The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-04-19

I
| 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 1 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, 12)
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-
tion 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 know-
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, | 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
have read 1t 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 | should have done
at first-wlthout reference to any
teach me. | ceased TO say, 1t reads,
THUS" but 1t must mean otherwise.
IT says, 80 and So" but cannot mean
that. but the reverse. In other words
| 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, l
believe, because 1t 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 1t 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 unspeakablc. that now | know my
Heavenly Father and can have con-
Gdence IN him and can have love for
him, as never before. am thankful
fhut a n I huUn hnnn on
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 n sect-not making
a new deEominatlon-not founding
Church! We have had too much Of
that sort of thing already. Not only
have we Wcslcy's Church and Calvin's
4 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-
/ cud Or AS Church. II has become n
| 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, aud wish for none
There Is but the one Church
Church OF Chrst-"the Church Of the
Living God'-"the Church of the First
Borus whose names are written in
heaven" That Church includes in 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 idcn.
tilted with are without Divine author
l2ation. ThviE standing in Gods sight
Is merely because of their idcntifica-
tlon with Christ ns members of his
Body"
In God y providence | was led to pub
llSh six volumes of "Studles In the
Scriptures" or Bible Keys. These
were taken up by the Bible and Tract
Society, ana 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 a
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 iabors supply my needs and the
surplus goes to the Bible and Tract SO.
ciety For the general forwarding OF Its
work "rhe PRONUNCIATION of Christian
knowledge"
Each earnest Christian who obtains
the assistance OF these Bible Keys and
enters into the treasures OF Gods
Word and becomes rich himself In
spiritual knowledge aud In joy and
pence 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 sprlnging up
aud n blessed light, we believe, Is go,
ing forth from these. assistful to all
who love Righteousness and hate In.