Around Old Bethany eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 110 pages of information about Around Old Bethany.

Around Old Bethany eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 110 pages of information about Around Old Bethany.

“Friends, let me tell you something,” and he looked around in that same quizzical way and poised his head as he used to do.  “I am convinced.”  And he stopped again.  Everybody listened most attentively.  “I fought Bob Davis over there ever since he came into this neighborhood.  I fought holiness.  I fought divine healing.  I fought the church of God.  I really thought, friends, that the Bible said, ’He that saith he liveth and sinneth not is a liar and the truth is not in him.’  But I never found it.”  And the old man stopped again.

“I have watched this church of God come up in this neighborhood, and I must confess it has done more for this community than anything that has ever happened to it since I have been here.  It has lifted up several of my neighbors out of sin.  It has brought peace to many homes.

“I am sorry that I fought this work.  God forgive me.  I was wrong and I was stubborn.  But I know now that if a man is a Christian he will not commit sin.”

It was almost overwhelming to Robert and Mary Davis.  Tears of joy flowed down their faces.  They ran over to old Peter, grasped his arm, and said, “God bless you, Brother Newby, we knew you were honest at heart.”

That day Jake Newby recovered the confidence he used to have in his father.

These were the beginnings of the church at Bethany, the church of God.  A church-house was built and the church was organized by the Holy Spirit into a working body of saints.  Robert Davis soon afterward felt the inspiration to teach and exhort and he was much used in this way.  By and by he preached occasionally until his gifts were recognized by the church through the laying on of the hands of the ministry.

There was a true catholicity of spirit in this congregation which caused them to make all Christians feel at home there.  They maintained unity by keeping close to God.  Their Sunday-school soon was the largest in the town.  Three missionaries went from it to foreign, heathen lands, and colporteurs carried the literature of the church into every home in the town.  The reputation of the church spread far and wide.  It became noted for the honesty and humility of its members.  The business men of the town had the utmost confidence in the church.  It became the greatest power for righteousness in the town, and every one came to look upon it as the living exponent of the best and highest in civic life and in social uplift as well as in religion.  Zion became a praise in the earth, as the prophet had said.

The events narrated occurred many years ago.  Last summer there was a reunion of the Davis family in the old home at Bethany.  One son had become a minister in the church, the other was the editor of the local newspaper.  One daughter was home on a furlough from China, while the other was married to a Christian brother of the town.  Robert Davis, in the meantime, had preached the whole gospel.  He had been instrumental in raising up several congregations.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Around Old Bethany from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.