Carrying the cross for Jesus

Introduction

By SARAH TOWNSEND

My dear readers, I am writing this book as God has com-* manded me to do. It has pleased God to give me my command for first, second and third books to publish. As you can see, each book is different. I am trying my best to do God's bidding. Though the cross may be heavy at times, I am trusting God as Noah did when he was commanded of God to build the Ark. I do not think Noah knew who God had chosen to go into the Ark. Noah knew he was commanded from God, not man. I am trying to do my best that God will be pleased with my work He gave me to do. I am going to continue to do my best that I may please God, not man. I am trusting in God that I may understand better some day what meaneth this calling me to this work myself. All I have belongs to God. When He calls for a soldier to go on the battlefield I will answer. Here am I, ready for war. I am praying for God to give me strength to stay on the battlefield when the enemies are fighting hard against me. God's grace has kept me thus far ; it will keep all that trust in Him. Remember, nothing is impossible for God to do if we will wait until He comes. Sometimes God is long coming. Trust Him and wait. He is all right when he comes to us. God brings good news and glad tidings. God help us to be more like Noah.

Hymn by Sarab Townsend

JESUS IS STANDING ON THE MOUNTAIN

Jesus is looking at me; Jesus is listening at every word

I say.

Jesus is looking at me.

If what I do be good or bad Jesus is looking at me.

Jesus is on the mountain,

Jesus is standing on the mountain;

Jesus is looking at me.

On the mountain Jesus is looking at me.

I want Jesus to hear me call some sinner to Him. Jesus is listening at what I say for Him. I want Jesus to hear some sinner say, I will go to Jesus today.

Jesus is standing on the mountain.

On the mountain Jesus is looking at me. Jesus can see me wherever I go, Jesus is looking at me.

When Jesus calls for my talent He gave me I am coming with my best.

That Jesus will be well pleased with me On the mountain.

Jesus is standing on the mountain,

Jesus is looking at me;

Jesus is watching every step I make,

Jesus is looking at me.

On the mountain Jesus is standing;

On the mountain Jesus is looking at me.

GENESIS, 1ST CHAPTER, 20TH VERSE

And God said, let us make man in our image, after our Kkeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the catde, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

How shall we make man that we will please God when He comes for our talents He gave us when we was saved from sin unto righteousness? God made us like Him* Have we kept the love and faith God gave us? If so, we are trying to make man for God after our own likeness. If our likeness is like God's we must be like God in many ways. How shall we do this? Watch and pray at all times. Our first watch should be in our homes ; keep out dancing, card playing, drinking, swearing, backbiting any one in the house or out, live the life of a lady and a Christian. We can demand such respect that is due us. What must we do with our children? Do our best; train them up in a religious way when they are young; it cannot be too soon. Mothers must not let the child disobey old persons. We are helping our boys and girls to be after our likeness. When we have gone from labor to our reward, how shall we make man and woman after our likeness? Let them see us do nothing, say nothing we would not have God come and find us doing. Can we do any more to make man after our likeness? Yes, we must weep and pray for the unsaved man. When shall we begin? First, in our homes; second, in the street we live in. If we can make man after our likeness in our homes and street we live in God will give us faith and strength to look for unsaved man in some dark valley. When we find them we must tell them how God said. Let us make man. It is work for every Christian to do ; not one only.

If your image is like God's, let us try daily to make man for good, not evil. We must answer for the deeds we do, let them be good or bad.

God help us to have dominion over some unsaved man and make man after God's righteousRCss that we will please God when He comes for us.

EXODUS, 17TH CHAPTER, 7TH VERSE

And He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying. Is the Lord among us or not?

We Christians are often tempted. When we do our best for the cause of Christ we feel that we are standing on the devil's ground and not God's. What must we do then to find out? Inquire of God if He is among us or not. How shall we inquire If we are in trouble? We will pray God for drink if we are thirsty. If we are really thirsty we will pray the best we know how, not say prayers. Ofttimes when we are trying to show sinners the way out of the land of sin into the light of Christ they feel we are trying to take from them the pleasure of life. They stone us in many sinful ways. This is the time we question God if He is with us or not. We are in trouble now; no time for prayers. We pray God the best we know how to show us if He is on our side or not. Then we get the pow^r from God to do much good for him.

Do we obey God when He gives us His power as Moses did? If we obey God when He gives us His command God will take away the stoney heart from sinners ; He will follow us. Where shall we take them? To salvation's well to get a drink; they will not thirst again in this world. When we are trying to lead sinners to salvation will we get hungry on our journey? We get tired, we get many stones laid in our path. Remember, God hath said we cannot get to heaven on flowery beds of ease. We must fight for the prize. Sometimes sail through boldy seas for God to child of God will pray for God to be on our side. If He is with us it is more than all the world against us.

God help us pray daily, if God is among us or not, just in our homes.

LEVITICUS, 2D CHAPTER, 13TH VERSE

I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt that ye should not be their bondsmen, and I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you go upright.

I am thankful I can say the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. Any good things is well for His child to have if I continue to serve Him and obey His commandments. My God has brought me through many dangerous seas such as man has not power to do. God help us to trust God as we did when we was in the darkness of sin. God did not bring us out of the 'darkness of sin not until we fully trusted in Him with all our hearts, not a part of our heart. We gave Him all the best we knew how. Now we are a child of the King, not a bondsman of satan. We are out of the land of Egypt. God has broken the yoke of sin. We must stand fast when Christ has made us free. God has given all of His children that fully trusted in Him victory over death's hell and the grave. If we do our best and stand fast the winds may blow, the storms may rise; nothing can drive us from the living God. When God broke the yoke of sin and set us upright God gave us a command for the little things that come in our path. If we are not watching we will go back in Egypt. It is just what the devil wants a child of God to do. Who shall we watch? Our friend and brother that in sweet counsel with us. Often we get discouraged when our brother wounds us. We are not watching. Go back in Egypt, we must please God, not man. If we stand fast wait on the Lord, He will bring everything to pass as He has promised us. The heaven and earth shall pass away. His word must stand. God has said so. Praise His Holy Name. God has given us victory over death's hell and the grave, taken us out of Egypt, has broken the yoke of sin. We are bondsmen of the living God. Praise His Holy Name for His goodness to us.

NUMBERS, lOTH CHAPTER, 29TH VERSE

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel, the Midianits Moses' father-in-law, we are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you. Come then with us and we will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.

Who are us? We are sinners saved by the grace of God and believing in His word. What are we doing now? Praying foi the power of God to keep us, that we may so journey in the Saviour's care, and find some unsaved soul and take them with us. Do them good in the name of God. Dear son, how can we do them good? In many different ways. One may help any one when they are stealing from a friencL Do not help one who speaks evil of any one. When one is going to a dance do not help them get ready. Tell them how much they will need the Saviour should a pain strike them when they are dancing. Do come and go with us. He will do thee good ; we will do thee good ; we will take you to a friend who has power to heal all sickness. Come, we will take you to a friend who will heal you when your heart is sick with sin. Come and go with us; we will do you good. We will take you to a friend that will stay with you when mother is passing away from this life. Come and go with us; we will do you good when all of your friends have forsaken you. Jesus will stay with you. Jesus will be your constant friend. Come and go with us. We will do you good when all of your family has gone from this life. Your heart is burdened with pain and sorrow. Come and go with us; we will take you to a friend who will give you an everlasting life. You will never die. When the storm comes you will not blow away. You will be so high no storm can go over; so deep, nothing can go under; so wide, nothing can go around it. Come and go with us; we will do you good. We will take you to Jesus; He will go with you through the valley of the shadow of death.

DEUTERONAMY, 18TH CHAPTER, 17-18 VERSES

And the Lord said unto me, they have spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

God help us to speak of the living God and His righteousness that will stand throughout endless ages of time. How shall our speaking stand for the living? God cannot. If God did not send us, who sent the speaking that did not stand a false prophet. How shall we know them. Their works die with them. They are nothing more than dead leaves. How shall we know a child of the living God? A child of God has power. With God, the hearts of God's children must be in touch with one another. God's word is a live wire. It must go on and on in the valley, over the mountain, under the sea current. It is so strong at times, when turned on in full, we open our mouths and give praises unto the living God. Others feel the power of God and expect the salvation. We fear them. How often we have reforce when we hear the word of God coming out some one's mouth, singing a song, they have been redeemed, washed in Jesus' blood. God has put His word in some one's mouth now. But a child of God can feel the power of this song and understand the meaning of God's children's song. Woe be unto every one who is singing God's song if God didn't give the song to them. Nothing but death for such; the song must die with them. If God's word be tiue. His word is firmer than the heavens; the depth we cannot find; the height we cannot reach; the breadth no man has been given power to go around; must come through the word of the living God. The word of the living God is in my mouth. I am giving the song God gave. We are speaking of the living God. God help us to be such a prophet as pleases Him, not man.

JOSHUA, 4TH CHAPTER, 1-2 VERSES

And it came to pass, when all the people had clean passed the Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying. Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man. Come, let us go and see what the end will be* Do not loath back for the tempting things of this life often given us in different ways. God says, "He who puts his hand to the Gospel plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom." Should we get into the Kingdom after we have loath back. We will not get the first reward God had for us. Often the mountain is high, the valley is low, our strength is almost gone. Keep on in God's name. He is able to give His children all the strength that is needed in time of trouble. If we cannot climb the mountain, go through the valley.

What will we do when we come to the River of Jordan? This is our trying time. If we fail at the River of Jordan we are lost; we cannot afford to let our souls go to hell. There has never been a traveler return from hell to tell us how long eternity is. We are on our journey, looking for some one to go with us.

Where are you going? All the way through Jordan. If it is dark I must go on in God's name. How many would you have go with you through the cold, chilly streams of Jordan? As many as will go with me. I heard one say, I have not money to pay my way. Thank God this journey I am going to take is free to all mankind. Jesus paid the debt long ago for us all. Who will go and see what the end will be? I should like to hear twelve say, I will go in God's name and see what the end will be. It is a small number. Twelve that will not look back is better than arms of men starting through and loath. I am looking for the men that will go all the way, pass over the Jordan, not loathing back.

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JUDGES, 6TH CHAPTER, 5TH VERSE

For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and them came like grasshoppers for multitudes, for both they and their camels were without number. And they entered into the land to destroy it.

The works of a wicked man is nothing more than a grasshopper to the power of God. Give us children if we only stand fast in Christ who has made us free. If god is on our side the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

Stand fast. Grasshoppers come to a child of God in so many different ways we cannot afford to leave the things we have, if they are for God's salvation. Stand fast. God will drive the enemy back in His time and His way.

How shall we stand for the salvation of the living God when so many stumbling back are in our way?

First, we must pray in season and out of season. See if we cannot just as well pray if we do not watch the grasshoppers that jump and hop in our path. They get in our path much easier than we can get them out. What shall we do? We cannot do anything if God is not on our side. If God is for us it is more than the world against us. Multitudes of camel may come in our path. God has ways for us and camels. He can get them out of the way. Stand fast in the liberty where Christ has made you free. If we are doing something good for the salvation of sinful man and the grasshoppers get in the way, call on God. He promises to get them out of the way. God's word is just the same today as it was in our mother's and father's day. The same God has brought us out of the darkness of sin in the sunlight of righteousness. God helps us. Do not let camels come in large numbers. Grasshoppers take the light of righteousness from us.

II Ruth, 1st Chapter, 6th Verse

Then she arose with her daughter-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, how that the Lord had visited the people, in giving them bread.

We are pilgrims on a long journey, trying to walk the City of Gold. 0, that beautiful city! Who will come and go with us? First I want to see m the City is King Jesus. Who will come and go with us? Our daughter-in-law is with us. Is it enough to go \\ith us. No; our daughter is going with us. Some have gone. No, we are looking for other daughters that have not tasted the bread of life. Oh, how sweet it is to find some unsaved one that will go with us. Get the bread of life, drink from the fountain that will never run dry. God help us. King Jesus is the Bread of Life. He can, and will give the water. We will never thirst again.

How shall we find them? He is willing to get the bread of life only by faith. How shaill we get the faith? Live the life before God and man that the world may see we are heavenly bread. It is sweet. We are trying to give it to all we can get acquainted with. This is a long journey; we get weak at times. What shall we do? Call on God; He will be with us in the time of trouble. He is the same today. God will not leave us in the time of trouble. What is troubling us? We are saved. It is not enough to be saved. We ourselves must try and save our daughters and sons of man. We are pilgrims looking for daughters. Go with us to the land of heavenly bread. God help us find such one to please Him. May God*s hand sit upoi the daughters and daughter-in-law until they find the bread of hfe.

FIRST SAMUEL, 1ST CHAPTER, 16TH VERSE

Count not thine hand-maid for a daughter of Behal; for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Oh, that man may open his heart and let the salvation of God come in before the night of darkness comes upon them. If the sinful man lets the darkness come upon him and shut out the light of Christ, what will the cry of the unsaved be ? My day has passed. I am cut off, even to the thoughts of my heart. Where the tree falls it must lie to the north or south; it must say. Wha can God's hand-maid say? We have grieved for the salvation of this sinfulworld. Man will rebel against God's word, calling on God to damn his soul that is full of sin and cramped with the evil things of this life. What shall the daughter Belial do? Our very best, calling on the living God that Hhe will remain in sin. God has said one can choose a thousand to come. Put ten thousand to flight. God is the same God Ht was in old Daniel's time. He can hear and answer prayer the same as He did when he took the lions from Daniel ; he was not harmed. The same living God today. We can see him only with the eye of faith. God, help us to have such faith that pleases Him. One can climb mountains of sin if we trust God as the three Hebrew children. Three were put in the fire furnace. When the King looked in the furnace He said, we put three children in the furnace, behold, I see four. One looked Hke the son of the living God. All power is in the hand of God. I am the daughter of the living God, doing my best, praying God will be pleased with the work from my hands.

SECOND SAMUEL, 18TH CHAPTER, 13TH VERSE

Otherwise, I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life; for there is no matter hid from the King, and thou, thyself, wouldst have set thyself against Me.

King Jesus knew us before we were born in this world. He knew what we could do for Him and the salvation of sinful man. Be ye not deceived. God is not. Work, every one of us ; it is good for something in this life. God doesn't compel us to follow after Him. We are free; we can choose the way we want to go if we choose the ways of sinful man. We cannot fool God; we fool ourself and man. Only God knows us better than we do ourselves. God has the power. It has never been given to man. He looks in the heart of us all. When we try to fool God we are wasting our life. When we have lost our life we cannot get it back again. We are dead bodies, going around carrying nothing but sin. If we are live bodies we must carry the light of the King Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. He will bring glad tidings and great joy to many unsaved men. When we are doing our best we often feel we have done nothing in the sight of God. In such time as this we axe giving our life as it pleases God. Keep on in well-doings. God only knows the heart of us all and what we are doing for Him. God help us. Do not wrought falsehood against our life. There is no horse chariots, no man, no Kings can save us in the hour of death. We cannot hide anywhere from King Jesus Christ the Son of the living God.

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FIRST KINGS, 18TH CHAPTER, 21ST VERSE

And Elijah came unto all the people and said. How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered hi mnot a word.

When one has not decided to be a Christian they are halting between God and the devil, not decided who they shall serve. If we believe God is God, why not let Him knock at our hearts door and let Him in. God waits longer for us. Let Him in our hearts. Then any other friend will let Him in. God knocks for us; let Him in many different ways. One way, when a friend asks you come, go to Christ, God is knocking. Then you go to the church. The minister asks you to come to Christ. God is knocking. When you get in trouble of some kind you say, When I get out I will be better. God is knocking in many different ways Why halt between these opinions, sinner. May God help you. Choose this day who you will serve before the night of darkness comes upon you. God has food for you sinners that will last longer than forty days; throughout eternity if you eat this food of righteousness. You can go in a den of thieves. Christ is there in some lonely cave. You will be filled with the food of righteousness. God is knocking for you. Choose this day who you will serve, sinner, if you choose Elijah or God. The wind and storms may come at any time. It cannot blow you away. We have now trusted in Elijah God has founded. In a crack is Christ Jesus. The fire may fall from heaven; it will only come same as Baal and those that follow after Baal. I pray God if the reader is not saved they will choose Ye this day. Who will you serve, Elijah? God will be your God if we trust in Elijah God. He will stay with us as no other friend can do. When the fire falls upon us call on Elijah's God. Not one will say a word. Elijah's God is the true and living God.

TS

SECOND KINGS, 18TH CHAPTER, 6-7 VERSES

For he clove to the Lord and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments which the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him and he prospered whithersoever he went forth; and he rebelled against the King of Assyria and served him not.

0, for more faith in Christ the Son of the living God.

How shall we have faith in God such as pleases Him? Leave off our ways, cleave unto God and His way. When the tempter comes along cleave unto the Lord, let nothing persuade us to depart from the Lord, Who is everything to us. If we called unto the Lord and keep His Commandments we must shut our eyes and not sec the tempter when he stands before us. Shut our mouths, pray to God to give us just the word we should say sometimes. It is well to plug not here the singing of devils song the devil sang to a child of God. It is work to do this. Remember, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling to gain the victory. We must have God on our side. We will not be strong enough to rebel against the evil man gives us. It is sweet to obey God's command and walk in the way of righteousness. Horses and chariots may come before us. God is with us. Nothing can take us away from the love of the living God. Shall we cleave the Lord and depart not from following after Him? Must endure hardness as good as Salger. Cannot get to heaven on the flowery beds of case. We must fight to win the praises and sail through the rough seas. Sometimes the storm is heavy. Country winds are blowing. What shall I do? Cleave to the Lord and not depart from following and keeping His Commandments. Moses' God shall be my God; He is able to carry us through the valley and shadow of death if we rebel not, when God gives us His command.

FIRST CHRONICLES, IITH CHAPTER, 1ST VERSE

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying. Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

We Christians are the salt of the earth. What will become of the sons of man? If our salt has lasted it is only good to be cast out, not good for the dunghill. Should some unsaved man be found on a dunghill? If a Christian has cast his Saviour out he is no good. He has not a right religion to entertain only such things as dunghills contain. How can he ask God for His blessings and accept the blessings from God if not doing everything to get them in his way? We who have lost the seasoning of the salt God gave us do not hammer God as much as we do our daily earning. When we get our pay do we ever think who gave us the work that we may get bread for our children who are bones of our blood and our flesh? When they cry for us to help them we do our best for them. Often our hearts pain us as no one can see but God, because we cannot do more for our flesh and blood. What are we doing? Are we gathering any unsaved man to God? If we have been doing our best get up in God's name and strength; see what we can do for the salvation of our bones and flesh. Have we any bones of our bones, flesh of our flesh, unsaved in our home? We love our bones and flesh. Will we Christians let them starve away and die out of Christ? Where is our salt God gave us? Has it lasted. Saviour? All of our children are gathering themselves around telling us they are our bones, flesh of our flesh. What shall we do, feed them with the word of the living God? Shall we feed them? Pray God for heavenly food for our bones now and our flesh, such as will stand when we have gone from labor to our reward.