MONDAY, October 31.  Start for home.  Brother Kline arrived home safe November 4.  This report speaks for itself in behalf of his energy and activity in the work of the ministry.  Such instances of untiring effort!  Twenty-three meetings attended; and as many discourses delivered, in seventeen consecutive days!  Besides, he had considerable traveling to do in reaching these appointments; and never stayed more than one night at the same place!  We involuntarily ask, When did he sleep? or, Did he never get tired?

TUESDAY, November 15.  Brother Samuel Bowman died this morning.  I rejoice to think he was a sincere follower of the Lord, and that he has left a life record which he will not likely be ashamed to own in a coming day.

SATURDAY, November 19.  Night meeting at Prince’s schoolhouse, near Brother Abraham Huffman’s, in Page County.  Acts 8:12.  TEXT.—­“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

The dispersion which followed the fiery persecution of the saints at Jerusalem was productive of good.  The scattered apostles, and the overseers of the deacons as well, of whom Philip named in the text was one, preached wherever they went, and many believed.  The very steps taken by the enemies of the cross to put an end to its power “turned out unto the furtherance of the gospel.”  In this we can see the overruling hand of Providence.

There is one point in this line of thought which I desire to make specially prominent.  This point is the readiness with which believers in that day submitted to the ordinance of baptism, and the consequences which were almost sure to follow.  The duty of being immersed seems to have pressed itself upon their hearts, and nothing short of obedience to this command could give their consciences rest.  But how is it now!  Error has done so much to rob this impressive ordinance of its beauty and significance that many seem indifferent to its claims, or ignore it entirely.

Thousands professing faith in Christ at the present day go away from the revival singing: 

  “Nothing, either great or small;
    Nothing have I now to do: 
  Jesus died and paid it all,
    Long time ago.”

This would surely be getting salvation at a cheap rate.  There is in this no “trial of faith, more precious than gold,” no “cleansing of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.”  This means receiving the crown without bearing the cross.  But the early Christians were never soothed with such sedatives.  On the contrary, they were admonished to count the cost.  Some of the items in this cost were “self-denial, no certain dwelling place,” the loss of all things, persecutions, fiery trials, bonds, imprisonments, death.  They were not taught to regard the church as a cradle in which their spiritual infancy