We are slow to learn the greatest of all the truths God has revealed, the truth that the Lord is personally, in the fullness of his love, wisdom and power, in the soul or spiritual body of every one of his children.  “Ye are God’s temple; ye are God’s building.”  As the life of the vine is the life of the branches, so is Christ our life.  The Lord is ever at hand; not only around us, but in us.  And he is not only able but ready at all times to do us all the good we are capable of receiving from his hand.  Say not then, “I cannot repent;” for one earnest, believing, trusting look to him, with whom all things are possible, will cause the tears of penitence to flow down your face in a stream that will “make glad the city of our God,” rebuilt with its walls, in your heart.

But the Lord tries to encourage his lost-love children with promises additional to those of his presence, love and power.  He sets forth inducements of a character that surpasses all worldly considerations as far as the heaven is high above the earth.  Notice some of them:  “To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”  To eat of the tree of life is to enjoy all the blessedness and happiness of a heavenly life.  “In the paradise of God” is a figure taken from the garden of Eden, for paradise means garden.  We sometimes wonder at the folly of our first parents in disobeying God’s commands, and thus bringing upon themselves the disgrace and ruin which followed.  But do we not act after the same manner when we disobey the Lord?  We as surely deprive ourselves of the enjoyments of his favor and conscious presence as they did.  But through his abounding love in Christ Jesus we can be reclaimed and reinstated sooner than they.  Thanks be to God, the scheme of redemption and salvation is now complete; and we are not now required to wait four thousand years to have the head of the serpent bruised under our feet.  Neither is there a flaming sword of threatening vengeance to guard the gate against our return.  We are invited to return.  The gate is open.  Yea, the Lord himself is the gate.  He stands beckoning, even calling and saying:  “I am the way; I am the door.  By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”  The paradise of God, the garden of Eden, is planted by the Lord in the heart of every true follower of his.  This is a great truth.  When we are in heavenly frames of feeling we are in a state to enjoy its cool shade and partake of its fruits.  There the sun does not light upon us, nor any unpleasant heat.

Hoping that what I have said in much weakness may be made strong by the Spirit of God, unto edification and comfort, I now close.  On

SUNDAY, October 10, he had meeting at Brother Christian Wine’s.  Next day he visited David Garst’s; and stayed all night at the widow Bowman’s.

He visited successively, in order, the following named brethren and sisters, preaching nearly every day:  Daniel Crouse’s, John Sherfey’s, John Basehore’s, Henry Swadley’s, widow Bowman’s, John Bowman’s, Henry Garst’s.