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Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

Bible truths illustrated for the use of preachers, teachers, bible-school, Christian endeavor, temperance and other Christian workers

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED<br />

None should begrudge one day in seven for acts of devotion<br />

and works of love. Yet many fancy that with impunity they<br />

can use the day in business pursuits, holiday-making, or amusements,<br />

and the utter neglect of public worship. Paul delineates<br />

the character of such professors when he says "that in the last<br />

days grievous times shall come ; for men shall be lovers of self<br />

. . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a<br />

form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof" (2 Tim.<br />

3:1-5).<br />

523. Christians, what a difference between the Jewish Sabbath,<br />

and this day of triumph ! They have much to learn of the glory<br />

of Christianity who think that merely going to a synagogue, and<br />

hearing a discourse, and returning to their firesides, is suitable<br />

to the design or expressive of the import of this joyful and<br />

triumphant day. On this day, Messiah entered Jerusalem as son<br />

of David, as King of Judah. On this day He rose from the<br />

dead. On this day, after His resurrection, He generally met<br />

with His disciples in their assemblies. On this day He sent the<br />

Holy Spirit down from heaven and erected the first Christian<br />

church. On this day the disciples came together to break bread.<br />

On this day the Christians joined in the fellowship of the saints,<br />

or in making contributions for the saints. And on this day the<br />

Spirit finished its work of revelation on the isle of Patmos, in<br />

giving to John the beloved the last secrets of the divine plan<br />

ever to be uttered in human language while time endures. If no<br />

authoritative precedent enforced the assembly of saints on this<br />

day, and the observance of the order of the Lord's house, the<br />

very circumstance of such a coincidence of glorious wonders<br />

would point it out as the Lord's Day: and love to Him, the<br />

most powerful principle that ever impelled to action, would<br />

constrain all saints not to forsake the assembling of themselves<br />

on this day, but to meet, to animate and to be animated; to<br />

remember, to admire, to adore ; to hymn, in songs divine, the<br />

glorious and mighty King. Christians, could you say no?<br />

Alexander Campbell.<br />

524. A gentleman, who was passing some mines in Pennsylvania,<br />

asked a little boy why the field was so full of mules.<br />

"These mules are worked in the mines through the week,"<br />

186

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