Newspapers / Zion's landmarks. / July 1, 1869, edition 1 / Page 2
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r 114 ZION’S LANDMARKS WiLLIAMSTON, N. C. ) May 22nd, 1869. ^ Elder L. L Bodeniiamek—D, ar P>rother ■:—In compliance with the forcible impressions of my mind, I now venture in tlie depths of hu mility to address you. Since you have erected a stand ard in defence of tlie truth, and often ro([uestcd your brethren and sisters to contribute to its columns, I feel constrained to cast in my little mite. I ana sensibly aware of my inability to pen anything to the edification of your worthy readers, but would that I could wield the pen of a ready writer, and clearly show forth the praises of Him, who Ido trust, has called me out of darkness into his marvellous light. The God of our adoration is pertect love and wisdom, who says, ‘‘if ye love me, keep my commandments;’’ and, “We know th'at we have pas sed i'rom death unto life, because we love the brethren.” I feel, dear brother, that it is tliis spiritual and holy love of Christ in my soul, now prompts me to the pleasing i,duty spirit, serving the Lord, and count all things as loss, for the excellen cy of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Vanity of vanities ; all is vanity, and most truly. “Solid joys, .and lastin'; trcasui'e, None but Zion’s eliildreu know.” ‘ Precious thought! “Be the livin;; God my friend, Then rny bliss shall never end.” Tongue nor pen cannot jiortray the riche.s and "lories of the nrace of of uniting,Avith the beloved breth ren and sisters in magnifying the rigliteousness of Christ, testifying \hat salvation i*s .o.*2.1* 1 ' “To Him all majesty .ascribe. And crown Him Lord of all.” Surely we are of few days and full of trouble. In the midst of life we are in death ; disease ever preying on our tenements of clay, subject- ing them to the fell destroyer.— Sensibly aware that this is ,our state ; oh ! that we might ever live with a direct reference to eter nity, as those who liave no abiding city here, but seek one which hath foundation, wdiose builder is God ; that whenever the messenger com- eth, we may with rapture receive “Child, the welcome message : v(>ur Father calls, come home.” and be found clothed in the glori ous robe of Christ’s righteousness, our lamijs trimmed and having burning, ]>repared to enter the marriage .supper of the Lamb, and go no more out forever. IMsiy we spend and be spent to the praise of him Avho has done such great thino;s for us, whereof we ought to be glad. Oh! that we may ever adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, with meekness and hu mility, remembering the injunc tion : “As yc have therefore re ceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so Avalk ye in him.” May we ever be diligent in business, fervent in our God, whom we desire to love, serve, honor and adore. “Oh ! what can be compared to Him, Who died upon the tree ? This is my dear, deb.^htful theme, That Jesus died for me.” Verily, this is matcliless love and Avondrous condescension, that He who Ava.s rich, became poor, that we through Ilis povei'ty might he rich. He, who has all ])OAver in heaven and on earth, endured the ignominious death ot the cross, tliat his vile and bitter enemies might live forever. “Herein is love, not that Ave loved God, but that lie lov ed us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Truly he is a friend above all others.— Hone but Jesus can do helple-s sinners good. He killeth to the love of sin, and makcJh aliyie love of holiness. He exalt;^^e humble beggar at His footstool, to I a king and priest to God. He ex tricates the lost and undone from the horrible pit, and miry clay, and sets their feet upon the Rock of eternal ages, establishing their goings forth in the Lord. He so loveth his enemies, as to make them heirs of God, and joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ, to an I inheritance incorruptible, undefiled land eternal in the heavens. He I causeth the blind to see. the deaf to I hear, the dumb to speak, the lame I to Avalk, and henceforth to believe and rejoice in the glories ot salva- Itionhy grace, tlirough our crucified i and arisen Saviour. He cleanseth i the polluted in his own precious I blood, and clotheth them Avith the I spotless robe of Christ’s righteous- jness. He turnetii their mourning into singing, putting a ncAv song in their mouths, even praises unto our God. He feedeththe hungry Avith the bread of eternal life, and caus eth the tliirsty to drink from the waters of salvation. He enableth the lost and re.ady to perish to stand accepted before God, calling conquerors, overdeath, hell and the amongst ten thousand and alto- grave, to praise His name forever, gether lovely. The poor soul noAV While in nature’s darkness, clotli- teels that I have none in lieaven ed in human rigiiteousness, trust- [but thee, and there is none on eartli iug in man Avhose breath is in his nostrils ; alive in nature, but dead to all spiritual things, in trespasses and siiis ; delighting in the way of the transgressor, Jesus indeed ap- ].)ears as a root out of dry ground, entirely void oftorm and comeliness. But when the Holy Spirit pierces tlie soul with the keen arroAVs of convicting grace, calling it from death to life ; as the natural sun emerges from the thick darkness of night, dawning and ascendingfrom behind the eastern horizon, until it cheers all nature Avith its rays ; thus the glorious light of the Son of righteousness gradually pene trates the dark recesses of the soul, increasing in brilliancy, rcA^ealing uuknoAvn truths to his astonished vision, that his heart is clothed Avtih ihe blackest dye of sin within and Avithout ; low sunk in a horri ble pit, Avhich continually casts up mire and dirt, justly deserving and expecting nouglit but utter banishment from that God, in Wfliose presence is^fullness of joy. I desire besides thee. He loves God because he first loved Itim, and trusts he has brought him nigh by the blood of the everlasting covenant. He loves those Avho are begotten of God, and desires Avith all his soul to Avalk in all the ovdx- nances and commandments of the Lord, that the remnant of his daAos may be spent to the jAraise of his grace, who Avas exalted a Prince and Saviour, to give renentance to Israel / O X and remission of sins : who has made him a free man in Christ Jesus, and living man in Jerusalem, Avith joy to range the fields of gospel grace, and partake of the rich fruits Avhich it continually yields, and drink from that fountain Avliich eternal ages never quench. The soul redeemed not with cor ruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb slain from the foundation of the Avorld, without spot, and with out wrinkle, indeed feels to exclaim AA’ith Ruth : “Entreat me not to leave Jice, or to return from folloAving af- A and at v/hose right hand arc pleas- I ter tliee : for Avhither thou goest I ures forever more. He is now ena bled to see the Avorthlessness of human righteousness, and feel. “That the heart is deceitful above all things, [and desperately Avick- eCi who can knoAv it?” And “cursed is man that trusteth in man, qnd maketh flesh his arm ;” and Avith that contrite spirit which alone is acceptable in the siglit of God, exclaims in the anguish of his soul, “Lord have merev on my Avill go ; and Avhere thou lodgest, I will lodge : thy people shall be- my people, and thy God my God ; Avhero thou diest will I die, and there Avill I be buried.” Verily, we must de clare great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty ; just an-i true are thy ways thou King of saints. He is a God of poAver, justice, pur pose, truth and love, and. Avili do all his pleasure. He is the perfection of Beauty, the Prince of peace to his ])Oor soul ! Lord save or I perish!” I redeemed children, but a consuming Just here, wIen all the boasted j fire to the Avorkers of iniquity. Re' worth of human righteousness, i alone can sustain us Avhile passing merit and faith, which he feigned j through the furnace of affliction, en to perform correctly and zealously, I ahling us to rejoice in tribulation, and exercise abundantly, are beheld j with the spirit and the understand- as nought but filthy rags and tink- i ing. In him alone, is refuge to be ling cymbals, Avithout form and j found from the peltings of the piti- void ; realizing that there is noth- | Ie.ss storms of life, Avhich oft threac- ing in heaven or on earth that can | en to submerge oar frail barks, while redeem the poor soul or give to j crossing the ocean of life. He can God a ransom, save his Avell belov-1 inspire the soul with that ecstatic cd Son, AA'ho died once lor all, that j joy, serene peace, and true comfort. him “Abba Father,” through the righteousness of his Son, and Avill finally bring them off more tlian A\diosoever believeth in him should not perish hut have everlasting life; he is enabled to realize that Christ is tlie end of the law for righteousness to every one that be lieveth : that Jesus is no longer uncomelv and undesirable, but contrariwise, verily the chiefest which is a foretaste of the Christian’s home in heaven ; with which, al though a faint conception, there is nought on earth to compare. To the preceding unconnected re marks, dear Brother, I trust, if nos deceived, I am a living witnees; realizing that Christ is my all in all. •V
July 1, 1869, edition 1
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