Felix Senger deserves more than a pa.s.sing notice. He, with his father, Joel Senger, moved to Rockingham County, Virginia, about the year 1847. Both father and son belonged to the Brotherhood, and each was like the other in devotion to its interests, actively employed. Felix established a nursery of fruit trees, the second, if not the first, established in the county. Most of the orchards planted from his nursery, after having given the most abundant satisfaction, are now very old or dead. Some trees, though in the decline of life, still tell the sweet story of Felix Senger"s nursery. They are like some good people, who, though old, can still remember and tell of the one who, though dead, was the means of their being planted in the Lord"s orchard of spiritual fruit trees.
Brother Kline attended the burial services of four aged people in this month. The first was that of old mother Mills, as he calls her. This took place the fifth. Her age was eighty-one years and eleven months.
The next was that of Mrs. John Carr, on the eleventh. Her age was seventy-one years. The next was that of Mr. Stern, on the eighteenth.
His age was eighty years. The next was that of Alexander Glovier, on the twenty-seventh. His age was seventy-nine years, one month and twenty-four days.
SAt.u.r.dAY, March 30. Attend council meeting at Shaver"s meetinghouse in Shenandoah County. Samuel Mummert is elected speaker.
THURSDAY, April 11. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Jacob Wine and Jacob Miller are elected delegates to the Annual Meeting.
SAt.u.r.dAY, April 20. Council meeting at the brick meetinghouse in Augusta County. Daniel Brower is established, and Jacob Brower advanced in the ministry.
SUNDAY, May 5. Meeting in our meetinghouse. Romans 6 is read. Joshua Wampler and wife, Hannah Sites, Mary Miller, Hetty Showalter and Mrs.
Eaton were baptized by me to-day.
TUESDAY, May 7. Perform the marriage ceremony of John Tussing and Susan Watkins.
MONDAY, May 13. Visit Mary Wampler, who is very sick. Give her a course of medicine. Then go to see Christian Fulk in the Gap. He is very sick.
TUESDAY, May 14. Visit Christian Fulk again. He appears some better, but his case is very doubtful.
NOTE.--This brother, after a severe illness, in which he was a.s.siduously attended by Brother Kline, was buried June 9 following.
THURSDAY, May 16. Attend an evening meeting at John Zigler"s in Timberville. Brother George Shaver is there. He speaks from Acts 2.
Substance of what he said: The day of Pentecost witnessed the establishment of the first Christian church on earth. The wonderful prophecy of Joel received its fulfillment on this day. The sun had been darkened and the moon turned into blood, or darkened so as to appear like black blood; volcanic fire and the vapor of smoke had attended the earthquake while the Lord of glory hung upon the cross; the baptism in the Spirit and in the fire was now present; the apostles were induced with miraculous gifts to speak with other tongues; and when Peter and the rest set forth the Lord Jesus in his resurrected glory and power, the Jews there a.s.sembled, being cut to the heart, cried out: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" The answer which Peter gave then and there is the true answer to that all-important question. I sincerely desire that every unconverted man and woman in this house will duly consider the answer, for it may redound to the salvation of his or her soul. I will therefore give it in the exact words we find recorded. They are these: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Notice here, obedience comes first. The repentance and the baptism precede the gift of the Holy Spirit. G.o.d is holy; and the sanctuary must be cleansed before he is willing to set up his glory there. The Temple had to be dedicated before the Lord could dwell in it. This gift of the Holy Spirit, by which we are to understand his entering into our hearts and making his abode with us, is the beginning of a heavenly life in the soul. The fruit of the Spirit, as it appears in the life of its possessor, is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, temperance, brotherly kindness, charity.
The body of every true follower of Jesus Christ is a temple of the Holy Ghost. But I cannot dismiss the subject yet. I have reason to believe there are some unconverted men and women in this little a.s.sembly. Were those hearers on that day sinners above all men? "I tell you nay! And except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." I sometimes think they were not such sinners as many we see around us now. Was it not for these the Lord prayed as he hung upon the cross?
Hear his dying prayer: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Can this be said of the many who go on heedless of all the preaching, and praying and reading that is being done to instruct their minds and move their hearts? I do not think it can. And it is to be feared that in a coming day the very sinners who go on in sin, facing the very light of gospel day, may be compelled to realize the awful truth uttered by our Lord: "He that knoweth to do his Master"s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes."
But there is glorious news here for every one who is willing to obey.
Thousands of obedient hearts are rejoicing to-night, on earth and in heaven, in the happy experiences they have of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their souls. This is the good news, this is the Gospel of their salvation. G.o.d is his own witness in every one that loves to obey him. "If ye abide in my words, ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. It is the Lord in man as "the way, the truth and the life." "Ye are G.o.d"s sanctuary: ye are G.o.d"s building." How ineffably exalted is the state of that man in whose heart and mind the Lord has fixed his dwelling place! We can not realize the glory that awaits us, when the veil that now hides the inner sanctuary shall drop and disclose to our eyes the enraptured vision.
Brethren and sisters, let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Therefore let us rejoice evermore; let us pray without ceasing; and "in every thing give thanks; for this is the will of G.o.d concerning us."
THURSDAY, May 23. Perform the marriage ceremony of Christian Runion and Diana Estep.
SAt.u.r.dAY, May 25. Preach the funeral of Elijah Judy"s wife. A very dear sister whom I lately baptized has left us. But our loss is her gain. She was the sister of Enoch and Saul Hyre. She leaves a sad husband and two very fine children, Enoch and Sallie. My prayer for them is that they, with their father, may follow in the steps of their pious mother and receive her glad welcome
On the blissful sh.o.r.e, Where partings are no more.
THURSDAY, July 4. Attend the burial of Peter Driver on the head of Muddy Creek, in Rockingham County. His age was eighty-three years and eight months. He was an honest member of our Brotherhood. His children consisted of four sons and five daughters; and they are now all heads of families, doing well, and members of our order of Brethren. Peter Driver was a blacksmith. He once related a fact to me which I will here note. "In my early days," said he, "we knew nothing of binding wagon and carriage wheels with a heated tire. I wonder," continued he, "that our daily experience in working iron did not teach us that an iron band or tire is larger when it is hot than when cold. Some may have thought of this," he said, smiling, "but if they did, I guess they were afraid that if they would venture to put on the tire hot, the wheel might be burned up before they could get the tire cooled."
He was very partial to the German language, and was never known to speak English from choice. Some one once said to him, "Mr. Driver, English people have the same G.o.d that German people have." "I believe that; but he speaks to German people in a much plainer way in his Word than he does to English people." Of course he could understand German best.
SAt.u.r.dAY, July 13. Go to Page County. Cross the Ma.s.sanutton and Peaked mountains by what is known as Koontz"s Path. Daniel Dovel and John Harsbarger are with me. They are very pleasant and cheerful brethren.
We spend the night together at Brother William Dovel"s.
SUNDAY, July 14. Meeting at Liberty schoolhouse. Isaac N. Walter is there. He is a well-known and very popular preacher in the Christian church. This is the first time I have ever met with him. He is very friendly and sociable, and will carry an influence wherever he goes.
He was at one time a very strong Adventist. He professed to believe in our foreknowing the day of our Lord"s coming, and announced it as being very near at hand. Brother Benjamin Bowman told me that on one occasion friend Walter announced that he would preach a sermon on the second advent of Christ, and therein tell the day on which we might confidently expect the Lord to appear in glory, and give the scripture evidences on which his proofs rested. This sermon was announced for Antioch, a brick meetinghouse belonging to the Christian connection, and stood four miles north of Harrisonburg, and not far from where Brother Bowman lived. He told me that a large concourse of people was present to hear, and he with the rest. The discourse was eloquent, but with the thoughtful not very convincing. But the day, which Mr. Walter had so confidently set for the appearing of the Lord in glory, pa.s.sed by as all other days pa.s.s by, in harmony with all the other notes that make the music of the spheres. Not long after this, the two met in the road. Walter looked a little bashful, but spoke first, and said: "Well, Brother Bowman, I was mistaken." "Yes," Brother Bowman replied, "but I had discovered that before you told me."
SUNDAY, August 4. Meeting in Elk meetinghouse, in Page County. I speak from Luke 16:9. TEXT.--"Make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."
This is a very remarkable pa.s.sage of Scripture. My understanding of it differs a little from that of some of our Brethren, but it is all in love, and each bears with the other"s interpretation. I will here give a brief outline of my view of it. I think the Lord meant to encourage a very free use of this world"s goods in the way of helping the poor, especially those of the household of faith. Through Paul we learn that Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Christian people may imitate the unjust steward in this one thing: he aimed to provide for the future by making use of what was within his reach at the present. This may be our Lord"s meaning. But he may have meant more. The wealth of some has doubtless been acquired in an unrighteous way, while in their unregenerate state, heedless of conscience and justice. Such mammon or wealth must be unrighteous, because unrighteously obtained. Those who have acquired wealth in an unjust way, and who afterward repent in heart and see the evil of their former course, may be deeply distressed, and at the same time have no opportunity to do as Zaccheus did,--make restoration. To such, it does appear to me, Jesus would say: "Let my Father"s children have a share of it. Use it in a way that will glorify him, by helping his dear children; and if you fail to be found in the number of those who are "my brethren" at the great day of final accounts, you may still come in as "the blessed of the Father" and inherit the kingdom prepared for you. It will then be my joy to acknowledge you and say: "I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came unto me.""
Whatsoever is done to one of the least of the Lord"s brethren he accounts it as done to him. Such is the wonderful union and ident.i.ty of the Lord and his people. When Paul was struck down he cried out: "Who art thou, Lord?" And the answer came: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest."
I would earnestly encourage all to go on unto perfection. Then we will be sure of the heavenly inheritance. "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."
FRIDAY, August 9. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize Henry Swartz and wife, and Barbara Yount.
SUNDAY, August 31. Meet brethren Daniel P. Saylor and Boyle at Shaver"s meetinghouse, in Shenandoah County.
SUNDAY, September 1. Meeting at same place. The visiting brethren speak to great edification and comfort.
MONDAY, September 2. Meeting at Flat Rock meetinghouse. The visiting brethren are with us, and rivet attention by their able discourses.
Brother Saylor does not seem to be lifted out of his shoes by the encomiums pa.s.sed upon him. But I suppose he has got used to them.
TUESDAY, September 3. Meeting at our meetinghouse. The visiting brethren with us to-day. They draw large congregations.
To-day I was somewhat amused at an answer I heard given. Brother Sam Wampler noticed the deep interest visible in the congregation, and, I suppose, contrasted it in his mind with that manifest on occasions when none but our home preachers are present. He accosted, in a very pleasant way, one of the members in these words: "How does it happen that when I preach you hang your head as if you might be asleep; but when preachers from a distance come you appear to be all eyes and ears?" "Why," replied the brother, "Sam, when you preach I know it is coming all right whether I hear it or not: but when strange brethren get up I do not know what may be coming, and think it best to listen."
MONDAY, September 9. This day Brother Kline and Daniel Yount start in company of each other to Pennsylvania. They went on horseback, out through the mountains of the western part of Virginia and Maryland.
FRIDAY, September 13, they had meeting at the widow Jacob Snider"s in the forenoon, and evening meeting at Brother Jacob Steel"s, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. On the fourteenth they had meeting at the same place.
SUNDAY, September 15. They had meeting and a love feast at the Yellow Creek meetinghouse. On the sixteenth they visit John Deahl"s, John Eschleman"s and stay all night at John Brumbaugh"s, near Clover Creek meetinghouse, in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
TUESDAY, September 17. They attended a meeting and love feast at the Clover Creek meetinghouse. John 3 was read. Isaac and George Brumbaugh were established in the ministry of the Word. One person was baptized.
WEDNESDAY, September 18. They pa.s.sed through Martinsburg to Brother David Allebaugh"s, where they had night meeting. Brother Kline had for his subject "The Importunate Widow, and the Unjust Judge."
DIARY NOTES.--We should not conclude from this parable that our heavenly Father is compared to an unjust judge who has no regard for his subordinates. This is not at all the point of comparison. We should not let our minds dwell here for a moment, because the contrast between the character of the judge and that of G.o.d is so great that there is no point of similarity.
The whole lesson, I think, is found in the power of prayer. What moved the judge to grant the widow"s request? It was her importunity. But he did this only to get rid of her. It, however, shows what earnestness will do even with an unfeeling man. Here the comparison comes in. If an unfeeling man, who has no reverence for G.o.d and no regard for the welfare of others, can be influenced to regard the pet.i.tion of a poor widow, though from a selfish motive, because she will not be put off, what may we not expect to do by prayer when our Father in heaven is ever ready to hear and answer prayer? He invites us to pray. He says: "Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." We must by no means lose sight of the one great point in the comparison, and that point is the widow"s EARNESTNESS. Prayer, without earnest feelings of want and dependence upon G.o.d, is but a form of words, and no prayer at all.
But let us notice the point in her prayer: "Avenge me of mine adversary." Who her adversary was we have no means of knowing, nor how he became her adversary. But we are told who the Christian"s adversary is. Peter tells us in these words: "Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The word AVENGE means to conquer or destroy an enemy, for the purpose of securing tranquility to the party avenged. In this sense Moses _avenged_ the children of Israel on the Midianites. In the same sense Ahimaaz said: "Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged the king of his enemies." I think you are now prepared to understand what the Lord means by the words: "And will not G.o.d avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily."
It is now understood that the DEVIL, the very vilest and worst of all tramps, is the Christian"s adversary. But G.o.d has promised to avenge him, if he will call upon him in that spirit of earnestness which is deaf to denial, such as the widow had. We must not forget, however, that G.o.d, in all he has ever done for man in the way of avenging him of his enemies or adversaries, required man"s a.s.sistance. As Paul puts it, we are coworkers with G.o.d, and so must we ever be.
Let us now test this matter a little. G.o.d is willing to bruise Satan"s head under your feet, and thus avenge you of the worst adversary you have ever known. He is at hand, ready, with more than twelve legions of angels at his service, if needed. You are sorely tried. You are tempted to commit adultery with some one until every nerve in your body trembles from the agony of suspense between conscious right and conscious wrong. One deep, fervent prayer from the heart breathed to Almighty G.o.d: "Lord, save, or I perish," will avenge you of your adversary, will put him to flight, and leave you and G.o.d masters of the field. Brethren and friends, this is no idle talk. G.o.d will as surely give you the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, as he has promised it.
The Lord says with apparent emphasis: "Hear what the unjust judge saith." There must then be something in it which deeply concerns us to know. Just what I have said is in it, the power of prayer. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
But again: You are tempted to do something very sinful, and you seem to yourself to try to pray. You feel the serpent"s coil about your heart drawing tighter and yet tighter, until your spiritual breath seems almost gone. I will tell you now just how you have got into this fix. You did not look to G.o.d soon enough. You put off praying and allowed the tempter to twist himself around you in the way he is. Do you ask what you are to do in this case? I will tell you. If you will just summon breath and courage to say from your inmost soul: "G.o.d, be merciful to me a sinner," your adversary will let go his filthy hold of you, and the Lord will set your spirit free. "G.o.d will avenge his own elect speedily." But they must cry unto him.
I love this word "cry." It carries with it to my mind the cry of an innocent child to its parent, when it fears danger or feels the need of something. Brethren, such let our cry to the Lord ever be. There is never any dallying with words in the mouth of a little child. Its requests, though they may not always be wise, are always sincere, and sincerity is what the Lord most loves, and hypocrisy is what he most abhors. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye can not enter into the kingdom of heaven."