Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrews 8.5
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. Hebrews 10.1
Dear brother Beebe:
It gave me much pleasure to receive the first number of the Signs of the Times period. The Times truly calls for a zealous support of all those principles as outlined in its interesting pages. It is indeed a day of rebuke and blasphemy; For however meek the advocates of missionary, tract, and such societies might have been in the introductions of their worldly schemes in persuading the churches to receive the yoke., They have now cast off all fear and have arrived at that degree of effrontery spoken of by Jeremiah 3.3. “Thou hast of a whore’s forehead.” Shamelessly railing against and denouncing all those who will not join in the praise and support of their Great Goddess Diana. There is no neutrality with them. Their motto is, All that are not for are against them, and Bran, with opprobrious epithets of Antinomians, all those who acknowledge no other authority but that of Zion's King.
It pleased the Lord in much mercy to give me an early discovery of the hypocrisy and deception carried on under the name of Mission and other anti-Christian societies. The circumstances that led to this happy result I will briefly relate. A short period after professing an interest in the merit of our precious Redeemer, I joined a mission society and, of course, was made a collector. You're no doubt aware, it required the sum of $100 to entitle the society to representation in the General Convention. We were few in number and had much difficulty in raising that amount at our meeting for business. A letter was read and adopted by the Society, addressed to the Convention, setting forth in the glowing and extravagant colors of our extraordinary success, and congratulating the Convention. Of the signs of the near approach of the latter-day glory. Indeed, from the letter, you would suppose it was breaking in upon us in all of its transcendent splendor. I assure you. I felt not a little confounded at this elusive statement, for I could not with all my warmth of feeling. And imagination. Discover the truth of it. But judge of any astonishment? At the substance of the dialogue which followed, it was moved that the letter be printed in the Latter Day Luminary (if I mistake not) and that the amount of money collected be also inserted in the letter, but an objection was made and approved of; That if the amount collected should be inserted. In the letter, along with the glowing statement. That had been made, one part would militate against the other, and consequently destroy the effects that it otherwise might elsewhere produce. The word effects has rung in my ears from that day to this. Could it be possible that I, that the Kingdom of our glorious Redeemer is to be built up by such means, who declares that by His spirit and not by the power of man? (Either physical or moral as. The schoolmen say close parentheses the mighty work as accomplished, how much less than by artifice and cunning.
From that time, I have read with new eyes, and from a comparison of this letter with others of that class, they all appear to me to be animated by the same spirit, and are evidently designed and calculated to raise that great. Animal excitement, which now prevails almost to an overwhelming extent. How awful an applicable is the rebuke of Jehovah to all such “Behold! All you that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your own fire, and the sparks that you have kindled, this shall you have at my hand. You shall lie down in sorrow.” From that period, I have raised my feeble voice against all such Proceedings, and I trust in the strength of the Lord to bear witness that Jehovah reigns. The government being on his shoulders, who is alone able to build a temple and bear the glory. May the great head of the Church enable you to persevere as you have begun; earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints, to promote unity among all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the utter confusion of all self-constructed societies and collegiate mercenaries. Truth is mighty, as you justly remark, it must and will triumph gloriously.
I was much disappointed at not finding in the signs of the Times some strictures on Jetson's letter urging the establishment of a plain-dressed society. I thought it calculated to do good, and would tend to open the eyes of many of our bewitched Galatians. Some of our brethren who read them and could not believe that it was written by a Baptist, much less that the author was the great Baptist missionary to the Hindus, for whose use so many of their pockets and suffered. Goliath had a large sword, but David managed to take his head off with his own weapon. David said that there was none like it. So I would say of Jetson's letter, I think it was well calculated to kill him in the estimation. Of all those who have experienced the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.
With my earnest prayers for the success of that cause in which you are engaged.
I remain yours, ever
to serve in the gospel of Christ,
Charles Polkinghorn
DEAR BRETHREN: – We are coming to the close of another year, one to be long remembered by us. What shall we say concerning it?
Philadelphia, Pa., Sept.
24, 1916.
DEAR BRETHREN: – I feel
impressed to talk a little while this evening with the readers of the dear old
SIGNS. I have you all in my mind and in my heart; I think of you as having the
mind of Christ, as formed into a bundle of love, love flowing from heart to
heart and faith answering to faith. Unlike the love of men and women in the
world, which becomes blurred and often blotted out by reason of reverses and
offences, but a love which Iiveth and abideth forever in the hearts of the
Lord’s chosen. I love to think of each one of you as having one desire, and
that to serve the Lord acceptably and with godly fear. “Ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvelous light.” Ye are a “peculiar people,” because all your possessions
in righteousness are exclusive and peculiar to you, not being found in the
world. Ye are a “chosen generation,” the generation of Jesus Christ, chosen in him
before the foundation of the world. Ye are “an holy nation,” as in contrast to
all earthly nations, standing alone and apart, illuminated by the brightness of
the Sun of Righteousness; in the world, but not of it. Ye are “a royal
priesthood,” kings and priests unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Is it
not in your hearts to say, “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O
people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy
excellency!” Self- righteousness is a snare and temptation to you, and while
you are led by it in the lusts of your flesh you hate it with a perfect hatred,
for Christ is your righteousness. You are meek and lowly of heart, because your
gracious Redeemer was meek and lowly, “a man of sorrows and acquainted with
grief.” Sometimes your harps are hung upon the willows, and being in a strange
land you cannot sing the songs of Zion, while at other times you are lifted up
and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. At times you groan and say,
O, if I only knew for a certainty that I am a true follower of Jesus, born of
God, but alas, if your hope was converted into certainty you cease to be a
child; it is your precious hope that saves you and leads you on to a victorious
end. The apostle John addresses you as “little children,” reminding you that
you are in your flesh idol worshipers, beseeching you to “keep yourselves from
idols.” Do you sometimes feel like Paul when you meet with the brethren, that
you are determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified? and yet
you find yourself right in their midst talking fashions and crops. These things
teach you your weakness and helplessness. Do you mourn your emptiness in
spiritual things? This is an evidence that spiritual things are yours, otherwise
you would not mourn. Do you sometimes wish you were like brother or sister so
and so, they seem so much better than you? But do you know that the Lord has
fitted you for a certain place in his temple, which no one else can fill, and
you would not fit in the shoes of your brother or sister? You are made to be
willing to be the Lord’s anything, if only you are the Lord’s. “Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his
grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having
made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself.” How great and wonderful is that mystery
made known to us in a varied experience. The shuttle in the hands of our master
weaver, filling in the threads of our life journey, both warp and woof,
completing the garment, which sets forth in its lengthwise threads faith and
hope and love, and in its cross lines depicting the conflict and the striving
against the pride of life. “fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind,” a
perfect garment of the life and spiritual exercises of the children of our
heavenly Father. Surely at times you become discouraged and say within
yourselves, We will give it all up, is it worth this continual striving? Has
any one ever been able to give it up? No, you are sweetly forced into the
kingdom, and you press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus. The attaining unto salvation through grace is your highest
ambition and your sweetest inspiration. Strive on, brethren, in hope of the day
that is to follow. Write for the SIGNS, you ready Writers. “But to do good, and
to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
B. F. COULTER.
Signs of the Times
Volume 84, No. 20.
October 15, 1916
Dear Brother Ker: – There are a great many questions in my mind, some more prominent than others
Dear Brother Chick: – Do you ever have conflicting emotions exercising you at the same time!
Dear Brother Beebe: – The brethren say to me sometimes, “I have written to you in my mind, but did not put my thoughts on paper.”
DEAR SISTER JONES: A sister kindly permitted us to read the letter she received from you. My wife read it several times, and enjoyed it so much that she now insists that I write to you, hoping thereby that she might also some day receive a letter from you, so you will please consider this letter as coming from us both, and if in your heart you can feel it worthy an answer, we will be glad indeed.
Coulter, Elder B. F. (M. D.), of Philadelphia, Pa., Dr. Coulter who is a successful physician as well as an able and zealous minister, was born September 3, 1846; graduated in medicine March, 1880; convicted of sin, given a hope in the Savior and in September, 1883, united with Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church in New Castle County, Delaware—the oldest Old School church year 1887. Dr. Coulter moved his membership to Salem Church, Philadelphia, Pa., and was, in the year 1905, ordained to the full functions of the gospel ministry. The following year, he was called to the care of this church, which holds regular meetings every Sunday morning. Elder Coulter is an able defender of the doctrine of God our Savior, a fluent writer, and greatly loved by his people.
Guillermo Santamaria]
