The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-22
PULPIT.
OUT OF THE
BELLY OF HE'LL
CRIED |
i cried by reason Of mine affection
unto the Lord. and he heard me; out
Of the belly Of hell cnedT UonahI,2)

Nal torment my disposition was 10
abandon the Bible also, because / be-
lieved that the Bible was the founda-
ton Of the irrational theory which had
pictured God to my mind as a demon
of the worst imaginable type. But.
thank God, dear friends. the Lord
heard my prayer for light. for knowl-
edge respecting himself. After l had
made search of heather creeds. as
well as those of Christendom. and had
found them all illogical. unreasonable
unsatisfactory, l turned to the Bible
again. saying. Perhaps have not done
the Bible justice: perhaps l have I'M
consciously attributed to the Bible the
teachings of the creeds. Perhaps
have read it through colored specta-
cles. Praying to God for guidance
took up Bible study in very differ
ent way from previously. began to
study the Bible as I should have done
at frSt-without reference to any
Of the creeds. | began to let God
teach me. | ceased to say. 1t reads.
THUS" but it must mean otherwise
1t says. $50 and So" but cannot mean
that. but the reverse. In other words
1 ceased to try to teach God and en-
deavored to be taught of God through
his Word. guided by his holy Spirit.
international Bible Studies.
That was thirty eight years ago. Un-
der the Lords blessing found the
Key TO the Interpretation Of the Scrip
tures-not because of ability. but.
believe. because it is now due time
for the Bible to be understood-in the
closing of this Gospel Age and the
dawning of the Millennial Day. Hav-
ing found the Key and used it myself
have spent my best endeavors since
to put the Key into the hands of Gods
consecrated people the world over. |
have nothing to boast Of. dear friends.
but have much to be glad for. First.
/ am glad on my own account with q
joy unspeakable. that now | know my
Heavenly Father and can have con-
f1dence I'm him and can have love for
him. as never before. am thankful
that. to some extent, | have been en-
abled to convey similar joys, similar
blessings. to others of his dear people
Of all denominations in all parts of the
world. The Lord has gradually en-
larged my opportunities year by year.
! am not building a sect-not making
new denomination-not founding a
Church! We have had too much Of
that sort of thing already. Not only
have we Wesley's Church and Calvin's
Church, ETC., ETC.. but it has become
the custom for each minister to be
spoken Of as the proprietor of the
Church, as, for instance. The Rever-
end DR.. AS Church. 1t has become a
custom. too. for the preachers to speak
Of the people as "My people," My
Church" This is all wrong l wish
to have neither part nor lot in it.
have no Church, and wish for none
There is but the one Church-the
Church Of Christ-"the Church of the
Living God"-"the Church Of the First
Borns, whose names are written in
heaven" That Church includes i'm its
membership every true saint of God
who trusts in the merit Of Christ and
seeks to walk in his footsteps. What
ever earthly systems such may be iden-
tilted with are without Divine author
ization. Their standing in Gods sight
is merely because of their identified
ton with Christ as members of his
Body"
In Gods providence was led to pub
lish six volumes Of Studies in the
Scriptures" or Bible Keys. These
were taken up by the Bible and Tract
Society, and published at cost price, to
enable all of Gods people everywhere
to procure them. They are now pub
lished in ten Of the most prominent
languages. The first Volume. The
Plan of the Ages" has passed the
three million mark. | have received
not one cent Of royalty. My life is n
very simple one. My expenses are
small. accept no salary and take up
no collections. Voluntary donations
from those who have been blessed by
my labors supply my needs and the
surplus goes to the Bible and Tract So
ciety for the general forwarding Of its
work-"The PRONUNCIATION of Christian
Knowledge"
Each earnest Christian who obtains
the assistance of these Bible Keys and
enters into the treasures of God's
Word and becomes rich himself in
spiritual knowledge and in joy and
peace of heart is glad to call the at
tention of others to these Bible Keys.
Thus the International classes of Bible
Students of all denominations in all
parts of the world are springing up
and blessed light. we believe. is go.
ing forth from these. assistful to all
who love Righteousness and hate in
EQUITY. Although | am the regular Pas
tor Of the Brooklyn Tabernacle congre-
cation, there are several assistants and
am privileged to speak to thinking
Christians of various parts of the
world. especially in the United States.
Only the Lord knows how thank him
for this privilege of service. aud for
the still larger opportunity afforded me
through the columns of some Of the
principal newspapers Of the United
States.
My sermons are handled by Syndi-
cate, and l am advised that now they
appear in nearly Eve hundred news
papers. aggregating circulation Of
six million copies. or, according to
newspaper count, thirty million read