Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-02-09

L. Gillingham's Views.

MCMAsrER-D Sir Il saw COM
munication in your paper of the 2Gth ult.,
from the Rev. Jasper Hazen, in which he
speaks of Unversalist member who had
attended the Social Meetings at the Brick
House frequently, and intruded his views
upon the meetings. He probably had
reference to me. Therefore, in justice to
myself and to the truth, thought l would
say few words, for it is true that have
attended those meetings, and have spoken
of the truths contained in the Bible, and
urged the necessity Of understanding and
believing them-for believe them but
as to Universalism, or any other ism,
have never alluded to them or spoken the
name while there; my whole aim has been
to establish the truth of Christianity as to
prayer Iwould refer him to Christ, for
he warned his followers not to pray as the
hypocrites do, to be heard of men, for as the
Apostle said in his day, so it is now: there
are those who set themselves up as Right
eous and justify themselves before men,
but God judgeth the heart, for it is not
every one that says "Lord, Lord" that
shall enter into the kingdom, but he that
doeth the will Of the Father. And this
leads us to inquire what is that will? He
says to us, | will have all men to be saved
and come unto a knowledge Of the truth
and further the Apostle says, He hath
made known unto us the mystery Of His
will, that in the dispensation of the full
ness of time he would gather together in
one all things in Christ, both which are in
heaven and in the earth, even in Him;
and also, all that die in Adam shall be
made alive in Christ. But what did Christ
come into the world for? Paul says, he
came to save sinners, of whom am chief.
Now | wish to ask all who may read this
if they believe he will accomplish the
thing whereunto he was sent; then we
shall know who the unbelcvcr is and who
the Pharisee. 0, ye oflittle faith Let God
be true, but every man Il liar. We know
what narrow views the Pharisees had, for
they believed they would be saved on ac-
count of their prayers and ordinances, but
the rest Of the world woull be lost. But
Christ warned his followers to beware of
their doctrines, for he says to them
which of you having an hundred sheep
and lose one will not search until he hath
found it, and then call the neighbors to
rejoice with him, for the lost wanderer
shall be brought in, and there Shall be
one shepherd and one fold. Now do not
try any longer to establish your own
Righteousness, but rather establish the
Righteousness of God. o, that men would
worship the Lord for his goodness, for by
grace are ye saved through faith, and that
not Of yourselves, for it is the free gift OF
God. And this agrees with the promises
made to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob,
that in thee and in thy seed shall all the
kindreds and families of the earth be blest.
My friends am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor prince
palities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor
heights, nor depths, nor any other crea-
ture shall be able to separate us from the
love Of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. As the poet has truly said:
There were ninety and nine that safely lay in
the shelter OF the fold,
But one was out on the hills away, far off from
the gates OF gold,
Away on the mountains wild and bare, away
from the Shepherds care,
Away from the tender Shepherds care.
Lord, Thou hast here Thine ninety and nine,
Are they not enough for Thee''
But the Shepherd made answer, This of mine
Has wandered away from me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
go to the desert to find my sheep.
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord
passed through,
Ere He found Ills sheep that was lost
Out in the desert He heard it cry
Sick and helpless and ready to die.
But all through the mountains thunder riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There ose cry to the gate of heaven,
Rejoice have found my sheep!'
And the angels echoed around the throne.
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own =
And thus while a soul strays in wilds of sin,
The Shepherd will seek and find.
At last every wanderer He shall win,
And conform to the heavenly mind,
And all the wide world glad songs shall sing.
For all the wide world shall crown Jesus king.
l.. GILLINGHAM.
Woodstock, VT, Feb. 5th '16.
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