158
Zion’s Landmarks : Wiison, N. G.
tills to stir up any unpleasant feelings
among Christians, but I hope there
may be something written by you, or
some one else which may be profita
ble to the household of fiiith.
If you think this is nidit for the
Laxdmaukr, throw it aside. In
God’s own appointed time 1 hope my
mind will be at ease upon this sub
ject.
May the Lord bless you and all
the faithful in Zion is my prayer, for
Christ’s sake.
1 remain your unworthy sister,
Fannie Ijuakcii.
LnsEETY IJiix, Ga., .Tune 20tli, 1875.
E'.der F. D. Gold—Dear Brother:—
I desire to send you the
? I money to pay the ]iostage on
my pa|)er, I thought that a
remark or two from unworthy
me might under the Divine SjUrit
])rove to be a little benefit to some
one of God’s dear little lambs; if
this is accomplished, my highest am
bition this morning will be grati
fied,
I am persuaded that you are blessed
with many able contributors, indeed
there seems to be almost a perfect
oneness exhibited in the writings of
all the dear brethren, and sinters.
Occaiosnly however, there appears
a communication expressing to my
mind a restless disposition, and dur
ing my little experience I have
learned that it is a sad tiling ; for
once a brother becomes restless he is
.sure to injure himself, and too often
lead many brethren and sisters into
difficulties.
Small digressions to begin with, of
ten result in large divisions. Surely
nothing can be worse, when the peace
of Zion is properly considered, than
divisions in the household of FAITH,
and that which usually brings about
such terrible distress, is brethren
criticising each other.s’ discourses, re
marks, or writings for evil. I knmv
of many who wilt not speak of a
brother’s labors, unless they can get
something evil to say. Such are most
generally ready to “ quibble about
terms,” and deliver their own ideas in
such language that will take natural
science to investigate instead of the
])lain teachings of divine truth. Per
mit me to say, that in my humble
judgment, the word of God
which is a sufficiemw for us to under
stand—God’s holy will concerning us
and our duty to him and one another)
is in Siich plain, sinqile language that
the nm.st illiterate believer can under
stand, and although, he in himself
may be a “ fool ” yet i.e shall not err
in an honest effort to understand
the only rule of believer.s’ Faith and
Christian Practice; any discourse, oral
or Avriiten, that the word of God docs
not fully setup is error, and should
be shiined as the poison of Cleojiatra’s
reptile ; this we believe is enough to
satisfy tlie renewed man; but while
!;e may be comforted and edified in
and wit!) the truth there is an appe
tite found in the old or uurenewed
man that i.s known asthe lu.st.s of
the flesh” that is continual]v makiim
v ar upon the new man ; so then the
tidngs one hates the other loves.
How edifying then to believe “that
I, renter is he that is in you than he
that i.“ in the world.” But believers
are commanded to crucify the flesh
with the affections; no not com
manded only, but it is a positive dec
laration that they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh &e., and
primitive saints were commanded or
advised by God’s servant to “morti
fy therefore your members which arc
upon the earth.” Why should be
lievers take this advise? Because
it is a certain truth that if they live
after the flesh they shall die, that is,
die to the enjoyments of peace, joy
and comfort in the holy promises, and
to a blessed communion with God by
the Holy Spirit. To my mind there
i.s nothing more plainly set foith in
the word of God, and experience by
every obedient believer than that the
spiritual health and growth of be-
belicvers in Christ depend upon a
discharge of their duty and their obe
dience to the laws and commands of
the blessed Redeemer.
knowledge that what we have said is
truth, why not strive to live at
the feet of each other, and prefer
others to ourselves; to let love be
without dissimulation. Let brother
ly love continue', for love is the ful
filling ofthe law of Christ, and if
Christ so loved us we ought (obliga
tion) to love one another. All out
side oppositions are not to be dreaded
like inside divisions: “United we
stand, divided we fall,” (disciplinary.)
Then if our brother should be over
taken in a fault it would be an easy
matter to restore such an one, when
our work would be labor in love.
But gospel discipline is lining used
to destroy tiie disohedieut and trans
gressor, when indeed it ts intended to-
restore and save such, and this rule
of discipline is equally applicable to
all ranks and stations of the member
ship of Christ’s Church in her organ
ized and militant state upon earth,
the results of benefits to the house
hold of faith.
Brethren, we leave you to deter
mine by a further examination ofthe
word of God, wiiich is the only rule
of believers’/aif/i and praetice..
Yours in love.
W. T. Gohakb.
P. D. GOLD, Editor.
PU3I.LSHED SEMI-:>I0NTIII.Y
—( at )—
^I^ILSON, Jlop^H j::af;olina.
Tie 0 Dollars P e r Annu m
SEPTEMBER 1st, 1875.
Ij i 1 fl r i a I .
is future. We know not when, but
after the natural bodies are raised from
Now, my dear brotheiq
the grave.
there never has been, is not now, nor
ever will be one that could bo saved
riien while all are willing to ac- | ]
according to your theory, for we must
acknowledge that we have more evil
deeds th.an good. Again God looks
to Christ, not to the memliers. Did
not Christ redeem the Bride? Has
he not taken her from undei the law?
So I know not how she is to be judged
if she is not under law, but under
grace, whicli you know is the condi
tion of God’s children. Ye are dead
and your life is hid with Christ in
God. Now what will you judge them
for? He that eateth my flesh and
drinketh my blood hath everlasting
life. Yon oelieve we eat his flc'-'h and
drink hisb'ood, do yon not? 1 know
you do, for this is plainly taught,
then if we have this eternal life are we
not already judged in Christ? Surely
we arc. I’d like to know what you
think becomes of God’s children when
they leave this earthly house? By
an e.xprassion in the duly paper, head
er! “ J udgment,” I am forced to be-
ieve you think the spirit of this eter
nal life lies dormant until the day
you talk about, or at least asleep. “I
shall be satisfied when 1 awake with
thy likeness.”
From the tenor of your letter I in
fer you mean to say, xlwake from the
grave—for that is the subject you are
on. Wesley Spiti.er.
Eemarks :
An editorial of July 1,
1875, on
{
“Kemove not the ancient laiuf- i
mark, ivhich thy fathers liavo set.” J
Dear Brother Gold,-
rARDON me flu
I views on Lt Cor. 5: 10
saving your
are
not like mine; and, I think it
shall reign in
princes rule in
would be better ter say the
Judgment seat of Christ is the
Churcli. A king
righteousness, and
judgment.. Noiv are'not God’s jew
els prince.s? do they not have control in
the Church ? Do they not judge the
ministry to see if it is sound? Do
they not judge the actions of the
member.'^, whether they be good or
bad? I think they do ! Yon say it
2nd Cor. 5-: 10, in reply to sister
Crutcher, on the subject of “ Judg
ment,” is the one that brother Spitler
does not agree with, as appears from
his letter above. I propose in a
friendly and I hope brotherly spirit
to express my views more explicitly
on this subject, taking up the’ points
of' bi'ot'iier Spitler’s letter ae they are
arranged t
1st. He says the judgment seat of
Christ is tile Church. Sup'iiose the
Church is the judgment seat—that
doe.s not make it the Judge. The
King is the Judge. The man of
character occupying the- seal as Head
iv the Judge.. God the Father has
committed all judgment unto Christ,
the Son: John 5: 22; “For the
Father judgeth no man, but hath
committed all judgment unto the
Son.”
The princes that shall rule in-
judgment we understand to be the
twelve-A,postles expounding bv in
spiration and' revelation what is the
law of of Christ, or executing his law
and will and hence ruling in judg
ment. That Christ now sits and
rules and judges, I do not cpiestion
for a moment, and that saints judge
others and each other in matters of
fellowship, discipJine, Ac., I fully
admit: hut to .suppose the Church'to be
thefinaljudgc of herself and all men is
what I cannot admit. “Fortlie Lord
is our Judge,the Lord is ouiTaw-giver,
the Lord is our King; he will save
us,” I.sa. 3-3 . 22.
2nd. Brother Spitler thinks, that
if ChriA judges Christians after their
bodies are raised from the dead no
man can be saved. We say tlii.s,
that they that have done- good shall
come forth unto the resurrection of
life, shall come forth justified and
glorified, and Christ shall separate
them as a sheplicrd divideth his sheep
from the goats. A principle of right
eousness is implanted in a Christian
in regeneration—or, if you choose, is
manifested in him, wliich docs not
sin, but lias its- fruit unto lioline-ss*
Ac. The Christian is known and re
garded according to this eternal life,
and this spirit in him obevs the go.s-
pel. If the Christian walks after the
flesh,God visit.? his iniquities with the
rod, Ac. In the first quickening of
a convicted sinner judgment was laid,
to the Kne, and the justification of
this sinner and the subsequent trials
he has, all tend to prepare him for'
the second coming of our Lord, who
is the judge ofthe quick and the dead.
“ I charge thee therefore before the
Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge
the quick and the dead (saint and
sinni'r) at his a]ipeailng, and his
kingdom,” 2nd Tim. 4: 1. Hence
Paul charges Timothy to preach the
word, Ac. This judgment ^future—
at his appearing. It is ajipointcd
that Christ .shall judge all: “And as
it is appointed unto men once to- die-,
but after this the judgment: so
Christ was once olfered to bear the-
sins of many ; and unto them that
look for lilm .shall he appear the-
second time without sin unto salva
tion,” Hcb. 9: 27, 28: Rev. 20: 12.
15, “And I saw the dead, small and
great, stand beflire God.” This
judgment .seat luiU not be the
Church-, blit his throne of gloiy,
when lie shall come in his glory and
all the ho-lv angels with him ; and all
nations .911011 liegatliered before him.
and hc' shall seiiarate the righteous
from- the- wicked, adjudge the right
eous as worthy of everlasting life.
For God works in a chrisfian, even
while in body and flesh, both to wilL
and to do of his good pleasure, henc*e
suc/i are f/ood loorks. The saint Ia
unknown and despised in this world,
and not in po3.session of his inheri
tance. It doth not yet appear what
we shall be. Jesus our Savior shall-'
come to judge us, and to invest us
with the salvation whicli is according
to the principles of eternal righteous
ness and according to thedeedsdone in
the body or prompted by and jier-
formed to the Lord. But the uu-
gixlly shall bo judged according to
the principle of wickedness that char
acterizes their works, and shall be
driven away in their wickednes.?.
Read Mat. 2J: 31, 46.
3rd. But brother Spitler wishe.s-
to know what a Christian .shall be
judged by, as he-has been redeemed
and is not under- law, Ac.
The heathen—unbelievers sliall
be judged by the law within them—
their con.scicneesaccu,singor excusing:-
O o
“ For when the Gentiles, which have
notthelaw, do by nature the tliing.s
contained in the law, these having-
not the law (law of Moses) are a law
unto themselves,- which show the
work of the law written in their
hearts, their conscience also bearing
tliem witne.ss, and their thoughts the
man while accusing or else excusingone
another,”'Rom. 2: 13,14. MTienshall
this judgment take place?' “In the
day wlien God s/m/Z judge the secrets
of men by .Jesus Christ according to
my go.spel,” Rom. 2 : 16, The Jew.s
shall be-judged by the law', “and as
many as liave sinned in the law shall
be judged by the law,” Rom. 2 : 12,
This judgment is inihef uture.
Christians shall be judged by tlie
gospel or law of liberty, whicli is the
power of God unto salvation. Chris-