THE GOSPEL (ELDER WILLIAM LIVELY)

 

Warwick, NY. December 6th, 1896.

Elder William Lively. Dear brother.

Do you remember the subject you took for a text the night you preached in Warwick? It was “The Gospel”. You showed that the printed word was not the gospel. But that it was Christ and Him crucified. Now, dear brother, we have a very precious, sick sister who is very anxious to have me ask you to try as nearly as you can to write what you told us that night. She was too feeble to leave her home when you were here. If you could get the time to write it, it would be a great comfort to her. I know, and we should be glad to have your letter published in the signs. All who heard you that night were fed by the precious gospel you proclaimed. My father sends love to you and dear Elder Mitchell. My father is as well as when you were here.

Hoping sincerely that the same almighty power that gave you those wonderful words of truth for us will again fill your heart so that you may be unable to repeat them on paper, I am, I hope, you're very little sister,

Kate V. Beebe

Opelika, Alabama, December 18th, 1896.

Editor of the signs, Dear brethren:

Please find enclosed a letter and request from Sister Kate Beebe, which you will publish, and also this reply. I will say, however, before replying, that I reached home safe after an absence of 28 days, obeying an impression which I hope, was of the Lord, to go to Middletown, New York. I have had some assurance it was of the Lord, and the gladness expressed upon the hearts of the brethren and sisters, that I had come among them at that time, which seemed to me before I left home, that it was unseasonable. But when we remember that the Lord made Israel cross to Jordan when its banks overflowed. We should not be surprised when he tries our faith. I have certainly felt unworthy of all the kindness and forbearance of the Brethren shown me. I filled 36 appointments in 28 days. I wish also to note that all were well at home.

In compliance with the request of Sister Kate Beebe, I will say that it would be impossible for me, unless surrounded by the same circumstances, to right or utter what I did at the evening service at Warwick, NY. I remember, however, some of the points made were noted on that occasion. I used as a subject “the gospel”, which as I stated, I did not have the presumption to believe I could present it all at once. But some things connected with it would be of benefit, as the Lord would bless and sanctify to the good of the hearers. The Gospel seems, in all its simplicity, to be misunderstood. It is, however, Sublimely simple and simply sublime. I remember once hearing a man say that the Bible was the gospel. I thought of it and decided that the man was mistaken. He was unable to discern between the letter word and the spirit word. Unable to see the difference between the testimony of the gospel and the gospel itself. In practical things, we can very clearly see, For instance, we can see the difference between the remedy prescribed and the prescription. 

Everyone knows the difference, for none ever take the prescription, but go to the remedy. A man's deeds to his property are different from the property itself. The Jews made this mistake and thought of eternal life in the scriptures, but the Savior said. “Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, for they are they which testify of me”. We could burn up the Bible. But we can never burn up the gospel, for it is not combustible. The Bible is God's prescription. It tells of the character of the physician, of the disease, its nature and effect, and the only remedy for the disease. It has been observed by our ablest brethren that these distinctions should be made and kept before their brethren for their good and edification. This is the mouth of the Lord to separate, rightly dividing the word of truth. The gospel is defined in this testimony with unmistakable meaning. Luke, in his testimony, says, “It is glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ Jesus the Lord”. 

Paul defines the gospel, in his testimony to the Church in Rome, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation”. Again, Paul testifies that God preached the gospel to Abraham long before the Bible was written. It was the gospel then, and as the gospel yet., the gospel of blessing. We also note that it is the gospel of promise, the gospel of light, of life, of salvation. The glorious gospel of the blessed God, The gospel of love, of wisdom, of grace, and of truth, Therefore, the fullness of the gospel is spoken of, For it. Is full of all these excellencies and glories of the Lord. Such has been the presentation, to my mind, of all these things, that it would afford a text for one whole year, And yet we would only begin on the edges to present what is embodied therein. The more we think of it, the more wonderful it seems. The Gospel is different from the law. The law demands the last Farthing and says pay what you owe, but the gospel gives us everything for time and eternity and demands nothing. Well, may we say it is the glorious gospel of the Blessed God. The gospel is the power of God, not of man, who is so weak and impotent that he is unable and unfit to give or supply anything, and even unable and unfit to receive these things until the Gospel qualifies him for it. Adam did, like a child in a garden, search for and pluck the most precious flower and break it from its parent stem, but had no power to replace it. 

Yeah, He plunged all of his unborn posterity into sin and deep disgrace but was unable to redeem one of them. From woe and misery, the gospel provides the deliverer who should come out of Zion and deliver, and turn away godliness from his people. The first atom was of the earth, earthy, The second atom was of the Lord from heaven. The first Adam could go under the law with his bride and suffer with her, The second Adam came and suffered and brought his bride out from under the law. This is the gospel, the good news. The slaves are freed, Their debts are settled, and Their peace is made with God. “Comfort you, comfort you, my people, says the Lord, speak you comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received at the Lord's hands double for all her sins”. The power of God is exhibited in the gospel of Jesus Christ When the Prophet asked, “Shall the prey be taken from the Mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” 

This was when darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, And when the deliverer came it was solved. The praise shall be taken from the mighty, and the lawful captive shall be delivered. “For I will contend with him that contends with you and I will save your children”. The devil was the mighty, and the strong man armed, And Jesus was the stronger who came upon him, and dispersed him of the armor, wherein he trusted and divided the spoil; Jesus, the love and grace and work in the gospel. The Wonderful Works of God is the theme of every true gospel preacher.

Yours and hope, 

Elder William Lively.