Around Old Bethany: A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary DavisBerry, R. L. (Robert Lee)
Religion
Around Old Bethany: A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary Davis
Berry, R. L. (Robert Lee)
Christian fiction; Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) -- Fiction
Jesus Christ brought the grandest conception of human brotherhood that
the world has ever heard. He intended to create a perfect society,
and to establish principles of social justice in the earth. He planned
that sin, with its accompanying maladjustments, should be destroyed
and that man should live in harmony with man and with the infinite
Creator. Nothing less than the transformation of society was His goal.
His plan of rejuvenation was based on the truth that all men are of
one blood, created by one God, whose children they all are by virtue
of that creation. All should have equal claims upon His mercy,
goodness, and love, and upon the material blessings which the earth
affords. Divisions into rank, classes, and strata are not the will
of God. Jesus put all on one common level when He invited all to come
unto Him and rest, when He said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out" (John 6:37).
This work of reforming society goes on like yeast working in dough,
particle by particle, a little at a time, but at an accelerating rate.
At first there were the twelve apostles and a few others. By and by
there were more. But always and ever Christ carries on His great work
through His people. First one man is enlightened and saved; he then
becomes a missionary to enlighten others. They in turn lead others to
Jesus until there are enough to establish a congregation of the church
of God at whatever point they live. This local congregation becomes
then, a model in miniature of what society would be if all were
Christians. Vast responsibilities rest upon a local congregation. They
represent God. They show forth the power of God and exhibit to the
world the blessed state of the saved. They are responsible to make
their society attractive, so that sinners may be convicted of their
lack and be persuaded to become members of it. The next several months
of our narrative embraces the time when God raised up a church, a
society of the saved, in Bethany.
One year after the "tongues" revival, Evangelist Monteith began the
second revival of the church of God in Bethany. He was accompanied by
three helpers. Robert Davis and Mary were sanctified wholly. So
also was Jake Newby and Kate, old Mr. Stephenson and Charley Moss.
Thirty-five were converted, and twelve besides the ones named were
sanctified. Mrs. Thomas Jones was healed of tuberculosis and Dr.
Horton, who had been her physician for three years, met her one day
and was much surprised at her appearance.
"Why, Mrs. Jones, whatever has happened to you?" he said, "you look so
well."
"Hadn't you heard about my healing, Doctor?" she replied pleasantly.
"At the meeting recently the Lord touched my body with His healing
power and I do not cough any more, the fever is gone, and I am gaining
two pounds a week."
"My, if you folks keep on I will starve to death practicing medicine,"
said the Doctor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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