ON-this-DATE – Luther’s Last Message

The Great Reformer Martin Luther preached his final sermon  2/14/1546  at Eisleben, Germany.   It was from Mat 11.28 (which in English reads) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

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Thomas Andrew Dorsey – birth, July 1, 1899

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone.

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light,

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near,

When my life is almost gone,

Hear my cry, hear my call,

Hold my hand lest I fall,

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near,

And the day is past and gone,

At the river I stand,

Guide my feet, hold my hand,

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I’m tired, I’m weak, Lord I’m worn,

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light,

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.

Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born this date, 7/1/1899, at Villa Rica, Georgia.  He was the son of Thomas Madison Dorsey, a Baptist minister, and Etta Plant Dorsey, a church organist. 

Dorsey wrote “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (1932) a few days after losing his wife, Nettie and this newly born son.  It is a powerful plea for God to guide and thus others have identified with it.

Thomas A. Dorsey died 1/23/1993, at Chi­ca­go.

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Julian Huxley, Sir – birth, June 22, 1887

““[I suppose the reason] we all jumped at the Origin [Origin of Species] was because the idea of God interfered with our sexual mores.””

                        (From internet, ThinkExist, other source not given)

“Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire cat.”

                        (From internet, ThinkExist, other source not given)

Evolution…is the most powerful and the most comprehensive idea that has ever arisen on Earth.  — Sir Julian Huxley

                – ‘Education and Humanism’, in Essays of a Humanist (1964), 125.

To speculate without facts is to attempt to enter a house of which one has not the key, by wandering aimlessly round and round, searching the walls and now and then peeping through the windows. Facts are the key. — Sir Julian Huxley

– ‘Heredity I: The Behaviour of the Chromosomes’, in Essays in Popular Science (1926), 1-2.

Huxley is quoted here to expose his true, carnal nature.  The last quote above seems typical of souls who are trying convincing themselves that black is white and down is up.

Julian Huxley, Sir, born 6/22/1887 at London.  He was a biologist/philosopher and dubbed “Darwin’s Bulldog.”

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Dorothy Ann Thrupp

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.

Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;
Blessèd Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Dorothy Ann Thrupp was born this date, 6/20/1779, at Pad­ding­ton, Mid­dle­sex Eng­land.  She was the daughter of Jo­seph Thrupp of Pad­ding­ton Green.  She had hymns which ap­peared in both the Friend­ly Vis­it­or and the Child­ren’s Friend.  At times she used the pseudonym “Iota.”  Dorothy died 12/14/1847, St. Ma­ry­le­bone, Mid­dle­sex Eng­land.  “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (1836) is her best known hymn.

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John Wesley – birth, June 17, 1703

John Wesley was born this date 6/17/1703, at Epworth England.  The following is taken from his booklet called Plain Account of Christian Perfection.

1. What I purpose in the following papers is, to give a plain and distinct account of the steps by which I was led, during a course of many years, to embrace the doctrine of Christian perfection. This I owe to the serious part of mankind, those who desire to know all “the truth as it is in Jesus.” And these only are concerned in questions of this kind. To these I would nakedly declare the thing as it is, endeavouring all along to show, from one period to another, both what I thought, and why I thought so.

2. In the year 1725, being in the twenty-third year of my age, I met with Bishop Taylor’s “Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying.” In reading several parts of this book, I was exceedingly affected; that part in particular which relates to purity of intention. Instantly I resolved to dedicate all my life to God, all my thoughts, and words, and actions; being thoroughly convinced, there was no medium; but that every part of my life (not some only) must either be a sacrifice to God, or myself, that is, in effect, to the devil. Can any serious person doubt of this, or find a medium between serving God and serving the devil?

3. In the year 1726, I met with Kempis’s “Christian’s Pattern.” The nature and extent of inward religion, the religion of the heart, now appeared to me in a stronger light than ever it had done before. I saw, that giving even all my life to God (supposing it possible to do this, and go no farther would profit me nothing, unless I gave my heart, yea, all my heart, to him. I saw, that “simplicity of intention, and purity of affection,” one design in all we speak or do, and one desire ruling all our tempers, are indeed “the wings of the soul,” without which she can never ascend to the mount of God.

4. A year or two after, Mr. Law’s “Christian Perfection” and “Serious Call” were put into my hands. These convinced me, more than ever, of the absolute impossibility of being half a Christian; and I determined, through his grace, (the absolute necessity of which I was deeply sensible of;) to be all-devoted to God, to give him all my soul, my body, and my substance Will any considerate man say, that this is carrying matter too far? or that anything less is due to Him who has given himself for us, than to give him ourselves, all we have, and all we are?

5. In the year 1729, I began not only to read, but to study, the Bible, as the one, the only standard of truth, and the only model of pure religion. Hence I saw, in a clearer and clearer light, the indispensable necessity of having “the mind which was in Christ,” and of “walking as Christ also walked;” even of having, not some part only, but all the mind which was in him; and of walking as he walked, not only in many or in most respects, but in all things. And this was the light, wherein at this time I generally considered religion, as an uniform following of Christ, an entire inward and outward conformity to our Master. Nor was I afraid of anything more, than of bending this rule to the experience of myself; or of other men; of allowing myself in any the least disconformity to our grand Exemplar.

6. On January 1, 1733, I preached before the University in St. Mary’s church, on “the Circumcision of the Heart;” an account of which I gave in these words: “It is that habitual disposition of soul which, in the sacred writings, is termed’ holiness; and which directly implies, the being cleansed from sin ‘from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit;’ and, by consequence the being endued with those virtues which were in Christ Jesus the being so ‘renewed in the image of our mind,’ as to be ‘perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.”‘ (Vol. V., p. 203.) In the same sermon I observed, “‘Love is the fulfilling of the law, the end of the commandment.’ It is not only ‘the first and great’ command, but all the commandments in one. ‘Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise,’ they are all comprised in this one word, love. In this is perfection, and glory, and happiness: The royal law of heaven and earth is this, ‘Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.’ The one perfect good shall be your one ultimate end. One thing shall ye desire for its own sake, — the fruition of Him who is all in all. One happiness shall ye propose to your souls, even an union with Him that made them, the having ‘fellowship with the Father and the Son,’ the being ‘joined to the Lord in one spirit.’ One design ye are to pursue to the end of time, — the enjoyment of God in time and in eternity. Desire other things so far as they tend to this; love the creature, as it leads to the Creator. But in every step you take, be this the glorious point that terminates your view. Let every affection, and thought and word, and action, be subordinate to this. Whatever ye desire or fear, whatever ye seek or shun, whatever ye think speak, or do, be it in order to your happiness in God, the sole end, as well as source, of your being.” (+Ibid.+, pp. 207, 208.) I concluded in these words: “Here is the sum of the perfect law, the circumcision of the heart. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. — Other sacrifices from us he would not, but the living sacrifice of the heart hath he chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be suffered to share with him; for he is a jealous God. His throne will he not divide with another; he will reign without a rival. Be no design, no desire admitted there, but what has Him for its ultimate object. This is the way wherein those children of God once walked, who being dead still speak to us: ‘Desire not to live but to praise his name; let all your thoughts, words, and works tend to his glory.’ ‘Let your soul be filled with so entire a love to Him that you may love nothing but for his sake.’ ‘Have a pure intention of heart, a steadfast regard to his glory in all you actions.’ For then, and not till then, is that ‘mind in us, which was also in Christ Jesus,’ when in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we ‘pursue nothing but in relation to him, and in subordination to his plea sure;’ when we too neither think, nor speak, nor act, to fulfil ‘our own will, but the will of Him that sent us;’ when, ‘whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do,’ we do it all ‘to the glory of God.'” (+Ibid.+, p. 211.) It may be observed, this sermon was composed the first of all my writings which have been published. This was the view of religion I then had, which even then I scrupled not to term +perfection.+ This is the view I have of it now, without any material addition or diminution. And what is there here, which any man of understanding, who believes the Bible, can object to? What can he deny, without flatly contradicting the Scripture? what retrench, without taking from the word of God?

7. In the same sentiment did my brother and I remain (with all those young gentlemen in derision termed +Methodists+) till we embarked for America, in the latter end of 1735. It was the next year, while I was at Savannah, that I wrote the following lines: — Is there a thing beneath the sun, That strives with thee my heart to share? Ah! tear it thence, and reign alone, The Lord of every motion there! In the beginning of the year 1738, as I was returning from thence, the cry of my heart was, O grant that nothing in my soul May dwell, but thy pure love alone! O may thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown ! Strange fires far from my heart remove; My every act, word, thought, be love!

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Sanford Fillmore Bennett, MD – death, June 12, 1898

“Sweet By and By” 

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain

In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.

Sanford Fillmore Bennett, MD, died this date 6/12/1898 at Richmond, IL. 

 He was born 6/21/1836, at Eden, New York.  He attended an academy in Waukegan (his poetry first appeared in the Waukegan, Illinois, Gazette) and University of Michigan.  He was first a superintendent of schools (Richmond, Illinois), then an editor, then a soldier (the Uncivil War – 40^th Wisconsin Volunteers), ran a drugstore, and finding his niche graduated from Rush Medical College (1874) and was a medical doctor for over twenty years.  He penned “Sweet By and By.”  See more about it at  The Cyber Hymnal.

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Edwin Othello Excell – death, June 10, 1921

I have a song I love to sing,
Since I have been redeemed,
Of my Redeemer, Savior King,
Since I have been redeemed.

Refrain

Since I have been redeemed,
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in His Name,
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in the Savior’s Name.

I have a Christ Who satisfies
Since I have been redeemed,
To do His will my highest prize,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a witness bright and clear,
Since I have been redeemed,
Dispelling every doubt and fear,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a home prepared for me,
Since I have been redeemed,
Where I shall dwell eternally,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a joy I can’t express,
Since I have been redeemed,
All through His blood and righteousness,
Since I have been redeemed.

Edwin Othello Excell died this date, 6/10/1921 at Chi­ca­go, Ill­i­nois.  He was born the son of a German Reformed pastor on 12/13/1851, in Stark Coun­ty, Ohio.  Although he labored as a plasterer and brick mason, he moved on to study music with George Root.  Later Excell used his music in connection with two famous evangelists: Sam Jones (about two decades) and Gyp­sy Smith; he was on an evan­gel­ism tour with the latter when he died.  Excell is credited with 2000 gospels songs, among which is the above.

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Charles Dickens – death, June 9, 1870

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of credulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…

    – Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, NY: Barnes of Noble, 1993, 1. 

Any strongly marked expression of face on the part of a chief actor in  a scene of great interest to whom many eyes are directed, will be unconsciously imitated by the spectators.

     – Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, NY: Barnes of Noble, 1993, 70. 

I perceive your tongue is…and what the tongue is, I suppose the man is.

     – Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, NY: Barnes of Noble, 1993, 180. 

…The dawning Republic One and Indivisible, of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death.

     – Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, NY: Barnes of Noble, 1993, 243. 

…The vigorous tenacity of love, always so much stronger than hate…

     – Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, NY: Barnes of Noble, 1993, 366. 

‘I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.’

     – Charles Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, NY: Barnes of Noble, 1993, 373. 

Charles Dickens died this date, 6/9/1870 at Gadshill, Kent, England.  He wrote many works among which are Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities.

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Thomas Paine – death, June 8, 1809

Thomas Paine died this date, 6/8/1809, wrote Age of Reason, Common Sense at age 72.

The following give insights into the less than desirable views of Paine.

“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

“The christian religion is a parody on the worship of the Sun, in which they put a man whom they call Christ, in the place of the Sun, and pay him the same adoration which was originally paid to the Sun.”

“Each of those churches show certain books, which they call revelation, or the word of God. The Jews say, that their word of God was given by God to Moses, face to face; the Christians say, that their word of God came by divine inspiration: and the Turks say, that their word of God (the Koran) was brought by an angel from Heaven. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all.”

“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”

“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.”

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E. (Elmer) G. Marsh – death, June 7, 1972

“God’s clock keeps perfect time” [1]

 

“God is your Father.” [2] (perhaps fits with the “my wife”)

“Education is a great blessing, yet this is a danger that America today   [written in 1929] is making a god of education.” [3]

“If you want to stay young be around young people, if you want to die you, try to keep up with them.” [4]

E. (Elmer) G. Marsh died this date 6/7/1972.  He was for many years a teacher at God’s Bible School and College, Cincinnati.  He was born 3/7/1880, in Kansas.

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[1] From the reservoir of public knowledge, heard and quoted by thousands.

[2] Wesley Duewel, “God’s Mr. Standing By.” God’s Revivalist (August 24, 1972).

[3] E. G. Marsh, Simple A B Z’s of the Second Coming (Cincinnati: Revivalist Press, 1929), 23.

[4] From chapel (unknown date)

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