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wmmmNEGLECTING DUTT. 13NEGLECTING DUTY.BT OBPHA PELTON.I WAS attending a four days' meeting.The Lord was with me, and I was greatlyblessed in testifying of his power tosave, till the last night of the meeting.The house was crowded, and there waspresent a large number of unconvertedpersons.After the preaching, testimonies weregiven in as usual, and I was deeply interestedin them; yet without a thoughtthat 1 should have anything to say, tilla sister—a perfect stranger—sitting byme, said, "After he gets through talking,you"speak,and it seems to me therewill be something done here." " 0, Ido not feel any leading of the Spiritto," was my quick response. But nosooner were the words spoken than Ifelt the cross come upon me so heavy.But, 1 do not know what tO say, or howto begin; besides, they are about readyto close the meeting. And so I reasonedto myself, forgetting the experienceI had had sometimes before, whenI had stepped out on the naked promiseof God, opened my mouth, and had itfiUed. Very soon the benediction waspronounced, and O! how I felt as Iarose and it came home to me, That Inever would have another opportunityof warning those people again. Hot,burning tears rolled down my face, allthe way to the place where I was staying;and I went to bed, but not tosleep, for I tossed and groaned in anagony, whUe ti^e Lord gave me a viewof what the meeting would have been•if I had done my duty.The experience, the exhortation, muchthat I would have said had I spoken,passed through my mind. Then camethe glory with which I would have beenfilled, and the break in the meeting; aspiritual song was sung, and the housefilled with the presence of God.You would not think I would everhave had this lesson to learn over; butit was repeated, or one very simUar, atour G. Q. M. The Saturday of it, Iremained at home so that others couldgo. I was so blessed, and went aboutthe house praising the Lord and exhortingto myself, while doing my work.I seemed filled with the Spirit, and said,finally, " O, Lord, may I not talk thisout at the meeting ?" and He told meto "make my boast of his redeemingpower." After prayer had been offeredfor those who had come forward to beprayed for, I felt a faint impression totalk. This time I was almost entirelylifted above the cross, and was so blessed*and happy, that I felt a desire to speak.I hesitated, and this gave the enemy achance at me ; and I did not know hisvoice, as it came to me that the impressionwas not strong enough, and that Ihad some will of my own about it, andstrange to tell, I never thought ofthe experienceI had during the day; and Iwas so afraid this was so, that I saidnothing. I did not mean to do wrong,and did not know I had till after themeeting closed.Again did I go home with a heavyheart. Again did the Lord show me,what burning words would faave fallenfrom my lips; how blessed I and thepeople of God would have been, if Ihad spoken the word of the Lord faithfully.„ There were many young peoplethere that I knew, or had known; andI felt that there were none in the worldthat I would love to tell what the Lordhad done for me, and try to get saved,so much as these.For two weeks or more the Sun ofEighteousness was so clouded, not onebright beam found its way to my poor,benighted soul. The chastening of theLord was indeed grievous; but it hasyielded the peaceable fruits of righteousness;and it is my prayer, thatthose who foUow after and chance toread these lines, will take warning, andnot come short of God's glory, as I did,or neglect to obediently follow theirleader, and thus be saved this painfulexperience.•-•-*WHAT sin is there, which grace can.not pardon 1 What heart is therewhich grace cannot soften ? What soulis there, which grace cannot save?

14 THE EABNEST CHBISTIAN AND GOLDEN EULE.MY TISION.BT BOSALCE JONES.I WAS converted at the age of eleven,and lived religion nearly three years.Then I wandered from God, and livedin a backslidden state nearly a year.—The Free Methodists held a camp-meetingin our neighborhood, beginning the19th of August, 1868. i attended, andwas re-converted on Saturday evening,before service. Sunday night a friencfof mine—Lydia A. Lockwood, whowas also a backslider—went to the altarseeking religion. I knelt down be-,side her, and soon went into an 'agonyof soul for her. They carried me tothe tent and laid me upon the bed. Myfriend followed, sat down upon the bedbeside me, and took my hand in hers.I then, with my spiritual eye, sawher state and standing in the iight ofeternity. She was sitting on the brinkof a precipice, and the Holy Spirit, inthe form of a dove, was just above herhead, hovering over her, and pleadingwith her to yield and be saved; butshe would not give up all. It approachednearer and nearer to her, and, at last,alighted upon her head, and I knew itwas her last call. And then I saw,written over the awful abyss below,how many moments she had in whichto repent and yield up all. They werebut few—she had not an hour—only afew moments—and I plainly saw thatit was her last call, and that she mustgive up all for Christ within that time,or be forever lost.Then I saw my situation, as it wasthe pVevious night, before I had yieldedall for Christ. I was sitting on the brinkof a precipice, and my feet were hangingover, down into the terrible abyssbelow. I was slipping down, fasterand faster, from the edge of the precipice,and the Holy Spirit was hoveringover my head, and pleading with mefor the last time. I plainly saw that itwas the last call of mercy I would everhave, and if I had not yielded that nightI should have been lost forever, becauseI had sinned against great light andknowledge, and had so often resistedthe strivings of the Holy Spirit. Iwas clinging to the vain and transitorythings of earth, unmindful of my horriblesituation in the sight of God.—There I sat, adorned with jewelry andvain dress, whUe the flames of hell wereblazing up toward me from the yawninggulf; but I would not yield. Ikept slipping down, down, stUl fasterand faster, as I continued to resist thestrivings of the Spirit, until the flamestouched my feet. I was on the veryedge of the precipice, and was about todrop off into the flames, when I said," I will yield." At that instant, justas I was making the fearful plungedown into hell, the Holy Spirit reachedout and grasped my hand, snatchingme as a " brand from the eternal burnings,"and, encircling me with his wings,he carried me away from that horribleplace.Then I was recalled from this viewof the past, back to the present. Ilooked up and saw a large light, at agreat d istance from me. It grew brighterand brighter, and I gradually approachednearer and nearer to it. Atlast I saw Jesus with a beautiful crownon his head, and clothed with a purewhite robe. O, how beautiful he looked!and he spoke to me with such a heavenlysmile on his face,—and I enteredinto Heaven. And there I saw thegolden walks, and the holy angels, aUclothed in long white robes, withoutspot or wrinkle. I could not see theirfeet—their robes were so long that theytrailed upon the ground-.' They aU hadsnowy wings, and crowns upon theirheads, and harps in their hands; and*they were aU playing upon their harps,and singing, and praising God. Theirfaces seemed to be vaUed—and notreally vaUed either; but I could notdistinguish them: I tried to do so, twoor three times; but something seemedto tell me it was not the Lord's wUlthat I should see exactly how they looked; but Icould see that they were verybeautifiU. But there were none so beautifulas the Saviour, sitting on his large,white throne, with a circle of light

around his head. By his side stood atable that had the appearance of marble,on which lay open, in the Old Testament,the Holy Bible—the Book bywhich we are all to be judged—and hisright hand lay, shut up, upon the rightside of the Book, as it lay open, readyto judge the world at any time whenthe Father should speak the word.—Near the throne, I saw the Cross.At this time, I approached the Saviourand shook hands with him. ThenI saw a soul enter Heaven. She hadlived a Christian life whUe upon earth,and now the Lord had called her bome;and I saw her when she entered thegate, rejoicing that she was done withearth's trials, and was safe home atlast; and aU the angels rejoiced withher, and sang, and praised God, andthere was indeed a rejoicing all overHeaven. It aU seemed to be one large,square room, with jasper walls; andthe soul that entered Heaven came inthrough one of the gates on the westernside.—Eev. xxi. 13. I saw the cro^wnwhich is to be mine if I prove faithful.It was beautiful, and bad gold stars infront. I .saw Gabriel with his trumpet.He was flying around, as also wereother angels. All could fly, who chooseto do so. There were flowers there,which never fade. Earthly flowers arenothing in beauty, compared to those Isaw in Heaven. 11 was very light there,and Jesus was the light of the place.—Eev. xxii. 5.Then the scene changed. O! tooawfiil to describe ! I seemed to be onthat awful precipice again, and I lookeddown, down into the abyss below. ThenI descended, as a spectator, into thefiery lake. Nothing harmed me, for Iwas saved; but what a scene met myej es ! There were millions of peopleweeping, and wailing, and gnashing theirteeth, in the lake of fire and brimstone.There were a great many souls in Heaven,but they were few compared to thevast number that were groaning in HeU.Everything was dark and gloomy. Thefires did not light up the darkness, asearthly fires do. Neither did they looklike earthly flames. There was as muchMT VISION. 15contrast between them, as there is betweennatural fire, and water. Theywere of a duU, dingy, red color, andthick with brimstone, which lookedyellow, and the smoke which ascendedfrom them was blue and black. Theflames were of enormous size, and thewhole scene was hideous and frightful,beyond description. I saw aU classesof individuals there except Christians.Among them, I saw backsliders, sinners,dancers, fiddlers, blacksmiths, grocers,merchants, cold-hearted professors ofreligion, and preachers. On every^one'sforehead was written, in large, black,capital letters, what he was on earth.The letters were so large that theyreached from the hair down to the eyebrows.On backsliders it was written,BACKSLIDEE; on sinners it waswritten, SINNEB, ete. Every onewas encircled with flames, and therewas a look of pain and anguish on everyface. There were plaees like aislesin a church, and the devU was in spiritin every aisle, compelling them to dowhatever was their business upon earth.The air was thick with flames, and thespirit of the devil. There I saw a merchantmeasuring off yards of goods.He had no customers, but that madeno difference; he had to keep at workas fast, and as hard as he could ; andsuch,a look of distress was stampedupon his features, whUe the horridflames encircled him, and npon his foreheadwas written, MEECHANT. Hehad stood behind the counter, untU hewas so tired he could hardly stand up;but he could never stop. There hemust remain in that awful torment forever.I saw the grocer, weighing outgroceries; and he, too, had the markupon his forehead, and was envelopedin flames. And then I saw preachers,preaching and talking as fast and asloud as possible. But pen cannot describethe anguish they were in. Theyhad made a lie of their profession whUeon earth, and now they were reapingtheir reward. Blacksmiths were poundinghot iron, and they were in the flames,themselves. And there were the dancers,dancing in the flames of heU.—

16 THE BABlfBST CHBISTIAN AND GOLDBN EULE.i 11They had danced, and danced, untU theywere all tired and worn out; but theycould never, never stop. There theywere, and there they must remain toall eternity, in terrible sufferings. Therewere the fiddlers, aU seated on a long,black bench, playing on large, blackviolins, each one encircled with flames.AU classes looked tired, and were writhingin extreme agony.Language fails to describe the dreadfulrealities of Hell. God forbid thatany who read this should ever enterthat place of torment. There they arein terrible torment forever! Therewas one preacher with whom I talked.He had not long been there. '"O!"said he, " I cannot be lost! I cannot belost!" All the reply I could makehim was, " You are lost, already. Youare in Hell now, where you must stayforever." " 0!" said he, " go back toHeaven, and plead with Jesus, to comeand take me out of this horrible placeof torment." " Christ cannot save younow," I replied; " you are in Hell, andhere you must stay forever, and sufferthis awful agony." Then he told methat he was a preacher when he was onearth. " But," said he," I did not preachthe truth. I did not live up to my profession;and now, I am here, reapingmy reward, and I know it is just, buthow can I be lost!" Said I, " But youare lost, and you know it." "Yes,"he said, " I know it; but I can neverbecome reconciled." Then he beganpleading with me, again, to beseechChrist to forgive him, while, at the sametime, he knew it was useless. I toldhim I could do nothing for him, norcould' even Jesus Christ, himself. Hehad rejected him whUe in the body, andhad deliberately made his choice; andnow he had awaked in hell, and in hellhe must forever remain, without oneray of hope to cheer him. With this,he vanished from my sight and presence,in deepest despair. Then I sawa soul drop into hell. He fell rightinto the flame.s, and immediately becameencircled with them, and received theblack mark upon his forehead, BACK­SLIDER. I talked a little with him.He was in the deepest despair imaginable.He said he had once been in thestrait and narrow way, but the Enemyhad aUured him into by and forbiddenpaths; and now he was suffering theterrible realities of hell, shut out fromthe presence of God forever. Then Isaw three more, in succession, drop intothe flames.Some of the people were in moretorment than others. They were aUjudged according to the deeds done inthe body. There was one class thatwas in greater torfnent than any of theothers. They were so enveloped inflames that I could see only parts ofthem. Sometimes I could see theirheads, sometimes their arms, and sometimestheir limbs. I was not permittedto know what class they were. Perhapsthey were Infidels, or Spiritualists, orsomething of that sort. But whateverthey were, they were writhing in theutmost agony. There were no chUdrenthere, only those who had reached theyears of accountability. Neither sawI any heathen there, who had never hadthe light of Eevelation to sin against.Every soul that I saw in hell had sinnedagainst light and knowledge. Languagecan but poorly describe the terrors ofHell, or the joys of Heaven.Again the scene was changed, a^ Iwas in Heaven again. It looked thesame as before,- only more beautiful.—I first saw Jesus, and then the angels.I saw everything that I saw before, anda great many things beside. When 1looked at the Cross, I saw the crown ofthorns hung over the top of it, and onthe largest part of it was written, inlarge, golden letters, EEPEOACH.—The letters glittered beautifully uponthe white Cross. I saw my crown again,and my robe. It was long and white,. without any spots upon it. And thenI saw my harp. 'It was a golden one,like all the others. I also saw my seat.It seemed like a bed of roses. Theywere all white, with a very light tingeof pink, and they Were far more beautifulthan earthly flowers. I lookedaround to see if there were any whomI had known upon earth; and in a few

MT -VTSlOir.moments discovered Mr. and Mrs. Fuller,who had formerly lived in our neighborhood,both of whom died in thetriumphs of living faith. They weresitting side by side on beds of roses.They were very happy, and very beautiful.They looked a very little as theydid when upon earth, only so muchmore beautiful. I had some conversationwith her, buf I do not rememberwhat was said on either side.Then Jesus spoke to me, and said,"She is saved: I have saved her,"—referring to my friend, Lydia, for whomI had received the agony of soul. Justhere my vision was slightly interrupted,and I was partially recalled to earthlythings, and I spoke aloud, "She is saved.Jesus says he has saved her." At thesame moment slie received the witness,and replied, " Yes, he has saved me,Rosell," and shouted three times, "Hallelujah!" I dimly realized her shoutingonce. The moment she said shewas saved, all the angels in Heavenshouted, clapped their hands, and praisedthe Lord, that one more wanderer hadreturned to her F.ather's house. Therewas more rejoicing in Heaven, over herreturn, thail when that soul enteredHeaven. Then I saw the seat preparedfor Lydia, if she proves faithful. Itwas by the side of mine, and just likeit. I also saw her robe, harp and crown.They were all like mine, and, also, likemine, suspended in the air, over theback of the seat. I saw no high seatsin Heaven; but some were nearer thethrone than others, and these were occupiedby the children. The olderpersons sit farther back. I saw thetwenty-four Elders sitting in a row,searching the Scriptures. They all hadcrowns upon their heads, and their-crowns were aU alike.I saw my friend, as she will appearin Heaven. She was sitting in her seat,with her robe and crown on, and herharp in her hand, upon which she wasplaying—and I can never forget howshe sang. She was. beautiful—and sois every one in Hea-ven. I saw Jesusstanding before her. She had ceasedsinging, and was talking—with him. Iulooked again, and she was gone; and Isaw myself, as I will appear after Ileave earth, if I am faithful. I wasstanding in front of my seat, and Jesuswas standing before me, with his facetoward me. I was arrayed in my pure,white robe; my crown was upon myhead, and my harp in my hands. Likeall the others, I looked happy and beautifiil,as I stood there, talking with Jesus.Then I saw Jesus sitting .on histhrone again, with his back toward thetable; and he held out, in his hand,something like a sealed envelope, inwhich was something concerning Ly dia'ssins being forgiven; and he permittedneither myself, nor any of the angels,to break the seal and read it.Just then, it seemed as though somethingwere about to take me back toearth again; and I asked Jesus to letme stay in Heaven. I told him that Idid not want to go back to earth—thatI would rather stay there; but I said," Thy will be done." Said he, " Yourwork is not yet done. Go back andfinish your work; and then "—pointingto my harp, robe, crown and seat—" ilfaithful, these shall be yours, and thisyour home. But go back and finishyour work, and then I will caU for you."I said, " Thy wUl. But let me shakehands with thee again, before I return."He then reached out his hand, and shookhands with me.And here my vision instantly passedaway, and I came back to earthly scenesagain. And I knew then that I wassanctified; for my robe would not havebeen pure and spotless, if I were onlyin a justified state.Quincy, Mich,Is your soul like a withered branch,dry, fruitless, and withered, wantingboth leaves and fruit ? Cleave you toChrist; be joined to him, and you shallbe one Spirit. You will find it truethat Christ is the life; your life will behid with Christ in God. You will say,I live;. "Yet not 1, but Christ liveth inme •,- and the life which I now live in theflesh, I live by the faith ofthe Son of God,who loved me, and gave himself for me."

n 18 THE EABNEST CHBIBTIAN AND GOLDEN BULE.LAY THE AXE AT THE BOOT.BT BEV. G. R. 6NTDEB.HA^VINO caUed attention to the mannerin which the civil authorities aredealing with the deadly rum upas, letus now see how the people use the axe.There is strong feeling in the publicmind against what are called " lowgroggeries;" and this is proper, forthey are low and vUe enough. But isthere a like feeling against the socaUedrespectable taverns and saloons ? Isthis distinction real, and is there anysense or justice in the discriminationthus made? Are not palpable factsthereby overlooked? Do persons ofcharacter and respectabiUty ever attendor patronize the low groggeries 1 Doesanybody form the fatal appetite there ?Are they anything more or less, thanplaces where those who are ruined elsewhere,are sent to be finished off andput out of the way ?The case was weU put by a keen,earnest Quaker. He said, "I oncecrossed the mountains of Pennsylvaniain a stage. Three or four of us becameengaged in an earnest conversation onthe temperance question. One passengerdid not join with us. He was coarseand burly in appearance, but was welldressed. He was restless and uneasy,and after shifting and twisting for atime, he could endure it no longer.—Assuming a magisterial air, and a commandingtone, he thus delivered himself:' Gentlemen, I wish you to understandthat I am a liquor-seUer. But Iwould have you know that I keep a respectablehouse. I don't sell to drunkards,nor allow loafers to lounge aboutmy premises. I seU to respectablepeople, and to no others.'" Said theQuaker in reply: " Friend, that is themost damning part of thy business.—If thou would'st seU only to drunkardsand loafers, and thus help to kiU off therace, we would soon reach an end,—But you take the unfaUen and unsuspecting,and make drunkards of them.And when their character and moneyare gone, you kick them out and handthem over to the low groggeries." Thisreply may have been less elegant thanforcible, but it truly represents a mostimportant phase of this subject.Plaees where the traffic is carried on,become dangerous just in proportion asthey rise in grade and challenge publicfavor. So long as this continues, theaxe of public censure is used only inthe top of the tree, without, at all,reaching the source of its growth andstrength. And though this has beenthe case for generations, yet many wiseand good people faU to see it, and areblind enough, or thoughtless enough, tocontinue the abortive attempt to renderrum-selling respectable! Surely, thisfarce has been played long enough.—Let it cease, and a little common sensebe brought to the subject. Lay the axeat the root.2. It is now well understood, thatthe liquors in common use are wickedlytampered with, and vilely drugged.—The better part of the public mind isturning strongly against these burning,villainous drinks, but not very stronglyagainst the mild and pleasant beverages.Even many pledged men, whowholly abstain for the sake'of their ex-iample, stigmatize severely the use ofthe distUled, and especially druggedliquors, but are not so hard upon wine,cider, beer, and the fancy drinks andtonics. Even in the Old Bay State,many temperance men have discoveredspecial virtues in cider and lager, andhave joined the friends of free rum, inhaving them exempted from the rigorsof the prohibitory law. What preposterousfoUy! Who begins a career ofintemperance upon the condemned liquors? No throat can endure them, tillit is coated by long use of the favoreddrinks. Then, after the fatal appetitehas been formed by their use, who stopsshort of free and ruinous indulgence inthe fiery beverages ? This will not do.It has been tried too long already. Thesource of the evil must be reached.—.Lay the "axe at the root,3. The •very laws which license themeans and foster the work of drunkardmaking,are severe against drunkards.

The public sentiment, educated by thisabsurd system, condemns the excessive,but favors the temperate use of intoxicatingliquors. But whence comes intemperatedrinking? Is it not fromthe temperate? Are any drunkardsbefore they are moderate drinkers ?—Do not a large percentage of this classfaU ? Are not the fallen, -victims whohave been betrayed and deceived ? Didone of them intend or expect to fall,or even fear the danger of it ? Is notevery victim a wrecked vessel, that tellsof shoals and breakers—a beacon, thatwarns of danger? The fallen do notlead others astray; they exert no influenceto induce any to begin or continuedrinking habits. Their influenceis directly the opposite of this. Butcan the same be said of respectable,temperate drinkers 1 Is it not strangethat good, thoughtful, intelUgent peopleoan be so perversely, stupidly blind tothis palpable fact ?I once heard a Church officer and Sunday-schoolsuperititendent, strain hiavocabulary in condemning any and allwho are low and weak enough to getdrunk. Yet I learned that he was anannual signer of a petition for a tavernUcense, and that he would buy anddrink at the bar, and also in the beershop. Now he exerted a wide influenee,which was increased by his positionin the church. This influence heemployed to provide the means andfoster the work of drunkard-making,and to render it both lawful and respectable.To ascertain, ten yearshence, how many of the chUdren of hiso^wn Sunday-school have become drunkardsby attempting to foUow his example,would furnish a sad comment uponhuman weakness and folly. He is entitledto our contempt and censure, andthe poor drunkard to our pity. Withall his holy horror .of drunkenness, heis a drunkard-maker. Must anothergeneration go under the flood, beforeeven the Church of Christ shall openits eyes to see that temperate drinking,by respectable and Christian people, isa chief support of this whole rum iniquity?EBAGMENTS. 19We thus find three tap-roots to thisfatal upas, viz: lawful and respectablerum-selling; the plea that the mild andfancy liquors and tonics are harmless";and the sanction to moderate drinkingfurnished by the circles of wealth andfashion, not excepting even professingChristians. Till these roots are cut,this tree •will not only live, but flourish,and continue to send out its deadlyvirus. No lopping of branches willweaken-its growth. To do this, andespecially, to cut it down, the axe mustbe laid at the root.FRAGMEJiTS.GOD will not allow thee to judge ofhim by his providences; he points theeto his Son; and this is the lesson hewould have thee.read: " He that sparednot his Son,"The Lord never wastes his medicines,the deep probe is needful for thee.—Didst thou part with thy trials, thouwouldst part with some of thy choicestblessings. Not that trials are in themselvesblessings, but it is the pathwayin which the Lord walks when he comesio bless," The mercy of the Lord is from everlastingto everlasting." Yes; but thelong-suffering of the Lord is not fromeverlasting to everlasting. Awful truth!The hundred and. twenty years passed,and then came the flood and destroyedthe world of the ungodly. The fortyyears passed, and carcase after carcasefell in the wilderness, until the wholehad perished except Caleb and Joshua.The fifteen hundred years passed, thencame the destruction of Jerusalem, theslaughter, the captivities—and whereare the Jews now? The long-sufferingof God is not from everlasting to everlasting! " Because I called, and ye refiised; I stretched out my hand and noman regarded, therefore I wUl laugh atyour calamity—I wiU mock when yourfear cometh!"This subject is deeply abasing, anddeeply encouraging too — abasementand encouragement are not so far apartas some think,—J, H. Evans.

20 THE EABNEST CHBISTIAN AND OOLDEN EULE.i;MT EXPERIENCE.BT raA F- WAED.IT was in the month of February, inthe year 1866, in the town of Wheaton,Illinois, that God converted my soul.My experience before that time, duringsixteen years in the service of Satan, Ineed not relate. I might at least say,I was a great sinner, " led captive bythe devil at his will." The evidence ofmy acceptance with God was so clearand tangible, that I have never beenmade to doubt its genuineness. I feltthe witness of the Spirit of God withinme, that I was accepted of God—hadpassed from death unto life, aud hadbeen brought out of nature's darknessinto the marvelou»'light of God. Iwalked with Jesus. O, how well do Iremember the sweet comfort and peacethat Jesus gave me when I first lovedhim! Hallelujah to God and the Lambforever!I lived in this blessed state some time,with trials, and temptations from thedevil. He was angry when I gave myheart to Jesus; so he tried many timesto puU me back, but did not succeed;for, when in trouble, I would go andtell Jesus, and he would help me—blesshis name! Sometimes, I felt very sensiblythe workings of " inbred sin " inmy heart. This was very annoying tome. It troubled me very often. Sometimes,the things I would do I foundvery hard to do, and at times would notdo them at all. And again, the thingsthat I would not do, 1 found very hardto keep from doing, and very oftenwould give way and do them. Yet Iloved 3 esus, who had done so much forme, and I wanted to obey and servehim'. Whenever I sinned against him,I was sorry, and grieved, and wouldoften fall at his feet, and get forgiven.I knew there was something LQ myheart that was continuaUy wrong, andI wanted it out; but I was taught thatthere was no freedom from inbred sinin this life, ot so long as we tabernacledin the flesh; that our hearts were sinful;that there was "none righteous,no, not one;" that the best men thatever lived would sin sometimes; andthat, "If any man sin, we have an advocatewith the Father, even Jesus.Christ the righteous;" that his mercyis so great, that although we commitsin seventy and seven times, he wUlforgive. But this was not satisfactoryto me. I felt then to honestly inquire,"What shall I do to be saved" fromthis inward foe—this enemy to my Jesus? How many there are who.would,if they only had some Caleb or Joshuato lead them while their hearts are sotender', step over into the land of promise,accept full salvation, and be savedfrom all sin ! Yet, alas! they are left,as soon as they are converted, to huntfor themselves for any higher state ofgrace; and even when inquiry is made,the truth as it is in Jesus is often perverted,and thus many, many, are leftto grovel in sin and darkness; and Ifear that many, thinking themselves tobe saved, wiU,when arraigned before theJudge, be pronounced unclean,—findthemselves deceived, and unsaved! O,that God may help the Churches toawake from their sensuality and formalism!But I thank God that he did lead meinto the light. I was led into the societyof some of God's people known asthe Free Methodists, and under theirinfluefice and Brother TerrUl's preaching,I was enabled to see Jesus as oneable to save unto the uttermost all whocome unto him; that " his name shaUbe called Jesus, for he shall save hispeople from iheir sins;" and that, ifwe " walk in the light as he is in thelight, we have feUowship one with another,and the blood of Jesus Christhis Son cleanseth us from all sin." Ifound it to be the will of God that Ishould be even sanctified—be preservedblameless unto the coming of the Lord.The Lord convieCed me immediatelyfor the blessing. I struggled on, thro'doubts and fears, until the June campmeeting,held at St. Charles, 111. 1went to that meeting, much to the displeasureof my Baptist brethren. TheHoly Ghost was there—the sanctifying

power of the Lord attended the effortsput forth by his people there for the advancementof the cause of holiness. Itrust some were led into the enjoymentof the fullness of God. This I kuow,that the Lord sanctified my poor soulthere. Yes—glory to Jesus!—I soughtand found, to the joy and satisfactionof my soul. I was brought to lay allat Jesus's feet. I was enabled to makethe consecration. Jesus took me, andI took Jesus—hallelujah ! He washedme clean, and I felt as I never did beforethe Holy Ghost was given untome. I obtained the victory over theworld, self, and the devil, and it seemedas though I was shut up in Jesus. O,glory ! I was all the Lord's, soul andbody. When I came home, I was sohappy in Jesus! I told my friendswhat God had done for me, and theLord gave me boldness to testify publicly,upon every suitable occasion, tothe saving efficacy of the blood of Christto cleanse from aU sin.I soon felt that Jesus had a specialwork for me to do. The command,"Go, work in my vineyard," seemedto thunder in my ears. I felt unqualified,and too young to enter the ministry; therefore I began studying at theWheaton College, •with a fixed purposeof getting "an education." But theLord would have it different, as I nowclearly see, by the workings of his aUwiseprovidence." He moves in a mysterions way,His wonders to perform."1 had not been at school long, beforesomething arose, which was weU calculatedto thwart my plans. A letterh-om my father, who had been absentfrom his children (myself and an onlysister,) for the long space of fifteenyears, was received, requesting me tocome to him, away in 'Washington Territory.This caused me to reflect deeply.It was certairily my duty to go, and Imust obey; Then the question arosehi my mind, Must I leave my dearbrethren and sisters behind me, and goout from them into a cold and unfriendlyworld ? leave the nursery, as it were,where so often 1 have been watered,MT EXPEBIENCB. 21and refreshed, to stand alone, with noneto counsel, none to encourage, none tocheer? and me, a weak babe in Christ,a tender plant never exposed to thecold world, but always nourished andsustained by the influence of tbe olderones ? Then I thought of my consecration—howmaby times I had promisedthe Lord that I would foUow him.Then I said, "Yea, Lord, even so if itbe thy •wiU." By grace I was resignedto the wiU of God, and feeling as a dependantchild, I could say, " Father, thywiU, not mine, be done." I loved theFree Methodist Chureh, yet I could 'leave her for the sake of Jesus.The appointed time for my departurearrived. "There was no shrinkingglory to God! I felt " strong in theLord and in the power of his might;"and, accompanied by my poor, invalid,'afflicted sister, I took my leave. As Icommitted the dear ones to God, andgave them the parting hand, it seemedthat Jesus was with me. Afterward,when we were upon the mighty deep,among an ungodly company of menand women, I could hear his blessedvoice, speaking unto me in this language,"Lo, I am with you alway,evenunto the end of the world." Blessedbe God, he was with me, every day, duringour journey. I felt that my soulwas now united to Christ, the livingvine, and that no changes of season orplace could make any change in mymind. The Lord watched over us, andbrought us, after a long time, to ourdestination. When we landed, I wasin a strange land, and among strangers,acquainted with none but God. A^ainthe Lord caUed, " Arise, get thee henceinto tha land which the Lord thy Godhas shown thee, for he has much peoplethere, that thy hands may be streri^hened."But instead of obeying, I conferredwith flesh and blood, grieved theSpirit, and then the Lord gave me upto my own way. But it was only acrucible unto me. Yes, i went throughas it were fire. God chastised me severely,untU I was glad to obey. &,hallelujah! what a school is that ofChrist! and O, how stubborn have I

22 THE EABNEST CHBISTIAB ANB OOLDEN BULE.been about learning ! The Lord hasbrought me do^wn lower than ever before.He has shown me myself, as Iam by nature. O, how corrupt, -howsinful, how sensua\! O, it means muchto be crucified with Christ! to haveself, and creature love, sensuality—thenatural, carnal, sinful inclinations—allburied •with him, and to be resurrected,risen •with Christ. O, yes, it meansmuch. I believe that God has donethis glorious work for me, for I feeldead, dead indeed unto sin. Creaturelove is swallowed up in the love of God.Self is crucified with Christ. Carnality,sensuality, the natural

BELIGIOUS EXPEBIENCEOE UBS. E. B. OBAVES.OvEB twenty years ago, we movedto this place—Clyde, N.Y. Four weeksafter we arrived here, the Lord tookfrom us a loved one—a little, adoptedgirl. We loved her, and I wanted tomeet her in heaven. To be able to doso, the Holy Spirit taught me theremust be a preparation of heart for thatholy place. Soon after, there was heldin the M. E. Church a protracted meeting.1 went forward when sinners wereinvited, and did the best I knew how,dhd as others told me to do. I feltbetter at times, and took conviction forconversion. I was asked to unite withthe church. I told the minister that Ifelt unworthy to do so; but he put myname on the church book. Then I feltthat I must attend class-meetings. Itwas bard work to speak. I would thinkto myself, What shaU I say ? I wouldfix up something, but there was no salvationin it. Praise the Lord! he didnot leave me to myself. He knew Iwas honest. There would often comedoubts in my mind, whether I was achild of God or not. In that way, Ilived over four years.Fourteen years ago last winter, Iwent to a watch-meeting, and there Isaw others happy. I felt they had somethingI knew nothing about. I got undersuch conviction that I did not stayuntU the meeting was out. I wenthome, resolved, if there was any suchthing as having a clear experience, Iwould have it. When I got home, Iwent to praying in good earnest. Thiswsis Friday night. Saturday and Sabbath—O,what deep convictions andburden of sin I felt! Monday morning,I was going to washing. 1 felt sobad I went into another room, kneeleddown before the Lord, told him I wotdddo anything he required of me,—thensaid, "Here, Lord, I give myself away;it is aU that I can do." Eight there—praise his name!—he gave me the witnessthat my sins were forgiven. I wastndy made a new creature in ChristI have not had one doubt ofBELIGIOUS liXPEBIENCE. 23my conversion since that time. Gloi-yto God for a right starting-point! Ilonged to have Thursday evening prayermeetingcome, so that I could teU themat the church what the Lord had donefor me. I did not have to fix anythingup to say. 1 had an experience of myown—thank the Lord!Since that- time, he has been leadingme by his own hand, in a wBy I knewnot. I find it a self-denying and a crossbearingway.Eight years ago last August, I attendeda camp-meeting. WMle there,Brother Wm. Davis came in the tentand talked with me. What he said,stirred my heart so that I felt bad. Idid not know what to ' make of it. Ibelieved that I had walked up to aU thelight that had been given me. Themorning before the meeting closed, Iwas feeling bad. It was raining. Igot up before daylight, went to anothertent in which they were having a meeting.I told them, as weU as I couldjhow I felt; but felt no better. I cameback to the tent where I was stopping.Then the great deep of my heart wasbroken up. O, how I did weep! Theytalked and sang for me, but it did nogood. I told them to hand me the Testament.I took it and opened in Hebrews,where we are told that the bloodof Jesus should purge away our sins.While I was reading, my heart wascleansed from aU sin. 1 had such asense of being made clean and pure!Next morning, I went to a tent wherethe slaying power of God was manifested. As I came up, I stood witb thosethat were looking on. I felt it my dutyto say that I had been cleansed, but hadnot been fiUed, but that I wanted to be.As soon as I got through asking, I didreceive such a fiUlness that I conld notstand. After I could stand, I went outto the love feast to witness for Jesus.1 got another filling up.The joy of the Lord is the strengthofthe sotU. Since my heart was cleansed,as the Ught has been given, I have beenled to make consecrations and takecrosses that were crucifying to the flesh,but I have come X)ut like gold tried in

£4 EABNEST CHBISTIAN AND OOLDEN BULE.the fire. At Clarkson Camp-meeting, Iwas led to take Jesus for my physician.A short time after, I was tested by havingthe sinaU-pox. I leanai on him asmy physician. He brought me throughaU right—praise his name. But afterthat, when I did not feel well, 1 wastempted and took medicine. The samekind tbat had done me so much goodbefore, did not then do me any good.1 lost Jesus as my physician of body.Nearly two years ago, at Spencerport,when sister Cady was sick, these wordskept running in my mind, " to the intentye may believe." The next dayafter she was healed, I confessed andtook Jesus back as my physician.—Since that time, I have taken no medicine.When I am sick, I go to the Lordand trust in him. He keeps me, souland body—praise his holy name!IIFE MISTAKES.BT CLARK P. HATHAWAT.A SHOBT time ago, whUe riding onthe Central road, I heard these wordspronounced in a sad voice, and accompaniedby a deep sigh: " That was mylife's great • mistake. O, that I couldlive my life over again 1" I turnedand looked the person in the face. Onerapid glance was sufficient. 1 saw awoman who had not passed half of theallotted three-score years and ten; andyet she looked old and worn. Sorrowhad sharpened her features, and gravensharp lines on her face. Her appearance. betokened disappointment andvfexation. There was none of that chastenedand subdued air produced bysanctified' afflictions. Evidently, her'swas the sorrow that worketh death.—She was in the condition of one who,too late for remedy, has discovered afatal error.My mind kept pondering those words," Life's great mistake," trying to fathomtheir import. In vain myimagina-'tion toUed to grasp the secret causethat led to the wish, " O, that I couldlive my life over again!" But one thingwas sure: some error had been made,or a false step taken, the consequencesof which Were embittering her life andwrinkling her brow with premature age.I looked through the car to see if 1could perceive another upon whose featureswas written as clearly the resultof a life mistake. Some were readingtbe papers—scanning closely the businessreports, gold quotations, or thenews column, according to their differentoccupations or dispositions. Somewere perusing the despicable trashcalled novels, peddled by the news-boyto the exclusion of all worthier reading.Others, with eyes fixed on vacancy,seemed intently studying some iftportantproblem; but all wore an airof unrest,—a shadowy dissatisfactionseemed to be upon each.Whether any one had made such afaUure as to ruin his peace and hope ornot, one thing was sure: few had countenancesthat indicated satisfaction andcontentment.My mind returning to the one whohad so regretted her course, I could notkeep from thinking how many, like her,had a past fruitful only in bitter recollections,—aburning Sahara, over whichthe winds of memory waft but unavaUingregrets; how many that have BUINas clearly stamped upon their features,as the curse of God was imprinted onthe brow of Cain.Society is fiill of those who havemade more than a fatal blunder; yetmen, blind to the fate of this class, wiUfollow in the same road, trifle with thesame sins, and ultimately meet thesame fate.It is sad to look-about us and see somany fallen into intemperance and itskindred vices. It is enough to makeone weep to see the multitudes that,night after night, walk in those paths,and frequent those places, that leadswiftly downward.In married life, and single; in politicalaffairs and private conduct; in thecustoms of society and in all the phasesof life, we see much to deplore, andwhich argues a fearfiil mistake in selection,judgment, honesty, or virtue,—amistake incommensurable in the vast-

ness of its evU consequences. If we" examine the eause of the actions of differentindividuals,—in the inebriate anddebauchee,—we will find that it springsfrom a mistaken idea of pleasure. Onethinks he finds it in the cup that for atime sweeps care into oblivion; theother deems it gained when he robsinnocence.So we might go on and enumeratethedifferent delusions and errors thatlead men to pursue their respectivecourses ; bat we wish to find the granderror of errors—the mistake of mistakes.Water appears to come fromlakes, rivers, springs, and clouds; bu^tthese all have a common origin—thesea. Man's evil deeds result ^om depravedappetites, envy, malice and lust;, but these have their source in the" Black Sea " of iniquity—human nature.Hence, the grand mistake of lifeis the refusal to give the heart to Godin order that it may be changed, andreceive in return the divine nature.To the great mistake of neglectingreligion in youth, many can trace sorrowsand losses innumerable. Howmany mourn, too late, the consequencesof an irreligious life, and even here onearth, take up the endless refrain ofwoe,—whose condition, though utterlywretched and hopeless, shadows forthbut dimly and indistinctly their futurestate.Like the act which" Brought sin into the world, and all onr woe."What misery is entailed, what joy lost,and what souls ruined, by disobedienceto the commands of God, one of which,if heeded, would make earth a paradise," Eemember now thy Creator in thedays of thy youth."LAY-AGENCY.TwENTT years ago, in the city ofHamburg, a band of seven brethren assembledin a shoemaker's shop, laidtheir hearts together upon the altar ofGod's service, and formed themselvesinto a church, of which Mr. Onckenwas chosen pastor. Now behold theLAT-AGENCT. 25results! The little church of sevenmembers has multiplied itself into fiftychurches! Ten thousand souls havebeen hopefiiUy converted; fifty mUlionsof persons have heard the true gospel;and eight millions of pages of tracts,and four hundred copies of the Scriptures,have been put into circulation.How has this work, under God, beenaccomplished ? Let us learn from thepastor's own lips : " All our memberswere initiated and instriicted into a regularsystem of operations. Every manand woman is required to do somethingfor the Lord, and thus the Word.of theLord has been scattered. We havenow about seventy brethren in Hamburg,who go out every alternate Sabbath,two by two, preaching the gospel; and by this means the whole ofthe city lias heard the precious name ofChrist." "A Ust of the brethren whocan speak is kept, and they are sent to•villages to preach on the Sabbath, andthey go out as the church directs. Thenapart from these laborers and from thelabors ofthe female members, we havean interesting machinery whioh hasworked weU, and costs nothing,—andthat-is the traveling apprentices. It isthe custom of apprentices to travel afterlearning their trades, and many come'to Hamburg. They are supplied •withtracts, which they distribute at homeand abroad. In Vienna and in Pesth,thousands of tracts and Bibles were distributedduring the revolution, the wayfor which had been prepared by the3eyoung men." It is stated that there isscarcely a female member of the largechurch in Hamburg, who has not twoor three Bibles and a parcel of tracts todistribute; and that, in a single year,through the six himdred members of thechurch and its pastor, every family inthat city of one hundred and fifty thousandinhabitants was •visited, for the purposeof religious conversation, and thedistribution of books. And thoughthese devoted men and their brethrenin other parts of Germany, form lessthan fifty churches, yet they keep uppreaching at nearly four hundred stations.'—H. C.Fish.

26 THE EABNEST CHBIBTIAN AND GOLDEN BULE.1 STRANGE THING.BT NANCT M. JACESON.Six thousand years ago, God said toman, " In the day thou eatest thereof,thou shalt surely die." Satan said," tbou shalt not die." Man believedSatan, disobeyed God, and feU. Fromthat day to this, the heart of man isprone to beUeve the father of Uea, ratherthan the God of truth. That thisshould be the case •with the world thatlyeth in the wicked one, is not so verystrange ; but that those who haye beenadopted into the famUy of God, shouldbe so prone to doubt His Word, and beso easUy deceived by the enemy of theirsouls, is a matter of astonishment.Jesus teUs us, that if we would beHis disciples, we must deny ourselvesand take up our cross daUy. Satantells us, 'there is no need of self-denialor cross-bearing, and multitudes of theprofessed followers of Christ believeand act npon this Ue.Grod's Word teaches us, that withoutholiness we can never enter heaven.—Satan teUs us, there is no necessity forsuch a high Christian experience: amembership in the church, and a moral^ife, are a sure passport to glory. Ifwe cannot resist the conviction that itis necessary we should be cleansed fromaU sin and made pure in heart if wewould see God, then our enemy has anotherlie ready, with which he has beenquite successful; and that is, that thehour of death is goihg to do a greatwo?k for us.The Word of God teaches us thatnothing but the blood of Christ cancleanse from sin; and are we to supposethat •wiU be any more efficaciousin a dying hour than at any other time?As we must receive the cleansing byfaith, can we expect to.be more able toexercise that faith in a dying faour thannow!Is it not a strange thing, that whenwe have the Word of Grod in our hand,and are not ignorant of Satan's devices,that we are so easUy persuaded to be­Ueve a Ue, and so prone to doubt thetruth ? It is often a matter of wonderto Christians, why it is so difficult topersuade sinners to come to Christ.—No appeal will move them,—they seemdetermined to go to destruction, in spiteof prayers, and tears, and every effortmade to bring them to the SBviour.—It would seem that the angels in heavenmight be astonished at this. But is itnot a stranger thing, that those whoknow by experience that Jesus has poweron earth to forgive sins, and professto believe God's word, should doubtHis power or •wiUingness to do whatHe has promised in His Word ? Howcan they tell sinners that Jesus cansave to the uttermost, when they refuseto believe the truth for themselves?Oh, that we were consistent, andwhile we offer to sinners salvation byfaith, have faith ourselves—that active,living, appropriating faith, that keepsChrist in the soul and sin out.It is a great and glorious privilegefor sinners such as we, to be permitted,through the merits of Christ, to reckonourselves dead unto sin, but alive tmtoGod. One would suppose that everypardoned soul would joyfully avaUthemselves of such liberty; and yet,how few are free! May the Lord sendthe convicting Spirit into the Church !Meadville, Pa.WoBLDLT PBOSPEBITT. Kccp doWBthy vain heart by this consideration,that God valuesnot a man a jot the morefor worldly prosperity. God values noman by outward excellencies, but byinward graces: they are the internalornaments of the spirit which are ofgreat price in God's eyes. He despisesaU worldly glory, and accepts no man'sperson; " but in every nation, he thatfeareth God and worketh righteousness,is accepted of him." Indeed, if thejudgment of Gt>d went by the same rulethat man's doth, we might value ourselvesby these things, and stand uponthem. But as one said when dying," I shaU not appear before God as adoctor, but as a man:" so much everyman is as fae is in. tfae judgment of God,and no more.—Flavel.

SUFFEBING8 FOE BEUGION.A SPECIAL season caUing for dUigenceto keep your heart, is when sufferingsfor religion come to a height." All these are the beginning of sorrows.Then shall they deliver you upto be afflicted, and shall kill you; andye shall be hated of aU nations for myname's sake. And then shaU many beoffended." When sufferings for religiongrow hot, then blessed is he thatis not offended in Christ. Troubles areat a height when a man's nearest friendsand relations forsake and leave him,Micahvii.5,6; 2Tim.iv. 16; whenitcomes to resisting unto blood, Heb. xii.4; when temptations are presented tous in our sufferings, Heb. xi. 37; whenpersons eminent for professions turnaside, and desert the cause of Christ, 2Tim. U. 18; when God hides his facein a suffering hour, Jer. xvii. 17; andwhen. Satan faUs upon us with strongtemptations, to question the grounds ofour sufferings or the souls interest inChrist. At such times it is liard tokeep the heart trom turning back, and thesteps from declining from God's ways.How then may the heart be kept fromrelapsing under the greatest sufferingsfor religion ? If the bitterness of sufferingsat any time cause thy soul todislike the way of God, and indulgethoughts of forsaking it, stay thy heartunder that temptation, by solemnly^propounding to it these eight questions:Question 1. Can I consent to pourreproach and dishonor upon Christ andreligion, by deserting him at such atime as this ? This will proclaim toall the world, that how much soever Ihave boasted of the promises, yet,when it comes to the trial, I dare hazardnothing upon the credit of them ;and how will this open the mouths ofChrist's enemies to blaspheme? Obetter had I never been bom, than thatworthy name should be blasphemedthrough me. ShaU I furnish the triumphBof the uncircumsised? Shall Imake mirth in heU ? O, if I did butvalue the name of Christ as much asmany a wicked man values his ownBUEFEBINGS EOB BKLIOIOK. 27name, I could never endure to see itexposed to such contempt. WiU prouddust and ashes venture death, yea, heU,rather than a blot upon their names,and shall I venture nothing to save thehonor and reputation of Christ ?Question 2. Dare I violate my-conscienceto save my flesh? Who shallcomfort me when conscience woundsme? What comfort is there in Ufe,Uberty, or friends, when peace is takenaway from the inner man? WhenConstantinus threatened to cut off Samosatenus'right hand, if he would notsubscribe somewhat that was againsthis conscience, he held up both hishands to the messenger that was sent,saying, " He shall cut off both ratherthan I wiU do it: fareweU all peace,joy, and comfort, from that day forward."" Had Zimri peace, that slewhis master?" said Jezebel. So say Ihere. Had Judas peace ? Had Spirapeace? And shaU you have peace, ifyou tread in their steps? O considerwhat you do.Questions. Is not the public interestof Christ and religion infinitely morethan any private interest of my .own?It is related of Terentius, captain to theemperor Adrian, that he once presenteda petition to the emperor that theChristians might have a temple by themselves,to worship God apart from theArians. The emperor tore his petitionand threw it away, bidding him asksomething for himself and it Should begranted; but he modestly gathered upthe pieces of his petition again,, andtold him, if he could not be heard inGod's cause, he would never ask anything for himself. Oh, if we had moreregard for the cause of the Eedeemer,we should not have such cowardly spirits.Question 4. Did JESUS CHEIST serveme so, when for my sake he exposedhimself to far greater sufferings thancan be before me ? His sufferingswere great indeed; he suffered fromall hands, in all his offices, in everymember, not only in his body but inhis soul; yea, the sufferings of his soulwere the very soul of his sufferings—

28 THB EABNEST CHBISTIAN AND GOLDEN BULE...mwitness the bloody sweat in the garden,witness the heart-melting and heavenrendingoutcry npon the cross, "MyGod, my God, why hast thou forsakenme ?" And yet he ffinched not: " Heendured the cross, despising the shame."Alas, what are my sufferings comparedwith Christ's ? He hath drank up aUthat vinegar and gall that would makemy sufferings bitter. When one ofthe martyrs was asked why he was socheerful at his death, " O," said he," it is because the soul of Christ wasso heavy at his death." Did Christbear such a burden for me, v^ith unbrokenpatience and constancy; andshall I shrink back from momentaryand light aflUctions for him?Question 5. Is not eternal life worththe sufferings of a moment's pain ? IfI suffer witfa faim, I sfaall reign.withhim. O how will men venture life andlimb for a fading crown, swim throughseas of blood to a throne; and wiU Iventure nothing for tfae "crown ofglory tfaat fadeth not away ?" My dogwiU follow my horse's heels from morningto night, take many a weary stepthK)ugh mire and dirt, rather than leaveme, though at night all fae gets by it isbut bones and blows. If my soul faadany true greatness, any spark of generosityin it, how it would despise thesufferings of the way for the glory ofthe end. How would it break downall difficulties before it, whUe, by aneye qf faith, it sees " the Forerunner"who is already entered, standing, as itwere, upon the walls of faeavenj witfatfae^crown in his hand, saying, "Hethat overcometh shaU inherit all things."Come on then, my soul, come on; thereis eternal life laid up for them that" by patient continuance in weU-doing,seek for glory, honor, and immortality."Question 6. Can I so easUy cast offthe society and company of the ^saints,and give the right hand of fellowshipto the wicked ? How can I part withsuch lovely companions as these faavebeen ? How often have I benefited bytheir counsels; how often refresfaed,armed, and quickened by their company; how often have I fasted andprayed with them. What sweet counselhave I taken with them, and goneto the house of God in company. Andshall I now shake hands with them, andsay, FareweU, all ye saints, for ever;I shall never be among you more:come drunkards, blasphemers, persecutors,you shall be my everlastingcompanions ? O rather let my bodyand soul be rent asunder, than that everI should say thus to the excellent ofthe earth in wfaom is all my delight.Question 7. Have I seriously consideredthe terrible scripture threateningsagainst backsliders ? O my heart,darest thou turn back upon the verypoint of such threatenings as these?" Tfaus saith the Lord, Cursed be theman that trustetfa in man, and makethflesh his arm, and whose heart departethfrom the Lord: for he shaU be likethe heath in the desert, and shall notsee when good cometh," Jer. xvii. 5, 6;that is, the curse of God shall witherhim root and branch. And " If wesin wUfiilly after that we have receivedthe knowledge of the truth, there remainethno more sacrifice for sins, buta certain fearful looking fbr of judgmentand firey indignation, which shaUdevour tfae adversaries."-—Heb. x.26,27. And again, " If any man drawback, my soul shall have no pleasurein him;" as if he should say. Takehim, world, take him, devil, for yourown; I have no delight in him. O;who dare draw back, when God hashedged up the way with such terriblethreats as these ?Question 8. Can Hook Christ in theface in the day of judgment, if I deserthim now ? " Whosoever thereforeshall be ashamed of me and of mywords, in this adulterous and sinfulgeneration, of film also shall tfae Sonof man be asfaamed, wfaen fae comethin the glory of his Father with theholy angels." Yet a little whUe, andyou shall see the sign of the Son ofman coming in the clouds of heaven,with power and great glory. The lasttrump shaU sound, the dead both smaUand great, even aU that sleep in the

dust, shall awake and come before thegreat white thrbne, on which Christshall sit in that great day. And now,do but imagine thou seest the tremblingknees and quivering lips of guilty sinners.Imagine thou heareat tfae dreadfalsentence of the Judge upon them,"Depart, ye cursed;" and then a cry—the weeping, wailing, and wringingof hands, that there shall be. Wouldstthou now desert Christ, to protract amiserable life upon earth ? If the wordof God be true, if the sayings of Christbe sealed and faithful, this shall be theportion of the apostate. It is an easything to stop the mouth of consciencenow, but wiU it be easy to stop themouth of the Judge then ? Thus keepthy heart, that it depart not from theliving God.—Flavel.SEPARATION.Whenever the church has been thoroughlydistinct from the world, she hasalways »prospered. During the firstthree centuries the world hated thechurch. The prison, the stake, the heelsof the wild horse, these were thought toogood for the followers of Christ. Whena man beame a Christian, he gave upfather and mother, .house and lands,nay, his own life also. When they mettogether they must meet in the catacombs,burning candles at high noon,"because there was darkness in the depthsSEPABATION. 29of the earth. They were despised andrejected of men. "They wandered aboutin sheeps' skins and goats' skins, destitute,afflicted, tormented." But thenwas the age of heroes; The ship neversails so gloriously along as when thebloody spray of her martyrs falls uponher deck. We must suffer, and wem,ust die, if we are ever to conquer thisworld for Cfarist. Was there ever sucha surprising miracle as the spread ofthe gospel during the first two or threecenturies? Within fifty years afterChrist had ascended to heaven, the gospelwas preached in every known partof the world, and there were convertsto Christ in the most inhospitable regions.Further than the ships of Tarshisfahad the gospel flowB; the pillars ofHercules had not bounded the industryofthe apostles. To wild and uncivilisedtribes, to Picts and Scots, andfierce Britons, was the gospel proclaimed.Churches were founded, some ofwhich have lasted in their purity tothis day. And all this, I believe, •«'aspartly the result of that striking, thatmarked difference between the Churchand the world.Certainly, during the period afterConstantine professed lobe a Christian,changing with the times, because he sawit would strenghten his empire—fromthe time when the Church began to belinked with the state—the Lord left faer,and gave herup to barrenness, and Ichabodwas written on her walls. It wasa black day for Christendom when Constantinesaid, "I am a Christian." "Bythis sign I conquer," said he. Yes, itwas the true reason of his pretendedconversion. If he could conquer by thecross it was WeU enough; if he couldhave conquered by Jupiter he wonldhave liked it equally well. From thattime the Church began to degenerate.And coming down -to the middle ages,when you could not tell a Christianfrom a worldling, where were you tofind piety at all, or life or grace left inthe land ? Then came Luther, and withrough grasp he rent away the Churchfrom the world—pulled her away atthe risk of rending her in pieces. Andthen " The kings of the earth stood up,and the rulers took counsel together,against the Lord and againsthis Anointed;" but he tbat sitteth in the heavensdid laugh at them; Jehovah hadthem in derision. The Church wentforth conquering aud to conquer, hermain weapon was her non-conformityto the world, her coming out amongmen. Put your finger on any prosperouspage in tfae Church's history, and Iwill find a Uttle marginal note readingthus: " In this age men could readily s eewhere the Church began and where theworld ended." Never were there goodtimes when the Church and the world.were joined in marriage with one another.^/§>ur5'eon.

vife^^"£^rl^iri.'J.-.-^.'gvsav-nB:;-..^-.-,^.^30 TBB EABNEST CHBISTIAN ANS GOLDEN BULB.(S&ittttiul,Religion of Circumstances.THEBE was a period, while the Eeformationwas being established, during whichthe EngUsh nation clianged their religionto accommodate the preferences ofthe reigningmonarch. Under Edward, priests, bishopsand people were Protestants; underMary, Papists; under EUzabeth, Protestants,and under Henry 'Vlllth, Papists, •withthe King for a Pope. Such was the faciUtywith which they adapted their religion totheii dicumatances, that a carefurobserverremarked "that the English would tnmTurks if the king told them to."The same accommodating spirit stiU prevailslargely among professing ClmstianB.They are reflectors, and not lights. Theyshine only as they are shone upon. Theyecho thp Bonuds that fall upon them. Theyare the creatures of circumstances. It was•with reference to this class that the Savionrsaid, Have salt in yourselves.Saving grace comes from God alone. Itis always the same In its nature, and in itseffects.1. It gives victory under temptation.—Many are strong in •virtue nntU they arethoroughly tested. They condemn otherswho do better than they themselves •wouldin a similar position. But he who has thereal grace of God in his heart, maintainshis integrity when everything is favorableto his yielding to the solicitations of theenemy of his sonl. Many, who at homehave maintained a character of strict hones^,have, in Congress or in the Legislature,yielded to the tempting bribe andsold their votes for filthy lucre. The truecluld of God is honest, whether honesty isthe best policy or not. He is governed byprinciple, and not by self-interest.Many •were plain when they were poor.They professed that it was because the• Word of God required it. But it is evidentthat they made a virtue of necessity. InreaUty, pride was at the bottom of theirplainness. Just as soon as their circnm-Btances warranted it, they went into prideand tashion as deeply as their neighbors.Their apparel is now as costly as that ofsensible people in their own condition oflife, who make no profession of religion.—They believed in plain chnrches and freeseats, in their low estate; bnt as soon as-they are able to vie with other denominationsin splendor, they btuld as magnificenthonses of worship as theii means vrill allow.Some twenty years ago, in Western NewTork, one of •the leading preachers—a PresidingElder—mad,e an iss^ne in his Conferenceagainst secret societies. He professedto beUeve that they were infidel in theircharacter and pemicions in their influence.He opened the controversy which resultedin the expnlsion of several preachers, andof many chnrch members, who had stoodby him. ^WTien the crisis came, he •wastransferred to the Pacific coast. Becominga candidate for an office in the gift of theGeneral Conference, he joined the Masons'As water conforms to the shape of the vesselwhich contains it, BO the principles ofmany who profess to be Christians, arecontrolled by their snrronndings. *Beloveds, is this the case •with yon? Areyoa floating along as the current carriesyou ? Are you controUed in your religionsassociations and principles by the influencesto which you are subject? If BO, yon haveno more right to expect to go to Heaventhan has a Moh'ainmedan or a heathen IIn Christ is life; and if we belong toHim, He makes ns partakers of His Ufe.—We control drcumstances, instead of 'beingcontroUed by them. The elements thatmate a dead tree decay, cause a live one togrow. So, if we are true Christians, withour Uves hid with Christ in God, the temptationsand the trials which result in thecomplete overthrow of false professors, willonly estabUsh us more firmly in the faith.LET EVEET MAN PEO-VE HIS O-WN WOBE;THEN SHALL HE HAVE EEJOICIKG IN HIH-8ELE ALONE, AND HOT IN ANOTHEB.IE we could see the end as God does, -weshonld see that every event is for the believer.'When we get to the haven, weshall see that every wind was wafting USto glory.—MCheyne.

Be Kind.BEOTHEB, yon are too harsh. Jesns says,"FoUow me, and I •wiU make you fishersof men." This is what yon are trying todo, but you make poor work of it. Tounot only fish with the bare hook, •withoutbait—which is bad enough—but you throwit in 80 violently, and jerk it abont so vigorously,that you frighten aU the fish away.Tou catch none yourself; and yon hindermore skillfal fishers from catching anywithin the circle of your influence.If you would do people good, you musttreat them kindly. Tou must feel kindand tender toward them; then your words,your tones, and your whole maimer -wiU bekind. Paul was successful. He was notrimmer—no time-server. He was faithfulto his hearers. But did he use hitter desonciationagainst sinners? He says,—Knowing therefore the terrors of the Lord,ue persuade men. He employed argumentand persuasion, but never descended tofierce invective. He gives as a rule to^e-Btore the erring : Brethren, if any of youIt overtaken in a fault, ye who are ^ritual,restore such an one, in the spirit of meekness.Let not the cold, formal professor undertakethis work. Even the spiritual must attemptit only in the spirit of meekness.—Harshness •wiU only drive them fexther»way.. If one who professes reUgion, an4 whoselife is withont reproach, is seeking theLord, it wiU do no good for you to ascendthe judgment-seat, and pubUcly declare tosuch an one, that he has no religion. Aword of encouragement would be fer moreappropriate, and would be likely to do goodinstead of harm. If souls who have turnedtheir laces Zion-ward, are not getting alongis fest as you wish, be careful lest in youresgemess to drive them on, yoa turn themWk. Try leading. We once saw a manendeavoring to ride an inteUigsnt ponyinto the lake. It was afraid of the motionof the water, and aU his whipping andurging coi}ld not make it go in. He dislaoanted,took the halter, and waded in•lefore it. The docUe creature readUy fol-Wed. So if you lead the way into theEDnOBIAL. 31waters of salvation, some wiU be sure tofoUow. But do not drivaDo not lead another meeting, or deUveranother exhortation, pubHc or private, untilyon get this spirit of kindness. Godcan give it to you. He can make you kind,and at the same time nncompromising.Aim at the Mark.WHEN we come to God for salvation, itis important that we shoiild have a dearidea of what we are to be saved from.—Fletcher says, " If you would hit the mark,yon must know where it is. Some peopleaim at Christian perfection; but, mistakingit for angelical perfection, they shoot abovethe mark, miss it, and then peevishly givenp their hopes. Others place the mark asmuch too low; hence it is that you hearthem profess to have attained Christian perfection,when they have not so mnch as attainedthe mentfil serenity of a phUosopher,or the candor of a good-natured, conscientiousheathen."It is said that Jesns Sliall save his peoplefrom their sins. Every disposition andevery appetite that is in itself sinful, youmay be saved fit)m. The appetite for strongdrink and for tobacco is not natural. It issinful—acquired only by sinful indulgence.Ton may look to be saved not only fromthe indulgence, but from the appetite itself.We have given, in these pages, the testimonyof many who have thus been saved.Pride, hatred, and covetousness in aU theirmodifications, are sinful. GIVE THEM NOQUABTEE. Lay the axe at the root of thesennholy tempers, and have them utterly exterminated.Other appetites and affections are sinfulwhen they become inordinate, or seek indulgencein an imlawful manner. Keep astrong band upon these. Keep them instrict subjection. If kept under,,they areuseful servants. If they gain the ascendancy,they are the worst tyrants that everdomineered over a human being. It waswith reference to these that Paul said, ButI keep under my body and bring it into subjection,lest after having preached to others,1 myself sliould become a castavxty.

^^'^f^^^SS^^mmf^l^lflKSW^^^^^ir^asr.^32 THE EABKEST CBBISTIAN AND GOLDEN BULE.Fox River District Camp-Meeting.THIS meeting was held near Lodi, Kanecounty, Illinois. There were about fortytents on the ground. The weather wasunfavorable for a large attendance from theneighborhood. It rained every day. Everythingat the West is on a grand scale.They have large prairies, large farms, largehearts, and their storms are on a magnificentscale. The thunder and Ughtning,and -wind and rain, are truly terrific. Oneman—a Boman Catholic—was struck bylightning, and himself and team kiUed,between the camp ground and ttie depot.Last year, the Free Methodists in Illinoispurchased a large, new' tent, fifty feet indiameter, to hold meetings in from placeto place. Much good has been done in it,through the labors of Bro. Edson KimbaU,of Elgin, 111., and the Bev. C. E. Harroun,assisted by others from time to time. Thistent came in place at this meeting. Nomatter how hard it rained, the meetingscould go on in it without interruption. Weheard some who had contributed ten dollarstoward it, say that they got the worthof their money in that one meeting. Itheld a large congregation, and the meetingswere glorious.It was the opinion of many, that this wasthe best camp-meeting we ever held at theWest. There were, we should judge, overfifty conversions. A BtUl larger numberprofessed to receive the blessing of holiness ;the saints were quickened, and convictionrested on the minds of the people generally.There was an earnest attention, a tenderness,a readiness to yield, which showedthat God's Spirit was powerfully at work.The Love Feasts were aU good; but inthe one held on Tuesday morning, occurreda scene such as we never witnessed. Mrs.Eoberts was led to speak of the necessitiesof our Bjhool at ChiU;—of the want of aschool where our young people could beencouraged to enjoy religion; and of onrpresent embarassment in endeavoring toestablish such a school. She said but Uttle,but the Lord was in it. A brother aroseimmediately, and said the Lord wantedhim to pay twenty-five doUars for thatschool. A sister said she wonld pay fiftydoUars. Brother Terrill said the coloredjyeople at the South look up collections bysinging some lively hymn, and in-viting thepeople to come forward and make their contributions.He led off in singing; thepeopeoplecame forward with alacrity to thestand, and in a few minutes five hundreddoUars were pledged for this enterprise.—One hundred and seventy-five doUars werepaid in cash at the time. Some were soblessed while making their offerings, thatthey could hardly stand. Never was ournnbelief so rebuked as on this occasion.—Our wants were very pressing; bnt thetimea are hard, and we did not expect toraise anything. But God has wonderfullyencouraged us to trust In Him.The meeting closed Tuesday evening,about midnight. On "Wednesday morningthe sun shone out brightly, and we madeour way under a clear sky, but over roadsalmost impassable by mud—such mud ascan be fonnd only in the rich prairies ofthe West—to the depot, and took the catsfor the Michigan meeting. We trust thatthose who shared the blessings of this Pentecostaloccasion, wiU spread the holy fire,and thus keep it burning continuaUy intheir hearts.Ctiittenango Camp-Meeting.. THIS meeting was, in every respect, decidedlya successful one. The woods werethe best we ever saw for a meeting. Therewas a good attendance. There was a gooddeal of digging down, and as a consequence,the saving power of God was wonderfuUymanifested. A goodly number were convertedand Banctified, and beUevers weregenerally quickened. A healthy influencewas left upon the community. Everythingwas orderly and harmonious. The Spiritof God had free course among His child-A ZEALOUS SOUL without meekness, islike a ship in a storm, in danger of wrecking.A meek sonl, withont zeal, is like a ship ina' calm, that moves not so fast to its harboras it ought.

Coldwater Camp-Meeting.THE work in Michigan is doing well,—Ood is blessing the labors of the preachersto the salvation of the people. The rainseriously interfered with the meeting, forit rained every day; but good was done,and souls were saved. We never saw peopleso wiUing to stand in the rain and listento preaching. It rained Sunday moat ofthe time, yet five sermons were preachedout of doors to attentive audiences. Therewere about a dozen tents on the ground,and a good attendance from the countryaround.Measures were taken, and a subscriptionopened, to purchase a large tent, to holdmeetings in from place to place.The Murray Camp-Meeting.WE reached the ground on Tuesday, andfound that here, too, the rain had greatlyaffected the meeting. , But the people werein good spirits, and iu the tents a goodwork was done. There were, we shouldjudge, about thirty tents on the ground.—Better weather wonld, no doubt, have secureda larger attendance and greater results.A large tent is greatly needed in• this Conference.Chili Seminary.FOB years, the conviction has rested uponUS, that there ought to be a school undermore decidedly religious influences tbanMost with which which we are acquainted.For the.purpose of establishing such aSchool, a farm was purchased some threeyears since, at ChiU, ten mUes west ofEochester, on the N. T. Central Railroad.Last summer, a brick building, forty feetby sixty, and four stories high, was erected.Of those who felt as we did, and upon•whose CO operation we reUed, two havedied, and others, by neglecting to do theirduty when they should, have since beenunable to do anything. AU the moneythat haa been received, has been expendedto the best advantage. The building is 'now ready to plaster. To get it along as&r as we have, we have ourselves becomeEDITOBLAL. 33personaUy responsible to the amo^ant ofaome four thousand doUars. For a portionof this sum we have given bank notes ;aud the rest is borrowed money. It needs,to finish the buUding, about two thousanddollars. This makes in aU abont six thousanddoUars. We have assets, subscriptionsand pledges, belonging to the school, whichwe consider good for over one-half of thisamount; though some of it may not be realizedfor some time. We could use threethousand doUars to good advantage; butif two thousand doUars were paid iu soon,we could finish the building so as to getthe school in operation this faU.Ask the Lord U He would have you helpus; and if He wonld, do so promptly. Itia not the wUl of the Lord that we shouldbear thia heavy burden alone.The Earnest Christian.WITH this number we commence a newvolume. We shall bend aU our energies tomake it the best we have ever issued. Manyof otu- subscribers tell us they cannotdo without The Earnest Christian. WtshaU do aU in our power to make it indispensableto every one who is determinedto walk in the narrow way.We want aU whose subscription expires•with the July number to renew promptly.We also ask onr friends to make a vigorouseffort to get one thousand new subscribersto commence with the July number.It can be done. Great good would resultfrom it. ShaU it be done ? WUl you doaU you can towards it ?Some of our subscribers have not paidfor the current year. If you are one ofthem will you please forward us the payat once. We need it now. In aU cases insending us money send a money order ontlie Post Office at Rochester, N» Y., if possible.In aU cases, in writing us on business,give P. O. address and State. If you wish tohave the address changed, give th8 name ofthe office from, which as WeU as to whichyou •wish it changed.May God bless yon, dear reader, and enableyou to Uve whoUy for Him, and layup for yourself treasure in Heaven.

31 THE EABKEST CBBISTIAN AND GOLDEN BtTLE.LOVE FEAST.RiBTv. JAS. H. YOUKG.—^I was reared byreligions parents, but did not become reUgiousnntU I waa about twenty-one years ofage. My conviction was deep and pungent,and truly I felt that the pains of heU hadgot hold of me. Bat the Lord heard mycry, and did take my feet from the horriblepit, and did put a new song in my mouth,even praise to my God. I was truly happyfor a length of time; but when the Lordwanted me to blow the gospel trumpet, Ifound that I was not wUiing to aay, " ThywiU be done." I began to make excuaea.I told the Lord my talents were'but small.Then He said to me, " What is that to thee ?follow thou me." I was truly alarmed ; Ilost my enjoyments in a degree, and whenI would pray to the Lord to restore unto methe joys of His salvation, dnty would presentitself again. I then thought that Iwas not ttU right. I read in the Bible concerningthe doctrine of holiness, and I beganto seek for it in good earnest. Sometimes,it seemed as though the good Lordwas holding it out to me, and told me topresent my Ijody a Uving sacrifice, and Iwonld receive. There was a period of fouryeaars that I waa seeking. Sometimes I feltweU, and at other times 1 felt bad. At last,at a camp-meeting held by the UnitedBrethren in Christ, near Aurora, HI., therewere a few Free Methodists there, and theyhelped me into the pool. Praise the Lord!I made the surrender, placed the sacrificenpon the altar, and fire came down andconsumed aU impurities. 0, what a change!I felt that my feet were in a large place.—Itthas now been over nine years, and themost of the time I have felt holy fire burningnpon my poor heart. Then I couldsay, " Here am I, Lord: send me." I havebeen preashing ever since, and the Lordhas been with me. Yet I do not find thatthis holy living is a very popular theme;but let tfiis be as it may, I expect to contendearnestly for the faith that was once deliveredto the saints. I soUcit the prayers ofthe beloved in the Lord. Praises to the •Lamb forever INew Bedford, IU.C. CABDE.—I praise the Lord, and thankHim for the kindness He haa done to me.It has not been long, since 1 started in Hiscause. I am sorry that I did not give myheart to Him sooner. The Earnest Christianis •with me nearly aU the time, and Idon't know what I would do without it. Iwas in the habit of reading other books,such as novels; but I don't have any de.sire for them now. I was at a prayermeeting,a few nights ago, out of town,and I found that the Spirit of the Lord wasworking there. -Pray for ns, that we maybe faithful, and be the means of winningsouls to Christ.Wmiamstoum, Mass.Z. B. COLLINS.—I would give my testimonyto the power there is in Jes^ns' bloodto clease from aU unrighteousness. I feelthat cleansing power all throngh my sonlthis morning—^hallelujah ! In Decemberlaat, I attended a General Qnarterly meetingat Binghamton, and whUe there theLord set me free, and by His grace I havabeen enabled to keep free to the presenttime. I find that whom the Lord makesfree ia free indeed—praiae His name! Ihad always been one of the fearful onesafraidto foUow Jesus in the way that I sawat limes so plainly marked ont. It waa sodifferent from the path that the multitudeof professors take; and I saw that it wasa way everywhere spoken against, and Iconld not bear the reproach. But I find thatperfect love casts ont aU fear, and makesme bold to dedare what the Lord has donefor file; and enables me to walk in the waysof His commandments, and to count it alljoy when reproached for Christ's sake. Inthe name of the Lord I have set up mybanner and written thereon, " No compromisewith the world, the flesh, or the dev-U."." The cros^for Christ ril cherish,Its crucifixion •bear;All hail, reproach and sorrow,;If Jesus leads me there."Owego.N.T.Miss CLABA CLAPSADDLE.—^The Lordtruly saves me from aU my sins—^praise Hisname! I am one of the Lord's converts

kHe leads me, and I foUow on. The 13thof January last, I became sick of sin, andthe Lord had mercy on me: and I can saythat my choice is made, to go through inthe same narrow way that leads to eternallife. Glory to God! my way grows brighterand brighter. I am so glad that theLord sent Bro. Burgeaa among na, and thathe was BO fiaithful in warning us of onrdanger, and pointing us to the Saviour thathas taken away my sins, and has sanctifiedmy sonl.PoHer, N.T.MBS. H. E. HATDEN.—I am walking inthe clear Ught. My face ia set as a flintZionward. My heart is fixed to do thewhole wiU of God. HaUelujah to the Lamb!It is more than my meat aud drink to domy Father's holy wUl. I am constantlylearning new lessons in the school of myblessed Savionr.Warren, Ms.MES. AJSN E. CHESBBOUGH.—I have oftenfelt the drawings of the Spirit to •write myfeeble testimony for the Earnest Christian.I profess to be an earnest Christian—believeI am. I do know that all the aspirationsof my sonl are heavenward. Jesus savesme from coveting the things of the world.Its praise, riches anu honors, are bnt dustin the balances, when weighed with eternalthings. O, how I hate the things I onceloved, and love the things I once hated!—He most gloriously saves me, too, fromjoining hands with any who go down toEgypt for heip. The land in which I dweUis a goodly land, flowing •with milk andhoney. Its fruits are delicious. TheAuakstherein are as grasshoppers. I quit servingmy taskmasters twelve years ago, and bythe grace of God, make no more brick andmortar for them. Blessed be God!" His name, hls.love, his gracions voice,Have fixedmy roving heart."These words have run through my mindfrequently of late: " Beware of the leavenof the Pharisees." Yea, Lord; I'll watchagainst it with all my redeemed powers.—By the grace of God, it shall not make anyinroads into my soul. Thus far He haaCOBBESPONDENCE. 85kept me by His power, through faith untosalvation. My trust is in Him for the future.O, I am daily looking for grace toenable me to take no thought for the morrow,what I shaU eat, or where withal IshaU be clothed, but cast my care fully onJesua, who careth for me. I am gettingthe victory. It shaU' be mine,—yea, it is .mine. HaUelujah! " No man that warrethentangleth himself with the things cf thisworld, that it may please him who hathchosen him to be a soldier." Pray for me,that the God of love and mercy may enableme to endure nnto the end; and at last,•with aU the blood-washed army, wear thepalm of victory throughout the countlessages of eternity. Amen and amen.Meadville, Pa.S. A. CUBE.—Jeans the Conqueror reigns—praiae Hia name! No other help I know.To-day He saves me by his blood. O, glorioushour 1 peace within and peace without.Jesus has led me many years, but ithas not always been by the side of atiUwaters. No;. I have heard the bUlowsroar, and seen the tempeat foam; but myhope is as au anchor to the aoul, sure audsteadfaat—praiae the Lord IKidder, Mo.MES. M. MANZEB.—My sonl bums wUhzeal, that is, according to knowledge, todeclare what God is doing for me. I haveprofessed reUgion over twenty years. Aboutsis years past, have been the:best of all mylife. The knife of crucifixion has been applied.I have indeed entered the more excellentway; and although I find it a wayof suffering and death, yet it gladdens myheait to realize this way was prepared bythe God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Istand in this covenant, and God haa indeedaccepted and set his seal, and I do reaUywelcome aU that comes. I am borne onward,and upheld alone by His omnipotence.I have the whole armor on, and want nothingbeaide my God." Let worldly minds the world pursue.It has no charms for me;Once i admired Its trifles too,Bnt grace has set me free."South QUson, Pa.

36 THE EABNEST CHBISTIAIT AND GOLDEN BULE.NETTIE CLABE.—I rejoice to day that Ioan teatify to full salvation. There is powerin the blood ot Jesus to cleanse from allsin. Glory be to King Jesus! He has giveneven me some of the joys of this fuU salvation.My once prond heart has submittedto be crucified to the world. I haverenounced the devU with aU his works, theworld, its vain pleasures and fashions, andhave taken Jesus and Him crucified as mysatisiying portion, Glory be to God! myfeet have found the solid rock. The pastweek has been one of the best weeks of mylife. I have enjoyed aweet communion withJesua. I am glad that- there is a highwaycast np for the ranaomed of tha Lord towalk in—a way of holiness. It is my firmdetermination to walk in this way whilelife shaU last. And I expect finally to joinwith the redeemed in praising God throughan endless eternity.Perry Center, NT. ^SABAH E. CUEB.—I feel that I am. theLord's. 0, praise Hia name I He saves meby Hia blood—glory to His name forever!Though we pass through great trials, theLord keeps us—O, glory to His name! 0,how I feel when 1 see the nefghlxirs in sin!It paina my heart. I cannot help weepingover thems ^he conflict ia raging—'twiUbe fearful and long. We wUl gird on thearmor the tighter, and go through with ourCaptain. Pray for ua, that we may meetabove.Kidder, Mo.W. WENTZ.—My experience at this houris, that I am saved—whoUy saved. To Godbelpngs the glory. I am in favor of a strict,practical adheranca to the Word of God,and the teachings of His Spirit. Practically,it gives me peace, joy in the HolyGhost, supplies aU my wants, and generaUyleaves a surplus of a little of earthly means,not to be misappUed. I am very poor. Iam very dependent. At times I feel inexpressiblyrich. 1 am only a steward. Allof my mind, aU of my body, public or private,is only safe, when I know it is underthe control of the grace of God—^kept bythe Lord. Praiae Hia name! 'QEOBGE JOHBBTOH.—I love the EamettChristian. It comes richly laden with goodthings, to refresh and cheer, to stimulateand atrengtheu the pilgrim ou his journeyto the skies. I am now on the decline oflife, being 67 years of age. I was convertedin Ireland at the age of fourteen ; came tothis country shortly after; united with theM. E. Church; Uved in her communionuntil 1843; left in consequence of her aupportof the sum of aU villainies ; united informing the first Wesleyan Church in oursection, and am still battUng for the rightagainst every unfruitful work of darkness.Although some of our leaders got tired ofthe tug of war, and tried very hard to carry us back to the flesh-pots of Egypt,yetwe still live, with increased zeal and vigorto contend for a pure gospel. Reasons areaccumulating why we should do so, in thistime-serving age, when high dignitaries ofdifferent churches have become novel-writers—^bishopsnot excepted—leading multitudesin the way of Baalam the son of Beor,who loved the wages of wickedness, truck-Ung to the time-serving spirit of the age,strewing flowers on the road to eternal ruin.It is time every lover of God should awakeand put on the whole gospel armor. WluleI write, my heart is fuU of love to God andaU mankind.Baymond, Iowa.JoKN W. EsTEP.—I was converted eightyears ago, at a New Year's meeting heldin Wabafih Co., Ind. In four or five daysafter my conversion, I heard a man preachon the doctrine of holiness. I was wakedup to the truth at that time. I sought it,more or less, aU along, and, I beUeve, enjoyedit at times. Last year, I came to the•conclusiou I mnst know I was fnUy saved.My resolution was this: " Live oi- die, sinkor swim, heU or heaven, I mnst have theblessing." On ttie day of the Presidentialelection, I could say, " I beUeve thou hastsaved me;" finaUy could say, " I know thonhaat saved me." I have not lived in thefuU enjoyment of it as I wish. I long tobe full of the Holy Ghost. 1 am a UnitedBrethren preacher.Clarinda, Iowa.