tion, and other important teachings of the Bible were for the time of the apostles, end not for us. Such teaching has continued more or less among what is known as the religious world during, or througnout, the reign of Protestantism. This was a time when

only a part of the gospel was taught, and was a time neither "clear nor dark," as the prophet says. Zech. 14:6. It was a dark and cloudy day. Ezek. 34:12. But the prophet says, "At evening time it shall be light." Thank God! that time has come, and the clear light is now shining. We are in the last days of this gospel dispensation, when the Word is being preached in all its purity, and the evils of division among God's children are being exposed, and the true light is lifted up to the Bible standard. God wants this great reformation speedily pushed forward by preaching the word and measuring to its standard. If the gospel of healing is not preached, how will the people have faith to be healed? as we read that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God;" "and how shall they hear without a preacher?" It must be preached in the demonstration of the Spirit of God by the authority of the Holy Ghost, and it will take effect upon the hearts of the people. Otherwise

it will have but little effect.

Divine healing has been preached during the last few years as present truth by some whom God has given light on that subject, but has been presented too much as a secondary matter. Throughout the gospel

it is as prominently set forth as is the forgiveness of sins. Why not preach it boldly as present truth? Wherever the signs follow (Mark 16:16-18) the preaching of the word, it is the means of drawing the people together to hear the truth preached. It opens the way to get at the people with the word of God. It may be regarded as a gospel bait to draw the people together. Some start out to preach it and do not have the faith to back up their preaching, or, in other words, to substantiate the same with the signs promised, and would rather be somewhere else than where they are likely to be called upon to pray for the sick in accordance to their preaching. It were better for such to tarry awhile and plead with God for the authority and faith that go with the gospel commission.

It is unnecessary for us here to go into details to prove divine healing a success, but we will give the word of God, and those who do not believe the Word will always remain skeptics and unbelievers regarding not only divine healing, but also regarding the salvation of their souls.

Wherever you find a person who rejects the doctrine of divine healing as set forth in the word of God, you will find a person who rejects God. But such ones are so numerous that the majority of professors of religion tc-day are skeptics and unbelievers. This assertion may seem very striking to some, nevertheless it is true. On an average there is not one out of ten of those who claim to be Christians of to-day who

believe the word of God enough to practice it. And when measured by the Word, which they pretend to believe, the masses of them will be found on the broad road instead of on the narrow way May God stir up people to a sense of their duty, and awaken them to their alarming condition. Woe unto you who have become lukewarm, and have been spewed out of his mouth, as he said he would all such persons! Woe unto them who are "at ease in Zion!"

The Devil has many schemes and devices to deceive souls. There are many counterfeits throughout the land, but all these deceptions and such like do not change the word of God, nor the power of his might in fulfilling his word, and performing that which he has promised. We read in the Word that in the last days Satan will perform miracles in the sight of the people, to deceive the very elect if possible. Spiritualism is one of the strongholds of the Devil to deceive souls by performing miracles. Those who tamper with it are sure to be tainted by the Devil and bound by his chains. Wherever you find a spiritualistic medium you find a person who is possessed with devils; because such persons, before they can be a medium for the Devil, must put themselves wholly into his hands to be used at his will.

Christian Science is another counterfeit of the Devil, deceiving many who would not tamper with Spiritualism, because it comes under the name of Christian. This is more of a mind healing, and with all these

counterfeit ways of healing, it is easily accounted for why the people are healed; as the Devil is the author of disease; and if he is able to put disease upon a person and afflict the body, he is also able to withdraw his afflicting spirit in order to deceive the people.

Mesmerism, powwows, and magic healing, divinations, etc., have all been under operation in some form all through past ages; even in Pharaoh's time when Moses and Aaron threw down their rod and by the miraculous power of God it became a serpent, Pharaoh called his magicians and wise men, and they threw down their rods, which became serpents. But in order to show that the power of God was greater than the power of the evil one, God caused Aaron's rod to swallow up all the others. In Paul's time there was a girl followed them possessed with a spirit of divination, divining, telling fortunes, or something of the kind, which brought her masters great amounts of money. But Paul discerned her condition by the Spirit of God, saw she was possessed with an evil spirit, although she cried out to the people, "These men are the servants of the most high God." But Paul turned and rebuked the spirit and commanded it to come out of her, and as that spirit was cast out of her she had no more power to perform miracles, or divine for the Devil. We are acquainted with a woman, who a few years ago had great power in healing the sick by some performances and saying words, and even words including the name of the Lord, and her fame went out

throughout the land, insomuch that people came for hundreds of miles to be healed. But when she came under the sound of the pure gospel preached by the power of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, she found herself bound by the Devil, and was a cage of evil spirits, which had to be cast out before she could even repent of her sins. After they were cast out she gave her heart to God, but was unable to perform any healings for the Devil after that time.

THE COMMISSION.

Throughout all ages we find that to some extent divine healing was not only taught but practiced by those whom God had really chosen for his service. When the Lord made a call for any one to work in his vineyard he gave him the commission, did the qualifying, and sent him forth in his name, with power and authority from Heaven. A person thus sent out and commissioned from God with the heavenly authority can go forth with boldness to meet the adversary of souls and all oppositions of the enemy.

Although persecutions may come thick and fast, the one who is commissioned of God and proves true to his calling will move out regardless of the face of the enemy; and although such a one may seem to be a very weak instrument, yet we learn that God can take the weak things and confound the mighty. And