بادا THE ANN ARBOR BAPTIST. VOL. 1. ANN ARBOR, MICH., JUNE, 1889. The Deacons, and W. W. Beman, J. G. Patten- When from the heart we say, gill, H. N. Chute. May JESUS CHRIST be praised. May JESUS CHRIST be praised. May JESUS CHRIST be praised. May JESUS CHRIST be praised. Finance Com.--Brethren Beman, Snauble and Be this the eternal song Spalding. Com, on Building and Grounds-Brethren Chute, Jacobus and Snauble. Com. on Sittings--Brethren W. H. Dorrance, H. B. Dodsley, G. Feiner. Com. on Music--The Trustees. Ushers-Brethren Snauble, Feiner, Goodyear, Dowdigan, Taft and Gay. Ladies' Foreign Mission Society--Mrs. Carman, Pres. Mrs. Sollis, Sec. Ladies' Home Mission Society--Mrs. Stevens, Pres.; Mrs. H. M. Doig, Sec. Lad es' Society--Mrs. Nowland, Pres. Young Peoples' Society-Mr. T. H. Waite, Pres. SCHEDULE OF BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS. Second Sunday in June subscription for Min ister's Home, payable first Sunday in July. cember. February. Second Sunday in March, subscriptions for Min isterial Education, payable second Sunday in April. Last Sunday in each Month, collection for expenses of the Sunday School. Through all the ages on, May JESUS CHRIST be praised. No. 10. It strengthen, elevate, and purify each 1st. A friend loveth at all times. (a)In prosperity when you are successful and business prospers, when skies are clear and no storm at hand. But a friend as well in days of adversity when panics overtake you and business disasters sweep away In the perfection of family life all, and leave you penniless, when we have three relationships brought skies are overcast and dark clouds before us-those between husband gather and the storm beats pitiousand wife, between parent and child, ly on your head. and between brothers and sisters and good repute, when your name is (b) When in honor and on them are based the essential as precious ointment poured forth, laws of all human fellowship; they when honor sits upon your head and are, if the phrase may be used, the all seek to do you reverence he is a original sacraments of society. The Friend. inherent incompleteness of human life is negatived by marriage; the correlative duties of government and devoted loyality are developed by the tie of parent and child, while the inalienable ties of a common brotherhood are communicated by this direct link of blood. In marriage we find the typical completeness of our inherent incompleteness. It is not a civil contract, but a sacred fulfillment of life. One alone is but half a life. But no real approach is made by the woman appropriating elements characteristic of men, nor by man's becoming like woman. This but improverishes life. The union of man and woman makes the Do not fail to patronize the reliaperfect human being. The two ble advertisers represented in this natures joined together mutually paper. They are all first-class. But still a friend when your reputation is gone and your name cast out as evil, and all the mere pretenders have fled and joined the host of them that would destroy you, etc. 2nd. A brother is born for adversity. 3rd. He who would have friends must be friendly. 4th. But above all there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. GOD has promised to have the supply as quick as the need, and grace for tomorrow will not be communicated today. Working Out Our Own Salva- length in a chilling dejection, or in tion. PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13. The word "sin" is not mentioned the wretched delusion that they in the entire epistle, while the words have attained to perfect freedom "joy" and "rejoice" occur eighteen. from sin by the earnestness of their times. "Finally, my brethren, restriving. joice in the Lord," (chap. 3:1), "re It is never wise to deduce a doctrine from a detached passage of It may be well to inquire to joice in the Lord always, and again Scripture, viewed apart from its whom the words under notice were I say rejoice." (Chap. 4:4). "Be context. In Psalms 14:1, it is writ- addressed. Among those called to careful (anxious, solicitous) for ten, "The fool hath said in his heart work out their own salvation with nothing; but in everything by there is no God." If the first elause fear and trembling was the Philip- prayer and supplication, with thanksis left out, the Bible can be made to pian jailer, who, in his fear and giving, let your requests be made prove that there is no God. Every trembling, heard the precious tes- known unto God." (Chap. 4:6). statement of the inspired writings timony, "Believe on the Lord Jesus must be studied in the light of its Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and connections. A second principle is thy house," (Acts 16:31) and acceptthat as "All Scripture is given by ing the testimony as true, he "reinspiration of God," (II. Tim. 3:16) joiced, believing in God with all his each part must be in harmony with house." (Acts 16:34). It will every other portion, and it cannot scarcely be supposed that he was in possibly be in conflict with itself. doubt of his salvation. The epistle A third principle is that the persons is sent "To all the saints in Jesus to whom, or concerning whom the Christ which are at Philippi, with Holy Spirit is speaking, and the ob- the bishops and deacons." (chap. ject and drift of His revelation upon any particular subject must be taken into consideration. Thus it is quite common to quote as appropriate to the unconverted the familiar words, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," (I. John 1:9). But such a use of the language is a gross mis. application. "If we," that is, we believers confess our sins we are restored to fellowship. Can it be that saints receiving these exhortations, and acting upon them, would at the same time be in constant dread, lest after all their souls might be lost in the day of Jesus Christ! Again we say, impossible. We gather, then, the following state of facts: The Apostle was a prisoner in Rome when he was led by the Holy Ghost to write to the saints at Philippi. The spiritual help they 1:1). The saints are those who are had derived from his personal minseparated from their old Adam con- istry was withdrawn, and therefore, dition and condemnation in sin unto after setting before them the deep God, by the power af the Holy humiliation of the Son of God in Ghost through faith in Christ. The becoming obedient unto death, even saints, therefore, are the saved ones, the death of the Cross, and his suband as the Philippian saints were so sequent and consequent high exalnamed by the Eternal Spirit Him- tation, he writes: "Wherefore, my self, they must have known that beloved, as ye have always obeyed, they were saved. not as in my presence only, but now But the inspired Apostle goes on much more in my absence, work out to say, "Being confident of this very your own salvation with fear and thing, that He which hath begun a trembling; for it is God which workKeeping these general principles work in you, will perform it until eth in you both to will and to do of before us, it will be readily seen the day of Jesus Christ," (chap. 1-6), his good pleasure.” that the way in which the passage "For our conversation (citizenship) Salvation is looked at throughout selected for exposition is too fre- is in Heaven, from whence also we the epistle as a future thing.although quently employed is a sad perver- look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus it is no less plainly declared in many sion of the truth. Saint and sinner Christ, who shall change our vile other places to be a present blessing. alike are often urged to work out body, that it may be fashioned like It is needless to say to the intelligent their own salvation with fear and unto His glorious body, according Christian that while the latter refers trembling, as if there was nothing to the working, thereby He is able to the forgiveness of sin, the delivcertain about it, and as if every even to subdue all things unto Him. erance from condemnation, the imthing depended upon human resolu- self." (Chap. 3:20-21). But my God partation of everlasting life, and the tion and strength, strained to the will supply all your needs according bestowment of the new nature, and utmost tension by the shadow of a to His riches in glory by Jesus oneness with our risen Lord, which pursuing terror. The unavoidable Christ." (chap. 4:19). When the believers have now; the former reresult is seen in the callous indiffer- epistle was read to the assembled fers to the redemption of the body ence of the formalist, and the pain-saints of Philippi, would such lan- at His second coming and the full this excite doubt and ful struggling of the devout, whose age as anxiety as to their safety, despite attention is thus called away from every foe aud temptation?' Impos Christ to themselves, terminating at sible. consummation of his finished work hereafter. In view, therefore, of the greatness of the salvation, and of "All devotional feelings require OUR mission is very broad. It is sacrificial expression. There is a not confined alone to our Church sacrifice of the lips, and there is also and congregation or Sunday School. a sacrifice of an offering which in- I don't believe that it is success that volves expense and suffering. The just about holds its own. There are first being readiest at command is scores of people who go nowhere to that most usually given; and being church, and hundreds of children given, it often unfortunately pre- who do not attend Sunday School. vents the other, because first of all, Progress should be the first law of costing little, words are given prodi- the church that expects to contribute gally, and sacrificial acts must toil its mite towards the evangelization for years to cover the space which a of the world. Onward should be single fervid promise has stretched the watch word of the army that exitself over. No wonder that slow pects to take the world for Christ. acts are superceded by available Not indifference, but vigilance bewords, the weighty bullion by the comes those who expect to wear a current paper money. If I have crown. Let us be about our Master's conveyed all I feel by language, I business. "All things are now am tempted to fancy by the relief ready." what it cost Christ to achieve it, we to the pattern he has set. Hence tained its end and realized itself. If THE enormous exports of rum even Dean Alvord says: "The English version is bad, because ambiguous, giving the idea that salvation is a thing to be gotten, brought in, and brought about by ourselves, whereas nothing is further from the truth."-Selected. I yield to this temptation, farewell BE social. Shake hands. Don't wait for some one else to notice Do not refuse or neglect duties you, but hold out your hand and because they may not be agreeable say, "How do you do?" See how to your taste. No good soldier inmany you can speak to before you sists on selecting his duties; he obeys leave the church. Don't hurry out. orders promptly, no matter whether Watch for strangers-make them the duty is agreeable or the reverse. feel at home with us. Watch for "SINK the Bible to the bottom of any that may be waiting for some the ocean, and man's obligations to one to greet them. Don't let them God would be unchanged. He would be disappointed. If your heart is have the same path to tread only his lamp and his guide would be gone. He would have the same voyage to make only his compass and chart would be overboard." It doeth cold, it will get warm. bers of this church to shake hands. It seems clear to us that what we need most at present in our churches, "IF you can find a place between and in our hearts, is a spirit of in- the throne of God and the dust to tense religious earnestness, a glow. which man's body crumbles where ing zeal, ready to respond cheerfully the focal responsibilities of law do and promptly to every claim of not weigh upon him, I will find a practical religion. The only way vacuum in nature. They press upon we can acquire this earnest spirit is him from God out of eternity, and by close personal communion with from the earth out of nature, and Christ. This never fails to inspire from every department of life, such a spirit. Let us seek it now. constant and as all surrounding as And all our work shall prosper. the pressure of the air." as from America to Africa is a disgrace words cannot adequately characterize. In the last six years enlightened and Christian Boston has sent to Africa over four millions of gallons of rum-a yearly average of two thirds of a million gallons. In four years-from 1883 to 1887over thirty millions of gallons were poured out upon Africa. Some one says we send for every missionary to Africa seventy thousand gallons of rum, and for every convert to Christ we make a hundred drunkards. Does America imagine the Lord does not see her sin? that "when He maketh inquisition for blood" He will not "remember?" THE famous Dr. Abernethy, when he made up his mind to marry, was no longer young, and he went about the business in an eminently practical manner. Having met frequently at the house of one of his patients a young woman whose comeliness and amiability had quite pleased him, he sought a private interview with her, told her he would like to marry her if she had no objections, but had no time to spend in courting her. If, however, she would marry him, and could be ready in two weeks, he would call and take her to church for the ceremony. She was ready at the time appointed, and neither ever had occasion to regret the very brief preliminaries to what proved to be a most suitable union. Be With Me. Almighty, everlasting God, Who dost my every actions see, In deed, in thought, be Thou with me. In joy and pain be Thou with me. At life's fair fount of pleasure, shield, In dark despair be Thou with me. Thy Spirit grant to purge my life, And keep it from all sin spots free; That no complaints may fill my heart With bitter hate, be Thou with me. As dew to vine, Thy blessing is To me. Oh, grant Thy grace to be Oh, Thou, my peace, Thou sunshine of social, financial or political position people have vast quantities of this are met with on every hand who are energy of always being in somebody just like the watch that is never set else's way. They are of no particgoing. This energy is good in its ular use in the world, except to try place; it is an excellent reserve force, good people's patience. They get provided you can have it when you in the way of the car of progress, want it; but it never accomplishes and have to be plowed off the track anything until it becomes energy of with cow-catchers. They find their the second class, or energy of mo way into the church, and have to be tion. This is the kind of energy hauled to Heaven by the more enerthat does the work, and it is a pas- getic members of the church-at tor's keenest delight to find a man least one eccentric divine has given who possesses it. There is no more us such a picture. The minister is inoffensive little thing than a rifle harnessed to the wagon, pulling it bullet. But give it a motion of one along with great effort, while the mile per second, and it becomes a members take a pleasure trip to the wonder worker. It goes tearing celestial regions. through the heart of the lion that is Look at this fellow lying here about to spring upon your babe. with an anvil on his breast, which It pierces the brain of a spy making his neighbor is striking with a huge off with intelligence that would ruin sledge-hammer. Does he feel it? an army. Energy of motion in the No, it is what is called a dead beat; church is energy of life. Here is a the anvil has so much inertia that man with only moderate ability and the whole force of the blow is abmoderate means, but the amount of sorbed by the heavy anvil, and the work he succeeds in doing surprises man feels nothing. A more striking everybody. What is the secret of illustration of the energy of laziness it all? He has the energy of action. could not be found, and as here, so He is energetic. He does not waste always it is, technically speaking, a his space and time. He is just like "dead beat." Nothing short of the the hustling, whistling bullet, bound trip-hammer of Heaven can strike to accomplish that whereunto he is hard enough to transmit any life to sent. The energetic man invests the stony heart whose is energy his talents where they pay the high that of inertia. Energy of position, According to Physics, there are est dividends, and is everywhere all energy of motion, energy of laziness three different kinds of energy at once. He sees everything, hears-which shall we cultivate? static energy, or energy of position; everything, and acts accordingly. kinetic energy, or energy of motion; He drives his business, and does not and inertia, or energy of laziness. Of static energy, we have examples in the heated engine boiler and the wound up watch when stopped. Here is energy, but no work. If no one ever sets the watch going, it Lastly, there is inertia, or the will never tell any one the time of energy of laziness, which is in every day. It will be no better than a sense a minus quantity. A large dumb watch. It is a good time-snow-drift in a railroad dug-out has keeper and all wound up ready for this energy of inertia. The flying use, but if it is never started it will train comes into it "chug," everynever tell anybody the time of day; body is jarred off the seat, and the and, further, if it does not start engineer thinks swear words. That right it will never keep right time. snow-drift had energy-it was not It is a mere truism to say that the energy of position, nor the there is in the church a vast amount energy of motion, but the energy of of this stand-still energy. Men of being in something else's way. Some POSTMASTER-GENERAL WANAMAKER says there are to be no more post-offices in saloons, and no more postmasters who are saloon-keepers. Energy. let that drive him. He believes that A. B. CURTIS. WASHINGTON had a tremendous power of wrath. His was no easygoing, milk-sop nature that was always good because there were in him none of the elemental forces that have power to drive one into evil. His was the virtue of one who drove wild horses, yet never was careless with the reins. Great passions under great control, this is the formula for a strong man. There was volcanic power in him; and, on the rare occasions of an eruption, it was well with those who were out of the way of the burning lava of his anger!-M. J. Savage. CHINA had and enforced Prohib itory liquor laws three thousand years ago. |