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 assiduously 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 assembled, 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. God 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 assembly. 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. God 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 God's sanctuary: ye are God'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 God concerning us."
Thursday, May 23. Perform the marriage ceremony of Christian Runion and Diana Estep.
Saturday, 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