have Eden. God made it. Whatever that that would be contending that sin as was there God put there. Among the well as holiness was an attribute of God's trees there was one called the tree of the character; would it not? But do we not knowledge of good and evil. God put read again, "I form the light, and create Adam and Eve in this garden, and gave darkness: I make peace, and create evil. them a law. The penalty for the trans- I the Lord do all these things?" Suppose gression of said law was death. Was we quote it. "I form the light, and create God Almighty compelled through any in- darkness: I make peace, and create sin: fluence or power outside of his own pur-I the Lord do all these things." The pose within himself to put that certain very sentiment is abhorrent to the child tree there, and then give a law forbidding of God. Sin is not a created thing, but the eating of the fruit thereof, of which the transgression of the law, or action of transgression sin entered into the world, the creature that God created. The term and death by sin? No, he was not. His "evil," as it stands in connection with own eternal purpose is the only law by what God does, does not mean sin, I which he is governed. Did God make reckon; but as it stands in connection Adam and Eve just what they were be- with what man does, or is exhorted not fore the transgression? Yes. Did he to do, I think it does. Again, Is there make that certain tree to bear fruit good evil (not sin) in the city and the Lord for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree hath not done it? Is there a plague to be desired to make one wise? Most among the people by which many are recertainly. Did the serpent get there by moved from off the earth that is not fulchance, or how? Did God know that filling God's purpose? or are people Adam and Eve would transgress the law being removed from the earth in a he gave them? He did. Was his pur-way and time that God did not design, pose frustrated or fulfilled? or did he have or by a messenger that he did not send? no purpose in the matter? He did; Are not diseases, cyclones, floods, earthneither was he frustrated or overthrown. quakes, or whatever is destructive to perDoes this way of reasoning make him the sons or property, messengers sent of God author of sin? No. What is sin? The to fulfill his purpose? and are they not transgression of the law; and by one to us evils? Are not these some of the man (not God) sin entered into the world. things meant by the word evil in its conCan God be charged with sinning? No. nection with Jehovah? If so, we do well God is holy, and nothing unholy can em- to use these texts accordingly. anate from him. A pure fountain can- glad that I can say that in all of my acnot send forth corruption. He cannot quaintance among the brethren in the lie, he cannot deny himself. He is of too eastern and northern Associations and pure eyes to even look sin. upon Do we Canada, I do not know of one that connot read that he hath made all things for tends that God by his Spirit causes men himself? yea, even the wicked for the to sin, or that he is the author of sin. If day of evil? Yes; there is not a being there are any such, they have kept hid that God did not make: men women and from me. The terms "absolute" and children. But did he make them wicked "unlimited," are terms that many good (sinful) by the power and influence of his brethren object to when used in respect Holy Spirit? No, no. It seems to me to God's sovereignty. I am not aware I am that brethren use them for any other would be entirely left out; I would be purpose than to set forth his independent, without hope and without God in the unlimited, sovereign power, by which all world; for I know that in me, that is, in things in heaven or earth have an exist- my flesh, dwells no good thing. Full of ence and are controlled; or in other wounds and bruises and putrefying sores, words, he is not dependent upon any there is no soundness in me. A hard, depower or wisdom outside of his own eter- ceitful heart, a wretched, wandering mind. nal self to manage his affairs. In his When I would do good evil is present own great arrangement he has designed with me. The good I would I do not; and declared that the wrath of man shall the evil I would not, that I do. Poor, praise him, while the remainder he as sinful child, is this your condition? If sovereign will restrain. I have never so, every promise in the Bible belongs to known any of my brethren to advocate you. How merciful your Father in that those that crucified the Lord of life heaven has been to you, to show you and glory were governed by the Holy what an unrighteous, ungodly sinner you Spirit of God; but I have heard them say are, and then to leave on record that pretime and again that it was by and ac- cious testimony, "I will be merciful to cording to the determinate counsel and their unrighteousness, and their sins and foreknowledge of God that Christ was iniquities will I remember no more forcrucified and slain by wicked men. God ever." But, dear child, he will be mercimade the very men that killed Christ; ful to you, and keep you in remembrance but he did not by his Holy Spirit influ- in a way that you will feel the need of ence them to do the awful deed. Allow his precious promises. While you live on me to repeat again, Sin is the transgres- the earth, and call upon his holy name sion of the law, and by one man sin en- for help, the very cry or desire for mercy tered into the world. God's eternal pur- is an evidence of spiritual life, and that pose must have embraced the power by life was given you in Christ before the which this awful deed was done, as well world began. You who were once an as the grand and glorious plan of salva- alien from God, yes, an enemy to God, tion which was the result or consumma- dead in trespasses and in sins, are made tion of this work. Am I right? If not, alive by the Spirit and power of God, and I hope my brethren will show me my are brought into manifestation, spiritual union with Christ, your spiritual Head Third. Mercy is another precious attri- and Progenitor. All such are delivered bute of God. Who does he have mercy from the power of darkness and transupon? First, whom he will. Can one lated into the kingdom of his dear Son, that performs good works enough to ap- are manifested as new creatures in Christ. pease the wrath of God and satisfy their Old things have passed away, and all own conscience know God's mercy and things have become new. Spiritual life rejoice in it? No. God says, "I will be being communicated or given, holy demerciful to their unrighteousness." How sires spring up in the breast. Hungerdoes this sound, poor sinner. Methinks I ing and thirsting after righteousness, a hear you say, That fits my condition; but hatred of sin and longing for holiness is if it should read, I will be merciful to daily felt. The gospel which once had those that are good and doing good, I no charms is a joyful sound, and is food error. different churches. In some of them there has been large ingatherings, more, I am informed than for many years previous. There has been four two days meetings in the different localities, and enjoyed much by friends and brethren the past year, though not largely attended. Pardon length and poor composition. I could not write as I wanted to. Do with it as you think best. I do not think I will start a paper if you do not publish it. God's word will have free course and be glorified. This I am sure of. God bless you all. Your brother in hope, D. M. VAIL. to this hungry soul. The society of the us, B. Bundy and myself are serving the saints which was irksome and dull, is the only society that this heaven-born soul desires to associate with. Is this not a wonderful change? and is it not wrought in the heart of every sinner born of God, realized or felt by them, and manifested in their walk and conversation to the saints? Certainly. Would my brethren have stronger love and fellowship for me if I should say my soul was changed? Would they have less for me if I should say that I had no evidence that any part of me was changed? I for one must confess that I am so ignorant I do not know what part of me to call soul in distinction from the rest of me. Brethren, give me the evidences written in this article, and I will not trouble myself to find out what part of you is changed or born. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. I am satisfied with this, and I do not understand that this is saying that which is born of the flesh is Spirit. But why am I writing to the saints as I do? What am I? A sinner, a great sinner, a bad sinner. There is no sin in the world but what is in my nature; but I abhor them, I loathe them, I hate them; they destroy my peace and comfort. They bring me low in a low place, and there I lay, and weep and mourn, till Jesus bids me rise; and then by faith, on wings of love, I mount above the skies. PRINCETON, N. J., Oct. 14, 1890. MY DEAR SISTER:-After my return home Sunday evening, thinking of the painful affliction of your cousin, and the sadness of your own hearts expressed by you, the words of the psalmist came to my mind: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all." How precious are the words of holy writ when applied by the Spirit to comfort us in our deep distress! The Savior also said for our comfort, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." And when we are in the Spirit, and our minds are directed by the Holy Ghost, our words come with comfort to our af ter, that such is my feeling at this time. I will now say in regard to the breth-flicted brethren; and I trust, my dear sisren and churches in this section who were once known as the Chemung Association, I truly sympathize with you in your that they are still contending for the hour of sadness. I know that you are truth and order of God's house, and de- not afflicted in your own person, but in sire the love and fellowship of the saints the persons of your friends, and you in as in years past. I would also desire the sympathy weep for them. Much of my brethren and sisters to meet with us and own affliction has not been in my own learn for themselves how we live, and person, but in visitation of affliction upon what we teach; also ministering brethren my friends, and I mourned on account of would be very welcome. Elder Bogard-their suffering and affliction. I trust, Your unworthy brother in hope of eternal life, ELIJAH LEIGH. God's dear Son, we shall be made conformable to his death, and to know something of the fellowship of his sufferings. And when it is the pleasure of the Lord to clear the darkened skies and give us day for night, even the feeble expressions of sympathy from brethren, and the recital of their wanderings in darkness, comes to us like the clear shining of the sun, warming and cheering us. however, that we have seen Jesus, who endure for a night, joy cometh in the was made lower than the angels for the morning. suffering of death; and as we viewed him in agony upon the tree of the cross, and realized that our sins nailed him there, we were overwhelmed with grief and sunk in despair. But the deliverer came to PRINCETON, N. J., Jan. 10, 1891. our relief with the sweet words, "Thy DEAR SISTER:-Yours received, and I sins are all forgiven; the ransom price is sincerely sympathize with you in the cold, paid." O! what love and compassion it dark experience through which you are wrought in our souls, and we felt that passing; and if we are of that happy life would be too short for us to manifest number who have been brought from nahis love and mercy which then filled our ture's darkness into the kingdom of souls. And did we not exclaim, "O! for a thousand tongues to sound abroad my Savior's praise ?" And if there be one who has a name and place with the Lord's people whose mouth should be continually filled with praise and thanksgiving for mercy and blessings bestowed upon him, it is the unworthy brother who is addressing you. The past few weeks I have thought much of the goodness of God to me. How little of my life has When the Lord's servant, John, was been spent upon the couch of suffering, cast into prison, and was in darkness and or in painful injuries! And as I recall gloom, he sent his disciples to inquire of the many deliverances from dangers that the Lord if he was the Christ. Jesus anhave beset my way, and my vile ingrat-swered, "Go and show John again the itude and proneness to evil, I am trem-things which ye do hear and see. blingly constrained to say, "Lord, be blind receive their sight," &c. merciful to my unrighteousness, deliver not explain the mystery of God manifest me from evil, and help me to devote the in the flesh, or send him additional evihealth and strength thou art bestowing dence, but simply appealed to his faith. upon me to the service and comfort of So with you, my dear sister, as I write my brethren and the glory of thy name. may it please the Lord to direct your mind to the past mercies and blessings, May the great Comforter speak peace to your troubled soul, and if consistent and as I review the evidences of your exwith his holy will restore to health your perience that you are a chosen vessel of afflicted friend. And in this dark provi-mercy, may you in receiving it realize idence may you be enabled to look away that your brethren are fellow travelers with you. to Jesus, and with the poet say, "There is a land mine eye hath seen, And that while weeping and sorrow may| The He did Many times on our journey, and as often as it is the pleasure of the Lord for our instruction and the trial of our faith, he makes clouds and darkness to obscure the sun. And as the shades of evening ness, and we feel the support of the girdle close around us, and midnight darkness of truth, the protection of the shield of envelopes our souls, all the beasts of the faith, and the defense of the sword of the forest creep forth. The lion's roar start-Spirit, and we walk with our feet shod les us, but the ever present adversary of with the preparation of the gospel of our souls comes to our assistance, saying, peace, and we can run through a troop "Acquaint now thyself with God and be and leap over a wall. And as we look at peace; thereby good shall come unto back upon the darkness through which thee." Without stopping to inquire who we have passed we think that we will commands, we endeavor to obey, as we never be so weak again, and that now we did when we were first led into trouble will be able to withstand the wiles of the and sorrow; but we find ourselves im-adversary, and turn aside from the alprisoned. The cold, damp walls of sin lurements of the world, and that henceand disobedience rise high and strong forth we will walk in the path of duty, around us, and our professed assistant restrain our evil passions, our evil words, turns to be our accuser. And through and live in peace. But alas, our sinful the long, tedious night of darkness we nature is so prone to evil that we soon grope around and write bitter things find ourselves doing the things that we against ourselves until overwhelmed with would not do, and leaving undone the grief our heart within us dies. And as things that we should have done, and we the fleeting breath catches back at life cry out, "O wretched man that I am! we hear the words, "Let him that walk-who shall deliver me from the body of eth in darkness, and hath no light, stay this death?" But when once more we himself upon his God." Our feeble voice look away to Calvary's cross with the replies, "Lord, be merciful to me a sin-agony of the dear Redeemer, and realize ner, and deliver me from this darkness that our sins nailed him there, and that and despair." we are made conformable to his death, The morning breaks, and as the day and know the fellowship of his sufferings, dawns the lion seeks his lair, and Satan the Spirit guides us, and faith lays hold his hiding-place. The still small voice upon the promise, "If we suffer we shall that spoke peace to our souls whispered, reign with him." And again, "Blessed "Fear not, I am with thee." No longer are they that mourn, for they shall be the prison walls or the darkness surround comforted." "Blessed are they that us. The refulgent rays of the Sun of hunger and thirst after righteousness, for righteousness usher in the glorious morn-they shall be filled." May these declaraing, and in feeling we arise from the low tions of the Savior comfort us, for do we couch of sorrow, and read in letters of not abhor sin, and long to live holily and gold set in pictures of silver, "Fear not: Christlike? I have redeemed thee, I have called thee But can we be carried to the skies on by thy name, thou art mine. I will never flowery beds of ease? No! We must leave thee nor forsake thee. Salvation fight if we would reign. The contention will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." is within, and in the battle that we wage, In a moment we feel to be clad in the the carnal is against the spiritual. And whole armor of God-the helmet of sal-shall we not receive comfort from the exvation, the breastplate of righteous-perience of which you speak, and which I |