A justified soul has light in regard to costly churches, and the modern mode of selling them to the highest bidder, and running them according to modern expediency. It will not engage in such work, neither will it endorse by its means or its presence, the worship of God, singing, praying, or preaching, by unhallowed lips. It will not join hand in hand with the secret oath bound fraternity, that in heart, and in life, are opposed to the Gospel of Christ, full of worldly speculation, pride, fashion, banqueting, revelry, mirth, trifling, worldly mindedness, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such, the command is to turn away, and the soul that is freely justified before God responds, “Lord obediently I’ll go.” Yes, Glory to God, it is in their hearts to turn from every abomination.
O, glory! Justification is a wonderful blessing! With this, we are enabled to keep all of God’s commands. It is not true, as commonly reported in religious meetings, by those professing salvation, that they are in the way, and yet, they are making zig-zag paths. “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life,” and the justified soul has found it, and is walking in it. Hallelujah! The first introduction into the kingdom of grace, gives the victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, and not only so, they are happy in God. “Believing,” says James, “ye rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.” “Again, the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion, with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Glory to God for justifying grace. This takes murmuring, complaining, fault-finding, dishonesty, covetousness, hatred, ill-will, emulation, strife, wrath, jealousy, adultery, and every miserable thing, blue devils, and all out of a man.
We read this paper before the ministerial association of Oswego, N. Y., January, 1880. We give the paper, and some of its criticisms:
They gave me this scripture to write from. “_And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly._”--1 Thess. 5:23.
We formulated it in this way. What more did the prayer embrace than what they already had?