoover's +estate. Look over Hoover's land, and stay all night at Bender's. Fine +day. + +TUESDAY, October 9. Meeting at Brother Hestand's in afternoon. Matthew +10 is read. Night meeting at Brother Clark's. Part of John 3 is read. +Stay all night at Brother Clark's. Fine day. + +WEDNESDAY, October 9. Start for Allen County. Dine and feed at Upper +Sandusky; then on to Huston's, in Hardin County. Bad road from the +Bellefontaine road for twelve miles. Stay all night at Huston's. + +THURSDAY, October 10. By Williamsburg, breakfast and feed at Michael +Baserman's, and on to Abraham Miller's in Allen County, where we stay +all night. Brother Hedrick and I have slept together in the same bed +every night since we left home. + +FRIDAY, October 11. Stay at Brother Miller's till after dinner, then +go to Brother Samuel Miller's, where we stay all night. + +SATURDAY, October 12. Pass through Lima, dine and feed in Wapokaneta, +and stay all night at Shannon's tavern. + +SUNDAY, October 13. Go to Brother Joseph Risser's, dine and feed, then +to Brother Jacob Basehore's, where we leave our horses and walk two +and one-half miles to meeting and back to Brother Basehore's. Night +meeting at Brother Cabell's. First John 3 is read. Stay all night at +Brother Basehore's, in Miami County. Fine day. + +MONDAY, October 14. Westward through Greenville to Brother Emanuel +Flory's in Darke County, where we dine and feed; then on to Winchester +in Indiana, and stay all night at Acker's tavern. We are now in +Randolph County, Indiana. If we were among false brethren in this new +country, as Paul says he once was in the land in which he traveled, +situated as we are in respect to bad roads, a long way from our homes, +with no means of conveyance except the backs of our horses to carry us +to Virginia, the prospect of our stay here, and our hopes of safe +return, might be gloomy indeed. But, thanks to the good Lord, we are +not among false brethren. Our Brethren are true Brethren wherever we +find them. There may be some hypocrites, God knows; but I know of +none. Brother Hedrick and I have repeatedly discoursed on this subject +in our travels together, and neither he nor I have in a single +instance met with a brother or sister that has not, in our presence at +least, shown something of the gentleness and meekness of Christ. We +are made to feel at home wherever we go among them, and these +considerations strengthen our faith and encourage the assurance that +the Gospel which we as a band of Christians preach and practice, and +which works mightily in the hearts of the dear Brethren everywhere, is +of God. "By their fruits ye shall know them." + +FRIDAY, October 11. Still westward through Cameron, to Brother +Fullhearts, where we feed our horses and get dinner. We then cross the +White river to Muncie in Delaware County, and stay all night with +David Bowers. Rough, windy and rainy day. + +WEDNESDAY, October 16. Visit the following named families, in nearly +all of which we find members of our Brotherhood. We first visit +Sowerwine's, then Joseph Coffman's, Sheets's, Jacob Good's, Absalom +Painter's and George Hoover's. At the last-named place we have night +meeting and stay all night. We are now in Henry County, Indiana. + +THURSDAY, October 17. Meeting at Jacob Brunk's. Mark 1 is read. Then +to Peter Fesler's, where we have night meeting. Acts 3 is read. Stay +all night with Brother Fesler. + +FRIDAY, October 18. Come to Middletown and get a letter from home. +Glad to hear that all are well, but sorry to learn of some deaths. +Leaving Middletown, we go eastward to Brother David Hartman's, in +Wayne County, where we stay all night. Raining all day, and in +afternoon it falls in torrents. + +SATURDAY, October 19. Love feast at Brother Abraham Hoover's. John 1 +is read. Stay all night at Brother David Hartman's. Clear and cold. + +SUNDAY, October 20. Forenoon meeting. Acts 3 was read. I spoke on +verse twenty-second: Subject, "The Great Prophet." Meeting again at +one o'clock. I speak on Mark 1:27. Text: "And they were all amazed, +insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is +this? What new doctrine is this?" + +The Jews could well ask the question set forth in the text: "What new +doctrine is this?" To them the teachings of Christ were all new. +Whilst he came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill, +nevertheless his fulfillment of them was so spiritual, so essentially +holy, so pure in motive, so beneficent in act, that the Jews were +entire strangers to it: or probably better, it was strange and new to +them. Even Nicodemus, a ruler among the Jews, failed to perceive what +Jesus meant when he told him about the nature and necessity of the new +birth. Our Lord manifests something of surprise at the ignorance and +stupidity of Nicodemus. Such ignorance as Nicodemus exposes in the +presence of Christ appears to us as wholly inexcusable, when we look +at what had already been taught on the subject of a change of heart, +or regeneration, in the law of Moses and the prophets. + +Enoch, the seventh from Adam, walked with God three hundred years, and +never saw death, for God took him. Did he walk with God in a fleshly +mind, or in a spiritual mind? Hear what Jesus and Paul say: "That +which is born of the flesh, is flesh," and Paul says: "Therein +dwelleth no good thing." "But that which is born of the Spirit is +spirit," and therein serve we the Lord acceptably. Abraham, Isaac and +Jacob, Moses and Elijah are to-day in the heavens. Are they there in +the flesh? Nay, verily, but in the spirit; in the new nature which God +had implanted in them. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of +heaven." + +"And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of +Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, +and Samuel," who prayed: "Create in me a clean heart, and renew a +right spirit within me." But the Jews had become carnal, fleshly +minded, and, like Nicodemus, were unable to see the spirituality of +their own Word. How, then, could they apprehend the grace or see the +truth which came by Jesus Christ! Let us, Brethren, search the +Scriptures and acquaint ourselves much with the Gospel of our +salvation, so that when we read or hear, it may not be to us as it +was to the Jews, a new doctrine, but the + + "Old, old story, + Of Jesus and his love." + +This is nearly the substance of what I said. + +Night meeting at Samuel Cave's. I speak from John 1:29. Fine day. We +stay all night with Brother Cave. We are now in Wayne County. + +MONDAY, October 21. Start eastward to William Minnick's, and on +through Richmond, by Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, to Samuel Showalter's, +where we stay all night. + +TUESDAY, October 22. Get dinner at Jacob Trout's: visit John Brower's, +and stay all night at Solomon Stoner's. Fine day. + +WEDNESDAY, October 23. Visit Joseph Kline's, Samuel Kline's, David +Dristle's, and have night meeting at David Bowman's. Matthew 25 is +read. Stay all night at Brother Dristle's. Our gatherings for worship +and attendance upon the Word, as a rule, have not been large; but +people generally appear to pay heed to what is spoken, and we trust +the good seed may find a lodgment in many an honest and sincere heart. + +THURSDAY, October 24. Meeting at Bowman's meetinghouse. Luke 14 is +read. Stay all night at Brother Abraham Aerbaugh's. + +FRIDAY, October 25. Visit George Miller's, Sally Aerbaugh's, Daniel +Garber's, John Garber's, David Miller's, and Joseph Garber's, where we +stay all night. Fine weather. + +SATURDAY, October 26. Visit Felix Landes's, and go to night meeting at +Philip Wampler's. Matthew 11 is read. Stay all night at Philip +Wampler's. + +SUNDAY, October 27. Meeting at the Bowman meetinghouse. Acts 3 is +read. I then visit Brother Brumbaugh, who is very low in sickness; and +also visit Henry Harshbarger, and stay all night at John Kline's. + +MONDAY, October 28. Go to Dayton, and after spending some time in +visiting the factories and other points of interest in the city, we +start towards Cincinnati, and stay all night in Miamisburg, at +Zimmers's tavern. + +TUESDAY, October 29. Pass through Butler County into Hamilton, and +stay all night in Cincinnati, at the Franklin House, kept by Ross. + +WEDNESDAY, October 30. Visit Dr. Curtis and settle with him. [Dr. +Curtis was at this time a very noted Thompsonian doctor located in +Cincinnati. He was editor of the _Botanic Medical Recorder_, a journal +which was very popular with the advocates of the Thompsonian practice +of medicine in its day; and also author of a series of lectures in the +same line.--ED.] Dr. Curtis appears to me as a very kind, open-hearted, +well-informed man. He seems to be very confident as to the future +success and final triumph of his favorite system of medical theory and +practice. "Why should we not," said he, "feel as sure that the might +of truth will prevail in this as in other things? It may be that +further experience will shear off some things that we now hold; and +add on to our system some others which we as yet lack; but the great +principles of truth which underlie our medical creed must remain +unshaken, while the laws of health and the inroads of disease remain +as they are to-day." We then visited the city markets, and about 10 +o'clock started for Clermont County, and got to John Dickey's tavern, +where we stay all night. + +THURSDAY, October 31. On to Hillsborough in Highland County; dine and +feed at Jacob Runyon's, and stay all night at Elijah Thurman's. + +FRIDAY, November 1. On into Ross County, and stay all night at David +Kline's. + +SATURDAY, November 2. Cross Deer Creek and push on across the Scioto +river at Boggs's Mills, and get to Sampson Zimmerman's, in Hocking +County, where we stay all night. + +SUNDAY, November 3. On through Logan on the Hocking river; then down +the same river to Warren's tavern, near Athens, in Athens County, +where we stay all night. The Hocking Valley is a fine, rich country, +and I feel to encourage some of our younger people to come here and +get good cheap homes. In this way they might establish the church +here, and thus prepare the way of the Lord as John did in the +wilderness of Judea. What an opening there is here for good, +industrious people! + +MONDAY, November 4. Down the Hocking river to where the road takes off +towards Parkersburg in Virginia, near which place we cross the Ohio +river in a horse boat, and stay all night at Henry Dill's +entertainment, in Wood County, Virginia. + +TUESDAY, November 5. To-day we travel thirty-nine and one-half miles +on the Parkersburg turnpike, and stay all night at Isaac Martain's, in +Ritchie County, Virginia. + +WEDNESDAY, November 6. Keep the turnpike all day. Dine and feed our +horses at Neeley's tavern, and stay all night at Clinch's, three miles +west of Clarksburg, in Harrison County. + +THURSDAY, November 7. Through Clarksburg, Prunty Town, Evansville and +on to J. Stone's tavern, in Preston County, where we stay all night. + +FRIDAY, November 8. Cross Laurel mountain, Cheat river, and on to top +of Cheat mountain, where we dine and feed at Stemple's tavern near +West Union; then to North Branch to Hays's where we stay all night. +Fine day. + +SATURDAY, November 9. Go to Stingley's, dine and feed; stop awhile +with old Sister Parks; then on to Enoch Hyre's, on the South Branch, +near Petersburg, Hardy County, Virginia, where we stay all night. Fine +weather. + +SUNDAY, November 10. I do not like to travel far on this day, but +there being no meeting in reach of us, and both eager to get as near +home as possible, we leave Sister Hyre's, stop a little with Isaac +Shobe's on Mill Creek, dine and feed at Isaac Dasher's, on the South +Fork, and stay all night at Jacob Whetzel's, in Brock's Gap, Rockingham +County, Virginia. Fine weather continues. + +MONDAY, November 11. Home to-day. Find all well, but some sickness in +the neighborhood around. On the journey from which I have just +returned, I traveled 1,271 miles on horse-back, one beast carrying me +safely all of that distance. The roads we traveled were in many places +just as nature formed them, the hand of man having done but little +more than cut the timber out and remove impassable obstructions. We +crossed high and rugged mountains, and forded dangerous streams. But +in the West the people are waking up to the importance of improving +the public roads. The abundant natural wealth of that country, when +properly developed by wise industry, will respond in such lavish +abundance that there will be no lack of means to build the best of +roads, and in every respect to raise the country generally to that +state of beauty by high culture, which ministers to the comfort and +usefulness of its people. + +The Baltimore & Ohio railroad will soon be completed to Wheeling, and +this road, in connection with other roads likely to be built and +connect with it, will open a very active traffic between that city and +the East. I feel like saying to the Brethren everywhere that now is +the time to sow the pure seeds of Gospel Truth in the West. If this be +not done, tares will be sure to grow and multiply where the wheat of +holy love should abound. Such fields of humanity, so full of life and +vigor, will never remain unproductive. Education and civil law may +help to control and keep in bounds the flood of moral and intellectual +power flowing from them; but if the hand of sanctified religion be not +put forth to give it proper direction, they will turn out to be a +moral wilderness of sin, filled with all the wild beasts of human +passion, "and every hateful bird." + +In the time of my absence Eli Spitzer and wife, Polly Hindgardner, +and another woman were baptized. This was done September 18. On the +twenty-second there was a love feast at the Lost River meetinghouse; +and about that time Samuel Toppan and wife, and three other persons, +all on Stony Creek, were baptized. Thomas Lampkin and Polly Fridley, +and another sister were also baptized in my absence. + +MONDAY, December 16. To-day I preach the funeral of old Brother John +Wine in the Forest. Text, Rev. 14:13, "Blessed are the dead which die +in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest +from their labors; and their works do follow them." + +I aimed to set forth, in the practical part of my discourse, a few +thoughts based on the last part of the verse: "Their works do follow +them." Our works are as sure to follow us from this world to the next +as they are when we remove from one place to another in this. Let any +one come among us, no matter from where, and he brings his character +with him. If that is good, good works will follow him. They follow not +only in the way of reports we may receive from those among whom he +lived before he came among us, but they follow all he does while here. +In this consists the blessedness of those who die in the Lord. In +heaven the same good works follow them in all they do, only in much +greater perfection, that accorded with the good will in their hearts +that characterized their lives while here. The lives of good men are +so conjoined with the Lord, because from the Lord, that whatever good +they do in the way of helping others he accounts it as done to him. +Indeed, this blessed following is the ground of proof that they are of +his sheep. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my +brethren, ye have done it unto me." Will not that be a glorious and +happy following? Is it not something worth sacrificing our life and +our all in this world for? And that day will surely come. Just as sure +as we live it will come, for the Scripture cannot be broken. This +blessed following of good works will be sure to receive on that day +the welcome plaudit: "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou +into the joy of thy Lord." + +WEDNESDAY, December 25. Christmas day. Meeting in Keagey's schoolhouse. +Matthew 2 was read. Brother Daniel Miller spoke beautifully in the +German language on the advent of the Lord Jesus. His main subject was +the love of the Father, the good will toward men that gave the only +begotten Son to redeem and save them. + +He said: "The day is unimportant. We may have Christ's birthday +correct, or we may not. I am not historian enough to speak positively +on this point. But one thing there is upon which I can speak +positively; and all the enemies of Jesus are unable to wrest the +conviction of that truth from my heart; and that thing is this, that +'God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting +life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, +but that the world through him might be saved.' It has pleased our +heavenly Father to tell us about our Savior's birth; how lowly it was, +in a stable; and that he was laid in a manger, which means a kind of +box from which horses take their food; and that a star in the east, +sometimes called the Star of Bethlehem, guided the wise men who came +from the east to see the infant, Jesus, to the place where he lay. +Those good men hardly knew that this beautiful star was but an emblem +of the leadings of God's revealed Truth. But it is so; for all the +light of prophecy centered in that star which showed the time and +place of the birth of the Son of God. Some seem to think the star was +only a natural light, such as natural eyes could see, but I do not +think so. I rather think it was a heavenly light, and that it could be +seen only by such as loved the hope of our Lord's coming and were +ready to rejoice at his birth. + +"We have the brighter light of his more clearly revealed Word, by +which we are enabled to find, not an infant Savior, but a Savior grown +up to perfect manhood made perfect through sufferings ending in his +death upon the cross. We find him as the risen and glorified Lord with +power to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him. His +heavenly truth is to us now and to all who are willing to open their +eyes and see, as the Sun of Righteousness; 'for we are not of the +night, nor of darkness, but we are all the children of light, and the +children of the day.' Paul here means such as are true Christians. I +love to preach the Gospel; but I love still more to see men and women +open their eyes to the light of its truth, and their hearts to the +warmth of its love. In this way they are led to seek the Lord; and the +promise is: 'Every one that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, +it shall be opened.' + +"One more thing I must notice. These wise men brought gifts to the +infant Jesus. I suppose these were the first Christmas gifts ever +made; and the custom of making presents at this time has probably been +kept up ever since. If presents are made on this day with an eye to +the gift of God's love, they will be acceptable in his eye; but if +made lightly, simply to comply with custom or fashion, they have no +promise." + +I must yet add this from the brother's beautiful discourse. He said: +"The greatest of all the Christmas gifts that man ever has received, +or that even God himself can bestow, was made on that first Christmas +day. Some of you may not think as I do about it, but on that day God +gave to the world his own and only beloved Son, and to my eyes, and I +hope to the eyes of many of you, he is the fairest of all the fair, +and the one altogether lovely. I lay all the gold, and the +frankincense, and the myrrh of my heart's best affections as thank +offerings at his feet on this Christmas day. Brethren, God has made +his most costly gift to us in the person of his Son; should we not be +willing to reciprocate this gift with the most precious gift we are +able to offer? And what is the most precious thing in his sight that +we can give? It is our love in return for his love to us. If we do +make this return in fullness, we place ourselves in a state of highest +blessedness, described by John in few words: 'We love him, because he +first loved us.' This is a heavenly state, and it must be the basis of +all the bliss of saints and angels." + +I wish I had time to give more than this mere outline of the brother's +excellent discourse in the German language, but I must leave off. We +have night meeting at Koontz's, where Brother Daniel Miller and I stay +all night. + +TUESDAY, December 31. I have traveled since last New Year's day, +nearly all on horseback, 3,827 miles. The year's work is done. The +record on high is made. Does it stand favorably in my behalf for the +life to come, or have I received my reward here? I can only pray my +Father in heaven to forgive the wrong and bless the right. This is my +evening prayer at all times, but especially do I offer it now at the +closing hour of the year. + +SATURDAY, January 4. Go to Isaac Myer's on Stony Creek, and stay at +Louis Naselrodt's all night. + +SUNDAY, January 5. Meeting in the Sulphur Spring schoolhouse. Acts 3 +is read. Stay at Brother William Andes's all night. + +MONDAY, January 6. Return home. Snows all day. + +THURSDAY, January 23. Solemnize the marriage of David Hoover, near +Plain's Mill, and Mary Zigler, of Timberville. + +SUNDAY, January 26. Attend the funeral of Mrs. Kootz, mother of our +State Senator, Samuel Kootz. Her age was seventy-three years, five +months and twenty-eight days. + +WEDNESDAY, February 12. Attend the funeral of old mother Shultz. Her +age was seventy-five years. I speak from Isaiah 3:10, 11. Text: "Say +ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with them: for they shall +eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill +with them: for the reward of their hands shall be given them." + +I regard these words of the prophet as being true, not only as +applying to the world to come, but as applying with equal power to +the life of man in this world. A life of honesty, integrity, +righteousness, in all we do, is not only policy or wisdom in respect +to the world to come, but it is the best policy or highest wisdom in +all the affairs of this life. It secures the best results because it +makes use of the best means to promote our own happiness here, and +the happiness of all within the sphere of our influence. Says the +Psalmist: "The leaf of the righteous shall not wither, and whatsoever +he doeth shall prosper. He shall flourish like the palm tree." We are +told that the palm tree, to which the righteous are here compared, is +not only a very beautiful tree, but a very useful tree. It casts a +very delightful shade in the hot climates where it grows; from the +abundance of its sap it affords water to the thirsty; and its +excellent fruit supplies food to the hungry. + +Whilst godliness, as Paul says, "is profitable unto all things, having +promise of the life that now is, and also of that which is to come;" +still, the life to come is what should chiefly concern us here. Our +time in this world is so short, so brief, that it makes but little +difference whether we are poor or rich, whether we weep or rejoice, +whether we be sick or well, provided we have a clear title to a +heavenly home, a clear title to an "inheritance that is incorruptible, +undefiled, and that fadeth not away." We may just as certainly get a +true title to this heavenly possession by a proper course of life here +as we can to a farm or any other property we may buy and pay for. The +difference, however, between the title to earthly possessions and that +to a heavenly estate is that the first is visible to our natural eyes, +and the last is not. How justly the old adage, that "a bird in the +hand is worth two in the bush," applies to the views and decisions of +great numbers of people! They talk of not risking a certainty for an +uncertainty,--the very thing they are doing. Such make no preparation +for death and eternity which are certainties; but all for life in this +world, which is an uncertainty. + +But to be faithful to my calling, friends, I must repeat the last part +of my text, if nothing more. Hear it, take the warning of its terrific +words, for it is God's warning and not mine. Here it is: "Woe unto the +wicked! it shall be ill with them, for the reward of their hands shall +be given them." These words should strike terror into the hearts of +the ungodly. The word reward means recompense, and recompense means +payment for work done or services performed. But, according to all +just laws, the one in whose service we labor is the one to whom we +have a just right to look for our pay. Now I ask you to tell me whom +you serve. Can you say in your heart, "I am serving the Lord"? If not +the Lord, whom do you serve? Satan, the Devil, the old Serpent, the +world and the flesh. These are what you serve, and these are the +one--for all together make but one--to whom you are to look for your +reward. And let me tell you from love in my heart for your soul, that +your life in the service of the devil is a life of sin, and the reward +or wages of sin is death; not extinction, but a state of deadness to +all blessedness and happiness forever. But you say, "I cannot bear +such a thought." Neither can I. Come then with us, as the prophet +says, and we will do you good. Turn from sin and seek the Lord. Serve +him, and your reward will be glory, honor, immortality and eternal +life. + +FRIDAY, February 28. Father Wampler died at eleven o'clock to-day. + +SUNDAY, March 2. Father Wampler was buried to-day. His age was +seventy-six years, five months and seventeen days. He was the father +of Anna Kline, my beloved wife, and of Samuel Wampler, one of our +ministers. He was the grandfather of a very numerous line of +grandchildren, among whom are many excellent members of the Brethren +church. + +SATURDAY, March 8. Samuel Wampler and I go to Page County. We have +night meeting at Isaac Spitler's. I speak from John 1:16. Text: "And +of his fulness have all we received." + +The Apostle John made his record of the Gospel sometime after the +other evangelists had written theirs. This fact accounts for the many +things given by John which are omitted by the others. He wrote it +long after the day of Pentecost, and after he had seen the church +established in Judea, and in the regions of Asia under the ministries +of Paul, and Silas, and Barnabas, and Peter, and others. He saw a +tendency in the churches even in his day to depart from God's +ordinances; and led by the Divine Spirit he felt it his duty to set +these forth in their simplicity and plainness, as he had seen them +instituted and exemplified in his own personal presence by the Lord +himself. + +I think it is clear that the corruption in the Corinthian church had +broken out before John wrote. Paul tried to check this disorder by a +letter, and instruct them in that way as far as he could at the time; +but at the close he adds: "The rest will I set in order when I come." +I am free to express the belief here, that Paul wanted to see John and +learn from him all about feet-washing and the Lord's Supper. Up to +this time Paul had not taught the Corinthian brethren anything about +these ordinances. He had only taught them baptism and the Communion, +as he had received them from the Lord by reading the accounts given of +them in the records made by the other evangelists. Hence John finds +it necessary to give a particular account of the institution of +feet-washing and the Lord's Supper, from beginning to end, with the +same exact care that characterizes everything else which he has +written. John can well record the words of my text: "And of his +fulness have all we received." Jesus has left nothing incomplete. +There is fullness and completeness in his life and examples, in his +doctrines and practices, and in his objects and their accomplishment. + +Near the close of Paul's life he wrote a kind of love letter to his +son Timothy, as he calls him, in which he says: "All scripture is +given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for +reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the +man of God," meaning the church, "may be perfect, thoroughly furnished +unto all good works." There is no place for a doubt in my mind that +Paul wrote this letter to Timothy after John had made his gospel +record. He therefore includes the Gospel recorded by John in his +comprehensive expression that "all scripture is given by divine +inspiration." In this view of the case, Paul could well insert the +words, "and is profitable for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION in +righteousness," because he himself had been corrected and instructed +by it. + +And now, brethren and sisters, and as many as hear me to-day, let us +go to the fullness of his love as it is tied up in his Word. Let us +open these bundles of grace with penitent hearts and tearful eyes, and +the peace of pardon, like the odor of the ointment from Mary's broken +box, will flow over our souls. Then with joyful heart each one may +say: "Of his fulness have all we received." But we constantly need +fresh supplies. We naturally run dry. The anaconda, it is said, can +live three months on one meal. But he can do this only in a state of +absolute inactivity. God does not expect us to live in a state of +constant inactivity as this serpent does; he expects us to work for +him, and the workingman has need of daily food and drink. Let us so +live that we may all joyfully approach some one of the pearly portals +of the Golden City, and receive the angel keeper's welcome there: "Of +his fulness hast thou received: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." + +SUNDAY, March 9. Meeting at Lionberger's schoolhouse. Romans 10 is +read. Dine at Lionberger's, and come to Abraham Rothgeb's (Rodecap's) +on Mill Run, where we have night meeting, and stay all night. I speak +from the latter part of Acts 3. Subject, "The Great Prophet." + +SATURDAY, March 15. This day I mail a letter to Henry Kurtz; one to +Daniel Arnold; one to Jacob Basehore, and one to Philip Wampler. + +TUESDAY, April 1. Council meeting in the Garber's meetinghouse. Two of +Brother Daniel Miller's sons, viz, Joseph and Jacob, are elected to +the deaconship. + +SATURDAY, April 5. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Brother +Abraham Knopp is elected speaker, and two sons of Brother Samuel Wine +in the Brush, viz, Christian and Samuel, are elected to the +deaconship. + +TUESDAY, April 8. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. Isaac Myers is +elected speaker; and John Neff, Jacob Wine, and John Hindgartner are +elected to the deaconship. Daniel Miller and I go to the widow +Wilkins's and stay all night. + +WEDNESDAY, April 9. We attend council meeting in Shaffer's meetinghouse +to-day. John Copp and Thomas Baker are elected to the deaconship. We +stay all night with Brother George Shaffer in Shenandoah County, +Virginia. + +TUESDAY, April 29. Prepare for love feast at our meetinghouse. Brother +Henry Kurtz and Brother Shively come to my house to-day and are with +us to-night. To say the least, it is exceedingly pleasant to have such +company. We heard some good speaking done by them at our love feast +this evening and night. + +SATURDAY, May 3. Start, in company with brethren Kurtz and Shively, +for Botetourt County, Virginia. Get as far as Brother Jacob Humbert's +in Augusta County, where we stay all night. + +SUNDAY, May 4. Love feast at the Brick meetinghouse to-day. + +MONDAY, May 5. Dine at Brother Coffman's and stay all night at Brother +Jacob Forrer's. + +TUESDAY, May 6. Through Greenville, and on to Layman's tavern, in +Fairfield, for dinner. Stop a little in Lexington, then on to Siler's +tavern, where we stay all night. + +WEDNESDAY, May 7. Get breakfast and feed our horses at Luster's tavern +at the Natural Bridge. This is one of nature's wonderful curiosities. +But it does not strike me with that degree of astonishment which many +seem to feel on a first sight of it. I am so familiar with God's +sublime works among the mountains of Virginia and those of other +states that the view does not impress me with that sense of sublimity +and awful grandeur that one might expect from reading the descriptions +given of it. The Natural Bridge appears to me to be nothing more than +the remains of a cave, nearly all of the roof of which has long since +fallen in and been washed away. There are many natural bridges in +Virginia and Kentucky, but they are mostly underground. From the +Bridge we go on to Brother Peter Ninsinger's, where we stay all night. + +THURSDAY, May 8. Get to Brother Benjamin Moomaw's for dinner. Brother +Moomaw gives promise of great usefulness. We then go to Brother +Barnhardt's, where we stay all night. + +FRIDAY, May 9. The Yearly Meeting opens to-day. Many Brethren are +present. We stay all night at Brother Haut's. + +SATURDAY, May 10. Back to meeting at Brother Barnhardt's. Council +continues till noon to-day, then public meeting begins. We have a love +feast out in the orchard this evening and night. I stay all night at +Brother Eller's. + +SUNDAY, May 11. Meeting to-day. John 7 is read. Brother Henry Kurtz +spoke from the eighteenth verse. Text: "He that speaketh of himself +seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, +the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." The brother spoke +in substance what I here give in small space. He said: + +"These are the words of Jesus Christ, who knew what was in man. It +becomes every minister who preaches the Word, to examine himself +prayerfully, in the light of Holy Truth, to know certainly what impels +him to the work. If, by such examination, he becomes assured that the +love of Christ and for Christ lures him on, and that the salvation of +souls and the consequent glory of the Lord is the beginning and the +end of his motives, he can go on with heart and tongue, under the +Lord's banner, defying the very gates of hell. But if the love of self +and the love of the world enter as the chief elements of his power and +will in the work, it would be better for him, better for the cause, +and less dishonorable to the Lord if he would stop off short. I will +here repeat the text. You may now be better prepared to perceive the +warmth of its power and the light of its truth. 'He that speaketh of +himself'--or as the Greek more nearly and fully puts it, FROM himself, +from love to himself the meaning is--'seeketh his own glory.' This is +self-evidently true, for such a one can have the glory of no one else +to seek. Self, the love of self, fills his eye and heart. And, like +the Pharisee, verily, he has his reward. + +"But, my beloved Brethren, especially you who have been set to the +work of the ministry, I can say from my heart that I have but little +apprehension that you are led on in your work by any other than a +right motive. I do believe, from all that I know of you personally, as +well as by reputation, that each one of you, with perhaps a somewhat +varied perception of their exalted meaning and power, can adopt Paul's +words: 'The love of Christ constrains me.' 'Woe unto me if I preach +not the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation.' + +"There is one feature particularly in the order of our ministry that I +have always advocated, and expect by the grace of God to advocate to +the last, and that is an _unsalaried_ ministry. The world will say to +me right here: 'You are working against your own interest. You are +destroying the race that would bring water to your mill. You are +breaking the wagon that would carry grain to your storehouse.' In +answer to this I have to say that God never meant for the Gospel to be +used as a means for getting water to the preacher's mill, or grain +into his garner. When the Gospel is converted into merchandise, the +preacher becomes a merchant, and like all other merchants it becomes +his interest to handle his goods in a way that will please his +customers, and put them in such shape and procure for them such kinds, +whether good, bad, or indifferent, as will suit their fancies and +please their tastes. 'The love of money is a root of all evil,' no +less in the ministry than anywhere else. + +"'But he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is +true, and no unrighteousness is in him.' How wonderfully did our Lord +fulfill his mission! Even on the banks of the Jordan, when John had +already expressed his unworthiness to untie the latchet of his shoe, +still more so to baptize him, he said: 'Thus it becometh us to fulfill +all righteousness.' And the Father answered, and the Holy Spirit bare +witness. 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' Brethren, + our Lord's maxim, expressed in these words, 'I came not to do mine + own will, but the will of him that sent me,' should be the watchword + with every one of us. And if the truth leads us through the waters of + the Jordan, or into the fire of persecution, let us still deny + ourselves, bear the cross, and say: 'Thus it becometh us to fulfill + all righteousness;' and we, in heart, in a conscience void of offense + toward God, will be sure to receive the heavenly recognition: 'This + is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' + +"But it is not to be inferred from anything I may have said that a +minister should not have a decent regard for the manner and the style +of language in which he proclaims the Gospel of Christ. The most +faithful and skilled workmen in any craft are, as a rule, the most +careful in regard to the quality and fitness of the tools they employ, +as well as about the manner in which they handle them. Paul instructs +Timothy to 'study to show himself approved unto God, a workman that +needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' When a +man seeks the honor, the wealth and general interest and success of +his employer he gives proof of his honesty in the service, and also of +love in his heart for him. These two principles underlie all right +work for the Lord,--honesty and love; childlike simplicity and +sincerity. Brethren, let us not aspire to the high things of the +world, but to the meekness and gentleness of Christ." + +I wish many more could have heard the brother's edifying discourse. + +After the forenoon meeting was dismissed, brethren Henry Kurtz, +Shively, Christian Kline and myself start homeward, and come to +Brother Daniel Kinsey's, where we stay all night. + +MONDAY, May 12. We all get to Siler's tavern, where we stay all night. + +TUESDAY, May 13. We pass through Lexington, Fairfield, Greenville, and +on to Jacob Forrer's, where we all stay over night. We have fine +weather. + +WEDNESDAY, May 14. We all come to Brother Abraham Garber's, and after +dinner go to meeting at the meetinghouse. Hebrews 12 is read. Stay all +night at Brother John Myers's. + +THURSDAY, May 15. All go to Brother Frederic Kline's, near Dayton, +Virginia, for dinner. Call at Brother Daniel Garber's, and in evening +get back to my house. + +FRIDAY, May 16. In afternoon we have meeting in Brother Samuel Kline's +dwelling house. Brother Shively speaks from John 4:14, 15. Text: "But +whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never +thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of +water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, +Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to +draw." + +I here give, as nearly as I can, a brief outline of Brother Shively's +interesting discourse. He spoke of water: its purity, its beauty, its +utility, its abundance. + +"Water," said he, "when it is free from all extraneous substances, is +the purest thing in the world. The curse that fell upon the ground, +whereby it would no longer yield its spontaneous increase to support +and comfort man, doomed it to bring forth thorns and thistles instead. +'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.' 'Dust thou art, +and unto dust shalt thou return.' These fearful words are still true +of the ground to-day. Wherever man inhabits the earth, labor, sweat +and constant attention are the price which has to be paid for +comfortable subsistence in this world. But water is not included in +all this. It really is not a constituent of the ground. It may be in +the ground, but it is not of it; and its tendency is to leave the +ground as quickly as possible, under favoring conditions, as though it +felt that ground is not its place. The ground gives rise to poisonous +vapors which produce disease; but pure water never does. The only +impurities that ever enter water come from the ground as their +original source. + +"It is probable that on this account our Lord used water to represent +the divine truth of his Word. Let us turn to the testimony we may +gather on this subject. First to my text, 'He that drinketh of the +water that I shall give him shall never thirst.' I believe that this +means the truth of his Word. What else could it mean? Now again: +'Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for +they shall be filled.' Filled with what? I believe that such will be +filled with the love of God and man, through a knowledge of the truth, +to such a degree that they will seek to live righteous lives. 'He that +DOETH truth is righteous.' 1 John 3:7. + +"Again: Our Lord says: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me and +drink.' And what is the drink the Lord will give? Not elementary +water, I am sure; but if you will allow the expression, I will call it +spiritual water. Let us return to the text again. If you will trace +the chapter throughout, you will see how gently and tenderly the Lord +approached the dark mind of this woman. He told her of things in her +life that no stranger would be likely to know. In this way he gained +her confidence. She said: 'I perceive thou art a prophet.' This was +one point gained. Next he told her that 'ye' (including the class of +Samaritans to whom she belonged) 'worship ye know not what. We know +what we worship.' This was another step with the cup of living water +in his hand to apply to her lips. His next step was to tell her that +God is a Spirit, and that all true worship must be from the heart, 'in +spirit and in truth,' and that the Father seeketh such to worship him. +I do suppose this is the first time she ever heard God called Father. +It was new to her, so new that she confessed her belief in a coming +Messias, who would be able to tell her all things; but that he would +come in the spirit and love of a kind Father exceeded all her hopes. + +"And say, Brethren, did not this poor woman take the cup from the +Lord's hand and drink of the Water of Life? I think she did, for she +turned missionary right away, and if you will read the thirty-ninth +verse you will see something of her success, for 'many of the +Samaritans ... believed on him for the saying of the woman, which +testified, He told me all that ever I did.' + +"I will now quote one more text to show that this living water, or +life-giving water, also represents the Holy Ghost in his enlightening +power and love. 'He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, +out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he +of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.' Here, +it does seem to me, the believer in Christ is compared to a spring of +pure water. What makes a spring flow, and keep on flowing even in dry +weather? It must be that deep down in the veins of the rocks, away out +of sight, it is being constantly fed by an influx of pure water. What +a lesson we have here! Brethren, the Spirit, or what is the same thing +again, the truth of God's holy Word, must not lie dormant in us. We +must, as the passage quoted puts it, we must give out rivers of living +water. These rivers flow out of our hearts into everything of our +lives in a way to make others know that we are full of the water of +life. + +"I very lately read about the Dead Sea. And how did it get its name? I +will tell you. It got the name 'Dead Sea' from its resemblance to a +human being who is constantly taking in God's gifts, and giving +nothing out in any visible way. If you will look at a map of Palestine +you will there see that the river Jordan is constantly pouring its +flood of fresh water into this sea; but with all this influx of fresh +water this sea is so full of all manner of impurities that even fish +cannot live in it, and no waterfowls, I am told, are ever seen on its +shores. Truly it deserves to be called 'Dead Sea.' It has no outlet; +no refreshing stream ever flows from its bosom. + +"But, Brethren, if we are truly alive in the Lord we will be like the +garden of Eden that sent out a river to water the garden, whence it +was parted and became four heads, and each head was a river. Does not +all this throw some light on what our Lord meant in what he said to +the woman, 'It shalt be in him a well of water, springing up into +everlasting life;' and this: 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of +living water?' There is nothing like a dead sea here. All, all is life +from the Lord. But water is beautiful. Who does not admire a clear, +flowing spring or river! In this respect water is an emblem of the +Lord's Word. Can any one read the Scriptures, and not be struck with +their beauty? Take, for an example, the story of creation. Even +children see its beauty and love it. Take the last two chapters of +Revelation. Who can read them without perceiving in them a beauty that +is all divine? The Bible opens in beauty and closes in beauty. + +"And now, dear Brethren, whilst my subject has only been touched a +little, I will close by briefly directing your minds and hearts to the +river that John saw in vision, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the +throne of God and of the Lamb. I believe this river to be a symbol of +God's love and truth. It proceeded from the throne of God. Now, +'heaven is his throne, and the earth is his footstool.' + +"You know the Lord said to the Pharisees: 'The baptism of John, was it +from heaven, or of men?' They would not answer. But we can answer. It +was from heaven. It was performed in the beauty and clearness of the +truth that the Lord Jesus brought from heaven. It proceeded from the +throne of God. What a high origin our baptism has! It is from heaven. +And the immersion of our bodies three times in water symbolizes, in a +way more impressive than anything else ever could, that we have +implicit faith in the love, wisdom and power of the divine Trinity of +Father, Son and Holy Ghost. There is a trinity in every good thing we +do. There must be the love to prompt or make the start, the wisdom to +direct this love intelligently, and the power to execute what is in +the will and understanding to be done. Our trine immersion of the body +in water, the beautiful emblem of truth, shows our acceptance of it +internally and externally, in life, in death, in heaven. + +"One more thought, and I will close. Once within the city, we shall +thirst no more: 'For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne +shall lead us to fountains of living water.' All darkness will be +removed. What is obscure here will be light there. For now we know in +part. There we shall know even as we are known. Amen!" + +SATURDAY, May 17. Brethren Kurtz and Shively go to Lost River. Dine at +James Fitzwater's, and stay all night at Celestine Whitmore's. + +SUNDAY, May 18. Meeting at the Lost River meetinghouse. Matthew 7 is +read. The brethren both take part in the speaking to-day. Dine at +Jacob Motz's, then take leave of the dear brethren, Kurtz and Shively, +and come home. Those two brethren and I were together three weeks, +lacking only two days. The pleasant conversations we had, the unity of +our faith, and the oneness of our aims in life have wrought in us an +attachment for each other that made separation painful. But we parted +not without hope of meeting again. + +FRIDAY, July 25. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse to-day. Luke 16 +was read. The singing of devotional hymns, the offering of +thanksgiving prayers, with instructions as to the way in which the +worldly gifts of our heavenly Father to us may be most wisely used, +occupied the time we spent together. + +How best to help the poor has been a matter of much thought with me. +If we give to such as are able to work and support themselves, but do +not, we rather encourage them in their habits of idleness. If we do +not give to them, they complain that we care but little for them, and +do not feel toward them as we should. I think the best way to help +such is to encourage them to honest labor by aiding them to procure +situations in which they can support themselves. If they then fail to +provide for their families, I think they should be visited by a +committee and instructed in regard to what Paul says: "He that +provideth not for his own, especially those of his own house, hath +denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." Paul never aimed +this stroke of condemnation at any who are not able to provide for +themselves. I am glad to think that we have but very few poor members +who are not able to help themselves. These are the ones of whom the +Lord said: "The poor ye have always with you, and whenever ye will ye +may do them good." In respect to such he also said: "It is more +blessed to give than to receive." + +SUNDAY, August 3. Meeting in our meetinghouse. First Peter 3 is read. +Daniel Glick, Hildebrandt, Sister Trump, Mary and Susanna Miller were +baptized to-day. + +SUNDAY, September 7. Meeting at Motz's. John 3 is read. Nimrod Judy +and wife, Susan Randall, Mrs. Shireman, the widow Toppan and Mrs. +Ridenour were baptized by me to-day. We have a love feast this +evening. + +MONDAY, September 8. Return home. In my absence, on the thirtieth day +of August, the following named persons were baptized in the Linville's +Creek near my house: John Wine and wife, Elizabeth Glick, Mrs. Funk, +Mrs. Rodecap, Mrs. Miller, and a young Sister Niswander. + +FRIDAY, September 12. Attend our two days' council meeting above +Harrisonburg. Stop on my way there, and assist in anointing Brother +Daniel Garber with oil in the name of the Lord. + +FRIDAY, September 26. Start to Albemarle County, Virginia. Benjamin +Bowman is with me. Stay all night at John Leedy's. + +SATURDAY, September 27. Cross the Shenandoah river in a horse boat; +dine and feed at Sipe's; cross the Blue Ridge mountain and on to +Nesterville. Stay all night at Henry Coverston's. + +SUNDAY, September 28. We have meeting in the Methodist church. The +latter part of Luke 24 is read. Henry Coverston and wife were baptized +by Benjamin Bowman. I think this is the first administration of the +ordinance of baptism ever performed by the Brethren on the east side +of the Blue Ridge in Virginia. + +MONDAY, September 29. Get home after a ride on horseback to-day of +forty-three miles. We got dinner and fed our horses at Donovan's. + +SATURDAY, October 11. Meeting and love feast at the Flat Rock. Luke 13 +is read. Benjamin Bowman baptized John Rorabaugh and wife. + +THURSDAY, October 16. Daniel Miller and Daniel Yount, in company with +myself, start to Hampshire County, Virginia. We get to Jacob +Warnstaff's, in Pendleton County, Virginia, where we stay all night. + +FRIDAY, October 17. We have meeting at Bethel church. Matthew 11 is +read. Cross the South Fork mountain and stay all night at Chlora +Judy's. I am not surprised that these people are fond of hunting. +Several deer crossed our path in front of us to-day. + +SATURDAY, October 18. Meeting at Chlora Judy's. Romans 6 is read. +Magdalena Rorabaugh is baptized. Brother Daniel Miller spoke in the +German on the twelfth verse of the chapter read; and I interpreted to +such as could not well understand German, following him. Text: "Let +not sin therefore reign in your mortal body." + +He said: "Man, as he first came from the hand of his Creator, was not +a sinner. He was included in the creation which God had just finished, +and upon which he looked down and said that it was 'good, yea, very +good.' With this agree the words of Solomon, greatly gifted in wisdom. +After going over and investigating the whole human family, as far as +his knowledge and wisdom enabled him to go, he returned to his own +reflections and expressed the sad conclusion of his mind in these +words: 'Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright: but +they have sought out many inventions.' The Word of God from beginning +to end shows us that man is no longer upright. The inventions which +Solomon speaks of are inventions of evil. They are not good +inventions. In the opening chapters of the Bible we learn how man fell +from the high and holy state in which he was created. It is there +declared that 'God made man in his own image, in the image of God made +he him.' + +"The Apostle John says that 'God is light.' By this I understand him +to mean that God is infinitely wise, knowing all truth. The same +apostle says that 'God is love.' By this I understand that the Lord +God has a will for good to every creature that he has made. That he +has no other feeling than that of love for the human race and for +every individual of the human family. Now, it was in the image and +likeness of God that man was made at his first creation. Is it not +plain from this, then, that he must have been wise in regard to the +things of his understanding, and filled with love in his heart for all +that is truly good? In this state he could love the Lord his God with +all his heart, and with all his strength, and love his neighbor as he +loved himself. But what does the Bible, and what does the history of +the world tell us about man ever since he fell from this heavenly +state in which he was first created? The Bible declares that the +'heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.' +The Lord said to the Pharisees, a class of people who even claimed to +be religious: 'Ye are of your father the devil; and the works of your +father ye do.' From the Bible we turn to the history of man's career +through all the ages down to the present time, and we find its lines +all written in characters of blood. Revenge, murder, cruelty, deceit, +malice and ill-will of one toward another are manifest on almost every +page of history. + +"But in the very face of all this evil God still loved the world; and +he so loved it that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever +believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And I +declare him to you to-day as my Savior and your Savior; able to save +to the uttermost all who come unto God through him. And what does he +save us from? He saves us from hell. And what is hell? I say to you +that it is the place where the devil, and all his angels and evil +spirits of men live after they leave this world. It is the fire +prepared for the devil and his angels. It is the everlasting fire into +which the accursed depart. It is the place from which the rich man +lifted up his eyes, tormented, as he himself confessed, sorely +tormented in this flame. But, dear friends, God does not will that any +of us should go to hell; for he says: 'As I live, I have no pleasure +in the death of a sinner, but would that all should turn and live.' + +"And he tells us how we are to turn and live. He says to all: 'Repent, +for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Repent, that your sins may be +blotted out. And what is it to repent? It is to turn away the heart +from the love of sin. It is to die unto sin and live unto God. The +meaning of my text is not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies to +fulfill the lusts thereof. And what does true repentance lead to? It +leads to a life of obedience to all the commands of our Lord Jesus +Christ. 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name,' that +means in obedience to the command 'of Jesus Christ, ... and ye shall +receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and +to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the +Lord our God shall call.' This takes in all. It may be that some who +hear me to-day are very far off. Still, friend, the promise is to you. +And more: I am sure you are hearing the Gospel to-day, so God is +calling you now, and the promise is to as many as the Lord our God +shall call, and this means every one who hears the Gospel sound. + +"When I was young I was afraid I had sinned against the Holy Ghost. +But I found some precious words from the lips of our blessed Lord +himself that took away all my fear and gave me a hope which has never, +up to this time, left my heart. You begin to wonder what precious +words these were. I will tell you where they are and you can find them +yourself. John's Gospel, sixth chapter, and the thirty-seventh verse +is where they are, and these are the words: 'And whosoever cometh unto +me I will in no wise cast out.' The word whosoever takes in every one, +without exception. I tell you joyfully, it took me in, and it has kept +me in, and by the grace of God it will keep me in forever. + +"As I have told you some things the Bible says about death and hell, I +must tell you a few things it says about life and heaven. Jesus says: +'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though +he were dead' (as to his body), 'yet shall he live: and whosoever +liveth and believeth in me shall never die.' O, can this be true? Yes, +it is true, because Jesus never said what is not true. He is life and +truth, and when we have him in our hearts we have the witness in +ourselves that what he says is true. We then 'know of the doctrine +that it is of God.' Our bodies will all die, but the real man is more +than the natural body. Paul tells us about a spiritual body that will +never see death. This is what Jesus says 'shall never die.' This is +the body that will rise and live forever. + +"Our Lord said to his disciples: 'I go to prepare a place for you.' +The place which the Lord prepares is heaven. In his prayer he said: +'Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me +where I am; that they may behold my glory.' Where is the Lord's glory, +and where is he in his glory? We read that he ascended to heaven. He +is in heaven, the heaven of glory and bliss to which he ascended. He +is there preparing a place for you and for me, if we live faithful to +him by our obedience to his commands. Let us be faithful to him, that +we may be accounted worthy to enter in through the gates into the +city." + +After dinner we all go to Isaac Shobe's, where we have night meeting +and stay all night. + +SUNDAY, October 19. We have meeting at Brother Jacob High's. Acts 3 is +read. Also night meeting at Parks's where we stay. + +MONDAY, October 20. Meeting at Solomon Michael's, where we stay all +night. + +TUESDAY, October 21. Meeting at Joseph Arnold's, on Patterson's Creek, +in Hampshire County, Virginia. I spoke to-day on 2 Timothy 1:13. Text: +"Hold fast the form of sound words." + +This passage of Scripture is a part of the fatherly instruction Paul +gave his spiritual son Timothy. God's works and man's works in the +conversion and regeneration of man are so blended, so connected and +identified one with the other that Paul sometimes speaks of doing what +none but God himself can do. Thus to the Corinthians he said: "For I +have begotten you through the gospel." And to Philemon he said: "I +beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds." +These passages show how clearly the true child of God stands connected +with the Holy Spirit, in his blessed work of regenerating man and +qualifying him for heaven. The conjunction of effort may be compared +with what we see and know to exist in husband and wife. When the twain +are really one flesh, one heart, one mind, what is done by the one is +regarded as done by the other. It must be in a sense somewhat like +this that Paul calls Timothy his son. The aged John also says: "I have +no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." He here +means spiritual children. He calls them his children from the love he +has for them, and the fatherly care he has over them, and the fatherly +instruction he gives them. They are near to him, as children are to +their own parents, and when he sees or hears that they receive the +truth and walk in it, it gives him joy. + +When Paul addressed the words of my text to Timothy, most of the New +Testament had been written. It is to the New Testament Scriptures that +he calls Timothy's special attention, where he says: "It is profitable +for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in +righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly +furnished unto all good works." Here, in these Scriptures, is to be +found the FORM of sound words which Timothy is admonished to hold +fast. This instruction harmonizes with what was said to the angel of +the church in Thyatira: "But that which ye have, hold fast till I +come." And in the last of the book of Revelation there are awful +warnings given against adding to or taking from what God has spoken. +The temptation to skip over, misquote, and misinterpret the Scriptures +must be very great, as it is to these three sources that nearly or +quite all the denominational differences among professing Christians +can be traced. + +Brethren, it becomes us to be very careful here, "lest Satan should +get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." I +believe a departure from the form of sound words mainly accounts for +the many errors in doctrine and practice which exist among professing +Christians to-day. A departure from the form of our Lord's great +commission has not only perverted the ordinance of baptism by applying +it to infants; but it has destroyed the ordinance itself by setting +aside trine immersion, which it so plainly teaches. + +And what shall we say of the ordinance of feet-washing! When a parent +or teacher wishes to impart to his child or pupil a clear +understanding of some duty or obligation, he usually feels relieved of +all further responsibility when he has given the necessary instruction +to his child or pupil in words which he knows can be understood. But +in the institution of the ordinance of feet-washing our Lord did not +depend upon oral instruction to impart a clear knowledge of his will; +but he went through the performance himself, and at the close he said: +"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to +you." Are not these sound words? What are sound words, and what is +their form? I answer that sound words are words which have no doubtful +meaning; and the form of sound words is such a use of them as clearly +expresses and conveys to the mind of the reader or hearer just what +the writer or speaker wants him to know. But do the so-called churches +hold fast these words? No, they do not. They let them go as things out +of date, or unnecessary at the present advanced stage of enlightened +thought. But "if the light that is in them be darkness, how great is +that darkness!" + +I can say of the Lord's Supper, which Jude calls a feast of charity, +or love feast, which is the same, and which the Lord instituted in +connection with feet-washing, just what I have said of this ordinance. +It is let go. These, with many other omissions and errors, have crept +into the so-called Christian faith and practice, by letting go the +form of sound words. Still more. The injunctions to nonconformity to +the world in dress and other things are all let go instead of being +held fast, and loose reins are given to all manner of worldly forms +and fashions. Professing Christians even defraud one another through +covetousness, which is idolatry, going to law one with another. They +also do not hesitate to bear arms in war, which is the greatest of all +earthly evils. + +Brethren and friends, I do not speak in this way from any feeling of +ill-will toward any, but from the depth of love in my heart; for there +is no joy that could be compared with the joy that I would feel could +I see the whole Christian world bowing, meekly bowing under the weight +and power of God's revealed Truth. Our way, Brethren, is to hold fast +"the form of sound words." As we expect to have a love feast here on +to-morrow evening, let each one examine himself to see whether in his +faith or in his works he may have departed from the form of sound +words of warning, of encouragement, of instruction, of exhortation, of +doctrine. And it most assuredly becomes us to inquire whether we have +done our duty in the way of searching the Scriptures, giving ourselves +to reading, to meditation, to prayer. We are too apt to seek for what +pleases the taste of the natural mind, to the neglect of what is +necessary to refresh the spiritual mind and keep that healthy and +strong. + +As there was but one rock in the wilderness from which all the tribes +of Israel were supplied with natural water, so to us, God's spiritual +Israel, there is but one Rock from which flows to us the water of +life, and that Rock is Christ Jesus in his Word. On this Rock the +church is founded, and I rejoice to know that the gates of hell shall +not prevail against it. + +WEDNESDAY, October 22. Love feast to-day. Matthew 23 is read. + +THURSDAY, October 23. Meeting. Matthew 13 is read. Brother Daniel +Miller goes to the Greenland Gap. I stay all night at old Brother +Arnold's. + +FRIDAY, October 24. I and Daniel Yount start for home. We dine at +Sister High's, and stay all night at Vanmeter's. + +SATURDAY, October 25. Dine at Elijah Judy's, and stay all night at +Isaac Dasher's on the South Fork, Hardy County. + +SUNDAY, October 26. Meeting at Rorabaugh's. John 10 is read. I +baptized Lydia Shireman. Stay all night at Rorabaugh's. + +MONDAY, October 27. Preach funeral of Joseph Reel's daughter. Age, +seven years and nine months. Stay all night at James Fitzwater's in +the Gap. + +TUESDAY, October 28. Reached home. + +SATURDAY, November 8. Brother Benjamin Moomaw and family, from Roanoke +County, come to my house this evening. + +SUNDAY, November 9. Brother George Kline's little Daniel died +to-night. I was with him when he died. Just three years and four days +old. How deep the grief with which this kind family is stricken! On +Tuesday, October 21, while I was in Hampshire County, Virginia, Anna, +aged seven years, two months and nineteen days, was laid in the cold +grave. On the thirty-first, only nine days later, little Mary passed +away, aged four years, seven months and eleven days. And now, only +nine days later still, another, little Daniel, passes away. All three +bright, promising, happy children. We can only lift up our voices and +weep. The only light that breaks in upon the darkness of this +providence comes from heaven. There is light beyond the cloud that now +hangs so darkly and heavily in the sky above our heads. God is our +refuge. His promise is: "When thou passest through the deep waters, I +will be with thee." Thou wilt not leave nor forsake us now. The little +lambs have been gathered into his arms. He took them into his arms and +blessed them here; how much more can he bless them there, for "of such +is the kingdom of heaven." + +THURSDAY, November 27. Have night meeting in Winchester, Virginia, in +the Methodist church. I speak from Luke 13. Subject: "The Strait +Gate." Stay all night at Henry Krumm's. + +FRIDAY, November 28. Breakfast at Brother Fahnestock's; dine at +Brother Mummert's, and have night meeting in the Quaker meetinghouse. +Speak on John 4:24. Text: "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him +must worship in spirit and in truth." As the house in which we have +met for worship this evening has been erected by the Friends, or +Quakers, and called after their name, I feel that it will not be out +of place for me to speak from a passage of Scripture upon which they +very much rely, as a strong support to their faith and ways of +worship. I must, at the same time, confess that I love these people +dearly, as far as my acquaintance with them goes. Their views and +convictions in regard to simplicity in manners, and plainness in +dress, and general nonconformity to the world; in regard to bearing +arms, and using human laws in the adjustment of difficulties between +brethren, are so very much like our own that I cannot avoid a strong +attachment to them in my religious sympathies. And I would not desire +to eradicate this sympathy from my heart if I could. These +considerations, in connection with my early knowledge of them in +Pennsylvania as being an honest and virtuous people, have always kept +me in friendly love with the Quakers. + +The language of my text is part of the instruction given by our Lord +to the Samaritan woman at the well. She said to him: "Our fathers +worshiped in this mountain; but ye [meaning the Jews] say that +Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." She alluded to the +temple, I suppose. But our Lord at one stroke levels every support on +which these false conceptions of him rested in her mind, by assuring +her that God is a universal Spirit, and not confined to any one place; +and that the worship which he delights in is not that of form and +ceremony, but that of the heart, in the inner man, in spirit and in +truth. The meaning of my text also lays the axe at the root of all +hypocrisy and spurious professions of religion. + +In addition to all this it sets up the only true sanctuary for his +worship on earth, the sanctuary which is found in the heart of every +sincere and obedient believer in him. Paul says to the Corinthian +brethren: "Know ye not that ye are the sanctuary of God? If any man +defile the sanctuary of God, him will God destroy; for the sanctuary +of God is holy, which sanctuary ye are." + +Every step the sinner takes in his return to God, and every step the +Christian takes in his walk with God, must be in spirit and truth. +Repentance is heartfelt hatred of sin. Faith is a loving acceptance of +Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. For with the heart man +believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made +unto salvation. This confession includes all the ordinances of God's +house, which is the church of the living God. How men can think, as +many seem to think, that they can confess Christ in spirit and truth, +and at the same time reject the chief means by which Christ intends +this confession to be made public, I can not see. Baptism, or the +immersion of the body in water by a proper administrator, in the name +of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is either laid +aside entirely, or argued out of form, or very lightly regarded. The +ordinance of feet-washing, the salutation of the kiss, and the Lord's +Supper are entirely cast away. In love I say all this, because I burn +with desire to see the Truth accepted in the love of it and obeyed +from the heart. When man does this, like little Samuel of old, he +responds to the call of the Father who seeketh such to worship him. + +WEDNESDAY, December 31. In the year that is just closing, I have +traveled 3,578 miles. This I have done mostly on horseback. I have +done what I could for God and humanity. I hope that when I come to die +I may not have cause for deep regrets, or to mourn over a misspent +life. I hope to lay my body down in peace, in the bright hope of a +glorious waking up at the call of my Lord. + +THURSDAY, January 8, 1846. Go to Christian Shoemaker's in the Gap and +perform the marriage ceremony of John C. Miller and Deborah Shoemaker. +Stay all night at Ely Spitzer's. + +THURSDAY, January 15. Write a letter to Henry Kurtz, and one to George +Hoke. + +TUESDAY, February 17. Make an amicable adjustment of complicated +business matters between the widow Judith Detrick and Abraham Detrick. +It is pleasant to straighten between members of our body business +matters which present a somewhat crooked and tangled appearance, when +all the parties are willing to have things adjusted through the +mediation of disinterested Brethren. How much better this than to go +to law! The tendency of private adjustments by arbitration is to heal +over breaches of friendship and love between members; but going to law +before the world is almost sure to widen them. I am glad to be able to +add, here, that I say this, not from any experience with law that I +have ever had in my own case, or in that of any of the Brethren; but I +speak it from what I have observed in others who have gone to law. + +THURSDAY, February 26. Go to David Kline's and perform the marriage +ceremony of Abraham Neff and Elizabeth Kline. + +TUESDAY, March 3. Perform the marriage ceremony of Josiah Sowder and +Elizabeth Dove. + +SATURDAY, March 21. Abraham Knopp and I go to Lost River. Stay all +night at Jacob Motz's. + +SUNDAY, March 22. Meeting at the Lost River meetinghouse. Luke 24 is +read. Come to Abel Dove's and perform two marriage ceremonies; one for +Isaac Whetzel and Catharine Dove; the other for Michael Myers and +Julia Ann Dove. Stay all night. + +SUNDAY, April 5. Meeting at the Flat Rock. John 6 is read. Brethren +sent out on the yearly visit. I and Jacob Wine go together. We stay +all night at the widow Cherryholms's in Brock's Gap. + +TUESDAY, April 7. We get through with the visit. The members generally +expressed themselves as being in sympathy and full fellowship with the +church. We hope they told the truth. + +WEDNESDAY, April 8. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. Jacob Wine is +elected speaker. He gives promise of becoming an able and active +worker in the vineyard of the Lord. + +FRIDAY, April 10. Council meeting in the Brush meetinghouse. Joseph +Miller, son of Daniel Miller, is elected speaker. John Wine, son of +Samuel Wine in the Brush, and John Miller, are elected to the +deaconship. + +SATURDAY, April 11. Council meeting in the old Garber meetinghouse. +Solomon Garber is elected speaker. He likewise gives promise of +becoming a very useful man in his calling. Surely the Lord has +established a beautiful order in his house. "Whatsoever ye shall bind +on earth, shall be bound in heaven." When the church fairly chooses a +brother to any office or service, to the ministry of the Word or to +attend to the temporal duties connected with keeping the Lord's house +according to order, he need no longer question as to whether the Lord +has called him or not. The Lord uses the church to show his will in +these things. "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the +world." I was once very much impressed with the answer a beloved +brother gave in the presence of some three or four others, just +outside the meetinghouse, after an election had been held just about +an hour before. The church had voted for two, only one of whom was +needed. The vote had been so nearly a tie that the brother elected had +a majority of but one. Some one asked: "Are we to infer from this that +the Lord wanted both of these brethren elected?" The brother above +referred to answered promptly, "No, he only wanted to show that both +were fit for the place." + +Michael Flory and Samuel Long are elected to the deaconship. + +FRIDAY, April 17. Go on the visit in the Cove, in company of Jacob +Mathias. + +SATURDAY, April 18. Finish the visit in time to have council meeting +in the Lost River meetinghouse. In all my visiting this spring but +very little complaint or dissatisfaction has been laid. Our council +meetings, too, have been harmonious. The members generally show a +heartfelt will to live in the church, to be built up in the church, +and to help to build up the church so long as the church keeps house +according to God's order. + +MONDAY, April 20. Get home in the night. Go right on to John Zigler's. +Catharine is very sick. She dies at 4 o'clock in the morning. + +WEDNESDAY, April 22. Catharine Zigler is buried to-day. + +FRIDAY, April 24. Jacob Wine, Joseph Miller and I go to Forrer's +furnace in Page County, Virginia, and have night meeting. Jacob Wine +speaks from John 1:29. He prefers the German language. He makes a +right good stagger even in English for a beginner, but he will need +much practice before he can use this language with much freedom. But +it is not by the might nor the power of man that souls are saved, but +by the might and power of the Lord working with man. + +SATURDAY, April 25. Dine at Isaac Spitler's, and stay all night at +John Huffman's, both in Page County. + +FRIDAY, May 8. Go to Brother John Harshbarger's on my way to +Albemarle. + +SATURDAY, May 9. He and I go to the Ferry on the Shenandoah river, but +finding the river too high to ferry in a horse boat, we go around by +the bridge, and get to Brother Coverston's in the night. + +SUNDAY, May 10. Meeting at Brother Coverston's. Matthew 7 is read. +"The Strait Gate" is the subject. + +MONDAY, May 11. Dine at John Conrad's, and come across the mountains +by a _desperate path_, home; thirty-eight miles. The path by which we +came to-day is almost or quite as steep in places as stairsteps, and +very rough from large stones in its bed, with others projecting into +it on either side. Brother John was in front of me slowly leading his +horse down one of the very steep places, when his saddlebags slid out +of the saddle down over the horse's neck and fell on his arm. He +pleasantly looked back at me saying in a very cheerful way, "It looks +as if my baggage wants to go ahead of the horse that carries it." + +WEDNESDAY, May 13. Love feast at our meetinghouse. Five persons +baptized. Brethren John Bowman, from Franklin County, and John +Barnhardt are with us. They are this far on their way to the Annual +Meeting. + +FRIDAY, May 15. Start to Pennsylvania. + +SATURDAY, May 16. Through Winchester, Virginia; Opequon past fording, +go round by the bridge, and stay all night at Smithfield. + +SUNDAY, May 17. Through Charlestown, by Harper's Ferry and +Fredericktown, on to Daniel Bowers's, where we stay all night. + +MONDAY, May 18. Get to Uncle John Garber's, where we stay all night. + +TUESDAY, May 19. Spend day in visiting Henry Beecher's, Widow Deahl's, +William Deahl's, and get back to Uncle John Garber's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 20. Visit John Pfoutz's, Jacob Saylor's and Solomon +Garber's, where we stay all night. + +THURSDAY, May 21. Get to Brother George Deardorf's, where we stay all +night. + +FRIDAY, May 22. Get to Brother Balsbaugh's, beyond Harrisburg. + +SATURDAY, May 23. Meeting and love feast at Brother Balsbaugh's. Seven +persons baptized to-day. + +SUNDAY, May 24. Visit George Copp's, Joseph Long's, Christian Gipe's, +and stay all night at Abraham Gipe's. In all my visits I make it a +point not to leave a house without making an effort to speak on the +subject of religion, and say something that may leave an impression +for good. + +MONDAY, May 25. Meeting. Acts 10 is read. Visit Brother Shank's, and +stay all night at David Zug's. + +TUESDAY, May 26. Meeting. Romans 6 is read. Visit George Fesler's, +Michael Fesler's, and stay all night at Benjamin Landis's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 27. Visit Daniel Zug's and several other families; and +at 11 o'clock meeting begins preparatory to love feast this evening. +First Peter 1 is read. Stay all night at Brother Minick's. + +THURSDAY, May 28. Meeting at 11 o'clock. John 5 is read. In afternoon +visit John Royer's, and stay all night at George Keller's. + +FRIDAY, May 29. Yearly Meeting begins. Many brethren and sisters +present. + +SATURDAY, May 30. The Yearly Council closes at noon. Much love and +union exists in the Brotherhood. Public meeting this afternoon, and +love feast to-night. Much spiritual joy is manifested by the singing +of hymns and the offering of prayers. May our heavenly Father grant +that the same love and union may continue with us to the end of the +world. Our Yearly Meetings will continue to do much good so long as +they show to the world our love for one another. "Hereby shall all men +know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another." + +From this meeting Brother Kline set his face homeward, but on the way +he managed to attend six appointments for preaching, and two love +feasts besides. In tracing his course on his journeys, and noting the +amount of active service he performed in the way of preaching and +visiting, one is forcibly impressed with the proofs he gives of the +order and system that must have characterized and attended his labors. +Not unfrequently he has one or two appointments ahead for every day in +the week; and with only a very few exceptions in the whole course of +his life, and they were on account of sickness, he never failed to +meet the congregations that were looking for him. Soon after getting +home from this journey he attended to gathering the grass and grain +harvests on his own farm. He reports twenty-eight tons of hay made +this year. He likewise had a tolerably large wheat harvest. About the +eighteenth of June heavy rains set in, and they continued to fall at +intervals of only a day or two apart for the next six or seven weeks. +The Diary reports a very heavy rain on Sunday, June 28. From this time +on for the next six days it reports a flooding rain every day, and +very high waters. The grain suffered very much on account of continued +wet weather for many days following. This has ever since been known as +"the wet harvest." Much of the wheat sprouted in the head before it +could be cut; and much of what stood in shocks suffered in the same +way. The Diary for July 15 says: "We finished hauling in our grain +to-day, some of which had stood in shocks over three weeks. Such +extraordinary seasons come along once in a while; but I do imagine it +will be a good while in the future before people can generally say, 'I +never saw such a wet harvest as this,' alluding to the one they may +then be passing through." + +Between this time and the first day of August, Brother Kline went on +another tour to the county of Hardy, in which he attended several +meetings; baptized Rebecca, wife of Elijah Judy, on Saturday, July 11; +and performed the marriage ceremony of George Runion and Susan Aubrey, +on the thirteenth. + +SUNDAY, July 26. Meeting at Jacob Whetzel's. Matthew 24 is read. I +baptized Jacob Pope and his wife. + +SUNDAY, August 2. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Samuel Kline and Samuel +Roller and his wife are baptized. + +MONDAY, August 10. This day Brother Kline started on a journey to +Ohio, in company with George Hoover, Joseph Miller, Katy Hoover and +Benjamin Wampler. They went in two carriages across the western part +of the State of Virginia (now West Virginia) into Pennsylvania, and +through the western part of that State into Ohio. As this trip was +made specially memorable by a very severe spell of sickness which +Brother Kline passed through while making it, as well as by the sad +effect it had upon his beloved wife, Anna, at home, the editor will be +very particular in giving, from the Diary, all the points of interest +connected with it. + +The second day they crossed the South Branch mountain by what is +called the Howard's Lick road. The view from the top of this is +perhaps unsurpassed by any point in the entire range. A very large +part of Hardy County, with its magnificent streams and rich bottoms, +is visible to the eye. The town of Moorefield from this view reminds +one of a child sleeping in its cradle. + +Brother Kline, as usual, had a line of appointments for meetings by +the way, and he met them as regularly and timely as a train of cars +gets to its destined stations. He must have had the name and address +of almost every prominent member in the denomination, and they must +have had implicit confidence in his word; for the Diary nowhere +intimates that he was ever disappointed by not finding the expected +congregation when the weather permitted. Nothing of any special +interest occurred until the night of Saturday, August 15, at which +time we find the company at Colley's tavern in Fayette County, +Pennsylvania. At this place Brother Kline complains of being sick. He +takes some medicine and is able again to travel on through the next +three days, and fill one appointment. But on + +WEDNESDAY, August 19, there is an appointment in waiting for him which +he cannot attend. He says: "I am sick. Cannot go." Bowling Green was +the place. He is now at John Shelly's. Notwithstanding his illness, +he, with the company, traveled thirty-one miles the next day; and the +day after attended a love feast at Brother Daniel Wise's. + +His next appointment was at Brother Shively's. He requests George +Hoover and Joseph Miller to go on to that place, while he remains at +Brother Wise's with Benjamin Wampler and Katy Hoover. He says again: +"I am sick." On the evening of + +SUNDAY, August 23, we find him at Brother Hershey's, near Lewistown. +He says in the entry for that evening: "I am still sick. Take more +medicine to-night." On + +MONDAY, August 24, he sent for Dr. Jacob Myers, who gave him a course +of medical treatment. The doctor came again the next day, and gave him +another course of treatment. He says: "I took another emetic of +lobelia to-day, and perspired freely." If lobelia is the poisonous +drug that some seem to think it is, we can hardly account for the +improvement which Brother Kline reports to have experienced in his +feelings, following every administration of it. For on the next day, + +WEDNESDAY, August 26, he says: "I feel some better to-day; so much so +that I write my will." + +THURSDAY, August 27. His own words: "Start again, and pass through +Canton, Massillon, Brookfield, Greeneville, Dover, and on to Brother +Jacob Kurtz's, where we stay all night." We have to wonder how a man +laboring under a well-defined attack of typhoid fever could keep on +going for twelve consecutive days before the final breakdown came. It +makes one think of Paul, who could even be stoned until he was thought +to be dead, and next day be found preaching again. But the crisis with +Brother Kline came at last. The entry in the Diary for + +FRIDAY, August 28, says: "To-day Brother Hoover and Brother Miller, at +my request, leave me; Brother Wampler and Sister Katy remain with me. +What a precious thing love is! My dear Brethren have not only staid +with me day and night, but they have constantly watched for +opportunities to minister to my comfort or necessities. The Lord +reward them abundantly in this life and the next: and bless them at +the meetings which I now feel I cannot attend. Dr. Overholtz comes at +my request and gives me medicine." + +SATURDAY, August 29. Suffer extremely, but not quite so much as last +night. I now feel as if I were just on a balance between life and +death: almost gone. + +SUNDAY, August 30. Dr. Overholtz comes again and gives me another +course of medicines. I am slightly relieved, but still suffer very +much. The Doctor reports fever not as high as yesterday. + +MONDAY, August 31. Rest to-day, but am very weak. + +TUESDAY, September 1. Doctor does not come to-day. + +For some days past the Diary has been kept in a strange hand. Some +kind but intelligent friend has made the daily records in perfect +imitation of Brother Kline's unaffected style and manner. + +SATURDAY, September 5. The Doctor is here, but does not give me +medicine. I write a letter home. + +This letter created overwhelming distress in the mind of Anna, Brother +Kline's wife. She had heard about his illness prior to this time; but +when she read this letter her mind seemed to give way, and when +Brother Kline got back home he found her very ill, both in body and +mind. They told him at home that when she read the letter all hope +of ever seeing him again vanished, and the shock was more than her +sensitive nature could bear. It is very sad to relate, but true, that +she never again seemed fairly to realize his being in her presence. +His kindness to her was shown in unremitting attentions, to the day of +his death; and I am persuaded that few men could be found to bear such +a dire calamity with so much patience and resignation. + +There were no entries made in the Diary from September 1, to the +fifth. He must have been very sick indeed, during the three days that +are omitted. + +SATURDAY, September 6. He says: Brother Samuel Buck gives me a course +of medicine; it works well. Fever entirely broken. Have some appetite. +Begin to mend. + +MONDAY, 7. To-day I have rest. Eat some toast bread. + +TUESDAY, 8. Still continue to mend, but somewhat slowly. + +WEDNESDAY, 9. Take another course of medicines. + +THURSDAY, 10. Feel very much better. Can be up some. + +FRIDAY, 11. Still mending. + +SATURDAY, 12. Doing well. Write a letter home, and one to William +Lupton. + +SUNDAY, 13. Still continue to do well. + +MONDAY, 14. Still well, but sit out in the cool air too long, and take +a slight backset. + +TUESDAY, 15. Do not feel so well, but appetite good. + +WEDNESDAY, 16. Still not very well, but appetite good. + +THURSDAY, 17. Do not feel very well. Dr. Overholtz comes again, and +gives me another course of medicines. + +FRIDAY, 18. Feel a little better again. + +SATURDAY, 19. Not much change from yesterday. + +SUNDAY, 20. Dr. Overholtz gives me another course of medicines. + +MONDAY, 21. Do not feel entirely relieved yet. + +TUESDAY, 22. Take another course of medicines, and am much relieved. + +WEDNESDAY, 23. Brother Benjamin Wampler takes me in the carriage to +Brother Buck's, two miles off, and back home. + +THURSDAY, 24. Much rain to-day. Cannot ride out. + +FRIDAY, 25. Brother Benjamin takes me to Brother Samuel Myers's +to-day, and back home. Rain in the afternoon. + +SATURDAY, 26. Paint the top of carriage, and do some other work to it. + +SUNDAY, 27. Visit Brother Reuben Pinkerton and return home. How very +kind all of these dear people have been to me! They will accept +nothing in return for all their kindness to me, but my gratitude and +love, and, heaven knows, my heart is full of that. + +TUESDAY, 29. Go to Brother Jonathan Gaines's for dinner; then to +Wooster, and stay all night with Dr. Overholtz. + +WEDNESDAY, 30. Go to the bank in Wooster and attend to some other +business. Dine with Dr. Overholtz, and in evening get back home to +Brother Jacob Kurtz's. + +THURSDAY, October 1. Fix to start towards home. + +FRIDAY, October 2. Take leave of my very dear Brother Jacob Kurtz and +family, who have nursed and cared for me through all of my sickness. +Such kindness as he and his family have shown me relieves affliction +of half its distress. It is almost a luxury to be sick where so much +love is shown. I can never forget Brother Benjamin Wampler. He is so +calm and gentle in the sick room that his very presence is a comfort +to the sick. + +The Diary does not contain anything of special interest on their way +home. Brother Kline noted the distance traveled over each day, from +the time they left Brother Jacob Kurtz's till he arrived at his own +home. According to his report the whole distance was 264 miles. This +they made in eleven days. Their average daily rate of travel was just +twenty-four miles. They arrived at his house on the evening of the +twelfth, having left Brother Kurtz's the morning of the second day of +October. Brother Kline often notes some reference to the satisfaction +of getting back home after a long absence; and it is painful to find a +record the exact reverse in this instance. But no murmur at the Divine +Will, or word of impatience or complaint against any one is to be +found on the page of the Diary. + +From this time to the close of the year Brother Kline never went far +from home. A few marriages solemnized, funerals preached, neighborhood +medical visits, and near-by meetings attended make the sum of his work +from home. His afflicted wife required his daily attentions. + +THURSDAY, January 21. Perform the marriage ceremony of Josiah Wampler +and Mary Kline. + +TUESDAY, February 23. Go to Michael Wine's and perform the marriage +ceremony of Isaac Harpine and Barbara Wine. + +THURSDAY, March 4. Perform the marriage ceremony of William Andes and +Catharine Miller, at the widow Miller's in the Forest. + +WEDNESDAY, March 31. Dr. Newham is at my house to-day. We start my new +electro-magnetic machine, and give Anna an electric shock, in the hope +of its vitalizing her enfeebled nerves. Dr. Newham regards her case as +not being out of the reach of relief by a course of protracted and +judiciously applied medical treatment. + +THURSDAY, April 1. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. Perform +the marriage ceremony of Seth Alger and Rosina Fifer. + +SATURDAY, April 3. Abraham Knopp and I go to Page County. Call to see +old Sister Gibbons who has reached a very high age. We read and prayed +with her, and her heart seemed to overflow with joy. She said: "I love +all the friends of Jesus. Brethren, I will soon be gone; but I hope +the Lord may leave you here many years yet to do his blessed will, by +calling many sinners from darkness to light, and by comforting his +saints as you have comforted me this day." When we took leave of her +she said: "Farewell: and may the God of love and peace be with you." +Sister Gibbons is the mother of Samuel Gibbons, and is now living with +him on the Hawksbill Creek, not far from the town of Luray, in Page +County, Virginia. + +SUNDAY, April 4. The brethren and sisters meet us very early this +morning for prayer and exhortation on the visit; after which the +regular public meeting opens. John 5 is read. Dine at Isaac Spitler's, +and stay all night at Henry Gander's. + +FRIDAY, April 16. Abraham Knopp and I go to Lost River. Attend the +burial of Celestine Whitmore's child. Age, seven years, four months, +and one day. In afternoon Jacob Pope and I go on to the visit. Stay +all night at Henry Moyers's. + +SATURDAY, April 17. After getting through with the visit we have +council meeting. The reports brought in by the visiting brethren are +mostly encouraging, and show a good spirit existing in the +Brotherhood. + +SUNDAY, April 18. Meeting at the meetinghouse. Luke 12 is read. After +meeting perform the marriage ceremony of Washington Cook and Anna Jane +Parker at Brother Whitmore's; then come to William Fitzwar's and +perform the marriage ceremony of Frederick Nasselrodt and Catherine +Weatherholtz. Get home at nine o'clock in the night. + +THURSDAY, April 29. Perform the marriage ceremony of William Halterman +and Elizabeth May, at Samuel May's, in the Gap. + +SUNDAY, May 2. Meeting at Nasselrodt's in the Gap. I baptized Lotty +Koon. + +TUESDAY, May 18. On this day Brother Kline starts to the Annual +Meeting. He takes Anna and Sister Betty Knopp with him. They get to +the widow Nipe's in the evening of the nineteenth. He left Anna and +Sister Betty at this place, whilst he went on to the Annual Meeting at +Brother Jacob Deardorff's, which opened Friday, May 21. The business +features of the meeting closed on Saturday, May 22; and on Sunday, May +23, he started back after the eleven o'clock service. He found Anna +somewhat more cheerful than usual. She stood the trip remarkably well. +From some cause, I know not what, he gives not a word of comment on +the state of feeling, matters considered, or anything else pertaining +to it. + +FRIDAY, May 28. We have a love feast at our meetinghouse. _Union in +the evening._ A fine day and good behavior. Some of the older Brethren +will no doubt know what Brother Kline means by the word _union_, here +and elsewhere used in the Diary in a specific sense. + +TUESDAY, June 8. To-day I attended two buryings in one graveyard. +Christian Eversole, age, sixty-nine years; and Samuel Bowers, age, +twenty years; both buried at the Brush meetinghouse. + +SATURDAY, July 3. Cross the Blue Ridge mountain to-day, and get to +Henry Coverston's late this evening. + +SUNDAY, July 4. Meeting in the Methodist meetinghouse. John 4 is read. +I spoke as best I could on the Water of Life and kindred topics, but +in this country we feel sadly the want of encouragement and sympathy +which we are used to in our own houses and congregations. Our +doctrinal views and practices as a denomination are not well +understood in Albemarle County, Virginia. The prevailing denominations +here are Baptists and Methodists. We have one consolation, however, +even here. We can preach the Gospel to the poor, and they are ready to +hear it. But there is one barrier between us and the wealthy classes +which will continue, God only knows how long; and that barrier is +African slavery. Many, seemingly good and reasonable people, in this +country justify themselves in their own eyes, even on scripture +grounds, for taking part in and encouraging the holding of slaves. I +fear, however, that the god of this world has blinded their eyes, so +that seeing they see not, and hearing they understand not. + +A gentleman whom I met here and who said that he had traveled a great +deal in the slave-holding States, told me that he witnessed the sale +of some slaves in a town in North Carolina. A mother and her three +children, two boys and a girl, were put up for sale separately. It +happened that the mother was bought by one man, the two boys by +another, and the daughter by a third. The daughter was twelve years +old; and the boys respectively eight and ten. They were now to be +parted, never to see each other more. There was no hope left them of +ever hearing from each other again. The gentleman said the little boys +did not seem to mind it so very much; but, said he, the agony of the +mother, and the distress of the daughter were past description. It +is to be hoped that such heart-rending scenes are not often to be +witnessed; and I do believe that the time is not far distant when +the sun will rise and set upon our land cleansed of this foul stain, +though it may be cleansed with blood. I would rejoice to think that my +eyes might see that bright morning; but I can have no hope of that. + +TUESDAY, July 6. On this day Brother Kline made arrangements to move +to Orkney Springs with Anna. Some account of this place is given +elsewhere in this work, and need not be repeated here. He and Anna +staid here about five weeks, and he reports her general health as +being much improved by the use of the different waters, as well as by +the cheerful society she enjoyed. Whilst staying at this place Brother +Kline reports some interesting acquaintances made with several noted +persons whom he had only casually seen before. Among these was the +Rev. Henry Brown, a Presbyterian minister of Harrisonburg. + +SATURDAY, July 17, he says: Take a walk over some of the surrounding +eminences with preacher Henry Brown of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Mr. +Brown is a very sociable and pleasant man to be with. Whilst we differ +on a good many points of Christian doctrine, we can still walk and +talk together sociably; and I enjoy his company very much. It would be +pleasant to believe, did the Scriptures warrant the conclusion, that +all the differences which mark the divisions of Christians here will +melt away in love and be forgotten there. Of one thing I am sure: No +one will ever have a just right to boast of his own goodness, or lay +claim to preferment on the score of his own obedience. "When ye," says +our Savior, "have done all these things that were commanded you, say, +We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which it was our duty +to do." Whilst it is true that the Presbyterians are zealous advocates +of education and moral improvement, and as a people exhibit in their +daily lives many Christian virtues and graces, still I fear they are +occupying dangerous ground by rejecting some of the plain commands of +our Lord Jesus. "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the +disobedient appear?" I know of no righteousness but that of obedient +faith, or, as Paul puts it, the righteousness of faith that works or +obeys from love, and in this way purifies the heart. A hungering and +thirsting after this righteousness + + "Gives exercise to faith and love; + Brings every blessing from above." + +If this dear Christian friend is in darkness as to the nature of +obedience and its blessed fruits, himself misled and misleading +others, I pray that the scales may drop from his eyes, that he may see +clearly the whole truth which God has placed in the line of our duty +to do and teach. + +SUNDAY, July 18. Friend Henry Brown preached to-day. He is a very +clear and pleasant talker. In his discourse, however, he made me think +of some beautiful birds that hop over what they do not wish to touch, +and take hold gracefully of what they are pleased to alight upon. + +THURSDAY, August 12. This day Brother Kline moved back home. He says: +Anna much improved in health. The season at the Springs has been quite +pleasant, with the exception of atmospheric dampness from the +abundance of rain we had while there. + +MONDAY, August 23. This day Brother Kline started on another journey +to Pennsylvania. It may be irksome to the general reader to follow his +daily steps from this date to the thirteenth of September, the day on +which he returned home, so I will only name the families he visited or +stayed with all night, in the order given in the Diary. His habit on +this was the same as on other journeys of like motive; he preached as +he went, and never failed holding family worship where he stayed all +night, when well enough to do so. Few of those that were fathers and +mothers then are living now; but their children and grandchildren may +be living, to whom these reminiscences will, doubtless, be pleasant. +Reflections like these instinctively impress us with a consciousness +of time's rapid flight; and make us, who were young then, realize, +with more or less acuteness of perception, the impressive truth that +we, too, are growing old. To such of my readers as find no pleasure or +profit in things of this kind I gently say: Pass over it as you would +an advertisement in which you feel no interest, in a newspaper you may +be perusing: Daniel Fahrney's; John Shank's, near Greencastle; William +Etter's; Allen Mohler's; John Sollenberger's; George Copp's; Dr. +Fahnestock's, in Middletown, Pennsylvania; Abraham Gipe's, near +Lebanon; Jacob Gipe's; Abraham Balsbaugh's; Peter Miller's, this side +Harrisburg; George Deardorf's; Daniel Longenacre's; Widow Bowman's, +near Middletown, Maryland; John Garber's, Jr.; John Garber's, Sr.; +Jacob Rupp's; Nathaniel Bondsack's; Jacob Saylor's; William Deahl's; +David Reinhardt's; Sherk's, near Sharpsburg; Fahnestock's, near +Winchester, Virginia; George Shaver's, in Shenandoah County, Virginia. + +Some may say: This reads like a bill of goods with the prices omitted. +But think a little, my friend. Let us suppose that business would +compel you to mount the back of a horse away off in Rockingham County, +Virginia, and travel day after day, until you had completed the round +of visiting every family above named; and in addition to this attend a +meeting of some kind every day or two, and yet be compelled to do all +this in the short space of twenty-one days; would you not think it a +task worthy of mention? Now Brother Kline did all this, but not on the +score of any business interest whatever. Instead of seeking any +worldly gain by it, the direct opposite was the truth, for he came +home with less money in his pocket than he started with. It was just +what he expected and felt assured would be the case. But he went. And +what induced him to go? The love of Christ constrained him. The love +of doing good to others by pointing out the way of salvation to them. +Have I, have you, such love? + +Between the last date given and the twenty-first of October Brother +Kline attended a love feast at Beaver Creek, Virginia; one on Lost +River; and one at Flat Rock. Besides these, he attended the regular +Sunday meetings, council meetings, and visited, medically, a +considerable number of patients. He reports much rain in October, and +several times his life was endangered crossing high waters. + +FRIDAY, October 22. On this day he started on a journey across the +mountains of western Virginia. He followed a line of love feasts and +other meetings through the counties of Hampshire, Virginia; Garret, +Maryland; Preston and Monongalia, Virginia, to Dunkard Creek in +Pennsylvania, not far this side of Wheeling. He returned over nearly +the same route by which he went, filling appointments he left on his +way out. He reports, on this journey, 371 miles traveled on horseback, +over some rugged mountains and bad roads much of the way. He arrived +home November 4, after an absence of two weeks. + +TUESDAY, November 30. Attend the burial of old Mother Horn. Age, +ninety years, two months and two days. + +SUNDAY, December 5. Attend the burial of old Mother Conrad. Age, +eighty-five years and nine months. + +WEDNESDAY, December 15. Louis and Samuel Kline, of Pennsylvania, visit +us. I take them around to see their and my kindred. + +TUESDAY, December 21. Perform the marriage ceremony of Samuel +Hinegartner and Catharine Ralls, at Christian Crider's. + +FRIDAY, December 31. Meeting of general council in our meetinghouse. +In the year that is now about to close I have traveled 3,424 miles, +nearly all on horseback. The work of another year is done; and the +record has passed into eternity. As clay, once formed by the hand of +the potter and burnt in a kiln can never be reduced to clay again and +worked over into other forms, so our deeds in life, once done, are +done forever. A vase may be broken, it is true, but the fragments are +apt to reveal the form of the vessel from which they came. So the hand +of jealousy, of envy, of persecution even, may shatter the results of +our best efforts here; but God will gather up the pieces and be able +to tell by their appearance and quality that they belonged to a vessel +of honor in his sight. Seeds sometimes lie a long time in the ground +before they grow and make a blade; so it may be with much of the good +seed that I and others of our beloved Brotherhood have sown this year. +Backward springs and other unfavorable states of weather during the +early part of the growing season are sometimes followed by rich +harvests. We do not know what the future may bring forth, but we do +know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. In +him I trust. + +SUNDAY, January 1. Attend the burial of old Mother Baer, at Brother +George Kline's. Age, ninety-six years, four months and twenty days. + +THURSDAY, February 3. Perform the marriage ceremony of Michael May and +Julian Custer at George Riddle's. + +About this time Brother Kline became deeply interested in the +construction and erection of a bridge across a ford in the North Fork +of the Shenandoah river. His design in this, however, included more +than the avoidance of one dangerous ford; it took in two others. It +was equivalent to spanning three bad fords with one bridge. His plan, +which has since been exactly carried into effect, was to cut down the +end of the mountain in the Gap where it projects into the river, open +up a good highway through the cut, and thus shorten the distance very +materially and shun two dangerous and ever-shifting fords, one above +and the other below the cut. His patience and perseverance in this +great enterprise yielded to no discouragements, and he saw the bridge +built, and the projecting end of the mountain cut down. Like all other +men who have embarked in great enterprises above or beyond the grasp +of ordinary comprehension, he had to combat opposition from some who +should, on the score of direct personal interest in the improvement, +have been most willing to aid in the work. Brother Kline did not live +to see his design fully executed, but it has been carried into effect +within the last decade by the construction of a new bridge upon the +old abutments, and a new road on the very line he proposed. As the +improvement under consideration is a very great one, and originally +undertaken by individual contributions; and as future generations may +wish to know who the prime movers were, and when the first move was +made, the following entry in the Diary will be given here: + +FRIDAY, February 25. Attend a meeting of some public-spirited men, at +Samuel Coots's store near the Gap, for the purpose of agreeing upon +the construction of a bridge across the river near the store; for +cutting down the face of the Gap Rock; for making a new road through +the Cut; and for raising funds to meet the same. + +Samuel Coots, State Senator from Rockingham County, took an active +part. Abraham Funk, Benjamin Bowman, John J. Bowman, with many other +prominent citizens, nearly or quite all of whom have passed away, +deserve to have their names enrolled as patrons of the enterprise. + +WEDNESDAY, March 8. Attend the burial of Brother David Hollar's wife +to-day. Age, forty-seven years and five months. + +FRIDAY, March 10. Go to Michael Wine's and attend the burial of his +mother. Age, ninety-three years, three months and fourteen days. + +WEDNESDAY, April 12. Attend the funeral of Mrs. Wells Hevner in the +Gap. Age, thirty-three years. + +THURSDAY, April 13. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Samuel +Wampler and myself are established in the ministry, and Joseph Miller +advanced. + +FRIDAY, April 14. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. Jacob Wine is +advanced to the second grade in the ministry of the Word. + +MONDAY, April 17. Council meeting in the Lost River meetinghouse. +Jacob Pope is chosen speaker. + +FRIDAY, April 21. Council meeting in the Old Garber meetinghouse. +Solomon Garber is advanced to the second degree in the ministry of the +Word. Sarah Norman is reinstated to the fellowship of the church. + +WEDNESDAY, April 26. Attend the funeral of the widow Sister +Cherryholms in the Gap. Age, fifty-nine years. Sister C. was a woman +of real force of character. Her house was a welcome shelter for the +Brethren and others who often visited her. + +MONDAY, May 1. Attend the funeral of old Sister Evers, widow of John +Evers. She died at John Hawse's. Age, seventy-two years, three months +and three days. + +WEDNESDAY, May 3. Brother Benjamin Bowman, with Sister Catharine his +wife, and Brother John Wine, with Anna and myself, start to Ohio. We +go in two carriages. To such as are not used to traveling in this way +a journey to Ohio and back in a two-horse carriage, over all kinds of +roads, through all the changes of weather likely to occur at this +season, and I may add, among all kinds of people, might look like an +undesirable undertaking. But for myself I can say I do not dread +making the start. I am best satisfied and most delighted when doing +something for God and humanity. But the company I have on this visit +makes the anticipation of it especially pleasant. Brother John Wine is +a live man; cheerful, but ever earnest and sincere; lively, but never +light or frivolous. His mind is always inquisitive, seeking for +knowledge in every line of truth. Hence he asks many questions. If +your answers involve any doubt as to their correctness, or fail of the +clearness he thinks should appear in the instructions of a teacher to +his pupil, he will dispute a whole day with you on a single question, +rather than appear to be satisfied with your answer when he is not. +With a mind hard and sharp as flint, he strikes fire out of everything +he hits. But he has sense enough, and goodness enough, never to strike +fire where he has reason to fear there may be danger of causing an +explosion. He is the son of Samuel, in the Brush, and brother of +Christian Wine. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Zigler, in +Timberville, Rockingham County, Virginia. He now resides on his farm +about two miles away from where he was born and raised. He is an +eminently good and useful brother. + +Benjamin Bowman is the son of Benjamin Bowman, who settled in +Rockingham County, Virginia, about or very soon after the breaking up +of the war of the Revolution. This elder Benjamin Bowman had three +sons,--Samuel, Benjamin and John,--all of whom married, raised highly +respectable families, lived and died in the same county in which they +were born. These all became members of our Brotherhood; and Benjamin +is at this time a very active and acceptable preacher of the Word, and +promises to be a very agreeable companion on the journey we have now +undertaken together. He is no great talker in the way of conversation, +but what he says is generally to the point. Very considerate in +forming an opinion, and exceedingly careful in reaching a conclusion, +he is not likely to be wrong in anything he asserts to be true. By +means of these habits assiduously cultivated, he has built up a +reputation for reliability which not only aids him in business, but +stamps the seal of truth on his discourses from the ministerial stand. +He will not readily debate a matter you may present to his mind, even +if his views do not coincide with yours at the time; but after due +consideration he will let you hear from him with arguments not to be +refuted. + +We stay first night at Celestine Whitmore's on Lost River. + +THURSDAY, May 4. After we were on the way this morning Anna changed +her mind and preferred going back to Brother Whitmore's. So we took +her back, and they will convey her home. Travel thirty-three miles, +and stay second night at Joseph Smith's. + +FRIDAY, May 5. Go through Romney, Virginia, and at the end of +thirty-five miles stay third night at McNaer's. + +SATURDAY, May 6. Go through Frostburg, and come to Jacob Lighty's. We +have night meeting. I speak on Acts 17:30. TEXT.--"The times of this +ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to +repent." + +Athens, the capital of Greece, was a large city. It was noted as the +chief seat of Grecian learning, refinement of taste, cultivation of +genius, and skill in the production of almost everything belonging to +the fine arts. It had its philosophers, statesmen, orators, lawyers, +priests, poets and painters. It had its high and low orders in +society. But when Paul beheld the city his spirit was moved in him, +for he saw that it was wholly given to idolatry. Some of the Epicurean +and Stoic philosophers encountered him and said: "He seemeth to be a +setterforth of strange gods." They said this among themselves, because +he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection. But they did not +seem inclined to do him injury as the Jews had done in some other +places, but gave him a chance to speak in the Areopagus, a large +building in the city called the Hill of Mars, or Mars' Hill. In this +building Paul preached a wonderful sermon, the whole of which you may +read in Acts seventeenth chapter. + +But to-night I wish to speak on just one thing that Paul said in that +sermon, and these are the words: "God commandeth all men everywhere to +repent." When we are commanded to do something, we like to know what +it is we are commanded to do. Now I will tell you. It is to repent. +But you may say, "I do not exactly know what that means." I will now +tell you about all I know of the meaning of the words repent and +repentance. The Lord Jesus knew exactly what these words mean, and I +will give you his definition. He said to the Jews: "The men of Nineveh +repented at the preaching of Jonah." Now let us turn to the book of +Jonah in the Old Testament and see what the men of Nineveh did at the +preaching of Jonah, and we will then understand what the Lord meant +when he said they _repented_. You must know what Jonah's sermon was. +It was so plain that all could understand it, and so short that all +could remember it, This is the sermon: "Yet forty days and Nineveh +shall be destroyed." The city had more than a hundred and twenty +thousand people in it; and it took Jonah three days to go from one end +to the other with his message of destruction; but at the end of the +first day "the people of Nineveh believed God; and when the word came +unto the king of Nineveh he arose from his throne, and laid his robe +from him, and put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes and said: Let man and +beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yea, let +them turn, every one from his evil way. And God saw their works, that +they turned from their evil way." + +Now, notice, when God commands all men everywhere to repent, he means +for them to do what the Ninevites did, but in a more spiritually +enlightened way. They believed God. This is the first step in +repentance, as this same apostle says: "He that would come unto God +must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that +diligently seek him." The Ninevites had no written word as we have, +that gives us intelligent knowledge of God as he is revealed in the +face of his Son Jesus Christ. All they knew of him was from tradition, +and what they could see of him in his works. But they believed God, +and gave proof of it by turning from their evil way. Now, friends, +this is just what God commands all men to do. This is what he commands +every impenitent man and woman in this house to do to-night. + +But some of you may say: "I have no evil way from which to turn. I do +an honest business; I lead a sober life; I am true to my marriage +vows, and live a moral and orderly life generally. What lack I yet?" +Let me ask you: Why do you live in this orderly and consistent way? Is +it because you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with +all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, and +your neighbor as yourself? If you can truly say that this love is the +hand that leads and draws you in your good life, I say, Thank God! I +have found a brother of whom I am not ashamed. But anything short of +this love is short of what God requires, and you with the rest are +called upon to repent. You still have a way that is evil in God's +sight. That way is the love of self and the love of the world. The +Pharisees were just as particular and careful in regard to their moral +or outside life as you can ever be; and still the Lord said to his +disciples: "Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the +scribes and Pharisees, ye can in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven." +Their righteousness proceeded all from the love of self and the world. +Their ambition culminated in the honor, respectability, credit and +wealth such a life procured for them; and on this account the Lord +Jesus said of them: "Verily, they have their reward." + +But our blessed Lord says again: "Except a man deny himself, and take +up his cross daily, he cannot be my disciple." This means repentance. +It is commendable in the eye of society of almost every grade to live +a decent, orderly, virtuous life; but if this sort of life be led from +any motive short of the love of God, what is said of the Pharisees +must also be said of this: "Ye make clean the OUTSIDE of the cup and +the platter, but the inside is full of hypocrisy and deceit." Now, +true repentance makes clean the INSIDE of the cup and the platter, +"that the outside may be clean also." + + "Repentance is to leave + The things we dearly love; + And o'er our sins to grieve, + And seek the things above." + +After meeting we go to David Beichley's, and stay fourth night. + +SUNDAY, May 7. Meeting at Jacob Fige's. John 5 is read. Then come to +Jacob Miller's, near Milford, and have night meeting in a schoolhouse +near by. Stay fifth night with Brother Miller. + +MONDAY, May 8. Go to council meeting at Joseph Lighty's. An election +for deacons is held. Stay sixth night at Christian Miller's. Rain this +afternoon and night. + +TUESDAY, May 9. Dine at Emanuel Beichley's on Indian Creek, and stay +seventh night at Joseph Folger's, near Mt. Pleasant. + +WEDNESDAY, May 10. Stay eighth night at Beidler's tavern, in East +Liberty. + +THURSDAY, May 11. Breakfast and dine in Pittsburg, and stay ninth +night in Economy. + +FRIDAY, May 12. Stay tenth night at Jacob Leedy's, near New Middleton. + +SATURDAY, May 13. Get here to my dear Brother Henry Kurtz's, where we +stay eleventh night. + +SUNDAY, May 14. Meeting at Brother Jacob Summers's near by. Ephesians +6 is read. Brother Benjamin speaks first, and John follows him. They +speak of the Christian's armor; that it is not for the flesh, but for +the spirit; that it is not for defense against persecution and trials +in our life here, but for defense against the wiles of the devil; that +it should be constantly worn, and kept bright by daily use. After +meeting the Brethren agree to have a little love feast this evening, +and a good time we have. Stay twelfth night at Brother Henry Kurtz's. + +MONDAY, May 15. Pass through a number of little towns and villages and +at the end of forty-four miles to-day find ourselves pleasantly +received by my very dear Brother George Hoke, with whom we stay +thirteenth night. + +TUESDAY, May 16. Meeting at Brother Solomon Kiser's. Mark 1 is read. +Three persons baptized. Stay fourteenth night at Brother Michael +Sprinkel's, near McDonelsville. + +WEDNESDAY, May 17. Get to Brother Jacob Kurtz's, where I have the +pleasure of meeting again the dear family that showed me so much +kindness two years ago. Stay fifteenth and sixteenth nights here. If +the meeting with those we love, and a brief stay with them, can give +us so much joy here in our imperfect state, what will be the measure +of our joy when we meet in that world where all is perfection, and +partings are known no more! "In his presence there is fullness of joy: +and at his right hand there are pleasures forevermore." + +THURSDAY, May 18. Evening meeting here at Brother Jacob Kurtz's, where +we stay sixteenth night. + +FRIDAY, May 19. Meeting in River Brethren's meetinghouse, near George +Harting's. Luke 14 is read. Come to Wooster, Wayne County, and stay +seventeenth night at John Overholtz's. + +SATURDAY, May 20. Meeting in the Campbellite meetinghouse. John 4 is +read. Evening meeting at Brother John Shoemaker's. John 15 is read. +Stay there eighteenth night. Heavy rain to-day and night. + +SUNDAY, May 21. Meeting at Brother Eli Dickey's. Revelation 21 is +read. Brother Benjamin Bowman gave us some delightful thoughts +suggested by these words: "Behold! I make all things new." He said: +"This promise is generally thought to point for its fulfillment to the +golden day when God's people shall realize in fact what John saw in +vision,--'a new heaven and a new earth.' I believe that day is coming. +I believe the tabernacle of God will be with men; that God will dwell +with them in that Holy City, the New Jerusalem. But I ask here, first +of all, whence arises the necessity for making all things new? If the +existing order of things is faultless, why this renovation? There must +be imperfection, there must be a defect somewhere. Whatever else these +words may comprehend, I for one regard them as applying to the church +as it will then appear, as Solomon describes it, 'comely as +Jerusalem;' the New Jerusalem he means; 'and terrible' in the power of +its righteousness and truth, 'as an army with banners.' + +"Notice right here the striking similarity of the text to what Paul +says. What does my text say? 'Behold, I make all things new.' What +does Paul say? 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old +things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new.' What is it +to be in Christ? It is to be filled with his truth as a sponge is +filled with water when immersed in it. It is to be filled with gospel +light as a healthy eye is filled with light in the blaze of a clear +day. And when the spiritual eye is single, that is healthy, not +double-sighted, our Lord says the whole spiritual body shall be full +of light. The light is in the body, because the body is in the light. +I mean just what the Lord meant, the spiritual body, for Paul says: +'There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.' But he goes +on and says: 'However, that which is natural is first.' This we can +all see and know. We know that we were not naturally born of God. +'That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of +the Spirit is spirit,' and what is born of the Spirit is the spiritual +body. + +"To be in Christ is to be in his love. I was once asked this question +by an individual who probably wished to puzzle me. He said: 'You +preach that a man must be in Christ to be saved, and at the same time +say that Christ must be in the man. How is this?' I answer by using a +very plain illustration. I said to him: When you get uncomfortably +cool in the shade, and move to where the sun can shine full upon your +body, do you not feel its warmth? Now, I said to him, the warmth of +the sun is in your body, because your body is in the warmth of the +sun. Just so we may say it is with us in a spiritual sense. The love +of Christ enters our hearts when we place ourselves where that love +can reach us. Now let me say, by way of digression from my main point +that the love of Christ will never enter a man in a drinking saloon or +in a gambling hall, because it is not there. Such places are as +destitute of the truth and divine love of Christ as the darkest and +coldest night is destitute of the light and heat of the sun. 'Behold, +I make all things new.' This is just what the Lord will do in every +man's mind and heart, spirit and soul, thoughts and affections, +purposes and their accomplishments, who opens the door and bids him +come in. This is the glorious work of regeneration. + +"But, Brethren beloved, let us inquire a little as to whether the +church, our own church I mean, needs to be made over anew, or as we +may say, needs to be renovated. Can any brother or sister in this +house say: 'I am just as pure in heart as I desire to be. My faith +never grows weak; my love never grows cold. I am as innocent and pure +in all my affections and thoughts as a little child. I have no +jealousy or envy in my soul. I never get angry, or think of wishing +evil to any one. I have the spirit of Christ in me in all perfection, +and have purified myself even as he is pure'? I repeat the question +with emphasis, Is there a soul in this house who can truthfully say +all this? I can answer boldly that there is not, for it is not given +to man away down in his imperfect state here to have such sinless +perfection. The most heavenly-minded amongst us have often to mourn +over our shortcomings; and the holiest man or woman, looking into his +or her own heart with an eye filled with the light of gospel truth, +can but at the best say, with the poor publican: 'God be merciful to +me a sinner.' + +"But there is a day coming when all things shall be made new, and we +shall be made new with the rest. I do not want to be understood here, +however, as believing that God will in any sense force his renewing +power upon any one; or that this renewing power will be enjoyed in the +world to come by any but such as earnestly desired it here. I believe +that when we get into the other life our eyes will open to such clear +visions of the beauty of holiness and the excellencies of heavenly +love, all thoughts of evil will be rejected with a repugnance +something like what we would feel here by having the most offensive or +poisonous substance thrust into our mouth. It is declared concerning +the New Jerusalem that nothing shall enter therein that defileth, or +worketh abomination, or maketh a lie. Nothing shall enter therein that +defileth. Our Lord has graciously told us the things that defile a +man. He says: 'Evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, +thefts, covetousness, wickedness, lasciviousness, an evil eye, +blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, +and defile the man.' Now, these are the Lord's own words; and they +enable us to understand just what is meant by the words, 'nothing +shall enter therein that defileth.' + +"Now, Brethren, when the angels that meet us at the gate of the Golden +City shall take of the blood of the Lamb, and, with gentle hands, wash +away every stain of defilement from the sins here enumerated, and we, +thus cleansed, find ourselves safe, forever safe, within its blessed +walls, will we not shout and say: 'Behold! all things have become +new'?" + +Stay nineteenth night with Brother Eli Dickey. We are now in Ashland +County, Ohio. Heavy rains to-day, and waters very high. + +MONDAY, May 22. Pass through Richland County, and stay twentieth night +with Brother Samuel Shaffner, four miles from Bucyrus in Crawford +County. + +TUESDAY, May 23. Night meeting at Benton. Subject: "The Miracles of +Christ's Healing Power." TEXT.--"And he healed all that came unto +him." + +We hardly need being told that man is composed of body and soul; that +the body is the visible, material part of man, in which the soul, +man's invisible part, finds its home. Man's material part is but +little superior to that of the rest of the animal creation. It is +subject to the same laws. It must be fed and sheltered. It finds +enjoyment in food and drink, and comfortable surroundings, very nearly +akin to what we see in the life of brutes. Like them it is subject to +natural decay, liable to disease; and like them, must die. But man is +in possession of capacities and capabilities infinitely superior to +anything the rest of God's sentient creation enjoys. He has a soul +which is capable of unlimited attainments in the knowledge and love of +God, and in the knowledge and love of his fellowman. The heathen +philosophers supposed they had done their whole duty to themselves and +the world when they could vainly believe that they had realized in +their experiences what they thought a compliance with their favorite +maxim: "Know thou thyself." Whilst Christians believe and feel that +self-knowledge, or the knowledge of one's self, is very important, at +the same time they have longing aspirations to know all they can of +the Being who created this self, this thinking, reasoning, loving, +restless thing within them, called a living soul. Brutes have no +aspirations, no desires of this kind. + +Right here we may see what God loves. It was not man's animal or +bodily life that brought the Lord into our world, for this is not the +man. It is the soul or spirit within the body that is the real man, +and all these souls collectively make the world that God so loved that +he gave his only begotten Son to save it. God never loved trifles. The +fact that God loved the world of man is proof that man, as a being +capable of glorifying God by reciprocating his love, was worthy of it. +This key opens the way to a glimpse of man's high destiny, attainable +by his taking hold of the Hand reached down in love to lift him up. +God's Word is the only book that can give man a true knowledge of +himself. It is the only source from which he can learn that he is a +sinner by his habitual transgressions of the great, law of love that +would bind all the units of God's intelligent creation into a +brotherhood of ineffable and eternal happiness. It was to redeem man +from this deplorable state, and deliver him from the destroying power +of sin, that Jesus came into the world. But when he came he found man +so low down in the darkness of ignorance, so stupid and slow to open +his eyes, so benumbed by the chilling power of the love of self, so +infested and possessed by evil spirits of hell, that but little +impression could be made upon him, except such as could be felt and +seen by means of his bodily senses. + +These statements, which are true, account for the miracles wrought by +the Lord. In working them, however, he had a two-fold purpose. The +first was to arouse the people from their dormant state to one of +consciousness that a Being of superior power was among them. This they +were made to feel by his healing touch, his cleansing hand, and his +life-restoring virtue. And what was the effect of all this? It had +very much the same effect in one way that kindness toward children in +the way of giving them little presents, and gentleness and tenderness +in the way of gratifying their bodily desires and wishes, has upon +them. They love the one who treats them in such ways. Now, the Lord +healed the people. He healed all that came to him, of whatever bodily +ill they were suffering. He fed them, too, and did it all so lovingly +that they believed him to be the best and most powerful Friend they +had ever known. They followed him in throngs. They felt secure, bodily +secure and safe when they were with him. But we must not forget that +they followed him, not on account of the words he had spoken to them, +the instructions he had imparted, but "for the loaves and the fishes." +We almost instinctively say, in our meditations upon these things: +What a pity they could not discover in him something higher to believe +in and love than the mere power and will to heal their bodily ills and +minister to their bodily wants! This strong faith in his power and +readiness to minister in a miraculous way to their external, worldly +enjoyments and comforts is what led them to try to take him by force +and make him their king. Having now given you his first object in +working miracles, I turn to the second. + +Here a great field for thought opens to our view, from which a volume +could be written. Every miracle the Lord wrought, just like every +parable he spoke, has a double line of truth, an inner and an outer +sense. These are related to each other as the soul and body are +related. Jesus says: "My words are spirit, and they are life." His +miracles, when rightly understood, are the same. "They are spirit and +they are life." Their spirit and life enter us through the light they +contain. Let us look at one or two with a view to find what spirit and +life we can: One Sabbath day Jesus met a man in a Jewish house of +worship, called a synagogue, whose right hand was WITHERED. Notice, +the man's hand was withered. This means that it was dead, just as we +mean that a plant is dead when it is withered, or so nearly dead that +its life is almost gone. This man's hand must have been powerless. He +could not use it to do anything; and it was his right hand. He could +not move a joint of it. It was simply powerless. + +But notice particularly what Jesus commanded him to do. He said to +this very man: "Stretch forth thy hand." Does not that look like an +unreasonable command? The man might have plausibly said: "I cannot do +this. I have not been able to reach my hand to my mouth in the past +year. I can not do as you tell me." But instead of urging objections +he instantly obeyed, for the words, "Stretch forth thy hand," were not +more than out of the Lord's mouth when we read, "And he did so: and +his hand was restored whole as the other." Now I ask, Did this man +have any part to act, or duty to perform in this miracle of healing? I +answer, He did; and without his obedient coöperation his hand would +have been left dangling powerless at his side. + +Is there not a lesson here? Let us try to gather crumbs of instruction +from it. If you take your Bible and concordance, and hunt up the +places where the expression "right hand" is used, you will plainly see +that "right hand," when spoken of as the "right hand" of God, means +_power_, the power of God. As applying to man, it means the same, the +_power_ of man. In this sense the right hand of every unconverted man +and woman is _withered_ under the blighting curse of sin. But Jesus is +present to heal. He is ever ready to heal all who have need of healing +now, just as truly as when he was visibly among men. But he cannot +heal you without your willing consent to obey his commands. He first +of all commands you to repent, for now "God commandeth all men +everywhere to repent." The moment you are willing to obey this +command, that moment he will give you the power to obey. Without aid +from the power of the Lord that man never could have stretched forth +his withered hand; but the instant he was willing to obey, that very +instant he received the power to obey. + +Again he says: "Give me thy heart." But your heart is all withered +too. It is so chilled and blighted by the cold, and damp, and darkness +of sin, that, like the man's right hand, without help of the Lord, it +is powerless. But the instant you feel a _desire_ to give your heart +to the Lord, such desire as the blind beggar had to receive his sight; +such desire as the poor leper had to be cleansed; such desire as the +publican had that God would be merciful to him a sinner; I say the +instant you feel such desire to give your heart to God, that instant +he will give you power to do so. It surely was a great relief to that +man to have his withered hand restored to healthy activity. It may not +have been very painful; indeed, it may have been so lifeless that +there was not much feeling in it. So it may be with your heart. And +let me say to you that if you really give God your heart in faith and +love he will so effectually heal it that it will beat with new life, +and the warm blood of love and truth from his Word will flow through +it until your greatest joy will be found in doing his will. + +Stay twenty-first night in Benton. + +WEDNESDAY, May 24. Stay twenty-second night at Lupton's. + +THURSDAY, May 25. Go to Squire Knapp's and make deeds. Then to meeting +at Brother Heastand's. Part of John 1 is read. In afternoon return to +Lupton's and finish business with him. Stay twenty-third night at +Lupton's. Fine weather. + +FRIDAY, May 26. Stay twenty-fourth night at Brother Jacob Bowers's. +Beautiful weather. + +SATURDAY, May 27. Council meeting at Brother Jacob Bowers's, Jr. Night +meeting at Brother Thomas's, where we stay twenty-fifth night. Fine +weather continues. + +SUNDAY, May 28. Meeting at Brother Jacob Bowers's, Sr. Speak from +Matthew 3. John's baptism was unto repentance. The people came to him +and were immersed of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. This +was their first step in repentance. From this they were to keep on +bringing forth fruits meet for, or corresponding to, repentance. The +outside life was to be the exponent of the penitent heart within. He +also pointed them to him who was to come after him, that is, Christ. +He would baptize them in the Holy Spirit and fire. This was literally +fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Baptize one person to-day. Stay +twenty-sixth night at Brother Rotebauch's. + +MONDAY, May 29. Go westward to Daniel Miller's, Solomon Wine's, Jacob +Miller's, and stay twenty-seventh night at Samuel Miller's. + +TUESDAY, May 30. After meeting we go to Isaac Miller's in Richland +County, where we stay twenty-eighth night. + +WEDNESDAY, May 31. Stay twenty-ninth night at Jacob Miller's. + +THURSDAY, June 1. Visit Daniel Wine's, David Good's, Jacob Earley's, +David Weaver's, where we have meeting; then go to Samuel Earley's, +where we stay thirtieth night. A very fine day. + +FRIDAY, June 2. Stay thirty-first night in Tymocaty. + +SATURDAY, June 3. Dine in Upper Sandusky, and stay thirty-second night +at Brother Heastand's. Rain this forenoon. + +SUNDAY, June 4. Meeting at Brother Solomon Miller's on Silver Creek. +First Peter 2 is read. Two persons baptized. Evening meeting at Stone +meetinghouse, on Honey Creek near David Rupp's. Luke 14 is read. Stay +thirty-third night at Brother Rupp's. + +MONDAY, June 5. Stay thirty-fourth night with Brother Isaac Hartzog. + +TUESDAY, June 6. Stay thirty-fifth night with Brother Jacob +Harshbarger. Fine day. + +WEDNESDAY, June 7. Stay thirty-sixth night with Brother Cober. + +THURSDAY, June 8. Stay thirty-seventh night with Brother Jonas Kline, +nine miles from Ashland. + +FRIDAY, June 9. Get back to Brother Jacob Kurtz's, eight miles from +Wooster, in Wayne County, where we stay thirty-eighth night. Fine day. + +SATURDAY, June 10. Annual Meeting begins. Peter Nead and I speak. +Three persons baptized. Love feast this evening. Delightful weather. +Stay thirty-ninth night at Brother Kurtz's place. + +SUNDAY, June 11. Public meeting to-day. A great concourse of people. +Preaching at both house and barn. Fine weather continues. Stay +fortieth night at same place. + +MONDAY, June 12. Council meeting is ready for questions. But few are +handled. Business goes on slowly. Stay forty-first night at same +place. Fine, clear day. + +TUESDAY, June 13. This day we progress briskly. Much business is +transacted. Very fine weather continues. + +WEDNESDAY, June 14. Finish business, and in afternoon we come to +Brother Sprinkel's, one mile from Canton, Stark County, where we stay +forty-third night. Very fine weather, but somewhat dusty. + +THURSDAY, June 15. Call at Brother George Shiveley's; and have night +meeting at Brother Rothrock's, where we stay forty-fourth night. Speak +on John 1. Warm day. + +FRIDAY, June 16. Stay forty-fifth night at John Shelly's, five miles +from Richmond, Jefferson County. Fine weather. + +SUNDAY, June 18. Dine with Brother Jacob Shideler's and stay +forty-seventh night with Charles Guthrie, near Brownsville, in Fayette +County, Pennsylvania. Rain to-day. + +MONDAY, June 19. Stay forty-eighth night with Brother Michael Thomas. +Rain this afternoon and night. + +WEDNESDAY, June 21. Stay fiftieth night at Brother Daniel Arnold's in +Hampshire County, Virginia. + +THURSDAY, June 22. Dine at Brother Zachariah Arnold's and stay +fifty-first night in Moorefield, Hardy County, Virginia. + +FRIDAY, June 23. Dine at Isaac Dasher's in Hardy County, and stay +fifty-second night at William Fitzwater's, in Rockingham County, +Virginia. + +SATURDAY, June 24. Breakfast at Daniel Fulk's at foot of Mt. Pleasant +in Brock's Gap, and then home. On this journey Brother John Wine and I +traveled in my carriage 1,083 miles. Brother Benjamin Bowman was not +with us all the time. He left us after we got among relatives and +acquaintances who were not the same, in these respects, to us that +they were to him. Otherwise they were the same to both alike, for they +were nearly all Brethren. But we met again at the Annual Meeting, and +returned home together. We had much pleasant conversation on the way, +and endeavored to build each other up by giving a religious turn to +our discourses. They are both clear-headed thinkers. I feel sure the +time has been well spent by our mutually improving each other, aside +from the good I hope we have done to others. May our heavenly Father +bless this happy journey to the present and everlasting good of all +who may have heard our public or private words of warning, of +instruction, of encouragement to the weak, of confirmation to the +strong, is my prayer. Amen. + +Anna was safely conveyed home, nicely and tenderly cared for in my +absence, and I find her as well as I could expect. + +THURSDAY, July 13. Perform the marriage ceremony of William Carrier +and Barbara Summers. + +WEDNESDAY, July 26. Meeting at Forrer's Furnace. I speak on the +fiftieth verse of the one hundred and nineteenth Psalm. TEXT.--"This +is my comfort in my affliction." I have chosen this subject on account +of the afflictions which some of you have lately passed through, and +which are, I learn, still clinging to others in this neighborhood. As +I have been called--or sincerely believe that I have been called--to +administer medical relief to the sick, and have thus had much +experience in the sick room, and by the sick bed, I will venture to +offer some observations regarding the ways in which the sick should be +cared for and nursed, that they may be comforted in their afflictions +as to their bodily feelings. This done, I will endeavor to say +something regarding the ways in which their souls may be comforted. + +The bed for the sick should be soft, but not heating. Nothing can be +more regularly and uniformly comforting to the afflicted than a soft +and easy bed. It need not be costly. Clean straw of oats, cut fine, is +my preference over all other materials. To stir the bed, the patient +need not be taken out, but gently, very slowly and tenderly, moved to +the opposite side first prepared, left there awhile, and then in the +same gentle way returned to the front, similarly prepared. Cleanliness +is next to religion, pure and undefiled, in the sick room. All fumes +of tobacco or other unpleasant smells should not be allowed for a +moment in the sick room. All offensive odors can most readily be +gotten rid of by ventilation. This can be best secured by opening +doors or windows, or both, if necessary. This should be repeatedly +done daily in all weathers. At this season windows should be open all +the time; but the patient should not be exposed to heavy draughts of +air. Unnecessary conversation is very distressing to most sick people, +even though the words be spoken low or in a whisper. Some of you, no +doubt, have had experience of this fact. People kindly feel it a duty +to visit the sick. One does not know that another is going, and each +being impelled by a sense of duty, more go than can be needed; and in +determining who shall return home, and who shall stay, conversations +take place that are often very distressing to the patient. I remember +a conversation I had with one of my own patients once, who had just +shortly before that time recovered from a severe and protracted +illness. He said to me: "Brother John, do try to set the people right +about visiting the sick. There is so much wrong about it the way it is +carried on now that very often more harm than good is done. I +remember," said he, "one night while I was sick. You had been coming, +I think, near three weeks, and I was beginning to mend. In the evening +I felt so much better I thought I was going to rest well and get some +good, natural sleep. But about eight o'clock several neighbors came in +who got to talking; and seeing that I appeared better they were +encouraged to keep on, under the impression that I was strong enough +now to stand it. Ah," continued he, "they did not know they were +almost killing me; for I became restless; and being very weak every +nerve and fiber in my body seemed to be excited into a state of +distressful commotion, from which I did not fairly recover during the +next three days. When you came again you gave very strict orders not +to allow more than one attendant in the room at a time, aside from the +nurse; and after that I began to mend again and got well." + +One thing more, and I will leave this feature of the subject. This, +although last in order, is first in importance, because it is the very +basis of recovery. I mean food and drink. Very sick patients, we all +know, can take, and require very little; but that little is +all-important both as to quality, and uniformity as to quantity, and +exact regularity as to time in its administration. I will say here +with emphasis, that in no regard is it more important to comply +punctiliously with the instructions of an intelligent physician, than +in the nourishment given the sick. Without nourishment, recovery in +any case is impossible. How very important, then, that it be rightly +composed and properly administered! Food should be made as attractive +to the patient as possible. This should be carefully kept in mind when +preparing it for patients in a state of convalescence or recovery. The +nerves of the stomach at such time are often very sensitive, and small +excellencies in its quality will be highly appreciated, and slight +deficiencies as readily detected. + +You remember, I started out with the text: "This is my comfort in my +affliction." I have tried to give you some bits of counsel as to the +means and ways by which the afflicted may be comforted physically. I +now turn to the means and ways by which they may be comforted +spiritually. But here a difficulty confronts us at the very start. We +cannot make pathological examinations of the soul's distress, and +conclude from these what therapeutic agents to employ for its relief, +as we can in that of the body. In the last we are governed almost +exclusively by the visible and tangible symptoms; but regarding the +first, we are deprived of all these, and are compelled to rely mainly +upon the oral testimony of the sufferer himself. I have repeatedly +been called to the bedside of the dying in compliance with their wish +to receive some comfort, some consolation in their last moments, +before launching out on the unknown deep of eternity. But, alas! with +the exception of a few, paid to humble and obedient followers of the +meek and lowly Jesus, nearly all such visits have caused me to feel my +own absolute incompetence to do them any good, and only left me to +witness the sun of their life go down in clouds and darkness. But +David says: "THIS is my comfort in my affliction." In saying this he +must have in mind some particular idea; some state of feeling +springing out of some previous preparation of heart, which he can +claim as his comfort in his affliction. The few verses preceding the +text give a clew to this very state of mind and heart. Let us look +over them and see what it was. In verse 44 he says: "I will keep thy +law continually for ever and ever." Verse 45: "I seek thy precepts." +Verse 46: "Of thy testimonies also, I will not be ashamed." Verse 47: +"I delight myself in thy commandments which I have loved." These +declarations make manifest David's love for the Lord; and the joy +springing out of this love is what he calls his comfort in his +affliction. + +It was once my privilege, and I can say my happy privilege, to pass a +night beside the dying bed of a faithful minister of the Word. His +deathless and joyful spirit took its flight from earth about four +o'clock the following morning. He did not suffer much pain, and had +strength to express his feelings and thoughts to a limited degree. His +mind was clear. He was dying of a hemorrhage which no power on earth +could check. His comfort in his affliction was so great that from the +joy and peace in his soul he distinctly said to me, in these exact +words: "This is the happiest night of my life." He would sometimes +say: "I love God. I love all his dear people. I will soon join the +spirits of just men made perfect." About four o'clock in the morning +he asked to be turned in the bed, and he was gone. Ah, friends, this +brother had comfort in his affliction; nay, more, unspeakable comfort +in death. This is what all may enjoy in a greater or less degree, who +are laid on beds of affliction. A good life, a life lived in obedience +to the commandments of our Lord, is sure to bring peace to the soul +when we are in health, and this peace will not leave or forsake us +when affliction or misfortune overtakes us. Our Lord says: "Peace I +leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, +give I unto you." Again he says: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of +me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." We take his yoke upon us +when we repent of our sins, believe on his name, love to do his +commands, come over freely and fully on his side, and work for him. +Instead of working for what is perishable, we work for that which +endureth to everlasting life. We come out of the darkness of sin and +death into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For the wages +of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus +our Lord. + +MONDAY, July 31. Harvest meeting at the Flat Rock. David Kline is +elected speaker. + +SATURDAY, August 26. The job of building the abutments for the bridge +at Coots's is let to contract. + +MONDAY, August 28. Attend the burial of Brother Solomon Garber. Age, +fifty-four years, five months and twenty-nine days. + +WEDNESDAY, November 1. On this day Brother Kline, in company with +Joseph Miller, son of Daniel Miller near head of Linville's Creek, +started on a journey to West Virginia. They got to Jacob Warnstaff's +first day--had night meeting in Bethel meetinghouse, near by; meeting +at Chlora Judy's, on Mill Creek, next night; meeting at James Parks's, +on Looney's Creek, the night following. I will dress up the skeleton +of the sermon Brother Kline preached here, as best I can. Romans 14:7. +TEXT.--"For none of us liveth to himself." + +The phrase "none of us," as used in the text, means _not one of us_. I +say this to give emphasis to this part of my subject. + +The social element, or love for society, is deeply impressed upon all +the animate world. We feel the truth of a very common saying--"birds +of a feather will flock together"--every time it is repeated in our +hearing. This expression, in its most comprehensive sense, applies to +everything having life and volition or the power to will. It is seen +in the fishes of the sea, in the birds of the air, and in all the +denizens of earth, from insects and worms up to the highest forms of +organic brute life, and in man. This love for society, or company, or +companionship, is so strong that it is the bond of the universe. +Without it nothing living could subsist. To make this thought clear to +your understandings, let me just call your minds to reflect a little +upon what the state of things would be in the natural world if this +law of love were reversed in the brute creation. Our domestic animals, +instead of feeding together in harmonious and peaceable flocks and +herds, would instantly turn to fighting and seeking to destroy each +other. The earth would soon be strewn with the dead bodies of beasts +and birds, and the waves of the sea would throw drifts of dead fishes +upon the shore. But, fortunately for man, this love has never been +perverted in the lower orders of creation. Each kind loves its own +kind, and seeks its propagation. But man has fallen from this love, +the love of his fellowman, into a state of feeling in some respects +the very opposite, which is hate. Let the history of the world but +unfold her page, and the truth of what I have just said will appear in +lines written with human blood. It is from this, and this alone, that +human laws have been instituted. It is self-preservation. This is the +one single origin and basis of all human law. What protects me from +the wrath or cupidity of those who would destroy or devour me, +protects you; and inasmuch as all desire such protection, human +governments, and laws with fearful penalties annexed, have been +instituted. Right here, in a civil and social sense, the words of my +text apply with profound meaning: "For none of us liveth to himself." +They apply to every statute in every national code, as well as to +every local law in every land. + +But human laws restrain by fear, and God would have all restraint from +evil to spring from love. The gulf between these two principles is +immeasurably wide and deep, quite as much so as the chasm between +heaven and hell. I said: Human laws restrain by fear. Why does the +heart murderer not kill? He is afraid that if he kills me, and it is +found out on him, somebody else will kill him who feels himself in as +much danger from his bloody hand as I was. Why does the heart-rogue +not steal? He is afraid his booty may not balance what it may cost in +the way of punishment. So with all criminality. With those who have +not the love of God in their hearts, nor the love of their neighbor +which springs out of this love, nothing but fear restrains them from +the worst of crimes. But this is a very unhappy state to be in, +because all fear hath torment. Human beings can never be happy in +their social relations, when the fear and dread of each other is the +governing principle in their lives. The heart of man was originally +created for the exercise of love, for perfect love, which knows no +fear. All the happiness and peace of heaven spring out of love made +perfect. + + "There love springs pure and unrepressed; + There all are loved, and love again: + Love warms each angel's glowing breast: + Love fills each shining saintly train." + +Fear, with its long and varied list of torments, primarily springs +from a sense of guilt. We have a clear example in proof of this in the +third chapter of Genesis. Immediately after the fall Adam is +represented as saying to the Lord: "I heard thy voice in the garden, +and I was afraid, and I hid myself." Now, Adam had heard that voice +before; it was the voice of love; but, oh! how changed! The voice +itself was not changed; but the ear that heard, and the eye that saw, +and the heart that felt its power, these, _these_ were changed. Ever +since that sad day man has been subject to fear, and has sought to +hide himself from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord God still +loved Adam, and right there and then gave a promise to save man. That +promise is in these words: "I will put enmity between her seed and thy +seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This +was spoken to the serpent. Christ Jesus our Lord is the seed of the +woman. He bruises the serpent's head under our feet whenever we +sincerely desire him to do so. The head of the serpent stands for sin +and transgression of God's holy law in all its forms, with the evil +loves which prompt us thereto. The heel which the serpent shall bruise +is man's natural body, and the natural feelings incident to him from +his connection with this body. Diseases, the infirmities of age, with +all the pains and anguish of body and mind; yea, death itself, and the +fear of death, all, all are but the bruises which the serpent, the +devil and Satan is inflicting upon the heel of the woman's seed. + +But, Brethren, Christ is bruising the head of the serpent daily under +our feet. Every temptation to do some forbidden thing, every +inclination to indulge evil and impure desires and thoughts, fairly +resisted and overcome, is just that much of the serpent's head, of his +very life, bruised and crushed under our feet. Now, it appears to us +as if we did all this of ourselves, and in our own strength. But this +is very far from the truth. Jesus says: "Without me ye can do +nothing." "I am the way, the truth and the life." All the spiritual +life, which embraces all pure and holy thoughts, affections, motives, +with all the truth and holy love in the Christian's soul, is from the +Lord. Man of himself is nothing but evil, and but for the Lord's +redeeming and saving arm would forever sink to lower and yet lower +depths of ruin. But just turn with me to the twenty-first chapter of +Revelation, fourth verse, and see to what the Lord offers to exalt +man. We there read: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their +eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, +neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed +away." There is quite an excitement over California at this time. +Thousands have left their homes to try their fortunes in the far-off +land of gold. Some have already perished in the attempt to reach the +shining Eldorado, and many more may have to suffer the same sad +experience. But the Gospel invites the sinner to a city whose gates +are of pearl, and whose streets are paved with gold, and where the +society is exempt from all the ills of life; for there they die no +more. + +Brethren, let us live not for ourselves, but for others, as far as +lies in our power. Our love feasts show our love for one another, and +our social equality with each other insomuch as we all eat together: +and our beautiful order in washing one another's feet sets forth our +readiness to help one another in the Christian life, for "none of us +liveth to himself." + +SATURDAY, November 4. The two brethren have forenoon meeting at old +Brother Parks's, and Joseph Miller speaks in a somewhat general way on +First Corinthians 15. In the evening they have meeting at Enoch +Hyre's, and Brother Kline speaks on John 14:6. TEXT.--"I am the way." +His thoughts on this passage are so original and instructive that I +will endeavor to extend and elucidate them as best I can. + +This passage, said he, comprehends the whole Christ as the Son of man. +As the way, the holy way, we may trace and follow his steps, and walk +in him from the manger to the cross; from the cross to the grave; and +from the grave to his exaltation at the right hand of the Father in +heaven. Of this way the prophet Isaiah speaks in these words: "And an +highway shall be there, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; +the unclean shall not pass over it; ... but the redeemed shall walk +therein." Is not this a delightful view of Christian life as it was +exemplified by our Lord! The prophet calls it the highway of our God. +Like the way of Noah's ark, it is above the tops of the loftiest +mountains of sin and death and destruction. Like the way of the ark +again, it is the way of holiness, for righteous Noah and his family +are upon it. + +But I wish to call the attention of all here to-night to the +particular line of truth and motive the Lord had in mind when he said, +"I am the way." By thus pointing out the way, and showing that eternal +life and happiness are the blessed reward of walking in it, I hope to +induce some here to-night to enter it. I might here generalize +somewhat by calling your attention to the fact that it is natural for +us all, when going anywhere, to feel best satisfied when we know the +way we are on is the right way to where we want to go. It is true, +however, one may tramp along through life over public roads, merely to +get a subsistence from the fragments he may pick up by the way, and be +wholly indifferent as to where the road is conducting him. I will not +say that such a life is a fair representation of the thoughtless +sinner's way, as regards all preparation for a future state of +existence, but I will ask him if it is not so? But let us +particularize. + +The first recorded words that Jesus uttered were spoken by him when he +was twelve years old. They were addressed by him to his parents when +they found him in the temple: "How is it that ye sought me sorrowing? +Did ye not know that I must be about my Father's business?" This was +his first public step in the way we are to follow. We all have the +same Father to love and obey that Jesus had, and he is none other than +the God who made us. It is his business to fit and prepare us for +everlasting happiness; and when we are about his business as Jesus was +we are reciprocating his love by doing his pleasure. But this was only +the beginning. No further record of Jesus is given until about +eighteen years after, when he came to the Jordan to be baptized of +John. But John said: "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest +thou to me? But Jesus said, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it +becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." + +Some may think lightly of baptism, but if it "became" the King of +glory to be baptized in water to fulfill all righteousness, how can +any one esteem it lightly, who has any regard for his soul? Since he +himself is the way, can we rationally conclude that he would do +anything for a guide to us that is unimportant? He had no sins to +confess, it is true; but still he must be baptized to fulfill all +righteousness. How important, then, must it be for us to submit to +this ordinance, who are all defiled with sin! + + "Ashamed of Jesus! yes I may + When I've no sins to wash away: + No guilt to shun, no good to crave; + No love to give, no soul to save." + +But now I must call your attention to his Sermon on the Mount. This is +the most instructive, truth-abounding and love-abounding sermon the +world has ever heard. It is a summary of the love, the truth, the +purity of heart, the humility of soul, the poverty of spirit, the +hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the forgiveness, the +charity, the meekness of the true child of God. Hence our blessed Lord +says right at the close: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and +doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house +upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the +winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was +founded upon a rock." I want to tell you right here that Jesus +fulfilled every jot and tittle of its truth in all its varied and +minute applications, in the pure and holy life he lived on earth. He +thus became the way. + +I have sometimes been accosted by others on this wise: "You teach a +doctrine of works! You teach that people must do so and so to be +saved. I understand the Word to teach that Christians are saved by +faith without works." I have occasionally answered such accusations, I +fear, perhaps, in not the true spirit of meekness, by retorting that +if some professing Christians are ever saved at all it will surely be +without any works on their part. But usually, when I am rightly at +myself, or better, when my heart is with the Lord, both in answering +and preaching, I say, We as Brethren believe and teach that "faith +without works is dead." All good works are done in faith. And no man +can believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with his heart, without loving +him; because faith is a loving acceptance of all the truth revealed by +the Lord to man. Our heartfelt reception of that truth leads to +obedience, and obedience is good works. For "by works faith is made +perfect." When he says: "This DO, and thou shalt live," he does not +lose sight of the loving faith in which it is to be done. When he +says: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your GOOD +WORKS, and glorify"--YOU? No!--"your Father, which is in heaven." It +is by good works, then, that we are to glorify our Father which is in +heaven. + +Again to the Sermon on the Mount. I told you a while ago that this +sermon sets forth the living way, or the living Christ. All the +parables and miracles aim at nothing higher than to prepare the minds +and hearts of the people to do, in an enlightened way, the things +commanded and taught in that wonderful sermon. Obedience to all the +ordinances of God's house is but a showing to the life and in the life +that meekness, that state of heart purity, that forgiveness, that +charity or brotherly love, that heavenly mindedness, which shine forth +in clear light there. But all the good there is in that sermon +consists in the doing of it. I may think of loving my enemy, and of +praying for him, and of forgiving him, but will the thought avail +anything, unless I carry my thought out in the acts of my life? Our +Lord prayed for his enemies even on the cross. They had nailed him +there, so unjustly too; but in the anguish of his distress he said: +"Father, forgive them; they know not what they do." + +One thought more, and I will close. We must not forget that the Lord, +by his Holy Spirit, is the life of the way. Of ourselves, and left to +ourselves, we could never enter the way. Without the Lord's power in +us through his Holy Spirit we can do nothing. This great truth in its +fullness, accepted and believed in the heart, is the highest +attainment in faith that man is capable of. The deeper and warmer our +love for the Lord is, the clearer and stronger our faith grows; and +the clearer and stronger our faith is in him, the firmer are our +assurances that he is our life. We feel so free, so at liberty to do +just what we will, either good or bad, that the truth of our absolute +dependence upon God for every good affection and thought, for every +good motive and its attainment, is a lesson we are slow to learn. +Peter had not learned this lesson when, confident in his own strength, +he declared that he would not forsake the Lord. It is this sense of +our own weakness that leads us to pray. Prayer must proceed from the +heart. Otherwise it is not prayer, but a mere form of words. The Lord +will never help any one spiritually who does not feel the need of +divine help. Saul was struck down when the divine light flashed upon +him with a radiance above the brightness of the sun; but that light +only blinded him. The Lord then sent Ananias to inquire in the house +of Judas in Damascus for one called Saul of Tarsus: "For," said he, +"behold he prayeth." Without this prayer Saul would nevermore have +seen anything. This prayer was the opening of his heart to do the will +of the Lord, for in it he said: "Lord, what wouldst thou have me to +do?" I need only add here that the very first thing he was commanded +to do was: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on +the name of the Lord." + +SUNDAY, November 5. The two brethren had meeting at Isaac Shobe's and +stayed all night at Jacob Bargdoll's. On + +MONDAY, November 6, they had morning meeting at Isaac Dasher's, and +night meeting at Nimrod Judy's, where they stay all night. + +TUESDAY, November 7. They dine at William Hevner's in Brock's Gap, and +reach home in the evening. + +The editor is making these transcripts from the Diary January 26, +1899; just a little over fifty years after the entries were made. He +was then a young man; and the current of life's forces, like a mighty +river, has borne him on its bosom over a large part of the +territory--especially in the two Virginias--traveled over and preached +over and prayed over by our long since sainted brother, Elder John +Kline. He lived to see good results from his labors, but they were not +strikingly conspicuous. As the Diary shows, now and then a brother, a +sister, applies for, and receives baptism at his hands. But we must +not overlook the truth that he was breaking the ice of indifference to +all the claims of religion in the minds and hearts of these people. He +was the very first minister in the Brotherhood to begin and carry on +what may be called an aggressive effort to spread a knowledge of +gospel truth through the present counties of Pendleton, Hardy, Grant, +Hampshire, Mineral, Randolph and Pocahontas in what is now West +Virginia. Other active and able ministers of that day, a few of whom I +will here name, all living in the Shenandoah Valley, would cheerfully +go with him; but he led the way. Those whose names I will give were +Benjamin Bowman, Daniel Miller, Abraham Flory, Isaac Long, father of +the very excellent and able preacher Isaac Long, Jr., Martain Miller, +brother of Daniel; John Harshbarger, and a little later on Jacob Wine +and Christian Wine. These are all gone to the heavenly shore, to live +in the paradise of God. But their works do follow them. They follow +them, and will follow them to the end of time, in the form of new +houses of worship erected by a largely increased and increasing +membership; by an increase of enlightened piety, as exemplified in its +possessors by their nonconformity to the world and their attendance +upon the ordinances of God's house. Here, however, we see only the +beginning of the good fruits from their sowings. The records of the +book of life; the palms; the white robes and crowns; the song of Moses +and the song of the Lamb will better tell than we ever can here the +exceeding preciousness and excellence of their works. + +THURSDAY, December 7. Perform the marriage ceremony of Benjamin +Wampler and Anna Driver at Mother Wampler's; also the marriage +ceremony of Eli Summers and Sophia Frank. + +SUNDAY, December 24. Get word of the death of Uncle Frederic Kline. Go +up to his place. + +MONDAY, December 25. Uncle Frederic is buried to-day. Age, +seventy-five years, ten months and fourteen days. Stay all night at +Christian Garber's. + +THURSDAY, December 28. Perform the marriage ceremony of Michael B.E. +Kline and Elizabeth Rhodes. + +SUNDAY, December 31. At home. I have traveled in the year that is just +at its close 4,411 miles. The year appears very short. When I review +its labors and toils I am forced to reflect upon the imperfection of +my work. I have never delivered a discourse that was satisfactory to +me throughout. I hardly ever fail to see some lack of thought right +where I wanted to make the truth clear and impressive. Often and often +the reflections of my mind, as it were, hear a voice within saying: +"Why did you not put it this way? Why did you not think of that very +appropriate passage of Scripture, which would have fit the place so +nicely, and have been so expressive?" I do not suppose that any one +will see this little book while I live. After I am gone it may he +consigned to some dark closet, with the rest of its kind, as useless +rubbish. But should it ever fall into the hands of any minister of the +Word who may be afflicted in his work with thoughts akin to those I +have expressed in this review of the year, I beg him to be encouraged +rather than discouraged by them. I believe they are messages from the +Lord, who constantly seeks our highest good and greatest usefulness. +Satan, if he could, would induce us to believe that we are all right, +just what we should be; and in this way inflate us with a profound +sense of our own importance, and in this pride of heart make us esteem +ourselves greatly superior to all others. How this feeling differs +from that inculcated by Paul: "Let each esteem another better than +himself"! How different, too, from the words of the meek and lowly +Jesus: "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted"! These reviews and +criticisms of our works and ways tend to make us more thoughtful and +circumspect in the future. We seek to have our lacks supplied, our +wants relieved, and are induced thereby to apply our minds to the +study of the Word with more vigor, looking at the same time to the +Lord for the enlightening guidance of his Holy Spirit. It now lacks +just ten minutes of midnight. I will retire with the retiring year, +wishing to all a good-night, and joyful eyes to behold the dawn of the +new year. + +THURSDAY, February 22. Hear the distant report of cannon in +commemoration of the birth of George Washington, which is said to have +occurred on the twenty-second day of February, 1732. It is presumable +that those who find pleasure in public demonstrations of this sort are +moved by what they regard as patriotic feelings and principles. Let +their motives and enjoyments spring from what they may, they have a +lawful right to celebrate the anniversary of his birth in any civil +way they may choose. But I have a somewhat higher conception of true +patriotism than can be represented by the firing of guns which give +forth nothing but meaningless sound. I am glad, however, that these +guns report harmless sound, and nothing more. If some public speakers +would do the same, it might be better both for them and their hearers. +My highest conception of patriotism is found in the man who loves the +Lord his God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself. Out of +these affections spring the subordinate love for one's country; love +truly virtuous for one's companion and children, relatives and +friends; and in its most comprehensive sense takes in the whole human +family. Were this love universal, the word _patriotism_, in its +specific sense, meaning such a love for one's country as makes its +possessors ready and willing to take up arms in its defense, might be +appropriately expunged from every national vocabulary. + +Perform the marriage ceremony of Isaac Brady and Leanna Hulvey, at +John Hulvey's. + +SATURDAY, March 3. Night meeting at John Mongold's on Lost River. I +speak from Luke 10:42. TEXT.--"But one thing is needful." + +Various interpretations have been given of this text. Having given it +a good deal of thought myself, from the belief that a right +understanding of the passage is all-important, I will endeavor to make +clear to your minds what appears to me the Lord's meaning. All of you +take time to-morrow to read the tenth chapter of Luke, and you may see +many things I will not take time to notice to-night. + +"But one thing is needful." If one were to come to each of you +privately to-night, and say to you: "I have plenty of this world's +goods to give away, tell me what you need, and I will supply you," and +remove all doubt from your mind of his meaning to do what he said, we +might be surprised at the varied answers and statements that he would +receive. Possibly--but I sincerely hope there are none such here +to-night--some might say tobacco, or snuff, or whisky. There are, +however, many things really needed for the support of life in this +world, and it is a part of wisdom to know our real needs, and how best +to supply them. Our Lord, on one occasion, referred to the two most +general needs of people,--food and clothing,--in which he instructed +them not to be forgetful of God in all their efforts to obtain these, +for, said he, "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all +these things." + +Our Lord does not limit our bodily wants to one thing; so it cannot be +any worldly good he has in view. It must then be a need above, and of +vastly more importance than any worldly consideration. On one occasion +our Lord uttered a self-evident truth in these words: "He that walketh +in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." By darkness in this place +ignorance of divine and spiritual things is meant. Again: "The people +which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the +region and shadow of death, light is sprung up." In this passage +darkness means ignorance and light means knowledge from teaching. +Sitting in the region and shadow of death is a figure so strong in its +import that we hardly know how to show forth its full significance. +Sitting implies an easy state of mind and feeling. The region of death +signifies the place where the love of self and the love of the world +bear rule, and find their gratification and satisfaction in worldly +enjoyments, and that place is man's depraved and spiritually dead +heart. The shadow of death signifies that beclouded state of the +understanding which is the inevitable consequence of being satisfied +to sit in darkness. Is not this altogether a frightful picture of +man's unenlightened and unregenerate state? But it is a true picture, +for it is given by the Lord, who knows what man is and what is in man. + +Have I wandered away from my text? By no means. I have held up this +picture to show that man is so deeply sunk in darkness or ignorance +regarding himself and God that without instruction in the truths of +God's holy Word he does not know and he never would know what he does +need. Prior to the discovery of America the native Indian did not know +that he needed anything beyond what he then had in a natural way. + +When the white man came and got acquainted with him he might have +addressed him in the exact words of my text as applied to his social, +moral and civil state and surroundings: "One thing is needful." That +one thing, properly infused and evolved, and in connection with such +infusion and evolution therefrom, properly applied to use, would have +transformed him from a savage to a civilized state; from temporal +misery and wretchedness into the enjoyments of life, liberty and the +high pursuits of happiness. + +You may now wonder what that one thing would have been. One word +expresses it all, and that word is EDUCATION. The wonderful gifts of +divine goodness, in the shape of latent treasures of coal, iron, and +the precious metals; the exhaustless fertility of American soils; the +salubrity of its climates; the boundless power of its falling streams, +all, all these were here for the Indian alone, for hundreds, perhaps +thousands of years before the white man came. Why did he not use them? +Because he lacked the one thing needful, the proper education or +development of his mind, the knowledge of understanding the ways and +means of converting the heterogeneous into the homogeneous; the +useless into the useful; the ill-formed into the suitable. What the +Indian lacked is the very basis of the white man's individual and +national prosperity. + +I have here laid a broad foundation on which I hope to erect a +superstructure of doctrine that may do us all good. I will here say +that EDUCATION into the knowledge and love of God's revealed Truth in +its true relation to man's life is the one thing needful to every +human being. I use the word EDUCATION in its most comprehensive and +exalted sense, that of preparing the mind and heart for the attainment +of the highest and noblest ends of life on earth and in heaven. In +this sense it takes in salvation with its happy experiences and +results. It takes in regeneration, that wonderful and radical change +in man wrought by God through his Holy Spirit, by which man passes +from darkness to light, and out of death into life. + +The word _disciple_ means a learner, one who is receiving instruction. +Our Lord had twelve disciples whom he was training in a special way +for a special work. He was divinely educating them. He was opening +their minds and hearts as he opened Lydia's heart so that she attended +the things spoken of by Paul. He was imparting to them by parables, by +miracles, and by private interpretations, and still above all by the +examples he set, the means of acquiring this spiritual, this divine, +this heavenly education that would carry them through life by his +help, and make them the very pillars and grounds of the truth when +they should behold His face no more on earth. This heavenly training, +then, or the training of man's mind and heart for a heavenly life on +earth and for the ineffable enjoyment of that life above, is the one +thing needful. A deep consciousness of this is what led Mary to sit at +the Lord's feet and hear his words. The want of this left Martha to be +careful and troubled about many things--things of time and sense. A +desire for this high attainment caused David to sing so sweetly these +beautiful words: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will +I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days +of my life." By dwelling in the house of the Lord David meant with the +Lord's people: and as the Lord is always in his house with his people, +dwelling in his house is dwelling with him. All, in every age, who +sincerely desire to know the Lord, to do his will, and enjoy his +presence, desire to dwell in his house, which is the church of the +living God. They desire, like Mary, to sit at his feet and hear his +words. They sit at his feet and hear his words when in deep humility +of soul they hear his Gospel preached, or sung, or prayed; or when +they read it themselves. + +Can I not prevail on some here to-night to accept Mary's happy choice, +to choose that good part which shall not be taken away from them? + +SUNDAY, March 4. Meeting at Nesselrodt's. John 13 is read. Stay all +night at James Fitzwater's, and come home next day. + +FRIDAY, March 16. Jacob Ritchey in the Gap is taken with a very severe +attack of cramp colic. I relieve him speedily and effectually by means +of active treatment. I found him in a state of almost indescribable +distress from the acute pains he had. I decided very quickly, after a +brief examination, that the cause of his trouble lay in a spasmodic +contraction of the muscles of the bowels. The powerfully antispasmodic +action of lobelia and steaming caused the nerves to let go their +abnormal grip, and he was well. + +SATURDAY, March 31. Council meeting at Shaver's meetinghouse below +Woodstock in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Brother George Shaver is +established in the ministry, and Brother Neyhiser advanced. + +FRIDAY, April 13. Council meeting in the Brush meetinghouse. Jacob +Miller, son of Daniel Miller, is elected to the ministry of the Word. + +FRIDAY, April 20. On this day Brother Kline, in company with Brother +Benjamin Bowman, started on a journey to some of the western counties +of Virginia, now West Virginia. The first day they got to the widow +Miller's, on Briery Branch, in the southwest corner of Rockingham +County. The next day they went through North River Gap and got to +Henry Sanger's, in Highland County, Virginia, where they had night +meeting. Here Brother Bowman delivered a discourse, which, according +to the outlines in the Diary, was so pregnant with original thought +characteristic of the man that I will endeavor to expand its +contracted form and give it a more readable shape. TEXT.--"Then said +Jesus to those Jews which believed on him: If ye continue in my word, +then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the +truth shall make you free." + +There was great diversity of feeling among the Jews in Christ's day, +just as there is among Gentiles now. Some were flint; others, clay in +the hand of the potter. "The common people heard him gladly; but the +scribes and Pharisees resisted the counsel of God against themselves." +If we read the entire chapter carefully it will give us a more +impressive view of and a clearer insight into the stubborn hardness of +the Jewish heart than any other single chapter that I can now think +of. The Jews were so wedded to their worldly sanctuary, so in love +with the representative forms of worship, that they could receive no +just ideas of genuine spiritual worship. Let me draw a comparison +here. Many people seem to think themselves rich when they have plenty +of money either in hand or standing out on interest. They think so +from the fact that money represents every exchangeable commodity of +worldly goods. In it they behold the supply of every bodily want, the +service they need and the honor they crave. + +This is something like what the scribes and Pharisees, the elders and +priests saw in their religion. And these worldly emoluments and +benefits are what they feared would be taken away from them, should +the great principles of love to God and love to man, inculcated by our +Savior, be generally received. They said: "If we let him thus alone, +all men will believe on him; and the Romans will come and take away +both our place and our nation." + +The Roman power had a civil regard for the temple so long as it +retained its dignity as the national house of Jewish worship. Should +it, however, lose this honor by being no longer needed and used as +such, the Romans would withhold this regard and convert it--as was +actually done years afterward--into a barrack for soldiers. Where +would then be the salaried scribe, the domineering and overbearing +elder, the rich but hypocritical Pharisee, and the pompous high +priest? Their place and their nation would be gone. These +considerations, in connection with their inbred conceits that they +were the peculiar, chosen and exclusive people of God, caused them to +reject the Lord. "He came unto his own and his own received him not." +But some did receive him, and "as many as received him, to them gave +he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his +name." It was to such as believed on him that the words of my text +were addressed. The text gave them, and it gives the same to us, three +promises by the mouth of him whose word is yea and amen. + +First promise: "If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples." + +Second promise: "And ye shall know the truth." + +Third promise: "And the truth shall make you free." + +These promises are all so full of love and truth that a long and +instructive discourse might be based upon each one separately, and +then much of their subject matter remain untouched. We are told how we +may be true disciples of the Lord. A disciple is a learner, one who is +receiving instruction because of a sincere desire in him to know the +truth. We are truly his disciples when we abide in his Word. What is +the meaning of the clause, "If ye abide in my word"? Let James, the +apostle of charity, answer: "If a man be not a forgetful hearer of the +word, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his +doing." For myself, I must say that learning the lessons of Christ is +very much like learning the lessons given in almost any other branch +of knowledge. We send our children to school. Some take delight in +their books, and make satisfactory progress. Others, that have the +same opportunities to learn, seem to take very little interest in +their lessons or in the instructions of their teachers, and move on +very slowly. Why is this? It is mainly a lack of love for study. One +hungers and thirsts for knowledge, another does not. But the one that +loves to acquire knowledge is the one that abides in the instructions +of his teacher and his books, and he is a true disciple or learner. It +is very much the same way in the school of Christ. Some hear, obey and +profit greatly by what they hear. Such abide in his words. Such are +his true disciples. + +Some one may ask: "What are his words in which man must abide?" I +answer, They are all the words he has spoken. "Man liveth by every +Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Jesus never uttered an +idle or unnecessary word. All "his words are spirit and they are +life." In his last great prayer our Lord lifted up his eyes and said: +"Father, sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." +Remember, too, that the Son spake none but the Father's words; for he +said to those very wicked Jews who sought his life: "The things which +I heard from the Father, these speak I unto the world." Moses, the +prophets, and the Psalms of the Old Testament; and the writings of the +New Testament comprise the entire Word of God. It was of the +life-giving power of this Word, Old and New, that the angel said to +John on the isle of Patmos: "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of +prophecy." All teaching is prophecy; and all teachers of Divine Truth +are prophets. And as the spirit and meaning of all the words God has +ever declared to man in their most exalted sense bear witness of Jesus +and set him forth as the very life and truth and way, this, therefore, +is what is meant in what the angel said to John. "And the Word became +flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." This Word made +flesh was none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. To abide in his Word +is to live in him as the way, the truth and the life. In this state we +are truly his disciples. We will now turn our thoughts to the + +SECOND PROMISE.--"And ye shall know the truth." This promise will +surely be realized by every one, without exception, who abides in the +words of the Lord. It is a promise very much like that other in these +words: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, +whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Books have been +written in defense of the truth of Divine Revelation. I have read +several. They are ably written, and with good intentions. But I doubt +if any unbeliever has ever been converted by any of them. In the first +place, unbelievers are not likely to read books on such subjects; and +in the second place, without a heartfelt desire to know the truth, +they would not be persuaded though one should arise from the dead. To +one who loves the truth, the truth bears witness of itself. It is +self-evidencing in its own light. It bears its own testimony. + +I not long since read what purported to be a true story of a man by +the name of Casper Hauser, who had been intentionally brought up in a +dark cave from his very infancy. Up to mature manhood he had never +seen a ray of light, except what proceeded from the dim lantern which +his keeper used in supplying him with food and other things. Had this +man been told, while in the cave, of the wonderful light of the sun +and the beauties of the outside world, he would not have been able to +understand what was told him. But if he would have been willing to +take the hand of some true friend and be led out into the light, he +would not have needed any argument to convince him that what he had +heard was true. Like the queen of Sheba, when she visited King +Solomon, he might have said: "It was a true report I heard, but now +mine eyes have seen it, and the half had not been told me." + +Let me say to you, friends, that right here in this Divine Word is one +greater than Solomon, whose eyes are as a flame of fire to illuminate +the sinner's dark understanding, and whose countenance is as the sun +shining in his strength to warm and cheer the sinner's cold and +cheerless heart. That one is Jesus. As the Divine Word, he revealed +his glory on the mount, and Peter in the joyfulness of his heart said: +"Lord, it is good to be here." How often does the true disciple, when +the Word is revealed to his heart, in the warmth of its love and light +of its truth, feel like exclaiming in the same words: "Lord, it is +good to be here!" But not all know the truth; and we ask, Why is it +so? In answering this question several things have to be kept in mind. +Some--but very few in our land--are not in reach of the preached Word, +are not instructed so as to be able to read it, and are so situated +socially as to hear nothing of the Gospel. Some are born deaf, who can +neither hear nor read. Some are born idiots who are incapable of +understanding. With such ignorance is no sin. But what shall we say of +the great army of unbelievers who, in the very blaze of gospel light, +shut their eyes and, like the Gergesenes, beseech the Lord to depart +out of their borders. These "love darkness rather than light; and they +will not come to the light." This answers the question, "Why do not +all know the truth?" They will not abide in his words. They will not +do the truth: "For he that doeth the truth cometh to the light." We +now turn to the + +THIRD PROMISE.--"And the truth shall make you free." This is the most +precious promise of all. It is just what the truth will do for every +one who knows the truth and obeys it in his life. It will make him +free. Like the Jews, some may say, "We have never been in bondage. We +are free now, and how can you say, The truth shall make us free?" The +Lord may answer you on that. The Jews claimed the same freedom that +you claim. They said: "We be Abraham's seed, and have never been in +bondage to any man." But Jesus answered: "Verily, verily I say unto +you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin." You +decide now for yourself whether you are a bondservant or a free man. +Do you commit sin in the love of it? Do you willingly transgress God's +holy law contained in the Ten Commandments? If so, Jesus says you are +a bondservant of sin. Paul says the same in these words: "To whom ye +yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are, whether of sin +unto death; or of obedience unto righteousness." + +Again: You are commanded to repent and believe the Gospel. You are +commanded to be baptized, confessing your sins. Have you complied with +these plain precepts of Holy Truth? If not, the seal of bondage is +still upon you, and every day you live in sin stamps that seal deeper +and yet deeper upon your heart. But there is balm in Gilead for you if +you will accept it; and there is a physician there for you, if you +will but let him administer the remedy. That balm is the heavenly, +holy, healing Word of the Lord, and that Physician is the Lord +himself. Do you ask how you are to take it? Take it in faith, "for he +that believeth is not condemned; but he that believeth not is +condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the +only begotten Son of God." + +"And the truth shall make you free." Thousands on earth and millions +in glory bear testimony to the truth in these words. A living, loving +belief in the words of Jesus; a faith that works from love and +purifies the heart is the only power that will break the yoke of sin. +This faith God is ever ready, through his Holy Spirit, to help you to +have. Of yourself you can do nothing; but the very last words Jesus +uttered on earth were these, "Lo! I am with you to the end of the +world." + +SUNDAY, April 22. The two brethren had meeting at Doe Hill, in +Highland County. They took dinner at Joel Siple's, and had night +meeting at George Wine's. On the twenty-third they went down the South +Fork to Jacob Stone's and had meeting in one of his outbuildings. In +the afternoon they had meeting at the widow Hoover's on the Fork, and +stayed all night at Dr. John Keister's. On the twenty-fourth they had +meeting at Bethel church in the forenoon; got dinner at Jacob +Warnstaff's, and in the afternoon have meeting at Zion church in Hardy +County. They stayed all night at the widow Peggy Dasher's. Mrs. Dasher +(quoting from Diary) is a member of the Methodist denomination, and a +very kind and hospitable woman. She lives up to her Christian +profession as taught by her Discipline. We held family worship in her +house and tried to impress upon the minds of her sons, who are +intelligent and promising young men, the "one thing needful," the +giving of their hearts to the Lord. + +WEDNESDAY, April 25. They had meeting at Nimrod Judy's. Brother Kline +spoke from Matthew 18:11. TEXT.--"The Son of man is come to save that +which was lost." + +If man could fairly realize what he has lost through sin; and what may +be gained by forsaking all for Christ; in other words, what it is to +be lost, and what it is to be saved, he could not rest satisfied to +remain one moment longer in his sin-ruined state. Like the Philippian +jailer, he would instantly cry out, "What must I do to be saved?" Like +the people on the day of Pentecost, being pierced as to their hearts +by what they heard and saw, he would say: "Brethren, what shall I do?" +"The Son of man is come to save that which was lost." It is of the +utmost importance to know what was lost, so as to know what it is that +the Son of man came to save. I will try to tell you this. It is you, +it is I, it is every human being upon the face of the earth. And are +all lost? Yes, without an exception. To what extent are we all lost? +To the extent of all that is of us--body, spirit and soul. And are our +bodies lost? Yes, our bodies are lost to all that God intended them to +be. Our bodies were never designed to be the abodes of disease and +suffering; neither were they intended to be subject to infirmity from +age. When God looked down upon a finished creation he saw that it was +good, yea, very good. Can this be said of our bodies now? Let the +blind, the deaf, the lame, the countless sufferers on beds of +affliction, the child-bearing mother, the decrepit consumptive, the +rheumatic invalid, let these say whether our bodies are very good now. +And how about our spirits? I use the term _spirit_ here in the sense +of its being the basis of human perception and thought. Are our +spirits or minds very good? Let those who are trying to learn and look +into the secrets of knowledge and science answer this. From the child +in school to the highest rank in scholarship ever held by any man, the +same complaint comes up, that lessons are hard, and what is acquired +as knowledge is very unsatisfactory. + +But I have touched only the hem of sin's garment in what I have said. +If the soul or will of man were still very good, I mean to say here +that if man had not lost his love for his fellow-man and his love for +God; in other words, if man still loved the Lord his God with all his +heart and his neighbor as himself, feebleness of body and weakness of +mind would be matters of small moment. The body is soon done with any +way; and the mind or intellect is still sufficiently clear for all the +purposes of life in this world; and when once disengaged from the body +that here clogs and fetters it,--as it will be at death,--in the hope +of being lifted to a higher sphere of perception and thought, the loss +to man suffered by the fall in these two departments of his being +would be comparatively small. + +But man's will or inmost love is the secret spring of life. From this +all his affections flow; and right here we find his Marah, the bitter +waters of his soul. In reading the story of the children of Israel in +the wilderness we learn that they came to a place where the waters +were all bitter. Brethren, that place is right in our own hearts. Our +hearts are the springs from which these bitter waters flow in the form +of "evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, +covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, +blasphemy, pride, foolishness." Mark 7:21, 22. What an outflow of +bitterness! Enough to flood a world to destruction! And this +destruction had come, and its arm would have held its power over man +eternally, had not the great Prophet, the Moses of love, come and cast +a tree into the waters whereby they were made sweet. The Lord in his +Word is this tree. He is the tree of life, whose leaves are for the +healing of the nations. His voice comes to us from far: "I am the Lord +that healeth thee; for the Son of man came to save that which was +lost." + +It is of infinite importance for us to know how he saves us, what we +are expected to do, how we are to work with him and to what extent. I +will try to give some light on this from the Word itself. Jesus said +to his disciples: "If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, +because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the +night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." This beautiful +and striking parable, showing the benefit of knowledge and the +disadvantage of ignorance, lights the sinner's way for his first step +toward the Lord. Knowledge, which is light from the Lord through his +Word, is the very first thing every one must receive. The sinner first +receives the clay and the spittle applied to his blind eyes. He does +not get his sight from this application. When he hears the Gospel with +something of a desire to have his eyes opened he is receiving this +anointing of his eyes. He must go to the pool of Siloam and wash +before he can have sight. This washing in the pool is the first step +in that humble spirit of obedience by which the understanding is +cleared up and prepared to know the Lord. When any sinner gets this +far the Lord is sure to find him and whisper in his heart: "Dost thou +believe on the Son of God?" Every true penitent sinner, with his eyes +open, will answer in heart: "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on +him?" Then the joyful response will be whispered again: "Thou hast +both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee." The Lord meets +the returning sinner in his blessed Word, and there he shows himself +to him, and there he talks with him. + +Water, in many places in the Old as well as the New Testament, is the +emblem or symbol of Divine Truth. I need not say that without water +man cannot live. His body is largely composed of water. It is +consequently essential as a beverage; and as an ablution, +indispensable to cleanliness. Reading and hearing the Word of Divine +Truth from a real thirst or desire to know the truth, is what is +spiritually symbolized by drinking water. This may be proved by what +the Lord said to the Samaritan woman: "He that drinketh of the water +that I shall give him, shall never thirst; for it shall be in him a +well of water springing up into everlasting life." By the expression, +"never thirst," Jesus does not mean that there will never be any +further inclination to drink the water of life, but he means that +there will in that soul never be any more perishing, dying thirst, for +the water of life will be like a spring in the heart that will flow on +forever from the Lord. It will be the rock in the wilderness that +supplied the camp of Israel with water, and that Rock is Christ. + +But again. The sinner's whole inner man is defiled with sin. This may +be illustrated by the spots and scales and raw blotches on the skin, +caused by the disease called leprosy. This disease affected every part +of the body; but, like smallpox and some other kindred affections, it +made itself mostly visible upon the surface of the body. It gave the +victim a horrible appearance, so much so that no one was willing but +such as were similarly afflicted, to go near a leper. But the water of +Divine Truth will effectually and forever wash away all this filth and +loathsomeness from the redeemed sinner's soul and prepare his +spiritual body for that bright array of fine linen, clean and white, +in which the saints shall be clothed as a fit emblem of their +righteousness. Paul calls all this the washing of regeneration. In +that great change, without which no man can see the kingdom of heaven, +called regeneration, or the new birth, wrought by God only, the water +of truth is the means employed. This is so evident that water is +specifically named in connection with it in these words: "Except a man +be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of +heaven." + +Ananias did not forget this when instructing the penitent Saul of +Tarsus; for at the close of all the words the Lord had authorized him +to say to Saul, we find these: "And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and +be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the +Lord. And Saul arose and was baptized." Saul's sins were not washed +away by the water in which his body was baptized, but that water +symbolized the truth, the Lord's truth, that does wash away sins. And +his being immersed in it in each of the three names, according to the +great commission which the Lord had given some time before, signified +his faith in the Word of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy +Ghost. Peter says: "Baptism is not the washing away of the filth of +the flesh," but I feel authorized to say that it is the outward sign +or emblem of the power of divine truth to wash away the filth of the +soul. The change in Saul, wrought by this act as the crown of +obedience, was so great that from this time on he was a new man, and +had a new name, for he was called Paul ever after. + +But we must not forget that salvation is all of God. Of ourselves we +can do nothing. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. All that man +can do is to take the Lord's hand and be led in the way; to open his +eyes to the light, and his ears to the truth, and his heart to the +life, in faith receiving, and in life living the precepts that make +him wise unto salvation. + +THURSDAY, April 26. The two brethren preached the funeral of Isaac +Shobe's mother. She had passed away shortly before, at the high age of +ninety-four years. They spoke from First Corinthians 15. From here +they went to James Parks's and had night meeting. The next day they +had meeting at William Parks's; and on + +SATURDAY, April 28, they had meeting at Enoch Hyre's in forenoon, and +at Elijah Judy's at night. They anointed Sister Elijah Judy with oil +in the name of the Lord. + +SUNDAY, April 29. They had meeting at Sister Chlora Judy's in the +forenoon, and then crossed the Fork mountain to Nimrod Judy's, where +they had night meeting and stayed all night. + +MONDAY, April 30. They got home. Quoting from the Diary Brother Kline +says: "I love to go among the mountains. The people there seem to pay +better attention to what is said, and manifest better behavior at our +meetings than they do in the thickly-settled and more fashionable +sections of our State. It is true that ignorance and poverty abound in +some places; but are the souls of the poor less dear to the Lord than +the souls of the rich? On one occasion our Lord referred to the fact +that the Gospel was preached to the poor as a proof of its heavenly +origin. But there are intelligent people living among those mountains. +And in the way of hospitality and genuine kindness, meeting you with a +smile and a hearty welcome, they are probably unsurpassed as a people, +rich and poor alike." + +The high regard in which Brother Kline held the people of the western +part of the old State of Virginia, and the reciprocation of that +regard by their high appreciation of him and his mission, accounts for +the many visits he made among them, and his devotion to their +spiritual welfare. Nor was his work evanescent. The seal of his +influence was so deeply impressed upon their affections and memories +that to-day, after the lapse of fifty years, its stamp is almost as +fresh as when first made. Nor is this a matter of wonder or surprise. +The sermons I have set in order were substantially preached by him and +other ministers, mostly led into that section by him; and the power of +such discourses, together with the worship and instructions held and +given in families wherever he stayed, had an influence that will never +be forgotten. The writer's own personal acquaintance with the people +living in sections of his vast district of labor gives him to know +that the name of John Kline is still as a household word with many of +them. Nor is this all. The indoctrination of these people into the +beliefs and practices of Revealed Truth as held by the Brethren was so +profound, so clear, so convincing, that they to-day stand abreast of +others in defense of these doctrines as at first received, in the face +of all the isms and religious innovations of the times. + +FRIDAY, May 18. Start to the Annual Meeting. Ride Nell. Stay first +night at Isaac Dasher's. + +On this journey the Editor can not depart from the simple but +beautiful and almost childlike daily entries in the Diary. If they +appear monotonous to the reader, the Editor begs him to leaf over them +and find something that will suit his taste better. He must, however, +say something about Nell. She proved to be a very remarkable mare +indeed. For strength and endurance, through cold and heat, in hunger +and thirst, over mountains numberless and pathless woods and valleys, +on long and exhausting journeys, Nell has had few equals. History has +not been willing to drop the name of Bucephalus; and Nell is more +worthy of a place on its roll. He bore a conqueror for a corruptible +crown: she bore a conqueror for an incorruptible crown. His was an +earthly service; hers a heavenly. The name of Nell, under very +peculiar and distressing surroundings, will appear again. + +SATURDAY, May 19. Meeting at Elijah Judy's. Hebrews 12 is read. After +meeting go to James Parks's, and stay second night. + +SUNDAY, May 20. Meeting at Patch's church on Looney's Creek in Hardy +County, Virginia. Speak from Acts 2. Dine at John Stingley's. Have +night meeting at Jacob Cosner's, where I speak on Hebrews 12, and stay +third night. + +MONDAY, May 21. Come to meeting at Solomon Michael's. Elections are +held. Thomas Clarke and Michael Lion are established; William Michael +is elected speaker; William George and Thomas Lion are elected +deacons. Come to Samuel Arnold's on New Creek, and stay fourth night. + +TUESDAY, May 22. Dine at Robert Broadwater's on the Alleghany, and +stay fifth night at Eli Whetzel's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 23. Meeting and elections. First John is read. John Ogg +is elected speaker, and Eli Whetzel deacon. Love feast in the evening. +A little company of brethren and sisters, with the Lord in our midst. +A time I shall probably never forget. Stay sixth night with Brother +Whetzel. + +THURSDAY, May 24. Meeting at the Greenville church. Matthew 5 is read. +In the evening have meeting in a schoolhouse near the widow Berkley's, +and stay seventh night at her house. + +FRIDAY, May 25. Meeting in a schoolhouse near Daniel Beachley's. +Matthew 24 is read. Five persons baptized. Stay eighth night at John +Beachley's near the Berlin meetinghouse. + +SATURDAY, May 26. Meeting at the meetinghouse. John 3 is read. Stay +ninth night at Brother J. Beachley's. + +SUNDAY, May 27. Meeting at the meetinghouse. Acts 2 is read. Stay +tenth night at same place. We had much edifying speaking on the +chapter read. One beloved brother spoke at some length on these words +in the last verse of the chapter read: "Having favor with all the +people." He said in substance: "Brethren, the having favor with all +the people is very pleasant to us naturally, and encouraging +spiritually, if the favor be of the right kind and obtained in the +right way. I am here reminded, in the way of a comparison, of what a +distinguished statesman once said of the presidency of these United +States. He said it is an office that is neither to be directly sought +nor directly declined. I do not think his statement would be far out +of the line of true wisdom if applied to us as Brethren, in relation +to our standing in the eye of society at large. What may be truthfully +said of one brother or sister in private life, in this particular +regard, may be truthfully said of our entire Brotherhood in a public +regard. + +"We all know how pleasant it is to enjoy the favor, the friendship and +respect of those living around us. The enjoyment from this source has +given rise to the formation of 'harmonies' and 'colonies,' with some. +Such establishments are favorable to social enjoyment, no doubt; but +it is to be feared that segregation in that form may engender feelings +akin to selfishness, and dwarf the higher impulses to general good. +But the favorable regard in which we may be held should not be sought +as a consideration of the first importance. To serve and please the +Lord should be the first and foremost aim of every brother and sister. +If the favor and respect of others meet us in the line of duty, as set +forth in our doctrines and practices as a Brotherhood of believers in +and humble followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, let us regard it as a +desirable token of good already done, and a promise of good that may +still be done. + +"Brethren, a review of our growth in numbers and influence as a body +of Christians, with our original and, in the eyes of the world, +peculiar observances as to ordinances in the church, and deportment +and customs in the world, is to say the least pleasantly surprising. +Our name as Brethren is hardly a century old, if I am rightly +informed; and what are we now? A legion, not of devils, but of angels +for good. And may I not here add the words of my text, 'Having favor +with all the people'? I do not think these historic words are to be +construed to mean that the Brethren of that Pentecostal day had no +enemies; but that they had the favor of the disinterested and +unprejudiced classes. This is just what I think _we_ have, where we +are known. There has been a day,--but thank God that day is +past,--when public opinion, if history be correct, was largely the +reverse of what it is with us. Vice, then, was virtue; and goodness +was criminal. Rebukes of sin and calls to repentance and reformation +of life were silenced by the martyr's faggot and stake. We cannot +here, and we would not if we could, attempt to trace the sublime array +of causes, both divine and human, that have contributed to the happy +change we now enjoy; but sure it is, we now realize the ideal dream of +the far-off seer, described in these words: 'But they shall sit, every +man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them +afraid.' We have the favor of the people when we have the favor of the +government; for the people are the government. + +"Brethren, we have cause for inexpressible emotions of gratitude to +God for the favor we enjoy. The outlook is bright; the sky of promise +calm and serene. It is said that a Grecian patriot and statesman once +assumed a very weighty responsibility, which required him to leave his +home and State to meet it. He seemed loath to go. He expressed fear +that things would not go on in his absence as they had in his +presence. Finally, however, he secured a pledge from every member of +the Athenian court that no change in the order of government and the +laws should be made during his absence. He went; but such was his love +for his country that he never returned. Brethren, the time is not far +distant when I, your humble servant, burning with love for my church +and people, will have to leave my home and country. Nothing, I say +nothing, could give me more comfort when I make the start than the +assurance on your part that you will make no changes in our faith and +rules of order, _in_ church and _out_, during my absence. Then will I +bid a joyful farewell to all, feeling that no changes from our present +order will ever be made, for I will never return." + +MONDAY, May 28. Our Annual Meeting begins. Questions received and some +motions made. Stay eleventh night at same place. + +TUESDAY, May 29. Council continues. Good order and love prevail. Stay +twelfth night at same place. + +WEDNESDAY, May 30. The business having all been disposed of in a way +as satisfactory as we could do it, after prayer and the singing of the +hymn, + + "Blest be the dear uniting love + That will not let us part," + +the meeting closed, and we gave each other the parting hand about 10 +A.M. + +Have night meeting at Brother John Ogg's on way home. Speak from part +of Luke 13, and stay thirteenth night with Brother Ogg. + +THURSDAY, May 31. Stay fourteenth night at Thomas Clark's. + +FRIDAY, June 1. Stay fifteenth night at Jacob Cosner's. + +SATURDAY, June 2. Meeting at Rorabaugh's on New Creek, in Hampshire +County, Virginia. Acts 10 is read. Get to Enoch Hyre's and stay +sixteenth night. + +SUNDAY, June 3. Meeting at Enoch Hyre's. Part of Acts 2 is read. Polly +Stambaugh is baptized. Cross the mountain to Leonard Brake's, where I +stay seventeenth night. + +MONDAY, June 4. Attend the burial of Frederic Dove in the Gap. Age, +eighty-seven years, two months and seventeen days Stay at Dove's +eighteenth night. + +TUESDAY, June 5. Attend the burial of Brother Nasselrodt, near Dove's. +Age, sixty-one years, five months and twenty-eight days. In the +evening get home. + +FRIDAY, August 17. Attend the burial of Elizabeth, daughter of William +Hevner, in the Gap. She died of typhoid fever. I speak from these +words in Psalm 103: "Surely, man's days are as grass: as a flower of +the field, so he flourisheth: ... and the place thereof shall know it +no more." Her place in the home is sadly vacant. We can only bow in +tearful sympathy with the bereaved family. + +THURSDAY, September 6. Perform the marriage ceremony of William Miller +and Sarah Shoemaker, and the same for Levi Runion and Elizabeth +Aubrey. + +FRIDAY, September 7. This day Brother Kline started on another journey +to Hampshire County, Virginia. He attended a succession of meetings +and love feasts both going and returning, as was his custom. He got +home September 21, after an absence of just two weeks. He does not +forget Nell. On the evening of his arrival home he says: "On the +journey from which I have just returned, Nell has carried me 221 +miles. If Martin Luther and John Wesley are correct in their opinions, +Nell may be rewarded for her uncomplaining faithfulness, in a future +state of existence. But as we have no assurance of this, I desire to +reward her in this world as well as I can, for her gentle and untiring +service. I think the comfort of brutes generally is not thought of as +much as it should be. Solomon says: 'The righteous man regardeth the +life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.' +Prov. 10:12. Solomon deals out a bit of very cutting sarcasm here, in +the subordinate clause of his proposition; but it is fairly merited by +such as are cruel to brutes. People do not, I am sure, regard the +comfort of brutes as they should. There are, here and there, noble +exceptions; but horses labor faithfully for us, and very often the +only reward they get is harsh treatment and scanty feeding. The Lord +has graciously given to man the supremacy over the brute creation. But +man should not show his supremacy by acting the part of a tyrant; but, +like a wise ruler, 'do justice and love mercy.' Whatever else may be +brought against me on the day of judgment, I am resolved, by the help +of God, that no brute shall there, in fact or figure, rise up and say: +'You mistreated me intentionally.'" + +SUNDAY, September 30. Attend the burial of William Hevner's son +Harvey. He died of typhoid fever. His age was twenty-seven years, two +months and four days. It has been a very short while since his sister +Elizabeth passed away. We should weep with those who weep: but our +deepest sympathy for others cannot give us a realization of the depth +of grief felt by bereaved parents and their children. Happy are those +who can look beyond the tomb to have their sorrows healed. + +Between this time and the close of the year Brother Kline made only +one long journey. He and Anna went in his family carriage to Maryland +first. After attending a number of love feasts and other meetings +around Frederic City and Shepherdstown, they went down the Cumberland +Valley beyond Harrisburg, and after a few days' sojourn there they +return by very nearly the same route they went. They were just three +weeks and two days on this journey. + + +END OF 1849. + +Whole distance traveled this year by me is 3,903 miles. + +SUNDAY, February 12, 1850. Meeting at Buck Hill, in Shenandoah County, +Virginia. I speak from John 6:44, 45. TEXT.--"No man can come to me, +except the Father which hath sent me draw him." + +I here note the substance of what I said. My text sets forth the two +great facts which all should know: _man's weakness_ and _God's power_. +The first part of the text declares man's absolute weakness in himself +and of himself. In another place our Lord says: "Without me ye can do +nothing." In the text he says: "No man can come to me." Had he stopped +here we would be left without hope. But he did not stop here. +Immediately, as if by the same breath of love, he adds: "Except the +Father which hath sent me draw him." This part shows that if the +Father does draw a man he can come to Jesus. Now, then, does the +Father draw? The prophets say he does in these words: "And they shall +all be taught of God." He draws them by teaching them. In what follows +we may learn the power of this Great Teacher. Notice very +particularly: "Every man,"--this means every human being, whether man +or woman,--"every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of +the Father, cometh unto me." + +But here are things very deep. Our minds inquire to know how the +Father, whose voice we have never at any time heard and whose shape we +have never seen, can teach us. It is through the Son that the Father +speaks, for the Son bears this testimony himself in these words: "I +speak not from myself; but the Father which sent me, he hath given me +a commandment what I should say and what I should speak. And I know +that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I +speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak." Nothing can +be plainer than this that Jesus spoke with authority, the divine +authority of the Father, and that he is God the Father manifest in the +flesh, the Emmanuel--God the Father with us. For further proof of +this, turn to Isaiah 9:6, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is +given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name +shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting +Father, The Prince of Peace." Again our Lord says: "All power is given +to me in heaven and on earth." Paul's teaching harmonizes with this: +"For," says he, "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead +bodily." By the Godhead he means the Divine Head of creation, +providence, redemption and eternal salvation: "For all things were +made by him;" and as Paul again says: "In him all things consist," or +hold together. + +We are now prepared to understand how Jesus could know the thoughts of +men, and why he needed not that any should testify to him of man, for +he knew what was in man. He knew all this by creation and +preservation, by his power of perception which is boundless, and his +knowledge which is infinite. Man's body, when viewed intelligently, +with its organs of life and motion, is a thing of wonder in our eyes. +Anatomy reveals in its organs, designs and purposes in their +structures and uses which overwhelm us with astonishment. What, then, +must the soul be, when its structure and organization, essence and +power as far exceed those of the body as the man who lives in the +house exceeds the house? For the body is nothing more than the house +or habitation of the soul. Paul calls it "our earthly house." He says: +"In this we groan--it will be dissolved." He then immediately turns +his thought to the renewed soul or spiritual body, and calls it "a +building of God, a house not made with hands." All things, then, +pertaining to our souls, being naked and open to the eyes of him with +whom we have to do, we may rest secure in the belief that whatever he +tells us about ourselves is true. He knows just what we can do and +what we cannot do. And it is he who says, "No man can come to me, +except the Father draw him." + +But perhaps some inside this house are saying within themselves: "Is +man not free to choose good or evil--to do right or wrong?" I answer +that he is free,--free as the eagle in the air; free as the fox in the +bramble; free as the lion in the desert; free as birds and beasts are +free to comply with the instincts of their natures and the +inclinations of their wills. Man's freedom is what makes him a +responsible being. He is yet more free than the brute creation; +because that is bounded by the limits of capacity. But man's mind is +capable of indefinite expansion and elevation in knowledge. Still the +text is true: "No man can come to me, except the Father draw him." Let +me draw a comparison here. A king once made a great supper and invited +many to come and partake of it. At the right time he sent forth his +servants to tell them that were bidden to come, for all things are now +ready. Did they go? No! They all began to make excuses. You see they +were free, free to go, and free to stay away. They chose to stay away, +and in this very way every sinner uses his freedom; he chooses not to +come to the Lord. + +When a man's will or a woman's will is set on something they love +above everything else, can they of themselves change their wills? I +have known several instances in which a young lady set her affections +upon a man who was not her equal in any respect, and very far below +her in general character. I have known the mother of such a lady to +bend over her daughter, and with tearful eyes entreat her to withdraw +her affections from that unworthy object and give them to another who, +in breathless suspense, and with a soul and character and surroundings +worthy of her, was but waiting to receive them. And did that young +lady change? Did she withdraw her love from the unworthy object and +give it to the other? She did not. Her answer every time was: "Mother, +I _cannot_." Just in this sense, relatively, the sinner is free. He is +free to love most what he likes best, and that is himself and the +world. In this state he would forever remain but for "the grace of God +which bringeth salvation." Right here comes in the necessity for the +change of heart, the new creation and regeneration, as Paul calls it; +the being born again, as the Lord and Peter call it, upon which +everything depends, and without which no man can enter the kingdom of +heaven. This is connected with the drawing of the Father, "for man +looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the +heart." + +When I was young I could not understand what it is to come to Jesus, +to be with him, to follow him. I thought I could readily see how +people could come to him to be healed, and to be cured of their +diseases, and to be fed by his liberal hand, when he was visibly on +earth in the flesh. But he is no longer here in that form. I was in +darkness. My eyes could behold no form which I could approach unto; no +visible steps for me to follow; hear no audible voice of comfort to +encourage, of instruction to enlighten, and of commands to obey. +Where, thought I, is he to be found, and how are we to know when we +have found him? These and many other similar thoughts occupied my +mind, until I wondered much why he did not stay when he was here. I +suppose that many young but thoughtful minds have wandered, and others +at the present time are now wandering in this same wilderness of doubt +and uncertainty. Let me say to you, my dear young friend, that Jesus +is here as truly now as he was when visible to natural eyes. As God, +he is here in his glorified state. To every one who desires him he +says in words of warmest love, "Lo, I am with you alway." These are +his very words. He is everywhere. He said, just before his death, by +way of encouraging his disciples: "I go away, but I will see you +again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away +from you." He continued: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will +come unto you." But he has promised yet more than his presence to go +with all who love him: he declares in words we can understand that "if +a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and +we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Again he says: +"He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit." In +his last prayer to the Father he says: "I in them, and thou in me, +that they may be perfected into one." These promises ought to assure +every one of the greatness and the power of the love of Christ; since +he loves us so much as to be willing to come and dwell with us and be +in us forever. + +It is by faith that we come to him. We see him with the eye of faith. +We walk with him by faith, not by sight. We love him because he first +loved us, and gave his life to redeem and save us. All this and much +more we learn in his Word. His Word is the Gospel which is able to +make us wise unto salvation. Let me exhort all of you, old and young, +to read and search for its hidden treasures, for therein are contained +the words of eternal life. It is the duty and privilege of every one +to pray. Prayer is the eye that looks to Jesus, and the heart that +says: "Lord, save, or I perish." Faith is the hand that lays hold of +his saving promises. Obedience is the whole man in active service on +the side of the Lord Jesus Christ. + +SUNDAY, March 3. Go to Sellers's schoolhouse. Speak on John 14:6. Dine +at Felix Senger's; then home. + +Felix Senger deserves more than a passing notice. He, with his father, +Joel Senger, moved to Rockingham County, Virginia, about the year +1847. Both father and son belonged to the Brotherhood, and each was +like the other in devotion to its interests, actively employed. Felix +established a nursery of fruit trees, the second, if not the first, +established in the county. Most of the orchards planted from his +nursery, after having given the most abundant satisfaction, are now +very old or dead. Some trees, though in the decline of life, still +tell the sweet story of Felix Senger's nursery. They are like some +good people, who, though old, can still remember and tell of the one +who, though dead, was the means of their being planted in the Lord's +orchard of spiritual fruit trees. + +Brother Kline attended the burial services of four aged people in this +month. The first was that of old mother Mills, as he calls her. This +took place the fifth. Her age was eighty-one years and eleven months. +The next was that of Mrs. John Carr, on the eleventh. Her age was +seventy-one years. The next was that of Mr. Stern, on the eighteenth. +His age was eighty years. The next was that of Alexander Glovier, on +the twenty-seventh. His age was seventy-nine years, one month and +twenty-four days. + +SATURDAY, March 30. Attend council meeting at Shaver's meetinghouse in +Shenandoah County. Samuel Mummert is elected speaker. + +THURSDAY, April 11. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Jacob Wine +and Jacob Miller are elected delegates to the Annual Meeting. + +SATURDAY, April 20. Council meeting at the brick meetinghouse in +Augusta County. Daniel Brower is established, and Jacob Brower +advanced in the ministry. + +SUNDAY, May 5. Meeting in our meetinghouse. Romans 6 is read. Joshua +Wampler and wife, Hannah Sites, Mary Miller, Hetty Showalter and Mrs. +Eaton were baptized by me to-day. + +TUESDAY, May 7. Perform the marriage ceremony of John Tussing and +Susan Watkins. + +MONDAY, May 13. Visit Mary Wampler, who is very sick. Give her a +course of medicine. Then go to see Christian Fulk in the Gap. He is +very sick. + +TUESDAY, May 14. Visit Christian Fulk again. He appears some better, +but his case is very doubtful. + +NOTE.--This brother, after a severe illness, in which he was +assiduously attended by Brother Kline, was buried June 9 following. + +THURSDAY, May 16. Attend an evening meeting at John Zigler's in +Timberville. Brother George Shaver is there. He speaks from Acts 2. + +Substance of what he said: The day of Pentecost witnessed the +establishment of the first Christian church on earth. The wonderful +prophecy of Joel received its fulfillment on this day. The sun had +been darkened and the moon turned into blood, or darkened so as to +appear like black blood; volcanic fire and the vapor of smoke had +attended the earthquake while the Lord of glory hung upon the cross; +the baptism in the Spirit and in the fire was now present; the +apostles were induced with miraculous gifts to speak with other +tongues; and when Peter and the rest set forth the Lord Jesus in his +resurrected glory and power, the Jews there assembled, being cut to +the heart, cried out: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" The answer +which Peter gave then and there is the true answer to that +all-important question. I sincerely desire that every unconverted man +and woman in this house will duly consider the answer, for it may +redound to the salvation of his or her soul. I will therefore give it +in the exact words we find recorded. They are these: "Repent, and be +baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the +remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." +Notice here, obedience comes first. The repentance and the baptism +precede the gift of the Holy Spirit. God is holy; and the sanctuary +must be cleansed before he is willing to set up his glory there. The +Temple had to be dedicated before the Lord could dwell in it. This +gift of the Holy Spirit, by which we are to understand his entering +into our hearts and making his abode with us, is the beginning of a +heavenly life in the soul. The fruit of the Spirit, as it appears in +the life of its possessor, is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, +gentleness, kindness, meekness, temperance, brotherly kindness, +charity. + +The body of every true follower of Jesus Christ is a temple of the +Holy Ghost. But I cannot dismiss the subject yet. I have reason to +believe there are some unconverted men and women in this little +assembly. Were those hearers on that day sinners above all men? "I +tell you nay! And except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." I +sometimes think they were not such sinners as many we see around us +now. Was it not for these the Lord prayed as he hung upon the cross? +Hear his dying prayer: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what +they do." Can this be said of the many who go on heedless of all the +preaching, and praying and reading that is being done to instruct +their minds and move their hearts? I do not think it can. And it is to +be feared that in a coming day the very sinners who go on in sin, +facing the very light of gospel day, may be compelled to realize the +awful truth uttered by our Lord: "He that knoweth to do his Master's +will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." + +But there is glorious news here for every one who is willing to obey. +Thousands of obedient hearts are rejoicing to-night, on earth and in +heaven, in the happy experiences they have of the presence of the Holy +Spirit in their souls. This is the good news, this is the Gospel of +their salvation. God is his own witness in every one that loves to +obey him. "If ye abide in my words, ye shall know the truth, and the +truth shall make you free." The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. It +is the Lord in man as "the way, the truth and the life." "Ye are God's +sanctuary: ye are God's building." How ineffably exalted is the state +of that man in whose heart and mind the Lord has fixed his dwelling +place! We can not realize the glory that awaits us, when the veil that +now hides the inner sanctuary shall drop and disclose to our eyes the +enraptured vision. + +Brethren and sisters, let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due +season we shall reap if we faint not. Therefore let us rejoice +evermore; let us pray without ceasing; and "in every thing give +thanks; for this is the will of God concerning us." + +THURSDAY, May 23. Perform the marriage ceremony of Christian Runion +and Diana Estep. + +SATURDAY, May 25. Preach the funeral of Elijah Judy's wife. A very +dear sister whom I lately baptized has left us. But our loss is her +gain. She was the sister of Enoch and Saul Hyre. She leaves a sad +husband and two very fine children, Enoch and Sallie. My prayer for +them is that they, with their father, may follow in the steps of their +pious mother and receive her glad welcome + + On the blissful shore, + Where partings are no more. + +THURSDAY, July 4. Attend the burial of Peter Driver on the head of +Muddy Creek, in Rockingham County. His age was eighty-three years and +eight months. He was an honest member of our Brotherhood. His children +consisted of four sons and five daughters; and they are now all heads +of families, doing well, and members of our order of Brethren. Peter +Driver was a blacksmith. He once related a fact to me which I will +here note. "In my early days," said he, "we knew nothing of binding +wagon and carriage wheels with a heated tire. I wonder," continued he, +"that our daily experience in working iron did not teach us that an +iron band or tire is larger when it is hot than when cold. Some may +have thought of this," he said, smiling, "but if they did, I guess +they were afraid that if they would venture to put on the tire hot, +the wheel might be burned up before they could get the tire cooled." +He was very partial to the German language, and was never known to +speak English from choice. Some one once said to him, "Mr. Driver, +English people have the same God that German people have." "I believe +that; but he speaks to German people in a much plainer way in his Word +than he does to English people." Of course he could understand German +best. + +SATURDAY, July 13. Go to Page County. Cross the Massanutton and Peaked +mountains by what is known as Koontz's Path. Daniel Dovel and John +Harsbarger are with me. They are very pleasant and cheerful brethren. +We spend the night together at Brother William Dovel's. + +SUNDAY, July 14. Meeting at Liberty schoolhouse. Isaac N. Walter is +there. He is a well-known and very popular preacher in the Christian +church. This is the first time I have ever met with him. He is very +friendly and sociable, and will carry an influence wherever he goes. +He was at one time a very strong Adventist. He professed to believe in +our foreknowing the day of our Lord's coming, and announced it as +being very near at hand. Brother Benjamin Bowman told me that on one +occasion friend Walter announced that he would preach a sermon on the +second advent of Christ, and therein tell the day on which we might +confidently expect the Lord to appear in glory, and give the scripture +evidences on which his proofs rested. This sermon was announced for +Antioch, a brick meetinghouse belonging to the Christian connection, +and stood four miles north of Harrisonburg, and not far from where +Brother Bowman lived. He told me that a large concourse of people was +present to hear, and he with the rest. The discourse was eloquent, but +with the thoughtful not very convincing. But the day, which Mr. Walter +had so confidently set for the appearing of the Lord in glory, passed +by as all other days pass by, in harmony with all the other notes that +make the music of the spheres. Not long after this, the two met in the +road. Walter looked a little bashful, but spoke first, and said: +"Well, Brother Bowman, I was mistaken." "Yes," Brother Bowman replied, +"but I had discovered that before you told me." + +SUNDAY, August 4. Meeting in Elk meetinghouse, in Page County. I speak +from Luke 16:9. TEXT.--"Make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of +unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into +everlasting habitations." + +This is a very remarkable passage of Scripture. My understanding of it +differs a little from that of some of our Brethren, but it is all in +love, and each bears with the other's interpretation. I will here give +a brief outline of my view of it. I think the Lord meant to encourage +a very free use of this world's goods in the way of helping the poor, +especially those of the household of faith. Through Paul we learn that +Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." + +Christian people may imitate the unjust steward in this one thing: he +aimed to provide for the future by making use of what was within his +reach at the present. This may be our Lord's meaning. But he may have +meant more. The wealth of some has doubtless been acquired in an +unrighteous way, while in their unregenerate state, heedless of +conscience and justice. Such mammon or wealth must be unrighteous, +because unrighteously obtained. Those who have acquired wealth in an +unjust way, and who afterward repent in heart and see the evil of +their former course, may be deeply distressed, and at the same time +have no opportunity to do as Zaccheus did,--make restoration. To such, +it does appear to me, Jesus would say: "Let my Father's children have +a share of it. Use it in a way that will glorify him, by helping his +dear children; and if you fail to be found in the number of those who +are 'my brethren' at the great day of final accounts, you may still +come in as 'the blessed of the Father' and inherit the kingdom +prepared for you. It will then be my joy to acknowledge you and say: +'I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I +was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I +was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came unto me.'" +Whatsoever is done to one of the least of the Lord's brethren he +accounts it as done to him. Such is the wonderful union and identity +of the Lord and his people. When Paul was struck down he cried out: +"Who art thou, Lord?" And the answer came: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, +whom thou persecutest." + +I would earnestly encourage all to go on unto perfection. Then we will +be sure of the heavenly inheritance. "And blessed is she that +believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were +told her from the Lord." + +FRIDAY, August 9. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize Henry +Swartz and wife, and Barbara Yount. + +SUNDAY, August 31. Meet brethren Daniel P. Saylor and Boyle at +Shaver's meetinghouse, in Shenandoah County. + +SUNDAY, September 1. Meeting at same place. The visiting brethren +speak to great edification and comfort. + +MONDAY, September 2. Meeting at Flat Rock meetinghouse. The visiting +brethren are with us, and rivet attention by their able discourses. +Brother Saylor does not seem to be lifted out of his shoes by the +encomiums passed upon him. But I suppose he has got used to them. + +TUESDAY, September 3. Meeting at our meetinghouse. The visiting +brethren with us to-day. They draw large congregations. + +To-day I was somewhat amused at an answer I heard given. Brother Sam +Wampler noticed the deep interest visible in the congregation, and, I +suppose, contrasted it in his mind with that manifest on occasions +when none but our home preachers are present. He accosted, in a very +pleasant way, one of the members in these words: "How does it happen +that when I preach you hang your head as if you might be asleep; but +when preachers from a distance come you appear to be all eyes and +ears?" "Why," replied the brother, "Sam, when you preach I know it is +coming all right whether I hear it or not: but when strange brethren +get up I do not know what may be coming, and think it best to listen." + +MONDAY, September 9. This day Brother Kline and Daniel Yount start in +company of each other to Pennsylvania. They went on horseback, out +through the mountains of the western part of Virginia and Maryland. + +FRIDAY, September 13, they had meeting at the widow Jacob Snider's in +the forenoon, and evening meeting at Brother Jacob Steel's, in Bedford +County, Pennsylvania. On the fourteenth they had meeting at the same +place. + +SUNDAY, September 15. They had meeting and a love feast at the Yellow +Creek meetinghouse. On the sixteenth they visit John Deahl's, John +Eschleman's and stay all night at John Brumbaugh's, near Clover Creek +meetinghouse, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. + +TUESDAY, September 17. They attended a meeting and love feast at the +Clover Creek meetinghouse. John 3 was read. Isaac and George Brumbaugh +were established in the ministry of the Word. One person was baptized. + +WEDNESDAY, September 18. They passed through Martinsburg to Brother +David Allebaugh's, where they had night meeting. Brother Kline had for +his subject "The Importunate Widow, and the Unjust Judge." + +DIARY NOTES.--We should not conclude from this parable that our +heavenly Father is compared to an unjust judge who has no regard for +his subordinates. This is not at all the point of comparison. We +should not let our minds dwell here for a moment, because the contrast +between the character of the judge and that of God is so great that +there is no point of similarity. + +The whole lesson, I think, is found in the power of prayer. What moved +the judge to grant the widow's request? It was her importunity. But he +did this only to get rid of her. It, however, shows what earnestness +will do even with an unfeeling man. Here the comparison comes in. If +an unfeeling man, who has no reverence for God and no regard for the +welfare of others, can be influenced to regard the petition of a poor +widow, though from a selfish motive, because she will not be put off, +what may we not expect to do by prayer when our Father in heaven is +ever ready to hear and answer prayer? He invites us to pray. He says: +"Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in +secret, shall reward thee openly." We must by no means lose sight of +the one great point in the comparison, and that point is the widow's +EARNESTNESS. Prayer, without earnest feelings of want and dependence +upon God, is but a form of words, and no prayer at all. + +But let us notice the point in her prayer: "Avenge me of mine +adversary." Who her adversary was we have no means of knowing, nor how +he became her adversary. But we are told who the Christian's adversary +is. Peter tells us in these words: "Your adversary, the devil, as a +roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The word +AVENGE means to conquer or destroy an enemy, for the purpose of +securing tranquility to the party avenged. In this sense Moses +_avenged_ the children of Israel on the Midianites. In the same sense +Ahimaaz said: "Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the +Lord hath avenged the king of his enemies." I think you are now +prepared to understand what the Lord means by the words: "And will not +God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him? I tell you +that he will avenge them speedily." + +It is now understood that the DEVIL, the very vilest and worst of all +tramps, is the Christian's adversary. But God has promised to avenge +him, if he will call upon him in that spirit of earnestness which is +deaf to denial, such as the widow had. We must not forget, however, +that God, in all he has ever done for man in the way of avenging him +of his enemies or adversaries, required man's assistance. As Paul puts +it, we are coworkers with God, and so must we ever be. + +Let us now test this matter a little. God is willing to bruise Satan's +head under your feet, and thus avenge you of the worst adversary you +have ever known. He is at hand, ready, with more than twelve legions +of angels at his service, if needed. You are sorely tried. You are +tempted to commit adultery with some one until every nerve in your +body trembles from the agony of suspense between conscious right and +conscious wrong. One deep, fervent prayer from the heart breathed to +Almighty God: "Lord, save, or I perish," will avenge you of your +adversary, will put him to flight, and leave you and God masters of +the field. Brethren and friends, this is no idle talk. God will as +surely give you the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, as he has +promised it. + +The Lord says with apparent emphasis: "Hear what the unjust judge +saith." There must then be something in it which deeply concerns us to +know. Just what I have said is in it, the power of prayer. "The +effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." + +But again: You are tempted to do something very sinful, and you seem +to yourself to try to pray. You feel the serpent's coil about your +heart drawing tighter and yet tighter, until your spiritual breath +seems almost gone. I will tell you now just how you have got into this +fix. You did not look to God soon enough. You put off praying and +allowed the tempter to twist himself around you in the way he is. Do +you ask what you are to do in this case? I will tell you. If you will +just summon breath and courage to say from your inmost soul: "God, be +merciful to me a sinner," your adversary will let go his filthy hold +of you, and the Lord will set your spirit free. "God will avenge his +own elect speedily." But they must cry unto him. + +I love this word "cry." It carries with it to my mind the cry of an +innocent child to its parent, when it fears danger or feels the need +of something. Brethren, such let our cry to the Lord ever be. There is +never any dallying with words in the mouth of a little child. Its +requests, though they may not always be wise, are always sincere, and +sincerity is what the Lord most loves, and hypocrisy is what he most +abhors. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye can +not enter into the kingdom of heaven." + +THURSDAY, September 19. They had meeting at a schoolhouse near Brother +Brumbaugh's. They spent the night at Jacob Burket's. The next day they +came to Brother Samuel Coxe's, in Logan's Valley, and spent the +afternoon in writing letters. I here note an example of Brother +Kline's exactness. He this afternoon wrote a letter to Brother Henry +Koontz. He notes the main points in the letter. One is that he wants +Brother Koontz to be at the Flat Rock meetinghouse on December 8, at +10 o'clock, without fail. + +SATURDAY, September 21. They came to Brother Jacob Beck's, and had +night meeting in the Baptist meetinghouse near by. + +SUNDAY, September 22. _Delightful morning._ This is the first entry +for the day. Brother Kline was not unappreciative of the beautiful. +This must have been one of those bright and balmy mornings witnessed +only in September months, and rarely then. Nature is in her calmest +mood. Summer is just bidding farewell, with a smile of promise that he +will return again, and as a proof of his good will lays all the rich +treasures he has gathered for us into the lap of Autumn, who is at +hand to receive them. + +We have morning and afternoon services in the Baptist church here. In +the morning meeting "The Strait Gate" is the subject. In the +afternoon, "The Departure of Paul." Acts 20:36, 37. TEXT.--"And when +he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they +all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him." + +The first impression made on the mind upon reading this text is the +great love which these tender-hearted disciples had for Paul. But we +need not be surprised at this, when we remember the great love which +the tender-hearted Paul had for them. The elders of the church at +Ephesus, and probably many of the sisters and lay brethren, had come +to Miletus to have Paul take affectionate leave of them before taking +sail for Jerusalem. He also desired to give them a parting exhortation +and offer prayer with them on their behalf. The words of the +exhortation are recorded in the chapter read, but the words of the +prayer are not. We are not sure that the prayer was audible. It is +possible to think they all kneeled together and thus prayed with and +for each other, but mostly for Paul. From the secret chambers of their +hearts the still small voice of loving prayer ascended to the ear of +him whose throne is heaven, and whose footstool is earth. Be this as +it may, the prayer was earnest, and the exhortation gladly received: +"For they all wept sore, and fell upon Paul's neck, and kissed him, +sorrowing most of all that they should see his face no more." Who of +us, Brethren, has not prayed at the departure of one we dearly loved? +As you take the hand probably for the last time, and give the last +touch of the lips, who can withhold prayer--prayer from the inmost +depths of the soul? As the receding form fades from sight, how the +heart swells with emotions of prayer for blessings upon the departing +one, altogether too big for utterance. Such were the feelings of these +sorrowing disciples at the departure of Paul. + +Brethren, the account here given shows the love in which the truth was +received in that day. Paul here says: "I have not shunned to declare +unto you the whole counsel of God." This means a great deal. Oh, how +many, many at the present day fear to declare the whole counsel of +God! And it is a sad truth, or at least I believe it to be true, that +if a minister in almost any of the so-called orthodox churches would +have the courage, from a sheer sense of duty, to declare the whole +counsel of God in the ears of his congregation, instead of falling on +his neck and kissing him at his departure, they would be heartily glad +to get rid of him. But, Brethren, I am persuaded better things of you, +and things which accompany salvation. Our love for the truth, the +whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is our best evidence, when +that truth is lived out in a life of obedience to the Lord's precepts, +that we are walking with God in the fellowship of the Spirit. So let +us ever walk. + +MONDAY, Sept 23. They went through Huntingdon City, in Huntingdon +County, Pennsylvania, and got to Brother Michael Bolinger's, where +they had evening meeting in a schoolhouse near by, and stayed all +night at Brother Bolinger's. Next day they took dinner at Brother +Andrew Spanogle's, and got to the meetinghouse at one o'clock. Meeting +and love feast. Luke 24 is read. They stay all night at Brother +Umbenhaver's. + +WEDNESDAY, September 25. They have meeting at the meetinghouse. +Hebrews 10 is read. Brother Michael Bolinger was this day ordained to +the full work of the gospel ministry. May the Lord bless the good +brother in his work. They had night meeting at Brother Samuel Myers's +in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where they stayed all night. + +THURSDAY, September 26. They had a union meeting at Brother George +Keever's, and stayed all night with Brother Keever. + +FRIDAY, September 27. They attended a council meeting before +preaching. Brother Abraham Rothrock was this day ordained to the full +work of the gospel ministry; and Brother Jacob Mohler was advanced. +The visiting brethren spoke on the text: "My kingdom is not of this +world." Night meeting was appointed, but owing to a violent storm of +hail and rain no people assembled. + +SATURDAY, September 28. They got to Brother Jacob Royer's, in Union +County, Pennsylvania, where they stayed all night. Clear and cool. + +SUNDAY, September 29. Meeting begins at half past nine o'clock. Union +meeting this evening. + +MONDAY, September 30. The vote of the church was taken before +preaching, and Brother Isaac Myers and Brother John Sprogle were +ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry. They attended a +night meeting in a schoolhouse near Brother Christian Shiveley's, and +stayed with him all night. They are still in Union County, +Pennsylvania. + +TUESDAY, October 1. They went to Brother Christian Shallaberger's, in +Juniata County, Pennsylvania, where they attended night meeting and +Brother Daniel Yount spoke from Eph. 2:8, 9, 10. He explained the +meaning of the word GRACE, that it is the love of God for the +undeserving of his love. He defined FAITH as being a loving acceptance +of God's revealed truth: that faith is the gift of God only this far, +that he tells man what he is to believe and how he is to believe, that +the Gospel of our salvation is what man is to believe; that he is to +believe with the heart, with all his heart: that the new man, the +regenerated man, is God's workmanship, created unto good works. He +carried out all his points very ably, and left a good impression. + +WEDNESDAY, October 2. They attended a union meeting in Good Will +meetinghouse. + +THURSDAY, October 3. They attended a council meeting in the forenoon +at the meetinghouse. Brother David Myers was ordained to the full work +of the ministry, and Brother Solomon Seever was chosen speaker. They +had night meeting at Thomsonsville, and stayed all night at Brother +Solomon Seever's. + +FRIDAY, October 4. They had meeting in a schoolhouse near Brother +Pool's on the Juniata river; then night meeting at Brother Jacob +Spanogle's, where they stayed all night. + +SATURDAY, October 5. They had meeting in a schoolhouse near by. They +stayed all night at Brother Peter Long's near Germantown, in Perry +County, Pennsylvania. + +SUNDAY, October 6. Meeting in the Methodist meetinghouse in +Germantown. Brother Kline spoke on Luke 24:48. TEXT.--"And ye are +witnesses of these things." + +It is a happy but not uncommon experience with Christians, when +reading the Divine Word, to receive some new thought, or see some new +truth by the reading of the most familiar passages. In this particular +the Book of Revelation is like the book of nature. The treasures of +knowledge in both are inexhaustible; but they do not come to us, we +must go to them. "And ye are witnesses of these things." + +"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." +"The Word was God." "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of +prophecy." These Scriptures, in their most comprehensive sense, +include the all of the divine manifestation in the flesh. The Lord is +the life of all the things written in the law of Moses, and in the +prophets, and in the Psalms. Their spirit, or spiritual significance +is all confined to the testimony they bear to the Emmanuel, the God +with us. Hence "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy," +very much as the spirit of man is the life of his body. In the early +part of his ministry he had told these very disciples that he came to +fulfill the law and the prophets. He fulfilled the law of the +Decalogue or Ten Commandments to the extent of every jot and tittle, +from its lowest natural to its highest spiritual requirement and +significance. The prophecies likewise all centered in him, and found +in him their fulfillment; not, however, in their fullest development, +for eternity alone will witness this; but they disclose in him their +spirit and life. "Thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to +suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance +and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all +nations, beginning at Jerusalem." + +These eleven disciples, from this time on to do the work of apostles, +had been with the Lord in nearly all of his public ministry and life. +They knew how he had overcome in temptation; how victorious he had +been in his conflicts with the accusing and fault-finding Jews, and +how patient and forgiving he had been in his trial before Pilate and +the high priest. They were witnesses of the purity of his character +and life; of the disinterested love he bore toward all within his +reach; of the good will toward men manifested by his going about doing +good wherever he went. But the point above all other points in his +character in which all poor sinners are most deeply interested is the +duty and work he here laid upon these eleven apostles: the commission +he gave them, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached +in his name. They were witnesses of his mercy so often shown to +sinners of the lowest and vilest character. Did he ever send one away +empty? If you will read the four Gospels in which are recorded the +life of Jesus Christ you may be surprised to see how often he said, +"Thy sins are forgiven." Once when he was in a Pharisee's house a +woman in the city, who was a sinner, washed his feet with her tears of +penitence, and he said: "Her sins which are many are forgiven." Some +people brought to him a man sick of the palsy lying on a bed. And +Jesus seeing their faith said to the sick of the palsy: "Son, be of +good cheer; thy sins are forgiven." This man's sins were remitted, +because remitted and forgiven have the same meaning. + +I must here call special attention to one point in all the miracles of +healing wrought by the Lord, and that point has relation to the cause +of all our woe. It is the sin of man. To the impotent man who had lain +by the pool thirty and six years, unable to get in, after being +healed, the Lord when he met him in the Temple said: "Sin no more, +lest a worse thing come upon thee." Paul says: "By one man sin entered +into the world, and death by sin." Death of the body is the point at +which all diseases, ailments and infirmities aim; and the death, the +eternal death, of the soul is the point at which all sins aim. "Death +is the wages of sin." "And ye are witnesses of these things." In +relieving insane, idiotic, epileptic and dumb people of the mental +ailments afflicting them, he always removed the cause by casting out +the devils or evil spirits as the cause of their troubles. + +I know that some people doubt or disbelieve that sin is the cause of +all suffering. I have met such. They freely aver that this cannot be +so, because the brute creation suffers, which they say is sinless. It +is a well conceded fact that brutes are not accountable. They have no +future state of existence. They lack that freedom of the will to +choose good or evil, and that understanding to know good from evil, +both of which man has in unlimited possession. Still, brutes are +subject in a low degree to the very same vile passions, the indulgence +of which in man becomes sin to him. And why? Because man is destined +to live to eternity, in another state of existence. If man's existence +were to terminate with the life of his body, his sins, although of a +somewhat viler character than those of the brute creation, would be of +no more account. The Lord sent out his apostles, and in their steps +others to follow, whose great business it was, has been, and ever will +be to tell people that they are sinners; that sin is the cause of all +the misery, wretchedness, suffering and unhappiness in earth and hell, +and that the only way for people to be rid of the multiform evils of +existence is to be rid of sin. + +Salvation from sin, then, is immensely the most important matter that +can possibly engage man's heartfelt attention, as I said at the start. +How to get rid of the evil of sin--I mean the love of evil--and how to +come into the possession of the love of what is good, and as a result +of that love lead a good life, is the sum and substance of all divine +teaching. And why? Because a man's character, whether good or bad, +goes with him when he dies. Character is the only thing we do take +with us when we leave this world and enter the next. "He that soweth +to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to +the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." "Whatsoever a +man soweth the same shall he reap," is a law as immutable as the law +of gravitation. Our Lord has mercifully opened up a way, a highway, +out of a life of sin into a life of holiness. The first step in this +way, nay, the first step towards it, is _repentance_. This involves a +very great change in the state of man's will or heart. Heart and will +have the same meaning. Repentance is a change in the affections of the +heart. It is a change so great that man of himself, unaided by the +Lord, would never make it. It is a change from the supreme love of +self and the world to love of the Lord and one's neighbor. "Except a +man deny himself, and take up his cross daily, he cannot be my +disciple." Self-denial and bearing the cross are repentance. + +"If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his father, and mother, and +wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life +also, he cannot be my disciple." All these relationships symbolize +evil affections and thoughts which are to be no longer loved. The +withdrawal of the affections from all our inherited and acquired evils +is repentance. If the right hand be in the way of our repentance, it +must be cut off. If the right eye cause us to stumble, it must be +plucked out. + +But it will not do to leave the matter thus. The quotations and +references I have given are so strong they almost overwhelm us. We +almost cry out when we hear or read them, as the disciples did when +the Lord had just told them of the impossibility of a rich man's +entering the kingdom of heaven: "Who then can be saved?" But I give +you the same answer the Lord gave the disciples: "With men this is +impossible: but with God all things are possible." It is the Lord who +gives us the power to repent. Bartimeus could not see until the Lord +opened his eyes. But when he called, the Lord heard. So we must call. +"And whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved." +This is faith; and I may here add the Lord's words: "I am come a light +into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in +darkness." But remission of sins is as sure to follow true repentance +as day is sure to follow the darkest night. "Every good tree bringeth +forth good fruit." Remission of sins, and a life of good works, is the +fruit borne by the penitent man symbolized by a good tree. And what +does remission of sins imply? It implies casting our sins behind us; +forsaking them; leaving them off, and not looking back. It implies +putting one's hand to the plow in a new field of life and labor, and +never looking back. "He that putteth his hand to the plow, and looketh +back, is not fit for the kingdom." Looking back with a longing eye, as +Lot's wife did, is sure proof that we have not fairly remitted our +sins in heart, but that we still love them. + +I perceive from the expression of some faces that surprise is felt at +my intimation that man remits his own sins. But he does as truly as he +destroys the grass from among his corn or the weeds from his garden. +God gives him the strength and the will to do both, but man has his +work to do. He must be a coworker with God. Would there be any good in +blind eyes being restored to sight, unless man would be willing to see +with them? Or any good in palsied arms made strong, unless they were +used to do good? Or any good in having the whole leprous body +cleansed, unless the cleansed man would return to give glory to God? + +Isaiah's very first vision of the church called forth that wonderful +exclamation: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your +doings from before mine eyes: cease to do evil; learn to do well." +This, when done, is the remission of sins. It is sending them back, to +the rear; while we have the Lord always before our eyes. He said to +the blind Pharisees: "Cleanse first the INSIDE of the cup and the +platter, that the outside may be clean also." Paul says: "Let us +cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and SPIRIT." James +says: "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye +double minded." Does not all this look as if man had a good deal to do +with the remission of his sins? + +It is natural, or, rather, it is in harmony with God's order in the +creation of man, for him to desire to have a part and lot in all the +Lord does for him. He enjoys most the fruit of trees planted by his +own hands. A lady appreciates the garden or lawn arranged and set +according to her taste, and cultivated by her hands. God mercifully +favors us with similar feelings in making good, pure-minded, +truth-loving, faithful men and women of his intelligent creation. With +this intention he has given man special work and ways of manifesting +his will to work with the Lord. The only ordinance of this kind which +I will call your attention to to-day is that of baptism for the +remission of sins. It is also called the washing of regeneration. As +the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, the three eternal and +infinite essentials of the Divine Trinity, all have part in man's +repentance, in the remission of his sins, as well as in the +regeneration of his will unto eternal life, BAPTISM in water, in each +of the three names, is enjoined in our Lord's great commission. "Go ye +into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing +them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost." + +As an order of Christian Brethren, we hold that a threefold immersion +of the body in water by a properly authorized administrator is +necessary to fulfill the requirement of the great commission. As +water, in its highest and divinest significance, symbolizes all the +holy means by which man is enabled to renounce and remit his sins, so +baptism symbolizes his heartfelt acceptance of and submission to those +means. From this it is called the baptism of repentance first, and, +later on, as the truth became clearer, it is called baptism for the +remission of sins. As additional light was still thrown upon man's +salvation, a light which Nicodemus could not see, baptism acquired a +new significance, described by Paul as "the washing of regeneration." + +Almost unwittingly we now find a threefold significance in the +ordinance. It symbolized first, in the ministry of John, repentance +toward God the Father. But after the martyrdom of John no baptism was +administered until the day of Pentecost, when it received its full +significance. As Peter had experienced so much of the evil of sin and +the joy of forgiveness, it symbolized to his mind the remission of +sins. He was right. Paul was the unbelieving, educated Jew, whose +heart was so set against the Lord that after his conversion he felt +himself to be a new man, with a new name; and in his letter to Titus +he calls it "the washing of regeneration." Thus we have a threefold +significance of the ordinance, as well as a threefold act. Anyone, +then, whether fully conscious of the truth or not, says, by submitting +to the ordinance, "I have repented of my sins; I have forsaken my sins +and desire to keep them forever behind me; I desire to walk in newness +of life. I accept the love of the Father, the truth of the Son, and +the power of the Holy Ghost by which I have been taken 'out of death +into life,' and from the power of Satan to God; my feet set into the +way of holiness, and a 'new song put into my mouth, even praises unto +our God.'" + +The two brethren had night meeting at John Eby's, where they stayed +all night. + +MONDAY, October 7. They got to Brother David Kinsey's, in Franklin +County, Pennsylvania. + +TUESDAY, October 8. They had night meeting at Brother Jacob Rile's. + +The next day they joined company with brethren Christian Long and John +Glock, who come up the Shenandoah Valley with them to Brother Kline's +home, which they reached Saturday, October 12. + +On December 8 Brother Kline started to Baltimore. He went partly on a +visit to his relative, Michael B. Kline, who was, at this time, a very +prosperous commission merchant in the city. Brother Kline spent about +six days in Baltimore this time; and whilst hardly any one else would +have thought of anything beyond the pleasure of the visit and a little +business to be attended to, he must have a gathering and preach. He +made his voice heard time and again. No doubt many heard what they had +never heard before--the truth. On his return home, he stopped in +Washington City and had a pleasant interview with President Fillmore. + +In the year 1850 Brother Kline traveled 4,070 miles. He preached +thirty-one funeral sermons. Twelve of these were for persons over +fifty years of age; seven, for persons between twenty and fifty; and +twelve for persons under twenty. He delivered one hundred and ten +sermons at appointments for preaching, besides the many councils and +other meetings attended. When at home he was also called to administer +medicine to the sick. This service and the ministry kept him actively +employed almost the whole of his time. + +THURSDAY, January 9. Perform the marriage ceremony of Conrad Custer +and Nancy Shoemaker; also the same for George Hulvey and Diana Turner. + +TUESDAY, February 11. Perform the marriage ceremony of Jackson See and +Bettie Whitmore. + +THURSDAY, February 20. Perform the marriage ceremony of Solomon Hulvey +and Catharine Ritchie. + +MONDAY, February 24. A fearful storm unroofs part of my barn to-day. + +SATURDAY, March 8. Council meeting at Beaver Creek meetinghouse. The +church has under consideration the matter of preparing for Annual +Meeting to be held at the Brick meetinghouse, near Christian Kline's, +on Middle river in Augusta County, Virginia, to begin Saturday, June +7, 1851. + +SUNDAY, March 9. Meeting at the Beaver Creek meetinghouse. First Peter +1 is read. Afternoon meeting in Bridgewater, in the Lutheran church. +Speak on John 3:29. TEXT.--"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: +but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, +rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy +therefore is fulfilled." + +This is a wonderful testimony, borne by John the Baptist. It at once +shows the love which that wonderfully great and good man had for the +Lord, and at the same time his own deep humility of heart in his +presence. And the Lord's testimony concerning John given in these +words, "He was a burning and a shining light," is equally wonderful, +and carries with it the great love he had for John. + +John had many friends. All held him to be a prophet of extraordinary +character; and if his popularity had tended to corrupt the honest +simplicity of his heart he would not have borne this testimony to +Jesus. But he goes still further in his disavowal of all claim to +preferment by confessing and not denying that he is not the Christ. He +says: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Jesus was the sun +rising in his splendor; John the moon paling in his light. + +The church is the bride. The Lord is the bridegroom. "He that hath the +bride is the bridegroom." There is a doctrine of deep interest +involved in John's testimony. It concerns every one of us to know it. +It is the relation subsisting between the Lord and the church. This +relation is represented as that existing between husband and wife, the +very nearest that can subsist between two human beings--the +unification of one with the other to the extent that they are no more +twain, but one flesh. Reference to this relation of the church to the +Lord is to be found in the Scriptures at several places. Isaiah +prophesying the glory of the true Christian church exclaims: "For as +the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over +thee." + +But it is consistent and proper for a bride to adorn herself +preparatory to her marriage. But even for this occasion she should be +arrayed in modest apparel, as becometh saints. But God recognizes the +propriety of suitable ornamentation, and uses it as a figure in these +words: "My soul will greatly rejoice in the Lord, for he hath clothed +me with the garments of salvation, as a bride adorneth herself with +her jewels." The garments of salvation beautifully symbolize the holy +life of God's saints, and correspond to the fine linen, clean and +white, in which the bride, the Lamb's wife, is arrayed, as described +by John in the Apocalypse. Her jewels correspond to the divine truths +of the Word, which ornament a good life. + +I will now offer some practical thoughts on what I have stated, so as +to draw the attention of your minds more closely to the subject. Some +people seem to think it a matter of small moment whether one makes a +public profession of religion or not. Such seem to satisfy their minds +by concluding that God knows what is in their hearts, and that the +church has no business to concern itself about them. They think they +can live as good and as pure lives out of the church as in it. This +last conclusion may be correct, for many do not live very pure or good +lives _in_ the church. But all this has nothing to do with God's +established order. A man might say: "I love that lady, and with her +consent I will live a virtuous life with her. But I do not intend to +marry her after the ceremonial style of most people. Marriage +ceremonies are useless, and with her consent we will just go together +as husband and wife, and so live; and whose business is it but our +own?" In the first place I have to say, that if two could be found who +were willing to go together and live in this way, if they were not in +some way severely punished, they might thank their good stars for it. +In the next place I have to say that such cohabitation would wholly +subvert the order of society by giving loose reins to lust which would +break in upon the legal relationships of the social compact to an +extent that would place us on a social level with the aborigines of +America. + +And what would the Lord's kingdom be without a visible church? He +says: "My kingdom is not of this world." His kingdom being essentially +invisible, it remains a matter of necessity that there be some way for +making its subjects visible to one another as such, and capable of +being recognized and known as such. + +Our Lord says: "The kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation; for +lo! the kingdom of heaven is within you." Now, we cannot look into a +man's heart. All we can know of a man's heart is from what he says and +does. But the Lord has established an order for the subjects of his +kingdom. He has proclaimed a law, call it a ceremonial law if you +choose, by obedience to which all the subjects of his kingdom on earth +may be found out and become known to each other. That law is the +Lord's will made visible in the order of his brethren, carried out in +the forms of church organization by means of established ordinances +appointed by him. The Lord does not want his bride to wander through +earth's vanities a viewless, inactive, unprotected entity: + + Doing nothing for his cause, + Learning nothing of his laws; + +but he wants her to appear "all glorious within" and without; "bright +as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners." + +I have been accused by some of never preaching a sermon without having +something to say about baptism, as if discoursing on that subject +might be criminal in their eyes. I can boldly say I do not like to +close a sermon without saying something about it, because baptism in +water, as the door to the visible church, has so much significance in +it that I do not feel as if I had fully discharged my duty to the +souls of men without it. But I am not altogether singular in this +respect. I have some very good company. John the Baptist had _baptism_ +in two of his sermons. Peter the apostle had _baptism_, in two out of +three of his sermons. Ananias had _baptism_ in the sermon he preached +to Saul, and that in a shape altogether too strong for many, as that +Saul should wash away his sins in it. Philip had _baptism_ in his +sermon to the eunuch, and Paul had _baptism_ in his joyful +anticipations of heavenly glory, and calls it the washing of +regeneration; and in fact he laid strong emphasis on it in his answer +to the Philippian jailer's question, "What shall I do to be saved?" +But the Lord's sermon to Nicodemus gives the crown to _baptism_ as the +visible birth into the visible church. He calls it "born of +water,"--internally born of the Spirit, externally born of water. So +you see, friends, I have plenty of company in this line of preaching, +and good company too. + +Baptism, as the visible ceremony of union of the penitent, believing, +loving candidate with the church, and of the church with the Lord as +his bride, holds the same rank in its relation to the Divine Law as +the ceremony of marriage holds to human law. Both are simple in form, +yet both are absolutely essential to order and an orderly life both in +a religious and social sense. The ordinance of marriage and that of +baptism compare remarkably in another point of view. Both cement a +union to be dissolved only in death. Both have the stamp of the divine +seal, impressed by the Lord's hand, engraven with the words: "WHAT GOD +HATH JOINED TOGETHER, LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDER." + +Now, friends, let me beg you to take the Lord's way. He invites you +affectionately to come and take his yoke upon you. Learn to work in +his vineyard. Your own heart is a vineyard which the Lord will own if +you will but give it to him: and he will help you to keep it clean. He +will give you richly to enjoy the first ripe grapes of a good life +lived in his service. But remember: "He that is ashamed of me and of +my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in +his Father's glory, and the glory of the holy angels." Then why not +come into the church? None are too poor to come. It costs no money or +goods. Why not please your King by visibly becoming his subject? Why +not honor your Lord by obeying his commands? Why not glorify your +Husband by publicly taking to yourself his name and living henceforth +a holy and virtuous life in his sight? + +TUESDAY, March 25. Aunt Mary Kline, Uncle Frederick Kline's widow, was +buried to-day. Age, seventy-two years, eleven months and five days. + +WEDNESDAY, March 26. Attend the funeral of Giles Devier's little +child. It was buried at our meetinghouse. Age, one year, five months +and sixteen days. It is a pretty thought that angels may gather little +children from the arms of their parents, as love plucks roses from +their parent stems. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." + +THURSDAY, March 27. Perform the marriage ceremony of Robert Allison +and Mary Kline, daughter of Joseph Kline. + +TUESDAY, April 1. William Smith took leave of us for his new home in +Illinois. + +WEDNESDAY, April 9. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. John +Wine is elected speaker. + +THURSDAY, April 10. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Christian +Wine is elected speaker. + +FRIDAY, April 18. Council meeting at Lost River meetinghouse. Jacob +Pope is advanced. His work in the ministry is very acceptable to the +Brotherhood as far as known. + +THURSDAY, April 24. I am sick. Erysipelas right bad. + +For the next six days Brother Kline is confined to his room. Dr. Jacob +Driver, a very well informed and successful Botanic Physician, is +called to the case. His treatment is so judicious and active that by +Thursday, May 1, Brother Kline is able to ride out. Dr. Jacob Driver +was born and raised in Rockingham County, Virginia. He gave rise to a +numerous family, and in the autumn of 1852 moved and settled in Allen +County, Ohio. His children all became members of the order of the +Brethren. His son Jacob is now an active minister in the Sugar Creek +congregation in the above County. Dr. Jacob Driver died in Allen +County about the year 1867, deeply lamented by all who knew him. He +and his wife, in their early days, became members of the Brotherhood. +He was a son of Peter Driver, a brief notice of whom has been given. + +TUESDAY, June 3. Meeting and love feast at our meetinghouse. +Revelation 2 is read. + +SATURDAY, June 7. Meeting in the grove near the Brick meetinghouse, on +Middle river. Many people gathering. Acts 3 is read. From present +appearances there will be a very large concourse of people at this +Annual Meeting. + +SUNDAY, June 8. Meeting in the meetinghouse and also in the grove. + +MONDAY, June 9. The Yearly Council opens. Take in the questions. +Transact some business. Good order prevails, and a spirit of love and +union abounds. If by these meetings we can foster and preserve the +unity of the faith and order of our beloved Brotherhood, so that +wherever we may go among our Brethren we may be able to see eye to eye +and face to face as to the doctrines we preach and the order of +Christian life we uphold, our highest aim will have been reached. It +may be that as time goes on and knowledge is increased new things will +come up demanding consideration; but I sincerely hope and pray no +departures from what we now regard with so much love and unanimity as +the will of the Lord will ever take place. + +TUESDAY, June 10. All the queries and business items left over from +yesterday are taken up and disposed of to-day. The Annual Meeting +breaks up in good feeling, but with the sad forecast that some present +to-day will never attend another Yearly Meeting. Be it so. In heaven +no farewell tears are shed. It is not the parting that makes one sad. +It is the how and the where and the when we shall meet again that +break up the fountains of our hearts. + +WEDNESDAY, June 11. Meeting in the Methodist church in Harrisonburg. +Brother Daniel P. Saylor spoke on the Great Commission, Matt. 28:19, +20. He showed great boldness of speech. He shuns not to declare the +whole counsel of God. Many were present to hear a sermon from a +minister of our faith for the first time in their life. I have +sometimes feared that Brother Saylor's love for souls is at times +obscured by the severity of his speech in the stand, and by the +austerity of his manner among the people. Whilst Christian propriety +does set limits to "becoming all things to all men," still, as far as +consistency will allow, God's ministers should show great love for the +people in their associations with them. Some preachers, I believe, do +more good out of the stand than in it. They do this by little acts of +kindness and little words of love. + +Between the last date above given and the thirtieth day of July, +Brother Kline preached ten funeral discourses, each of which was +delivered on the day of burial. Paul uttered a great truth when he +said: "It is appointed unto men ONCE to die." But only once. If they +die a _second death_, it is their fault. The death of the body is the +only death ever _appointed_ unto men. + +WEDNESDAY, August 6. Attend the funeral of Nimrod Dove. Age, +forty-eight years, eleven months and thirteen days. Nimrod Dove was a +patient and persevering school-teacher. Some, who are now young, will +doubtless remember him gratefully when they are old. + +FRIDAY, August 8. Harvest thanksgiving in our meetinghouse. Betty Frey +is baptized. + +SUNDAY, August 17. Meeting in Andrew Chapel in Harrisonburg. Good +attention. Stay all night at Christian Myers's, near head of +Linville's Creek. I spoke to-day on Luke 14:10, from this clause: +"Friend, go up higher." This is what the Lord says to every one who +comes to the gospel feast in that spirit of deep humility and +self-abasement that is willing to take the lowest place. God's people +go up higher when they arise to walk in newness of life. When they add +to their faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge +charity. They go up higher as they increase their knowledge of his +Word, in the love of its saving truth. They go up higher as they love +God and their neighbor more. + +The love of self and the world attracts man downward into the foul +pits of vice, immorality, intemperance, gambling, profanity, anger, +jealousy, worldly fashions, and all the forms and phases of evil. God +would have men come out of these horrible pits, wash themselves in the +pure water of his Word, and take a lowly seat at his table. Then with +joy he will say to each: "Friend, go up higher." + +These are the outlines of my discourse to-day. The Editor would love +to expand the rich thoughts, condensed in these outlines, into an +elaborate discourse in exact accord with what he feels sure the +beloved brother said, but the limits of this work forbid. + +SUNDAY, September 21. Meeting in our meetinghouse. I this day baptize +Noah Frey and wife; Isaac Smith and wife; Widow Dove; Mrs. Bulger and +Barbara Baker. + +MONDAY, September 22. Brother Kline started to Maryland. The Diary +shows many meetings, councils and love feasts attended. On + +FRIDAY, September 26, he assisted at the ordination of Brother +Christian Keafer to the full work of the ministry. Brother McCleningen +was elected speaker. This service was in the Welsh Run congregation, +near Brother William Engel's. He speaks of union meetings in which he +served, at different places, but does not say a word further about +them, as to why they were so called or for what particular object they +were held. + +TUESDAY, September 30. He attended a union meeting in the Beaver Creek +meetinghouse, in which he served; and on + +WEDNESDAY, October 1, he attended a union meeting in Welty's +meetinghouse, in which Brother Shaver served. + +After attending several other meetings and making many visits, he +started for home, where he arrived October 5. + +TUESDAY, October 28. Attend the funeral of Sister Gibbons. She died +yesterday at the home of her son Samuel Gibbons, near Luray, Page +County, Virginia. She grew old in years, but the service of the Lord +was not old in her heart. She passed from labor to reward at the high +age of ninety-one years, lacking nineteen days. + +WEDNESDAY, November 12. Brother Kline started on another journey to +Hardy and Hampshire Counties. He held a night meeting at James Stump's +in Hardy; preached the funeral sermon of Brother Solomon Arnold; held +a union meeting at Brother Benjamin Leatherman's; attended morning +meeting on + +SATURDAY, November 15, at the meetinghouse; and held night service at +Joseph Arnold's. + +SUNDAY, November 16. He had forenoon meeting at William George's and +night meeting at Solomon Michael's. He filled six other appointments +between this, and his return home, where he arrived Friday, November +21. I find extended outline notes of but one sermon preached on this +journey. These I will here put in as good shape as I can. He delivered +this sermon at Jacob Keplinger's, in the Gap, the night before he got +home. Jacob Keplinger was a Lutheran himself, and the sermon was +preached right in a community of people of the same faith. But they +had respect for Brother Kline. The religious warmth of his heart and +the purity and simplicity of his life won for him the esteem and +friendship of people wherever he went. + + TEXT.--The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither + shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom + of God is within you.--Luke 17:20, 21. + +People never grow entirely out of their childhood feelings. We +naturally incline to value most what our eyes can see and our hands +handle. Our natures are so sentient that objects of sense please us +best. It is from this that object lessons attract the young. They can +best apprehend what their senses can grasp. It is very difficult for +the mind to grasp abstract truth. But right here lies the basis of all +true education. The power to comprehend truth in the abstract, to take +hold of its ramifications as subjects of thought, and reduce them to +order in the mind, so as to develop and give them concrete form for +practical ends in life, is education. + +The Pharisees wanted a sign. Even Herod hoped to see some miracle done +by the Lord. The reply of Jesus to the Pharisees was that "an evil and +adulterous generation seeketh after a sign." And now they want to know +when his kingdom will come. My text is the Lord's answer. "The kingdom +of God cometh not with observation." It is not something +representative, with visible outlines and surfaces that you can +perceive by means of your senses. It is altogether invisible: it is a +state of mind and heart: it has its place in a man's soul: it is not +outside of you; "for lo, the kingdom of God is within you." In this +regard the kingdom of heaven is like education. You cannot tell by +simply looking at a man whether he is educated or not. And why? +because education is not a thing of the body, but of the mind; and the +mind or understanding is invisible. + +Just so it is with the kingdom of God. It has no connection with the +body. In fact the body, with its appetites and passions opposes it. +For as Paul says: "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the +Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the +other." The kingdom of God, then, has its place in man's renewed heart +and mind, and can therefore never be a thing of observation. But let +us look a little further. The most precious and valuable things of +earth are worthless until brought out into use. Of what good are all +the mineral treasures of earth while hidden in the mines? Just so "the +kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in the field." + +But our heavenly Father has prepared a body, a visible, organized body +for his kingdom on earth, so that it may become active, useful, and in +every way promotive of man's highest good on earth and his highest +bliss in heaven. This body is the Lord's visible church. Like the +human body, it is composed of members, and each member has his place +and office of service in the body. The church is composed of those who +do the Lord's will; and he owns all such as his brethren. On one +occasion he exclaimed: "Who are my brethren?" And immediately he said: +"Behold my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father +which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." +Thus the church is composed of such as hold a relationship with him, +symbolized by that of brother, sister and mother. It is for his church +that Jesus offered that wonderful prayer recorded in the seventeenth +chapter of John. He there says: "I have manifested thy name unto the +men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou +gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." The church, then, is +composed of such as keep the Lord's Word. + +He said: "My kingdom is not of this world." Neither is the church, +which is the visible, active, use-loving and use-performing body of +the kingdom, of this world. It is not organized according to the order +of human institutions and laws, but according to God's order. Human +laws and customs have really and legitimately nothing to do either +with its organization and government or with the admission of members +into its body and their retention and conduct in the body. But the +church is _in_ the world. By its being _in_ the world, where sin and +sorrow and suffering abound; where there is so much pain to assuage, +so much want to relieve, so much evil to combat, so much ignorance to +dispel by the light of truth, numberless and boundless opportunities +and demands are presented for "the good man, out of the good treasure +of his heart to bring forth good things." + +And in the world is just where the Lord wants his church to ever be. +It is in the church on earth that God's people learn those wonderful +lessons of self-denial, humility, gentleness, brotherly kindness, +forbearance, patience, and all other heavenly qualities and graces. In +a word, the church, in its purest form and highest sense, is heaven +begun on earth. Hence the blessed Jesus, in the prayer referred to, +says: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but +that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." + +Since the church is the outward, visible form of God's kingdom on +earth, it is of the utmost importance that the church give expression +to and be a representative of the soul and spirit of the kingdom. Paul +says: "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, +peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." The church must be righteous. By +this is meant that it must obey the Lord's Word. He says: "Ye are my +friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." It is obedience on the +part of the church that makes any organization bearing that name +acceptable to the Lord. In the great day to come some will say: "We +have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our +streets." But he will say: "I tell you I know you not whence ye are." +Many others again will say: "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy +name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many +wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: +depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The lips of man may not apply +these terrific words to any whose doom is yet to be disclosed; but all +organizations claiming to be churches of Jesus Christ will do well to +see to it that they obey from the heart those ordinances given by our +Lord both by example and precept. When he pronounces us happy, we may +feel sure that we are safe. + +Let us now, before we close, look over the ground and see where the +church of the Brethren stands, which it is my privilege to represent +here to-night. Jesus was baptized, that is, immersed by John in the +river Jordan. We follow his example as further set forth in the great +commission he gave. He washed the disciples' feet, giving us an +example that we shall do to one another as he did to them. This we do. +He ate a supper with them before the administration of the Communion. +This we do; and from other scripture authority we feel justified in +calling it a love feast. He administered the Communion of his body and +blood, symbolized by the bread and wine. This we likewise do. Now we +have his blessed Word for it: "If ye know these things, happy are ye +if ye do them." + +SUNDAY, December 7. Michael B.E. Kline and wife are baptized at +Timberville. + +WEDNESDAY, December 31. I have traveled this year 3,816 miles, mostly +on horseback; and preached forty-five funeral discourses. + +THURSDAY, January 22, 1852. Attend upon my aged mother. She passed a +calculus or stone from the bladder to-day weighing seven ounces and +two and one-half drachms. Its greatest circumference is nine inches. A +very wonderful concretion indeed. + +THURSDAY, March 11. My dear aged mother passes away from earth to-day, +at 1 o'clock. She has been a good mother. I rejoice in the thought +that from her bright home in heaven, if saints are permitted to look +down upon earth, she can still witness the fruits of her good example +and influence, manifest in the well-doing of all her children, and +most of her grandchildren. + +FRIDAY, March 12. Take Anna over to Brother Samuel Kline's, where our +dear mother now lies a corpse. + +SATURDAY, March 13. Mother is buried to-day. Her age was eighty-one +years, three months and twenty days. + +MONDAY, March 22. This day Brother Kline started to Maryland. As usual +on such journeys, he visited many friends and Brethren, among whom he +mentions D.P. Saylor, Jacob Saylor, Howard Hillery, Brother Cover, +Joseph Engle, Philip Boyle, Israel Engle, Brother Rupp, Jesse Royer, +Betsy Engle, William Deahl, Abraham Deahl, Brother Rhinehart, and +others. He preaches and prays as he goes; leaving behind him good +examples, good instructions, good doctrines, with prayers and good +wishes for all. What a life of good works! He returned home Thursday, +April 1. + +THURSDAY, April 15. Council meeting at the Flat Rock meetinghouse. +John Neff is elected speaker. + +FRIDAY, April 16. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. John Zigler is +elected to the deaconship. + +SATURDAY, April 17. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. Jacob +Miller is advanced in the ministry of the Word. + +SUNDAY, May 16. Attend a meeting in the Campbellite church in +Baltimore. I meet Brother D.P. Saylor there. He speaks from Heb. 12:1, +2. Outlines of his discourse. TEXT.--"Let us lay aside every weight, +and the sin which doth so easily beset us; and let us run with +patience the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus." + +He said: The book of Hebrews is, in one respect, the most +extraordinary book in the New Testament. It sets forth Christ the Lord +to us in a somewhat new light, and new relation. All the other books +of the New Testament are mainly occupied in setting forth Jesus as the +atoning Savior. But this book is preeminently taken up with Christ the +anointed High Priest of our profession. The other books tell what +Jesus has done to redeem the world from sin. This book tells what he +is now doing to save his people. + +In his admonitions and instructions Brother Saylor beautifully +referred to the Olympic games celebrated by the ancient Greeks once +every four years. From these the figure of running a race, given in +the text, was borrowed. A man cannot run long and well with a load on +his back. You have no doubt seen the fabled demigod Atlas pictured +with the world on his shoulders. I have often thought of that old +Grecian representation of avarice, as being something like a true +picture of many professors of the Christian religion at the present +day. You see the old myth struggling along with this big round world +on his back, apparently casting his eyes upward at times as if he +might be longing to reach the top of Mount Olympus, the home of the +gods: but alas! his head is bowed and his back bent under the mighty +pressure, and he never got there. It will fare no better with the man +who tries to carry this world with him to heaven. The apostle says: +"Let us cast off every weight" that would hinder our progress. + +You know the devil is called a serpent. No sane man ever yet invited a +snake to bite him. If one is bitten by a copperhead or rattlesnake, it +is either because he has gone where he ought not go, or else, if +compelled, he was not watchful, but was off his guard. Besetting sins +are these snakes in the grass and along the hedges. The apostle here +takes it for granted, as a thing settled long ago, that the Christian +has laid aside his habitual sins. Besetting sins are such as we meet +or overtake unexpectedly in the way, and like robbers that beset us +and take our goods, they spoil our peace and take away our joy. The +best way for all Christians is to keep out of the way of snakes and +robbers. + +"And let us run with patience the race that is set before us." In +another place Paul says: "I press forward to the mark for the prize." +He represents the Christian as running, but not as uncertainly. Not as +if some one else might beat him and take the prize, and he thereby +lose it. No, no! In the Christian race there is a prize for every one +that runs with patience the race set before him. + +But he also speaks of a _mark_. The language here employed indicates +that the _mark_ must be reached before the prize can justly be +claimed. This mark is conformity to Christ in spirit and life. "If any +man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "He has set us +an example that we should follow in his steps." The prize is heaven +and eternal happiness. God is pleased to give to his children things +which they are incapable of obtaining by their own efforts; but he +will not give direct what they are capable of getting by judicious +means rightly applied. It is no credit to any one to depend on others +for what he could win for himself. It is so in the Christian's race +for eternal life. + +"Looking unto Jesus." If you have ever been at sea you noticed the +interest with which sailors watched the lighthouses along the shore in +a dark night. This figure may help us in our thought of looking to +Jesus. His word is a "lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path." +Friends, when you look prayerfully to the Lord's Word for guidance in +your religious life you are looking unto Jesus. He is nowhere else to +be found. But he is always there, and whosoever will look may find him +there unto the salvation of his soul. + +They stayed all night at Michael B. Kline's. + +MONDAY, May 17. They stopped awhile with Sister Rubicum in +Philadelphia; and arrived at the Irving House, in New York City, at +10:30 P.M. + +Men love to honor their favorites. Washington Irving has caused his +name to be stamped upon the affections of the people of this city. +Irving collars, Irving hats, Irving signs and Irving attached to many +things give evidence of the high regard in which he is held. We will +pass his home on the Hudson to-day. + +TUESDAY, May 18. Take the steamer "Henry Clay" to Albany, where we +land at 3 P.M. Kossuth is in the place. A great procession, with many +other demonstrations in honor of the Hungarian exile, is given. These +things are not done for the man personally, but for the cause which he +represents, that of freeing his country from the galling yoke of +bondage. We have a delightful boat ride up the Hudson. + +I must here relate a short encounter which I had with a professed +infidel on the boat. He some way came to the conclusion that I was a +religious man, and probably a preacher. This led him to approach me +for a talk, and he introduced himself in a very courteous and +agreeable manner. After he had stated his objections to the Christian +religion, I asked him if he was absolutely certain that there is no +place and state of future punishment. He answered: "I do not contend +for this; but only hold that hell is unreasonable, and that heaven is +impossible: and according to Bible description, to me at least, it +would be undesirable." I answered: "I suppose you will allow, that if +the Bible is _not_ true I will fare no worse after death for having +taught its doctrines and the faith of Jesus Christ: and you no better +for having denied both?" "All this," said he, "is self-evident." "But +if it so turns out that we both, after death, find that God's Word is +absolutely true, which, my dear friend, will fare the better then? +You, for having rejected the Lord Jesus Christ before men; or I, for +having humbly confessed him?" We parted at the landing to meet, +perhaps, no more until that day when the secrets of all hearts shall +be made known. + +WEDNESDAY, May 19. Get to Buffalo, New York, at 8 P.M. Stay all night +at the Mansion House. Philip Dorsheimer, proprietor. + +THURSDAY, May 20. This day I enjoy my first sight of Niagara Falls. +Cross on the bridge over to the Canada side and go up to the falls. +Return by the bridge and go up to the falls on the American side. Go +to see the buffaloes; and visit the telegraph office. Return to the +Mansion House and stay there all night. I suppose that all the +thoughts and emotions which a view of Niagara Falls is capable of +exciting in the beholder have been so clearly and graphically +expressed in prose and verse, so far as lies in the power of words to +express them, that I feel like keeping silent. This, however, I will +venture to say, that in the sight of such mighty power I felt very +small and weak. How, then, thought I, will I feel when I come in sight +of the Power that made and moves the world! + +Cold and snow this morning. But I must remember that I am not in +Virginia. + +FRIDAY, May 21. Take passage on the steamboat "America" to Erie; then +on to Cleveland, where we arrive at 5 A.M. Sleep a little. Then, on +same boat, to Sandusky City, where we take cars to Tiffin, and from +there go to Brother Eversole's, in Hancock County, Ohio. + +SUNDAY, May 23. Brother Kline attended forenoon meeting at Brother +Peter Weant's; and afternoon meeting at Brother Dickey's. In the +evening he went to Brother Daniel Rosenberger's and assisted in +anointing a sick sister. Next day they had meeting at Brother Jacob +Kendrick's. On Tuesday, while they were detained at Perrysburg, +Brother Kline says: "We saw the fishermen make a haul with their +seine. While witnessing the adroitness and care with which they +separated the bad fish from the good, I was reminded of the parable in +which the same performance is spoken of. The gospel net catches or +takes in both good and bad. But the separation of the good from the +bad cannot take place on earth. 'At the end of the world the angels +shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just.'" + +WEDNESDAY, May 26. They take the boat "John Hollister" for Toledo: +from there they take cars to Elkhart, Indiana. The two brethren, Kline +and Saylor, do not appear to have been together all the time on this +journey; but at Elkhart it seems they got together again and two other +brethren with them; for he now speaks of brethren Saylor, Krontz and +P. Ebersole all going together and staying all night at Brother Jacob +Studebaker's; and on the twenty-ninth they all go to Jonathan Wylan's, +the place of the Annual Meeting. Brother Kline reports a wonderful +concourse of people. + +SUNDAY, May 30. They have meeting at three places. On Monday business +begins. Many queries are placed in the hands of the subcommittees. On +Tuesday the reports of the subcommittees are taken in, and discussions +follow freely, but all in a spirit of love. + +WEDNESDAY, June 2. Business is all disposed of by 3 o'clock, and the +meeting breaks up. Brother Kline goes to Michael Waybright's and holds +night meeting. + +On his return trip Brother Kline revisits Elkhart, and goes to Dayton +to Brother Henry Yost's. From there he goes to Cincinnati to see Drs. +Kost and Curtis, with whom he spends a night; thence back to Columbus; +goes through the state prison; visits other places of interest; and +thence through Cleveland and Pittsburg home. He arrived home + +SATURDAY, June 12. He reports 2,685 miles traveled from the time he +left home till his return. + +SUNDAY, June 27. Meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize Daniel Wampler +and wife. + +FRIDAY, July 2. Write letters to Brethren in Pendleton and Hardy +Counties to make appointments for preaching. He gives plenty of time +for those Brethren to whom the above letters were sent, to make the +appointments generally known; and allows time for the slow transit of +the mails in that day. Brother Kline's successes were never brilliant +or dazzling, as some men's appear, but they were acquired by methods +which few men are willing to adopt; and achieved by self-sacrifices +and labors which few men are willing to undergo. + +FRIDAY, August 20. This day Brother Kline started to Pendleton County, +Virginia. From Pendleton he went to Hardy County, and from there to +Hampshire County. He filled every appointment made for him by the +Brethren to whom he had written on July 2. On his outward way he left +a line of appointments which he filled on his return homeward. On this +tour he traveled 183 miles on the back of his faithful mare Nell, over +roads and mountain paths next to impassable. He was gone from home on +this trip just two weeks, in which time he preached nineteen sermons, +attended one council meeting and one love feast. + +Such preaching tours, as this work abundantly shows, were but common +proofs of his missionary spirit and love for the souls of men. Added +to this we find a purely unselfish spirit in him. Not long before his +martyrdom he told me that if he would have asked for money along the +lines of his work extending over many years--using his very words--"I +know that I would have freely received it; but I have never asked one +cent; and, God prospering me in the future as in the past, I never +expect to." He went on his own expenses, always and at all times, +apparently more ready to give than to receive. + +THURSDAY, September 30. On this day Brother Kline started to +Tennessee. He rode Nell. He went up the Valley of Virginia, stopping +with Brethren and preaching by previous arrangements made by letters. +He stayed all night with Peter Nininger, and one night with Benjamin +Moomaw. At both places he filled appointments previously sent on. + +MONDAY, October 4. He dined at Jacob Brubaker's. He arrived at Brother +John Bowman's on Friday, the eighth. + +SATURDAY, October 9, he had meeting at John Bowman's. It would seem +that he had leisure here to jot the outlines of his discourse on that +day. He spoke from Rev. 2:7. TEXT.--"He that hath an ear, let him hear +what the Spirit saith unto the churches." + +There is a wonderful correspondence of natural things with things +spiritual. It is this correspondence which makes a good life give +evidence of a good heart within, and intelligent conduct prove that it +is the offspring of an enlightened mind. If there were no +correspondence between internal and external things--between the tree +and its fruit--what would we know about anything? It is from this law +that all our Lord's parables and miracles derive their significance. +When he spoke of external, natural things, he wanted his disciples to +learn internal, spiritual things. In the text he speaks of a hearing +ear. "He that hath an ear." Do not nearly all men have ears? In +several other places the Lord says: "He that hath ears to hear, let +him hear." It is plain that the natural ear is not meant; but the ear +of the soul (by which is meant an understanding mind) is the ear meant +in the text. But to hear means more than just to understand what is +said. People may understand what they hear or read, and still be none +the better off for it. To hear, in a divine sense, is to hearken; and +to hearken means to obey, or a willingness to obey. The text then +means about this: "He that understands what the Spirit saith to the +churches, let him obey." This brings up the question whether or not +people of ordinary intelligence are able to understand what the Spirit +says to the churches. + +Let us turn to what the Spirit says to the church at Ephesus. After +reviewing the good qualities and characteristics of this church, much +to their praise and credit, he does not flatter their vanity, by +intimations or otherwise, to think themselves all right and in need of +nothing; but "I have this AGAINST thee, that thou didst leave thy +first love. Remember therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and +repent." It is truthfully said "our best friends are those who warn us +of danger." This is God's friendship for his churches. He shows his +people by his Word where they may go wrong, and, if they have ears to +hear and eyes to see, where they _are_ wrong. _Leaving their first +love_ is the charge brought against this church of Ephesus. And it is +the only charge. To what extent or degree they had departed is not +definitely said; but they had gone so far that repentance and +reformation, or the doing of their first works, was necessary that +they might be restored to the state they had once enjoyed. + +Now it appears plain to my mind, from all the teachings I find +elsewhere in the Word, that love to the Lord their God with all the +heart, and love to the neighbor, which is the church, is, and forever +ought to be, the first and only love. The church is the good Samaritan +that lifts up the wounded brother who has fallen among the thieves of +temptation, and restores him. This love to the Lord and the church is +the love from which these Ephesian brethren had fallen. Departures +from first loves are not uncommon in the church and out of it. The +newly married couple enjoy a warmth of affection that sweetens their +cup of happiness and strews flowers all along their pathway of life. +This pleasure lasts while their love lasts; but when love dies, +happiness dies with it. This accounts for the joyless, pleasureless +life of many married partners. First love, alas! departed; the first +fire all burnt out, leaving naught but the dull ashes of cold +indifference and burning tears. It sometimes goes somewhat the same +way with members coming into the church. They run well for a season, +manifest a deep interest in the things of religion, but when +tribulation or persecution ariseth on account of the Word, directly +they stumble. Entire churches sometimes lose their first love for the +Lord and for one another. This seems to have been true of the church +at Ephesus. + +The best way for all is to be sure that the first love is of the right +kind. I have heard of some coming into the church from motives of mere +personal interest. I have heard of one man who confessed, after he had +been expelled, that he got out of the Dunkards all he wanted. Said he: +"They helped me out of debt, and that is what I went in for." That man +never lost HIS first love. His first love was the love of self and the +world, and that is the love he carried with him when he was turned +out. Such examples, however, are rare. As a people we are not often +imposed upon in this way. But some who come in with the best of +motives, desiring to live in the church, to be built up in the church, +and to help build up the church, may, as I have known instances of the +kind, lose these good feelings, become discouraged, and altogether +unhappy. To such, if any of that class are here, I now speak. + +At the start I have to say, I have glorious news for you. The Lord +says to us all: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of +good cheer; I have overcome the world." The blessed Savior has +overcome the world for every one of his people. We all have our +tribulations; but some are better able to bear them than others. The +Apostle Paul says: "Confirm the strong, support the weak." It seems +strange to us that any could ever grow weak in his day, when they were +as yet almost in sight of their ascended Lord, and in hearing of the +echo of his voice. But so it was then, and so it will ever be. But God +knows our feeble frame. "As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord +pitieth them that fear him." Our Lord, just before his crucifixion, +said: "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you." This he +spoke to his sorrowing disciples. This he says to you, and to every +discouraged disciple of his: "Ye, therefore, now have sorrow, but your +sorrow shall be turned into joy." As he was preparing to wash the +disciples' feet it is said of him: "Having loved his own which were in +the world, he loved them unto the end." + + "His is an unchanging love, + Higher than the heights above; + Deeper than the depths beneath; + Stronger than the hand of death." + +It is impossible for one human soul to enter fully into the feelings +of another, so as to realize in all the particulars of experience what +the other suffers. But the Lord knows it all. "He that made the ear, +shall he not hear? He that made the eye, shall he not see? He that +made the heart, shall he not understand?" He consequently knows the +proper remedy for all the backslidings, declensions of our first love, +and all relapses into states of lukewarmness. His prescribed remedy is +_repentance_, in every case. If you will take the time to read +carefully the seven letters addressed to the seven churches of Asia, +you will see that _repentance_ is the remedy prescribed in every case +of failure in duty, weakness of faith, coldness of love; together with +all the troubles growing out of these. + +_Repentance_ is a change of mind. It is a change from wrong feelings +and affections in the soul to right feelings; from weak faith in the +Lord to strong faith; from weak love for the Lord and the church to +strong love. Joy of heart and peace of mind are as sure to follow a +change like this as a tree is sure to bloom in spring. Blossoms on +trees, other conditions favoring, give promise of fruits. Your joy and +peace from true repentance, like the bloom on a good tree, will give +promise of a life full of good fruits. No one need tell me that he +cannot repent. "Nothing shall be impossible unto you." Who says this? +Jesus says it. Again: "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do +it." But again he says: "Without me ye can do nothing." Speaking to +the Father, of his disciples, the Lord said: "I in them, and thou in +me, that they may be perfected into one." + +We are slow to learn the greatest of all the truths God has revealed, +the truth that the Lord is personally, in the fullness of his love, +wisdom and power, in the soul or spiritual body of every one of his +children. "Ye are God's temple; ye are God's building." As the life of +the vine is the life of the branches, so is Christ our life. The Lord +is ever at hand; not only _around_ us, but _in_ us. And he is not only +able but ready at all times to do us all the good we are capable of +receiving from his hand. Say not then, "I cannot repent;" for one +earnest, believing, trusting look to him, with whom all things are +possible, will cause the tears of penitence to flow down your face in +a stream that will "make glad the city of our God," rebuilt with its +walls, in your heart. + +But the Lord tries to encourage his _lost-love_ children with promises +additional to those of his presence, love and power. He sets forth +inducements of a character that surpasses all worldly considerations +as far as the heaven is high above the earth. Notice some of them: "To +him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, +which is in the midst of the paradise of God." To eat of the tree of +life is to enjoy all the blessedness and happiness of a heavenly life. +"In the paradise of God" is a figure taken from the garden of Eden, +for paradise means garden. We sometimes wonder at the folly of our +first parents in disobeying God's commands, and thus bringing upon +themselves the disgrace and ruin which followed. But do we not act +after the same manner when we disobey the Lord? We as surely deprive +ourselves of the enjoyments of his favor and conscious presence as +they did. But through his abounding love in Christ Jesus we can be +reclaimed and reinstated sooner than they. Thanks be to God, the +scheme of redemption and salvation is now complete; and we are not now +required to wait four thousand years to have the head of the serpent +bruised under our feet. Neither is there a flaming sword of +threatening vengeance to guard the gate against our return. We are +invited to return. The gate is open. Yea, the Lord himself is the +gate. He stands beckoning, even calling and saying: "I am the way; I +am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved." The +paradise of God, the garden of Eden, is planted by the Lord in the +heart of every true follower of his. This is a great truth. When we +are in heavenly frames of feeling we are in a state to enjoy its cool +shade and partake of its fruits. There the sun does not light upon us, +nor any unpleasant heat. + +Hoping that what I have said in much weakness may be made strong by +the Spirit of God, unto edification and comfort, I now close. On + +SUNDAY, October 10, he had meeting at Brother Christian Wine's. Next +day he visited David Garst's; and stayed all night at the widow +Bowman's. + +He visited successively, in order, the following named brethren and +sisters, preaching nearly every day: Daniel Crouse's, John Sherfey's, +John Basehore's, Henry Swadley's, widow Bowman's, John Bowman's, Henry +Garst's. + +TUESDAY, October 19. He started homeward, but stopped at Brother +Michael Grabil's and attended a meeting in Roanoke meetinghouse. +Assisted by brethren Kinsey and Brubaker, he ordained Brother +Christian Wirt to the full work of the gospel ministry. + +FRIDAY, October 29. He arrived home safe, after an absence of +something over four weeks. The whole distance, going and returning, +was about 600 miles. This he traveled on Nell's back. Good, patient, +faithful Nell! + +From this time on to the close of the year, Brother Kline was mainly +engaged in the practice of medicine, together with his ministerial +labors. On far into the next year the same may be said of his work. +Ever active, no such thing as idleness ever had a place in his life. +Looking through his Diary, observing the unintermitting activity of +his life "_every day and Sunday too_," I am struck with wonder that he +did not get tired. + +SUNDAY, March 13, 1853. Meeting at the Elk meetinghouse, in Page +County, Virginia. Acts 9 was read. My topic was Saul's conversion. +There are three points in the conversion of Saul which I noted +particularly in my discourse to-day. They are as follows: + +I. Saul's conversion was _unexpected_. II. It was _miraculous_. III. +It was _thorough_. + +No event could have been less expected than the conversion of Saul of +Tarsus. Lightning from the clear blue sky, or the breaking forth of +the sun at midnight, could not have struck both Jews and Christians +with deeper amazement than did the report of the change of Saul from +persecutor to protector of God's people. But this is sometimes God's +way. Often does he send us blessings and do wonders when we least +expect them. Day breaks at the darkest hour. In the midst of parching +dryness the refreshing shower comes. The hardest pain is just before +the birth. A sleepless night ends in a joyful morning. In this way he +shows us that the "excellency of the power is not of men, but of God." + +In our religious experiences we sometimes feel prayer a burden; +reading and meditation a task. We loathe ourselves and wonder how +Jesus can love us. Out of such frames of feeling the Lord sometimes +suddenly lifts us, by causing light to break in upon our souls, +revealing some new truth, some fresh affection, in which we rejoice. +In addition to these instances of unexpected blessings, we sometimes +see men gathered into the fold, for whose conversion we had lost all +hope. + +We need not wonder that Saul's conversion was wholly unexpected. He +had shown such hostility to Jesus of Nazareth that no ground for hope +of any change in him was anywhere visible. His conviction was +therefore, in the eyes of Christians, a miracle. But it was so only in +appearance. The light, above the brightness of the sun, that shone +upon him, was but the same light that shone from the face of the Lord +and glistened from his raiment on the holy mount when he was +transfigured. John had a somewhat similar vision of the Lord upon the +isle of Patmos. John was better prepared to receive the vision than +was Saul; but even John fell at the Lord's feet as dead. The Lord +immediately laid his right hand upon John, and in the tenderness of +his love said: "Fear not." These same sweet words fell from his lips +upon the ears of the three disciples on the holy mount. But Saul heard +far different words. A voice sounded into his soul: "I am Jesus of +Nazareth whom thou persecutest." This terrific announcement broke up +the sealed fountain of his sinful heart and he cried out: "Lord, what +wouldst thou have me to do?" He was then told to go into the city of +Damascus, and it would there be told him what he had to do. + +Notice the difference. The Lord did not say to him as he had to many +others: "Fear not." This seemed to be his cherished phrase to all who +loved and believed on him. To the women at the sepulcher, these words, +"fear not," were addressed by the angel. To the church, seen in vision +by the prophetic eye of Isaiah, the words, "Fear not, for I have +redeemed thee: fear not, for I am with thee," are tenderly spoken by +the Lord. If Saul's conviction had been brought about by human agency +through the preaching of the Word, the adversaries of the cross might +have said that he had been persuaded, or bribed with money to change +his manner of life. But nothing like this could be said now. The men +who journeyed with him could testify otherwise. They saw the light +that flashed upon him; but they heard not the words spoken. They were +not persecutors of Jesus by intention as Saul was. Like the soldiers +who nailed the Lord to the cross, they knew not what they did. But +Saul knew what he was doing, and the light struck conviction to his +heart. + +Conviction is a knowledge of sin imparted by the Holy Spirit through +the Word. The light that Saul saw is an expressive emblem of the light +of revealed truth. Light signifies truth, in very many places in the +Scriptures. Take, for examples, the following: "The people which sat +in darkness saw great light." Darkness here does not mean natural +darkness, but mental or spiritual darkness, which is ignorance. Again: +"Every one that doeth evil, hateth the light." This was Saul's state +exactly. He was doing evil, and he hated the light to such a pitch of +passion that he sought to take the lives of the children of light. But +it was God's way then, and it is God's way now, to convict and convert +men by means of the very thing they hate, which is the Word of Truth. + +Saul remained three days and nights in this awful state of conviction +in which time "he did neither eat nor drink." The anguish of spirit +suffered during these days and nights no heart but his own can ever +know. His sins were red with the blood of the saints. Doubts as to +what the persecuted Jesus might require of him, with a thousand +unanswerable questions, harassed his mind. Conviction, or a feeling +sense of sin, always precedes conversion. Repentance cannot take place +without a knowledge of sin's condemning and destroying power. When +this is felt man desires to be rid of sin, and asks what he must do to +be saved. This is the first step in repentance. Conversion and +repentance, complete, are expressions meaning one and the same thing. +Our Lord's illustration is instructive: "When a woman is in travail, +she hath anguish; but when she is delivered she straightway forgetteth +her anguish for joy that a man is born into the world." These words +from the lips of Jesus tell us more about conviction and conversion +than all else that has ever been written. + +We must notice the kindness in which Ananias approached Saul to +complete the manward side of his conversion and usher in the new +birth. He put his hands on him, not roughly, but gently, and said: +"BROTHER SAUL,"--"and immediately there fell from his eyes as it had +been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was +baptized." His spiritual eyes were now open; his sins washed away; and +out of the baptismal stream he was visibly born into the church a new +creature in Christ Jesus, with a new name. I hold the belief that Saul +changed his name himself. His old life was now so abhorrent to him +that he could no longer bear to hear the name by which he was called +when pursuing that course of life. It was his desire to cast all +recollection of it out of mind, and the old name with it. But he never +did forget entirely. He calls himself the chief of sinners, and almost +gets wild with exultation over the mercies of God. Hear some of his +joyful exclamations: "Who shall condemn us! Who shall separate us from +the love of Christ! O, the length, and the breadth, and the depth and +the height of the love of Christ!" Paul never doubted his conversion. +He became as enthusiastic in building up the church as he had been in +tearing it down. He tried to repair the evil he had done by adding new +recruits to the church to fill the places of those whom he had either +driven out or caused to be martyred. + +Brethren and sisters, here is a lesson for us all. Let us follow +Paul's example in self-denial, in love for the Brethren, in love for +the unconverted, in the love of doing good at all times and in all +ways. + +THURSDAY, April 7. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. David Kline is +advanced in the ministry, and John Long is elected to the deaconship. + +SUNDAY, April 10. Meeting at the Lost River meetinghouse. George +Halterman is baptized. + +SUNDAY, May 1. Meeting at Turner's schoolhouse, in the Gap. Samuel +Smith is baptized. + +SUNDAY, May 8. Meeting at Joseph Glick's. Samuel Good and wife +baptized. + +MONDAY, May 9. Meeting in our meetinghouse. John Bowman and Daniel +Crouse are with us, on their way to the Annual Meeting. + +THURSDAY, May 12. This day Brother Kline and Benjamin Bowman started +together, on horseback, to the Yearly Meeting, which, according to the +Diary, was appointed to meet near William Deahl's. They went down the +Valley of Virginia, and arrived at Brother William Deahl's Saturday +evening following. + +SUNDAY, May 15. _Diary_: There is preaching at three places. We were +made to witness a very distressing occurrence to-day in the sudden +death of Brother Daniel Haines's wife. She came into the meeting in +her usual state of health, and in two hours she was a corpse. Death +had done its work upon the body; but it could not touch the soul to +which Jesus had given eternal life. "Hither shalt thou go, but no +farther; and here shall all thy waves be stayed," may be applied to +death as it comes to the child of God, as appropriately as to the +great ocean. + +MONDAY, May 16. Come to the meetinghouse. Committees are appointed. Go +to Jacob Saylor's and take in questions. In the meantime preaching is +going on at the meetinghouse as yesterday. We stay all night at +Brother Deahl's. + +THURSDAY, May 17. Business progresses slowly. + +WEDNESDAY, May 18. At about four o'clock it is announced that all the +business before the meeting has been disposed of, and the meeting +breaks up, with many farewell salutations and much tender feeling. We +stay all night with John Waltman, married to Martin Deahl's daughter. + +MONDAY, May 23. Love feast at our meetinghouse. A great concourse of +people, but good order. The brethren John Bowman and Daniel Crouse are +here. They speak to good acceptance. + +TUESDAY, May 24. Go to the Tristle meetinghouse. Christian Funk is +buried. Age, eighty years, three months and nineteen days. He was a +very consistent member of the Mennonite persuasion, and suddenly died +in the meetinghouse, on Sunday before, in the very act of singing a +devotional hymn with the congregation. Let us hope that as the song +died on his lips here his soul caught its echo in heaven. + +SUNDAY, June 19. Go to Philip Ritchey's schoolhouse in the Gap. Speak +from Jer. 7:23. TEXT.--"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey +my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people." + +I said in substance: Man is to-day what he has ever been. "The carnal +mind is enmity against God" now, quite as deep-seated in man's heart +as when he led his unholy and rebellious people out of Egypt. Man's +will now, as then, is contrary to God's will. But God wants to change +man's will so as to incline it to good instead of evil. God is +infinitely blessed and happy, because he is infinitely just and good. +Man is unblessed and unhappy, because he is unholy and evil. One of +the clearest proofs of man's degeneracy is found in his willingness to +remain in his sinful and unhappy state. Like the man among the tombs, +he is ready to cry out, in thought if not otherwise, "Let us alone! +what have we to do with thee? Art thou come to torment us before the +time?" + +The two great lessons given in the text, are OBEDIENCE and REWARD. I +will tell you about _obedience_ first. To make this very plain you +must first be told that _obedience_ consists in doing what one is +commanded to do. Two things, however, are necessary to make obedience +a duty. _First_, the command must come from a right source; it must be +based upon the right authority. _Second_, it must be given in a way +that can be understood. The command must be plain. These two things +being established, it is the duty of every one to hear and obey what +he is commanded to do. Disobeying good commands is as sure to bring +suffering and loss as violating the laws of health is sure to bring +disease into our bodies. Let us notice some of the commands which, in +the course of our lives, it may be our duty to obey. There is no +difference between a law and a command. Every law is a command in +substance, and every command is a law. There are very deep things +involved here, but I will not now enter upon them. Every command is +but the expression of the will of the commander; and the will of the +commander in every case, when expressed, and compliance with it is +demanded, is a law. + +Authority has many grades. There is parental authority, teachers' +authority, magisterial authority, legislative authority. All these +grades of authority are necessary for our well-being. But no benefit +can be derived from authority of any kind without obedience to that +authority. The best law can do no good unless it be obeyed. Parental +laws, no matter how wise and good they are in themselves, are of no +account unless the children obey their parents. It is the same with +all laws. + +Possibly it may not be clear to the understanding of some how +obedience to God's laws makes man happy. Let us then consider this +matter of obedience on a lower grade. Parents love their children. +Parents have much of life's experiences. They are capable of knowing +better than their children can what is best for the children. Now if +children will heed what their parents say to them in the way of good +counsel, instruction, and government, love, peace and harmony will +prevail in the household. Joy will be a constant guest. Happiness will +crown the board. Habits of good will be formed in the young which will +not forsake them when they are old. In youth the foundation is thus +laid for honorable success in later years. Reverse this picture: +instead of happiness, discontent; instead of joy, distress; instead of +peace, contentions and broils; instead of respectability, disgrace; +instead of honor, shame. What an amazing difference between the +rewards of obedience and the effects of disobedience! The good results +of obedience to good laws are boundless in extent and endless in +duration. + +This now brings me to the main point of my discourse, obedience to God +and its rewards. As God is infinitely good, and therefore wills +nothing beyond the good of his creatures; and as he is infinitely wise +to know in what the highest good of his creatures consists, it becomes +man's highest duty and privilege to know what God would have him to +do. But inside of all the externals of obedience there must be a state +of heart and mind conformed to God's will before any works can be done +acceptable to him. What _is_ this state of mind and heart? It is all +expressed in two words,--love and faith. Jesus says: "If ye love me, +keep my commandments." As much as to say, "Do not act the part of a +hypocrite by putting on the form of obedience with no love in the +heart." He continues the thought by saying: "He that loveth me will +keep my words." Obedience, you see, is the proof of love, true +obedience, I mean. + +Some gravely ask, _Which is first in the heart, love or faith?_ This +question is very nearly like that of asking which is most necessary to +the growth of plants, heat or moisture? The truth is plain, that both +are necessary; and both together. Without both together no seed could +sprout, no plant put forth its leaves. Just so it is with the growth +of gospel seeds in the soul. There must be love and faith, both. But +this is very plain and easy to be understood. No one can believe in +Jesus truly without loving him; and no one can love him without at the +same time believing on him. "We love him because he first loved us:" +and faith is but a belief in and joyful acceptance of the words which +tell us how he has made known his love for us. Out of this love and +faith true obedience springs. + +We must notice one particular in our thought upon this subject. It is +a matter of the deepest interest to every one of us. I now state it: +Our _love_ and _faith_ grow with our obedience. What class of children +love their parents most and repose the most confidence in them, +obedient children or disobedient children? Obedient children, you all +answer. Why is this? It is because obedient children receive daily +rewards for their good conduct in the expressions of appreciation and +love on the part of their parents, brothers, sisters and friends. Love +begets love. Just so it is with man and God. The Apostle James puts +this thought beautifully: "If a man be not a forgetful hearer, but a +doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." How will he +know this? By the heart consolations and comforts it brings him. The +Holy Spirit will bear witness with his spirit that he is a child of +God. "God is not slack concerning his promises." When he says: "Obey +my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people," do you +think he has no way of letting them know they _are_ his people? Will +not a father and mother own the child they love? How much more our +heavenly Father will own and bless his child! + + "The opened heavens around me shine + With beams of sacred bliss, + When Jesus shows that he is mine + And whispers: I am his." + +There can be no greater enjoyment than the reading of the Scriptures +when we feel that we have complied with their injunctions and +requirements, and have a will to do so for ever. It is then the "peace +of God which passeth all understanding" fills the soul, and the mind +is happy. + +The text says: "I will be your God; and ye shall be my people." This +is the reward of our obedience. If men would preach from this to the +end of time they could tell but a very small part of the blessedness +wrapped up in this promise. People think much of the blessings of this +life when they are joyous and cheerful from health and prosperity. But +in this promise life and health are guaranteed to all eternity. "He +that believeth on me shall never die." We are assured that in the +glory world sickness and pain and death shall be no more. "I will be +your God." This means in the way of every good. "No good thing," says +the Psalmist, "will the Lord withhold from them that fear him." This +will be made clearest in the world to come. "He is able to do +exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think." "I will be your +God,--not for awhile and then cast you off. I do not repent of my +promises and gifts. You may make a promise, or give something, or do +something from an impulse of feeling, which you afterwards regret; but +I am subject to no such weakness." In this sense he speaks to us in +his Word. He will, if we heed his voice, make of us all "a people +prepared for the Lord," a converted, obedient, sanctified and +eternally saved and happy people. + +Some may regard God as man's enemy. They seem to think there is +something terrible in religion, and the farther away they can keep +from it the safer they are. What a fatal mistake! To be a child of God +is to be safe and happy. Our heavenly Father feels the love of pity +for the sinner. I lately read a very touching account of a lost child. +The father went calling, _calling_ the name of his boy. After awhile +the boy was found; but his mind was so bewildered and confused that he +did not seem to know his father's voice. So it is with the sinner. He +has wandered so far away from home, the home of peace with God, that +he knows not the voice of the Father. That voice is still calling: +"Come unto me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls;" for "he came +to save that which was lost." + +"And ye shall be my people." We get to be his people by true +repentance, faith and baptism. He commands us to repent. He commands +us to believe on the Son. "He that believeth the Son hath everlasting +life." He commands us to be baptized. Obedience from love and faith +makes us his people. As Jesus ascended from the waters of the Jordan, +lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and a voice from heaven said: +"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This was an +expression of the Father's love which he has for every one who, from +the heart, will hear his voice. + +WEDNESDAY, June 19. It is now delightful weather, and Brother Kline is +this day on the Great Cheat mountain, filling two appointments at a +place which he calls Marsh's. The Great Cheat mountain lies west of +the Alleghany proper, and for many miles ranges nearly parallel with +it. A branch of Cheat river drains the valley between the two. The +people in this section are mainly employed in rearing cattle and +sheep. The lands are well adapted to grazing. But in most localities +of this country meetings for preaching and other religious services +are rare, and the Gospel is seldom heard. Brother Kline's heart ever +leaned toward destitute regions like these. He would say: "I +occasionally find one whose sense of sin has so mellowed his heart +that, like a ripe apple, he is ready to fall by a gentle touch of +gospel truth." + +FRIDAY, July 1. Yesterday I had meeting at Josiah Simmon's, and to-day +have meeting at the same place. I speak from 1 Peter 1:19. TEXT.--"Ye +were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ." + +I tried to set before these dear people the only hope of salvation. I +told them about the Son of God; that he was born of a woman, a pure +virgin who conceived him not of man, but of the Holy Spirit of God; +that his birth was heralded and announced by an angel from heaven who +named him Jesus before he was born, for, said the angel, "He shall +save his people from their sins." + +When he came to be a man about thirty years of age he was publicly +baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, "and, lo, the +heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending +like a dove upon him: and, lo, a voice from heaven saying, This is my +beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus lived a life of sinless +purity, going about doing good, teaching the people the way of +everlasting life; healing the sick; raising the dead to life; giving +sight to the blind; hearing to the deaf; cleansing the lepers, and +casting devils and evil spirits out of people who were subject to the +evil powers by which they were possessed. All these things are related +by the four evangelists. Jesus also taught the people many things by +parables, in which he set forth his great love for them; what he was +able and willing to do to save them from their sins, and what it was +necessary for them to do to be saved. + +But the Jews would not accept the truth he told them. They were a very +proud and self-righteous people, and were not willing to be instructed +in things they vainly believed they understood better than Jesus did. +He called on them to repent of their sins. They denied their being +sinners. He told them he was the Son of God, and that he came down +from heaven. They would not believe this: and just because he taught +and did things contrary to the way their proud and selfish hearts +thought right, they arrested Jesus the Lord of glory, took him before +their high priest, gave him a mock trial, and had him crucified. Some +may not know just what this means. It means that Jesus was nailed to +two pieces of wood one across the other; his hands were nailed to the +crosspiece above, and his feet to the high post that was fastened by +its lower end in the ground. Thus he hung in agony till he was dead. +This was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was done through the +envy, malice and hatred of the Jews. It shows how very wicked they +were. Some good men who had not consented to the death of Jesus took +his body down from the cross and placed it in a sepulchre or vault cut +out of solid rock. This vault had been cut out of the rock some time +before and belonged to a man of the name of Joseph. This Joseph +assisted in placing the body of Jesus in his new vault or tomb, and +then they placed a large stone at the mouth of the tomb, and the body +of Jesus was buried. As the pall of that night's darkness gently +settled on the grave of the crucified Jesus, the Jews felt relieved +that they had now, as they thought, put their enemy out of sight. But +on the morning of the third day after this some women came to the tomb +to anoint the body of Jesus, and, behold! it was not there; but a +bright and shining angel of glory was there, who said to those good +women: "He is not here; he is risen from the dead." They could hardly +believe for joy. Soon, however, they, with many others, saw the risen +Lord for themselves, with their own eyes, and never doubted any more. + +All that I have said so far is intended as an introduction to my text. +My text says: "We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ." +The Lord told his disciples, who were his loving friends, the reason +why he suffered the Jews to put him to death. It was, he told them, +that all the things written in the law of Moses and the prophets and +the psalms concerning him might be fulfilled. He also said to two of +them as they journeyed to Emmaus: "Ought not Christ to have suffered +these things, and to enter into his glory?" The blood he shed on the +cross was necessary to his glorification. Without it he could not have +been glorified. The blood of Christ is called the blood of the +covenant. Now what is a covenant? A covenant is a union of one mind +and heart with another. It is literally _a going together_, as a man +and woman join heart and hand in the _covenant_ of marriage. When God +and man enter into a covenant they unite and become as one. In this +union God loves man with unspeakable love, and man loves the Lord his +God with all his heart. Love is what unites. Love unites a husband and +wife. When this union is perfect, what the one loves the other +likewise loves; and when we are in covenant union with our glorified +Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what he loves we love, and what he hates +we also hate. As man enters into a covenant with the Lord he enters a +state of salvation from sin, death and hell. But all covenants between +God and men must be sealed or made with blood: and whereas a covenant +with the Lord Jesus Christ redeems and saves man from death and hell, +therefore the blood of Christ redeems and saves man because it is the +blood of the covenant between him and God. + +But let us carry this thought a little further. Jesus said to the +Jews, "Except ye eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man, +ye have no life in you." By blood here the Lord does not mean natural +blood: he means the blood of the covenant by which we are united with +him; the redeeming blood which Peter speaks of in the text. But we +must drink it: otherwise we have no life in us. Now how is it possible +for any one to drink the blood of Christ? I will tell you. Christ's +blood is his life, and he says: "My words are spirit, and they are +life." His blood, then, is his Word in its spirit and life. Now when +we believe what he tells us with our heart, and do what he commands us +because we love him, we are truly _drinking his blood_. When we +forsake our sins by turning unto the Lord from a heart-felt faith in +his Word and belief of the truth he tells us, _we are drinking his +blood_; his blood, which is his gospel truth, becomes our life. "And +because he lives, we shall live also." "I am the way, the truth, and +the life. My word is truth." All this and much more is signified by +eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus. "Whosoever looketh +into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not +a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed +in his deed." God's truth is called the law of liberty. Why? Because +it tells men how they may become free. It redeems them when they obey +it. + +Peter calls this change from bondage to liberty a new birth. Notice +here in the chapter I read: "Born again, not of corruptible seed, but +of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth +forever." We are naturally born unto sin, into the love of things that +please our natural sight, our natural appetites and inclinations. +Through these we love ourselves and the world to a degree that holds +us in bondage, a kind of slavery. This is meant by Paul in these +words: "To whomsoever ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his +servants ye are, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto +righteousness." Peter means about the same by these words: "Of whom a +man is overcome, by the same is he brought into bondage." And in the +book of Hebrews we read of such "who, through fear of death, were all +their lifetime subject to bondage." Being born again spiritually, into +a new state of heart and life, we are set free from our bondage to +sin. In this newborn state we love to do the will of God, and love the +company of good people, and desire to be in the church with the people +of God. The Lord Jesus says: "If the truth shall make you free, ye +shall be free indeed." It is by and through the truth that men are +redeemed. "Verily, verily, he that committeth sin is the servant of +sin." These are the Lord's own words. + +But the worst state any one can be in is a state of bondage in sin, +with no desire, no wish or feeling of any kind, to get out of it. This +spirit of indifference stamps the seal of darkness deeper and deeper, +until the soul loses all desire for anything better. I am just now +reminded of what I read not long since. A family of the name of +Slocum, living in the State of Pennsylvania, if I mistake not, many +years ago, was visited by Indians for the purpose of plunder. With +other things they carried off one of the children of the family, a +girl several years old. The family was sorely distressed, and every +possible effort was made to rescue the child. But all in vain. Many +years after, when the poor little girl's father and mother were both +dead, her surviving brother and sister heard of her. They felt +satisfied they had been correctly informed, and resolved to go to see +her, and if possible try to get her back to live with them once more. +They went on horseback, and found her a long way off in what was then +an unsettled part of Ohio. I may be mistaken even here, as to the part +of the country they found her in. But they did find their sister +living among the Indians, and in fact the wife of one of the chiefs. +She still remembered some English words. They got her to understand +who they were, and they wished her to go back with them to their home. +But she would not go. She gave them to understand that she was +_satisfied_ to remain with the Indians, destitute and comfortless as +they were. The last trace of home feeling had left her heart, and with +it had departed every vestige of religious concern and love for social +life. Sad and sorrowing did her brother and sister return to their +homes; and to the time of their death they never ceased to mourn for +their lost sister. I have told you a true story; and if it causes the +eye of some tender-hearted mother to grow dim with a tear I say, _It +is well_. God's children are exhorted to be tender-hearted, +compassionate one for another, and to weep with the sorrowing. + +But there is something that should touch our sympathies and bring our +tears from fountains far deeper than those opened by such stories as +the one I just related. And that is the condition which so many are in +with respect to the things of salvation. Like the poor woman I told +you about, they are deaf to all that is told them about a better life, +and dead to all that God and man are willing to do for them. It is +sometimes said of the sick that as long as there is life there is +hope. So let it be with us in behalf of such. If the lost sister could +have been made sensible of the great benefit it might have been to her +to go back and live in a civilized and religious way, at last she +might have consented to go. So let us hope that many, who are still in +the bondage of sin and the darkness of this world, may see the truth +that will set them free and give them light to repent and live. + +SATURDAY, July 2. Cross the Cheat mountain to John Riley's in +Pocahontas County, Virginia. + +SUNDAY, July 3. In the forenoon I attend a Methodist quarterly +meeting, at which they hold what they call a love feast; that is, they +take bread and water; and after preaching they take what they call the +Lord's Supper. They seem to be very sincere in what they do; but to my +mind they are not consistent in calling a morsel of bread and a sip of +wine, taken at the middle of the day, the Lord's Supper. I am sure we +have no right to depart from God's order in anything appertaining to +his church and worship. + +In the afternoon I preach a funeral and baptize John Riley. Dine at +Jacob Yager's on top of the Alleghany mountain, and stay all night at +Adam Hevner's. Brother Kline got home Thursday, July 7. + +SUNDAY, July 10. Baptize Samuel Bowman and wife. Brother and Sister +Bowman give proof of being a good tree by the fruit they bear. + +Samuel Bowman lived and died on Linville Creek, not far from Brother +Kline's place. He raised a highly respectable family, very +intelligent, and some of his children became members of the church of +the Brethren. + +SATURDAY, July 30. Meeting at Liberty, in Page County, Virginia. I +speak on FOREORDINATION and ELECTION. Much has been said and written +on these subjects. It is to be feared, however, that instead of light +being thrown upon them in the way they have been treated, darkness, +rather, has been added to darkness. No subjects wrongly viewed can +look darker; and none rightly viewed can look clearer. The word +FOREORDAIN means _to ordain beforehand_: and the word ELECT means _to +choose_. Some that I have met with, in speaking on these subjects, +particularly as they are given in the epistolary writings of the New +Testament, remind me of fish in a net; they flounder about in the net, +while every effort they make fastens them only the more tightly in its +meshes. They read: "Whom God foreknew, he also FOREORDAINED to be +conformed to the image of his Son, ... and whom he foreordained, them +he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom +he justified, them he also glorified." Rom. 8:29, 30. Likewise the +text before us: "ELECT ... according to the foreknowledge of God the +Father, through sanctification of the Spirit." 1 Peter 1:2. + +These passages, with others of a somewhat similar import, do _not_ +teach the foreordination and election of individuals independent of +character and fitness. A lack of perception of this comprehensive +truth accounts for the general misunderstanding of these and like +passages in the apostolic writings. The doctrine of _election_, as it +is called, opens out into a very large field for thought and +investigation. It takes in the whole way of salvation from beginning +to end. + +"God is love," and the universe, with all its display of wonders and +apparent opposition of forces and their ends, was created and is +upheld by the eternal hand, for no other purpose than to make his love +be seen and felt by his intelligent creation. Any other view +challenges the divine love and reflects discredit upon the divine +wisdom. All that we know of God is revealed in the truth he has given +to save man from sin and its consequences. His love, wisdom and power +are all revealed in his great scheme to build up a heaven of eternal +glory and bliss for all who desire or are willing to share in its +blessedness. But God does not work out of order. He works in accord +with the love and wisdom which are his essence, and both infinite and +eternal with him. Before the heavens were made, or ever the +foundations of the earth were laid, it was the divine purpose to +create intelligent beings to be eternally happy. When God created the +heavens and the earth he made man in his own image and likeness. Man +was happy. But he fell. And God foresaw that man would fall; and to +remedy the loss and restore man to the divine image again, Christ was, +as a Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world. In the Divine +estimation Christ was slain before the foundation of the world; but to +us, visibly, not until four thousand years afterward. In the divine +foreknowledge the church was established before the world was made, +and God _foreordained_ who should compose it, basing this +foreordination, not on one in preference to another on any personal +ground, but on the ground of fitness as to quality. Foreordination and +election have nothing to do with man other than as pertains to quality +and fitness. The penitent, believing, loving and obeying, humble, +self-denying soul is _foreordained_ to be one of God's ELECT, now, +henceforth and forever. + +I now repeat the text: "Elect ... according to the foreknowledge of +God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit." What I have +said harmonizes with this, because the qualified fitness of the +_elect_ is through sanctification of the Spirit. Our Lord prays for +all in these words: "Father, sanctify them through thy truth: thy word +is truth." It is through the truth that men are sanctified, and the +sanctified the world over and through all time are God's elect, +according to his foreknowledge or foreordination, because no others +can be. The all-in-all of this great subject resolves itself into the +simple fact that men do not come into covenant union with God unto +salvation because God elected and foreordained it to be so in their +special behalf as individuals, unconditionally chosen beforehand, +whilst others no worse than they are left to go to destruction; but +they are elected _according to God's foreordination_ because they have +come into covenant union with him unto salvation; and have, therefore, +the fitness to be worthy of being so chosen or elected. Their election +and foreordination are not the cause but the result of the fitness. It +is foreordained that "of such is the kingdom of heaven," because it +cannot consist of any other kind. + +But let us turn to Ezekiel's prophecy, 33:11, "As I live, saith the +Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the +wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye, ... for why will +ye die; O house of Israel?" If the house of Israel was of the elect on +an unconditional basis of salvation, they surely would return at some +time, and why such concern? If not, all the calling after them that +could be done would not fetch them back, because they were not of the +elect. This is exactly where the doctrine of unconditional election +leads. + +Again, 2 Peter 3:9, God is "not willing that any should perish, but +that all should come to repentance." If God is not willing that any +should perish, why did he not make provision and save all? If it is +possible for him to save some just because he chooses to do so without +any conditions, why not save all? I know what the advocates of this +doctrine which I am combatting teach: they say God makes his elect +willing to repent and turn to him in the day of his power. I ask, If +he is not willing that any should perish, why does he not save all? If +he wills that all should come to repentance, why does he not give +repentance to all and remission of sins? I mention these things merely +to show the contradictions and confusion involved in the doctrine of +unconditional elections. + +I will here relate what I read somewhere not long ago. A very pious +African slave was employed in waiting on the guests at a public house +of entertainment. One of the guests, who was a man of some prominence +in the world, having been informed of the unaffected Christian piety +of this poor slave, thought to sport with him. Addressing him by name, +he said: "I want you to tell me whether I am one of the Lord's elect +or not." "Indeed, sir," said the poor slave, "I have never heard of +your being a candidate. If you want a place in the good Lord's service +you must go to him and tell him that you are a candidate, that you +will accept the lowest place that he is willing to give you, and that +you will do whatever he requires at your hands. If," continued he, +"you come out publicly in this way, I can then tell you what I think +as to whether you are one of the Lord's elect or not." + +FRIDAY, August 5. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse. Much good +singing, with thanksgiving and speaking suited to the occasion. + +SUNDAY, August 28. Meeting at Edom, a village about six miles +northward from Harrisonburg, Virginia. I spoke from 1 Peter 3:18, 22. +The first part of this text should be handled with great caution. +Precisely what is meant is not very clear. I am told that a critical +examination of the Greek text does favor the doctrine that Christ went +from the cross to carry the news of his victorious death to the +spirits of those who perished in the flood. If it pleased the good +Lord to carry the news of salvation to this throng of prisoners and +release them from their prison, who can say aught against it? My heart +would rejoice to think that every being in the universe could and +would, sometime, in the course of the ages, be made sinless and happy. +But we should never concern ourselves about what God has not revealed. +It is our right and privilege to rejoice evermore in the free and full +salvation clearly set forth and freely offered in his Word. To the +unconverted and careless sinner, I here say to-day, as I love your +immortal soul, Do not rest your hope of salvation upon anything short +of a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If our Father in heaven +has provided another way, as some would say, "by fire," I know not +that way. + +History says that + + "Kings are men to glory known + Who wade through fire to a throne;" + +but a seared and blistered body is a great price to pay for an earthly +crown. So I think that "by fire," even if such a thing were possible, +would be a very undesirable way of getting into heaven, especially if +the fire means "hell fire." Martyrs, it is true, have gone to glory +through fire; but not the fire that burns and sears the soul. It was +only that elementary fire kindled by wicked hands around the stake. It +could kill the body, but after that there was no more that it could +do; and the purified and ransomed soul of the sainted being who thus +had suffered could look down from heights of glory upon the ashes of +his martyrdom and sing: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where +is thy victory?" + +But to return to the text. We here note this remarkable language, that +"baptism doth also now save us." I suppose Peter uses the word +"baptism" here in its authorized acceptation, which is the immersion +of the body of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of +the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a properly authorized administrator +of the ordinance. But in what sense can baptism be said to save us? My +first answer is, It saves us just as the sevenfold washing in Jordan +on the part of Naaman saved that leprous nobleman from being consumed +by the leprosy. + +I will extend my remarks somewhat concerning Naaman the Syrian. He +came to the Prophet Elisha to get cured of his leprosy. He was well +supplied with valuable presents for the man of God, to be given to him +in the event of his being healed by him. The prophet of God told him +to go and wash or bathe seven times in the Jordan. This appeared too +insignificant for such a great man as he was to submit to. Besides he +regarded the waters of Damascus as superior in virtue to the waters of +the Jordan, and he started off in a rage from disappointment. But as +he was leaving his servants said to him: "If the prophet had bid thee +do some great thing wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather +then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down and +dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the +man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little +child, and he was clean." Now, in my view, baptism saves us as this +sevenfold dipping in Jordan saved Naaman. Not the water, but the +spirit of obedience, is what saves. It saves us as going through the +door into the ark saved Noah and his family. It saves us as passing +through the Red Sea saved Israel from the host of Egyptians that were +in pursuit. This passage of Israel through the sea is called a +baptism. + +And what shall I say more? For it looks as if this ought to be enough. +But I would like to send my voice around the globe laden with the +truth that "faith without works is dead," and that baptism is the very +first outward work of obedience the believer is required to do. This, +with the other ordinances of God's house, in connection with a good +life ornamented with the fruits of love and good will toward men, +gives life to faith and proves that it is a living reality in the +soul. + +Saul of Tarsus was a believing convict; + + "Borne down beneath a load of sin; + By Satan sorely pressed--" + +for three days and nights, in which he did neither eat nor drink. +Ananias came to him with instructions direct from the Lord, saying: +"Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name +of the Lord." Can we suppose that Saul would have become the happy +convert that he was, had he refused to obey? + +Some think that baptism is nothing, or so nearly nothing that it is +hardly worth taking into the account of Christian life. May it not as +truthfully be said that faith is nothing, and that repentance is +nothing, and that obedience is nothing? Where is the difference? + +In all love, with my heart moved in good will toward every one in this +house, I do here say that for the life of me I cannot see how any one +can hope for salvation while living in open disobedience to the only +Savior, Jesus Christ. Can any plead ignorance? From this hour forth +you shall not bring that in as a plea for neglect of duty, for I now +repeat in your ears the words that fell from the lips of Jesus +himself: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Have I a +right to say that you will be saved without baptism? I claim no such +right. You may say the penitent thief on the cross was saved without +baptism. So he was; all things are possible with God; and +notwithstanding all that God has said in his Word about baptism and +its blessed followings, I boldly say to you that if you die knowing as +little about it as the thief on the cross did, with no better chance +to have it administered upon you and to you than he had, God will +never require it at your hands. But from this day on, if not before +this day, you are lifted out of the darkness that encompassed his +mind, and can nevermore plead ignorance. Besides, your hands and feet +are not nailed to a cross as his were. You are not reduced to the +extremity of calling for mercy with the last gasp of expiring life. +"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" + +Again: Hear what was said to the convicted multitude on the day of +Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of +Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift +of the Holy Ghost." Have I a right, has any one a right, to say that +these promises would have been fulfilled without baptism? But they +were fulfilled, for the same day there were added to the brethren then +present, about three thousand souls. Would such addition have been +made without a compliance with the terms of admission? But those who +speak and think lightly of baptism, whilst they may not see it so, do +virtually dishonor the blessed Jesus by their implied belief that he +demands something of his people which is of little or no account. They +insult him by substantially saying they understand his business better +than he does himself. Are any ashamed to be baptized? If there be one +such here to-day, I warningly repeat in his or her ear this saying of +Jesus: "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall +the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the +glory of the Father, and of the holy angels." + +I have a clear conscience that I am attaching to this subject no more +importance than it justly claims in the scale of salvation. When I lay +me down to die, above all things I desire to feel assured that "I have +not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God." I submit these +remarks to your consideration, with a prayer for the divine blessing +upon us all to his glory. Amen! + +TUESDAY, September 13. Perform the marriage ceremony of Michael Brake, +of Hardy County, Virginia, and Julia Ann Hevner, of Rockingham County, +at the home of her father, William Hevner. + +THURSDAY, September 22. Attend a love feast at Abraham Huffman's in +Page County, and stay all night at Nathan Spitler's. These two +brethren give promise of great usefulness in the church. + +SUNDAY, October 9. Brother Kline started to Maryland and Pennsylvania. +I here name the families he visited on this journey, in the order the +visits were made: Brother Waltman's, Jacob Saylor's, Widow Baer's, +Jacob Rees's, Jesse Royer's, Widow Rees's, Moomaw's, David Garber's, +Widow Bofamyer's, Joseph Pontz's, Minich's, Harnley's, Hartzler's, on +Tulpahocken, Daniel Zug's, John Gipple's, Abraham Gipe's, Isaac +Brubaker's. At this place he stayed the night of Monday, October 24. +He reports that a snow began to fall about three o'clock Monday +morning, which continued till evening, when it was over a foot in +depth. A remarkable occurrence for the time of year, October 24. It +will be remembered by many for a time to come. He then visited Abraham +Balsbach's, Moses Miller's, Allen Mohler's, William Etter's, +Sollenberger's, Engel's, Christian Keffer's. + +I now name the places where he attended meetings: Jacob Saylor's +meetinghouse, October 13; Pipe Creek meetinghouse, October 14; Jacob +Rees's meetinghouse, October 15; Meadow Branch meetinghouse, October +16; Brother Moomaw's, October 17; Mount Joy, October 18; Widow +Bofamyer's, October 19; Joseph Pontz's morning, Brother Minich's +evening, October 20; Brother Harnley's morning, Shafferstown evening, +October 21; Brother Hartzler's on Tulpehocken, October 22; Milborough +morning, John Gipple's night, October 23; Isaac Brubaker's, October +24; Spring Creek morning, Abraham Balsbach's afternoon, October 25; +Mechanicsburg, October 26; Allen Mohler's, October 27; William +Etter's, October 28; Sellenberger's, October 29; Welsh Run +meetinghouse forenoon, Ridge meetinghouse night, October 30. + +MONDAY, October 31. Start for home. Brother Kline arrived home safe +November 4. This report speaks for itself in behalf of his energy and +activity in the work of the ministry. Such instances of untiring +effort! Twenty-three meetings attended; and as many discourses +delivered, in seventeen consecutive days! Besides, he had considerable +traveling to do in reaching these appointments; and never stayed more +than one night at the same place! We involuntarily ask, When did he +sleep? or, Did he never get tired? + +TUESDAY, November 15. Brother Samuel Bowman died this morning. I +rejoice to think he was a sincere follower of the Lord, and that he +has left a life record which he will not likely be ashamed to own in a +coming day. + +SATURDAY, November 19. Night meeting at Prince's schoolhouse, near +Brother Abraham Huffman's, in Page County. Acts 8:12. TEXT.--"But when +they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of +God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both +men and women." + +The dispersion which followed the fiery persecution of the saints at +Jerusalem was productive of good. The scattered apostles, and the +overseers of the deacons as well, of whom Philip named in the text was +one, preached wherever they went, and many believed. The very steps +taken by the enemies of the cross to put an end to its power "turned +out unto the furtherance of the gospel." In this we can see the +overruling hand of Providence. + +There is one point in this line of thought which I desire to make +specially prominent. This point is the readiness with which believers +in that day submitted to the ordinance of baptism, and the +consequences which were almost sure to follow. The duty of being +immersed seems to have pressed itself upon their hearts, and nothing +short of obedience to this command could give their consciences rest. +But how is it now! Error has done so much to rob this impressive +ordinance of its beauty and significance that many seem indifferent to +its claims, or ignore it entirely. + +Thousands professing faith in Christ at the present day go away from +the _revival_ singing: + + "Nothing, either great or small; + Nothing have I now to do: + Jesus died and paid it all, + Long time ago." + +This would surely be getting salvation at a cheap rate. There is in +this no "trial of faith, more precious than gold," no "cleansing of +the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." +This means receiving the crown without bearing the cross. But the +early Christians were never soothed with such sedatives. On the +contrary, they were admonished to count the cost. Some of the items in +this cost were "_self-denial, no certain dwelling place_," _the loss +of all things, persecutions, fiery trials, bonds, imprisonments, +death_. They were not taught to regard the church as a cradle in which +their spiritual infancy was to be rocked, but as being a camp for +soldiers, with stout hearts and strong sinews, ready to do battle for +the Lord. They were therefore exhorted to put on the whole armor of +God: and their baptismal vow was the act of putting this armor on +publicly, and their enrollment in the Lord's host, prepared for the +great conflict. They were expected from that hour forth to "fight the +good fight of faith," and the battle hymn that flowed out of the heart +of every baptized believer of that day was, in spirit if not in form, +the same that some of us are still ready to sing: + + "Sure I must fight, if I would reign; + Increase my courage, Lord: + I'll bear the cross, endure the pain, + Supported by thy Word." + +I would rejoice if I could here, this night, be the means of melting +the ice that binds the hearts of some halfway believers, and if the +angel would trouble the sluggish pool in others. May God help you, +friends, to feel a sense of your duty, and, like these honest +Samaritans named in the text, "believe the things spoken concerning +the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and be baptized, both +men and women." + +Brother Kline was actively engaged in preaching and visiting the sick +professionally as a physician to the close of the year. He traveled in +the year 1853, 4,411 miles. + +I find it impossible to trace all the visits to distant churches and +families made by Brother Kline, and keep this book within the limits +of a suitable size. I therefore omit much which might be of interest. + +FRIDAY, March 3. Council at the old meetinghouse above Harrisonburg. + +SATURDAY, March 4. Council closes. Night meeting in Dayton, Virginia. +I speak from Psalm 144:11, 12: "Rid me, and deliver me from the hand +of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand +is a right hand of falsehood: that our sons may be as plants grown up +in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished +after the similitude of a palace." + +This is a wonderful prayer from the heart of one who was both priest +and king of his people. As a priest, David had the care of the +spiritual welfare of his people; and as a king, the civil prosperity +of Judah and Israel. The prayer of my text is offered in behalf of +both these interests, the spiritual and the temporal. Probably no man +ever felt more deeply the truth expressed in his own words, elsewhere +recorded, "Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah," than David did. +The lofty consciousness, which is the orderly outgrowth of correct +knowledge of God's love, wisdom and power, and man's utter lack of all +these attributes, accounts for the dependence and trust he reposed in +God. This called forth the prayer of my text. It contains three +petitions. The first is _for deliverance from strange children_; the +second, _that the sons may be as plants_ [olive trees] _grown up in +their youth_; the third, _that the daughters may be as corner stones, +polished after the similitude of a palace_. + +David comes into the presence of the Lord-as the representative of his +kingdom. His watchful eye has seen the tracks and his listening ear +has heard the steps of strange feet. They are the feet of the +surrounding idolatrous nations. He calls them strange children, for +such they are; because in language, manners and dress they give proof +that they are not of Judah and Jerusalem, but of Sodom and Egypt. More +than this, these strange children are enemies. They would break up the +self-denying worship of the true God and rob the sanctuary of all its +sacred garniture. They would corrupt the morals, debase the manners, +and deprave the tastes of the young. "Their mouth speaketh vanity." +They boast of their liberty. Their sinful indulgences are not +restrained by law. They are _free_ to do whatever the lust of the +flesh and the eye may incline them to do. "Their right hand is the +right hand of falsehood." This figure is very strong. The _right hand_ +in this place is figuratively put for knowledge, wisdom, power, and +whatever else they may vainly boast of having. But they are destitute +of all these. They have no knowledge of that which is good, because +they desire it not. They have no wisdom, because they have never +lifted their minds and hearts to the high plane of desire to do +justice and judgment. They have no power save that which is of the +natural man; and that power, unless properly restrained, is always to +be feared. No wonder that he says of these idolatrous, licentious +people that "their right hand is the right hand of falsehood." + +But how is the Lord to rid him of and deliver him from the hand of +these strange children? By causing fire to fall from heaven and +consume them? By causing a flood of water to drown them? Or by making +the earth to open her jaws and devour them? No, no; in none of these +ways; for in such destruction of enemies there is no trial of the +faith of his people. Brethren, do you know that it is, has been and to +the end of time will be the pleasure of our heavenly Father to try the +faith of his children? This cannot be done independent of means. Do +you know that a tree standing in a stormy place takes deeper root than +one that grows up in a calm, sheltered spot? Do you know that a child +shielded from every trial, and kept out of the reach of all +temptation, will grow up with a very weak moral development? The back +that is never made to bear a load will forever stay weak. The hand and +arm unused to toil will lack strength and skill. God does not want a +kingdom made up of imbeciles. He wants a people strong in faith, who +can make a good fight, "the good fight of faith; lay hold of eternal +life;" and if needs be "take the kingdom of heaven by violence," the +violence that resists the devil and makes him leave tracks which point +away from where his people stand. The track always tells which way the +fox has gone. + +This strength of faith, Brethren, is included in David's prayer for +his people, and he puts it in this shape: "That our sons may be as +plants [olive trees; see Psalm 128:4] grown up in their youth." We all +know that plants, including trees, make their best growth and yield +their best results in the open air, where they are exposed to the sun, +wind, rain, storm and drouth. And it is there they can receive the +tillage they need. + +You see how readily this beautiful figure applies to the rearing and +education of children. "That our sons may be _grown up in their +youth_." Their manhood as to faith, virtue, obedience, wisdom, +intelligence and piety is largely developed while they are yet young. +How many mistakes are made by parents right here! They say of their +sons: "Ah, they are young. After awhile they will be through with +sowing their wild oats, and then I expect better things of them." The +better things may come, but David prayed otherwise. He wanted the +better things to grow up with their growth, and strengthen with their +strength, so as to be perfect men even while yet in their youth, as +lambs may be perfect in form and quality before they are fully +developed into sheep. + +But more. He prays that "our daughters may be as corner stones, +polished after the similitude of a palace." Many of us, no doubt, have +seen palaces built of polished stones. David almost breaks me down +under the weight of his strong and significant figures. He wants the +sons of Judah and Jerusalem to be fruit-bearing trees with strong +roots struck deep into the ground. But the sphere in which the +daughters are to move, the part they are to act, the place they are to +hold in the social and religious life of the church and the world, is +different from that of the sons, and so he uses a very different +figure. They are to be corner stones, polished and set into a palace. +Corner stones, from the ground to the roof, are those upon which the +strength and beauty of a building greatly depend. A defect here mars +the appearance and detracts largely from the permanence and value of +the structure. David wants to see the daughters strong and solid as +corner stones, in faith, virtue, wisdom and all else that helps to +make a woman strong: and at the same time polished with all the +refinements of taste, modesty, beauty, gentleness, tender-heartedness +and love. + +Since God has specially endowed woman with large capacities for +developing these powers and graces, let her look to it that they be +not suffered to lie buried in a napkin, or perverted to the idolatrous +worship of the goddess of fashion. The plastic and pliable temperament +of woman tends towards making her an easy prey for the tempter, when +he approaches her with smiles, bearing in his hands jewels of gold, +braided hair, and costly apparel. She is lured the same by the giddy +revel and the fashionable dance--trusting, thoughtless, happy child; +ready for almost any pleasure that makes the cheek to glow and the eye +to sparkle with delight! + +Mothers, be patient, watchful and wise in training your daughters. +Withhold from them no good thing, but teach them to shun the ways that +are "the ways of hell." Fathers, be mild, but firm in training your +sons into habits of sobriety, temperance and abstemiousness from all +bad habits. Pray with them and for them, and if possible teach them to +feel that there is something better than the life and purer than the +love of this world. May God bless the young people of our land and +make them the pillars of his truth, is my prayer. + +THURSDAY, April 13. Council meeting at the Mill Creek meetinghouse. +Brother Isaac Long is elected speaker, and Christian Hartman deacon. +Brother Isaac Long gives promise of great power in the Word. He has a +very good voice for both speaking and singing. I do not wish to attach +undue weight to this most wonderful gift of God, but when the head is +stored with knowledge and the heart with the love of truth, the human +voice is one of the great means by which God makes known the saving +virtue of his Word. + +FRIDAY, April 14. Council meeting at the old meetinghouse. Brother +John Thomas is elected to the deaconship. + +SUNDAY, April 30. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Samuel Wampler and wife +baptized. + +THURSDAY, May 11. Perform the marriage ceremony of George Wine, son of +Samuel Wine, and Lydia Good, daughter of Jacob Good. + +MONDAY, May 22. This day Brother Kline starts to the Annual Meeting. +He gets to Cumberland on the twenty-third, where he meets Brother E.K. +Beachley, who takes him to his home. The same evening he attends a +love feast at a meetinghouse near by. + +FRIDAY, May 26. He attends a union meeting at the Middle Creek +meetinghouse, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. + +SATURDAY, May 27. He has meeting near Brother David Lichty's. I will +clothe the skeleton of this discourse as best I can. Acts 10:34, 35. +TEXT.--"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive +that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that +feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him." + +It required a miracle to convince Peter that any besides Jews were to +be favored with the Gospel. But a man of his stamp of character, hard +to be convinced, resolute even to drawing the sword in defense of his +friend or faith, is not likely to be imposed upon by false +appearances, nor deceived by unreliable promises. Just such a man +Jesus needed, and just such a man Jesus chose to be foreman in his +little band of disciples. But when all doubt was removed from Peter's +mind, his faith became to be a part of himself. Its roots branched out +into every part of his nature, and permeated his entire self. Well +could Jesus say of the TRUTH which Peter so nobly confessed, and to +which he so nobly adhered in the later years of his life by a _faith_ +that bore the test of fire: "Upon this rock will I build my church, +and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Such faith ever +has been and ever will be the foundation on which his church stands. + +But now Peter clearly sees that the Gentiles are "fellow heirs with +the Jews," and equally entitled to the right of becoming members of +"the household of faith." "God is no respecter of persons: but in +every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is +accepted of him." Neither social, moral nor political caste, nor age, +sex, color nor condition impose any barrier to God's acceptance. Peter +was taught this by his vision; and this is the meaning of the text. +But whilst God is thus impartial, we must not forget that his +acceptance of any and every one depends upon their acceptance of him. + +"_He that feareth God._" I will say something on this. A +misunderstanding of this may do serious harm. Let me first say that +our heavenly Father, God, is not a despot or tyrant. There is no +element in his nature or essence that in the slightest degree savors +of despotism or tyranny. Jesus says: "He that seeth me seeth the +Father: the Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared +him. And from henceforth ye have both seen the Father and know him." +Jesus was also called Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is, "God +with us." Do we, then, desire a correct knowledge of God the Father? +Let us acquaint ourselves with his Son Jesus Christ, and we will have +it, for he came to do the will of the Father. This was his explicit +work; and he accomplished it, for he says in his last great prayer: +"And now, O Father, I come to thee, having finished the work thou +gavest me to do." + +Now I ask, Did Jesus ever show anything else than good will toward +men? Is there not manifest love in every act of his recorded life? Did +he not go about doing good? Did he not say: "No man hath greater love +than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my +friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you"? God's love is seen in the +life work and words of Jesus. + +Now, then, in what sense is Jesus Christ to be feared? In the very +sense in which his disciples feared him. But this was not in the sense +of being timid or fearful of his presence. On the contrary, they +desired to be with him and near him, for they felt secure in his +presence. They could take hold of his hands and see the nail prints, +and the spear mark in his side. John leaned on his breast at table, +and the women took hold of his feet. His word of comfort was: "Fear +not," and he often repeated this in their ears. "Be not afraid; it is +I." In all this we see the heart of our heavenly Father, for "the Son +is the express image of him." In what sense, then, are we to fear God? +Only in the sense of fear to go counter to his will. "Perfect love +casteth out fear." The redeemed saints and angels who stand before his +heavenly throne in perfect love know no fear of God, "for fear hath +torment." But we, who still grovel on earth battling with the world, +the flesh and the devil, have cause to fear offending his righteous +and holy will. But this only when we are tempted to leave some duty +undone or to commit some actual sin. As long as we walk in the good +way of love, faith and obedience we have nothing to fear. To all such +Jesus ever says: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good +pleasure [delight, joy] to give you the kingdom." + +"_And worketh righteousness._" It is in order now to speak on this +point in the text. We know that God is just, "and there is no +unrighteousness in him." The prophet Daniel in his confession said: "O +Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee." To work righteousness, then, +is to do the righteous will of the Father. All works of righteousness +have their origin in supreme love to God and subordinate love to man. +"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" covers the ground. It is +very much the same as that other saying of Jesus: "All things +whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto +them, for this is the law and the prophets." This command comprehends +all the possible relations of men with each other. It takes in the +social, moral, civil, commercial, national and religious relations of +the human family in all time; and when a man's conduct in these varied +relations is governed by the Lord's golden rule, he is working +righteousness in the eye of God and is accepted of him. "_He that +worketh righteousness_" takes in every human being that lives a good +life. But no one can live a good life without help from the Lord. +Jesus says: "Without me ye can do nothing." Cornelius had help from +God. He feared God. He worshiped God. He was a devout man himself, and +all his house had the same reverence for God. He had also heard of +Christ, especially of the witness borne by the Holy Spirit, at his +baptism, and that of the Father acknowledging his divine sonship. + +But Cornelius needed instruction in matters pertaining to the +ordinances of God's house. His knowledge and faith were sufficient for +the purposes of living a good, righteous life. He was a man of prayer. +He also possessed that element of goodness which Paul says is greater +even than faith, and that element is _charity_. Notice, the angel said +to him: "Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up as a memorial before +God." The angel included nothing else. In our acknowledgments of +regard and favor in the behalf of any one we refer to one's character +and standing in the eyes of men. But the angel made no such reference. +From this we may learn what God loves most in his people, and that is +LOVE. The love of Cornelius for God was manifested by his prayers. +Loving, faithful, trustful prayers are the proof that we love God: and +kindness, gentleness and goodness toward others, the proof that we +love our neighbor. This was manifest in his alms. + +But the Lord wanted Cornelius to arise and mount a higher plane in the +life of righteousness: a high plane of holy intelligence and knowledge +respecting himself and his people. The Holy Ghost falling upon him and +the rest brought with it the illuminating power, in verification of +the Lord's words: "The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my +name, he shall teach you all things." This inflowing power, teaching, +quickening, regenerating the soul, is what Jesus means by a man's +being born of the Spirit: and in its order and connection "the washing +of regeneration," the water baptism, the water birth into the church, +follows. Cornelius was baptized, and all the devout members of his +family with him. This is the last mention that is made of him. Very +soon after this time that fearful persecution of the saints arose in +Jerusalem and Judea, which resulted in their dispersion to foreign +countries and places, so that Cornelius may never have enjoyed the +privilege of having the remaining ordinances of feet-washing, the +gospel salutation of the kiss, the love feast, and the holy Communion +of the bread and wine administered to him and his house. As no church +could be organized at the house of Cornelius at that time, these +ordinances had to be postponed. In truth, their introduction and +observance must always be guarded with care, lest they be abused and +perverted, as they were at Corinth some years later. But of this we +are sure: "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted of a man +according to that which he hath, and not according to that which he +hath not." + +I cannot close without a few reflections on what has been said. When +Cornelius was told what to do, he did not hesitate a moment. Forthwith +he sent for Peter. When Peter came he received him with joy, and would +have worshiped him in devout solemnity, had Peter not instantaneously +rejected his approach. When the inflowing baptism of the Holy Spirit +gave him and those with him the new birth of the Spirit, they were +ready to receive the water birth by baptism in water. The water was +not forbidden, because no opposition to the Gospel had as yet arisen +in Cesarea. + +Now, friends, here is an example worthy of imitation. Let me prevail +in my appeal to you in behalf of your immortal souls. "To whom much is +given, of him they will require the more." Much is given you, my dear +friends who have so attentively listened to me to-day. "He that hath +ears to hear, let him hear." To hear is to obey. "He that knoweth to +do his master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many +stripes." "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole +world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for +his soul?" These "words are spirit and they are life." "Learn of me," +says the best friend on earth, "and ye shall find rest unto your +souls." + +SUNDAY, May 28. Love feast at Forney's. Christian Schmucker is +ordained to the full work of the ministry. + +TUESDAY, May 30. Love feast at David Summers's. An election is held. +Brother David Royer is elected speaker; and Daniel Newcomer and David +Summers deacons. + +THURSDAY, June 1. Love feast at Brother Joseph Royer's, nine miles +north of Canton. + +SATURDAY, June 3. Stay all night at Brother Nathan Stern's. + +SUNDAY, June 4. Come to place of Annual Meeting. Breakfast in the +shed. Six persons baptized. + +MONDAY, June 5. Form committees, and begin to take in queries. Stay +all night on the ground. + +TUESDAY, June 6. Begin the discussion of questions. Get through with +the slave question by noon. All night on the ground. + +WEDNESDAY, June 7. Get through with business by eleven o'clock, and +the meeting breaks up. + +SUNDAY, July 23. This day Joseph Miller and I start to the counties of +Pendleton, Hardy, Randolph, Pocahontas, and Highland. I ride Nell. + +These two brethren were absent on this journey precisely three weeks +to the day. I fear it would be tedious to the reader to trace them day +by day and step by step through all the ways they went. Not a day +passed in which they did not fill one appointment for preaching, and +often two. Brother Kline felt at home among the mountains. He had a +lively appreciation of the sublime in nature; and more than once does +he note the grandeur of some mountain's lofty summit over which he +passed; the majestic power of some falling stream; or the awful +solitude of some deep forest. It was mainly a timbered country through +which they passed. The regions traversed by the Alleghany mountain +proper were in that day still in a state of nature; and the scattered +inhabitants very nearly in the same state. Many of them live very +remote from any railroad or other public highway. + +At a private house, in Randolph County, he says: "Extensive forests of +very tall and straight timber which would be exceedingly valuable for +building and other purposes, could it be gotten to market, cover large +sections of Randolph, Pocahontas, Tucker and other counties further +west. But as time goes on population will increase; and after awhile +the urgent demands for the timber and other productions of these +regions will cause roads to be constructed for their transportation to +markets. We should not be backward in our efforts to secure permanent +foothold for the truth as we hold and practice it. Many here cannot +read for themselves; and it pains my heart to find how poorly they +have been instructed in the things pertaining to the way of salvation. +The small amount of preaching they hear is not often of an instructive +character. It appeals to the feelings, but does not inform the mind. +This I learn by conversing with them. They are told to believe, it is +true; but what their faith is to lay hold of, and what the Lord +requires them to do that they may serve him acceptably, is not made +clear to their minds. It is not to be inferred that all are on the low +plane of intelligence I have described. There is here and there an +exception. But the exceptions are rare. And in our preaching we aim to +speak, as did Paul, 'as to babes.' As to natural capacity, and their +capability of attaining to high intelligence in the things of men and +God, things human and divine, under the hand of adequate instruction, +I regard them as being equal to any people in our State." + +The two brethren continued in the company of each other throughout +this journey. They got home Sunday, August 13. + +FRIDAY, September 29. This day Brother Kline starts to the counties of +Hardy and Hampshire. He visits Isaac Dasher's, James Parks's, William +Michael's, Adam Cosner's, Henry Cosner's, Joseph Arnold's, John +Leatherman's, Samuel Arnold's, Adam Michael's, Michael Lyon's, Solomon +Michael's, Jacob Cosner's, Martain Lantz's, Enoch Hyre's, Isaac +Shobe's, Chlora Judy's, Peggy Dasher's, and James Fitzwater's. He got +home Thursday, Oct. 12, after an absence of two weeks. He rode Nell. I +beg the kind reader to pardon the entry of the foregoing list of +names. + +The Editor will here tell a short story of what really took place very +recently. He happened to be at the house of one of his friends, and in +looking through his library he discovered a very old copy of the life +of Isaac N. Walter, who had been dead over forty years. He remarked to +the lady of the house: "I see you still have on hand a copy of the +life of Isaac N. Walter." "O, yes, and that is the most precious +volume to me in all the library. You see from its appearance that it +has been handled very freely. Mr. Walter used to come to our house, +and whilst papa was not a member of his church he and papa thought a +great deal of each other; and whilst I have but a childhood +recollection of him, reading that book carries me back in thought to +the old home place where I was raised, and calls up the thousand and +one pleasant memories of my early days." Thus she went on; and very +soon opened to the place where the date of one of Mr. Walter's visits +to her father's house was given. She could no longer restrain her +tears, but excused them by saying: "You know a woman never forgets her +first love, and that is the love of her childhood home." + +On this trip Brother Kline baptized Josiah Simons and James Hilkey, +October 7. + +SUNDAY, October 15. Meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize eleven +persons to-day. They are Noah Rhodes and wife; Frederic Kline and +wife; George Wine and wife; Susanna Showalter; Jacob Sanger; John +McKee; Catharine Fink, and Polly Wampler. + +SUNDAY, October 22. Meeting at the Lost River meetinghouse. Matthew 28 +is read. Philip Fitzwater and Catharine Sowder are baptized. + +SUNDAY, October 29. Meeting at John Glick's, in Shenandoah County. +After meeting I baptize John Glick and wife. Stay all night at John +Neff's. + +SUNDAY, November 12. Meeting at our meetinghouse. This day I baptize +John A. Showalter; Mary Kline; Mary Kesler; Anna Hoover, wife of +Emanuel Hoover, and Mrs. Fogel. + +SUNDAY, November 26. This day John Bowman and I take a steamer at +Alexandria and attend a Methodist church in Washington City. After +looking around at the gorgeous displays of artistic ornamentation in +the structure and finish of the building itself, and being comfortably +seated in a pew cushioned with silk velvet, with my feet resting on a +Brussels carpet, I was ready to hear. The first thing I heard was a +sort of chant, with organ accompaniment. But I could only now and then +distinguish a word chanted; so I could not say amen to their giving of +thanks. Next came the reading of the twenty-fourth Psalm. Being a good +way back, I could not hear distinctly, but knowing the Psalm by heart, +memory served where hearing failed. This was more satisfactory. Next +came the musical interlude, and the opening prayer followed. I hardly +ever criticise a prayer; but when that prayer was through with it did +occur to my mind that if it were to be suddenly answered none would +probably be so much surprised as the preacher who offered it. A +familiar hymn was now sung, and many in the congregation joined their +voices in the song. This was very enjoyable. Next the sermon. The +preacher used fine language, and ornamented his discourse with flowery +similitudes and opposite figures. Such eloquence as flowed from his +lips to-day, other things being equal, does not fail to attract large +audiences. But when I took a view of the congregation, and beheld the +display of fashion everywhere visible, I could not suppress the +inquisitive reflection as to what John Wesley would think of that +being a congregation of Methodists, could he suddenly appear among +them. Would he own them? And would they own him in his plain dress and +old-fashioned ways? And then the thought--what if the next hundred +years bring on as great a change in our Brotherhood as the past +seventy-five years have unfolded in the Methodist society! But here I +let the curtain fall upon my thoughts, to hide them from my sight, for +I cannot endure the prospect of such a change. + +I aim to cultivate a spirit of forbearance toward all denominations of +professing Christians; but I am forced to conclude that in this place +the sons of God have fallen in love with the daughters of men; that +the church and the world have shaken hands in a mutual agreement to +live together in peace. + +MONDAY, November 27. At 5 o'clock we take the train for Baltimore, +where we arrive at 6:40 P.M. Stop at Globe hotel. + +TUESDAY, November 28. Attend to business in the city, and in the +evening go to Michael B. Kline's. + +WEDNESDAY, November 29. At 8 A.M. meet Brother D.P. Saylor at the +depot, and take cars for Philadelphia, where we arrive at 12:30 P.M. +Dine at Brother John Kagey's; then come to Morristown, and from there +to Brother John Umstead's, where we stay all night. + +THURSDAY, November 30. Come to Brother Isaac Price's, and then to +Brother David Fricke's, where we stay all night. + +FRIDAY, December 1. Come to Price's meetinghouse. Make arrangements; +take the voice of the church touching the grievance; close our +meeting; come to Brother Peter Hollowbush's; stay all night and +prepare our papers. + +SATURDAY, December 2. Come to the meetinghouse again. Brother D.P. +Saylor speaks in the forenoon, and in the afternoon we present our +papers and try to settle, but great commotion follows, and we close +the meeting. Come to Brother John Price's; stay all night. Night +meeting. Speak on John 10:9. + +SUNDAY, December 3. Meeting at the meetinghouse again. I speak on 1 +Peter 1:22. TEXT.--"See that ye love one another with a pure heart +fervently." + +Scientific moralists teach that man's _love_ is his _life_. They +support this statement by what they regard a self-evident truth, that +such as a man's love is, such is his life. The wide field for +investigation to which this line of thought leads, presents many +plausible arguments in favor of the doctrine they hold. For one, I can +and must confess that I have never been able to look deep enough into +the human soul to find out just what the principle of life is. Neither +is it important that I should know. But there is One that does know. +That One needs not that any should testify to him concerning man, for +he knows what is in man. + +Brethren, you all know to whom my thought now turns. I mean our Lord +Jesus Christ. And let the life principle, the heart principle, the +love principle be one and the same or not, it is he who says of men: +"By their fruits shall ye KNOW them;" not doubtfully, but surely. The +life record of every man, written not with pen and ink on paper, but +with the finger of God on the tablet of his memory, will be the basis +of his adjudgment to hell or his acquittal to heaven. For "a good man +out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things; +likewise an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth +forth evil things." "And they that have done good shall come forth +unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the +resurrection of damnation." + +Man is created for society. He cannot be happy without it. If it would +be possible for us to conceive of a world inhabited by but one human +being, with all hope of society forever banished, if that human being +could ever think at all, it would only be to wish himself dead. All +our affections and thoughts are so intimately connected with the +affections and thoughts of others as to derive all the zest of their +enjoyment from this source alone. We enjoy the pleasures of the table +most when those we love enjoy them with us. This feeling is so +inwrought in the character that when any we specially love are absent, +who we may fear are not faring as well as we, the reflection mars the +relish of our food. This is what should be. But the length and breadth +of social enjoyment is exactly commensurate with the length and +breadth of social love. The man whose heart is so small as to be able +to take none but the members of his own family in the grasp of his +contracted regard can have a meager enjoyment of life. He is somewhat +above a brute, but very far beneath the dignity of a man; and, worst +of all, destitute of the spirit of Christ. "He that loveth not his +brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" +And this thought brings up my text: "See that ye love one another with +a pure heart fervently." + +Brethren, if I could impress these words upon your hearts in a way and +to a degree that would be adequate to their importance, I would return +home in the happy reflection that I had been instrumental in doing a +work by which God is glorified and my Brethren saved. These words +encompass the whole ground of salvation. Inside this compass of +brotherly love is salvation, and nowhere else. Say what you please, +love is what saves man after all. Some say faith saves, and so it does +when it is quickened and filled with the warmth of brotherly love. +Otherwise, though it be strong enough to remove mountains, as Paul +says, it is nothing. Faith without love is a dead faith. Devils have +this kind, and tremble. This dead faith may be compared to ice which +is water as to substance, but worthless as to form. Frozen water may +bridge rivers; and a frozen faith may bridge some of the streams of +earthly life; but it will never bridge the stream of death and land us +safe in heaven. + +But what is to be understood by brethren loving one another with a +pure heart fervently? I am afraid that if I attempt to tell what +brotherly love is, and how it is to be shown, I will only darken +counsel by words without wisdom. There is not a brother or sister in +this house who does not know what it is to love another with a pure +heart fervently. I will, however, venture to say a little under this +head, by way of drawing our minds to think more closely upon it. I +will say, first, that when one brother loves another with a pure heart +fervently, he tries in all ways and at all times _to do his brother +good, and no harm_. This love fills the mouth with good things and the +hands with blessings. + +But the text implies that this love can be increased, that it may grow +ardent, burning, by the use of right means, or suffered to grow cold +by neglect. There can be no doubt of the truth of this. In all man's +relations to this life, experience shows that love may be fostered by +kindness, or frozen by unkindness. This last remark reminds me of a +conversation I had with a United Brethren preacher whom I chanced to +fall in with in one of the western counties of Virginia. Speaking of +his work, and the number of converts he reported at different meetings +he had held, led me to ask how they were doing since then. He replied +that a goodly number appeared to continue faithful; but he added that +some had burnt out by unholy fire, and that others had frozen out by +unholy frost. I afterward thought this to myself, that here was the +commingled fire and hail which John, in his apocalyptic vision, saw +falling from the same cloud. Ah, Brethren, let us beware of the unholy +fire of evil passion, anger, malice, wrath, strife, that would burn +and consume our love for one another; and on the other hand avoid all +feelings and expressions or other manifestations of contempt, or +neglect, or unkindness that would freeze it to death. + +This brings me now to speak of forgiveness. You have read the story, +told by our Lord, of the debtor who owed the ten thousand talents, and +was forgiven the debt; and how he afterward treated a fellow-debtor +who owed him a hundred pence; and how the first debtor was delivered +to the tormentors because he would not forgive his fellow-servant. "So +shall also my heavenly Father do unto you,"--says our Lord--"if ye +forgive not every one his brother from your hearts." Brethren, you and +the Lord for it. I this day wash my hands clean of your blood as I +repeat in your ears these words of love and warning: "If ye forgive +men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But +if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father +forgive your trespasses." + +When I was yet a boy in Pennsylvania, before we moved to Virginia, my +father very strictly forbade me playing marbles on Sunday. I obeyed +his orders for some time; but one Sunday, when father was at church, a +neighbor's boy came to our house and persuaded me to play with him. I +did it reluctantly. The play did not amuse me as usual. But I +transgressed all the same; and in the very act my father saw me on his +return home. He called me to come to him. Expecting chastisement, I +went with trembling steps. I never had felt so unhappy in my life. +"What were you doing?" he asked. I burst into tears. "Are you very +sorry for what you have done?" I nodded and wept assent. "Come a +little nearer to me." I went; and he then drew a handkerchief from his +coat pocket and gently wiped away my tears, saying at the same time, +"I feel sure, Johnny, that you are very sorry for what you have done, +and I forgive you with a kiss." Ah, Brethren, if I had never known +sorrow before, I had never known joy till after that kiss. In itself +it was but the contact of lips; but its power went to my heart; and I +can say here solemnly that I had never loved my father before as I +loved him after that. Love is what conquers after all. Love is the +root and the offspring of happiness. There can be no happiness without +love. Therefore, Brethren, "see that ye love one another with a pure +heart fervently." + +After meeting I go with Brother David B. Kline in his carriage, and +have night meeting in a schoolhouse near his place. Snows all this +day. + +MONDAY, December 4. Travel thirty-five miles to-day in Brother George +Gipel's wagon to his house. Snowing and blowing all day. Snow +wonderfully drifted. Stay all night at Brother Gipel's. + +TUESDAY, December 5. Get into Brother Gipel's sleigh and go to meeting +at Brother Brachtbil's. From there come to Brother Jacob Wanger's, +near Jonestown, to night meeting. Speak on Rev. 3:21. [This sublime +discourse is withheld for want of room.] Stay all night at Brother +Brachtbil's. Wonderful blowing of snow continues. Roads blockaded very +much. + +WEDNESDAY, December 6. Brother John Kline near Millerstown takes me in +his sleigh to meeting near his house. Speak on John 14:6. Night +meeting at his house. Speak on Revelation 22. Stay with him all night. +Still cold and stormy. + +THURSDAY, December 7. Write a letter home, and one to Michael B. +Kline, of Baltimore. Stop at Jacob Frantz's, and get to Samuel +Royer's, near Myerstown, for dinner. Afternoon meeting at the +meetinghouse. Stay at David Zug's all night. Snowing and blowing +continues. Very cold. + +FRIDAY, December 8. Meeting at Brother George Bolinger's. John 10 is +read. In afternoon come to Brother Samuel Hilsman's. Visit and help to +anoint a sick sister. Come to Brother John Gipel's. Night meeting. +Speak of John 14:6. + +SATURDAY, December 9. Come to David Zug's. Meeting. Speak from Hebrews +2. + +SUNDAY, December 10. Meeting at Christian Longenacre's. Speak on Luke +1:77. Night meeting at the widow Eby's. + +MONDAY, December 11. Visit Aunt Anna Hershey. She is very weak. Dine +at Abraham Hershey's. He takes me to Mount Joy, to Henry Kurtz's, +where we have night meeting. Sup at David Sharlocher's, and stay all +night with Brother Kurtz. + +TUESDAY, December 12. Dine at Brother Jacob Rinehold's, and take the +eleven o'clock train in Lancaster for home, where I arrive Friday, +December 15. + +In the year 1854 Brother Kline traveled 6,463 miles. I feel sure that +it is safe to say that every mile he traveled was in the direction of +some good object. Here is something for every one to think on: Do all +the steps of my life tend in the direction of some good object? Are +all my motives pure, sincere, honest, fit for the eyes of the world, +and, above all, fit for the eye of God? + +SATURDAY, March 31, 1855. Attend council meeting at the Brick +meetinghouse in Augusta County. John Brower and Abraham Garber are +elected to the ministry, and Enoch Brower and Levi Garber to the +deaconship. + +THURSDAY, April 5. Attend council meeting at the Beaver Creek +meetinghouse. Martain Miller is ordained; Daniel Thomas forwarded; and +Joseph Miller, of Thorny Branch, elected to the deaconship. + +FRIDAY, April 6 and SATURDAY, April 7. On these two days I vaccinate +sixty-three persons. + +THURSDAY, April 19. Attend council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. +Jacob Spitzer is elected to the ministry, and Felix Senger to the +deaconship. + +FRIDAY, April 20. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Abraham Knupp +is ordained; Christian Wine forwarded, and Martain Wampler elected to +the deaconship. + +SATURDAY, April 21. Attend council meeting at the Flat Rock. Jonas +Early and Abraham Neff are elected to the deaconship. + +SATURDAY, May 12. This day Brother Kline and Daniel Thomas, in company +of each other, start to the Annual Meeting on horseback. The meeting +opened Monday, May 28. They consequently had two weeks before them to +spend on the road, and this time they took up in traveling and +preaching by the way. They went first to Hardy County, where they +filled appointments at different places on the South Fork, South +Branch of the Potomac, and North Fork. They then crossed the Alleghany +mountains over into Randolph County, where they held a number of +meetings. The Diary reports Brother Daniel Thomas as taking the lead +in preaching at nearly all the appointments. And well was he worthy of +the honor. Few men are ever endowed with better natural abilities for +public speaking than was Brother Daniel Thomas. His voice had the rare +power of making every word he uttered to be distinctly heard all over +a large audience, without any apparent effort on his part. Besides, it +was musical. The hearer went away with its expressive inflections and +cadences still sounding in his ears. But his voice was not his only +forte. He had a mind as full of sanctified wit and quick perception as +an egg is full of food. A clear thinker, a cogent reasoner, and I may +add, full of love and the Holy Ghost, it is not a matter of wonder +that he excelled. What he might have achieved had he lived to an +advanced age, God only knows. His death was caused by an attack of +pneumonia. He left a comparatively young family. In the view of the +writer, who was intimately acquainted with him, the church of the +Brethren has never been called to give up a brighter or better man. He +is not _lost_. He has only moved away to the better land. + +The following discourse was substantially preached by Brother Daniel +Thomas at the dwelling house of Elijah Judy in Hardy County, Virginia, +now West Virginia, on the evening of + +MONDAY, May 14. _The parable of the sower_ is his subject. He said: +This parable, viewed in its natural or most obvious sense, is so +easily understood that it would be a suitable lesson for a primary +school reader. At the same time it holds within its grasp a fund of +spiritual instruction which, being received into the mind and heart, +fills both with light so clear as to illuminate many an otherwise dark +portion of Revealed Truth. To my mind this parable is the link +connecting the two ends of the great chain of God's work and man's +work in both the natural and spiritual life of man. + +The Holy Land, as it is called, where our Lord was born, and where he +lived and died, comprised three small districts of country called +Judea, Samaria and Galilee. These districts, each about the size of +some of our Virginia counties, lay along the eastern shore of the +Mediterranean Sea. Their gusts of rain, with their lightning and +thunder, came from the west as ours do. The south winds came loaded +with warmth to them as ours do to us. On the eastern border of this +land was the river Jordan, a stream just about as large and swift as +your South Branch of the Potomac. Near the northeastern corner of this +land lay the beautiful Sea of Galilee, about three miles in breadth, +and from four to six miles in length. It was on this sea that our Lord +stilled the tempest. It was on the surface of this sea, that he was +seen walking as on a smooth pavement. + +In our Savior's day the Holy Land was an agricultural country. The +farmers raised wheat and barley. These grains are often mentioned in +the Scriptures. But they had few fences in that country. The roads ran +through farms and fields with no sign of fence on either side. If +sheep or cattle were turned out to graze, they had to be watched by +men or boys called shepherds. I have been thus particular in my +description of this land to enable you the better to understand the +parable itself, and its higher or spiritual meaning. But farming has +ever been but poorly done in that country, and patches of briars and +other filth were suffered to grow. These were sown with the rest of +the field, and instead of being dug out were plowed and harrowed over. +No concern was felt about the seed likely to be wasted. The sower +opened his hand as freely in crossing the highway or the patch of +briery ground as anywhere else. Even those sections of the field which +showed no depth of soil on account of underlying rock were treated +like the rest. What a site for a parable! But what is a parable? + +A parable is a statement of some fact literally or possibly true in +the natural world, and used to represent some spiritual truth. It is +the correspondence of the external or natural meaning with some +internal or spiritual meaning that makes any parable to be what it is. +The parable before us in its external or natural sense teaches nothing +beyond what we may learn by the sight of our eyes every year. If it +possessed no hidden meaning, no secret of life, it would be no holier +than a similar statement in an agricultural paper. This is just what +our Lord meant by these words: "It is the Spirit that quickeneth. The +flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you are spirit, +and are life." + +I think you are now prepared to derive some benefit from the internal +sense of the parable before us. It has ever been a great question as +to what man is required _to do_ to be saved. If we were to go by what +is generally preached at what are called _revivals of religion_, we +would only need to say we believe in Jesus Christ, then manifest some +joy in the new experience, get up, perhaps, and tell how we feel, and +we are ready to be counted in the list of new converts in full +possession of eternal life. This experience corresponds with the +explanation given of the rocky places: "This is he that heareth the +word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in +himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution +ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth." + +But here the query very naturally arises: "Are such to be lost? Is +there no hope for these rocky-ground, thorny-ground and wayside +hearers?" I say such need not be lost. There is salvation for such as +truly as for any, if they avail themselves of the proffered gifts. It +is wrong teaching, together with the influence of bad examples and bad +habits, that has made them to be the kind of ground they are. Here is +a lesson for all. Parents, if you desire your children to become good +ground, train them up in the way they should go: and when they are old +they will not depart from it. + +There is another all-important truth bearing upon this connection of +my subject; and that truth is that "our Father, God, is the +husbandman." He is the great Farmer of souls, and "with God all things +are possible." It is a thing of very common occurrence, inside the +different denominations, for their members to backslide, as they call +it. This is not because they could not continue faithful, but it is +from a lack of the true knowledge of God, and a want of reliance upon +him, and looking in prayer to him. The divine teachings are very clear +on this point in the Christian's life. If an individual will repent, +believe the Gospel, and be baptized for the remission of sins, leave +off, that is, shun and forsake all evil ways and deeds as sins against +God, he has the blessed assurance that he will be led into all +necessary truth. Notice this: "If any man will do his will, he shall +KNOW of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of +myself." Again: David says: "Light is sown for the righteous, and +gladness for the upright in heart." And Solomon says: "The path of the +just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the +perfect day." And our Lord applies the prophecy of Isaiah: "The people +which sat in darkness saw a great light." He was the great Light which +they saw, but they saw him and heard him by going to him. + +There can, I think, be no doubt that some have stronger temptations to +evil than others. Bad habits, encouraged by long indulgence and +fostered by strong natural appetences, are hard to get rid of. But the +faith that worketh by love, and purifieth the heart, gets strong +enough to remove these mountains of sin; yea, strong enough to enable +a man even to _hate_ his own sinful life. + +I have known men to reason and conclude from this parable that God is +partial. They speak on this wise: "If the different kinds of ground +symbolize or represent the different natures and dispositions of men +with respect to believing and obeying the Word, then all have not an +equal chance for salvation. If a man (say they) has no better show for +bringing forth the fruits of righteousness in a good life than the +rocky or thorny ground has for bringing forth a crop of wheat or +barley, he can have no show for salvation at all." This argument +appears plausible at a first view. And in the estimation of those who +look only upon the surface of things it is convincing. The first point +of error with those who reason in this way is to be found in their +belief that God has made this difference among men. But the entire +history of man, as given in the Bible, shows that men bring upon +themselves these varied degrees of opposition to what is pure and +good. "God made men upright, but they have sought out many +inventions," says the prophet. Of course he means inventions of evil +things. An apostle says: "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and +worse, deceiving and being deceived." The natural tendency of man with +everything of earth is downward. The loveliest garden, by being +neglected, will get full of weeds. The most highly improved breeds of +domestic animals tend toward degeneracy and deterioration as to +quality, unless carefully guarded. Man is no exception to the rule. It +is only by watchful care that one generation of people becomes wiser +and better than the generation that preceded it. Our Lord would oft +repeat such expressions as these: "What I say unto one, I say unto +all, Watch." "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning." "He +that hath ears to hear, let him hear." "Watch and pray, lest ye enter +into temptation." + +There is no heart so stubborn hard but that the softening power of +Divine love can mellow it; and there is no soul so full of the thorns +and briers of evil passions and bad habits, but that the sanctifying +power of the truth can cleanse it. Jesus came not to call the +righteous, but sinners to repentance. They that be whole need not the +physician, but they that are sick. God is able to do for all who look +to him for help, exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think; +and in Christ he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto +God by him. No case of leprosy was ever beyond the power of the Lord +to cleanse. No blindness was ever too dark for him to remove. No palsy +was ever too dead for him to quicken into healthy life. No fever was +ever too burning for him to cool. No demoniac was ever so insane or +epileptic, under the power and in the possession of even a legion of +devils, but that he could have them all cast out and the possessed one +sit calmly, be clothed and in his right mind. Nothing is impossible +with God. The good-ground hearer brings forth fruit unto perfection +because he looks to the Lord, through his blessed Word, for help. This +help comes through his obedience to its holy precepts and commands. +God cannot help any one who continues to live regardless of and +indifferent to the precepts of his Holy Word. + +In a modified sense the same laws govern in the spiritual world that +govern in the natural. As it is impossible for God, according to his +established order, to give you a rich and remunerative crop of corn or +wheat from a field covered with briers, thorns and weeds; just in the +same measure in a spiritual sense is he unable to give you happiness, +peace of mind and joy in the Holy Ghost while you continue in a life +of sin. "He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap +corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap +life everlasting." + +Brethren and sisters, it may be that some of you fear, at times, that +your heart is no better than a bed of rock; or that it is full of +thorns; or that it is hard and poor as the beaten road. But such +self-examinations give evidence that the Holy Spirit is in your hearts +and that he is carrying on a glorious work of grace there. "Blessed are +the meek." "Blessed are the poor in spirit." "He that humbleth himself +shall be exalted." "God resisteth the proud; but giveth grace to the +humble." Be not discouraged. Our Father is the great husbandman, and +he knows just how to treat every kind of ground, just what to do in +every heart. Then let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season +we shall reap if we faint not. + +The foregoing sermon was preached by Brother Daniel Thomas May 14. +Between this and the following Sunday he preached every day once or +twice. Brother Kline jotted down one other discourse which he +delivered on Saturday following, which I am compelled to omit for want +of room. On + +SUNDAY, May 20, they had forenoon meeting at Josiah Simon's. This day +Brother Kline baptized Joseph Summerfield and wife, Mrs. Workman, and +Jane Hilkey. In his quaint way he adds: "God calls, and some still +answer. All glory to him." + +SUNDAY, May 27, finds the two brethren at the place of Annual Meeting. +They attended meeting in Wine's barn; and also report meeting being +held at the same hour in the meetinghouse. He does not give the name +of the meetinghouse where the Annual Meeting was held this year, but +says that he and Brother Daniel had lodging at Brother Umbenhaver's +the first night. + +MONDAY, May 28. Annual meeting begins. Take in questions, form +committees, and set them to work. We stay all night at Brother +Spanogle's. + +TUESDAY, May 29. Go to place of meeting. Discuss and dispose of nearly +all the queries to-day. We stay at Brother Umbenhaver's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 30. Go back to place of meeting and get through; preach +awhile; and after dinner we start from Brother Andrew Spanogle's +towards home. We get to Matthew Wineman's, where we stay all night. + +THURSDAY, May 31. Stop awhile with brethren Michael and Jacob +Sollenberger; then by Mercersburg and Clear Spring to Sister Nipe's, +where we stay all night. + +FRIDAY, June 1. Through Martinsburg and Winchester, Virginia, to +Brother James Tabler's where we stay all night. + +SATURDAY, June 2. Get to Brother John Neff's, in Shenandoah County, +and on + +SUNDAY, June 3, get home. On this journey Brother Daniel Thomas and I +traveled together on horseback 466 miles. Our horses became so +attached to each other that they could not bear separation. At any +time, when out of sight of each other, they showed almost +uncontrolable restlessness and dissatisfaction. I may add here that +_one_ of their riders at least was very similarly affected toward +_his_ companion by the way. The attachment of our horses was that of +mere instinct. It was generated through the sense of hearing, seeing +and smelling. But our attachment sprang from higher and more interior +causes, such as none but the people of God can understand and +appreciate. It has its place in "the hidden man of the heart," and +springs from the unity of our faith and the spirituality of our love. +Death ends the attachments of poor brutes; but the love of Christians +for each other rests on a foundation that death cannot destroy. Even +here, in our imperfect state, love fills life's cup with joy. How +ineffable, then, must be the joy of the redeemed in glory where love +is perfect and life is eternal! + +From the last date given to the thirteenth day of September Brother +Kline was called to engage with considerable activity in the practice +of the medical profession. There was much sickness in his own and +adjoining neighborhoods. His death record was very small in proportion +to the number of his patients. This fact alone establishes his success +as a medical practitioner. The writer has been a careful and candid +observer of the different methods and medicines employed in the +treatment of the sick for a period of _fifty_ years, and he ventures +to give it as his impartial verdict that the course of treatment of +the sick, medically, pursued by Brother Kline and the other physicians +of his school, was attended by as small a death rate as that of any +school in the profession in his day or since. In addition to this, +convalescing and recovered patients were rarely heard to complain of +any _after_ effects of the disease or medicine. Brother Kline was +often heard to speak of this. He would say: "Our patients do not +complain of rheumatism, weak joints, broken down nerves, +rapidly-decaying teeth, impaired hearing or generally enfeebled +constitutions. We give no medicines which can leave any injurious +_after_ effects." But, after all, his heart was set on the ministry of +the Word. He regarded the life and health of the body as incalculably +subordinate to the life and health of the soul. This consideration +incited him to untiring activity in preaching, praying, exhorting, +singing, and to whatever else might instruct, comfort and encourage +the child of God, or warn the sinner of his danger and bring him to +Christ. + +THURSDAY, September 13. This day Brother Kline, in company of Martain +Miller, starts on another journey to some of the western counties of +Virginia. He of late years begins to take company with him on these +trips. In the earlier part of his ministry he would often go alone, I +guess because no one volunteered to go with him. You remember Brother +Daniel Thomas was with him on his last trip before this. Now Brother +Martain Miller goes. Martain Miller was a brother of Daniel Miller, +near Greenmount, Virginia. He lived near the Beaver Creek +meetinghouse, in Rockingham County. His election to the ministry of +the Word, his subsequent advancement, and his ordination are given in +the Diary. Whilst he was not regarded as a minister of great power in +the stand, his influence in the councils of the church at home and +abroad was felt and acknowledged. A man like Elder Martain Miller, of +ready and deep perception, can quickly arrive at just and wise +decisions, which the man of ordinary mind might never be able to +reach. Hence the worth of such men as leaders in the realm of thought. + +In the year 1862 W.C. Thurman began to preach the second advent of the +Lord as near. He subsequently became so bold in the expression of his +belief as to name the day on which that greatest of all events might +confidently be looked for to take place. As Thurman at that time was a +unit in the Brotherhood, and allowed to vent his soul breathings in +the church buildings of the Brethren, some, even among the thoughtful, +were deeply impressed with the probability of his conjectures being +well founded. The writer was present when the following little +incident took place, and remembers it with distinctness. It was at +Greenmount meetinghouse. Brother Martain Miller had led in preaching +that day, but had made no allusion to Thurman. After meeting broke up +some of the Brethren privately asked Brother Miller what he thought of +Thurman's doctrines. He shut his eyes, gave a very significant but +negative shake of the head, and after a brief pause said: "Do not +regard them. They will in due time prove their own fallacy. You cannot +convince Thurman that he is wild by any argument; but in a short while +he will be convinced without argument." + +On the evening of the last given date, Brother Martain Miller spoke +from Matt. 7:13, at Zion church in Hardy County. From the outlines in +the Diary I give the substance of what he said, as nearly as I can. +The reader should know that none of the sermons herein given cover the +entire ground of the discourse. They only aim at the main points. It +is the purpose of the Editor to present these in spirit and word as +nearly like the same in which they were originally delivered, as can +possibly be done. His familiarity with the sermonic style, manner, +general lines of thought, doctrinal views, education and general +preaching power of nearly every minister represented in this work +enables him, as he thinks, to do this with at least some _approach_ to +justice. Without such knowledge, this work would never have been +undertaken by him. + + TEXT.--"_Enter ye in by the narrow gate._" + +Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world with but one end in view. +That end is the raising of man to himself. This end is the burden of +his mediatorial work, the center of his mediatorial prayer. From his +heart on the eternal throne, wafted down to his people on the divine +breath, hourly comes and is felt the power of his prayer: "Father, I +will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that +they may behold my glory which thou hast given me." This brief prayer +comprehends the divine end of all things--_man's salvation and God's +glory_. The miracles wrought by our Lord, the parables spoken, the +truths uttered, the victories gained in temptation, the rich tokens of +his love given, all, all had as their great end man's salvation and +God's glory--"that they might be with him where he is." + +The only answer to the great question why the Lord did all this for +man's salvation is found in his own words: "God so loved the world." +And he loves it no less to-day than when the Son was born and the +angels of glory were chanting their love song of "good will toward +men" in the ears of the shepherds and above the manger in Bethlehem. +But with all of God's good will to seek and save that which was lost +he is able to save only such, and no others, as desire to be saved by +him. If it were possible for him to save man and elevate him to heaven +independently of any coöperation on man's part, then all would alike +be saved, for God is no respecter of persons. But it would be quite as +possible to compel or force any one to understand and love what he +naturally hates, or to follow with enjoyment and delight a way of life +he does not love, as it would be to save a human being without the +consent and coöperation of his mind and heart. + +The scribes and Pharisees gave evident proof of the truth of the old +maxim: "Convince a man against his will, he is of the same opinion +still." The Lord proved before their eyes his heavenly mission and +divine character; their minds must have been convinced. But their +wills did not favor the convictions of their minds; that is, they did +not love the truth that was forced upon their minds, and so they +rejected him. It is from this element in the constitution of man's +soul or spirit that he must become as a little child, or he cannot +enter the kingdom of heaven. Becoming as a little child is what is +meant by being born again, without which no man shall see the kingdom +of heaven. We all know a little child is innocent, teachable; because +it is not lifted up in the pride of its own intelligence, nor +confirmed in a belief of what is not true from a love of what is not +good. Every one who enters through the narrow gate, and pursues the +narrow way that leads to life, is willing to be led by the Lord. It +may not be clear to the mind of every one what is symbolized by the +_narrow gate_ and the _narrow way_. I will try to tell you. + +_The divine truth of God's Word_ is the narrow gate. It admits of no +increase, and it allows no diminution. He that addeth to or taketh +from the words of the prophecy of this book (the Bible), God shall +take away his part out of the book of life. This is a fearful warning +to all who would seek to make the gate and the way of eternal life any +broader than it is laid and settled by the Word of Life; and a similar +warning to any who would desire to make the gate and the way appear so +narrow as to discourage and dissuade others from entering. I said the +narrow gate is the truth of God's Word. But what is the narrow way? +The narrow way is the daily life of every one who lives according to +that truth. This leads to life eternal, because it leads to God. But +the gate and the way will do no one any good unless it be entered and +the way followed. And God compels no one to enter in opposition to +one's own will. Entrance is not of compulsion, but of choice. Life and +death are set before the sinner's eyes. The Bread of Life and the +Water of Life are placed within his reach. The Lord calls, saying: +"Why do ye spend your money for that which is not bread; and your +labor for that which satisfieth not? Come ye to the waters: and +whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." + +But some may ask: "What is it to enter in at the narrow gate, and how +is the sinner to know when he is entering?" I answer that when the +sinner obeys God's holy truth from the heart he is then entering in by +the narrow gate. His obedience must be to God's Word, not to man's +word. Obedience to man's word takes man through the wide gate into the +broad road that leads to destruction. Repentance towards God and faith +in the Lord Jesus Christ are the two steps that take us in spirit +through the narrow gate. But these two acts and exercises of the mind +and heart mean immensely more than is generally imagined. Many seem to +think that repentance means no more than simply to confess that one is +a sinner in a sort of general way, and that faith is simply a +confessed belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. But God's Word +teaches far otherwise. I will here quote some of our Lord's sayings +which apply to repentance: "Except ye be converted, and become as +little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." This +points to repentance. Again: "If any man will come after me, let him +deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Self-denial is +repentance; and every true penitent goes through the narrow gate with +the cross on his shoulder, because the cross symbolizes the divine +truth upon which the love of self and the love of the world is +crucified. I am not afraid to repeat in your ears the words of Jesus. +He has left them on record, that all who will heed them in the meek +and teachable spirit of a little child may be lifted out of the mire +and filth and darkness of a sinful life into the glorious liberty of +the children of God. + +If salvation is anything it is everything. This world, with all its +fleeting show and short-lived pleasures, is nothing in the comparison. +Salvation, or the life to which the narrow way conducts us, is so +glorious, so ineffably exalted above the loftiest conceptions of the +human mind, that the prophet Isaiah could justly say: "Since the +beginning of the world none have heard, nor perceived by the ear, +neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared +for him that waiteth for him." Brethren, friends, we know not fully +what is prepared for all who wait upon the Lord, that is, who do his +will. But Jesus tells us that he is gone to prepare a place for us, +and that he will come again and receive us to himself, that where he +is there we may be also. We shall enter into his joy, the joy of the +Lord. He will come to every one of us at death. He will then raise our +redeemed souls into the life of heavenly bliss; for he is the +resurrection and the life of every one that loves him. It is the +privilege of every one to enter into life through the narrow gate. But +I cannot enter for you, nor tread the narrow way, nor obtain a crown +of glory for you. This is your own individual choice, your own +individual work--nay, it is the Lord's merciful, loving, gracious work +in you, for without him you can do nothing. But when you believe in +him and love him with all your heart, he finds a resting place in your +soul, and he then comes to be to you individually "the way, the truth, +and the life." + +The next eight days were almost entirely occupied in filling +appointments previously made through letters from Brother Kline. We +have to wonder a little when he found time to write them. But he was +his own secretary on gratuitous service, and he never even so much as +presented a bill for stationery or postal expenditures. + +FRIDAY, September 21. This day finds the two brethren at Union +meetinghouse, in the Barker settlement, in Barbour County, Virginia. +Brother Miller spoke at this meeting from John 3:7. Space alone +forbids the insertion of his plain, practical sermon to-day. They +found, as usual, a hearty welcome here; and in truth the same may be +said of every place they visited. And why not? Even these primitive +people were quick to perceive and appreciate the good will with which +they had come. Besides, they made themselves sociable and entertaining +in the families under whose roofs they found shelter. Brother Kline +had an inexhaustible fund of information gained by reading and +traveling, and he was not reserved in the way of keeping it all to +himself. Brother Kline was what may be called a good conversationalist. +He did not flood your attention with words, nor bore you with tiresome +narratives of great exploits in which he was the hero. He would tell +you of sights he had seen, and experiences he had had in traveling and +otherwise, in a way that would so absorb you in the _narrative_ that +you lost sight of the man. He always aimed to exalt his _subject_ and +not the speaker. This was true in his preaching as well as in his +conversations. + +SATURDAY, September 22. They came to Brother Elias Ovel's for dinner. +In the afternoon preaching in the meetinghouse and love feast at +night. Brother Miller served. + +TUESDAY, September 25. They had meeting at Brother Peter Feiga's. An +election was held in which Samuel Feiga was elected speaker, and +Tobias Moser deacon. They staid all night at Thomas Clark's. + +Brother Kline got home from this journey Sunday evening, October 7. +Brother Miller got home the next day. They were gone three weeks and +four days. + +MONDAY, December 31. At home. I have this year traveled, mostly on +horseback, 4,286 miles, and preached forty-two funeral sermons. + +SATURDAY, January 5, 1856. At home. Cold; snows very fast all day. + +SATURDAY, January 12. Snows all this day again, very fast. Sleighing +is likely to be fine for a while; a rare occurrence in our State. + +SUNDAY, January 20. Snows all this day, again. The snow is now very +deep, and as it is not drifted sleighing will be surpassingly fine. + +MONDAY, January 21. Brother John Zigler of Timberville dies very +suddenly this morning, at the age of sixty-nine years, two months and +twenty-seven days. This is county court day in Harrisonburg. I am told +this evening by some who were present, that there were hundreds of +sleighs of all shapes and sizes to be seen in the streets. So far as +my knowledge extends, a scene like that has never before been +witnessed in Harrisonburg. The roads in all directions are in a +surpassingly fine condition for sleighing. The roads are all paved +with crystals more valuable than all the diamonds that have ever shone +in the crowns of kings. + +FRIDAY, February 29. Council meeting at the Brick church, in Augusta +County. To-day we discuss the question of the propriety of making a +move to more generally propagate the Gospel. Most of the brethren and +sisters present seemed to be heartily in favor of the move. One +brother, John Harshberger, said: "If the Gospel is _not_ true, let us +eat and drink like other beasts, for to-morrow we die; but if the +Gospel _be_ true--and thanks be unto God, for we know it is true--it +is worthy of all acceptation; for it is the power of God unto +salvation to every one that believeth. But how can any one believe in +him of whom he has not heard? And how can any one hear without a +preacher? And how can any preach except he be sent? I am in favor of +trying to do more in every way than we have ever yet attempted, to +spread the good news of salvation. + + "'Salvation! let the echo fly + The spacious earth around, + Till all the nations 'neath the sky + Conspire to raise the sound.'" + +Brother Benjamin Moomaw, Brother Nininger, Brother John Harshberger +and myself were appointed a committee to draw up a memorial on the +subject, to place before the next Annual Meeting. + +SATURDAY, March 1. Council continues. The subject of divorce and +adultery is considered to-day. It is decided to send it to the Annual +Meeting, as also a query on proposition to district the churches, and +have general council meetings in those Districts. It is also +unanimously passed to have lamps in our meetinghouses. Pass some other +minor questions, and council breaks up. + +SUNDAY, March 2. Meeting at the same place. Brother Benjamin Moomaw +speaks on Heb. 5:8, 9. He is a man of great power in the Word. I +regret that I cannot recall to memory all that he said, but I will +here give a condensed outline of what I remember. These are the words +of his text: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the +things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author +of eternal salvation to all them that obey him." + +This is a remarkable passage of Scripture. It deals primarily with the +human nature of Christ. It is in this nature, the Divine humanity, +that God manifests himself to man. This humanity brought with it the +infirmities to which flesh is heir. This same apostle tells us that +Jesus Christ was "tempted in all points like as we are, yet without +sin." Innocence, freedom from all sin, is the orderly following of +obedience. In this happy consciousness he challenges the whole +Sanhedrim to convict him of sin. They could not do it; and Pilate +acknowledges before the infuriated mob: "I find no fault in this man." +From the part of the text, "yet learned he obedience by the things +which he suffered," we are rather to understand that he learned or +REALIZED _the blessedness of obedience_. In his own words: "He came +not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him." In his +last great prayer with his disciples he says: "And now, Father, I come +to thee, having finished the work thou didst give me to do." These +words portray his immaculate righteousness. + +But let us look at some of the glorious testifications borne by the +Father to the honor of the Son. Let us turn to the first public act of +his manhood. I guess your minds all turn at once to the scene of his +baptism. Here are the pellucid waters of the Jordan coursing their way +to the Dead Sea. "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John +to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be +baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus said, Suffer it to +be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." This +righteousness is the righteousness of obedience. And notice, a few +moments later, the glory and honor with which it is crowned. The +opened heavens, the dove-like descent of the Spirit, the Father's +recognition, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," must +have thrilled his heart with joy unspeakable. In this instance he +realized the blessedness of obedience; and the hearts of many since +that time have been made to thrill as they have gone up out of the +waters of other Jordans, with kindred joy. + +We now turn to his temptation in the wilderness. Here, our Lord, +during forty days and nights, suffered all the privations and all the +temptations arising therefrom, which man is capable of suffering. But +never for one moment did his heart or hand swerve a hair from the line +of perfect obedience to his Father's will, even in the darkest hour. +And how did it turn out? Why, he resisted the devil, and the devil +left him; and, behold! angels came and ministered unto him. Brethren, +have you ever thought of the precious food these angels brought to the +exhausted human nature of our Lord? He ate and drank with angels from +the skies. They poured the spiritual oil of joy and comfort into his +burdened soul. They brought fresh tokens of his Father's approval; and +we read of no more sore conflict with the powers of darkness until the +"last hour." + +Some of us have, possibly, passed through trials, in a small way, +somewhat akin to those endured by the Lord. We all know our own +individual experiences best. For one, I can say right here that I am +no stranger to temptation. The adversary of God's people has never yet +counted me out of the number he seeks to seduce. I confess he does not +try me at all times alike; but he does seem to come every time when I +am the least prepared effectually and instantly to repel his assaults. +If in preaching I happen to get off a fine thought or good sentiment +dressed out in a becoming attire of words, he tries to flatter my +vanity by making me believe that I am a great somebody. Brethren in +the ministry, how is it with you? I see from the nods you give, that +you have had similar experiences. At such times Herod's awful doom +flashes over me--how that in the midst of a beautiful oration he fell +dead, and right away was alive with worms consuming his body, and all +because he gave not God the glory. This generally gets me rid of him +on such occasions. At other times he comes with promises of worldly +honors, saying to me that if I will enter the arena of politics I may +count it as sure that I will be lifted to offices of honor and rich +emoluments, for, says he, "the whole scheme with all its workings is +in my hands, and to whomsoever I will, I give it." At such times I +baffle him with this Scripture: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God; +_and him_ ONLY _shalt thou serve_." + +Jesus is now glorified. He is exalted higher than the heavens, far +above all principality and power. He is invested with all power in +heaven and earth; so that in him all things hold together, and the +integrity of the universe is preserved. He is the head over all things +to the church and has become the Author of eternal salvation unto all +them that obey him. All things are now in his name and unto his glory, +so that now he that honoreth the Son, honoreth the Father. + +Can it be that this is the same Jesus who but a few years ago humbled +himself to be baptized in the Jordan, suffered the temptation in the +wilderness, wept at the grave of Lazarus, went about doing good, being +homeless, with no place where to lay his head, a man of sorrows and +acquainted with grief? Only a little while ago, and the midnight +stillness of Gethsemane is gently broken by the words: "Father, if it +be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will, but +thine be done." The spirit of obedience abides with him in full +measure even in this trying hour; and if not uttered in words, it is +declared in act: "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." + +One more trial awaits him. It is his last and great conflict with the +"king of terrors" and the powers of darkness. Will his spirit of +obedience and his resistance of sin bear the strain of this final +test? Glory to his blessed name, it does. He says: "The prince of this +world cometh, and hath nothing in me." Ah, there is our salvation. The +prince of this world found no place in his sanctified heart. +Throughout his trial before the Jewish, as well as civil authorities, +he was the same. No change from that meekness and lowliness of heart +that characterized his whole life was visible now. He even bore his +own cross; and I sometimes think that he voluntarily laid himself down +upon it, placed his hands and adjusted his feet for the nails; for he +had said before: "I lay down my life of myself: no man taketh it from +me. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." +The nails are driven. The foot of the cross, with Jesus upon it, is +firmly fixed in the ground. The sun has veiled his face; and darkness +broods over the land. With a loud voice he cries: "It is finished," +and he gave up his spirit. This is the consummation of the suffering +by which the Captain of our salvation was perfected, and by which he +obtained all power in heaven and earth. + +I can imagine there was now a shout of joy and a high jubilee in +heaven, and a growl of disappointment and defeat in hell. His body is +taken from the cross. Not a bone of him is broken. Joseph's new tomb +becomes its receptacle. Not long does it remain there. The bands of +death are loosed, and the glorified Lord forsakes the tomb. "Ought not +the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his +glory?" + +Notice, further, the glory and honor with which his obedience is +rewarded. In addition to the declarations bearing upon this subject +already quoted, I here add what Paul says to the Philippians: +"Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name +which is above every name: that in the name of Jesus every knee should +bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory +of God the Father." + +We have now before us in the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus +Christ an example of perfect obedience. We have also noticed some of +its rewards. But when we attempt to speak of the rewards of obedience, +thought and language both fail; for heavenly bliss is ineffable, and +celestial glory eternal. Christ's glorification is past comprehension. +Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard. But let us rejoice greatly this day +in the excellency of this knowledge of Christ. "He is able to save to +the uttermost all who come unto God by him." "He has become the author +of eternal salvation to all them that obey him." + +My brother, my sister, do you ever question your spiritual state, +doubting as to whether you are a child of God or not, wondering in the +obscurity of your mind as to how you stand in the sight of God? I do +not think any one need be in doubt as to this matter. Are you living a +life of obedience to Christ? Let us see. You surely have been +baptized. As baptism was his first public act, for you to follow his +example and walk in his steps it became you to submit to the same +ordinance expanded and illuminated as to its significance and use by +his subsequent teachings. This you did, and you did it in the true +spirit of obedience and love. You are no hypocrite, I am sure; for the +hypocrite never examines himself. He totally lacks the goodness and +sincerity and honesty that lead to self-examinations. The hypocrite +does not _love_ the house of God. He does not breathe freely in an +atmosphere of prayer. His highest ambition is to make a fair show in +the flesh, to secure some personal aggrandizement through his formal +professions. + +You do not belong to this class. You feel in your heart that you love +Jesus, and often weep that you do not love him more. This very love +should assure your heart that you are a child of God, for "love is of +God, and God is love." You cheerfully, and in love for the Brethren, +stoop to follow his example and obey his command by taking part in the +ordinance of feet-washing. You eat the Lord's Supper as nearly after +his example as can be known, in honor of him, and partake of the +Communion of the bread and wine in remembrance of his broken body and +shed blood. In addition to all this you hate the inborn corruptions of +your fleshly mind. You sometimes sing from your heart's pure depth: + +"I hate my own vain thoughts that rise, But love thy law, my God." + +And to you one of the most pleasing contemplations of heaven is +founded upon the assurance that there will be no sin or sorrow for sin +there, nor sinful thoughts. You even here rejoice many times, in the +sweet foretastes of that happy state. When you meet the loving eyes +and friendly hands of brethren and sisters here assembled for worship, +you feel a delicious calm and a holy peace in your soul. It is at such +times and on such occasions that you realize just what the apostle +means by what he says of the experience of some heavenly-minded +Christian brethren and sisters who lived and felt eighteen hundred +years ago very much as you feel now. Identifying himself with them, he +says: "We have all been made to sit together in heavenly places in +Christ Jesus." "Be thou faithful unto death, and God shall give thee +the crown of life." + +At the close of this edifying discourse we sang the old hymn beginning: + + "How happy are they who their Savior obey--." + +Prayer was offered, meeting broke up, and Brother Moomaw and I went to +Michael Whitmore's for dinner; then to Valley meetinghouse in +afternoon, where he spoke from Acts 26; and stayed all night at Daniel +Glick's. + +MONDAY, March 3. We anoint Brother Daniel Glick this morning. He is +very low in sickness. Come to Dayton to afternoon appointment, where I +speak from John 1:29. Stay all night at Samuel Koontz's. + +WEDNESDAY, March 19. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. +Benjamin Miller, son of Daniel Miller, near the head of Linville +Creek, is elected to the deaconship. I feel that the right brother was +chosen, and entertain large hopes for his future. + +FRIDAY, April 4. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Brother Samuel +Zigler is elected to the deaconship. We might have selected a man of +more words; but I am persuaded that one of purer mind and heart could +not have been found. Brother Benjamin Bowman stays all night with me. +This evening he related to me a remarkable dream he had had not very +long before. To use his own words, as nearly as I can give them, he +said: "I dreamed that I had died, but found myself consciously awake +in the land of departed spirits. My own father met me. I knew him. The +joy with which he received and welcomed me I cannot describe. My next +experience was along a stream of very clear water. It did not appear +to be a very large stream, but its remarkable character impressed me +as singular. It flowed gently. It was not swift, but glided smoothly +along, uphill and downhill the same. Its speed never varied, and this +unaccountable characteristic struck me with surprise that waked me. +This is my interpretation of my dream," said he: "The clear stream of +water represents what the Christian should be. Its transparency +symbolizes the clear thought and intelligent understanding that he +should have respecting himself and his life. Self-knowledge should +enable him to see himself in clear light. This knowledge leads to a +clear understanding of his relation to God and man, and reveals +whether that relation is what it should be, or otherwise. The uniform +flow of the stream uphill and down, which so surprised me, symbolizes +that inward peace of mind and gentle flow of heavenly affections which +constitute the Christian's happiness in life. Though he have his _ups_ +and _downs_ in life, his inward peace gently glides along. 'In the +world ye shall have tribulation; but in me ye shall have peace.' One +more thought. It is not natural for water to run uphill. Nothing short +of divine power can make water run uphill in an open channel such as +this had. This symbolizes the love and mercy of the Lord in our being +kept by his hand in these inwardly calm and heavenly frames of +feeling. Brother John, I never felt better from a dream in all my +life." + +SATURDAY, April 12. Council meeting at Shaver's meetinghouse, in +Shenandoah County. Brother John Brindle is advanced. + +SUNDAY, May 4. Meeting at Nathan Spitler's schoolhouse, in Page +County. Hamilton Varner and wife, and John Huffman's wife are baptized +to-day. + +MONDAY, May 5. This day I start to the Annual Meeting, which is +appointed to meet about fourteen miles from Freeport, in Stephenson +County, on the extreme north border of Illinois, and about three miles +from Brother Young's. After being exposed to many dangers and +detentions, and one wreck on the way, I arrived safe at the place of +meeting on + +SATURDAY, May 10. Stay at Brother Young's first night. A great +concourse of people on the ground. + +SUNDAY, May 11. We have a very fine day. Preaching at several points. +An immense assembly to-day. + +MONDAY, May 12. Meeting is organized. Committees formed. Go to rooms +and take in queries. Stay all night on the meeting grounds. Rain all +day and cold. + +TUESDAY, May 13. Begin to discuss questions. Rain all day and night, +and unpleasant. Stay all night on the meeting grounds. + +WEDNESDAY, May 14. Continue the discussion of questions. Close at half +past five o'clock. Stay again on meeting grounds. Although we have +some differences of opinion among us on minor points of order and +usages, I am happy to know that in all great matters of doctrine and +practice we are one. Whilst the meeting was in progress I was made to +think of what Solomon says in the book of Proverbs about the locusts. +"The locusts," says he, "have no king, yet go they forth, all of them, +together in bands." We have no human king over us as pope, cardinal or +bishop, with self-assumed authority and dignity; yet we hold together. +We acknowledge allegiance to but one king, and he is out of human +sight. He is the King of glory. But of him we can say with an apostle: +"Whom having not seen we love; in whom, though now we see him not, yet +believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." + +On my way home from the meeting I visited Peter Fesler's, Jacob +Miller's, Samuel Freys's, Allen White's, Absalom Painter's, William +Mason's, John Strough's, John Miller's, Joseph Funk's, George +Hoover's, and John Snideman's, all in Indiana. I also preached at a +number of points in Indiana and Ohio. + +SATURDAY, May 24. This evening David Bowman and I get to Abraham +Aerbach's in Ohio. + +SUNDAY, May 25. Go to Bowman's meetinghouse, where I speak from +Hebrews 12. Dine at David Miller's, and stay all night at Isaac +Miller's. + +TUESDAY, May 27. Night meeting at the meetinghouse near Peter Nead's. +Stay with Brother Nead. + +WEDNESDAY, May 28. Meeting at the same place. Sup with John Varner. +Stay with Isaac Miller. + +THURSDAY, May 29. Meeting at Reipsam's meetinghouse. Love feast this +evening. Stay with Philip Grabil till one o'clock in the night, when +we start for Springfield to take cars for home. Stop over a few days +in Hampshire County, Virginia, and arrive home safe on Thursday, June +5. + +TUESDAY, June 17. This day I am fifty-nine years of age. When I was +young my ambition led me to hope that I might some day attain to +distinction in the world, and leave an imperishable name. I own with +shame before my God, that my heart was full of vanity. I now thank him +that he has led me to know and feel myself but a poor sinner redeemed. +I am wholly dependent upon him for all that I am or ever shall be. +Lord Jesus, may I live to glorify thee, and thee only. I believe thy +truth. I trust thy love. May thy glory be the end of all my efforts in +life, and thy love the propelling power in all I do. Hallowed be _thy_ +name, not my name. _Thy will_ be done, not my will. Give me grace thus +ever to pray and to walk humbly before thee. + +FRIDAY, August 22. This day Brother Kline left home for another +journey to the counties of Hardy and Randolph. He spent several days +in Hardy County, preaching among the Brethren and friends on the South +Fork, South Branch and beyond. + +SUNDAY, August 24. Meeting at Bethel in forenoon; in afternoon at +Jacob Cosner's. TEXT.--3 John seventh verse. He has given us but a +touch of what he said here. I imagine his heart somewhat overflowed +with gratitude to these kind-hearted people in return for the love +they showed him. He read this third epistle of John to them; and I +here append the substance of part of his comment on it: + +"There are great blessings in store for those who through love to the +Lord lodge and feed his ministers. The love of Gaius in this regard, +was spoken of in the church. This letter was written to him. In the +apostle's days as now, many went forth bearing the precious seed of +God's Word, almost wholly dependent upon the charity of brethren and +friends to the cause, for food and shelter. They were encouraged to go +in this humble and trustful way by the recorded words of the Lord, +that 'the laborer is worthy of his hire.' We learn from the context, +sustained also by the other evangelists, that food and lodging is the +hire the Lord had in view. To encourage all to the duty as well as +privilege of kindly receiving his ministers and even his righteous +brethren who might not be ministers, he left on record these words: +'He that receiveth a prophet (minister) in the name of a prophet, +shall receive a prophet's reward. And he that receiveth a righteous +man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's +reward.' And he sublimely crowns all those who tender their love in +this way with the words: 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least +of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' How faithfully these +tokens of love for the Lord and the Brethren were kept by the early +Christians, Paul with others abundantly testifies. However, to avoid +slanderous accusations which might be hurled at him by the adversaries +of the cross, he did not always avail himself of the proffered good. +Blessed are they who watch for and lay hold of opportunities to do +good in this way." + +MONDAY, August 25. Meeting at Greenland. Thomas Lion baptizes one +person to-day. Stay all night at Thomas Clark's. + +TUESDAY, August 26. This day, after meeting, I baptize James Abernathy +and wife. + +WEDNESDAY, August 27. Meeting at David Feige's on the pike. Afternoon +meeting at West Union. Stay at Benjamin Beachley's. + +THURSDAY, August 28. Ride twenty-nine miles to-day. Dine at Peter +Bolyard's and stay all night at Henry Wilson's. + +FRIDAY, August 29. Meeting at meetinghouse. I baptize W. Oval and +wife. Water is two miles distant. Afternoon meeting at same place. +Speak from last chapter of Revelation. + +SATURDAY, August 30. Come into Randolph County. Dine at Samuel +Perkeypine's, and stay at Brother John Skidmore's. + +SUNDAY, August 31. Meeting at Josiah Simon's. After preaching have a +church council. Brother Charles Burke is forwarded to baptize; and +Brother Josiah Simon is elected to the Word. Brother John Skidmore is +elected to the deaconship, Stay all night at Brother Burke's. + +MONDAY, September 1. Meeting at Levi Wilmot's. Speak from Matt. 7:21. +As I have time this afternoon will outline my discourse for future +reference. + +The Editor gives these outlines in the best shape he can put them as +follows: + + TEXT.--"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter + the kingdom; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in + heaven." + +This passage of Scripture means a great deal. It draws a sharp line +between the false and the true in religious professions; between empty +formality on the one hand, and loving obedience on the other. It is a +very easy thing, and requires no previous preparation of heart by +self-examination, for very wicked and thoughtless people to call upon +the Lord in times of great danger, or in seasons of distress. Some +years ago a very thoughtless and irreligious family near my home lived +on the bank of a certain stream. Suddenly, after a great rain, their +house was surrounded by a flood of water that threatened its +destruction. They knew not what to do; and in their fright and +consternation they began to call on the Lord for help. He may have +heard them, for the house did not go. When the flood had passed away, +and they felt that they were again secure, they had no further need of +the Lord, and continued to live just as they had lived before. + +Often have I heard of wicked people, when thrown prostrate upon beds +of affliction, calling upon the Lord, and even promising that if he +would raise them up again they would do better. But how often does it +turn out that such promises are either wantonly disregarded or +thoughtlessly broken! But why is this so? What is the cause? I will +tell you. Such prayers and promises do not proceed from a right +motive, and they do not aim at a right end. Self is the beginning and +the end of all such prayers and promises. And when self is again made +to feel easy by escape from danger, or recovery from sickness, there +is an end of prayer, and promises are forgotten. But such as I have +named are not the only class included in our Lord's meaning. If we +read carefully we may see that some who desire to make a fair show in +the flesh love to stand on the corners of the streets that they may be +heard calling on the Lord, making long prayers, that they may be seen +of men. Of such our Lord says: "Verily, they have their reward." Here +again the love of self and the world is the beginning and the end. + +There is one more class justly belonging to the number of those +already described. This is a sad class indeed, although probably no +worse off than some others. I hope no one here will ever be found in +their number. You may read about them in the twenty-fifth chapter of +Matthew's Gospel. They are called the "foolish virgins." We all know +that a virgin is an unmarried woman who has kept the integrity of her +virtue unbroken. The ten spoken of in the chapter are virgins in a +figurative sense. They are so called because in appearance and +profession they were not defiled with the world. They all had lamps. +David says: "Thy word is a LAMP unto my feet, and a light unto my +path." Each one had this _lamp_ according to their understanding and +use of the Word. All denominations of Christians claim the Word as +their lamp or guide through the darkness of this world. But lamps +differ greatly in almost every imaginable way,--in form, size, +material and illuminating capacity. Much also depends upon the sight. +If the sight be diseased, not good, the same lamp that shines brightly +to one may be darkness to another. "If thine eye be single, thy whole +body shall be full of light; but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body +shall be darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, +how great is the darkness!" + +The foolish virgins had lamps, that is, they professed faith in God's +Word, but their faith lacked the oil of love; it was not made perfect +by works in life proceeding from love to God and their neighbor. Oil +in the Scriptures stands for love. Priests and kings had to be +anointed with oil as a sign or emblem that they were to perform their +official duties from love. Hence the light that is fed by pure oil +beautifully symbolizes the truth that shines in the Christian's life, +warm with the love of God; but the light that comes from a wick in a +lamp destitute of oil symbolizes the life of the hypocrite, the vain +professor. It may burn for a little; but it will soon go out and leave +him in eternal darkness. The wise virgins represent those who make a +profession of faith in the light of truth and in the love of it. These +go in with the Lord to the marriage feast. But the foolish virgins +find the door shut. They call, "Lord, Lord, open to us." But he +answers by saying: "I know you not." "Not every one that saith unto me +Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth +the will of my Father which is in heaven." + +I recently heard of a preacher who had attended one of our meetings. +If I remember rightly, a good deal had that day been said on the +importance and value of good works. I think that one who had spoken +that day went so far as to quote these words of the Lord: "Every good +tree bringeth forth good fruit." Good works are good fruit, he had +also said. He had quoted this passage too: "Every tree that bringeth +not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Evil works +are evil fruit, he had also said. And I feel sure he had quoted these +words of the Lord: "They that have done good shall come unto the +resurrection of life: but they that have done evil, unto the +resurrection of damnation." The friend who told me had ridden a part +of the way home with the preacher before referred to, and in speaking +to this friend he said: "These Dunkards are odd people. I occasionally +go to their meetings, and every time I _do_ go I am sure to hear of +_works_! WORKS! as if works were necessary to salvation." In answer to +the friend who communicated this to me, I said: "I hope the _Dunkards_, +as he called us, will always be odd people in this regard, so long as +it is written: 'He that doeth good is of God; but he that doeth evil +hath not seen God.' 'A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: +neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. By their fruits ye +shall KNOW them.'" + +Brethren, let us think closely upon the closing words of my text: "He +that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven." An apostle says: +"This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Sanctification +means _holiness_, and holiness means conformity of heart and life to +God's Revealed Truth. The heart cannot be conformed to God's Revealed +Truth when the life is conformed to the world and sin. "No man can +serve two masters.... Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Jesus prays for +all that believe on him through the Word: "Sanctify them in thy truth. +Thy word is truth." We occasionally hear of some "_professing +sanctification_." From what I have been told, those making this +profession mean by it that they have attained to a state of sinless +perfection. This is a state to be devoutly wished, for it is the state +of the spirits of just men made perfect. Nothing shall enter that holy +city where they dwell "that defileth, or worketh abomination, or +maketh a lie." In this city of light and love no sin is found. + + "Those holy gates forever bar + Pollution, sin and shame: + For none shall have admittance there + But followers of the Lamb." + +All the descriptions and references to heaven found in the divine Word +imply that it is a place and a state where the will of God is the +supreme law of life. "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the +footstool of my feet." "Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is +God's throne." As heaven is God's throne, his will is the universal +law for all, and that law is love. I can think of no state so blessed +and happy as that where every one of the "multitude which no man can +number" "loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and his +neighbor"--every one of the assembly--"as he loves himself." And from +the Lord's Prayer it is to be inferred that his people on earth should +aim at the same state of perfection. + +Let us examine this for a moment. Notice the very first petition after +the address: "Thy kingdom come." Is the significance of this petition +to be limited merely to the introduction of the kingdom of heaven into +places of this world where it has not yet been established? It includes +this, of course; but is this all? I think not. Now the next petition: +"Thy will be done, as in heaven, so upon earth." Whilst these two +petitions have a general significance, they have a most personal +application to the heart and life of every one offering them. We +sometimes wonder why the Lord's Prayer is so short. It is so because +the all of heaven, and the church on earth, is comprehended in doing +the will of our Father who is in heaven as subjects of his kingdom. +And the aim and end of Revealed Truth from Genesis to Revelation is to +teach man how to acquire the power to do this, and how to do it, +together with the promises of eternal rewards for doing it. And until +our understandings are so filled with the knowledge of the glorious +truths of God's kingdom, and our hearts with the love of doing his +will that we can make no further progress in knowledge and wisdom, and +no additions to the warmth and measure of our love by reason of our +_sinless perfection_, we have daily need to offer this prayer. + +Gospel and church ordinances are all important. In my view they hold a +relation to every true Christian in the lines of example, power and +use somewhat like that which the harness has to a draught horse. The +horse has to be first trained to the draught by means of the harness; +and when trained he draws by the same means. Entering the church in +the Lord's appointed way--inwardly, through repentance towards God and +faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; outwardly, by a threefold immersion of +the body in pure water, the beautiful emblem of truth, in token of our +belief in the blessed trinity of God--is simply putting on the harness +for work in the Lord's vineyard. It is also the act of putting on the +Christian soldier's armor and entering the service. But of what use is +a helmet, sword and shield to an idler in the camp? Of what account is +harness, unless the horse that carries it is trained and made willing +to use it? + +The apostles all speak much of _charity_, which is love to others +filled with a desire to do them good. This love is of God; for our +Lord was filled with it as "he went about doing good." It is this same +love or charity in God that has brought salvation to man. Paul and +Peter often call it _grace_, but it means the same thing. Moses and +the prophets mostly use the word _mercy_; but it also means the same. +These three words, _love, grace, mercy_, in their true sense, are +comprehended in the word CHARITY, which, as an attribute of God or a +conscious feeling in man, is the love of doing good in the desire to +make others good and happy. If _charity_ were made the life and spring +of man's love universally, peace and happiness would be the universal +order of man's life on earth. Millennial glory would crown humanity, +and the knowledge of the Lord would be its princely attire. Then the +wolf of worldly rapacity, having lost its power, would dwell with the +lamb. The leopard of crouching deceit, having been deprived of its +teeth and claws, would lie down with the kid. The young lion, tamed, +but his courage and strength reserved by being regenerated, would feed +with the calf; and the little child of innocent will and teachable +understanding would lead them. + +But "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until +now." We can not know fully all the blessedness to be realized by +doing the will of our Father in heaven. But this we may be assured of; +it will prepare us for that higher life whose brightest glory and most +exalted happiness is comprehended in the welcome that all such as do +his will are sure to receive: "Well done, good and faithful servant; +enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." + +After dinner Brother Joseph Arnold and Michael Lion come with me, over +a very rough track, to Abraham Summerfield's, where we stay all night. + +TUESDAY, September 2. In the forenoon preach the funeral of old Mrs. +Summerfield; and in connection with it that of the child of Washington +Summerfield. In the afternoon we have meeting at old man Summerfield's +on the Dry Fork of Cheat river. Washington Summerfield and his wife +and soldier White's wife are baptized to-day. Stay all night at John +Pennington's. + +WEDNESDAY, September 3. Dine at Widow Cooper's on the Alleghany +mountain, and stay all night at Isaac Carr's on the North Fork. + +THURSDAY, September 4. Meeting at Carr's. Come to Enoch Hyre's and +stay all night. + +FRIDAY, September 5. Meeting at Hyre's. German W. Deadenborn is +baptized to-day. Come to Sister Mary Judy's; stay all night. + +SATURDAY, September 6. Meeting at Sister Judy's. Brother Thomas Lion +is with me. Come to Peggy Dasher's; night meeting at Zion. + +SUNDAY, September 7. Meeting at Henry Moyers's, in the Gap. In evening +get home. + +THURSDAY, September 11. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Decide +the question as to what the churches here in the slaveholding States +should require of any slaveowner desiring to come into the church. A +very delicate matter to act upon in the present sensitive condition of +public feeling on slavery. But it is the aim of the Brethren here not +to offend popular feeling, so long as that feeling does not attempt +any interference with what they regard and hold sacred as their line +of Christian duty. Should such opposition arise, which I greatly fear +will be the case at no distant day, it will then be seen that it is +the fixed purpose and resolve of the Brotherhood to "obey God rather +than men." It was decided in council that every slaveholder coming +into the church must give up his or her slaves as property; and yet +not turn them off houseless and homeless, but allow them to remain, +and labor, and be fed and clothed as usual, until suitable and lawful +provisions can be made for their complete emancipation. + +THURSDAY, September 18. This day Brother Kline started on a journey up +the Valley of Virginia, to the counties of Augusta, Rockbridge, +Botetourt, Roanoke and Franklin. As usual, he was mounted on faithful +Nell's back. The reader need not be surprised to be told what the +writer heard Brother Kline tell about the somewhat remarkable sagacity +of Nell. She not only had her favorite places to stop at, but she had +her favorite roads to travel on. And it was not uncommon for her rider +to be forced into a mild but resolute contention with her, when he +wished to leave a road she had repeatedly traveled before. + +Brother John Brower accompanied him from Augusta. Saturday, the +twenty-eighth, they crossed the Natural Bridge and got to Sister Sarah +Grabil's, where they met Brother Crumbaker. Sunday, the 21st, they +attended a love feast at the Valley meetinghouse, and stayed all night +at Brother Nininger's. Monday, the 22nd, they attended meeting again, +and stayed all night at Brother Benjamin Moomaw's. Next day they dined +at Brother Daniel Kiser's, and stayed all night at John Brubaker's in +Roanoke County. On this trip they visited or stayed over night with +Peter Crumbaker's, James Hayden's, Joseph Howard's, Joseph Weddell's, +Christian Bowman's, Daniel Neff's, Abraham Flory's, Abraham +Barnhart's, Jacob Miley's, Wendell Sites's, and Jacob Stover's. He got +home Friday, October 10. + +On this journey Brother Kline attended nine meetings for ordinary +services, and six love feasts. + +From this time on to the close of the year Brother Kline was actively +employed either at home or abroad. He made one trip to Page County. He +and Brother Solomon Garber took a journey through the counties of +Pendleton, Randolph, Upshur, Highland, and returned through Augusta. +They held eleven meetings in the eleven days they spent on this trip. +Several were baptized; and they met with kind receptions everywhere +they went. + +WEDNESDAY, December 31. This year I have traveled six thousand miles. +May God forgive all I have said and done amiss, and accept to his own +glory all that I have done well. Amen! + +SATURDAY, January 17. A snowstorm sets in this evening. + +SUNDAY, January 18. A terrific and very cold snowstorm has been raging +all day and all last night. Thermometer down to zero all day. + +MONDAY, January 19. Terrible snowstorm continues till evening. Snow +considerably drifted; but probably enough snow on the ground if evenly +distributed over its surface to make a depth of over two feet. Get +through reading "The Prince of the House of David." + +MONDAY, February 2. Very cold to-night. Thermometer ten degrees below +zero. + +FRIDAY, February 5. A general thaw. + +SATURDAY, February 6. Go to Broadway to see the river. Tremendous +breaking up of the ice--tearing almost everything before it. + +SATURDAY, April 4. Brother Jacob Wine and I attend a visit council +meeting in Page County. Elections are also held. Brother Nathan +Spitler is elected to preach the Word; and John Huffman is advanced to +baptize and perform the ceremony of marriage. Gideon Toben is elected +to the deaconship. + +SATURDAY, April 18. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. Jacob Wine is +ordained. John Neff is advanced to the second grade; and Abraham Neff +is elected to preach the Word. + +SUNDAY, April 26. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Romans 6 is read. +Philip Emswiler and John Toppen and his wife are baptized by myself. + +WEDNESDAY, May 13. Go to John Lowry's to converse with him and his +wife on the subject of religion. + +TUESDAY, May 19. Considerable snow to-day; but on low-lying sections +of country it melts almost as fast as it falls. + +WEDNESDAY, May 20. The Blue Ridge, and the mountains on the west side +of the valley are all white with snow. + +THURSDAY, May 21. This morning the tops of the western mountains are +still white with snow. The oldest weather records I have heard from +contain no account of snow so late in the spring as this anywhere in +Virginia. + +FRIDAY, May 22. Peter Fesler and wife are with us here at my home. We +are all made to feel glad by their company. + +FRIDAY, June 5. Go to John Lowry's to discuss some of our doctrines +with Jacob Stirewalt and Socrates Henkel, Lutheran preachers from New +Market, Virginia. It was no part of my aim in this private talk with +those preachers to work any change in their settled opinions regarding +the subjects of our controversy. I long ago learned that the +conversion of a theological sinner from the error of his ways is +hardly to be hoped for in any case. When the truth is loved for its +own sake it is not hard to find; and it is readily perceived when +found. It is then the pearl of great price for which a man will sell +all that he has to obtain it as his own. Luther was no doubt sincere +in much that he taught: but men may be sincere in holding very +erroneous dogmas, because of their being so deeply rooted in their +minds and their minds being so confirmed in them that it would be +almost like parting soul and body to give them up. It was said of +Luther, by one of the later reformers, that he cut a large piece out +of the Pope's pontifical robe as he left the Vatican, and kept it all +his life as a sacred relic. This is of course highly figurative, and +not to be understood literally; but to mean that he incorporated many +papal errors in his subsequent teachings. My object in meeting these +preachers at this place was to comply with the request of the family +for me to do so. Friend Lowry and his wife did not appear to see the +lines of truth and duty very clearly; and as they seemed desirous of +learning the way I thought it important for some one to present the +truth on one side, to oppose the error that was likely to be poured in +from the other side. The whole thing reminded me of what I often +do--give medicine to counteract disease. + +SATURDAY, July 25. Visit, medically, George, and Noah Shoemaker's, +Joseph Shoemaker's, William Miller's; and am hurriedly called to James +Fitzwater's. He has been bitten by a copperhead snake. I succeed in +relieving urgent symptoms; and by evening he is almost free from pain. + +SATURDAY, August 1. Go to Orkney Springs. + +SUNDAY, August 2. Have preaching at the hotel. My subject is +"Righteousness, Temperance, and a Judgment to Come." My audience was +composed of hearers from far and near; and almost all classes, as to +intelligence and social standing, were represented. A man like myself, +who only occasionally strikes such a crowd, hardly knows how to adapt +himself to the situation. If he lets himself down to the comprehension +of the illiterate, the highbred city folks may say: "He is beneath his +calling." And if he lifts himself up to their standard of +appreciation, the unlearned go away without being able to say amen to +what they have heard. I decided, however, to follow the example of +Paul before Felix and Drusilla. He _reasoned_ of righteousness, _etc._ + +In the forty-fifth Psalm David says: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever +and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a scepter of righteousness. +Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness." A scepter is a kind +of staff borne by kings as an emblem of their authority. It is a +comfort to know that the scepter of Jehovah, as King of the universe, +is a scepter of righteousness. We could never know that God is +righteous, and that he loves righteousness, except by being told in +his Word of Truth. This world does not give unequivocal testimony to +the righteousness of God. The wicked bear rule, and the nations +tremble. Evil often overcomes good, and wrong triumphs over right. +Disease or accident lays the good man low in death; while the wicked +near by is left to exult in the strength of his arm. I say it is +comforting to know, in the midst of these apparent contradictory +evidences of the just government of the world, that God is +nevertheless righteous: and although iniquity largely bears rule and +carries the day, God still hates wickedness. God does not acquiesce in +the injustice and wrong that is being perpetrated in the world. He +merely permits it; and he permits it for the reason that he can not +arrest and put an end to it without destroying man's freedom. Man is +free as to his will and understanding--free to believe what is false +and to do what is wrong. But he is just as free to believe what is +true and to will what is good. This freedom is what makes him capable +of being reformed and saved. + +It is self-evident that righteousness, which is right doing from right +willing, is the basis of all true order and happiness in earth and +heaven. "God is love," and he therefore loves righteousness because it +is good, and hates wickedness because it is evil. But man has fallen +from his primeval state of righteousness, and therefore he is not in a +condition of mind and heart fit for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, +nor capable of enjoying the divine presence in the society of the pure +and good. Righteousness and holiness are related to each other very +much as the fruit is related to the tree that bears it. Holiness +corresponds with the sap, fiber, life and whatever else makes the tree +good; and righteousness corresponds with the fruit the good tree +bears; and "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." + +But probably no subject in the line of human thought has given rise to +so many different opinions as the subject of how righteousness is to +be attained. The Jewish leaders and representatives in our Lord's day +upon earth were very exact in their outward lives. They kept clean the +_outside_ of the cup and of the platter. Their external conduct was +ordered to a rigid conformity to divine law. They endeavored to +establish a righteousness of their own; and to all human appearance +they succeeded; for the Lord himself said to them: "Ye make clean the +_outside_"--as vessels may appear clean _externally_. He also compared +them to beautiful monuments of marble sculptured after the highest +style of art and polished to shining perfection, set up over the dead. +But of this very class of men he said: "Except your righteousness +shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall +in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven." This proves that the +righteousness which they had was not the righteousness of the kingdom +of heaven. + +Self-respect, or self-love, inclines almost every one, except the very +abandoned, to make a show of righteousness; that is, they want others +to think they are living right lives. No man who holds himself up to +respectability is willing to be called a thief, or a liar, or an +adulterer, or any other thing that is vile. He may be any or all of +these, yet he is not willing that it should be known, or even +suspected. Even _he_ desires to make a fair show in the flesh. + +Others, again, who make no profession of religion, but who yet believe +in a supreme God and a future state of existence, desire to be +righteous before God and man. They are not like the scribes and +Pharisees, who attached virtue and merit to their rigid observance of +the ceremonial law of ordinances in their religion. These that I now +speak of are simply good moral men, who are honest in their dealings +and careful of the conduct of their lives generally. These do not +really desire to make any display of their righteousness. They wish +rather to be esteemed for their real worth; and not for any fancied or +spurious excellencies. They desire to live _above_ the just reproaches +of men, and the condemnation of God. They persuade themselves to think +that their righteousness is all that God can require. + +But the most numerous of all the classes that seek after righteousness +is composed of those who trust in the righteousness of faith. +Righteousness or justification by faith was the password of the +Reformation. Martin Luther, misapplying Paul's utterance that "a man +is justified or made righteous by faith without the deeds of the law," +set a large part of Europe going with the impression that salvation, +in the highest sense, is attainable on the easy terms of merely +assenting to the statement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Many +passages can be adduced from the epistolary writings in plausible +support of this theory of salvation. Although it is incomprehensible +how the righteousness of Christ can be applied to each individual +sinner on the bare ground of his merely giving assent to the doctrine +of the atonement through the merit of Christ's death upon the cross, +still it is the leading dogma of what is popularly called orthodoxy. +But I must confess before all present this day that I have "not so +learned Christ," nor Paul either. "Not every one that saith unto me, +Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom, but he that DOETH the will of my +Father which is in heaven." At the close of his sermon on the Mount, +in which is given all necessary instruction and encouragement for +living a righteous life from holy love in the heart, the Lord Jesus +says: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and DOETH them, I will +liken him to a wise man who built his house upon a rock." And he said +to Peter: "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of +hell shall not prevail against it." The rock is the great TRUTH that +Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This truth involves every good +affection and thought and work of man. It takes in and requires +obedience to every divine command, and compliance with every divine +precept. When any one complies with these conditions of salvation +through the faith that sees and knows that God's Word is true because +it is understood and must be so, he is righteous in the sight of the +Lord, and necessarily in a state of salvation. He is then to "let his +light shine before men, that others seeing his GOOD WORKS may glorify +our Father in heaven." + +For want of time I must pass over the subject of _temperance_, to say +something about "a judgment to come." And right here there are all +sorts of ideas and conjectures. But of all the subjects in the +universe, that involving the judgment is the most momentous to man; +because it is there that his eternal destiny will be disclosed to him, +as to whether he shall be an angel of heaven or a demon in hell. And +we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It is not to be +wondered at that Felix trembled under the weight of this great truth. +God's Word will be the basis of judgment. Says our Lord: "He that +rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: +the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day." As +"man liveth by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," so +does every word of his truth point to that great day for which all +other days were made. All the parables and miracles of our Lord, full +of instruction as to heart and life, point, like so many guideposts, +to this great central truth of man's experience and existence. + +But, friends, let us imbibe no erroneous views and impressions +regarding the judgment to come. Let us not regard it as being an +occasion for the display of God's wrath; but let us rather look upon +it as the sublimest manifestation of his love. Draw a comparison here. +Good human laws are not a terror to the good. A jury is impaneled. A +criminal is arraigned before it. Testimony is received and evidence +drawn from it respecting the innocence or guilt of the accused. The +balance of testimony is altogether in his favor. He is acquitted. That +trial is a joy to that criminal, because it sets him right as to +character before the world. But suppose he is found guilty. Is it a +joy then? It is not. It is a grief. Why? Because his sin has found him +out. His real character is laid bare. But in their consignment of him +to the punishment prescribed by law, do the jury and the judge act +from wrath? They do not, but from a love of good will to all. The law +that condemns may have the appearance of wrath to the condemned; but +never to the innocent. + +Judgment and reward will be according to works, and never according to +professions of faith, except where the professions are genuine, and +lead to good works from the love of doing good. I have met with some +who have manifested dread in contemplating the majesty of that great +day, the day of "a judgment to come." I feel warranted in making the +assertion that no one whose purpose in life is to do the will of our +Father in heaven has any just ground whatever to dread the coming of +that day. Justice never condemns the innocent. Just and wise laws are +never a terror to the good, and such are all the laws of God. In the +book of Revelation we read of those "who had gotten the victory over +the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number +of his name, saying: Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God +Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." These all +exulted in the prospect of a judgment to come, because they had gotten +the victory over the adversary of their souls and were ready for trial +before the King of saints whose ways are all _just_ and _true_. I once +read of a criminal who was deeply distressed at the near approach of +his trial. A friend endeavored to soothe his agitated feelings by +telling him that justice would be done him, and that he consequently +had no cause for fear. But the criminal was honest enough to confess +to his friend that JUSTICE was the very thing he was afraid of. I have +no doubt that this very same fear was what made Felix tremble before +Paul. + +The Son of man, on the judgment seat, will be the very same in every +particular that he is now on the mercy seat. "Jesus Christ is the same +yesterday, and to-day, and forevermore." "The heavens shall depart as +a scroll; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up; but thou art the +same." By viewing him now as he is on the mercy seat we may see what +he will be on the judgment seat. The trembling waters of Galilee +became a pavement under his feet, and his disciples were thrown into +consternation by this miraculous approach of the Lord. But he +instantly dispelled their fears by the assurance: "It is I; BE NOT +AFRAID." Peter, James and John on the holy mount feared as they +entered the cloud and saw his glory; but he most tenderly said to +them: "FEAR NOT." John, on the isle of Patmos, beholding the glory of +his unveiled face, "fell at his feet as dead." But he laid his right +hand upon him and said: "FEAR NOT. I am he that liveth and was dead; +and, behold! I am alive forevermore." + +These thoughts lead to the further consideration that there will be no +arbitrary or despotic power exercised in "the judgment to come." "My +words shall judge you in the last day" is given by our Lord as the +standard of judgment. Is there one here who desires to know how he +will bear the searching ordeal of that day? If there is, let me say to +such a one, you can decide that question here in this world for +yourself. You have the Lord's word for this. "Verily, verily, I say +unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, +hath eternal life, _and cometh not into judgment_, but hath passed out +of death into life." To hear is to hearken, and to hearken is to obey, +from a right faith in God. If you believe that this book which I hold +in my hand, called the Bible, is the revealed truth of God, and from +the heart are willing to obey its precepts under a sense of love and +duty to do the will of your Father in heaven therein revealed, and +continue faithful unto death, you have the assurance therein given +that the judgment to come will be a day of triumphant joy to your +soul. But if you come short of this you can have no such assurance: +and I am compelled to repeat in your ears these terrific words of an +apostle: "If we sin willfully, after that we have received the +knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; +but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, +which shall devour the adversary." To sin willfully is to refuse to do +what we know to be the will of God our Father in heaven. + +I said awhile ago that judgment and reward will be according to works. +Let us now turn to some of the proofs in confirmation of this +assertion. They drop from the lips of our Lord without the least show +of any design in him to _establish_ a great principle. The principle +had been established as an element of divine order before the Son of +man came into the world. It is a truth so simple that even little +children comprehend it. If a little child that has been taught any +correct ideas about salvation and heaven be asked a question like +this: "Who go to heaven?" it will at once answer with childlike +simplicity: "Good people go to heaven." If further interrogated as to +who good people are, it will say: "People who love one another and do +good." It is a truth intuitively known that good people are saved and +happy, and bad people lost and miserable. + +"This is the judgment, that light is come into the world, but men +loved darkness rather than light, because THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. Every +one that doeth evil hateth the light ... lest HIS DEEDS should be +reproved. But he who DOETH TRUTH cometh to the light, that his deeds +may be made manifest, because THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD. If ye know +these things, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM. He that hath my commandments +AND DOETH THEM, he it is that loveth me ... and I will love him, and +will manifest myself to him; ... and will come to him, and make my +abode with him. He that loveth me not KEEPETH NOT MY WORDS. Ye are my +friends, IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU.... I have chosen you, ... +that ye should bring forth fruit, AND THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN." +I must drop a word of comment upon this last quotation. By fruit +remaining it is to be understood that it goes with the child of God +through the judgment into heaven, and remains to eternity. In +Revelation we read these words: "Blessed are the dead which die in the +Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from +their labors; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW WITH THEM. A book was opened, +which is the book of life: and the dead were judged according to those +things which were written in the book, EVERY ONE ACCORDING TO THEIR +WORKS." + +I might continue this multiplication of scripture passages to a much +greater number, but time forbids. Every passage I have quoted bears +either directly or indirectly upon the judgment to come. It remains a +thing of choice with every intelligent human being, whether he will be +prepared to face the shining judgment throne with joy, or quail before +it in terror. The Lord says to all: "Seek ye my face." What a blessed +response it would be for each one to answer as did the young Prophet +Samuel: "Thy face, Lord, will I seek." + +TUESDAY, August 18. Brother Kline and Jacob Wine have night meeting at +Nimrod Judy's, in Hardy County. The conversion of Saul is their +subject. Acts 9. + +WEDNESDAY, August 19. They have meeting at John Judy's on South Mill +Creek. TEXT.--"God is a Spirit." John 4:24. They speak on the +spiritual nature of true worship, and prove that ordinances in +connection with all the externals of worship, to be acceptable to God, +must be but the outward evidences of internal realities. They stay all +night at John Judy's. + +THURSDAY, August 20. This day they have two meetings: forenoon at +Isaac Judy's; afternoon at Michael Mallow's. Stay at Adam Mallow's. + +FRIDAY, August 21. Two meetings to-day. Forenoon at Bethel +church--dine at Peter Warnstaff's; afternoon at Warnstaff's tanyard. +Stay at John Davis's in Hardy. + +SATURDAY, August 22. Meeting at Zion church on the South Fork. In the +afternoon cross the Shenandoah mountain into Brock's Gap. + +SUNDAY, August 23. Meeting at Keplinger's chapel, where they meet +Benjamin Bowman and Solomon Garber. A joyful surprise. Brother +Benjamin Bowman speaks from Luke 8. He speaks mostly from these words +of the eighteenth verse: "Take heed how ye hear." From the outlines I +gather that he followed very closely the lines of thought here briefly +expressed. + +He said: Hearing may be that of mere sound. Brutes hear in this way. A +horse, near the stand, may hear a sermon, but it will be that of mere +sound to him. I have known of _people_ hearing somewhat after the same +manner. They can tell nothing, and seem to remember nothing of what +they have heard. Some hear to criticise the preacher's style of +expression, including his language, modulation of his voice, and +gestures. Others hear as the Pharisees and Herodians tried to hear +Christ, "that they might catch him in his talk;" and like the scribes +and Pharisees, "laying in wait for him, to catch something out of his +mouth" with which to accuse him. But these are not the only profitless +hearings which the God-loving and soul-loving minister of the Gospel +has to mourn over. The lives of some _prove_ that they hear mainly +from a desire to make others think that they have great respect for +religion and the Word of God. They go to church and hear, but heed +nothing. "By their fruits shall ye KNOW them." If people were rightly +to obey the injunction of my text, all such heedless and profitless +hearing would be at an end. + +But how is the injunction of the text to be obeyed? And how is one to +know when he is obeying it? The command means that the hearer shall +_take heed_. This means "WATCH." What must he watch? "HOW HE HEARS." +The text has relation, not to WHAT ye hear, but HOW ye hear. It does +not point to the subject matter or the manner of the address, but to +the end _for_ which and to the spirit _in_ which it is heard. If the +heartfelt desire of the hearer is to learn truth, that he may be +enlightened and given to see the way of eternal life, he may feel +assured that his hearing is acceptable to God. He will then not be a +forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, and such a one shall be +blessed in his deed. + +It is enjoined upon all to hear _intelligently_, for this belongs to +the _manner_ of hearing. No one can hear a sermon understandingly +without some previous knowledge of the subject matter of the +discourse. To acquire this knowledge every one should read and study +the Word of Divine Truth. It is able to make all "wise unto +salvation." Intelligent knowledge of the Scriptures can be acquired +only by patient study of them: but when they are studied to the +illumination of the understanding, the truth, like water in a well, +rises up into the understanding and meets you. We sometimes hear it +said of one who listens attentively and intelligently, "He seemed to +drink in every word spoken." This, I think, is what the Lord means by +these words to the woman at the well: "He that drinketh of this water +shall thirst again: but he that drinketh of the water that I shall +give him, shall never thirst; but it shall be in him a well of water +springing up into everlasting life." To hear the truth attentively and +understandingly is to drink it in, as we drink water when we are +thirsty. + +What I have said, however important it may be to know, does not cover +the entire ground comprehended in the text. I must show you another +element which must exist in the _manner_ of all right hearing. That +element is _discrimination_. Without this, how is the hearer to know +whether the truth or its opposite is being preached? The comparison +may lack adaptability in some of its points, but I have heard it said +that some hearers are like young birds in their nest, ready to swallow +down anything put into their mouths. Such as hear in this way lack +_discrimination_; that is, they do not discern the difference between +what is true and what is false. This is particularly the case with +such as have been trained to regard what their own denominational +ministers preach as being the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but +the truth. I am aware that some may just now be saying in their minds: +"You Dunkard people are the very ones to whom your words most justly +apply; for I know of no people who take so great pains to instil this +very belief into the minds of the young as you do." I can truthfully +say that such charges are not strange to me. But with all due respect +for such as differ from us in religious faith and practice, I do say +that we, as a denomination of Christian brethren, acknowledging no +teacher but Christ, no authority but his Word, have no will, wish or +desire to lead the truth and thus pervert, ignore or misapply any part +of it; but our will, wish and desire is to be led by the truth. And I +do not in my heart believe there is one member of our Brotherhood who +would desire to instill into the mind of his or her child any belief +or practice not sustained by a plain "_thus saith the Lord_." In this +very way the power of _discrimination_ is developed in the minds of +our young people, so that when they hear or read they do not question +whether this or that that they hear or read has for its authority the +Methodist Discipline, the Episcopal Prayer Book, or Lutheran +Catechism; but they at once perceive that it either has or has not the +sanction of God's Word. We are taught that in a spiritual sense no one +is to be called rabbi. "Be not ye called rabbi; for One is your +teacher, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father on the +earth; for one is your Father in heaven." How the mind might expatiate +here in making historic disclosures of the times and ways in which +this plain command of our Lord has been violated! Hearing the Word +preached, and the hearer not able to discern truth from falsehood, has +given to priestcraft nearly all of its power; because priestcraft, +unsupported by the common people, could never have risen into power. +If the common people had been wise enough to take heed _how_ they +hear, they never would have suffered themselves to be imposed upon as +they have been. + +I now take up the last but not the least element in the _manner_ of +hearing. That element is _sincerity_; which I define to be a heartfelt +love for the truth. Paul puts it "Receiving the truth in the love of +it." The person who hears the truth lightly, thoughtlessly, carelessly +is not instructed by it. The same is true of one who hears with +prejudice against the truth. He refuses to be instructed, because he +does not love the truth he hears. Let me use an illustration here. Two +men once happened to meet at my house, one a Presbyterian and the +other a member of no church. After dinner the subject of feet-washing +was broached. After we had all talked awhile about it one of the men +asked me whereabouts in the Bible it was to be found. I turned to the +thirteenth chapter of John's Gospel, and he then asked me to read it +aloud. I did so. These two men listened attentively, so, at least, +they appeared to me. The Presbyterian friend very modestly gave it as +his opinion that the command is fully met by acts of hospitality, and +referred to the reception which Abraham gave the three angels who came +to his tent as proof of the correctness of his conclusion. Very little +more was said about it at that time. The two men, soon after, went +away together; and I had little or no conversation with either of them +for probably nearly a year afterward. But it so turned out that the +one who was not a professor of religion came to my house again, and +showed a desire to talk on the subject of feet-washing. I was ready to +answer such questions as he proposed; and he very soon expressed a +wish to know if I remembered having once read the thirteenth chapter +of John's Gospel to him when on a call at my house. I told him I did +remember it. "Your reading of that chapter," said he, "struck my mind +with so much force that I could not rid myself of the impression it +made. I never, until then, knew there was anything so plain in the +Scriptures, and so easy to understand. I had always thought the Bible +was a book of dark sayings, unintelligible to any but the learned; and +even in their hands doubtful as to its true interpretation. Since then +I have been reading it, especially the New Testament part of it, and +find so much that I can understand that I begin to love it." I have +only to add that this man soon applied for membership in our church, +was baptized, and manifested enthusiastic delight in obeying the +command, "So ought ye also to wash one another's feet," at the first +love feast he ever attended. + +In connection with the case I have just described, the two men spoken +of heard with different ears. The ear of the first was so modified by +previous indoctrinations that it could almost shut itself in and +become deaf or callous when the plain truth was read: the ear of the +last was open to take in the truth; and the mind, being free from +prejudice, received the truth from the love of it. "Blessed are the +poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The Lord +includes all such hearers as the one I have just described, in the +promised blessing. + +"Take heed HOW ye hear." In speaking on this text so much comes before +my mind that it is difficult for me to stop. I must say something to +the unconverted sinner. The Lord says to you: "Repent, for the kingdom +of heaven is at hand." This means that you should turn away from your +sins and enter the kingdom of heaven. "Let the wicked forsake his way, +and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return unto the Lord, +for he will have mercy upon him; and unto our God, for he will +abundantly pardon." And Jesus says: "Whosoever cometh unto me, I will +in no wise cast out." To come unto the Lord is to hear his Word with +full purpose of heart to understand it, see its truth, believe it and +obey it. I beg every unconverted person in this house to ask himself +just now: "How do I hear what the preacher has just now said? Do I +hear it with a thoughtless, careless ear? If I do, what is to become +of me? Can I bear to hear the voice from the judgment throne say: +'Depart, ye workers of iniquity, into everlasting fire'? Would I not +better 'seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while +he is near'?" O, that all might hear aright, repent and live, for with +the Lord there is plenteous redemption; and he is able to save to the +uttermost all who come unto God by him. + +SUNDAY, September 6. Meeting at Turner's schoolhouse. William Miller +and wife, and Andrew Lamb's wife are baptized. + +THURSDAY, September 24. This day finds Brother Kline and Solomon +Garber in Randolph County, Virginia, nearly one hundred miles from +home, holding a meeting. Both have come on horseback. They hold a +council meeting with the Brethren assembled. Joseph Houser is elected +to the deaconship. After meeting Brother Solomon Garber baptizes Mrs. +Houser and Diana Bainbridge. + +SATURDAY, September 26. They have meeting in meetinghouse near Josiah +Simon's. Matt. 5:13 is the text. Brother Solomon Garber spoke first; +and the Diary notes are so suggestive of original thought that I give +them in a somewhat expanded form. TEXT.--"_Ye are the salt of the +earth._" + +Jesus spoke by parables: and we are told that without a parable spoke +he not. My text is a parable. But what is a parable? A parable is a +way of teaching in which natural objects are used to represent or +symbolize spiritual realities. It is a way of comparing natural things +with spiritual things. This way of teaching is based upon the +correspondence existing between natural things and spiritual or +heavenly things. Thus: a natural birth corresponds to a spiritual +birth; natural water, to spiritual water, which is divine or heavenly +truth. Wind, which is air in motion, corresponds to the presence and +power of the Holy Spirit. Now notice, Jesus said to Nicodemus: "If I +have told you earthly things, and you believe or understand not, how +shall you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?" Nicodemus could +not understand how earthly things could symbolize or represent +spiritual things. Hence he asked: "How can these things be?" + +I have tried to find out as nearly as possible what the word SALT is +used to represent, as found in my text. I have searched many books for +this one thing alone. But after all my investigations I am compelled +to rely upon my own judgment, and decide the matter for myself. I +notice, however, that salt is often spoken of in the Bible. All the +priestly offerings had to be salted with salt. There must, then, be a +high and holy significance in its use in this way. + +Elisha succeeded Elijah in the prophetic office. Elijah had been +carried up to heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha had just +returned from the scene and sight of his master's glorification, and +was at the city of Jericho. And the men of the city said unto Elisha: +"Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, ... but +the water is naught"--worthless, not fit to drink. And Elisha "went +forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt in there, and said, +Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters." To my mind these +bitter waters of Jericho symbolize the truths of God's Word, as these +truths appear to the mind and affect the taste of the unconverted man. +Read the Bible to the man who has no relish, no love for its truth. Is +it not to his soul like the waters of Jericho--"naught," or nothing? +These men of Jericho are all around us, and you may find opportunities +to prove what I have said. I have repeatedly tried it. I have read +chapter after chapter of the divine Word to unconverted men, sometimes +to my own work hands who I knew cared nothing for religion, and whilst +they would not tell me to my face that they cared nothing for it, I +could find out by others, and by their own after lives that what they +heard was to their souls as the waters of Jericho were to the men of +that city. But when the salt of pure love for the Lord, and the desire +to leave off and forsake all sinful indulgences and worldly pleasures +by leading a new life in doing the Lord's will, enters a man the Word +becomes sweet and precious to his soul. _The waters are healed, +because the man is healed._ + +The twelve disciples, particularly, were, at the time our Lord spoke +the words of my text, the very embodiment of all the virtues of heart +and life which make the Word of the Lord sweet to the soul. To such +these beautiful words in the Song of Solomon apply: "He brought me to +the banqueting house: he stayed me with flagons of wine: he comforted +me with apples: his banner over me was love: yea, and HIS FRUIT _was +sweet to my taste_." + +Now, to bring my text to something like a practical head, I must say +to every unconverted soul here: You must put the salt into the water +of God's Word for yourself. If you look to the Lord, and ask him to +give you eyes that you may see, and ears that you may hear, and a +heart that you may understand, you will also receive all the salt you +need to heal the Word and make it healing to your soul. But if you +neglect and despise or reject the offers of God's love, the very thing +that he has prepared for your eternal joy will be everlasting +bitterness to your soul. For one to know his duty and not at the same +time do it exposes him to the danger of being converted into a pillar +of bitter salt as Lot's wife was. She could not give up her love for +the world. She knew that she must not look back with longings for the +Sodom of the sinful life she had left; but she did look back, and her +awful fate is brought to mind by our Lord as a warning to all: +"Remember Lot's wife." + +By the words of my text, then, the Lord meant that the disciples +represented the charity and faith that sweeten and give to every word +of Divine Truth a gracious reception into the heart and life. In this +happy love the Christian sings of the Word of Life in the beautiful +sentiment of an old hymn: + + "Yes, thou art precious to my soul; + My transport and my trust: + Jewels to thee are gaudy toys, + And gold is sordid dust." + +And when the disembodied soul shall awake to the full realization of +the truth which shone so dimly here, the love for that truth will be +sevenfold as the light of seven days all in one, which means fullness +of joy and pleasures forevermore. + +SUNDAY, September 27. This day Brother Solomon Garber leaves +me after meeting, to attend to some appointments ahead. I stay to +debate with a Methodist preacher. In the afternoon I baptize Sister +Houser. Stay all night at Brother Pirkey's. + +TUESDAY, September 29. In the afternoon meet the Methodist +preacher at Israel Methodist church. But I am sorry to say that +instead of going into a discussion with me on baptism and other +ordinances of God's house he suffered himself to run into an absurd +abuse of us, as if we might be doing much harm by our close adherence +to the teachings and examples of Christ and his apostles. I can pray +the Lord to have mercy upon him, and to open his eyes; for I was led +to believe, from what he said, that he had never read or thought much +outside of the Methodist Discipline. + +WEDNESDAY, September 30. Meeting again in meetinghouse near +Brother Simon's. Speak on John 3:7. I baptize Brother Samuel Channel. + +THURSDAY, October 1. Get Nell shod. Come to the Barker +settlement. Night meeting at Wilson's. + +FRIDAY, October 2. Night meeting at Enoch Johnson's. + +SATURDAY, October 3. Meeting and love feast at Brother Henry +Wilson's. Stay all night at Brother Elias Oval's. + +SUNDAY, October 4. Meeting at the meetinghouse. Take the +voice of the church. Brother Henry Wilson is established. Brother +Elias Oval is advanced; and Brother William Oval is elected to the +Word. + +MONDAY, October 5. Visit Elijah Skidmore; dine at Brother +Burke's; visit Joseph Workman; and come to Brother Simon's in the +evening. Brother Michael Lion, Brother Thomas Clark, and Brother +Martain Cosner are there when I arrive. I probably will never forget +the pleasure of meeting those brethren there and spending the night +and next day with them. Our love for each other here is a sweet +foretaste of the joy of heaven. + +TUESDAY, October 6. Come to Brother Levi Wilmot's. Preach the +funeral of Brother Powers's wife. + +WEDNESDAY, October 7. Dine at Abraham Summerfield's. Then to +William Adamson's at the mouth of Seneca Creek, where I stay all +night. + +THURSDAY, October 8. Dine at Daniel Judy's. Stay all night at +Adam Ketterman's on top of the South Fork mountain. + +FRIDAY, October 9. Get home. + +SUNDAY, October 25. Meeting at Hoover's schoolhouse. I +baptize John Lamb and wife, and Mary Hoover. + +SUNDAY, November 1. This day Brother Kline and Jacob Miller +are together at a meeting in a place called Powell's Fort. This is a +very singular conformation of country. It is entirely surrounded by +high mountain walls, with the exception of one notch or outlet for +drainage and a road. It is about twenty miles south of Winchester, +Virginia. Some well-to-do people live in this secluded abode. It is +likewise the point to which it is said that Washington had resolved to +retreat, with his army, rather than surrender to the British, in one +of the dark periods of the Revolutionary War. On this visit to the +Fort Brother Jacob Miller baptized three persons. + +From this time to the close of the year, Brother Kline was mostly +employed in writing his "Apology and Defense of Baptism." He finished +the work on the thirty-first day of December. In the year 1857 he +traveled 3,967 miles. + +FRIDAY, February 5, 1858. Attend council meeting at the Old +meetinghouse. Brother John Thomas is forwarded; Joseph Early is +elected to preach the Word; and Benjamin Byerly is elected to the +deaconship. + +SATURDAY, February 27. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. +Brother Samuel Zigler is elected to preach the Word. + +MONDAY, March 8. This day a snow falls about one foot in +depth. + +WEDNESDAY, March 10. This day completes the fortieth year of +my married life. + +FRIDAY, March 26. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. +George Wine, son of Samuel Wine, and John B. Kline are each elected to +the deaconship. + +MONDAY, May 10. Brother Kline and Martain Miller, in company +of each other, start to the Annual Meeting. On the following Friday +they arrived at Brother J.P. Ebersole's, Ohio. + +Between Saturday, May 15, and Friday, May 21, the two brethren in +company of each other attended four meetings, and visited families as +follows: Abraham Ebersole's, Daniel Rosenberger's, Jacob Leedy's, +Jonathan Dickey's, Michael Baserman's, Jacob Miller's, Samuel +Miller's, Daniel Miller's, Abraham Miller's. + +FRIDAY, May 21, after dinner, they go to Lima and wait for +the train, which does not come in till ten o'clock at night. It had +run off the track near a place called Forest. The Diary note says: A +man was killed here by the western train while we were waiting. He got +between the woodpile and the cars. Death overtook him without a +moment's warning. If unprepared to die, how sad the thought of his +being launched into the "eternal deeps" of misery and despair! My eyes +often turn with sorrow to the hopeless condition of those who live +without God in the world. How men and women of common sense can be +satisfied to live year in and year out, on the verge of ruin, is a +mystery to me. A glow of enthusiasm often enters my soul, in which I +feel as if it would be an ineffable joy to me could I send my voice +all over the land in tones of thunder repeating: + + "Stop, poor sinners, stop and think, + Before ye further go! + How can ye sport upon the brink + Of everlasting woe? + On the verge of ruin, stop! + Now, the friendly warning take: + Stay your footsteps ere ye drop + Into the burning lake." + +And to those whose attention might be arrested by such a call, as they +would turn their ears to hear, would I love to say, pointing +heavenward: "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the +world." "Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved." +"For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." +"Even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth on +him may have everlasting life." + +We arrive at Fort Wayne quarter past one A.M. After breakfast take +train to Delphi; then go in hack ten miles to place of Annual Meeting. +Preaching in afternoon. Revelation 5 is read. Brother J. Quinter +speaks on the chapter. We take supper on the meeting grounds and then +go to Brother John Flory's to stay all night. + +SUNDAY, May 23. A very great concourse of people on the +grounds. I speak from Revelation 5, the same chapter spoken from +yesterday. Some rain to-day. Stay all night at Brother John Flory's +again. + +MONDAY, May 24. This morning much rain. Committees are +formed. Take in questions. Form subcommittees. Go to Brother Young's. + +TUESDAY, May 25. Discuss questions. Much rain. Waters high. +Stay all night at Brother Flory's again. + +WEDNESDAY, May 26. Discuss questions. Get through about two +o'clock. Come to Delphi on a wagon. The sky partially clears up +to-day. We have night meeting in Delphi. Brethren John Wise, George +Hoover and myself speak on Romans, first chapter. + +THURSDAY, May 27. Get back to Jacob Miller's near Lima. Clear +to-day. + +FRIDAY, May 28. Meeting and love feast at meetinghouse. +Ephesians 2 is read. Stay at Daniel Miller's. + +SATURDAY, May 29. Get to Brother John P. Ebersole's. + +SUNDAY, May 30. Meeting in meetinghouse near J.P. Ebersole's. +Brother Quinter speaks from Hebrews 6. In afternoon I speak from +Hebrews 2. Stay all night at Brother Daniel Rosenberger's. + +MONDAY, May 31. Meeting and love feast at same place. Matthew +19 is read. Rain in morning; clear in evening. Stay at Brother +Ebersole's. + +TUESDAY, June 1. A beautiful morning. Take breakfast at the +meetinghouse. Have service. Read a farewell address, which I here +copy: + +Brethren and sisters in the Lord, dearly beloved: Our greetings for +this time have been exchanged, and the atmosphere of love in which we +all have so freely breathed and moved since our first meeting together +must soon be exchanged for the atmosphere of the world. Our blessed +Lord meant a great deal when he said: "I am the door: by me if any man +enter in, he shall be saved; and shall go in and go out, and find +pasture." In meetings like this, and others we have for some while +been attending we feel that our spirits and souls and bodies are +visibly and experimentally in the fold, with the Great Shepherd in our +midst. We are "made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ +Jesus," warmed and cheered by "the Sun of Righteousness." + +But the duties of life lay upon us the necessity of breaking up and +departing to our business and our homes. We must "go out," out among +the elements of the world, and do our part valiantly in the great +conflict of life--the conflict that forms our character and decides +forever whether we shall reign with saints in glory, or be captives +of hell. Let us, brethren and sisters, be cheered with the Lord's +promise, that even _out_ of the fold we shall find _pasture_, +something to increase our love for the Lord and for one another, and +strengthen our faith. How tenderly the Lord speaks to us, as though he +regarded us as his little children! "I will not leave you comfortless: +I will come to you." "And lo, I am with you to the end of the world, +... until I receive you unto myself, for where I am, there shall ye be +also." "In the world ye shall have tribulations; ... but be of good +cheer, ... in me ye shall have peace." In giving to each other the +parting hand and the holy kiss tears and good wishes are not out of +place. Connected with these a word of comfort to the feeble-minded, a +word of encouragement to the brother or sister of weak faith, a word +of gentle admonition whispered into the ear of the erring, a word of +caution to the rich, lest they be exalted and trust in their uncertain +riches, a word of approval and commendation to those who, like +Barnabas, are full of good works, may do an amount of good which +eternity alone can reveal. + +And now, brethren and sisters, farewell. Be steadfast, unmovable; +always abounding in the work of the Lord; inasmuch as ye know that +your labor is not in vain in the Lord. + +Come to Carey for two o'clock meeting. Sup at Dr. Joseph Myers's. At +one A.M. take train for Columbiana. Sup with Brother Quinter. Stay +with Brother Henry Kurtz. Fine weather yesterday and to-day. + +SUNDAY, June 6. Get home. + +From this time on to the first of August Brother Kline was mostly +around home. He wrote many letters to prominent brethren in nearly all +of the States in which the Brethren had, at that time, representative +men. He also preached some funerals, for people die even in summer; +and death claims all seasons for his own. + +FRIDAY, August 6. This day he and Brother John Wine start to +the northwestern counties of Virginia, and cross over into Maryland +and Pennsylvania. _Regularly_, they have meetings every day. They +visit Nicholas Leatherman's, John Leatherman's, and Samuel Arnold's in +Hampshire County, Virginia. They visit David Beachley's, John C. +Lichty's, and Elias K. Beachley's; also Jonathan Kelso's, David +Livengood's and Franklin O. Livengood's, all in Maryland. We next find +them at Brother Flanigan's, on Hughs's river, where they stay all +night. + +SUNDAY, August 15. Meeting. Speak on the Great Commission. +Roger Davis and wife baptized. Meeting in the afternoon. Continue on +the same text. Stay all night with Brother Martain Cochran. Fine +weather. + +MONDAY, August 16. Meeting at Slab meetinghouse. Speak on +John 4: 29. Dine at Brother Cochran's. Sup at Brother Roger Davis's, +and have meeting at early candlelight. Brother John Wine speaks from +Rom. 1: 16. + +TUESDAY, August 17. Get back to Oakland. + +WEDNESDAY, August 18. Meeting at Thomas Clark's. Speak from +Matthew 12. Meeting in afternoon at Isaac Hays's. Martha and Mary, or +the _one thing needful_, was our subject. Stay at Brother Lee's. + +THURSDAY, August 19. Meeting at Greenland, in Hardy County, +Virginia. A woman from Germany, in Europe, is baptized to-day. Dine at +Samuel Barbee's, and stay at James Parks's. The two brethren had +several other meetings by the way, and on + +MONDAY, August 23, they reached home. + +FRIDAY, September 24. Meeting and love feast at our +meetinghouse. Andrew Crist and wife, Silas Turner, and Catharine +Showalter were baptized to-day. + +SUNDAY, October 17. This day Christian Shoemaker, George +Rodecap and his mother, and William Ford and his wife were baptized. + +MONDAY, October 18. Brother Kline started on another trip to +Maryland. Among the names of those whom he called on, or passed a +night with, we notice Samuel Zimmerman, Jacob Saylor, Sister Jordan, +Philip Boyle, John Roop, John Bowman, D.P. Saylor, William Nipe, Peter +Grassnicker, Daniel Rickerd, Jacob Wolf, and Mrs. Nipe. + +WEDNESDAY, October 20. Love feast at Beaver Dam. Fine +weather, and a large gathering of people. Much brotherly love, and +general good order. + +THURSDAY, October 21. Meeting at the Pipe Creek meetinghouse, +and one at night at New Vinson. + +FRIDAY, October 22. Meeting at the Meadow Branch +meetinghouse. + +SUNDAY, October 24. Love feast at the meetinghouse, near +Brother William Nipe's. Large gathering and fine weather. + +Brother Kline attended several other meetings on this trip; and on + +SUNDAY, October 31, he reports himself at the Flat Rock +meetinghouse, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, replying to a discourse +on feet-washing delivered shortly before by J.P. Cline, a Lutheran +preacher of the same county. In his reply Brother Kline proves himself +"a master of his bow: his arrows never miss." I here present some +points in this reply: + +Friend J.P. Cline made feet-washing "a household or hospitable rite." +Brother John Kline's main point in reply to this was, that bathing or +washing of the whole body in water, as also the setting out of bread +and wine before guests, was likewise included among the rites of +hospitality in the East and also in southern Europe. If feet-washing +is to be discarded from the list of church ordinances on this ground, +what becomes of baptism and the Communion? Can they, logically, fare +better? + +Friend Cline's next point was, "that feet-washing has a spiritual +significance, that the example given by the Lord is complied with and +obeyed when we, in humility and love, do works of charity." In reply +to this, Brother John Kline merely asked the question: "What +denominations of professing Christians exhibit the deepest sense of +humility, and show the warmest affections of charity, those that +observe feet-washing as an ordinance of the church, or those that +reject it as such?" "It is not for me," said he, "to answer this +question. I leave it to the consideration of all." + +"What I do, thou knowest not now." "This declaration of our Lord," +said friend Cline, "clearly discards feet-washing from being a church +ordinance." In reply to this Brother Kline said: "I would like to ask +friend Cline if he claims to understand all the meaning and +significance of water baptism and the Communion. If he does lay claim +to such attainments in the knowledge of what God has not clearly +revealed in his Word, he must have had access to information from +which all other honest men have been debarred. Before friend Cline's +argument against feet-washing as a church ordinance can have any +weight, on the score that we do not clearly see all that is intended +to be signified by it, consistency does require him to show the full +meaning and significance of baptism and the Communion of the bread and +wine. It is self-evident that the argument which rejects feet-washing +from the list of church ordinances, on the ground of its not being +fully understood as to its entire significance, with equal power +rejects and discards baptism and the Communion from being ordinances +of the house of God." + +In this brief report of Brother John Kline's sermon on this occasion I +have but touched some of the points in his argument, gathered from the +Diary, and from a personal conversation with him afterwards. He wound +up with the Fable of the Clock and the Sundial, as follows: + +"The Town Clock claimed that it ought to be highly respected. 'Look,' +said the Clock, 'at my beautiful face, and the exquisite delicacy of +my hands. My head, too, internally and externally, is a perfect model +of scientific exactness and mechanical skill. You should depend upon +what I say. I run with regular steps, and strike the hours of the day +as I run. You should hear ME. Look at that broad-faced, +flat-headed sundial away down there. It has not a word to say. +_I_ am going to strike now. One--two--three! There--how musical!' +But when this bombastic speech was ended, the sun broke forth, and the +Dial only smiled to show that the boasting clock had not told the +_truth_ by some hours. The thirteenth chapter of John is the +Lord's sundial on feet-washing. Probably, after all, the best way to +discuss this question with any one would be just to read in his +hearing the thirteenth chapter of John." + +SUNDAY, November 21. To-day we have our first meeting in the +new meetinghouse at the Plains. Hebrews twelfth chapter is read. + +FRIDAY, November 26. Start for Pendleton and Hardy Counties. +Stay all night with Brother Jack Ratchford and his son Hugh Ratchford, +on top of the Shenandoah mountain, where we have an evening meeting +for prayer and exhortation. Cloudy and cold. + +SATURDAY, November 27. Come to Peter Warnstaff's. No meeting +appointed. Clean John Pope's clock. Fix Mrs. Warnstaff's clocks, and +stay there all night. Snows to-night. + +SUNDAY, November 28. Meeting at Warnstaff's tanyard. Speak on +1 Cor. 1:30. Dine at Peter Warnstaff's. I am always refreshed by +visiting this worthy and intelligent family, composed of Peter +Warnstaff, his sister Susanna, and their widowed mother. I can never +depart from their house without breathing a prayer for blessings upon +them. Night meeting at Lough's church. Speak on John 14:6. Stay all +night at Joel Siple's near the top of the South Fork mountain. Joel +Siple is raising an intelligent and industrious family. + +MONDAY, November 29. Come to John Borer's on the South Mill +Creek. Preach his wife's funeral. Meet Brother Michael Lion and +Brother Martain Cosner there. We all stay over night at Brother John +Judy's. + +TUESDAY, November 30. Meeting at John Judy's. The two +brethren Cosner and Lion speak to good acceptance, on John 3:14. Come +to Isaac Judy's, and stay all night. + +WEDNESDAY, December 1. Dine at Manasseh Judy's. Manasseh Judy +always meets me with a pleasant face, such as makes me feel at home in +his house. After dinner, fix his clock, and cross the mountain to John +Davis's, in Hardy County. Night meeting at Zion church. Stay at +Davis's all night. + +THURSDAY, December 2. Spend most of the day at the widow +Peggy Dasher's. In evening go to Nimrod Judy's, where we have night +meeting, and spend the night. + +FRIDAY, December 3. Get home. + +THURSDAY, December 23. Perform the marriage ceremony of John +Driver and Rebecca Kline, at the house of her father, David Kline, at +half past three P.M. + +FRIDAY, December 31. I have traveled this year 5,674 miles. I +am at home, at the home of my life in the body; but I am not at home +as to the life of my spirit. + + As on the verge of life I stand, + And view the scene on either hand, + My soul would here no longer stay. + I long to wing my flight away. + + Where Jesus dwells I long to be: + I long my much loved Lord to see: + Earth, twine no more about my heart: + It is far better to depart. + +SATURDAY, January 15, 1859. Get Howell's "Evils of Infant Baptism." I +regard this as a very instructive work on the subject indicated by the +title. + +SUNDAY, February 13. Attend the burial of Christian Kratzer. Age, +eighty-six years, three months and twelve days. + +SATURDAY, February 26. Attend a meeting which was held to-day, to +elect directors for the establishment of an academy, to be known by +the name of "Cedar Grove Academy," near my place. John J. Bowman, John +Zigler and Daniel Miller are elected. + +SUNDAY, March 6. Attend meeting in Sangersville, Augusta County, +Virginia. Brother Daniel Thomas replies to Soule's sermon on "the +modes and subjects of baptism." Friend Soule is a Methodist preacher +in high standing with his denomination. He argued on the ground that +"whilst the New Testament does allow immersion in water, and favor the +baptism of adults, it does not cancel the validity of the rite when +properly performed by pouring or sprinkling, either in the case of +adults or infants." + +Brother Daniel Thomas, on this occasion, exalted the truth by +appealing "_to the law and the testimony_." He proved _baptism_ to be +a positive term as to its signification; that the word BAPTISM, with +its derivatives, has a specific and not a variable sense. He likewise +established the great truth that all the good of obedience consists in +doing what one is commanded to do. He showed that "to obey is better +than sacrifice, and to hearken is better than the fat of rams." Any +departure from the command vitiates the obedience, no matter how +professedly honest the steps of that departure may be. He here quoted +Peter's words: "Baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the +flesh." It does us no more good physically, said he, than would be +derived from bathing or immersing the body in water without any +religious motive connected with it. It is one's conscious obedience in +submitting to the rite, that gives "the answer of a good conscience +toward God." Can little infants realize this? These premises being +established, and after clearly stating the duty of all who desire to +obey to find out what they are required by the Lord to do, he brushed +away the mass of "wood, hay and stubble" which his antagonist had +piled together, and erected an impregnable turret of "gold, silver and +precious stones" on the solid rampart of Divine Truth. Brother Daniel +Thomas carries a heart as pure and kind as I have ever found within +the breast of any man, and a head as clear as I have ever seen upon +the shoulders of any man. + +After meeting Brother Daniel Thomas and I dine at Brother John +Sanger's, and have evening meeting at Pudding Springs meetinghouse. I +speak from Heb. 12:25. Stay all night at Brother John Driver's. Fine +day. + +MONDAY, March 7. Dine at Jacob Zigler's, and have night meeting in +Jennings's Gap. Stay all night at David Adams's. + +TUESDAY, March 8. Morning meeting at same place. Speak on Jude third +verse, "the faith that was once delivered to the saints." I have +somewhere read that the faith, or rather the doctrines, upon which the +faith of the saints reposes, has never _but once_ been delivered to +the saints, that since Jude's day it has been so much perverted, and +so much mixed up with the opinions and doctrines of men that the +saints never more have it declared unto them exactly as Jude +understood and believed it. But I do not think exactly with that man. +Church history does disclose lamentable departures from the true +faith; and we witness the same, with their evil results, in our own +times; still God has had, even in the darkest hours of the Christian +era, "a people prepared for the Lord." I believe that what he said to +Elijah he might have said at any time since: "I have yet left unto me +seven thousand in Israel; all the knees that have not bowed unto Baal, +nor worshiped his image." We still have "the sure word of prophecy +unto which we do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a +dark place;" and that word of prophecy is the Bible. + +Something like this was the introduction to my discourse this morning. + +Night meeting in Churchville. Speak on John 1:11, "He came unto his +own, and his own received him not." His coming was not to their minds, +nor according to their expectation. If earthly glory had been the goal +of Christ's ambition, and he had promised them a large amount of stock +in it, his welcome, on the part of the Jews, would have been sounded +and sung from Dan to Beer-sheba. Jerusalem would have been illuminated +in honor of him, and banners would have waved in praise of him. But +how different from all this were the surroundings of his coming! Born +in a stable--and if a certain poet _has_ beautifully and truthfully +sung, + + "The manger of Bethlehem cradled a King:" + +still is his "kingdom not of this world;" and the King, instead of +having the "right royal part," is "meek and lowly in heart; a man of +sorrows, and acquainted with grief." And no wonder. The cross stands +between him and the crown. "His own" could not understand this; and +once he was rebuked by one of his disciples for making mention of the +fact. They could not comprehend the spiritual character of his +kingdom--that love was the throne and righteousness the scepter. The +Jewish race, which are meant in the text by "his own," were not +prepared for the kingdom of heaven, and on that account they "received +him not." May there not be some in this house to-night who feel toward +Jesus as these Jews felt? If he would confer upon them a large share +of wealth, honor and power, would they not willingly accept him? I +imagine he would be the very sort of King they would like to govern +them. He would be the man for them. When such are told that worldly +wealth, honor and power are not the foundation of the Lord's reign on +earth and the glory of the heavens, and that these must be forsaken in +heart as the chief good by all who would follow him, they shrug their +shoulders, shake their heads with a down look and a half-suppressed +smile of unbelief, and say: "Not yet awhile." Self-denial is the exact +opposite of self-gratification. But our Lord declares that "except a +man deny himself, he cannot be my disciple." + +But you want to know something further about _self-denial_. First, I +will say that it does not require any one to give up anything that is +for his present or future good. Love is at the bottom of all the Lord +says respecting it. He requires man to give up nothing but what is +opposed to man's present and eternal good. But I find it very +difficult to get people to realize that the only way to be happy is to +be good. And the only way to be good is to love the Lord our God with +all the heart, and our neighbor as ourself. + +In the second place, self-denial is the giving up of all bad habits +and the suppression and removal of those evil states of mind and heart +out of which bad habits grow. When one is tempted to do evil, that +means to take strong drink that causes drunkenness, or to take God's +name in vain, or to steal something, or defraud someone, or to kill, +or to commit adultery, or to wish evil to some one, or to tell for the +truth what one knows is not true, self-denial for Christ's sake, stays +the hand from doing the evil and restrains the heart from desiring to +do the evil. This is the self-denial taught by our Lord, and this is +the cause of the Jews not receiving him. + +But self-denial with the enlightened Christian goes still further and +suppresses all sense of pride or desire to appear above others. This +feeling was often checked by our Lord. He told his disciples always to +take the lowest seat when invited to a feast; that to be his disciples +in the true sense and become prepared for the kingdom of heaven, they +must have the meek and teachable spirit of a little child. With all +this and more, the enlightened Christian is not desirous of being +conformed to the world. True self-denial forbids all conformity to the +vain and useless styles in dress which are ever changing in the +circles of fashionable society. I will here relate what I once heard a +preacher tell from the stand. He gave it as a fact that really +occurred; but it appears plain to my mind that the incident proceeded +more from a desire to amuse than to reform; nevertheless it does show +that fashions, long ago, were probably subject to as frequent changes +as at the present time. This is it: A man who had several grown-up +daughters in his family was going home, apparently in a great hurry, +with a fashionable headdress or hat for each one, which he had just +purchased at a shop in the city. On his way he met a friend who seemed +inclined to exchange courtesies and a few words with him. But he +apologized for being in a hurry by holding up the hats he had bought +for his girls, saying as he went: "I must hurry home, or they will go +out of style before my daughters get to try them on." + +Friends, the Lord claims you for his own--all of you. "Ye are his +people, ye his care; your souls and all your mortal frame." Ye are his +by creation and providence. Say, will ye be his by salvation and +redemption? He comes to you. Will the next century write the same sad +history of your case that stands recorded of the Jews: "He came unto +his own, and his own received him not"? Will this be the story? I hope +and pray that it may not be. But it remains for you to decide this +question. It remains for you to reject or to accept. If you receive +him not, what then will your portion be! Think of it. But if you +receive him, he will put you on the side of eternal salvation and give +you power to become the sons of God, being born of God. God himself +can do no greater thing for any one than to make him his son. What he +offers you here this night exceeds all the wealth and pleasures of +this world, as far as the light of the sun exceeds the light of that +lamp; nay, more, for the sun itself shall be darkened, but the soul +born of God, washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, shall be +eternally safe in the possession and enjoyment of an inheritance which +is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Repent, +therefore, and believe the Gospel, that your sins may be blotted out +in this season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. + +WEDNESDAY, March 9. Meeting again at Churchville. "The Great Prophet" +is my subject to-day. Dine at Brother Props's, and stay all night at +Brother Zeyk's. + +THURSDAY, March 10. Morning meeting at Mt. Pisgah and night meeting at +White Hall. Stay at Brother Joseph Harshbarger's. + +FRIDAY, March 11. Our District Council begins at the Valley +meetinghouse. Business is disposed of very satisfactorily and +pleasantly. + +SATURDAY, March 12. Get through. Dine at David Wampler's, and stay all +night at Isaac Long's. + +SUNDAY, March 13. Meeting in meetinghouse morning and night. A +beautiful day and night. Stay at Samuel Kline's. + +MONDAY, March 14. Stop awhile at Noah Bowman's. Dine at Joseph Wine's. +Call at Joseph Good's. Get home in evening. + +SUNDAY, April 3. Meeting at Ritchey's schoolhouse, in the Gap. Dine at +Brother Philip Ritchey's. Stay at Adam Baker's. + +The writer will here relate a conversation he had with Sister +Catharine Frank, who was a daughter of Philip Ritchey, who lived very +high up among the mountains of Brock's Gap. Brother Ritchey's was a +favorite stopping place with Brother Kline and other ministering +brethren traveling that way. Sister Catharine Frank was buried on +Wednesday, February 4, 1891. While on her deathbed the above-mentioned +conversation took place. In this conversation she expressed herself +ready and eager to depart. At the mention of Brother Kline's name her +countenance and voice gave evidence of deep interest. "Ah," said she, +"I never will forget that man. He was as dear to me as my own father. +He first led me to think about my soul and my Savior. Often and often +did I hear him preach, and pray, and sing in our old schoolhouse. And +I do not think," continued she, "that I ever saw him leave that house +without first taking all of the young people in reach by the hand one +by one, and saying something in a low voice to each one. I do not know +what he said to others; but I know, as if but yesterday, what he +whispered to me. It was this: 'Do not neglect the salvation of your +soul: _it is the_ ONE THING _needful_.'" + +THURSDAY, April 14. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. Brother +Jacob Miller is ordained. + +SATURDAY, April 16. Dine at Michael Wine's; call at Noah Lamb's; then +have council meeting in Hoover's schoolhouse. Stay all night at Isaac +Shoemaker's. + +SUNDAY, April 17. Meeting in Hoover's schoolhouse. Emmanuel Rodecap is +baptized. + +SUNDAY, June 5. This morning I am at Manasseh Judy's, in Hardy County, +Virginia, on South Mill Creek. My eyes behold what they have never +before witnessed, viz, a killing frost in June. The corn which, up to +day before yesterday, was vigorous in its growth and generally over a +foot high, is this morning frozen to the ground. The heading wheat is +frozen stiff. Forward grass is greatly damaged. Vegetable gardens will +all have to be reset. What may be the effect of this frost upon the +living of the people, or how far it may extend, I know not. It may be +that the Lord is pleased to make this an occasion by which his people, +in more favored parts of our land, can add greatly to their "crowns of +rejoicing" by ministering out of their abundance to the necessities of +this blighted region. + +From Manasseh Judy's I go fourteen miles down Mill Creek and across to +Enoch Hyre's on the South Branch of the Potomac, and all the wheat +fields and corn fields in sight of the road look very much as if they +might have had a shower of boiling hot rain. So nearly alike are the +effects of extreme cold and extreme heat upon vegetation. + +MONDAY, June 6. Meeting at Enoch Hyre's. I speak with a weight upon my +mind. If all had strong faith it would be different. But the faith of +some is weak, and many have very little or no faith at all. When +calamities come, like the one that now broods over the land, it is +somewhat difficult to make those of weak faith still feel that God is +love, and that he makes all things work together for good to them that +love him. I can do no more in the way of comforting these people than +to point them to the promises of the divine Word. These are man's only +assurance that God is supremely just and good and that he can do _no +evil_. The Psalmist David said: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not +want." He likewise says: "I have been young, and now I am old, yet +have I never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." +But it is only the eye of faith that can see the light behind the +cloud. If necessary, God can make the barrel of meal and the cruse of +oil as unfailing now as in the days of Elijah the Tishbite. My faith +in him is sealed with a seal that I hope will never be broken. + +Attend an afternoon meeting at old man Parks's. Stay all night at +James Parks's. + +TUESDAY, June 7. Meeting at Bethel. Speak from Mark 4:24. Afternoon +meeting at Jacob Cosner's. Speak from Hebrews 6:4, 5, 6, 7. + +These words have a fearful sound, and much thought should be given to +their interpretation; and they should be well considered and due +self-examination gone through before any one presumes to apply their +terrific meaning to himself. After much study and research, I am led +to believe that they apply specifically to the apostate Jews. The +rejection and crucifixion of Christ was their great sin. "His blood be +on us and on our children," they cried. They invoked and accepted the +guilt of his cruel death. But God, in that mercy which endureth +forever, was willing to forgive even this sin upon their repentance +and faith. The veil was removed from the eyes of some. They "were +enlightened; they tasted of the heavenly gift," which is the Lord's +pardoning mercy. They were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; they +tasted of the good Word of God; they felt the powers of the world to +come; that is, they were impressed with a belief in a future state: +and all these expressions summed up together mean that they became +Christians. + +But some of these Christians departed from the faith. They stumbled +and fell. In this act they rejected the Christ the second time, and +put him to an open shame. This, in God's sight, was just the same as +crucifying him afresh. They had crucified him once, and were forgiven, +because they did it ignorantly in unbelief. But now these that have +been enlightened to the extent described in the text cannot be excused +on the ground of ignorance, because they were enlightened to know what +they were doing. Their rejecting him must therefore be a deliberate, +willful act. Can any one ever repent of what he has done deliberately, +understandingly, premeditatedly, and with clear knowledge of all the +facts in the case? Paul, at least here in the text, says that it is +impossible to renew these apostate Jews to repentance. + +But let none of us, brethren and sisters, be unnecessarily alarmed at +the text; but let us rather repent, if we have sinned, and draw near +and yet nearer to our blessed Jesus and only Savior in a loving and +faithfully obedient life. We need not fear that he will ever cast us +off. "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast off." The +Christian's only danger lies in his casting the Lord off: not in that +he will reject us, but in that we reject him. But, beloved Brethren, +take courage. Ye do not feel, I know ye feel not, to cast off your +Lord and say to him: "Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge +of thy ways!" Ye rather say: "Come, Lord Jesus." Come into my soul. +Fill me with thyself: + + "Take my body, spirit, soul; + Only Thou possess the whole." + +This is just the way he wants you to feel. He wants you to give +yourself wholly to him. He also says: "Rejoice evermore: pray without +ceasing: in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God +respecting you." + +WEDNESDAY, June 8. Meeting at Greenland. Speak on the "Great Supper." +Dine at Solomon Michael's; visit Michael and Thomas Lion's; stay all +night at James Hilkey's. + +THURSDAY, June 9. Come to the Pine Swamp. Dine at William Abernathy's, +and stay all night at John Abernathy's. Fine day. + +FRIDAY, June 10. Meeting at William Abernathy's. In afternoon pass +through Bloomington, and on to William Broadwater's, where I stay all +night. Cold and cloudy day. + +SATURDAY, June 11. Frost again this morning. Come to David Beachley's +for dinner; then walk to meeting and back. Meeting at Miller's barn. + +SUNDAY, June 12. Meeting in three places: in the Elk Creek +meetinghouse, and in Miller's two barns. In the house I speak on +Exodus 14:13. I here give the text, and some of the leading thoughts +in my discourse: TEXT.--"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, +stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to +you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see +them again no more forever." + +No father, in seeking to quell the needless fears of his child, could +ever use words more tender and pathetic than these. They flow right +from the heart, even from the heart of our Father in heaven. I often +think how appropriately they might be addressed to a dying saint. +These Egyptians, the temptations from our old nature, which, like +hounds upon our track, are constantly trying to overtake us, will all +be left behind as soon as the eyes are closed in death. "Fear not; +stand still; and see the salvation which the Lord will show to you +to-day: for the Egyptians whom you see to-day, you shall see them +again no more forever." Precious words would these be to one sick at +heart of sin and suffering, and longing to be freed from their power. +But these words may instruct us who are still healthy and strong, and +hold our places in the ranks to perform our part in the battle of +life. + +This text has been criticised by some as being opposed to progress. +The command to "stand still" is the mark at which the criticism has +been aimed. But those who talk and think in this way fail to observe +that the Lord did not say this to the hosts of Israel until after they +had done all they could do, and gone as far as they could go. And when +they then became fearful, and in great danger of being seized by a +panic, and scattered to the four winds, he gave them the wise counsel +and glorious promise found in the text. Its great lesson to us is +implied rather than expressed. + +FIRST. _We are to do what God commands, and go where he leads the +way._ This should be our aim at this our Annual Meeting. I sometimes +fear that we do not think and act with an eye to spreading the Gospel +as we should. It is not the way for us to stand still before our part +is done. In this and adjoining States, many, in various sections, have +never heard a genuinely true gospel sermon. Why could not these be +converted to a true faith and life as well as others? To be saved, +they need the same Gospel that we have. I am daily encouraged in my +travels by finding some in every section who have already received, +and others who are ready to receive our doctrines and practices where +they have been faithfully preached by us. And how can they help it! +The straight line of truth is easily followed. Truth, when rightly +presented, is not hard to see, because it lights up everything. It is +like the pillar of fire that illuminated the whole camp of Israel +throughout the darkest night. But error is never bright like truth. It +is like a cloud before the sun. And I am not sure but that the +apocalyptic vision of hail and fire mingled with blood was a symbol of +the perverted doctrines that are now being showered upon the people +from the clouds of error that float over the land. We may be too +slack. The Lord expects us to do our part. It is only when we have +done this that we have a right to stand still. I sometimes stand still +by the bedside of the sick, when I feel that I have done all that I +can do. Sometimes, after having exhausted all arguments and +inducements at my command to lead a sinner to repent and turn to the +Lord, I stand still. But I have no right to stand still so long as +there is one afflicted body capable of receiving help, or one unsaved +soul within my reach. "There is a sin unto death: I do not say that +you shall pray for it." + +SECOND. After having done all we can do, we are quietly and calmly to +leave results with God. All our fear, and chafing, and anxiety pass +for worse than nothing. When our nearest and dearest ones are at the +point of death no amount of agony and tears, with wringing of hands, +or convulsions even, can avail anything. The very best we can do in +such cases is to stand still. + +But one thought more. Let us, dear brethren and sisters, stand on safe +ground. We may stand, and "_stand still_," on very dangerous ground. +The only place where it is ever safe to stand is on the Rock of Ages, +the Rock which is Christ. Poised on this Rock, we need not fear. No +earthquake will ever shake the Rock of our salvation. + +Very fine weather to-day. Stay at Daniel Miller's. + +MONDAY, June 13. This morning organize the Standing Committee, and +take in queries. Get through forming subcommittees by three o'clock. +Stay at Daniel Miller's. Rain to-day. + +TUESDAY, June 14. Subcommittees get through reporting to-day. Very +pleasant weather to-day. Stay at Miller's again. + +WEDNESDAY, June 15. Work through by quarter past two o'clock. Go back +to David Beachley's; get Nell, and Brother Daniel Thomas and I come to +Brother Broadwater's and stay all night. Some rain to-day. + +THURSDAY, June 16. Dine at Brother Samuel Arnold's, and have night +meeting at Susanna Arnold's. Brother Daniel Thomas speaks from the +first Psalm. As a propagator and defender of our faith he has few +equals in the Virginia arms of the church. We stay all night at +Benjamin Leatherman's. Fine day. + +FRIDAY, June 17. Dine and feed our horses in Moorefield, and get to +Nimrod Judy's, where we stay all night. + +SATURDAY, June 18. Get home. + +SUNDAY, July 24. Go to Ritchey's schoolhouse, in the Gap. Isaac +Rodecap's wife is baptized. Dine at Philip Ritchey's, and have evening +meeting at Addison Harper's. A few references to the life of Brother +Addison Harper may not be out of place here. The Editor was intimately +acquainted with him. Brother Harper's early life was largely passed on +the Atlantic ocean as a sailor. He settled in Rockingham County, +Virginia, in the later years of his life, and openly avowed his +disbelief of holy revelation. A few years prior to the date above +given he was honored by the people of his county with a seat in the +Virginia State legislature. When the Rebellion broke out in 1861 he +raised a company of Confederate volunteers and served as their captain +through the war. Very soon after the surrender, when worldly ambition +had succumbed to the direful state of the Southern people, his mind +seems to have sought for something more enduring than aught the world +could offer. He turned to religion with the honest purpose of seeking +to learn if _that_ might have in it such proofs of its genuineness and +reliability as would give better hopes to his soul than those which +had so sadly disappointed him in life. One day as he and I were riding +together to attend a meeting in which we both took part, I asked him +to tell me the secret of the power that had made him a minister in the +church of the Brethren. Said he, "It is all traceable to two great +facts: first, the humble, peaceful, moral and charitable lives of the +members; last, the simple and unperverted truths they teach." "Without +the first," continued he, "the last would have made no impression on +my heart; but the proofs they gave of their _honesty_ in the _first_ +led me to believe there must be _truth_ in the _last_; and the more I +learn about it, the more I am convinced that I was right. Johnny Kline +repeatedly preached at my house before the war, but I paid very little +attention to what he said. I always admired his earnestness, and the +simplicity of his manner, but beyond these I paid him but little +respect outside of the civilities of common decency. But now it is +different. I would willingly part with all I have to enjoy but one +hour's conversation with him, to but tell him how I now feel toward +him in my _new life_, and how much I now appreciate what I then could +not understand." + +SATURDAY, August 6. Love feast at Michael Wine's, in the Gap. Absalom +Rodecap and wife are baptized by Jacob Miller. Fine day and evening. I +officiate at love feast. Brother Martain Miller is with us, and his +feelings are very deeply moved as he proceeds in his discourse. + +The Editor will here add what a very dear sister, now gone to heaven, +told him shortly before her death. He read to her the above note in +the Diary, and all at once her face beamed with the happy recollection +and she exclaimed: "I was there at that love feast, and Brother +Martain Miller grew so warm and so happy in his theme that he got from +behind the table, came out into the middle of the room, and spoke as +if talking to each one personally." + +We stay all night at Andrew Turner's. + +SUNDAY, August 7. Meeting at Hoover's schoolhouse. I baptize David +Hoover. + +MONDAY, August 29. Last night the sky presented a very wonderful +appearance. It was luminous with a scarlet light nearly throughout the +entire night. What it may portend I know not. People may brand me +superstitious, but I can not resist the impression that this, with +other signs, betokens the shedding of blood in our land. + +WEDNESDAY, August 31. Daniel Thomas and I start on a journey to the +western counties of Virginia. Stay first night at Nimrod Judy's, and +have night meeting at Zion. TEXT.--John 15:3. + +THURSDAY, September 1. Meeting and love feast at John Judy's on South +Mill Creek. Speak on John 14:6. + +FRIDAY, September 2. Meeting at Martain Wise's, near the Upper Track. +Psalm 19:7, 8. + +SATURDAY, September 3. Cross the Branch mountain to William Adamson's +at the mouth of Seneca. Seneca is a small stream from the east side of +the Alleghany mountain falling into the North Fork of the South Branch +of the Potomac. The scenery at the mouth of Seneca is probably +unsurpassed by any in Virginia. The perpendicular walls of solid rock +hundreds of feet high present a scene of surpassing grandeur. Night +meeting at the meetinghouse on Seneca. Subject, Luke 24:46, 47. Stay +all night at the widow Cooper's. Brother Daniel Thomas is very much +impressed with the sublime sights we witnessed to-day. + +SUNDAY, September 4. Meeting at 10 o'clock. Subject, 1 Cor. 1:18. +Council in the afternoon. Asa Jarman is elected speaker, and +Washington Summerfield deacon. + +MONDAY, September 5. Meeting at Abraham Summerfield's. Stay all night +at Brother Levi Wilmot's. + +TUESDAY, September 6. Cross the Alleghany mountain; dine at Brother J. +Simon's; call at Samuel Pirkey's; and stay at Charles W. Burk's in +Randolph. We passed through extensive forests to-day of beautiful and +majestic timber, comprising wild cherry, tamarack, sugar-maple and +other kinds of trees which invite the woodman's axe. The means for +transportation alone are wanting to make this an immensely profitable +lumber region. + +WEDNESDAY, September 7. Go back to Brother Simon's for dinner and have +night meeting in the meetinghouse. John 15 is read. Heavy fog this +morning, but a fair day follows. + +THURSDAY, September 8. Meeting again at the same place. Same subject +we spoke on yesterday continued to-day. Brother Daniel Thomas is a +host. He possesses the rare ability to adapt his words and thoughts to +the mental states of these plain-minded people. "Milk for babes; +strong food for men," seems to be his rule. And a wise rule it is. I +have to guard against "inordinate affection" for him. + +FRIDAY, September 9. Still in Randolph County. Dine at John Simon's, +and stay all right at Henry Wilson's. Pleasant weather. + +SATURDAY, September 10. Meeting begins at one o'clock. Love feast at +night. Fine day and evening. Jacob Nickolas is elected to the +deaconship. + +It may interest the reader to be informed that the two brethren are +now, and for some days have been, in a sparsely settled region. High +mountains separated the habitable valleys. Great progress has been +made, and is still going on, in the upbuilding of the social state of +these people, as well as the improvement of the country. Those living +in the highly cultivated States of our Union can hardly bring their +minds to realize the conditions in which these people lived at the +time that Brother Kline and Brother Thomas were laboring so faithfully +among them. Let me sketch a picture of the average house, its +surroundings, and its occupants: It is a log house, built up by +notching the ends of the logs so as to fit together at the corners, +and rises high enough to make one full story below and a half story +above. A huge chimney of stone is built up on the outside, with the +wide fireplace inside. The chinks between the logs are filled up with +a mortar composed of clay and straw. The chimney is supplied with one +extra small flue at the side of the large flue, and at the bottom of +this small flue, about four feet above the hearth, is a small opening +for light. This light is produced from the burning of small pieces of +rich pine knots placed in the small opening, and as one piece burns +out another is inserted, the smoke from the pine, the meanwhile, being +all carried off through the small flue. Above the door of entrance +antlers in pairs may be seen carefully fastened to the side of the +house, as evidences of success in deer hunting. And more than once did +the two brethren ministers feast on venison in the present journey, +for it was the chosen season for deer hunting. When the house is +approached by a stranger, the father, if present, stands near the door +with a doubtful look, as much as to ask within himself: "Who can that +be, and what is fetching him here?" He has, however, a kind heart +under a rough exterior. His wife is diffident at first introduction, +but gain her confidence by true Christian behavior, and you find the +heart of the true woman in her. The children retire upon a stranger's +first entering the house: but let him show a love for them; let him +learn their names and ages as one by one they make their appearance, +ranging in this respect according to the different degrees of +backwardness and modesty with them; let him notice them with loving +looks and gentle words, and they will soon play with his watch-chain, +and ask him what it is for. + +I have now given an outline sketch of many a family in these +mountainous regions, in whose hearts Brother Kline never failed to +find a welcome, and in whose house a home. He loved the people and the +people loved him. But all this has passed into history. The church has +never had but one Johnny Kline, and it can never have another. Even if +born, the conditions for his development, and the sphere for his +labors, have both passed away. The Editor is happy to feel that he, by +a wonderful providence, has been made the humble instrument by which +the life-work of a great and good man has been snatched from the jaws +of oblivion. + +SUNDAY, September 11. Meeting at Brother Henry Wilson's. Luke 13 is +read. Night meeting at Brother Jacob Nickolas's, in his house. +Subject, Rom. 13:11, 12. Stay there all night. Very pleasant weather. + +MONDAY, September 12. Come to Philippa, in Barbour County. Stop at +David Kline's. Dine at Peter Reid's. Afternoon meeting at Peck's Run +meetinghouse. Acts 3 is read. Stay all night at Philip Dupoy's. Fine +day. + +TUESDAY, September 13. Come to Brother Joseph Houser's, two miles from +Buckhannon. Meeting and love feast. Matthew 20 is read. Fine day and +evening. + +WEDNESDAY, September 14. Meeting. Subject, Acts 2:37, 38. One man +baptized. In council Jacob Houser was elected speaker, and Brother +Hess deacon. + +THURSDAY, September 15. Come to Wilson Osborn's on Middle Fork river. +After dinner, cross the mountain to Valley river; stop and stay all +night at William Kern's. + +FRIDAY, September 16. Cross Cheat mountain, thirty-five miles, and get +to Brother John Riley's, where we stay all night. + +SATURDAY, September 17. Wonderful rain last night. Waters higher than +they have been in a long time. Meeting at Liberty meetinghouse. +Subject, Luke 24:46, 47. Stay all night at Adam Hevner's. Cloudy and +misty, but waters partly run off. + +SUNDAY, September 18. Sky almost clear this morning. Promise of a fair +day. Meeting again at Liberty meetinghouse. Subject, "The Great +Commission," Matt. 28:18, 19, 20. Come to John Riley's, where we stay +all night. Clears up beautifully to-day. Our congregations have not +been large, but they have appeared to pay attention to what has been +said. A preacher of Brother Daniel Thomas's power cannot fail to +impress an audience. He enjoys the rare ability of analyzing and +arranging his subject matter in a way that makes its presentation easy +to be understood. I have observed a very important truth, and I am +learning its lessons more and more every day, that people can be +interested only in what they understand. Uneducated people, and +children even, will listen with attention to what they understand. +Paul perceived this truth. Hence he said: "I would rather speak five +words with the understanding, than ten thousand in an unknown tongue." +Paul got at the very root of the truth, for his remarks imply that no +man can make a thought clear to the mind of another unless it be first +clear to his own mind. "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall +into the ditch together." + +MONDAY, September 19. Dine at Adam Hevner's; come to Greenbank, to +Dunmore post office; then to Shenaberger's, but we cannot get across +the river. We then go five miles down the river and cross on a bridge +over to Knapp's Creek, and stay all night at William Harper's. + +TUESDAY, September 20. Afternoon meeting near Harper's. Subject, Heb. +12:12. Stay all night at the widow Harper's. + +WEDNESDAY, September 21. The widow Harper and Abraham Rankin are +married this morning. Meeting at Andrew Harold's in Mt. Vernon. +Subject, Matt. 7:21. After dinner we cross the Alleghany mountain to +Alexander Gilmore's, on Back Creek. Night meeting at Green Hill. John +1 is read. Stay all night at John Divner's. Much rain this morning. + +THURSDAY, September 22. We return to Gilmore's and get our horses, +having walked from there to Green Hill and back to Divner's. From +Gilmore's we cross over to Jackson's river, and have meeting at Valley +Chapel. Brother Daniel Thomas preached to-day. His subject was 1 Cor. +1:8. Go with James Terry and take dinner with him. Night meeting at +Valley Chapel. Subject, "The Conversion of Saul." Stay all night at +James Terry's. + +FRIDAY, September 23. Come to new meetinghouse on Stony Run. Preach +the funeral of Robert Gwynn. Subject, Heb. 9:28. Dine at David +Stephenson's. Come to Godlove Hindgartner's; night meeting; subject, +Matthew 11, three last verses. Fine day. + +SATURDAY, September 24. Morning meeting at Hindgartner's. Subject, +Matthew 7, last paragraph. After dinner preach the funeral of old man +Robinson's wife. Subject, 1 Peter 1, last three verses. + +SUNDAY, September 25. Meeting again at Hindgartner's. Subject, Heb. +12:14. I could wish that thousands could have heard Brother Daniel +Thomas to-day. As he spoke of the holiness without which no man shall +see the Lord, setting forth in strong and clear light what it is to +live a holy life, tears of penitence fell from many eyes. + +MONDAY, September 26. Come across to Liberty meetinghouse, on the Bull +Pasture river in Highland County, Virginia. Subject, Luke 8:18. Dine +at Dr. Pullen's; then come to Amos Deahl's on the Cow Pasture river in +the same county and stay all night. + +TUESDAY, September 27. Come by way of the Calf Pasture river, in +Augusta County, to the pleasant home of Brother Daniel Thomas, who +seems very well pleased to find himself at home again and all well, +after an absence with me of four weeks to the day. In Isaiah 52:7 we +read these words: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of +him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth +good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, +Thy God reigneth." These words prophetically set forth the Lord in the +beauty of his holy life and good will toward men. His feet symbolize +his outward life. This was beautiful in the highest degree. No angry +word, no impure thought, no covetous feeling, no revengeful motive, no +unholy desire ever found a place in his heart; but, instead of these, +gentleness, goodness, meekness, kindness, temperance, mercy, +forgiveness, and charity, or universal and unvarying good will toward +men, characterized the whole of his good life as the outflow of his +good heart. In respect to these graces of our Lord, Brother Daniel +Thomas sets an example worthy of imitation. In the four weeks we have +spent together I have not heard a word from his lips that I thought +unwise, or seen an act of his body or hands that I thought not good. +This is my testimony of him in secret before God. + +WEDNESDAY, September 28. Get home. + +SUNDAY, October 2. Meeting and love feast at the Lost River +meetinghouse. Acts 3 is read. Brother John Harshberger officiates at +love feast. Stay all night at Jacob Mathias's. Pleasant day and +evening. Brother Daniel Thomas and Brother John Harshberger in their +relation to the work of the church remind me of the relation which the +lead-horse bears to the off-wheel horse in a team of four. Each has +his place: the one as much needed as the other; varied in talent and +usefulness, yet working together, the load goes on beautifully, and +the roughness of the way is forgotten. + +WEDNESDAY, October 5. Meeting and love feast at our meetinghouse. +Great concourse of people present. Christian Keffer, of Maryland, and +David Long are with us. Fine day and night. + +SATURDAY, October 15. Brother Kline and Brother John Harshberger +started in company of each other to the Piedmont counties on the east +side of the Blue Ridge mountain. How long they contemplated staying +there, the Diary does not say. The first appointment they expected to +fill was met without a congregation. It had either not been properly +given out and circulated, or the people did not wish to come. + +Brother Kline preached one sermon on this trip, at a place called Good +Hope, in the county of Madison, Virginia. But from the spirit of the +Diary more than from its direct letter the inference is clear that the +name belied the character of the place, and that instead of Good Hope +it should be Bad Despair. His subject was Rev. 14:6, "I saw another +angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to +preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and +kindred, and tongue, and people." + +The selection of this text shows a lofty sense of propriety in Brother +Kline. He was here among a people largely opposed to the views and +feelings of the Brethren on the slave question which was, at this +particular time, fearfully agitating the public mind. But the above +text was at once a passport in his hand to go "with the everlasting +gospel" in his mouth to preach to every nation, and kindred, and +tongue, and people. It showed at once that his mission was love, and +the end peace. Many preachers in the South about this time adopted the +following motto: "Keep politics out of religion; but put all the +religion you can into politics." This means: Pour the pure water of +Life into the cesspools of wickedness and deceit to cleanse them. This +is worse, if possible, than giving what is holy to dogs, or casting +pearls before swine. It is as "the sons of God going in unto the +daughters of men, and bringing forth _giants_--" giants of iniquity. +If every man and every woman in our land were filled with godliness, +politics, in its popular sense, would vanish. Governments would +continue, it is true, but the spirit of their administration would +make duty their joy, and love their law. + +Finding little encouragement in these parts, the two brethren soon +started homeward through Page County, stopping one night at Brother +Hamilton Varner's, and one night at Brother Isaac Spitler's, where, at +either place, they could again enjoy the breath of love and the +heartbeat of peace. + +SATURDAY, December 31. At home. In this year I traveled 3,929 miles, +mostly on Nell's back. Good, patient Nell! + +WEDNESDAY, February 29, 1860. Up to this date there is nothing of +special interest in the Diary. It is mainly a record of visits in the +way of medical attendance upon the sick; matters relating to the +church; meetings attended, and neighborhood items of business looked +after and settled. Brother Kline assisted Brother John J. Bowman in +surveying lands. He also wrote wills and deeds, making himself useful +in almost every way in which an active man of eminently practical good +sense can serve his neighborhood and country. I here give his entry in +the Diary for this day exactly as it stands, word for word: + + "WEDNESDAY, February 29. Go to Benjamin Miller's. Old Sister + Miller is buried; seventy-four years, five months and ten days + old; buried at Myers's graveyard. Preach at Green Mount; dine + at Jacob Miller's; then come by Strine's home; rain in the + afternoon." + +The Editor was present at this funeral, and very well remembers some +of Brother Kline's words. He said that instead of being distressed or +grieved at the departure of one whose measure of life was so full of +the good works of faith and love, thereby showing eminent fitness for +heaven, we should rather rejoice. He spoke of the wisdom and fortitude +with which she had borne her separation from her husband, the dearly +remembered Elder Daniel Miller, years before. It is true, said he, her +children cared for her with all the tender assiduities that love could +suggest; they still could not completely fill the place of the one who +she had fondly hoped would be the earthly comforter of her declining +years. She lived and died with her youngest son, Benjamin Miller, who, +at this time [1899], has the oversight of the Green Mount church. She +was the mother of eighteen children. Sixteen of these grew up to +manhood and womanhood. Six of her sons, viz, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, +Joseph, Benjamin and Frederick, were put into the ministry, and all +served the church acceptably. Most of these are now fallen asleep. But +their children are filling their places; and how long this remarkable +sister may continue to work in the vineyard of the Lord, through her +children and children's children, time only can tell. + +I well remember that Brother Kline, on this occasion, was the first to +rise. After a few brief but appropriate remarks, he lined out that +joyful old hymn: + + "There is a land of pure delight; + Where saints immortal reign...." + +At the close of the singing he led in prayer, and the burden of his +prayer was thanksgiving for the glorious hope set before us in the +Gospel. He then delivered a brief but feeling address suited to the +occasion; and Brother Benjamin Bowman, after giving some interesting +facts connected with the Miller family, closed the church services. + +THURSDAY, March 15. This day Brother Kline spends in Washington City. +He visits the Representatives' chamber, the Senate chamber, the Patent +office, and other places of public interest. His business, however, is +at Alexandria, in connection with the Manassas Gap Railroad Company. +He is in attendance at a meeting of the officers and stockholders of +said company in the city of Alexandria to-night; makes his report of +the amount of stock in said company which Rockingham County is willing +to take; hears it accepted, and next day returns home. Brother Kline +was deeply interested in this company's road. It is the same which now +passes close along by his place; but he did not live to see its +completion. + +THURSDAY, March 22. Council meeting at the old meetinghouse above +Harrisonburg. Brother John Flory is elected to the Word, and Joseph +Good to the deaconship. Dine at William Byrd's and at night attend a +lecture on feet-washing in Dayton, Virginia. Stay all night at Brother +Solomon Garber's. + +FRIDAY, March 23. This day Brother Kline, in company of Brother +Solomon Garber, starts up the Valley of Virginia, on horseback, to +the District Conference appointed to meet at the Valley meetinghouse, +in Botetourt County, on Friday, March 30; distant from Brother Kline's +home somewhat over one hundred miles. + +SATURDAY, March 24. Dine and feed at Brother Samuel Zink's; then on to +Brother James Sprous's, five miles beyond; and from there to meeting +at Chestnut Grove, two miles distant. Subject, 1 Thess. 5:9. + +Brother Daniel Brower, of Augusta County, joined company with them +about this time. On + +SUNDAY, March 25, they have meeting at Carr's Creek meetinghouse, and +stay all night at Brother Danner's. + +MONDAY, March 26. They stay at Brother William Runnell's. + +TUESDAY, March 27. They have meeting in Hampton schoolhouse; dine at +Jonas Hill's, and have night meeting at Rapp's church. They stay all +night at Mathias Rapp's. + +WEDNESDAY, March 28. Stay all night at John Pursley's. + +THURSDAY, March 29. Dine at Sister Sarah Grabeil's, and stay at +Brother Peter Nininger's. + +FRIDAY, March 30 and SATURDAY, March 31. They attend conference at the +Valley meetinghouse. On + +SUNDAY, April 1, they attend meeting at the church, and dividing out +go to other appointments in reach. + +MONDAY, April 2. They start homeward. + +SUNDAY, April 15. Brother James Turner is very sick. I wait on him +to-day. + +SUNDAY, May 13. Meeting at Ritchey's schoolhouse. Hebrews 4 is read. +Stay with James Turner all night. He seems a little better. + +This is the last night that Brother Kline ever stayed with Brother +James Turner. On + +MONDAY, May 14, he took leave of him and started on his way to the +Annual Meeting in Tennessee, never to see Brother Turner's face again +in this world, for in his absence Brother Turner died. + +TUESDAY, May 15. Arrive at Brother Benjamin Moomaw's, where I stay all +night. + +WEDNESDAY, May 16. Call at Brother David Plain's; then to meeting at +Bethel. Subject, John 14:24. Dine at Brother Moomaw's. Sup at Jacob +Bonsack's: then to night meeting. Brother Jacob Miller speaks. His +subject is the General Epistle of Jude, his discourse being made up of +remarks upon the spirit and general scope of the epistle. Stay all +night at Daniel Kiser's. Fine weather. + +THURSDAY, May 17. Arrive at Brother John Lear's, who meets us at the +Union depot. Stay all night with him. + +FRIDAY, May 18. Meeting at Knapp's Creek meetinghouse. Matthew 5 is +read. Dine at young Benjamin Basehore's. Then to meetinghouse again. +Subject, "The Pure River of the Water of Life." Revelation 22. Stay +all night at Peter Basehore's. + +SATURDAY, May 19. Come to Joseph Bowman's; then go to Jonesborough, +Washington County, Tennessee. Dr. Alpheus Dove is located here, and I +spend the day and night with him. + +SUNDAY, May 20. Stop at Conrad Basehore's. Forenoon meeting at the +Valley meetinghouse. Matthew 11 is read. Dine at Brother Conrad +Basehore's. Meeting in afternoon. John 3:7 is my subject. Sup at +Brother Joseph Bowman's and stay there all night. + +MONDAY, May 21. Visit David Bowman's, Daniel Bowman's, Sears's, and +get back to Joseph Bowman's for dinner. Toward evening go to Brother +Daniel Crouse's, where I stay all night. Fine weather. + +TUESDAY, May 22. Meeting in Brother Henry Swadley's barn. I give a +general talk on the fifteenth chapter of John. Stay all night at +Brother David Garst's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 23. Come to Henry Linaweaver's; dine at Brother Samuel +Miller's, and in afternoon have meeting at the Seceder's meetinghouse. +Subject, "The Great Prophet." Stay all night at Brother John Nead's. +Fine day. + +THURSDAY, May 24. Afternoon meeting at Brother Benjamin Basehore's. My +subject, Matthew 11, last three verses. Stay there all night. + +FRIDAY, May 25. Stop at Emmanuel Arnold's. Meeting in the Limestone +meetinghouse. After meeting, deliberate in committee on the best ways +and means for a more extended and general spread of the Gospel. All +the members of the committee seemed to be impressed with the +importance of the matter under consideration. All agreed that it is +not contrary to gospel order for the church to help such preachers as +are not able, from poverty, to do what their ability as ministers +would enable them to do, if they could spare the time from their work +at home to go more. Many fields are still white unto the harvest. The +Lord may be to-day saying: "I have much people in this city," or in +this place. By this he means, ready to accept salvation and become his +people whenever the door of the church is fairly opened up to them. +Stay all night at Brother David Clepper's. + +SATURDAY, May 26. Meeting at the meetinghouse. D.P. Saylor, H. Koontz, +and James Quinter all speak. Ephesians 2 was read. In the afternoon +Peter Nead spoke to a very large and attentive audience. + +SUNDAY, May 27. A very heavy rain comes up to-day about meeting time. +We nevertheless have forenoon and afternoon services in the +meetinghouse. Stay all night at Brother Michael Basehore's. + +MONDAY, May 28. Gather at the meetinghouse. Organize. Take in +questions: discuss some of them. Fine, delightful day. Stay at Brother +Emmanuel Arnold's. + +TUESDAY, May 29. Get through with the business at three o'clock. +Brother Quinter and I come to Jonesborough, where he delivers a sermon +in the Presbyterian church. Subject, Rom. 1:17. TEXT.--"_The just +shall live by faith._" + +This text was Luther's sword. With it he slew more of the enemies of +the Reformation than Samson slew of the Philistines with the jawbone +of an ass. The text readily suggests two questions. + + _I. Who are the just?_ + +_II. What is faith?_ + +These two questions being clearly answered, the grand copula, upon +which the meaning and force of the text depends, is readily understood +as to the quality of the life which it involves. It evidently means a +good life, a holy life, an obedient life, a humble life, a pure life +out of a pure heart. It means that the just or righteous shall live a +life conformed in all respects to the character of that state of heart +in which love to God holds dominant rule, and subordinate love to man +prompts to a life of vital charity. + +I. _Who are the just?_ The just, in the sense of the text, are those +who are righteous, and who desire to grow more and more righteous in +God's sight. Men may be righteous in their own sight, and very +unrighteous in God's sight. And precisely the reverse of this: they +may be great sinners in their own sight, and just or righteous in +God's sight. This last state was Paul's experience when he pronounced +himself "the chief of sinners." He felt that he was righteous or just +in God's eye; but in his own eye, enlightened by the Word and Spirit +of the Lord, he was vile. This consciousness gave vent to many +exclamations such as these: "O wretched man that I am! who shall +deliver me from the body of this death?" Again: "For I know that in +me, that is, in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing." On the other +hand, the Pharisee, who stood praying in the temple was righteous in +his own view of himself, and "thanked God that he was not as other +men"--a sinner like unto them, he meant, of course. This line of +thought suggests another question: + +_How are men to become righteous or just?_ "For the scripture hath +concluded all under sin." This same apostle tells us that "we are +justified [made righteous] by faith; ... for with the heart man +believeth unto righteousness." Probably no passage of Scripture has +been subject to worse misconstructions than this one. It has been made +to teach that a mere declaration of faith in Christ procures the +instantaneous forgiveness of all sin, passes the sinner out of death +into life, makes him a regenerate child of God, and gives him an +inalienable title to citizenship in heaven. But I have not so learned +Christ, nor do I understand Paul to teach anything like this. I do not +deny that a sincere and heart confession of Christ is a step, the +first step, to these heavenly blessings; but I do deny that Christian +perfection rests upon a naked confession of him by the mouth. The +thoughtless sinner does not know Christ. He has never in heart so much +as asked the question: "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?" +God has never been in all his thoughts. "The world knew him not," and +the world knows him not now. When one, then, is suddenly wrought upon +by some influence as was the Philippian jailer, by which, in his +distress, he cries out, "What must I do to be saved?" the answer that +Paul gave is exactly the right answer. "Believe in the Lord Jesus +Christ, and thou shalt be saved." And this leads to my second and last +question: + +_What is faith?_ I will here give Paul's definition. We come to God by +faith. "And he that cometh unto God"--or to Christ the same--"must +believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently +seek him." Faith must, then, be the very first step in the direction +of receiving good from the Lord. We see striking examples of this in +the life of Jesus on earth. What brought the throng from all +directions that attended and even pressed him? It was faith, the +belief that he could do them good. But it was not spiritual or +heavenly good they sought so much as bodily good. Jesus reminded them +of this in the words: "Ye seek me, not because of the miracles,--" not +because you desire proofs of my divine power to save your souls from +eternal death,--"but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled." +But true faith, the faith that saves the soul, the faith by which the +just shall live, is _a loving acceptance of the Word of God; every +word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; for by this doth man +live_. And how does man live by it? By obeying it, by making its +precepts the rule and guide of his life. By faith the Word becomes "a +lamp unto his path." "It is as the light that shineth more and more +unto the perfect day." All who believe the Lord's words, as contained +in our New Testament, because they love their truth, and from the +heart desire to live,--this means, order their lives and conduct by +them,--believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And these have the promise of +eternal life: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only +begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but +have everlasting life." + +These were the leading thoughts in Brother Quinter's discourse to-day. +We stay all night in Jonesborough with Dr. Alpheus Dove. + +WEDNESDAY, May 30. Go back to the meetinghouse where the Annual +Meeting was held; arrange some matters left back in our hands; then go +together to Brother Jacob Nead's, where we stay all night. + +THURSDAY, May 31. Start homeward. + +SUNDAY, July 22. Meeting at Turner's schoolhouse in the Gap. Brother +Solomon Garber is with me. Mark 12 is read. Dine at the widow James +Turner's, and go to James Fitzwater's, where we stay all night on our +way to some of the western counties of Virginia. + +The counties to which the two brethren were going are included in West +Virginia, which, as is well known, was organized a State during the +Rebellion. The people living among the mountains are generally +hospitable, and much attached to the scenes of their childhood and +that wild freedom of nature found in the mountains that surround them. +The motto engraved upon the State Seal of West Virginia is very +expressive and appropriate, and in Latin reads thus: "_Montani liber +semper sunt_." Translated, it reads thus: "Mountaineers are ever +free." The people are noted for the attention with which they listen +to the preaching of the Gospel. Brother Kline often spoke of the +pleasure it gave him to preach in these sections, because the Word was +received with so much readiness. His success among them proved this. +They were devotedly attached to him; and it is questionable if in any +part of the Brotherhood deeper grief was felt over his martyrdom than +that which filled the hearts of the brethren and sisters and friends +in West Virginia. + +MONDAY, July 23. Cross the Shenandoah mountain over to the South Fork, +and have meeting at Zion, in Hardy county, 2 Corinthians 5 was read. +Dine at Nimrod Judy's, and in afternoon have a small gathering at +Leonard Brake's on the Fork four miles below Zion, for social prayer. +We then cross the Fork mountain to John Judy's, on South Mill Creek, +where we have night meeting, and stay all night. Attended three +meetings to-day; and traveled thirty-three miles on Nell's back across +two very high mountains. + +TUESDAY, July 24. Meeting at Isaac Judy's, about four miles higher up +on the same creek. Brother Solomon Garber spoke from Luke 24:26, +"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his +glory?" He spoke with much clearness and order in his mind. After +dinner we traveled by way of the Upper Track, across the South Branch +mountain, sixteen miles, to Solomon Harman's, near the North Fork. +Stay there all night. + +WEDNESDAY, July 25. On this journey Brother Kline has noted the +distance traveled over between one point and the next in most cases. +Thus: Come to William Adamson's at the mouth of Seneca (five miles); +then to Seneca meetinghouse (two miles); find a congregation; speak +from John 3:14, 15, 16. Come to Jesse Harper's (two miles); dine; then +to widow Cooper's (eight miles); stay all night. + +THURSDAY, July 26. Meeting at widow Cooper's; subject, Luke 14; dine; +then have meeting at soldier White's. Subject, 1 John 3:4; then come +to Abraham Summerfield's, where we stay all night. Fine day. + +FRIDAY, July 27. Come to Levi Wilmot's (sixteen miles), and have a two +o'clock meeting. Subject, Matthew 5. Stay there all night. + +SATURDAY, July 28. Cross the mountain to Leading Creek to Charles +Burke's (eight miles); and after dinner have meeting at the +meetinghouse (two miles). Council meeting continues till evening. Stay +all night at Brother Simon's. + +SUNDAY, July 29. John 6 is read. Brother Solomon Garber speaks from +verses 44 and 45. Council meeting again; considerable discord; get +things partially settled by evening. Stay all night again at Brother +Simon's. + +MONDAY, July 30. Come to Burke's again. Stay all night at Brother +Wilson's; fine day, but river high from yesterday's rain, and fords in +bad condition and dangerous. + +TUESDAY, July 31. Come to Middle Fork of Cheat river (eight miles), +but find the river past fording, and have to go round by the bridge +(five miles), and on to Brother George Yager's (five miles), where we +dine; then to the meetinghouse, where I speak on John 14:6. We then +come to Peck's Run. meetinghouse and speak on Rev. 3:20, "Behold, I +stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the +door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." +Stay all night at Philip Dupoy's. Much rain to-day. + +WEDNESDAY, August 1. Afternoon meeting at Houser's (ten miles); speak +from John 3:16. Stay all night at Houser's. Fine day. + +THURSDAY, August 2. Meeting at ten o'clock, and love feast in the +evening. Luke 14 is read. Brother Solomon Garber baptizes Mrs. Jacob +Neff. Fine day and night. The love feast to-night is a healing balm to +our hearts. + +FRIDAY, August 3. Council meeting at Houser's meetinghouse. Joseph +Houser and Joseph Michael are forwarded to baptize, perform marriage +ceremonies, and do other work within the defined limits of their +degree in the ministry. Come to Brother George Yager's (ten miles), +where we stay all night. Fine day. I baptized two persons to-day. + +SATURDAY, August 4. After dinner come round by the bridge (six miles) +to Middle Fork (five miles), to Union schoolhouse (six miles), and +have meeting. Subject, John 14:16, 17. Stay all night at William +Wilson's. Clear and warm day. + +SUNDAY, August 5. Very heavy rain throughout the forenoon. Start at +one o'clock to Union meetinghouse (seven miles); have meeting. +Subject, Mark 4:24. Go to John Skidmore's (five miles), where we stay +all night. + +MONDAY, August 6. Come to Josiah Simon's (four miles). We have meeting +at the meetinghouse. Make remarks on the general scope of Hebrews 4, +and particular remarks on the thirteenth verse. Counsel after meeting. +Josiah Simon is forwarded to baptize. We stay all night at Levi +Wilmot's (six miles). + +TUESDAY, August 7. Dine at John Wiat's; then to Abraham Summerfield's +(eighteen miles) to meeting. Subject, Titus 2:11, "For the grace of +God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." Stay all +night at Thomas S. White's. + +WEDNESDAY, August 8. Come to Seneca meetinghouse (twelve miles). Luke +14 is read. Dine at Elburn's; stay all night at Ely Bland's (eight +miles). The entire time between Thursday, July 26, and the above date +we have spent in Randolph County. We are now in Pendleton County. + +THURSDAY, August 9. Come to Circleville on the North Fork of the South +Branch (seven miles). Meeting in Circleville. Subject, Hebrews 12:1, +2, 3. Dine at Samuel Sollenberger's. Afternoon meeting. Brother +Solomon Garber speaks from Heb. 2:1, 2, 3. Stay all night at Solomon +Pharo's. + +FRIDAY, August 10. Come to Brother Noah H. Lamb's. Meeting at Friend +Run schoolhouse (eight miles). Subject, John 1:11, 12, 13. Dine at +Noah H. Lamb's. Meeting at schoolhouse again. Brother Solomon Garber +speaks on conversion and baptism. Nine persons are baptized, viz, Noah +H. Lamb and wife, Henry Elyard and wife, Ban Lambert and wife, Elias +Wimer and wife, and John Wesley Lambert. Fine day but warm. Brother +Solomon Garber's remarks on conversion were very searching. It is +difficult to see how any one, after hearing such a discourse with an +understanding mind, could be self-deceived. I have great hopes in +regard to the genuineness of those who have been baptized to-day. His +remarks on baptism were necessarily brief, but pointed and clear. We +stay all night at Henry Elyard's. + +SATURDAY, August 11. Come to John Hammer's on the South Branch, a few +miles below Franklin. Have meeting at the home of Jacob Hammer. +Subject, Acts 10. Dine at Jacob Hammer's. Meeting in the afternoon. +Solomon Garber speaks from James 1. Stay all night at John Hammer's. +Fine day. + +SUNDAY, August 12. Come to Mountain Grove (four miles). Speak on John +3:4, 5, 6, 7. Dine at John Eye's. Afternoon meeting at Lough's church. +Brother Solomon Garber speaks from 2 Cor. 5:17. Come to Joel Siple's +where we stay all night. + +MONDAY, August 13. Rain last night and this morning. Come to Peter +Warnstaff's (seven miles), take dinner with him and his kind mother +and sister; and at three o'clock start to John Fulk's, on top of +Shenandoah mountain (eight miles), where we stay all night. + +TUESDAY, August 14. Stop awhile at Philip Ritchey's; dine at Philip +Baker's: and in evening get home. + +MONDAY, December 31. Cloudy this morning. Snow eleven inches deep. I +work at my sleigh. Clears up prettily this evening. I have traveled in +the year 1860, 5,686 miles; married five couples; preached twenty +funerals, ten for children under ten years of age, one between ten and +twenty, two between thirty and fifty, two between sixty and seventy, +and five above seventy. + +TUESDAY, January 1, 1861. The year opens with dark and lowering clouds +in our national horizon. I feel a deep interest in the peace and +prosperity of our country; but in my view both are sorely threatened +now. Secession is the cry further south; and I greatly fear its +poisonous breath is being wafted northward towards Virginia on the +wings of fanatical discontent. A move is clearly on hand for holding a +convention at Richmond, Virginia; and while its advocates publicly +deny the charge, I, for one, feel sure that it signals the separation +of our beloved old State from the family in which she has long lived +and been happy. The perishable things of earth distress me not, only +in so far as they affect the imperishable. Secession means war; and +war means tears and ashes and blood. It means bonds and imprisonments, +and perhaps even death to many in our beloved Brotherhood, who, I have +the confidence to believe, will die, rather than disobey God by taking +up arms. + +The Lord, by the mouth of Moses, says: "Be sure your sin will find you +out." It may be that the sin of holding three millions of human beings +under the galling yoke of involuntary servitude has, like the bondage +of Israel in Egypt, sent a cry to heaven for vengeance; a cry that has +now reached the ear of God. I bow my head in prayer. All is dark save +when I turn my eyes to him. He assures me in his Word that "all things +work together for good to them that love him." This is my ground of +hope for my beloved brethren and their wives and their children. He +alone can provide for their safety and support. I believe he will do +it. + +WEDNESDAY, January 30. Write a letter to John Letcher, Governor of +Virginia, in which I set before him in a brief way the doctrines which +we as a body or church, known as Brethren, German Baptists or +Dunkards, have always held upon the subject of obedience to the +"rightful authority and power of government." We teach and are taught +obedience to the "powers that be;" believing as we do that "the powers +that be are ordained of God," and under his divine sanction so far as +such powers keep within God's bounds. By _God's bounds_ we understand +such laws and their administrations and enforcements as do not +conflict with, oppose, or violate any precept or command contained in +the Divine Word which he has given for the moral and spiritual +government of his people. By _government_, to which we as a body +acknowledge and teach our obligations of duty and obedience, we +understand rightful human authority. And by this, again, we +understand, as the Apostle Paul puts it, "the power that protects and +blesses the good, and punishes the evildoer." The general Government +of the United States of America, constituted upon an inseparable union +of the several States, has proved itself to be of incalculable worth +to its citizens and the world, and therefore we, as a church and +people, are heart and soul opposed to any move which looks toward its +dismemberment. + +This is in substance what I wrote to John Letcher, Governor of +Virginia. + +I likewise attend Abraham Shue's sale: The candidates for seats in the +Convention to meet in Richmond were on the ground, actively speaking +both publicly and privately. Mr. George Chrisman, one of them, a man +of preëminent wisdom in things relating to government, publicly avowed +himself opposed to secession on the basis of both principle and +policy. "On the ground of principle," said he, "secession violates the +pledge of sacred honor made by the several States when they set their +hands and seals to the Constitution of the United States. On the +ground of policy," continued he, "the secession of Virginia will +culminate in the breaking up of her long-cherished institutions, +civil, social, and, to some extent, religious." + +FRIDAY, February 1. Write to John T. Harris, our representative in +Congress. Beseech him to do all he can to avert the calamity that now +threatens us, by pouring oil upon the troubled waters until the +tempest of passion abates. I esteem him as an incorruptible patriot at +heart. May the Lord guide him and all the other lawmakers of our land. + +SATURDAY, February 9. Martha Kline, wife of John B. Kline, dies very +suddenly to-day. + +SUNDAY, February 10. Funeral of our dear sister, Martha Kline, at our +meetinghouse. TEXT.--"I have fought a good fight; I have finished my +course; I have kept the faith." Age, twenty-eight years and eight +days. + +FRIDAY, April 5. Council meeting at our meetinghouse, William Summers +and wife, Harvey Fifer and wife, Sophia Fifer, Sally Wampler and Sally +Helbert are to-day baptized by Jacob Miller. A terribly malignant type +of diphtheria has recently made its appearance in the Shenandoah +Valley and is now invading our immediate neighborhood. Four of Andrew +Crist's children are now dangerously ill with the disease. Some in +other families have died; and others are sick. The outlook, both as to +health and peace, is very disheartening. But we are admonished in the +Divine Word not to fear. The people of God have a better portion than +this world can give--"an enduring substance, which death can never +reach." + +SUNDAY, April 7. Attend the funeral of Christian Shoemaker in the Gap. +His age was about eighty years. + +SUNDAY, April 21. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Great excitement on +account of secession and war movements. The volunteers are being +called out to enter the field of war, and God only knows what the end +will be. There is great commotion everywhere in the realm of thought +and sentiment, men's hearts failing them for fear, the sea and the +waves of human passion roaring. + +THURSDAY, May 2. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. I this day +baptize Isaac Kline, Lucretia Spitzer, Joseph Wampler and wife, +Rebecca Driver, Anna Kline and John McKee's wife. + +FRIDAY, May 3. Go to Nimrod Judy's on the South Fork, where I stay all +night. + +SATURDAY, May 4. Snow this morning. Have meeting at Jess Mitchell's. +Second Corinthians 4 is read. Stay all night at John Davis's. + +SUNDAY, May 5. Meeting at Jacob Collers's on the Shenandoah mountain. +Luke 10 is read. + +SUNDAY, May 12. Perform the marriage ceremony of James Fitzwater and +Catharine Showalter, at the house of her father, Brother Anthony +Showalter. I then attend meeting at the Brush meetinghouse, and after +meeting witness the baptism by Brother Jacob Spitzer of Mrs. Beahm, +Mrs. Henry Frank, Mrs. Hottinger, and two of Michael Showalter's +daughters. + +FRIDAY, May 17. At home calmly enjoying the company of Dr. Jacob +Driver, of Allen County, Ohio. + +The Editor was intimately acquainted with Dr. Driver; and as he and +Brother Kline were lifelong friends and in later years of their lives +brethren, a brief reminiscence of Dr. Driver will here be given: Jacob +Driver was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, about the year 1801. +His parents came from Pennsylvania, and their baptism into the church +of the Brethren is noted in this biography. About the year 1838, +Jacob, their eldest son, became very strongly impressed with the +rational and logical arguments given by Dr. Samuel Thompson in a work +written and published by him entitled: "GUIDE TO HEALTH." This guide +indicated and represented the way from sickness back to health as +being very short and easy to find, exempt from dangers and free from +doubt. Jacob Driver entered the field of medical practice, and his +success in that line added enthusiasm to his faith, by which as time +went on, mountains were removed. He soon deservedly acquired the title +of "Doctor;" and although not conferred by a medical college, still +the title of "Doctor of Medicine" has rarely been conferred by diploma +upon a man more worthy to hold it, or borne with the honors of better +success. His removal with his family to Allen County, Ohio, in the +autumn of 1852, was deplored by many families in Rockingham, who had +learned to depend upon him as their most trustworthy medical adviser. +He died in Allen County about the year 1867, leaving an excellent +lineage of sons and daughters, among whom Jacob, his youngest son, is +now an active minister in the church of the Brethren. The ties of +affection which bound the hearts of Brother John Kline and Jacob +Driver into an inseparable union were those of a double brotherhood: +brethren in church, and brethren in medical practice. + +SATURDAY, May 18. Dine at John Bowman's above Harrisonburg, and stay +all night at Daniel Thomas's. + +SUNDAY, May 19. Meeting in the Beaver Creek meetinghouse and at two +other places near by. A very great concourse of people on the ground. +The spiritual peace and composure of heart, however, usually manifest +in the Brotherhood on all former occasions of this kind, is sadly +interfered with now by the distracted state of our country. But the +weather is pleasant, and we hope to have a good meeting. Preaching in +the meetinghouse to-night, and also in Dayton, Virginia. + +MONDAY, May 20. The Annual Meeting opens to-day at Beaver Creek +meetinghouse, in Rockingham County, Virginia. First, organize for +counsel; take in questions; have public preaching in forenoon. "Much +people." In afternoon form subcommittees. Some rain and mist to-day. +Stay all night at Martin Miller's. + +TUESDAY, May 21. Proceed with business to-day; work through four +committees. Cool but pleasant day. Stay all night at Isaac Miller's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 22. Get through with business by eleven o'clock, and +the Annual Meeting breaks up, most of those present from the North as +well as from the South carrying away with them heavier hearts than +they ever before have borne from a meeting of this kind. Many prayers +were offered in the course of its progress in the behalf of our +country. The Shekinah of God's care may be gloriously waving over our +heads now, and we not able to see it. The Red Sea is before us, but +Jehovah will part its waters for us to go through unharmed. + + When Egypt's king God's chosen tribes pursued, + In crystal walls the admiring waters stood: + When through the desert wilds he led their way, + The rock relented, and poured forth a sea. + What limits can Almighty Goodness know, + When seas can harden, and when rocks can flow? + +SATURDAY, June 1. Go to Jesse Mitchell's, in Pendleton County, +Virginia, where I stay all night. + +SUNDAY, June 2. Meeting at Jesse Mitchell's. Speak from 1 Cor. 1:17. + +THURSDAY, June 6. Attend the burial of Brother Samuel Myers near the +head of Linville Creek. His age was forty-six years, eight months and +eight days. He leaves a widow and comparatively young family to battle +with the ills of life. May God bless and keep them as he only can. + +SATURDAY, June 8. Dine at Philip Baker's on way to Pendleton County. +Stay all night at George Cowger's on the South Fork. Delightful +weather. + +SUNDAY, June 9. Go to Brother Hughey Ratchford's on the Henkel +mountain to see his sister Hannah, who is very sick of typhoid fever. +Give medicine, and leave some for her and for Hughey's wife who is +also sick. Come back to John Fulk's on the Shenandoah mountain where I +stay all night. + +MONDAY, June 10. Call at David Hoover's, Michael Wine's, Widow +Turner's, and home. + +THURSDAY, June 13. Meeting for fasting and prayer at our meetinghouse. +Matthew 5 is read. Fasting has been observed from remote antiquity, in +times of sorrow and mourning from afflictions and national distress. +We have no direct command in the New Testament to fast, but we believe +if it is done in the spirit of deep humility before God, with +confessions of sin and heartfelt desire to draw nearer to him in our +walk and conversation, our fasting to-day will not be a meaningless +service in his sight. Paul was "in fastings oft." These he observed to +keep under his body, lest after having preached to others he himself +should be a castaway. In regard to fasting in my own case, I can say +that it strengthens my heart, and nerves my spirit to resist +temptation. My love and faith and virtue are confirmed. Let us fast, +not in appearance only, but in heart. + +SUNDAY, June 16. Meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize John Walker, +Jane and Frances Sherkey, John Grimm's wife, and Mrs. Clemm. + +TUESDAY, June 18. John Wine, Jacob Spitzer, and Christian Wine obtain +license from our County Court to perform marriage ceremonies. + +TUESDAY, June 25. Stop at Philip Ritchey's; dine at John Fulk's; +preach at Bethel church, in Pendleton County, and stay all night at +Peter Warnstaff's. + +WEDNESDAY, June 26. Dine at Joel Siple's; go to Lough's church, but +find no congregation; come to Martain Wise's (John Bond's) and find a +gathering of people for night meeting. Speak from Second Corinthians +5. Stay all night at Martain Wise's. + +THURSDAY, June 27. Meeting at Isaac Judy's; speak from Rev. 3:20. +"Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Stay at Judy's all night. But +little else than war seems to be talked about or thought about. It +seems to be everywhere much the same. The Lord looks compassionately +upon his people. He knows we are but dust. "As a father pitieth his +children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." + +FRIDAY, June 28. Preach at Philip Kesner's; funeral for Michael +Ratchford's child. Stay all night at John Judy's. + +SATURDAY, June 29. Meeting at Jacob Collor's. Subject, John 1:11. +Night meeting at Zion on the South Fork. Stay all night at Silas +Henkel's on top of the mountain. + +SUNDAY, June 30. Stop at Hughey Ratchford's to see Sister Hannah and +Hughey's wife. They are both mending towards convalescence. From there +I go to William Davis's in Sweedlin Valley; find a gathering, and +speak from Matthew 5, first thirteen verses. Dine at Jesse Mitchell's, +and in evening preach the funeral of Sister Elizabeth Freed, whom I +had baptized just four weeks before. Subject, 1 Peter 1:24, 25. + +MONDAY, July 1. Dine at Philip Ritchey's; then home. + +THURSDAY, July 4. This evening, about seven o'clock, a wonderful +appearance was witnessed in the sky. A succession of meteoric balls of +fire flew through the air, apparently from west to east; attended by +reports in rapid succession very much resembling those of heavy pieces +of artillery and quite as loud. Some think this may be a providential +mockery of the pageantry and pride displayed on each succeeding +anniversary of this day over our national greatness which has now, for +a time at least, departed. + +SUNDAY, July 14. Meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize John Driver +and wife, Catharine Myers, Christian Zimmers and wife, Brady Ann +Parker, Mrs. Fahrney, Ruthy Light, Bettie Miller, Susie Kline, Saloma +Smith, Martha Jane and Sarah Catharine Swartz, and Martha McMullen. + +SUNDAY, July 21. A very singular panic struck our part of the Valley +this afternoon. A report of negroes breaking out and committing +fearful outrages flew as on the wings of the wind. Women were +frightened and men dismayed. It was, however, soon discovered to be +false. + +SUNDAY, October 20. Diphtheria is raging. In the past three weeks I +have preached four funeral discourses for children between two and +four years of age. But parents have better promises for the children +that are taken than for those that are left. + +SATURDAY, November 9. Brother John Wine and I go to the South Fork. +Preach funeral for William Ratcliff's child. Age, two years, four +months and thirteen days. Stay all night at Christian Dasher's. + +SUNDAY, November 10. Meeting at Jesse Mitchell's. Brother John Wine +speaks on Jude, third verse. We stay all night at Samuel Trumbo's. + +THURSDAY, November 21. Attend the burial of old Mother Wine, the +mother of Christian, John, Michael, Samuel and George--four preachers, +and one, Michael, deacon. Her age was seventy-one years, eight months +and sixteen days. A woman of great usefulness in her community as a +help in sickness, she will long be remembered. My subject for +discourse was Rev. 14:12, 13. + +SUNDAY, November 24. Attend the burial of Hannah Zimmers, wife of +Christian Zimmers. Funeral services at Pine Grove meetinghouse. Her +age was about fifty-seven years. TEXT.--"For here have we no +continuing city, but we seek one to come." Heb. 13:14. + +It is a blessed assurance which the Divine Word gives the afflicted +and dying children of God, that they have "a city which hath +foundations; whose builder and maker is God." From the fact that the +city has foundations we are clearly authorized to infer that it rests +upon the immutable love, wisdom and power of God. It is not the +baseless fabric of a dream. There is reality about it. Imagination did +not construct it, for its builder and maker is God. This city is the +New Jerusalem, so beautifully described in the last part of the book +of Revelation. The foundations of the WALL of the city are there +described. There are twelve foundations, each of stone, and some of +them more precious than diamonds. The city itself is built of gold, +and its streets are paved with the same. I often rejoice in the hope +set before us; but not the foundationless hope of good from this +world. Slaughter and blood are the order of the day here now. We have +at no time much to hope for from this world, but there is nothing to +hope for now. We should rather rejoice than be grieved over the +departure of God's children. They are safe. Beyond the reach of +suffering, temptation and sin, they are safe in the city of God, where +no sickness, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor death can ever reach them more. + +SUNDAY, December 8. Meeting at Turner's schoolhouse, in the Gap. +Catharine Fulk, daughter of Philip Ritchey, is baptized by me. Dine at +the widow Peggy Turner's, and stay all night at David Hoover's. + +FRIDAY, December 13. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Brother +Michael B.E. Kline is elected speaker, and Brother Noah Rhodes deacon. + +FRIDAY, December 20. Write to John Hopkins, to John C. Woodson, and to +Charles Lewis. I can but entreat these men to stand in defense of our +Brethren, and try to devise some plan by which they can be exempted +from the necessity of bearing arms. I feel sure that if we can be +rightly understood as to our faith and life, there will be some way +provided for their exemption. The Brotherhood is a unit, heart and +hand against arms-bearing. These things I make known to these men; +not, however, in any spirit of defiance, but in the spirit of meekness +and obedience to what we in heart believe to be the will of the Lord. +Many have already expressed to me their determination to flee from +their homes rather than disobey God. + +SUNDAY, December 29. Meeting in our meetinghouse. The two ministering +brethren, John Huffman and Nathan Spitler, both from Page County, are +with us. + +MONDAY, December 30. Write to General Jackson and to Charles Lewis. + +TUESDAY, December 31. Traveled this year 3,930 miles. Preached +thirty-eight funerals. Baptized about fifty converts. + +WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1862. At this time medicines were scarce and +physicians in the army. As a consequence of this the demands for +Brother Kline's professional services as a physician were largely +increased. The Diary for this year shows an almost incredible amount +of labor performed by him in this line. He was called to go twenty +miles to see patients on Lost River. He also treated patients in +Pendleton and Shenandoah counties, and many in Brock's Gap and in his +own and adjoining neighborhoods. He had no day of rest. In connection +with all this labor and responsibility, the Brotherhood looked to him +for counsel and comfort on every hand. At the same time he wrote many +letters, not only to distant Brethren, but to men in civil and +military place and power. + +SATURDAY, February 15. He wrote a letter to John Letcher, at the time +Governor of Virginia; another to Secretary Benjamin, and one to +Charles H. Lewis. His leading object in all his correspondence with +these and other men in high civil and military positions was to +acquaint and as far as possible familiarize the minds of these men +with the true idea as to who the Brethren are, what they have ever +been, and how they have come to regard arms-bearing as they do. + +The correspondence we are now considering may be regarded by some as +having been a small thing. Some may say: "It is a small thing to write +a letter to the President of the United States, or to a member of his +Cabinet, or to a member of Congress, or to the Governor of one's +State." A small thing, no doubt; in itself quite as small as to write +to any one else. It may be said that the greatness of all such +correspondence depends upon the magnitude of the subject involved. Let +us look at the subject involved here. We see some thousands of the +most devoted Christian people the world has ever known standing in +jeopardy; not one of all their number seems to know what to do. Their +situation at this time reminds one of Israel camped on the mountain +beside the valley of Elah, in hearing of the guttural defiance of the +giant. At this critical hour, when something must be done, when some +special but heretofore untried effort must be put forth to avert the +impending destruction, a MAN of the Brethren, unassuming in all +respects, about five feet seven inches in height, heavy-set, with a +large but symmetrical face, hair down to the neck beautifully parted +from the forehead across the middle of the head, voluntarily sets to +work in secret through the mails to see what can be done. God only +knows the full measure of Brother John Kline's service and influence +in this way. It is a true saying that "to succeed is the best proof of +success," and subsequent events show that Brother Kline fully realized +this proof. As a humble observer of the movements of that day, and +with a tolerably clear recollection of them, the Editor can only +express his belief that Brother Kline's correspondence, with his other +influence, contributed largely toward the enactment of the Confederate +provision by which all the members of regularly organized Christian +denominations or churches which have from their earliest establishment +uniformly taught and practiced as one tenet of their faith +non-arms-bearing and nonresistant principles, shall be perpetually +exempt from all military duty to the Confederate States of America, or +to any state belonging thereto, upon the payment of five hundred +dollars to the person duly appointed to receive the same, for every +member so exempted, and otherwise subject to military duty under +existing orders. + +The above is not the "Law of Exemptions" in exact words, but it is +that part of it which was made for the Brethren, in _exact sense_. + +SATURDAY, April 5. This forenoon I am about home. In the afternoon I +am taken to Harrisonburg and put in the guard house. My place is in +the large jury room of the court house, up stairs, with others who are +captives with myself. Rain this evening. + +SUNDAY, April 6. Rain and snow all last night, and continues on so all +day. Have preaching in our captive hall. My subject is "Righteousness, +Temperance, and a Judgment to Come." I aimed at comforting my brother +captives and myself with the recollection that Paul was once a captive +like ourselves, and that in this state of imprisonment he preached +upon the text which I have selected for this day. I said: + +Brethren, if any have cause to tremble, we have none. Those should +tremble who seek to lay obstacles in the way of others who aim to do +good and no evil. As a rule, prisoners are nervous and sometimes +tremble when taken into court: but judges are proverbially calm and +self-composed. Hence the old adage: "As sober as a judge." But this +order is entirely reversed in the case of Paul before Felix. Here we +see that Paul is calm, collected and self-possessed, and that Felix is +first nervous, and soon trembles all over. In this trial it appears +that the judge is convicted of guilt by the prisoner himself, and that +the prisoner shows himself clear. But this is not the only case in +which an innocent criminal has stood before a guilty judge. Felix had +never heard such a sermon before. All that he had ever heard were most +probably eulogistic in character, and spoken in praise of the Roman +emperor and his subordinates. Felix was one of these, and it was +natural for him to appropriate quite a large share of this praise to +himself. But he did not find a eulogist in Paul. Panegyric had no +place in Paul's earnest nature. Life and death, holiness and sin were +subjects of moment too great and too real to be trifled with. If Paul +would have stooped to flattery he might have quickly obtained his +release, because Felix and those following him in office confessed +they found no cause of death in his case. They kept him bound merely +to please the flattering, deceitful Jews. + +He reasoned of righteousness first. And this logic was all new to +Felix, who had never thought of righteousness or justice as being the +end and object of government. Herod was a pretty fair specimen of +those Roman rulers or kings as they were sometimes called, and the +unrighteous cause for which he had the head of John the Baptist cut +off manifests the measure of his regard for justice. If history be +correct, Felix was not much in advance of him in this respect. He was +governor of Samaria at this time, and his headquarters and home were +at Cesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was in this same +city that Paul defended himself so heroically before Festus and +Agrippa. Paul is silent as to the course of reasoning employed in +bringing his threefold subject to bear with a weight upon the mind of +Felix. We may reasonably conclude that his first point was the +righteousness of civil government; contrasting the corrupt and +perverted ideas of rulers as they then existed in their minds upon +this feature, with what they ought rightfully to be. In this +connection he did not fail to make occasional home thrusts similar to +the one made by Nathan when he said to David: "Thou art the man." + +It is a newly-discovered truth that the Bible reveals the only true +basis of civil government. That basis, from its lowest bottom to its +highest level, is love, or "good will toward men." Government founded +upon any other basis is tyranny or despotism, the exact form being +determined by the depth of bondage and slavery into which the governed +are willing to be pressed down, and by the will of the rulers as to +how low they are inclined to press them. The Constitution of the Roman +government contained no trace of love. It was all force. History +abundantly shows this. Neither justice in the administration of its +laws, nor temperance in the demands and exaction of tributes, nor a +judgment to come when accounts would be settled, was once thought of. +Those in power knew nothing and thought nothing about any day of final +retribution. + +It is not very probable that Felix was made to tremble by anything +Paul may have said concerning civil government. The mind of Felix was +too firmly fixed in his own ideas of civil righteousness to be deeply +moved or disturbed by anything a prisoner might say upon that point. +His execution of Roman law according to his views of righteousness in +their administration was satisfactory to his sovereign at Rome; and to +please him, and thereby secure perpetual tenure of office, was the +height of his ambition. The cause of his trembling must then be found +in another quarter, or the adversary may say that Felix, just at that +time, happened to be taken with an ague chill, which Paul mistook for +the nervous agitation which he supposed to have been induced by the +power of his discourse. + +Felix was a pagan. His religion, if he had any belief at all in the +supernatural, was idolatry. Paul did not appeal to his affections, to +his emotional nature, but to his rational part. He _reasoned_ upon his +great subject. We may justly conclude that he proceeded in a way +similar to that which he took in addressing the Athenians on Mars' +Hill. "The God whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." +And he set him forth in a rational light. He told them about God's +righteousness. He told them that God had appointed a day in which he +would judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS by that man whom he hath +ordained, and of whom he hath given assurance or proof unto all men in +that he hath raised him from the dead. This man was Jesus Christ the +Lord. Here, also, he spoke of a JUDGMENT to come. And it becomes a +thing self-evident that a judgment to come is the main fact upon which +all moral and religious truth depends for its power over the hearts +and lives of men. Take away from man all fear of accountability in a +future state, and his bestial appetites assert their sway. "Let us eat +and drink, for to-morrow we die" gives loose rein to every passion, +and lust holds high carnival. + +For our instruction here, it may be well to speak upon the subject of +_righteousness_. What is it? Righteousness is obedience to law. This +is its most general meaning. This is its human sense. In its divine +sense it is obedience to the laws of God. Wherein the laws of men +depart from the laws of God obedience to their laws is disobedience to +God's laws. Here arises a conflict in which each individual may decide +for himself which he will do, the will of men or the will of God. The +decision of the apostles was "to obey God rather than men." By this +obedience they stood righteous in the eyes of God. To be sinners in +the sight of men gave them no distress, so long as they felt sure of +being righteous in the sight of God. + +Jesus is called Christ the righteous. He is set forth in the Word as +the only example of perfect righteousness the world has ever had, for +"he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." He challenged +the Jews with the question: "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" They +could bring up no charge. Sin is the opposite of righteousness. It is +sin, or the love of sin, which is impersonated by our Lord in Matt. +10:28 as a monster of awful power: "And be not afraid of them which +kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him +which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The version of +the same matter as given by Luke is terribly sublime: "Fear him, which +after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto +you, Fear him." Brethren and friends, this is the only power we have +real cause to be afraid of, and this is the enemy of all +righteousness. And this enemy is right in ourselves. We need not go +far to find him. Paul calls him by way of eminence as well as age "the +old man of sin," "the first Adam," "the outward man," because he loves +what is outside of us, fleshly enjoyments. Sin, or the love of sin, is +the power that destroys both soul and body in hell. Righteousness is +what saves; or, rather, righteousness in heart and life is salvation. +If we look to the Lord in faith and prayer, by which I mean, if we +love his Word and believe it with our heart, so as to make it the law +and guide of our life, at all times and in all ways, we are sure of +salvation; for it is through righteousness, as well as through much +tribulation, that the saints shall inherit the promises. In the +Revelation we read of a great multitude which no man could number, as +standing before the throne. What a high standing they have! But by way +of preparation for that honor they washed their robes and made them +white in the blood of the Lamb. The robe of each was and is his +wedding garment. The Lamb is the Lord's Word, and the blood of that +Lamb is the spirit and life of that Holy Word infused into our souls +and made effectual unto our salvation, by living a life of heartfelt +obedience to his holy precepts. + +MONDAY, April 7. Rain and snow with sleet come down all day. Room very +damp and cold, with insufficient fire. Several brethren come to see me +to-day. + +TUESDAY, April 8. Rain and snow continue as on yesterday. Our room +very uncomfortable. + +WEDNESDAY, April 9. Still cloudy, with rain and snow. We have some +pleasant conversations in the prison, with books and papers. But all +the public prints are so filled and taken up with war that they give +me but little enjoyment. The minds and spirits of nearly all the +prisoners are so broken down by the state and prospects of the country +that interesting and instructive conversations can hardly be held. + +THURSDAY, April 10. The following beloved brethren and dear sister +came in to see us to-day: John Zigler, John Wine and Christian Wine, +Benjamin Miller, Joel Senger, and Catharine Showalter, daughter of +Brother Jacob Miller and wife of Brother Jackson Showalter. The sight +and presence of these brethren refreshed us much; and the dear sister +carries sunshine with her wherever she goes. Last night and this +morning regiment after regiment passed through town on their way down +the valley in the direction of Winchester. + +SUNDAY, April 13. We have meeting to-day. I speak from Matt. 11:28, +29, 30: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I +will give you rest: take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am +meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls: for +my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." + +MONDAY, April 14. To-day our two brethren, John and Joseph Cline, are +released from imprisonment, and start for home to-night. + +TUESDAY, April 15. I am not well. The dampness of our room and the +lack of comforts in the way of bedding and fuel have given me a cold +from which I am very hoarse to-night. + +WEDNESDAY, April 16. There is talk that we are to be removed to New +Market. The talk is correct. We leave here at twelve o'clock, and come +to Bethlehem church where we stay all night. This church is between +nine and ten miles northeast of Harrisonburg on the valley pike +leading from Staunton to Winchester. + +THURSDAY, April 17. Start for New Market; but after getting on two +miles hear the cannons at Mt. Jackson. We turn and go back to +Harrisonburg. News comes of the retreat of Jackson's army. Front of +the Federal army at New Market. Jackson halts for the night at Lacy +Springs. + +FRIDAY, April 18. Great excitement and confusion in town. General +Jackson with his army passes through in his retreat, and the Federal +troops are hourly looked for. Gabriel Heatwohl, Joseph Berry and +myself are released from the guard house. I dine at Samuel +Shacklett's; then walk out to Samuel Niswander's three miles, and ride +from there to Jacob Miller's, where I stay all night. + +SATURDAY, April 19. Brother Benjamin Bowman brings me on my way home +nearly to Christian Wine's. I walk the short distance to Brother +Wine's; get a horse of him, and come home. + +SUNDAY, April 20. Easter. Cough very bad. + +WEDNESDAY, April 23. Federal cavalry through here now. Brother Daniel +Miller was taken last night by Confederate scouts. + +FRIDAY, May 9. Preach the funeral of Sister Polly Summers. Age, +seventy-seven years, one month and sixteen days. + +TUESDAY, May 20. Preach the funeral of Sister Polly Holsinger. Age, +seventy-seven years. Three sisters in our church buried so close +together in time, and all so nearly the same age! + +MONDAY, May 26. Sister Debby Bowman is buried to-day. I attend. Age, +forty-two years, eleven months and twenty days. + +TUESDAY, May 27. Preach the funeral of Mrs. Stern. Age, fifty-six +years, three months and twenty days. + +THURSDAY, May 29. Start to the Annual Meeting. Dine at James +Fitzwater's in the Gap; sup at Nimrod Judy's on the South Fork, and +stay all night at Jacob Mongold's on the South Fork mountain. + +FRIDAY, May 30. Get my pass at Petersburg; dine at James Parks's; and +stay all night at Martain Cosner's, in Hardy County. + +SATURDAY, May 31. Get to Thomas Clark's at three o'clock, and stay +there all night. + +SUNDAY, June 1. Go to meeting at Brother Rinker's. Speak from Romans +eighth chapter. Meeting again at three o'clock. Speak from John +seventeenth chapter. Stay all night at Brother Rinker's. + +MONDAY, June 2. Come to Oakland in the morning to take the train +westward, but cars are behind time. Get to Bellaire after night. Stay +there all night, at Eagle Hotel. + +TUESDAY, June 3. Get to Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, at three +o'clock in the afternoon. Stay all night at Brother Henry Yost's. + +WEDNESDAY, June 4. Visit Christian Forrer's. Go about through the +city. Then start, and get to place of Annual Meeting in afternoon. +Stay all night at Brother Billheimer's. + +THURSDAY, June 5. Visit Solomon Stoner's; then to Farmersville, and +back to Stoner's. + +FRIDAY, June 6. Visit Mary Trissel's. From there go to Abraham +Aerbaugh's. From there go to meeting at Brother D. Miller's. Speak +from Heb. 3:9. Fine weather. + +SATURDAY, June 7. Come to the place of the Annual Meeting. Preaching +in forenoon and afternoon. Fine weather. Come back to D. Miller's. + +SUNDAY, June 8. An immense concourse of people. Meeting in five +places, forenoon and afternoon. Fine weather continues. + +MONDAY, June 9. Commence taking in questions. Queries all get in +to-day. In evening I go to Brother George Miller's, and have a night +meeting. Fine weather; clear and pleasant. + +TUESDAY, June 10. Discuss questions. Fine weather continues. Much love +and good feeling generally. Go to Salem and have evening meeting. I +stay all night at Brother David Zigler's. + +WEDNESDAY, June 11. Meeting continues. Get through with the discussion +of questions by quarter past three o'clock. Close in the usual way; +and many hands and lips are met which may never meet again until they +meet where farewells are no more. Stay all night at the widow Benjamin +Miller's. + +THURSDAY, June 12. Go to Dayton. Visit Brother Abraham Young's. After +dinner go to Midway and stay there all night with Brother Henry +Zimmerman's. + +FRIDAY, June 13. Get to Pittsburg in the night. + +SATURDAY, June 14. Dine at Abraham Myers's, and stay all night at +Martain Myers's. + +SUNDAY, June 15. Love feast at the Middle Creek meetinghouse. John 1 +is read. Stay all night at Jacob Miller's near by. + +MONDAY, June 16. Come to Daniel Miller's at Mechanicstown. Stay all +night. + +TUESDAY, June 17. Love feast; part of John 14 is read. Fine day. Stay +at Brother Miller's again. + +WEDNESDAY, June 18. Council meeting. The case of Peter Myers and John +Figa was brought up and settled. Come to David Beachley's and stay all +night. + +THURSDAY, June 19. Come to Frostburg in time to take the train to +Oakland, where I stay all night. + +FRIDAY, June 20. Come back to Brother Clark's in a hack, where I find +Nell, having left her with Brother Clark. The poor brute seems glad to +see me. I will never forget Brother Clark's kindness to me and Nell. +Stay with him all night. + +SATURDAY, June 21. Visit old Sister Parks and pray with her. Dine at +Hyre's, and get to Brother John Mongold's on the mountain where I stay +all night. + +SUNDAY, June 22. Get to Brother William Fitzwater's in the Gap for +dinner, and get Nell shod. This was a thing of necessity, as one of +her shoes had come off crossing the mountain, and she was getting +lame. Come to Brother Michael Wine's, where I stay all night. + +MONDAY, June 23. Get home. + +SUNDAY, August 24. At John Mongold's on the South Fork mountain. +Preach Absalom Whetzel's funeral. Age, twenty-three years, eight +months and twenty-one days. + +Monday, August 25. Preach funeral of Isaac Rorabaugh at Adam Mallow's. +Age, nineteen years, three months and twenty-one days. Stay all night +at Jacob Hevner's. + +TUESDAY, August 26. Forenoon meeting at the widow Henkel's. Afternoon +meeting at George Cowger's on the South Fork. Stay there all night. + +WEDNESDAY, August 27. Forenoon and afternoon meeting at Jesse +Mitchell's. Jesse Mitchell is appointed minister of the Word, and +Hughey Ratchford is elected to the deaconship. + +THURSDAY, August 28. Stop at John Fulk's on top of the Shenandoah +mountain, and get home in the evening. + +SATURDAY, September 6. Attend the burial of Michael Homan. Age, +sixty-five years and eight months. He was a highly respected citizen +of our community. + +SUNDAY, September 7. Am called to preach the funeral of Evaline +Aubrey's child at the home of her father, William Hevner. Diphtheria +is raging. It almost rivals the sword in its destruction of life. The +sword cuts down the men in middle life, and diphtheria cuts down the +children. + +SUNDAY, September 21. Meeting on the South Fork mountain. Old mother +Kesner, Jane Kesner and Jane Rorabaugh baptized by me. Stay all night +at young Philip Kesner's. + +MONDAY, September 22. Have night meeting and stay all night at the +widow Henkel's on top of the mountain. + +TUESDAY, September 23. Meeting at George Cowger's on the South Fork. +After dinner I visit Jacob Hevner, who is sick, and stay with him all +night. + +WEDNESDAY, September 24. Cross the mountain to Jesse Mitchell's, and +in the evening hold a love feast. We are disturbed by Southern scouts +who are present under the pretext of hunting up deserters from the +army. Stay all night at Samuel Trumbo's. + +THURSDAY, September 25. Cross the Shenandoah mountain to Crab Run. +Council meeting. Dine at Brother Isaac Whetzel's, and stay all night +at Brother James Fitzwater's. + +SATURDAY, October 4. Attend love feast at Beaver Creek meetinghouse. +Stay at Martain Miller's. + +SUNDAY, October 5. Meeting at the Beaver Creek meetinghouse. Speak +from John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled." Peace is the exact +opposite of trouble. And Jesus says: "Peace I leave with you: my peace +I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not +your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid." + +To bring this subject to bear with due weight upon your minds I will +spring this question: Did our Lord ever utter a precept with which it +is impossible for man to comply? Wisdom and love answer with one +voice: He never did. "_Let not your heart be troubled_" is a precept. +It flows out of that fatherly love which ever warmed the Savior's +heart. "Having loved his own, he loved them to the end." The Lord +needed not that any should testify to him of man, for he knew what was +in man. He knew the uttermost of human power both to understand and +obey his precepts and commands. He therefore knows that we _can keep_ +our hearts from being troubled. But man of himself can not do this. +Our Lord's words, "Without me ye can do nothing," apply as truly to +keeping the heart from being troubled as to any other human effort. In +this as in all else pertaining to natural and spiritual life, we must +be coworkers with God. + +MONDAY, October 6. Stop at Daniel Thomas's; dine at Jacob Thomas's; +visit Solomon Garber's; and have night meeting in Dayton. Stay all +night at Dr. Abraham Sager's. + +TUESDAY, October 7. Attend a love feast at the Old meetinghouse. Stay +all night at John Bowman's above Harrisonburg. + +WEDNESDAY, October 8. Go to see my old friend, Joseph Funk, and +succeed in bringing about a better state of feeling on his part toward +me. He became reconciled. He had been somewhat ruffled in his feelings +by my "Strictures and Reply" to his published writings on baptism and +feet-washing. Dine with him; then home. + +SATURDAY, October 11. Meeting and love feast at the Lost River +meetinghouse. Stay all night at Celestine Whitmore's. + +SUNDAY, October 12. Meet at the Lost River meetinghouse. In council +Moses Myers is elected speaker. Stay all night at John Basehore's. + +MONDAY, October 20. Dine at John Fulk's. Have night meeting at Jesse +Mitchell's. Stay there all night. + +TUESDAY, October 21. Have night meeting at George Cowger's. Stay there +all night. + +WEDNESDAY, October 22. Morning meeting at the widow Henkel's. Night +meeting at George Kesner's. Stay there all night. + +THURSDAY, October 23. Forenoon meeting at Isaac Judy's. Stay all night +at Manasseh Judy's. + +FRIDAY, October 24. Go to John Judy's; then to D. Henkel's and to +Solomon Hours's, and back to John Judy's, where we have meeting. After +preaching we repair to the clear water of Mill Creek, and I baptize +seven persons. Stay all night at Jacob May's. + +SUNDAY, November 2. Meeting at our meetinghouse. I this day baptize +ten converts, whose names follow: David Rhodes, Daniel Zigler, George +Moyers, William Fifer and wife, J. Crist and wife, Mary Whisler, +Rebecca Trissel, and Katy Showalter. + +SATURDAY, November 15. Council at Green Mount. Benjamin Funk and W.C. +Thurman regularly elected and put in as ministers of the Word. + +SUNDAY, November 16. Meeting at the Plains meetinghouse. Harrison +Daugherty and Anna Prophet are baptized by Samuel Wampler, while I go +and baptize Harvey Elger. + +WEDNESDAY, November 19. Go to Katy Mullen's. Her sister Diana and her +mother are both buried in one grave at Rader's church. Jacob Stirewalt +and I speak on the occasion from Rev. 14:13. Age of Diana, fifty-three +years; mother, seventy-one years. + +FRIDAY, November 21. Preach the funeral of Mrs. William Hevner in the +Gap. Age, seventy-first year. A kind and good mother in her family, +and a friend to me has she been. + +THURSDAY, December 4. Go to Henry Neff's; draw money for the brethren; +go to Harrisonburg and to Solomon Garber's. + +FRIDAY, December 5. Council meeting at Beaver Creek meetinghouse. +Daniel Thomas is ordained. Stay with him all night. + +SATURDAY, December 6. Come to Harrisonburg; fix matters of business +with the Confederate government agent; pay over money for the +exemption of brethren. Come home; cold day. + +TUESDAY, December 16. Go to Harrisonburg; attend to seeing that the +brethren get certificates of exemption as provided by the Confederate +Congress. + +WEDNESDAY, December 31. I have traveled in this year 4,791 miles; +preached fifty-six funerals; nineteen for children under five years of +age; thirteen for children over five and under ten. Diphtheria has +done a fatal work. Five for persons over ten and under twenty; three +over twenty and under thirty; one over thirty and under forty; fifteen +over forty years of age. + +THURSDAY, January 1, 1863. Meeting of thanksgiving to the Lord for his +kind affection toward us in our meetinghouse. I have somewhere read +that in the reign of one of the sovereigns of Great Britain, when the +outlook of the kingdom was very dark and threatening, one of the +king's advisors proposed appointing a day for public thanksgiving in +all the churches throughout the realm. The king answered the +proposition by saying that he could see nothing for which either he or +the nation had cause for special thanksgiving to God. The minister +responded by saying that the king and the nation both had great cause +to thank God _that things were no worse_. The king yielded and the day +was set. The Christian people assembled; the preachers recounted the +blessings still left in the nation's store, with the rich promises of +God to provide for the future as things should be needed, and there +was a day of thanksgiving in England the like of which is not often +seen. + +It has been my experience, Brethren, and I think I have heard some of +you say the same, that prosperity does not always make people most +truly thankful. Great success in business is apt to foster a feeling +of independence. Men may forget God. It was in the days of Israel's +prosperity in the goodly land of Goshen in Egypt that they forgot the +name of the God of their fathers. When God appeared to Moses in Horeb, +he had to tell him from out the burning bush what his name was, and +also by what name he should make him to be known to his brethren in +Egypt. Some of the deepest heartfelt expressions of gratitude break +forth in times of misfortune. A brother once told me that he was away +from home when his barn was struck with lightning and burned to the +ground. At his return he beheld nothing but the smoking destruction of +his gathered harvest. But when his children came running to meet him, +and he saw them all safe, and their mother standing in the door +unharmed, he burst into an expression of thanksgiving, which, he +confessed to me, surpassed every other emotion of joy he had ever +felt. Our best experiences come to us when we are made to realize +properly the good that is still left us. + +We must look upon our exemption from army service as one proof of +those interpositions in behalf of his children which our heavenly +Father has promised, and which he is constantly fulfilling. "The +effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." God has +not called us to prayer in vain. He invites us to come boldly to a +throne of grace. Does he do this otherwise than with a will to hear? +And the apostle's exhortation is: "In every thing give thanks," for +"all things work together for good to them that love God." + +Let our offerings this day be from the heart; and probably the best +proof we can have that they come from the heart is a willingness and +cheerful readiness to give of our substance to the needy poor. We must +divide out, Brethren, to those who have, on account of the war +pressure, been unable to provide for themselves. Think of the +barefooted, half-clad and half-fed children in our land! I do not +undervalue what you have already done. I know you have done much; but +we should not feel that the burden of duty has all rolled from our +shoulders so long as there is one needy brother or sister or child in +our land. Brethren, I speak from my heart when I say that the church +has never before enjoyed such an opportunity to grow rich, as the +present offers. I mean rich in good works; rich in treasures laid up +in heaven; rich in her title to an eternal inheritance in heaven, +which our Lord calls "_the true riches_." + +SATURDAY, January 17. Buy of Samuel Shacklett (a merchant in +Harrisonburg) one bolt of cotton cloth or muslin for Mary Hoover, for +which I pay seventeen dollars; and four bunches cotton yarn for which +I pay thirty dollars. This shows the measure of confidence reposed in +the Confederate Government. + +WEDNESDAY, February 4. Visit General Jones's camp at New Market in +behalf of some of the soldiers. + +FRIDAY, February 13. Attend the burial of our dear sister, Mary +Frances, wife of my nephew, John Kline. We did all we could for her; +but that dreadful destroyer, diphtheria, would have its way, and in +much anguish of heart we submit. She was a lovely and tender plant; +too tender for this world. Her age was twenty years, ten months and +eight days. + +SUNDAY, February 22. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Matthew 22 is read. +Brother Benjamin Funk speaks. He and Brother Benjamin Driver were with +me last night. Snow fell last night and to-day about ten inches deep. + +SUNDAY, March 8. Jacob Silvins's little son Jacob is buried to-day. +This is the third one of his children I have helped to bury within the +last two weeks. + +TUESDAY, March 17. I am at Nimrod Judy's. I this day had a chance to +send a letter through the lines to Brother George Hoover, of Indiana. + +SUNDAY, March 29. Preach funeral for three of Brother See's children. +Youngest, two years, five months and five days old; next, six years, +ten months and five days; oldest, nine years, five months and sixteen +days. They died of diphtheria. + +THURSDAY, April 2. Attend the Beaver Creek council meeting. Joseph +Miller is elected to the ministry of the Word, and Daniel Miller to +the deaconship. + +FRIDAY, April 3. Council meeting at the old meetinghouse. Joseph +Bowman and Joseph Harshberger are elected to the deaconship. + +SATURDAY, April 4. Council meeting at the Mill Creek meetinghouse. +Isaac Long is ordained, and Noah Flory is elected to the deaconship. +Stay all night at old Daniel Wine's. + +SATURDAY, April 18. About one o'clock this morning Abraham Funk came +for me. A man by the name of George Sellers met with the very sad +accident of having his leg broken. He had been in the Southern army, +and with a company of others who, like himself, were trying to make +their way to places within the Northern lines, and thus be out of the +reach of further molestation, he met with this misfortune. It happened +in this way: he was one of a company that was just leaving Abraham +Funk's by previous arrangement, about eleven o'clock in the night. +Near Abraham Funk's house, about two miles west of Broadway, the road +runs along the North Fork of the Shenandoah river, where the bank is +probably one hundred feet high, and very steep. This part of the road +lay directly in the line of the company's route, and, unfortunately, +just as they got into the road, right at this very steep place on the +bank of the river, an alarm of "Rebel scouts" seized the whole +company, and all together they went down to the river's edge, none +seriously hurt except Mr. Sellers, who had his leg broken. I made a +frame this morning to hold the fractured parts in place, and hope he +may do well. We are keeping the whole matter a profound secret to save +the life of a good man. He was taken back to Abraham Funk's, where he +is at this time receiving treatment in secret from me. + +SUNDAY, April 19. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Epistle of Jude is +read. Abraham Glick is with us, and likewise Solomon Sherfey, of +Tennessee. Go to Abraham Funk's. George Sellers is doing well. + +SUNDAY, April 26. Meeting at the Elk meetinghouse, in Page County, +Virginia. I speak from Heb. 2:3. TEXT.--_"How shall we escape if we +neglect so great salvation?"_ + +I always feel embarrassed when I attempt to speak from this text. The +subject is so vast, and the matter so important, that my best efforts +fall far below the just demands of my theme. Nothing can properly be +said to be saved which has never been lost or in danger of being lost. +And in every case where anything is saved, the greatness of the +salvation depends upon the value of the thing saved, together with the +measure of effort and sacrifice required to effect it. Some years ago +a very destructive fire was raging in the city of Pittsburg. A +gentleman, who claimed to have been an eyewitness of the fire, related +the following incident to me. He said the firemen had just rescued a +family from a burning building, and thought they had all out, when one +of the rescued ladies looking around screamed out, "O, save my +Bessie!" "Where is she?" was cried out. "In the north room up stairs!" +A noble-hearted fireman, almost exhausted, risked his life to rescue +what he of course supposed to be a child; but what was his indignant +surprise on reaching the room, to find that the missing "Bessie" was +only a pet cat! The enraged fireman kicked the cat and cursed its +mistress. But his feelings would have been different had Bessie been a +little child softly sleeping in its cradle. This incident may help us +to realize the truth contained in the statement already made, that the +_greatness_ of any salvation depends upon the _value_ of the thing +saved as well as upon the effort and sacrifice made to save it. + +It is plain that man's salvation is the subject of the text. But is +man lost? And if lost, in what sense is he lost? We read in Matt. +18:11, "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." It is +man's _life_ that is lost--natural or bodily life, and supernatural or +spiritual life. But is man's bodily life lost? It is, "for death hath +passed upon all men." The sentence of bodily death: "It is appointed +unto man once to die." "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou +return." If any supposes the death of the body to be a small thing, +let such a one go to a well-filled graveyard and pass one hour in +serious meditation in this silent city of the dead. Let him think of +the tears that have fallen there, of the sighs of anguish that have +reluctantly escaped from broken hearts. Let him think of the innocent +beauty and loveliness that lie buried there, of the hopes and the joys +that have been driven from the heart by the hand of the destroyer; and +then let him ask himself if "the wages of sin" is a thing of small +account. Let his mind run a little further, and he can but see that +the graveyard's solemn tale to the end of the world must be yearly +told. Death here writes his name anew every passing season in the +fresh mounds raised above the dead. And not only so, but the voice of +reason whispers into the ear of every passer-by the solemn word, "This +place is waiting for you." + +Now, an apostle says: "It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we +know that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see +him as he is." And another apostle, as if commenting on this passage +says: "He shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like +unto his glorious body." I now ask, Does not this show that the +salvation in the text is truly _a great salvation_? But I have as yet +but touched the hem of the garment. And, indeed, in our low and +contracted state of mental power here we are barely able with our +highest and broadest reaches of thought to lay hold of more than the +hem of salvation's garment. "Heaven is his throne, and the earth is +the footstool of his feet." What the footstool is to the throne, nay +to him that sits upon it, such are our highest and purest conceptions +to the salvation which the Lord has provided. "Eye hath not seen, nor +ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to know what +God hath provided for them that love him." + +I stated that man's life is lost. I have said something about the +bodily life that is lost by sin. I now turn to say something about the +spiritual life that is lost by sin. Paul says, and I am sure he means +what he says: "To be carnally minded is death." Now, what is it to be +carnally minded? Or, in other words, what is the carnal mind? Paul +answers in a general way, that it is ENMITY against God. Such a degree +of enmity that all who are carnally minded cannot and do not love God, +nor take pleasure in his service. Life is love; and love is life. The +spiritual _life_ that is lost by sin is what Jesus came to redeem and +save, and this life is man's love. Man's LOVE is perverted. It is +turned away from the Lord God and the neighbor, and directed to self +and the world. And when a man loves himself more than God, and the +world with its sinful lusts and pleasures more than he does his +neighbor, he is carnally minded. + +Now let us turn to the Lord's words. In the Gospel recorded by Luke a +certain lawyer is represented as asking the Lord this question: +"Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said unto +him: "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" He answering +said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with +all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and +thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast answered +right: this do, and thou shalt live." + +Brethren, does not this look like the key to salvation? Does it not +open the door to a view of eternal life and blessedness? Our Lord +says: "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." +When any one gives his heart to God in love like this, I think he is +in a saved state. And is it not a great salvation? Perfect love of +that which is good is perfect peace, because it drives evil from the +heart, which is the cause of all human misery. But the Lord, and the +Lord only, can change man from darkness to light and from death unto +life. He is the only Savior. He saves man by his Word and Holy Spirit. +He stands at every man's door and knocks. If any man will open the +door, he will enter that man's heart and dwell with him forever; and +Christ in the heart is salvation and eternal life. + +THURSDAY, May 14. Go to Abraham Funk's. George Sellers is nearly well, +and in fine spirits. At half past five o'clock I start to the Annual +Meeting. Stay all night at Jacob Wine's. + +FRIDAY, May 15. Dine and feed at Newman's furnace. Then go up through +the Trout Run valley, cross the Church mountains and get into the Lost +River valley near the place where the river disappears at the base of +the mountain. Stay all night at Landes's. I have seen no scouts or +pickets to-day. + +SATURDAY, May 16. Get dinner at Jonathan Flory's, and stay all night +at Abraham Miller's. + +SUNDAY, May 17. Stay at Brother Abraham Miller's all day. Have +preaching in the afternoon. Stay all night again. + +MONDAY, May 18. Cross the Potomac river at Old Town; go up the +towpath; pass through Gibbontown near Flint Stone, and get to Abraham +Ritchey's, where I stay all night. Traveled thirty-three miles to-day. + +TUESDAY, May 19. Get to Henry Hershberger's in Snake Spring valley, +where I stay all night. Twenty-eight miles to-day. + +WEDNESDAY, May 20. Get to Brother Adam Snoberger's before dinner; but +spend balance of day there and in making a few calls. Have evening +meeting at the meetinghouse one mile away. Speak from John 10:9. Stay +all night at Brother Snoberger's. + +THURSDAY, May 21. Come to Samuel Snider's; then to council meeting at +meetinghouse; and after dinner come to Brother Daniel Snoberger's at +Yellow Creek, where I stay all night. Fine day. It is ten miles from +Brother Snider's to Brother Snoberger's. + +FRIDAY, May 22. Meeting at the meetinghouse. Subject, Hebrews 1. After +dinner go to Brother Leonard Furry's. Night meeting at the +meetinghouse. I speak from Rom. 1:16. Stay at Brother L. Furry's all +night. Fine day. + +SATURDAY, May 23. Come fourteen miles to Clover Creek Meeting there in +forenoon and afternoon. Stay all night at Brother Dellinger's. + +SUNDAY, May 24. Meeting at three places to-day. A delightful day as to +weather; and should be enjoyable to all in the way of good speaking. + +MONDAY, May 25. Commence taking in questions in afternoon. Cloudy all +day. Stay all night at Brother Dellinger's. + +TUESDAY, May 26. Discuss questions all day. Cloudy all forenoon, but +clears up in afternoon. Stay all night at Brother John Brumbach's. + +WEDNESDAY, May 27. Discuss questions, but get through with business by +two o'clock; and the Annual Meeting breaks up. I come to Brother +Daniel Snoberger's, where I stay all night. + +THURSDAY, May 28. Go to a store at Enterprise and buy a few articles. +After dinner come through Snake Spring valley and across Bloody Run to +Jesse O'Neil's, where I stay all night. Fine day. + +FRIDAY, May 29. Come six miles to Chanyville; then eleven miles to +Gibbon; then two miles to John Deacon's where I get dinner and have +Nell fed; then twenty miles to Brother Abraham Miller's in Hampshire +County, Virginia, where I stay all night. Fine day. + +SATURDAY, May 30. Come ten miles to Souer's, where I dine and feed; +then five miles out to the pike, and eight miles to North River; then +three miles to Brother Wilson's, but to get there have to ride two +miles out of the way to pass unmolested. Stay all night at Brother +Wilson's. Rain to-day. + +SUNDAY, May 31. Come twenty-two miles to Nimrod Stradaman's, where I +dine and feed; then sixteen miles to James Fitzwater's, where I stay +all night. Fine day. + +MONDAY, June 1. Come ten miles to Michael Wine's; get dinner, and in +afternoon cross the mountain and get home. + +It may not be out of place to call the reader's attention to several +points of special interest connected with this journey of Brother +Kline to this the next to last Annual Meeting it was his privilege to +attend. Let the reader think of the distance to be traveled over in +going and coming--three hundred and thirty-four miles--all on the back +of his favorite Nell. Over a good road, in a time of peace, with +plenty of familiar friends by the way, such a distance with a good +horse would be but a delightful recreation to one accustomed, as was +Brother Kline, to horse-back riding. But a great part of his way lay +through a mountainous and thinly-peopled country, with only a path in +some places to direct his course; and, worst of all, he did not know +where he was safe from arrest, as army lines at this stage of the war +were almost constantly changing. How great, then, must have been his +love for the Brethren! Where can another man be found to compare with +him in fearless resolution to do what he believed would be pleasing to +the Lord and the Brethren, whom he loved more than he did his own +life! Neither was he encouraged by the Brethren at home to go. They +advised him not to go. But his heart was fixed; and his loving soul +would have been filled with melancholy sadness to have stayed at home +and thought of the warm hearts and kind hands he might have met by +going. He would rather see his Brethren and die, if necessary, than +_live_ without the sight. + +From the time of his return from this journey to the close of the year +he did not venture far from home in a northern direction. On the +twelfth day of August he and Jacob Wine went on the yearly visit prior +to the visit council. They had to go to the counties of Pendleton and +Hardy, as the members in those counties were included in the district +over which Brother Kline was one of the overseers. They held visit +councils over there, and on their return home the two brethren were +arrested and taken before the military authorities on the eighteenth +day of August, 1863. Brother Jacob Wine came home with Brother Kline +to Brother Kline's house. They had been there but a short while when +they were both arrested. They gave a satisfactory account of their +business in those two counties, and were accordingly released. On the +twenty-fourth, just six days after the previous arrest, he was picked +up again and required to give account of himself. This he did in a +humble, truthful way, and was again let go. The following is on the +last page of the Diary for this year. + +In this year, 1863, I have traveled 4,260 miles, all on horseback. I +have preached thirty-eight funerals: _fourteen_ for children under +five years of age; _eight_ for children between the ages of five and +ten years; _six_ for persons between the ages of ten and twenty years; +_three_ for persons between twenty and thirty years; _two_ for persons +between thirty and forty years; _two_ for persons between forty and +fifty years; _three_ for persons over eighty years of age. + +In the last five and one-half months of our beloved brother's life, or +that portion of it which he lived between the first day of January, +1864, and the fifteenth of June, the memorable day of his death, are +not very full of interest. By this it is meant that the state of war +in Virginia, together with the hopeless condition of the Confederacy +and the demoralizing tendency of that condition upon the soldiery of +the land, raised insurmountable barriers in the way of activity on his +part. We find him mostly at home, save that he was much called to see +the sick and preach funerals in his immediate vicinity. + +SUNDAY, May 1, he attended meeting at Green Mount for the last time. +He preached from Luke 19:7. The Editor was present, and still retains +some recollections of his line of thought; so that by means of these, +together with the Diary notes of this discourse, a tolerably just +reproduction of it may here be given. He seemed to be more than +usually pathetic in his delivery. In one of his tender appeals he +caught the writer's eye, and he can never forget the irresistible but +refreshing flow of tears that followed. + + TEXT.--"_And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he + was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner._" + +The Bible is a unit. The sum of its love and truth culminates in the +declaration that "the Son of man came to seek and to save that which +was lost." The portion of the chapter read in your hearing, which +immediately precedes my text, is a sufficient introduction to it. The +history of Zaccheus therein given is, or should be, familiar to all. +But my text may comprise some instructive and comforting truth to us, +which we, like those who attended the steps and heard the words of the +Lord in the flesh, may not so readily apprehend. + +The disciples were deeply impressed with the sinless purity of their +great Teacher. But they did not as yet understand the character of his +mission. They could not rid their minds of the thought that his coming +was for the purpose of establishing, in some way, they knew not how, +an earthly reign of power and glory which would eclipse all that earth +had ever beheld. Hence we read that at one time they wanted to take +him by force, and make him a king. At another time the mother of two +of his disciples interceded in behalf of her two sons that the one +might sit on his right and the other on his left in his kingdom. What +sublime visions of worldly glory she had; and how deeply were her vain +imaginations rebuked! "Ye know not what ye ask." + +These considerations aid us in our efforts to apprehend the character +of the impediments and obstacles in the way of our Savior's glorious +work of love. And here springs up a thought which I will dwell upon +for a little. I can not avoid the belief, forced upon me as it is by +what I see daily and have seen, that men do not widely differ now from +what men were in our Lord's time in the flesh. They do not love his +unqualified declaration--"My kingdom is not of this world"--any better +now than men did then. National greatness, in which the rich and +powerful may bear oppressive rule over the poor and weak, is the +height of their ambition. Such are not willing to eat and drink with +publicans and sinners. Things unseen and eternal are out of sight to +mortal eyes. Men doubt the declaration of the Bible that: + + "Beyond this vale of tears, + There is a life above + Unmeasured by the flight of years: + And all that life is love." + +It is this unbelief that fosters their love for the world and for +themselves. And the pride of heart that naturally goes with the love +of self is not willing to stoop to what is not highly esteemed among +men. It is not hard to see from the words of my text that there was a +very large measure of self-pride still clinging to the hearts of those +who composed the crowd now in attendance upon our Lord on this his +last journey from Jericho to Jerusalem. They thought it a stoop in +him, and out of place that he should condescend to go to be guest with +a man that is a sinner. It is plain from this that they did not know +themselves. Like the Pharisee, they justified themselves, and were +ready even to thank God that they were not like other men. But our +Lord came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. And +we should notice that by sinners he means such as _feel_ and _know_ +themselves to be sinners. Jesus adapted himself to the _felt_ wants of +those he came to save. He had no sin-forgiving words for the +self-righteous. He had no blessing for the proud in spirit. He had no +promise for those who exalted themselves. + +I love to contemplate this glorious feature of our blessed religion. +The docile, teachable disposition of the little child, coupled with +the honest confession of Peter: "I am a sinful man, O Lord," is the +low plane of feeling upon which the Savior enters the soul. It was +declared by a prophet respecting his first advent into the world: +"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be +made low." Mountains and hills in this passage signify the proud and +self-exalted desires and lusts of the wicked man, which are to be laid +low because such states of heart and life forever oppose themselves to +the meekness and gentleness of Christ. But the principle of humility, +signified by a valley, is to be exalted: not that humility exalteth or +can exalt itself; but this truly humble state of mind prepares man to +receive the Lord's saving truth, and this exalts a man. "He that +humbleth himself shall be exalted." + +For myself, Brethren, I can say with the Apostle Paul, that "in me, +that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present +with me, but to do that which is good is not. For the good which I +would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.... I +delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I perceive a +different law in my members, warring against the will of my spirit, +and bringing me into captivity to the sway of sin in my members." Paul +here speaks of the inward man, and of the members or outward man. This +takes my thought to the tabernacle in the wilderness. It had an outer +court and an inner sanctuary. The tables of God's holy law were placed +in this most holy place. It was right in this most holy place, over +the mercy seat, which was the golden cover to the ark that contained +the tables of the law, that Jehovah had his dwelling place. It was +there he talked with Moses. The outer court was for offerings, and +served as a place for the confession of sin and its forgiveness. +Brethren, I am glad to think we are like this tabernacle, that we have +a most holy place, an inner sanctuary, in the inmost of our heart, +where Jesus has his dwelling place with us, and where his voice alone +is heard. In this holy of holies we feel his love, and it is there we +see his face. It is there that he appears to us the fairest among ten +thousand, and the one altogether lovely. It is here that we sing: + + "Jesus, I love thy charming name; + 'Tis music in mine ear; + Fain would I sound it out so loud + That earth and heaven might hear. + + "Yes, thou art precious to my soul; + My transport and my trust: + Jewels to thee are gaudy toys, + And gold is sordid dust. + + "I'll speak the honors of thy name + With my last fleeting breath: + And, dying, clasp thee in my arms, + The antidote of death." + +Brethren, this is what I have gained, it is what you have gained, it +is what we all have gained by placing ourselves in sight of the Lord +as he was passing by. In itself, it was a small thing that Zaccheus +did. The tree which he ascended was not hard to climb; he was nimble, +for he _ran_ on before; and it did not take him long to climb, for he +had not much time. But in motive the act was great, because it was +done to get a sight of Jesus the Lord. The Lord knew this, and knew +also that his motive was not one of idle curiosity, but honest desire +to see him and to learn something more concerning him. And see how he +was blessed. Although he was looked down upon as being a sinner, and +felt in his heart that he was a sinner, still the blessed Savior +regarded it not out of place for him to go and be guest with him, and +crown the occasion with the joyful annunciation: "This day is +salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of +Abraham." All who believe in the Lord from the heart are sons of +Abraham, and heirs of God according to the promise. + +Now, when any one goes to church to hear the Gospel preached, and +thereby to learn something about the Lord that he may have knowledge +of Jesus, he is doing in effect just what Zaccheus did. The same may +be said with regard to reading the Divine Word. It matters not how +great a sinner he may have been. No one now is likely to be a greater +sinner than was Mary Magdalene out of whom seven devils were cast; and +yet the Lord could say of her: "Her sins, which are many, are +forgiven, for she hath loved much." A dying saint was once heard to +say: "Hunt up all my sins; pile them mountain high; one breath of +faith sweeps them all away; and the more I'm forgiven the louder I'll +sing." + +Ah, brethren and sisters, we can rejoice that the Lord condescended to +be a guest with us poor sinners. He proclaims salvation to every one +of us. And inasmuch as he has come in to sup with us and we with him, +let us hold him by the feet, ever welcome to our hearts, and he will +abide with us forever. + +It is in a feeling of unavoidable sadness we now approach the closing +weeks of Brother Kline's life. We will now, with great care, trace his +steps going to and returning from the last Annual Meeting he was ever +permitted to attend. + +FRIDAY, May 6. This is the day on which he started. He stayed the +first night with Reuben Regelman, then living in the head of what was +then called Germany, a remote section of Brock's Gap, and so called on +account of the number of original German people who settled there near +the close of the Revolutionary War. Regelman lived in a deep mountain +retreat, just in the line of what appeared to Brother Kline his safest +route. + +SATURDAY, May 7. This day he crossed the Shenandoah mountain by a +near-cut pathway, coming down into Sweedlin valley, in Pendleton +County. He next crossed the Sweedlin mountain by a pathway, at the +foot of which flows the beautiful mountain river called the South +Fork. He followed this stream about two miles through a deep gorge +between Sweedlin mountain and the South Fork mountain, and got to the +widow Nelly Henkel's on top of the latter mountain in time for dinner. +From there he went to Sister Mary Bargdoll's on the South Mill creek, +where he stayed all night. He was now fifty miles on his way. He +reports the weather as being very pleasant so far. + +SUNDAY, May 8. This day he visited Enoch Hyre's. From there he went to +old Brother Parks's. He then stopped on his way to read and pray with +old Sister Parks, who was entirely blind. From here he went to Brother +Martain Cosner's, where he had afternoon meeting, and preached from +one of his favorite texts, the Lord's invitation to all, given in +Matt. 11:28, 29, 30. He stayed all night at Brother Cosner's. All the +families he visited this day were then living northwest of Petersburg, +in Grant County, West Virginia. He reports another beautiful day. He +is now sixty-nine miles from home. + +MONDAY, May 9. This day he had meeting by previous arrangement at +Andrew Cosner's, six miles further on in the direction of his route. +His subject was 1 Cor. 15:1, 2, 3. From here he went to Brother Thomas +Clark's, fifteen miles further on, where he stayed all night. +Beautiful weather continues. + +TUESDAY, May 10. From Brother Clark's he went to Oakland, a station on +the B. & O. R.R., thirteen miles from Brother Thomas Clark's. Here he +took the train at 9:30 P.M., and Nell had rest. She had carried him on +her back one hundred and four miles in four and one-half days. Short +stages, but terribly hard roads a large part of the way. He arrived at +Bellaire at half past six the next morning. He started for Dayton, +Ohio, at seven, and got there at five in the evening. He stayed all +night at Brother Henry Flory's. + +THURSDAY, May 12. From here he went to a love feast at the Cave Creek +meetinghouse, but is silent as to how he got there. The second chapter +of Hebrews was read. He stayed all night at Jonas Garber's. He says: +"There was frost this morning, but a delightful day." + +FRIDAY, May 13. He took the train at Brookville station, seven miles +from Brother Jonas Garber's, and arrived at Hagerstown, near the place +of the Annual Meeting. He stayed all night at Brother Samuel Eiler's. +Another fine day. + +SATURDAY, May 14. He reports meeting at the meetinghouse and a great +concourse of people. Also, a little rain to-day. + +SUNDAY, May 15. Preaching at six places. A wonderful gathering of +people. Night meeting in Hagerstown. A little rain to-day. I stay all +night in Hagerstown. + +MONDAY, May 16. To-day the Annual Meeting organizes for business. +Forms subcommittees; takes in queries; holds its session in +meetinghouse. I stay all night at old Brother Eiler's. A little +sprinkle of rain to-day. + +TUESDAY, May 17. Discuss questions all day. Good order prevails. I am +glad to witness the dawning of intelligence in the minds of our +younger brethren in the ministry. We must keep up with the demands of +the age; not in the vain show of worldly fashion and love for things +new; but in our desire and power by the use of all divinely-appointed +means to commend the truth to every man's conscience by making it to +shine in all directions more and more unto the perfect day. I am glad +to see the zeal manifest in our younger brethren, and at the same time +equally glad to find it tempered with moderation. + +WEDNESDAY, May 18. Finish business at half past eleven o'clock. After +dinner go to Brother James Wyatt's, where I stay all night. Also visit +the widow Sister Hardman. + +THURSDAY, May 19. Come to Hagerstown and dine at Brother Brown's. I +then take cars to Andersontown, and come to Brother Peter Fesler's, +six miles away. After supper have night meeting in Columbus, where I +speak from Acts 4:13. Stay all night with Jeremiah Clemmens. + +Having been more than usually impressed at our meeting with the +importance of Christian brethren making their conversations and lives +give testimony to the sincerity and intelligence of their professions +of faith in Christ, I resolved to turn my discourse to that bearing, +as much so as I could. With that view I took these words: TEXT.--_"And +they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."_ + +A very plain and self-evident truth comes to mind at the opening of my +discourse to-night. It is this truth, that no one can converse +intelligently upon any subject he does not understand, nor accomplish +any work of art without some previously acquired skill to do it. To +comply with the demands imposed upon every human being by these +fundamental and stubborn realities, all the means of education for the +mind and training for the body are provided. Man stands alone and +singular in this regard. Birds can sing and build their nests without +instruction; and bees can form their delicate cells of wax without a +guide. + +It is also a well-recognized fact that the pupil gives evidence of the +character and ability of his teacher, in all the lines of science and +art. In the knowledge and practice of the things pertaining to man's +spiritual life on earth it is just the same. All that man does from +conscience, from what he believes to be his duty to God and to man, +this he calls religious. If his faith and life are firmly based and +established upon the Rock of God's eternal Truth, it can be known at +once who has been his teacher, and knowledge can be taken of him that +he has been with Jesus. + +I do not wish to reflect particularly here upon the lack of evidences +of this kind among professing Christians generally, nor do I wish to +reflect censure upon the teachers under whose auspices these +professions have been made; but I do say, and am sorry, that from the +conduct and life of many professors of religion it would be hard to +tell certainly that they were not Mohammedans or disciples of +Confucius. But banishing all fancy and superstition, and ignoring all +religious forms and ceremonies, there is a way of making the truth +known that one has been with Jesus. The key that opens to this +knowledge is wrapped up in these words of our Lord: "_By this shall +all men know that ye are my disciples_, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE FOR +ANOTHER." + +Let us notice how this love was shown by Peter and John. I name them +here, because they are connected with my text. There lay a poor +beggar, lame from his mother's womb. He was but little noticed, save +as he was looked down upon with contempt. He asked an alms of Peter +and John as they were about entering the temple. Peter might justly +have said: "I have nothing in the way of silver or gold to give you," +and have thus excused himself from all further trouble about the man. +But he did not treat the poor and impotent beggar in this way. He said +to him: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." +But this was not all. "He took him by the right hand, and LIFTED him +up." He was not only ready to instruct, but he was ready to HELP, and +that with his own hands. + +But I have not told all. The two disciples took to themselves no touch +of credit for the lame man's being made to walk. Their love for the +Lord, and their desire to do good by publishing the news of his +healing and saving power, had so filled their hearts that there was no +room in them for any of the love of self and the world. Had they been +so disposed they might have taken to themselves great credit for what +they had done. They might have indirectly favored the impression that +if the Lord was at the bottom of the miracle they were at the top, and +very important factors in it. But the conduct and temper of the two +disciples was far from anything like this. When the people ran +together, greatly wondering, Peter said: "Why marvel ye at this? or +why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness +we had made this man to walk?" He then directed the attention of the +people to the crucified, risen and glorified Lord, to whose power and +love they ascribed all the honor. + +It is known without telling that such humility of heart and exaltation +of the Lord is not natural with man. People of all grades, even the +enemies of the Lord, take knowledge from such as manifest this spirit +of love and meekness, that they have been and are with Jesus. In his +last conversation with his disciples he lifted his eyes to heaven and +said: "Father, I will, that they whom thou hast given me be with me +where I am, that they may behold my glory." This prayer must have a +present fulfillment in every one of the Lord's people in this world, +in order that they may have a future realization of it in the world to +come. To be with the Lord is to abide in him and he in us. "Abide in +me, and I in you." This is the crown of all blessedness. This is the +golden altar of sweet incense: the brightly burning lamp that lights +the way through the door into the marriage feast. + + "Forever with the Lord: + Amen! so let it be: + Life from the dead is in that word; + 'Tis immortality." + +To be with Jesus is to be with him in affection and thought; to love +what he loves, and to believe what he teaches. One may be with Jesus +in place, and yet be very far from him in spirit. This was exemplified +by Judas. He sat at the same table with the Lord, but his heart, his +mind and feelings were very far away. At that very time he was +plotting his destruction, for Judas was a devil from the beginning. +Even Peter, just a little while after that, caught by the Lord's eye, +went out and wept bitterly. It is not, therefore, a local or personal +nearness which the Lord has in mind when he prays that all whom the +Father hath given him may be with him, but a nearness of heart, in the +affection of love, and the obedience of faith. + +Brethren and friends, let me say to you, that it is the _duty_, and +not only the duty, but the highest attainment of Christian liberty, to +be with Jesus and to give knowledge to all around that one has not +only been, but now is every day with Jesus. True godliness, however, +does not desire to make a display of itself; it seeks no prominence in +the world; neither does it aspire to receive the applauses of men. It +does not ride upon the tempest of religious disputes, nor clothe +itself with the whirlwind of fanatical excitement. But, like the +Divine Spirit from which it springs, it speaks in the still, small +voice of tender compassion and love. Like its Lord, it enters a house, +the house of the humble, contrite heart, and would have no man know +it; but it cannot be hid. + +Now, Brethren and friends, I have only touched some of the chords in +the beautiful anthem of my theme. I now leave it with you, hoping that +you may learn every note in it; and by the sweet music of a good life +delight the ears and warm the hearts of all who hear its rich +harmonies. Possibly you may never see my face or hear my voice again. +I am now on my way back to Virginia, not knowing the things that shall +befall me there. It may be that bonds and afflictions abide me. But I +feel that I have done nothing worthy of bonds or of death; and none of +these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so +that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have +received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. + +THURSDAY, May 19. Come to Hagerstown and dine at Brother Brown's. + +FRIDAY, May 20. Visit Sister Molly Clemmens; dine at Brother Jacob +Fesler's; sup at Brother Peter Fesler's, and by request have meeting +again in Columbus to-night. My subject is Matt. 7:13, 14. Stay at +Peter Fesler's all night. Warm and pleasant day. + +SATURDAY, May 21. Visit Andrew Fertig's, where I stay till after +dinner. I then come to Middletown; and from there to Fall Creek +meetinghouse, to Brother David Miller's meeting. John 14 is read. I +speak upon the spirit and general scope of truth comprehended in the +chapter. Jacob Fry and wife are baptized. I then go home with old +Brother Jacob Miller, and after supper go to Brother David Miller's, +where I stay all night. Fine and warm day. + +SUNDAY, May 22. Visit Absalom Painter; he is sick, and I think poorly. +Attend meeting at the meetinghouse. John 3 is read. I speak upon the +new birth, the most important matter that can possibly engage the +thought and occupy the heart of man, inasmuch as without it, there is +no salvation. Dine with Jacob Miller, who is a son of George Miller. +In the afternoon visit Joseph Funk's and from there I go to George +Hoover's where I stay all night. A fine but warm day. + +MONDAY, May 23. Stay at George Hoover's till after dinner. In the +afternoon call at Joseph's and John's, and visit the Sulphur Springs. +Night meeting. Speak from First John, second chapter, last part of the +twenty-ninth verse: _"Every one that doeth righteousness is born of +him."_ A righteous life is the proof that one is born of God. Charity, +which is the love of doing good, is the child of the new birth. This +leads to righteousness or justice in all our dealings with one +another. I can not love my brother and at the same time seek undue +advantage of him, or try to cheat him in any way. The same is true in +dealing with those outside the Brotherhood. This righteousness shuts +down the gate upon the stream of all evil affections and lusts, +because it springs from that love which forever whispers in the heart: +"All things, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even +so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." + +Stay all night at Brother Yost's. His wife is Brother Hoover's +daughter. + +TUESDAY, May 24. Take cars at seven o'clock and get to Richmond at +nine, and to Higgin's Station at eleven. From there I go to Brother +Nead's, five miles away; and after dinner to meeting at the +meetinghouse. Speak from Rom. 1:16, 17. After meeting come to Brother +Joseph Miller's, where I stay all night. Much rain this afternoon. + +WEDNESDAY, May 25. Go to Arebaugh's meetinghouse. Love feast. John 1 +is read. Stay all night at Brother Kensel's. + +This is the last love feast Brother Kline ever attended. Tender memory +will drop a tear as she looks into his loving eye and sees him take +his last farewell and leave his last loving kiss on lips that his will +never touch again. But we should remember that thirty-five years have +passed since then. Many who took the parting hand on earth then, have, +one by one, since then, taken the meeting hand in heaven: "For God is +not the God of the dead, but of the living." + +THURSDAY, May 26. Come to Dayton; buy some articles; dine at Brother +Henry Yost's, and also sup there. Take cars at half past six in the +evening and arrive at Columbus soon after nine. Stay there all night. + +FRIDAY, May 27. Get to Oakland in the evening, and stay all night at +Rogan White's tavern. Two hundred and eighty-six miles from Columbus +to Oakland. + +SATURDAY, May 28. Come to Brother James Abernathy's in a hired hack, +ten miles; and in afternoon come three miles to Brother Thomas +Clark's, where I have night meeting and stay all night. Fine day. + +SUNDAY, May 29. Come to Brother Zachariah Hendrick's, where I have +meeting. Speak from John 1:17. In afternoon come through the mountain +top to Sister Eve Idleman's, where I stay all night. Frost this +morning. + +MONDAY, May 30. Visit our old and blind Sister Parks; read for her and +pray with her. Come to Enoch Hyre's and stay till after dinner. I then +go to Brother John Judy's, where I stay all night. Leave appointment +to preach his deceased wife's funeral on Sunday, June 26. + +TUESDAY, May 31. Call at Philip Kesner's; at Samuel Kesner's; cross +the mountain and call and get dinner at George Cowger's; then stop +awhile at Philip Emswiler's; exchange a few pleasant words with friend +Peter Warnstaff as I pass by his house; and get to Brother John Fulk's +in evening, where I stay all night. Fine, pleasant day. + +WEDNESDAY, June 1. Come by Michael Wine's; dine with him; then come +across the mountain home. + +From this time to the memorable day of his martyrdom there is nothing +in the Diary demanding special notice. Notice has already been taken +of his calling at George Cowger's on the South Fork in Pendleton +County, West Virginia, on his way home from this his last journey. At +Mr. Cowger's, while at the dinner table, he said: "I am threatened; +they may take my life; but I do not fear them; they can only kill my +body." This they accomplished. + +WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1864. He went to a blacksmith's shop a few miles +away from home; had Nell shod; and on his return was killed by, it is +supposed, some concealed person or persons on a ridge of timber land a +few miles away from home. Some account of his funeral has already been +given in the introduction to this work. His body, when discovered, +showed that it had been pierced by several bullets. But a smile rested +on his face. The writer's own eyes witnessed this. It may be that this +smile was the reflection of the joy that thrilled his soul as he +stepped out of his broken tenement of clay into the presence and light +of his Redeemer. Stephen's living face was as the face of an angel. +Brother Kline's dead face was the face of a saint--no, not the face of +a saint, but the face of the earthly casket in which a saint had +lived, and labored, and rejoiced; and out of which he stepped into the +glories of the eternal world. Amen! + + +_He Died at His Post._ + +[Said to have been composed by Brother Kline on the death of Joseph +Miller, who died while on a visit to Ohio.] + + Away from his home and the friends of his youth + He hasted, the herald of mercy and truth, + For the love of his Lord and to seek for the lost + Soon, alas! was his fall, but he died at his post. + + The stranger's eye wept that in life's brightest bloom + One gifted so highly should sink to the tomb; + For in order he led in the van of his host, + And he fell like a soldier, he died at his post. + + He wept not himself that his warfare was done, + The battle was fought and the victory won, + But he whispered of those whom his heart clung to most, + "Tell my Brethren for me that I died at my post." + + He asked not a stone to be sculptured with verse; + He asked not that fame should his merits rehearse; + But he asked as a boon when he gave up the ghost, + That his Brethren might know that he died at his post. + + Victorious his fall, for he rose as he fell, + With Jesus his Master in glory to dwell. + He has passed o'er the stream and has reached the bright court, + For he fell like a martyr; he died at his post. + + And can we the words of his exit forget? + O, no, they are fresh in our memory yet. + An example so brilliant shall not be lost; + We will fall in the work, we will die at our post. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, +the Martyr Missionary, by John Kline + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE AND LABORS OF ELDER *** + +***** This file should be named 16711-8.txt or 16711-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/7/1/16711/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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