CALL TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY (DUDLEY) 1874

Lexington, Ky., Nov.24, 1874.

MY DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER BEEBE: - A short time since I received a letter from a brother in a distant state, asking me to write for publication in the “Signs,” my views on the call to the gospel ministry. I can only give the exercises of my own mind on this important subject.

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ONE OFFERING (DUDLEY) 1879

Lexington, Ky., Jan., 1879.

MEMBERS OF HIS BODY (DUDLEY) 1879

Lexington, Ky., Jan., 1879.

MY DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - I have been fully satisfied for more than fifty years, that the difficulty with the people of God in explaining the warfare which so distressingly annoys and perplexes them, results from want of understanding the relations they sustain to the Lord Jesus Christ, and their complex character as the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. 

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THE IMAGE OF GOD (DUDLEY) 1871

Lexington, Ky., March 24, 1871.

I JOHN 2.3 (DUDLEY) 1841

Near Lexington Ky., April 20, 1841.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: – The 3d no., current vol. of the “Signs,” did not come to hand until a few days since in looking over it I found a request from a “Correspondent” for my views on 1 John iii. 2, 3:

REVELATION 2:2-6 (DUDLEY) 1859

Near Lexington, Ky., Feb.1, 1859.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - In the 23rd number of the last volume of the SIGNS, I find a request from sister Sarah H. Izor, of Indiana, for my views on Rev. 2:2-6, inclusive.

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A "REVEREND" WRITES (POOLE) 1989

On a xerox copy of what appeared to be a "Sunday-school" lesson the following two comments were hand-written and mailed to us.

ETERNAL UNION WITH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH (DUDLEY) 1847

Moderator of Licking Association of Particular Baptists of Kentucky.

THE PARDON OF SIN (DUDLEY) 1874

Lexington, Ky., Jan.3, 1874.

THE MEDIATORIAL WORK OF CHRIST (DUDLEY) 1872

Lexington, Ky., Feb. 29, 1872.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - I have reflected much on the crude and undigested notions of almost, if not altogether, the religious world, so-called, excepting Particular, or Old School Baptists, with regard to the mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and am constrained to acknowledge, that, if those notions comport with the teachings of Christ, and his apostles, and prophets, I have wholly mistaken them.

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This book is a well known work, showing how Baptists have become enamored with the Reformers, abandoning their own apostolic heritage and growing fond eyes for the Reformers who persecuted them.

CHRISTIAN WARFARE (DUDLEY) 1845

TO THE CHURCHES

Composing the Licking Association of Particular Baptists, especially, and to the “Old School Baptists,” generally.

Circumstances seem, in the judgment of the undersigned, to render it necessary to his own vindication, and but justice to those who concurred with the sentiments contained in the following Circular; that it should be published for your prayerful consideration.

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PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE (DUDLEY) 1877

Lexington, Ky., Nov.7, 1877.

MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: - You and I have been permitted to live and labor long, as we have presumed to hope, in the cause of our divine Savior, and have witnessed many defections from the faith of the gospel, among those who professed to “walk with us to the house of God in company;” and why is it that we have not been “turned away from the truth, and been turned unto fables?” What anguish has that question stirred. “Will ye also go away?” I feel the language to be appropriate to me.

THE DEATH OF ELDER EPRHAIM RITTENHOUSE 1902

Locktown Church, Locktown NJ

[Even though we have reservations about his softening views of Predestination, still this minister chose to be buried in Welsh Tract Cemetery. - ed]

FROM AN EXCHANGE PAPER (POOLE) 1997

[The following article is a fair sample of the views of limited Predestinarians. It does not seem appropriate to let it pass without a reply.]

DEFINITIONS (POOLE) 1993

Condition: Anything called for as a requirement before the performance or completion of something else.

DOES GOD LOVE EVERYBODY? (POOLE) 1991

Driving down a main boulevard here in our religious community, we observed a billboard above a building with a short message which caught our eye. It read, "God loves ya."

CORRUPTED MAN AND THE HEAVENLY FAMILY (DUDLEY) 1861

CIRCULAR LETTER of the Licking Association of Particular Baptists of Kentucky, now in session with the Church at Bryant’s, Fayette County, Kentucky, to the Churches of which she is composed, sendeth Christian salutations.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RELIGION (POOLE) 1992

We recently saw the following bumper sticker on the back of a local junker: "Include God in your life. Read the Bible every day." After musing on the message for a moment we felt a bit of consternation, and a portion of revulsion. Bumper sticker religion has never had much worthwhile to say, and this one conveyed the very essence of what so-called modern religionists really believe. "Include God." Yes, indeed; by all means include a favorite deity in your daily activities.

THE BIRTH OF THE NEW MAN AND ADOPTION OF THE OLD MAN Or, The “Soul of Man” is not the New Man, nor the subject of Regeneration (DUDLEY) 1853

Dearly Beloved Brethren,

In our youth, we were taught to seek instruction from those sources which time and improved opportunities, had rendered most competent to impart it. As we have increased in years, our desire to know the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, has increased.

DO "ALL THINGS" REALLY MEAN "ALL THINGS IN ROMANS 8.28? (POOLE) 1990

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:28,29)

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WARWICK OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH & ELDER COX'S EXCLUSION

 

ARE WE ANTINOMIANS? (POOLE) 1988

For a long period of time now those who publish "The Remnant" have been variously accused of some of the vilest heresies ever known to humankind, and, in particular we have been branded as Antinomians. By definition an antinomian is one who is "against the law." Using such a definition it would be possible then even to accuse the most extreme Arminian of being an antinomian when he says he is against the law of sin which works in his members. Certainly before one is tagged with malicious titles there should be some understanding of what that title connotes. In this case we refer specifically to being charged with antinomianism.

QUICKENED SPIRITS (DUDLEY) 1877

Lexington, Ky., Jan.25, 1877.

MY DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - My attention has been recently called to an expression that occurs in the Circular on the Warfare – “quickened spirits.” I remember the expression was severely criticized immediately after the Circular was first printed.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD (DUDLEY) 1877

Lexington, Ky., Jan.11, 1877.

MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: - If you knew my anxiety to hear from you, the interest I take in your temporal and spiritual welfare, I think you would have written before this time. I have not heard anything directly or indirectly from you since we parted in Louisville.

HE IS A VICTORIOUS SAVIOR

"I will be surety for him: If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever" - Gen 43:9

IF I DON'T FIT SO BE IT

My friends, my goal is not to make God look bad or even good, he is who he is.

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AND HE HATH BID HIS GUESTS

Zephaniah 1:7 (KJV) "Hold thy peace in the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath BID his guests."

DOUBT (POOLE) 1989

One of the major tenants of the Arminian's religion is that its adherents must believe with all their heart, and never ever doubt. To doubt, (they say) is to make God a liar; a crime of the deepest hue, and worst magnitude. This has never been fully explained to us, but that is what they say; and "take it or leave it" seems to pervade their stance. And who wants to make God a liar?

While this may not seem too ominous to the new convert, it certainly will aggrieve the woeful sinner that has been far enough down the road to experience a few things for himself. If, for instance, we feel the Word of God condemns some particular activity of ours, will we not sense some condemnation for it? And if we feel some condemnation, then is it not probable that we will be led of the Spirit to examine ourselves? To what purpose would we examine ourselves if there was not at least some little cause for doubt? If you were satisfied beyond a peradventure of your standing before the Lord could you possibly be induced to inquire of yourself as to whether your standing before the Lord was true or false? Simply put, if we sin, and we do, then we are subject to doubts and inquiries.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" II Corinthians 13:5. That the word whether means "if" needs no proving to the honest soul. Except means "unless" in this text, again raising a question of the possibility of one not being what they once thought they were. It is important here too, to see that the Apostle broached this inquiry to those Corinthians after he had accused their assembly of failing to repent of uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness (loose living) II Cor 12:21. Can it be believed that we any less need such an examination in our daily lives? To refuse to examine ourselves is tantamount to saying we are fully established, live in perfect holiness at all times, and "know" we are going to heaven when we die. We cannot speak for others, but for ourselves we feel far, far too much the inward working of sin and unbelief to ignore the admonition.

On one occasion a poor sinner was recorded as saying, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24. Had there been any of today's modern breed of Arminians there to hear him they would no doubt have rushed upon this wretched unbeliever and severely rebuked him for such a comment. "You had better get saved friend, before it is everlastingly too late. Accept the Saviour before He withdraws the Spirit. Tomorrow's sun may never rise; act now!! Repent! Turn or burn! ....etc, etc, add nauseam." Would their harangue be of any benefit to the sad bemoaner? Only to the extent that it would compel him to flee their company as soon as possible. Sooner far he had rather be alone with his doubts, fears, and unbelief than to endure their sanctimonious company. And so too had the poor little children of the Heavenly King today rather be isolated from all fellowship than to walk with the arrogant Arminians that feel God owes them heaven and happiness because they do not doubt.

J.F. Poole

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THE CONFLICT (POOLE) 1994

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me (Romans 7.21)."

The perplexing conflict between good and evil in the Apostle Paul was not an aberration; he said he had discovered a law to that effect. Paul was no religious wastrel, nor was he given to exaggeration. Simply put, this poor man, like all others called by grace, found his life to be swayed by these two principles; good and evil. Thus, by the Spirit of inspiration, he relates his lamentable condition as one of unremitting conflict.

Let us mention that this text is seldom the subject for Arminian inquiry, nor a theme likely to be expostulated upon by those trapped in the web of duty-faith. This text is, rather, a sure beacon in the dark experiences of those tried saints finding so much filthiness and vile imaginations working in the secret recesses of their being. Under God's blessing they may often find comfort, and experience seasons of delight, in learning that such a man as Paul also was vexed by this warfare. It, the warfare, was the endless conflict raging between the old man and the new.

This is not a text to flee from when the great conflict boils within, when many distresses emerge from the love of sin, sinking us down to the lowest regions; it is rather a fountain of truth flowing with comfort and strength. There is no message here of condemnation. No thunderings of threatened punishment gush forth as might be supposed. This text simply sets before us the facts of the matter. In our times of intended good, evil is just as present with us as our aspirations to holiness. There is no "Ought to" or "Ought not to" here; just the exclamation of one who has discovered this law, or certain consequence, of attempting to do good. Evil is present.

Who is there that has not found a little glimmer of hope when hearing a more seasoned child of God lamenting his leanness, and his awful inclinations toward sin? "If that dear brother" we consider, "has these dreadful apprehensions of evil when he desires to do good, then how can we expect to do any better?"

No more sobering and presumption-killing truth ever entered the soul of a child of God than "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3.6)." These are the sources of good and evil; good naturally flows from the spiritual birth, and evil likewise develops from the fleshly birth. We believe it to be a certain truth that this conflict will continue unabated to the grave.

J. F. Poole

EXODUS 20.8-11 (POOLE) 1990

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:8-11)

Our text plainly says that the Sabbath day is the seventh day; a point which we wish to strongly emphasize in this article. We do believe a very great misconstruction of the Scriptures has been done in attempting to transfer the Sabbath day from the seventh day of the week to the first, and making it a so-called Christian Sabbath for believers in the gospel age we now live in. We also believe it fairly impossible for those who hold to and teach a Christian Sabbath, to prove their position; either from the Bible, or from Baptist history. We full well recognize that such a statement will bring much criticism, and, even bitter dissent against us, for even suggesting that the Christian has no specific calendar Sabbath at this time. However, we feel it necessary to take our stand here, and to reaffirm the clear, plain, and obvious teaching of the Word of God; that believers are not under law but under grace. And too, that statement will no doubt bring additional criticism and distress among the legal day-keepers; and if our present feeling is not changed by our Lord, we will have to say, humbly, "So be it."

We are continually bombarded with articles on the Christian Sabbath in Baptist papers, which we either receive by subscription or exchange. It seems that the notion of this Christian Sabbath is an increasingly important point among some today; to the extent that the writers of the same will bombast, vilify, and condemn those who cannot agree with them, or walk with them in this purely old covenant, legal way. Within a three-week period we noticed four different papers with articles on this subject. All condemned what they call Sabbath breakers (those of us who differ with them) and those who will not walk with them in their legal precept. Some were more critical than others, but all contended that God's children today were as much obliged to observe the Sabbath as the Israelites were when the commandment was first given them in the wilderness by Moses. It would seem that if the believing remnant was to observe one particular day out of the week as a Christian Sabbath that we would have clear and concise instruction from the Word of God on when this was begun, and how we are to perform it. However, this is not the case! As we previously stated, there is not one shred of evidence that such is so.

Let us first consider briefly what the Sabbath is, according to the Bible. From our text we learn that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord. It was a time for no work and the basis for its existence was that the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that was in them in six days, and rested on the seventh day. As says the text, "Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." You will notice that the word "Sabbath day" and "seventh day" here mean one and the same thing. This is the day the Israelites were to remember as the day their Lord rested. So clearly, the Sabbath day was a day of God's rest, and they, from His example, were to rest on the seventh day, so long as they lived under that economy. But, does that still apply today to the Child of God that has found rest in Jesus? By no means.

In Exodus 3 1:12-17 it was clear that the fourth commandment was different from all the others, in that it alone was a sign given by God. As we read, "For it (the Sabbath) is a sign between me and you throughout your generations." Without lengthening the argument at this point it seems very plain that no one was intended here but the Israelites and their generations to whom this commandment or sign was originally given. It is also to be seen that all violators of this sign or commandment were to meet with sure and certain punishment. They were to be cut off from among the people, and put to death. They were allowed to work six days, but on the seventh was the Sabbath of rest, and it was holy to the Lord. Anyone who violated this day was to surely be put to death. We ask; are those who are so intent upon enjoining a Sabbath day upon us in this day, as willing to enjoin upon us the penalties of its violation? If we have today the same Sabbath principles, do we not also have today the same Sabbath protections against its violation? Wherein has one changed, and the other not? Or one remain the same, and the other not? We fail to see any consistency among those who lead us down this legalistic path to a Sabbath ordinance.

The idea of a Christian Sabbath seems to stem from the mistaken notion that there was at some point a change in the day the Sabbath was to be observed; from the seventh day to the first. However, when we begin to look through the New Testament for some indication of this, we find that a record of this supposed change simply does not exist. There is no text, or texts, which tells us anything of the kind. There is nothing stated, nor is there anything even implied, that the seventh day was changed to the first after the resurrection of Jesus our Lord. We fully concur, and believe with others, that the disciples met upon the first day of the week; that they broke bread upon the first day of the week, and many other things according to their worship was upon the first day of the week. We agree that the Scripture is plain that John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. But none of these things tell us that there was any definite break from the seventh to the first in order that we might have a specific day of legal rest. These things in themselves do not create a "Sabbath Day" by which we are legally bound to its observance. Conjecture is the best that can be said for this position. We further, in examining the Scriptures, find that no where did the Apostles teach, or act out in such a way, a doctrine that God's children today must take one day out of seven, and set it apart to do nothing but worship. That worship is enjoined upon God's children, and assembling likewise, we heartily concur; but that it must be carried out on one specific day is a point we fail to find in our Bibles.

We believe there are three wrong assumptions in this very erroneous view of the Christian Sabbath. The first wrong assumption is that the Sabbath was, in some unspecified manner, changed from the seventh day to the first at some point after the resurrection of our Lord. The second being that it became the believer's particular day of rest. And the third is that it was commanded us by God as law to observe the first day of the week. We fairly conclude that all of these positions are no more than bare assumptions with not one single "Thus sayeth the Lord." If it could be proved that the Lord's people are to gather on the first day of the week, and that alone, it still would not prove that was the Sabbath day. It has been believed by God's children for so long as there has been a people on this earth saved by grace, that they rest in Christ and not in days; that they cease from their labor when they are brought into union and communion with their Lord, and not by observing any legal periods of time. God's children have found the Christian Sabbath to be little more than a renewing of the Israelitish ceremonies and ordinances that were given to those ancient people for their social rule of life and behavior, for that period of time when they walked in the wilderness, and were governed in Canaan's land of promise. And, that we have a commandment as law to observe the first day of the week for a Christian Sabbath, we consider to be a grave error, and we wish not to be bound by it.

Let it be plainly understood that the true followers of the Lamb have no desire to defile themselves, or transgress the Lord's injunctions by living wantonly before the world, or by themselves, for that matter. The children of the Most High would live the strictest life, could they but by grace do so; but they as well vehemently deny that they are governed by legalistic principles, that say "do this, and do not do that" regarding their rest in Jesus. Is not this something akin to what Peter taught when he said "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" Acts 15:10.

There are three additional texts in this connection which we wish to address. The first is Romans 13:8-10:

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

In verse nine the portion of the ten commandments which deals with the relationship of one man toward another is listed; adultery, murder, stealing, lying, covetousness. Those commandments which embrace the relationship of man to God were comprehended, as Paul said, "If there be any other commandment." But of them all, Paul clearly embraces the gospel way when he said they were comprehended in this, namely, "Thy shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Love was the fulfilling of the law. Thus, if love fulfills the law towards man regarding his commandment relationships to them, does not also love fulfill the law in our commandment relationships toward our God? Did not our Lord teach the same thing in the Gospels? (Matt.22:34-40, Luke 25:28.) Then what of a supposed commandment regarding a particular day for worship? It was certainly not embraced in this text, for here, rather than singling out a time frame in which God's children are required to legally serve their God, they find that the new relationship which God has worked in their hearts has bound them together in all of the commandments, and that is that God first loved them, and they love Him. And to the ability that He gives them in grace, they now serve Him. Not from a principle of commandment, but a principle of love.

The second text we wish to observe is Ephesians 2:15:

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace."

Paul instructs the church at Ephesus that something was abolished, and he describes it as the "law of commandments contained in ordinances." We do not believe that Paul taught that the law was abolished, or that commandments were abolished; but that rather, legal commandments that were contained in ordinances were abolished. Ordinances here means those systems of rigor and service enjoined upon the Israelites for their dispensation.

This same line of thought is found also in Colossians 2:14

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."

Here it was the "handwriting of ordinances" being blotted out, whereas in Ephesians it was the "law of commandments contained in ordinances" that was abolished. In one a blotting out; in the other an abolishing. In one, a handwriting of ordinances; in the other the law of commandments contained in ordinances. So then it is very clear that it was ordinances from which the child of God was freed. And it was further stated in the Colossian epistle that they were not to be judged in respect of Sabbath days (verse 16), for they were but a shadow of things to come (verse 17), whereas the Body was Christ.

Can it not be seen from these three texts that sabbath-keeping as a legal duty or precept was done by the Israelites, as was all other things in the Old Testament, to set forth in type and shadow, as well as in figures, things to come? The Sabbath prefigured in its legal sense the Spiritual rest the children of God found in Jesus. This is why, today, the child of God can rest in Jesus seven days of the week, and not just one. This is why the child of God can scorn the exhortation of the legalist, when they demand of us that we follow after the things which they think makes for Christian morality. This is true freedom and gospel liberty, which can be found only in Christ our Lord, and revealed by the Holy Ghost to the elect.

Finally, it seems necessary for us to set forth the error of one article we recently read concerning the Christian Sabbath. May we emphasize that we have no desire to act in an evil way toward the publisher of this article, but rather to show what we believe to be the truth, as opposed to error.

"The desecration of the Lord's Day is the most noticeable and perhaps the worst evil of this generation that hath forgotten God. The loud cry always goes up when any mention is made of keeping the Lord's Day holy: 'We are under grace, not under the law.' To tell you the truth, I am getting sick in my stomach at people excusing their ugly sins by waving the banner of grace."

"God sets the day apart and requires us to remember it in the Fourth Commandment. Remembering the Lord's Day is not a matter of Christian liberty, i.e., something neither commanded nor forbidden by God. Rather, it is law, the law of God just as are the matters of having no other gods, honoring our parents, and not stealing. It is the commandment of the Redeemer to His saved people. It is a commandment that at once teaches us to know our sinful nature more and more, so that we fly to Christ for righteousness, and directs us in the way of pleasing our Deliverer and of living a happy life. it is a commandment that the thankful believer gladly obeys, as a child willingly obeys the father whom he loves." (Two separate paragraphs from an exchange paper.)

In the first paragraph, where we supplied italics, it was seen that the writer used the language "keeping the Lord's day holy". We do not accuse him of doing anything sinister, but it is clear he is, whether willingly or unwillingly, attempting to rewrite the Bible. We are not told anything in God's Word about "keeping the Lord's day holy". The Children of Israel were told to "remember the Sabbath day", but the keeping of the Lord's day holy is something we are not familiar with. It will also been seen that the writer did not think too highly of the banner of grace, and attempted to accuse those who denied his legal Sabbath of trying to "hide their ugly sins under the banner of grace," when nothing could be further from the truth.

In the second paragraph, the same error is observed. Again, the words in italics, "remembering the Lord's day". Was it not in the Scriptures the Sabbath day that was to be remembered and not the Lord's day? The next thing in italics, he says, "rather it is law". This is what he describes as "remembering the Lord's day;" that it is law for us. We ask then fairly, again, "Are we under law or grace?" This writer would have us to be under law, as he plainly sets forth. Next he says "it is a commandment of the Redeemer to His saved people". If it is a commandment, we desire humbly to know where this commandment is written.

And so the message goes, continually. The Sabbath day and the Lord's day are supposed by the legalists to be one. God's children, we are told we are to observe them with vigor and rigor, as though they were walking yet with Moses in the wilderness. We say honestly and openly to those who read our paper; be not deceived, God is not mocked. We are free, brethren, to worship our God at any time, and the Scriptures say nothing about the 1st day of the week being our Sabbath, legal or otherwise. It is true, we are not free to sin; we are not free to walk with the world, and we are not free to violate the Lord's plain teachings. Neither do we desire to do so. But we are not willing to be placed under a yoke for the satisfaction of legalists. If they desire to observe a Sabbath, that is fine with us. But we desire the privilege to walk with the Bible in our hand, and abstain from their course.

J.F. Poole

FATE (POOLE)

During the past year there were numerous "disasters" around the world. Like many others did, we watched several of the television news releases regarding them. There were many tragic and depressing accounts given by those involved in these frequent devastations. Some told of the death or injury of their loved ones; others somberly related their personal property losses. Many others, we were informed, had been wiped out completely. There was in all this one thing noticeably absent from these startling accounts. Of those devastated souls we heard being interviewed, not one of them acknowledged the hand of God in these catastrophic events. There was only occasional profanity uttered where the name of Deity in one form or another was used. Sad as that was, there was one statement expressed in one particular interview that came as near shocking us as anything we have heard in many years, and we do not shock too easily any more. A lady that had lost nearly everything but her ignorance was being interviewed. She expressed her estimation of the circumstances this way: "But for the grace of fate, it could have been worse."

But for the grace of what?

Fate!

After considerable reflection on this ridiculous avowal we concluded that this was no slip of the tongue, nor was it said in unawareness. Rather, this was a deliberate impertinence toward the God of all grace. God, the true and living God, had been replaced (at least in the mind of this woman) by a deity called fate. Fate, that blind god of inevitability and impersonal vagary, which knows neither love nor pity; void of mercy and compassion; without feeling, has been accredited with the attribute of grace. Grace is that sweet portion of God's compassion towards sinners and has been given a role with fate. Surely, bitter disappointment must follow for those beguiled by such confusion.

History records the fable of three ancient deities known as The Fates; Atropos, Clotho, and Lachesis. But we have never heard that these three capricious gods ever extended grace to those poor souls in the midst of sudden calamity.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous time shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (II Timothy 3:1-5)." Observe well the expression, "Having a form of godliness." Attributing grace to the fates comes as near to a form of godliness as we have ever seen, and is little more than religion run amuck.

From a worldwide perspective, religious activity is on the rise. Worship in some form or another is much in vogue. Some deluded souls worship idols, others are mesmerized by crystals. Astrology is the current god of choice for many that have never seen the hand of a creator therein. Humanism, foul as it is, fills the need for a deity for multitudes, both in this nation and in Western Europe. The psychic movement satisfies the yearning of others. Sex, pleasure and materialism answers the religious craving of other multitudes lusting for a more sensual god. Witchcraft is on the rise; especially among the younger population. Volumes have been circulated on just about every conceivable facet of religion to suit the taste of the masses. Thus we see fulfilled the scripture; "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (II Timothy 3:7)." It is very obvious that today there are vast numbers that do exactly what this scripture says of them; they seek out learning before stocks, stones, parsons, priests, and assorted altars of iniquity, but none of these can impart to them the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. These deluded souls remain as blind as the gods they worship. But for the true grace of God, so would we.

A now dead communist advocated that religion was the opiate of the people. It still is. They are allured by it, and covet its intoxicating effects. Religion provides a soothing balm for those restless souls. And, sad to say, for most, one religion is as good as another; so long as it is not the truth. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith (II Timothy 3:8)."

Despite this sad commentary, we may be sure that there is yet a remnant according to the election of grace that has not bowed the knee to Baal. Or to fate. Or any other phony religion. The redeemed family has been in the furnace of affliction. They are an afflicted and poor people. Besides the usual calamities that are common to all men, many of the saints of the Most High have been destituted, tormented, imprisoned, and even killed for their testimony and convictions. But it has never been known that a single one of them has ever departed from the faith by giving the glory of God to fate, chance, luck or any other system of contingencies. Rather their theme is "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

"Though with afflictions sore,
He may them exercise;
Yet still His hand they shall adore,
And still His love shall prize.

"Should poverty, and loss
Of every kind of good,
Conspire to make our weighty cross,
Our helper still is God.

Unlike the troubled citizens of this world, the saints of the Most High would rather give up all than to deny the source of free grace. Fate has never done a thing for the sheep, and those that put confidence in fate are but strangers to them. Consider Job, the servant of God. It could be said that Job hit the jackpot when it comes to calamities. But did he see fate in the great wind from the wilderness, or the fire from heaven? Was he of the opinion that the Sabeans and the band of Chaldeans were driven on their mission by a whim of fates? Did he seek solace in vagaries? The Scriptures speak: "Then Job arose, rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:20,21)." Job worshipped His God; the God of all grace. Job acknowledged the hand of God in all he had, and in all he lost as well.

"Grace reconciles to every loss,
And sweetens every painful cross;
Defends my soul when danger's near;
By grace alone I persevere."

With Paul we hope to cling to the sweet message from God in storms and affliction: "My grace is sufficient for thee." Let the fates have their deluded followers. Only grace from the God of all grace will ever calm the troubled beasts of the elect.

Elder James F. Poole

ETERNAL VITAL UNION (POOLE) 2006

Isaiah 53:18

I wish to bring a subject before you this morning that has a lot of sub-subjects. I have no pretense that I will either exhaust this subject or do it any justice, but I do want to, I think the way we said it down in Alabama was, to recapitulate some things that we have attempted to preach to you now for some years. It seems that from season to season the enemies of all eternal righteousness rise up and begin to sniff about like there was an odor in the air. And usually, if you ask them what that odor is, they say; "It smells like an absoluter."

FEW IN THE PEW: TIME STALKS COUNTY'S PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS (POOLE) 1988

Rome, GA News Tribune

[Reply]

The above title gives us a fair sampling of what the world thinks of the Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches. "Few in the Pew." We hardly know whether to consider that a compliment or another dose of ridicule from those who despise God's little flack. Of one thing we may be sure, however; the world has no idea of what the "Few in the Pew" believe in their hearts, or why they believe it.

ELECTION (POOLE) 1988

"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." Roman. 11:7

ETERNITY (POOLE)

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhibits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15

AMAZON EBOOK $2.99: CAN SOMEONE "PREPARE HIMSELF TO WORSHIP?"

 

WELSH TRACT PUBLICATIONS NEW EBOOK $2.99 CONNECTION BETWEEN PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION AND CONDITIONAL TIME SALVATION

 

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION AND CONDITIONAL TIME SALVATION

To most Old School Baptists, this article may seem a waste to write or to read. After all, some might ask why we need to read about views we do not believe.  This would be true for those who believe in absolute predestination, but it is not true for most of the outside world.

“PREPARING YOURSELF FOR WORSHIP”

Can someone “prepare” himself for worship?