Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-12-26
correspondence.
Mr.. GiIiingham's Views.


IS. 1t seems to me waytaring man
though a fool, need not err therein,
for there is no theology in Christian
ity, but a mere matter of demonstrated
facts, and those facts we are ill famili-
ar with, or ought to be, as they are
very plainly recorded in our Bibles,
that God has in all ages of the world
manifested himself in divers ways and
forms through mediums or prophets,
by giving them understanding and
thought, and power to prophecy.
So they propesed of the coming of
Christ, many years before his advent,
and they said he was coming to bring
good news and glad tidings, that
should be to all people-not to any
part-as the unbelievers tell us. He
says he came to he witness to the
truth, and this truth is the resurrec.
ton of the spirit, Or life and immortal
ity brought to light. lsnot that good
news, to know that though this earth.
ly body shall perish, we have a spirit
ual body That shall live on IS long as
God shall exist. Christ says, to know
this truth is eternal lite, and if We
know this truth ye are passed from
death into life. Paul says, he knows
this to be true, because be saw him
| (Christ) both before his death and
after. He says further, if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ
not risen, for the last enemy that stall
be destroyed is death. So those who
truly believe, can truly say-"O,
death, where is thy sting O, grave,
where is thy victory! 1t is very evi
dent that the iron heel OF bigotry and
self-nghteousness have somewhat i'm
peded the progress of true Christian
ity, for there are many of those proud
Pharisees yet among us, who set
themselves up as being righteous
above others, because they comply
with the ordinances of the church,
and make long prayers to be heard of
men, and even torbiding chose who
believe with Christ and his Apostles
in the goodness and the power of God
to overcome all sin and suffering -
Therefore we have to say as the Apostle
said in his day, eve both labor and
suffer reproach because we trust in the
living God, who is the Saviour of all
men, especially those that believe. -
Ye hypocrites, we'll did Esaias proph
sy Of you, saying, "this people draw.
eth nigh unto me with their mouths
and honoreth me with their lips, but
their hearts are far from me, but in
VAIN tIey ~ worship me, tr.tuniuS 10.
doctrine the commandments of men,"
Perhaps there may b, some who do
not know what Christ means by
"hypocites, and ''ye of little tailh,' as
these expressions are often used by
Christ, it is very evident that he
means those who believe with the
Pharisees, that God will save them,
but will not save The rest of the crea-
lures whom He hath made. This is
the doctrine which Christ warns his
followers to beware Of this is the
doctrine that puts far away the evil
day this is the faith of those that
said "crucify him" But Christ says,
snow is the judgment of this world,
now shall the Prince of this world be
cast out, and |, i'll be be lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men I'm.
to me, as thou hast given him power
over all flesh ; that he should give
eternal life to as many as thou hast
given him, for We are the children of
the Prophets and Of the Covenant
which God made with our fathers,
saying unto Abraham 'in thy seed
shall all the kindrends of the earth be
blest. If those who believed in a
partialist God eighteen hundred years
ago were called "unbelievers" and
"hypocrites," what shall we call those
who teach the same doctrine at the
present day? They will not allow
those who believe in Christ to speak
of his goodness. We know they are
not OF Christ, Tor where the spirit Of
Christ is, there is liberty, and except
ye have the Spirit OF Christ, We are
none of his.
L. GILLINGuAs1.
Woodstock, VT, Dec. 26, II.
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