Extracts from the sermons of the late George Dunkle

Preface

The object of this work is to preserve to the world the truth as declared by him from whose sermons these extracts are taken. Though a true preacher of the gospel, his preparation for this work was not obtained in school or by human wisdom, but by a personal experience of the truths he explained. His ordination was not by the laying on of human hands, but by the descent of the Holy Ghost, by which he was anointed and qualified to refute error, expose false doctrines and explain the Scriptures.

He was never called by such titles as Rev. > Dr., Bishop, or Rabbi, but was a plain farmer of ordinary business education, whose only object in life was the salvation of the soul.

By faith in and obedience to the Word he became a wise master-builder in the church of Christ, a workman who needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In opposition to all wrong in church or state, he fearlessly defended the principles of eternal right at the expense of all things.

For many years he stood in the Methodist Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodist churches

PREFACE.

iv and " cried aloud, spared not," and showed them their sins and transgressions, until there was no ear to hear and every man' s hand was against him; when according to the truth, " If they persecute you in one city flee ye to another," he confined his labors, as did Paul, to his own house, and taught those who came unto him; and many souls can testify to the saving power of his doctrine, though few would make all the sacrifices requisite to full salvation.

For more than twenty years I listened to these discourses, which came forth with no forethought, no study, no previous preparation. He often said: " If I try to think of something to say, I get confused and can say nothing. When a truth is given me as a foundation for remarks, if I revolve it over in my mind and think I will say certain things about it, I am confounded; so I can do nothing but receive the word from God, and be simply an instrument through whom the Spirit can speak. If I attempt nothing more I feel at ease, and have no trouble to find ideas and language, as all is given when needed. So God is entitled to all the glory, and the creature, as nothing, is lost in wonder, love and praise to a being who uses a worm to thrash a mountain and weak things to confound the mighty, that no flesh should glory in his x>resence."

V

PREFACE,

His library consisted of the Bible and the Hymn-book, and his only leader, teacher and comforter was the Holy Ghost. These extracts, though correctly showing his attitude towards the professed church and the world, and the doctrines he taught as necessary to salvation, lack the power and force with which they were spoken, which sent conviction and light to every honest heart and confusion into the ranks of error.

That voice is stilled in death, but the truth he declared lives in the souls of the few who hold his memory dear, and who still contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

The Author.

Contents

I, METHODISM 1

II, The Lesser Methodists 23

III, Calvinism 39

Chapter I. Methodism

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 5 ' When the Protestant world was confirmed in the belief that salvation depended wholly upon God, who bestowed it upon whom he would, Arminianism, like a grain of mustard seed, was sown, and man's responsibility, which leaves his future destiny to his own choice, began to take root in the arid soil.

John Wesley, whose history is familiar in every Methodist household, though an educated minister of the Established Church of England, espoused the doctrine of man 5 s free will. Destitute of grace, when death stared him in the face he found he was unprepared for the event.

As he saw the fearlessness of the simple Moravians, who were in the same peril, and heard their testimonies of saving faith, conviction seized him; and in time he, too, felt the witness of sins forgiven.

Prom that time he taught the doctrine of a change of heart as a necessity to a Christian life; that conviction precedes this change, and was the work of God, who impressed upon the heart a sense of sins committed and the awful result, and was given irrespective of man' s wish or desire; but that he had power to resist this conviction and harden his heart against it; or could yield to it, confess his sins, repent, seek forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ, and thus become saved.

He also taught great simplicity of manners, separation from all worldly amusements, sobriety and devotion, plainness of attire, and strict conformity to the Scriptures as obligatory and as an outward evidence of an inward change, and as the only way of retaining God' s approbation.

Although he gave some hints as to the deeper work of grace, history gives little definite light on the subject; and it is evident he had no knowledge of any change beyond conversion.

He taught correctly justification by faith, the sacrifice necessary to obtain it, and the obedience requisite to retain it.

God so blessed the little germ of right doctrine

OF THE LATE GEORGE DUNKLB. 3

that many were added to the number who could testify to sins forgiven.

To-day the Methodist Episcopal church points with pride to John Wesley as its great founder, and to his life and doctrine as the moulding influence of its great body,

Methodism as it was, and Methodism as it is, is a question I feel it my duty to consider as one of vital interest to the world.

As it was, it struck conviction to the heart and converted the soul; it drove out the worldly minded, the pleasure seeker, and the fashion follower; it brought in the honest, the poor, the meek and the obedient.

As it is, will show whether the old landmarks have been kept or whether one vestige of the original structure remains.

I will attend its regular Sabbath service and follow its different ways of doing good with an unbiased mind. I will look and listen for the doctrine and followers of John Wesley. As I near the edifice I see instead of a simple building, such as he would have approved, a structure as grand and towering as far toward the skies as their utmost means can afford.

I enter with reverence, for it is said to be God's house; but with floors carpeted and pews cushioned, ceiling frescoed and walls adorned, gilded Bible and silver chalice, crosses of evergreens and bouquets of flowers, I look to be certain I have not made a mistake and entered * some great cathedral or church of St. Peter. But no, it is truly Methodist, and I am seated in the place reserved for strangers and the poor; the other seats being owned by the wealthy members, who, if one not of the same social standing was admitted would scorn to be seated by his side.

The pews slowly fill with worshipers, who bow their heads reverently on their jeweled hands ; and I again think, by mistake I must have entered a resort of fashion, as all are arrayed in broadcloth and fine twined linen, plaited hair, gold and costly apparel; except a few in the corner, who, though poor, do as well as their means will allow to imitate the example set in the other pews. I look back more than a century and see John Wesley and his followers worshiping in a house with no adornments, plainly clad, devoutly obedient to the Word and fervent in spirit; and I feel that God approves.

The peals of the greater or lesser organ fill the spacious room, and I can hardly tell whether the strains are operatic, military or religious; and I hear John Wesley say: "I have no objections to your bringing musical instruments into the service providing they are neither seen nor heard."

The minister gives out the truly Methodist

OF THE LATE GEORGE DU^KLE.

hymn, "Before Jehovah's Awful Throne, 5 ' or u O for a Heart to Praise My God," or "Far From My Thoughts Yain World Begone," or some other of those whose sentiments came from heaven, and if sung in the spirit would find a response among the glorified throng; and I take courage, feeling a thrill of joy as it is slowly read, and wonder there is not a trembling in the pews as the awful truths come forth. But I am suddenly attracted by the organ again, and then the singing; there is music enough, and harmony enough, and zeal enough, but something chills me. At its close I have forgotten all those solemn words, and I can remember nothing but the great tones of the organ and the airiness of the choir, whose manner and spirit is as though at a musical entertainment; and I find upon inquiry that all are not even professors of religion, but have been invited or hired to perform this part of divine worship.

I again hear John W esley say, in the language of the Holy Writ: "I will sing with the spirit and the understanding also; I will pray with the spirit and the understanding also;" and I waited to see if some learned infidel or profane man, whose gift of language was equal to the task, was invited or hired for the next act of worship. But the minister offered the prayer himself, which flowed from his lips like a lovely song; and he prayed long and for many things, but no sinner quailed before it, and none said "Amen" to his. giving thanks; ~but all bowed in stately dignity, except the members of the choir, who whispered, laughed, exchanged notes and prepared for the next hymn, the sentiment of which was gospel truth, but which, with preludes and interludes, was consumed in the flood of melody.

It is a day to receive probationers into full membership. The text is: "I am the vine; ye are the branches." I listened eagerly, for here surely, if anywhere, I will hear the doctrine that caused sinners in Zion to be afraid and sinners outside to cry, "God be merciful to me." But I waited in vain to hear the holy character of the vine portrayed, which would have sent conviction to every heart, or the qualification necessary to become branches, which would have thundered condemnation on every head ; instead, it was conceded that all present were ready to die and prepared for the judgment, and were exhorted to good works for the elevation of mankind as the fruit necessary to the Christian life.

O, what would John Wesley have said at such daubing with un tempered mortar; such teaching for doctrine the commandments of men; such turning of the ears from the truth to fables; such philosophy and vain deceit to lull the conscience to sleep, to avoid the offense of the cross, to add to the numerical and financial strength of the society !

Again the organ sounded, and the candidates for membership came forward. Old men, just from the marts of business speculation and schemes for money-making, whose garments are already moth eaten by the cries of those whose hire has been kept back by fraud; young men, fresh from the ceremonies and oaths of some secret order of darkness, who, by a known sign, infomr the officiating clergyman that he is already a brother; women dressed in feathers and flowers, ruffles and curls; children, ignorant of the meaning of these proceedings, slyly smiling at each other, stand and answer the solemn questions, at which they would have shuddered and paled had they been taught they meant anything. I listened to the vow: — "I do here, in the presence of God and this congregation, renew the solemn promise of my baptismal covenant, which is that I renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same and the carnal desires of the flesh, so * that I will not follow nor be led by them. I will obediently keep God's holy will and commandment, and walk in the same all the days of my life; I now ratify and confirm the same, and acknowledge myself bound faithfully to observe and keep that covenant. I will contribute of my earthly substance according to my ability, to the support of the gospel and the various benevolent enterprises of the church. I trust I have saving faith, and will cheerfully be governed by the rules of the church and promote its welfare and the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom." After which they were given the right hand of fellowship, and, according to the sermon, were branches of the true vine.

The minister then read this notice: "Sabbath school immediately after the close of this service. Lecture this evening by Bishop — on Church Extension, Temperance, or Missions; after which there will be exercises by the children of the Sunday-school, consisting of dialogues, recitations, responsive reading, interspersed with solos, duets and other music. Monday evening there will be a dime social at Brother A.'s for the organ fund. Tuesday evening, class meeting. Wednesday evening there will be an entertainment, consisting of 'The Temple of Fame, 5 closing by tableau shown by colored lights. The arrangement is , fine and the costumes elegant. Admission twenty-five cents. Thursday evening, prayer-meeting. Friday the church and Sunday-school, who so much need rest and recreation, will go on a picnic excursion to Watkin's

OF THE LATE GEOKGE DUNKLE.

Glen. All are invited. Saturday afternoon, in the lecture-room, an oyster supper will be served for the benefit of the Sunday school library, We hope in behalf of the great good done in our Sunday-school that this will be largely attended. Choir meeting in the evening. Remember, also, the Christmas tree, but a few weeks away, is to be provided for, and every one is expected to give — time, money and influence, — to aid all these good works. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver, and in proportion as you desire his blessing, so must you give liberally to these worthy objects."

After a voluntary from the organ and the benediction, a steward said: "Brethren and friends, there will be a donation party at the parsonage two weeks from next Tuesday night, for the benefit of our beloved pastor, who labors in word and doctrine for the salvation of our immortal souls; and we should show our appreciation of his self-denying efforts by the liberality with which we patronize this gather^ ing." A feeble old man said in an undertone: "Brother, that is class-meeting night." The steward dropped his head an instant and then said: "Do not forget the time, — two weeks from next Tuesday night." I saw John Wesley a silent spectator to these proceedings, and, bent on seeing all they called good, I attended the gatherings of which notice had been given.

The room, where were gathered the children for Sunday school, was decked and ornamented to attract and amuse childish minds; and the exercises were simply an entertainment. The sacred lesson, which alone might have had some divine influence, was so embellished by pictures, maps, and drawings that the force of truth was blunted and destroyed; and as they filed out to the sound of the organ not a serious look nor a sober countenance was seen.

All came and went as to any other place of amusement. Not one word of truth did one hear from the little groups gathered here and there, but the conversation was of the maps and pictures, the flowers and music, and all went home to prepare for the next entertain* ment.

I had scarcely time to think of John Wesley before the evening bell called together a full house for the learned bishop to address and the children to amuse. An intellectual feast it was, but there was nothing for the poor and illiterate, who in Christ' s time had the gospel preached to them, except an appeal for their last dollar, that the missionaries might take the same gospel to the poor heathen, who had no blessed Bible to give them such light as was here walked in, and no entertainments such as the meeting closed with. A liberal collection was taken up and all went home satisfied.

At the dime social all was glee ; Christ was Belial ; the preacher and the infidel, the profane and the church member, the class-leader and the Sunday-school teacher, all were as one, laughing, joking, playing games ; and not one* word or act to distinguish the followers of John Wesley from the others. But as they realized quite a sum above expenses, the social was called a decided success.

Tuesday evening I went to the class-meeting. It being lodge night the minister was absent, and not over half a dozen met to tell of God's dealing with them. One sister said: "I am not satisfied." The leader mournfully replied: " We are now taught it is impossible to become so, and, sister, you must wait until you get to heaven to be fully satisfied."

A brother said : " I do many things I ought not, and leave undone many things I ought to do ; yet I rejoice at the prospect of finally having a seat with the blood- washed throng. 5 5 The leader said: "Go on, brother, and may the blessing of God attend you."

Another said : " I wish I knew I was a Christian." " You do not work enough for Jesus," said the leader.

Still another said: £ 6 1 desire a deeper work of grace, but know not how to obtain it. " " God bless you," said the leader, ' 6 and now let us close the exercises with the hymn : ' How hap-

12 EXTRACTS FRO}! THE SERMONS p y is the pilgrim' s lot ! ' I went away hearing John Wesley say : "The duty of the class-leader shall be to inquire how the souls of each prosper ; how each grows in the knowledge and love of God ; to advise, reprove, comfort, and exhort as occasion may require.''

The Wednesday evening entertainment called out a crowded house ; the sacred desk with its Holy Bible was removed, the platform was decorated with flags and bunting, flowers and evergreens, and a gilded throne erected where the chosen vessel of God stands to call sinners to repentance ; and when the curtain was withdrawn we saw the eldest daughter of the minister seated upon the throne, adorned as the £ 4 Goddess of Fame," having a crown on her head and one in her hand. Church members in the costumes of Washington, Queen Elizabeth, Columbus, Grace Darling, Xantippe, Joan of Arc, Susan B. Anthony, Widow Bedott, Topsy, Mrs. Partington, and a mother with an infant in her arms, each presented their claims to the crown in honor of their achievements, which was finally given to the mother as wielding a more potent and beneficent influence on the world than any other. The tableau through the colored lights called forth peals of laughter, and the exercises closed with a request for all to join in the Doxology, " Praise God from whom all blessings flow." We walked out slowly, giving a lingering look at the goddess, still seated in the place where the preacher is supposed to show the way to escape the torments of the bottomless pit, and heard the voice of John Wesley and the Methodist Episcopal Discipline say: "All those who join these socie* ties are to avoid doing what is not for the glory of God, such as taking any diversions that cannot be used in the name of the Lord, denying themselves and taking up their cross daily, submitting to bear the reproach of Christ and to be the filth and off-scouring of the world."

Thursday the minister was called to the bedside of one of the flock soon to die, and unprepared for the event. The dying one expressed his fears of the future and asked for direction and prayers. The minister said: "God is a loving heavenly Father and knows all our frailties. He makes allowance for all our weakness, and invites us to love and trust him. He will not suffer any to be lost who confide in him ; so throw away your fears, my dear brother, and lean on Jesus to carry you safely through the dark waters of death to his Father's bosom. He said : 'Let not your heart be troubled : I go to prepare mansions for you ; neither let it be afraid, for in my Father's house are many mansions.' You will leave the church militant for the church triumphant, and there you will wait for those you leave behind." He them sang " Sweet Beulali Land," and " Gates Ajar," and prayed that the man might lean on God's rod and staff through the valley and shadow of death. Thus assured of entire safety, the man, unchanged and unforgiven, calms his troubled fears and closes his eyes to earth 6 ' trusting in Jesus." Where will he awaken? I heard John Wesley say in the words of the prophet: " They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace."

At the Thursday evening prayer meeting a dozen or more joined in the worship. The preacher read a few verses from the Bible, which he said were to be the topic of the evening, and all the exercises were to tend to that point. So, as all was to be done by rule, I wondered what would become of the sinner who might possibly come to confess his sins, or the backslider who had lost his evidence. Several were called upon to pray for — the topic ; and after singing to the same, were the testimonies.

An aged sister, for whom my heart yearned, said: "I am living on borrowed time, and feel I must soon die. I desire to be ready for the event. I often think how, when young in life, I gave my heart to God and he converted my soul. Then a Methodist was known by his dress and deportment, and was persecuted for his religion. I had the witness then, and knew

OF THE LATE GEOKGE DU^KLE. 15

I was saved ; the glory of God was in my soul, and his law was my delight. I wish it was so with me now ; I would not fear to die, and would live in joyful anticipation of the event. But everything seems so changed ; yet I hope some way to meet God in peace." At which the minister said : 6 Times have greatly changed ; the church has made great advancement in fifty years, and the greater light of the age has done away with persecution. God is love ; Jesus is love ; heaven is love ; and if we love him we need not fear for the future. Indeed, our love should be so perfect as to cast out this fear. We should trust ourselves implicitly with Jesus, who will take us safely through death to the courts of glory."

My spirit groaned within me that the last spark of conviction must be quenched by such a soothing song, from a follower of John Wesley, who said: cc After conversion the witness of salvation increases in the soul if faithful," and, "None are true Christians unless persecuted."

Another sister, who with curled hair, hat gay with ribbons and flowers, rings on her fingers and ruffles on her dress, arose boldly and said : 4 'I rejoice in a free and a full salvation," to which all responded heartily, and the preacher said : " That is good, and what all ought to be able to testify to. " Again I heard J ohn Wesley and the

Methodist Episcopal Discipline say : " Let all our people be required to conform to the apostolic precept, not to adorn themselves with gold or pearls or gaudy apparel."

A downcast looking brother said : " I am satisfied I am not a true Christian ; and not one of us lives up to the Discipline or the Bible, by which all will be judged. I know not what to do to better my condition, and am daily losing confidence in the church." "This brother is evidently laboring under a fearful temptation," said the preacher. "None have a right to judge the conscience of another, and we must keep peace and harmony in our borders. The great mantle of charity covers all these things tbat are so magnified to our dear brother's eyes, and if he would go to work, heart and soul, money and influence, for Jesus, the mist would clear away, and he would see clearly the glorious work done for the world by this church." I heard John Wesley and the prophet say: ' 1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and with a point of a diamond." "Judgment also will I lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow the hiding place." "I strive against my sinful nature," said another, "but am again and again overcome. 5 ' " The very best way to get the victory," said the preacher, " is with good works for the benefit of others." But John Wesley and Paul said : u The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruit."

"We are commanded to live holy lives," said another, "but I sin in thought, word and deed every day ; and trust in Jesus, who died for sin, and who is my righteousness, to plead my cause in the final day. " " Amen ! Amen ! ' 5 was the hearty response without comment, although John Wesley and the prophet said r u Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness : that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." And John said: " He that committeth sin is of the devil."

All the other testimonies were, "I love Jesus." But none heard John, the beloved disciple, say: 4 'This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."

The minister then arose and said: "These names of unconverted persons have been handed me as subjects of special prayer. Let us all join with Brother A. [the man who sinned every day] in supplication for these souls. Remember Jesus said: 'Where two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father. 5 " While they prayed earnestly, I was pondering in my mind, why, if this is

God's plan of saving souls, do they not pray for the whole community instead of these few; and if this way is really believed in, why is not a general time appointed to pray for the entire world, heathen and all. For God would certainly sooner save all than a few; and it would be so much less trouble and expense. I then remembered having read that "God saved souls by the foolishness of preaching," and I saw the conditions of salvation hidden, yea, buried, by the commandments of men. But none heard John Wesley say: u Ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye will neither go in yourselves, and them that were entering ye hinder."

The picnic was now on hand; all was mirth and levity. The preacher and those for whom special prayer was made, the ungodly, the sinner, those who but a few days ago had taken a solemn vow to renounce the devil and all his works, and not to follow or be led by the vanities of the world, and the man who was losing confidence in the church, were among the number. The bouquets on the table were admired, the variety and richness of the ornamented cakes were commented, and the .jokes passed around. The beauties of nature were gazed upon, speeches were made, hymns to nature sung, and all faces were turned homeward with not a thought of death, hell and the grave.

But I saw John Wesley in his scanty lodgings on his knees, joining the Savior's prayer to be kept from the evils that are in the world.

At the oyster supper were games of chance and games of kissing, for which those who joined paid for the privilege; there were lottery tickets, ten cents each, for the pieces of cake in which was a gold ring: there were prizes drawn at twenty-five cents each from a drawer ingeniously arranged, and many other ways of getting money; following the unwritten precept of the church, that "the end sanctifies the means. " All ate liberally and paid in full and Grod was thanked that their efforts were thus blessed. I heard John Wesley say: "Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." There were here certainly no evidences of anew birth. "If a man love the world the love of the Father is not in him." What more could be done to show a lack of divine love I failed to discover. Christ was separate from sinners, but there was no separation here, in deed or spirit, and when viewed in the light of truth, where are there any marks of the Lord J esus ?