Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-09-23

we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in u.s.
-"But," said !, 'If You should sin SO much as 10
go to hell after all this, you had better have re-
manned as ignorant as am .
He replied, "'Being confident that he who hath
begun good work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ my sheep bear my voice,
and know them, and they follow me; and give
unto them eternal life. and they shall never per-
ish neither shall any pluck them cut of my hand
( 'Who himself bare our sins in bis own body on the
tree"
do understand you rightly that it does no,
signify what Gins you commit, or how you I've,
now Christ is become your Savior ?"
lie replied, with a loud accent of holy and an
mated Indignation, 4" God forbid how shall We who
are dead to sin, live any longer therein? for tie
love of Christ constraineth US, because we thus
Judge, that If one died for all, then we're all dead ;
and that be died for all, that they which live,
should not any longer live unto themselves, but TO
him that died for them and rose again.
Looking at me while he was thus speaking, he
saw rising tear-whieh could DO longer sup
press, and instantly called out 81 am sure Sir, you
are not what you seem adjure you to tell mt
what you are and why you came to see me-"
any dear Christian brother" said /, "it is true
as you say, am not what seem am poor
sinner, who, like yeu, have been led by the Holy
Spirit to trust in that JESUS who died for the
sodly."
After a short pause, he said, 81 have heard one
Of the neighbors say. there is strange kind of a
man who comes sometimes to David Trueman's
house, and that folks call him Mefrida'e or some
such name; are you not the man? ?'
.Yes, my dear friend, l am the man. have
Just been telling your poor neighbors that wa
ges of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
Life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Never shall forget his look or his action; rising
hastily from his seat, and grasping one OF my hands
both of his, he instantly dropped on his knees,
and lifting his eyes, beaming with ecgtasy-he cried
aIou3-"O, my tod, thank thee. thou hast not on
y answered but exceeded my request; prayed thai
| might see and converse with one OF thy people
before died, and To- thou hast sent me one of the
ministers OF Jesus. And now ny dear Sir" ad
ded he "you must tell what you said TO the people
that sweet verse, for never heard gospel ser
mon in my life' / complied -1
When had ended "You know not" said he,
"how you came to prelch at Overton, but can teli
you. Ever since became newborn, have daily
prayed TO my heavenly Father, that if there was
any minister of Christ in England, which thought
there must be somewhere. because the Bible was
hapa kp uapdn fo oh lind
neighhors, and he has sent you; and doubt not bat
God will make you useful to them"
1 was desirous of knowing, whether he had, from
searching the Scriptures, obtained any distinct
views of the nature of Christ's kingdom on earth;
and whether, as he conceived himself at remote
distance from any of Chrsts disciples he had turn
ed his attention to the nature and government Of
bis Church. To my Inquiries, l received, to NY
surprise, the answers which follow:
"How many Churches do you apprehend God
may have in the world 2"
lone only" was his reply.
"What Church is thst?"
"The general assembly and Church OF the first
born, which is written 10 heaven"
"Wh then was the Church of the Jews p
"The shadow Of good things to come, but the
body is of Chris" --.
How thsse visible TO the world T. -e. .
by their fruits sc shall know them"
Yes as individuals but how shall they be Wis
ible as Church?"
Where but Two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am | in the midst of them"
"Fhese may be in many places at once, but ere
they not called Churches; why is this e.
Because each is Ike the whole Church, as Pau!
says, In whom ye also are builded together for
labitation of God through the Spirit"
'dow do any unite with such Church :"
"fhey first give themselves to the Lord, and to
rs according TO the will of God"
What officers are there in the Church of Christ,
Bishops and deacons." .--
"What is the Office of bishOpr" 49,. a.
ITO feed the fock of God over which the holy
Ghost hath made him overseer" IL
What is tie deacon's Office % 30
"T'o serve tables" ...
'Were those Offices appointed for eurchihg OF
advancing the persons holding them ?"
yourselves your servants for Jesus sake, Not
for filthy lucres sake not as lords over Gods her
itage, but as helpers of your Joy"
who are to act in choosing those officers ?"
Wherefore look out from among yourselves
seven men of good report, full OF the Holy Ghost
aud of faith, whom ye may appoint over this bust
ness"
"But if wicked men creep into the Church, how
are they to be dealt with when they are discoyered2
"'Put away from yourselves that wicked per-
slo.'"
"But if they repent afterwards ?"
"Wha1 shall the receiving of them be bat as
life from the dead 7''' tr
"Does not the power of kings and rulers relate
to our bodies or our conscieuccs2" .-"
''Repder unto Cesar the things that are Ca
sar's; and unto God the things that are God's.''
was surprised at his ideas on the subject, and
could ask him no more questions.
This extraordinary man is since dead. let US
learn from this account OF him, how indispensabIy
necessary is the teaching of the Holy Spirit for a
right and saving knowledge of the Scriptures; and
may We never open the sacred volume without lift
ing up the heart in prayer for Divine teaching
Lord open mine eyes, that may behold wondrous
things oat Of thy Jaw p EUangelicG! iIa9asiae
The Ministry Of Woman.