Beloved Friends and Readers of the Trumpet: --With increased emotions of love, my heart goes out to each of you this morning. I wish I could see you and talk to you of Jesus, the sinner's Friend.

Though you feel lost and ruined by sin and unworthy of God's mercy, remember that Jesus has died for us who believe, that we shall live with Him in heaven. "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."--Rom. v. 8, 9. Oh, my dear heart broken friends, this is why we love Jesus. "We love Him because He first loved us." Then brethren, as we love Jesus, let us love the church and see that we fall not out by the way. Let us "avoid jesting," strife and debate and all pride and worldly conduct. O, let us not thus grieve the Holy Spirit; but let us manifest tender love and forgiveness one for another. Let us with Hezekiah when raised from affliction, walk humbly and softly the remainder of our days.

Brother, sister, in view of Christ's suffering, tears and blood, let us constantly seek to imitate our dear Saviour who died for us. Thus we shall avoid extremes, check a party spirit, and encourage brotherly love and good works. If we do wrong, oh, let us never try to excuse our sins by concluding, "I can't help it, for God predestina­ted it," and by the sin I am "serving God or fill­ing up the purpose of God." This would be shameful indeed! But rather let us confess and forsake our wrong to our good and to the glory of God. Oh, let none stir up strife and division or do any sin and think he or she is serv­ing God thereby. "Such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly."

On the other extreme, let us not hold with Arminians that we have the ability to fully discharge our many obligations to God, or pay all we owe. While all believers obey God, some more perfectly than others, none can attain to Sinless obedience--we "cannot do the things that we would." But let us rejoice that our Lord does enable and lead loving believers to walk in obedience to His commands. Thus "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Praise God, brethren, "Sin shall not have dominion over you" as in time past. So when we obey it is of the Lord's bless­ing, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do"--to God be all the praise. And when we who believe disobey our Lord, He is not to be blamed; for we ourselves have sinned and must suffer until, constrained by divine grace and love.

Here my departed grandfather has often preached the gospel to us with becoming zeal and faithfulness.

And as one of his last requests and in his stead, Brother J. B. Downing here served us as a pastor in tenderness and love, till he moved away. And here, with all my weakness and unworthiness, I first tried to speak of Jesus and His great love in the salvation of the chief of sinners through His suffering and blood. Here, also our much esteemed deacon, the late F. D. Smith, has often raised his voice in song and words of spiritual encouragement, leaving us the bright example of heavenly meekness and forbearance. And now after years mingled with joys, trials and sore conflicts, there still lingers in our hearts, the fond memories of many spiritual refreshings enjoyed around the sacred desk of Cedar Grove church.

It gave me much pleasure to be at the church of my membership with Brother Norman, our present pastor, and with my father and mother and other members present.

At the close of this meeting we were all made to rejoice, when the little daughter of Brother James Smith came with penitence, and was received into love and fellowship. Brother Smith's cup of joy was made to run over while he briefly referred to his own experience. My father, now 75 years old, also told us in a few words of humble emotion, how in early child­hood he felt God's love in his heart which he said has never left him.

With rejoicing, the hand of mutual love and encouragement was given, and we were all edified or built up in our faith and love. Thus ended a meeting long to be remembered. Praise the Lord!

Pray for us, that we may ever be led in paths of righteousness and peace.

Sparta, Tex.         M.D. DENMAN.