Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-04-23

Creator Of race. for be has pro-
duced In humanity certain degrees OF
these various qualities and he could
not give to man what he does not him
self possess. nor can we suppose that
he would create man with more JUS
tice. wisdom. love ara power than he
himself possesses. To that great God
| bowed ny heart and mind and every
power that possess. To him ! still
bow. and give thanks that by his grace
| have come to see his character, his
Plan and his Word more clearly than
in the past. | thank him that now ]
can see in what way ultimately Jesus
will be the Light of the world"-not
merely the Light of the Church John
viii, 12l.
In abandoning the doctrine Of eter-
nal torment my disposition was to
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 | had
made a 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 ! have un-
consciously attributed to the Bible the
teachings of the creeds. Perhaps l
have read it through colored specta-
cles. Praying TO God for guidance |
took up Bible study in a very differ
ent way from previously. | began to
study the Bible as | should have done
at irst-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
l 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 th~irty-eight years go. Tn.
der the Lords blessing | found the
Key to the Interpretation of the Scrip.
tures-not because of ability. but. ]
believe, because ii 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 II 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 a
joy unspeakable, that now ! know my
Heavenly Father and can have con
fdence in 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
a new denomiuation-uot founding ~
Church! We have had too much Of
that sort Of thing already. Not only
have we Wesley's Church and Calvi.'e
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 d
custom. too, for the preachers to speak
OF the people as My people," My
Church" This is all wrong. / 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 FRS.
Dorns, whose names are written in
heaven" That Church includes in its
membership every true saint of God
who trusts in the merit CT 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 l 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 ut cost price, tC
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 a
very simple oue My expenses are
small. / accept no salary and take VI
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"