It is now only three months until time for what has almost become an annual Fellowship Meeting at the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, here in Rockford, Illinois. These meetings have been a tremendous blessing to Landmark Church. Brethren who have met with us have constantly testified of blessing and enrichment through shared burdens, joys, worship, praise and fellowship in the precious truths set forth in God's word.
    Though sorry that we cannot set a time that meets the preference of all, we are encouraged to expect a larger attendance than for a number of years. I even hear of brethren calling each other to encourage a get-together at Rockford on November 23-24.
    If YOU have not already begun planning to SHARE OUR BLESSINGS this year, I hope that you will SOON give it your prayerful attention. There will be no pre-arranged program. We have learned that the Holy Spirit is marvelously proficient at this as we deliberately seek, and willingly consent to, His guidance.
    To the best of our ability we

    WORRY IS SINFUL! Fearful, fretful anxiety: distracts the mind, ruffles the temper and destroys one's consciousness of fellowship with God! Apart from Jesus Christ, Who alone can bring calmness, peace and soul-rest, it is sheer mockery to urge anyone to: "Don't worry; Be happy!" (comp. Matt. 6:25-34; Lk. 10:38-40; Jas. 5:7-8). Jesus Christ alone can so calm the heart that beats with dreadful anxiety that it may rest in HIS peace, (Jn. 14:1, 27).
    Paul, therefore, urges his beloved brethren to bring ALL THEIR CARES to God - the very thing that Jesus Himself invited troubled hearts to do when He still walked among men, (Matt. 11:28-30). It is important to note the contrast between "nothing" and "everything". NOTHING should be permitted to make our hearts anxious! While EVERYTHING is to be taken to the Lord Who, IN EVERYTHING, works together

with His loving children FOR GOOD! (Rom. 8:28).
    Proper approach to God is ALWAYS with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving.
    1. "Prayer", here, suggests the idea of humble reverence, adoration and worship wherein we: laud, honor praise, exult in and stand in awe of his holy name!
    2) "Supplication" involves SPECIFIC PETITIONS for desired benefits, (Lk. 1:13; Rom. 10:1; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 1:4; I Pet. 3:12). Prayer and Supplication are often connected in the Scriptures.
    3) "Thankfulness" is always essential to an acceptable approach of God's gracious throne, (Rom. 1:b: 2 Cor. 4:15; 9:11-12; Eph. 5:2O Col. 2:7; 3:17; 1 Thes. 5:18) Thus, all who are members of Christ's body are urged to bring their WHOLE PACKAGE OF CARES to

Jesus! "Let your requests be made known unto God!" This does NOT mean that God is IGNORANT of our cares! It simply suggests that our proud hearts need the humbling experience of coming before Him as "beggars"! (Jas. 4:2-3) And His divine heart THRILLS at such an expression of confidence in Him as intelligently enumerates our needs and the concern of our hearts as we commune with Him.
    The trusting child may be SURE of the sympathy and care of his Heavenly Father! Note carefully the promise of the inspired word: "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall KEEP (garrison, guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!"
    Since, therefore, it is only through our identity with Christ that we may legitimately CLAIM this promise, the maintenance of this relationship is vitally important. Walking, by the Spirit's guidance, in the way of God's commandment, we: 1) Are daily cleansed by His blood, (I Jn. 1:7); 2) demonstrate that we are "disciples indeed", (Jn. 8:31-32); 3) prove the reality of our love, (Jn. 14:21); and 4) enjoy the glorious liberty of divine sonship, (Jas. 1:22-25).
    What blessed peace FILLS the UNTROUBLED HEART! A peace that surpasses our ability to fully comprehend. E.G.


The world can neither give nor take
   Nor can they comprehend
The peace of God, which Christ has
   bought,
The peace which knows no end.

The burning bush was not consumed
   Whilst God remained there;
The Three, when Jesus made the
      Fourth,
   Found fire as soft as air.

God's furnace doth in Zion stand;
   But Zion's God sits by,
As the Refiner views His gold
   With an observant eye.

His thoughts are high, His love
      is wise,
   His wounds a cure intend;
And, though He does not always
      smile,
   He loves unto the end.


    nbsp;On July 20, Bro. Mitchell Lewis, the beloved pastor of Hebron MBC, of Pekin, Illinois, underwent surgery for the removal of a malignant brain tumor from the left "motor section" of his brain. This operation left him temporarily paralyzed on the right side. Rehabilitation therapy was started early and some slow progress is being made toward restoring the use of his right hand. At last report, however, there had been no movement of the right leg.
    According to reports, his speech was not effected. His mental alertness and attitude are great!
    It is my understanding that a two-fold type of treatment has already been started to deal with the malignancy - part of it scheduled to run through November. There will be a minimum hospital stay of six weeks - involving such expense as no insurance policy will fully cover.
    Anyone desiring to express your

love, by means of a card or love offering (or both) may send it to:


    Above all, your earnest prayers in behalf of this beloved brother will be appreciated. E.G.


will provide food and lodging for our guests at this meeting. It will help if you let us know of your plans to be with us. E.G


    When discussing the antiquity of English Baptists, Charles H Spurgeon wrote: "It would not be impossible to show that the first Christians who dwelt in this land were of the same faith and order as the churches now called Baptist. Despite their being doomed to die, almost as soon as they landed, they continued to invade this country to the annoyance of the priesthood and hierarchy". He quotes from the historian, W.J.E. Bennett, whose hatred of the Anabaptists rendered him least likely to manufacture ancient history for them. "The historian Lingard tells us that there was a sect of fanatics who infested the north of Germany, called Puritans. Usher called them Waldenses; Spelman, Paulicians, (the same as Waldenses.) They gained ground and SPREAD ALL OVER ENGLAND; they refused all Romish ceremonies, denied the authority of the Pope, and more particularly,

REFUSED TO BAPTIZE INFANTS. Thirty of them were put to death for their heretical doctrines, near Oxford; but the remainder still held on to their opinions in private, until the time of Henry II (1158); and the historian Collier tells us that wherever the heresy prevailed, the churches (Catholic, that is) were either scandalously neglected, or pulled down, and INFANTS LEFT UN-BAPTIZED."
    Under the reign of Henry II, a number of Baptists "were apprehended and brought before a council of the clergy, at Oxford. Being interrogated about their religion, their teacher, named Gerard, a man of learning, answered in their name, that they were CHRISTIANS and believed the doctrines of the apostles. Upon a more particular Inquiry, it was found that they

denied several of the RECEIVED doctrines of the church, such as purgatory, prayers for the dead, and the invocation of saints; and refusing to abandon these damnable heresies, as they were called, they were condemned as incorrigible heretics, and delivered to the secular arm to be punished.
    The King, (Henry II) at the instigation of the clergy, commanded them to be branded with red hot iron on the forehead, to be whipped through the streets of Oxford, and having their clothes cut short by their girdle, to be turned into the open fields, all persons being forbidden to afford them shelter or relief, under the severest penalties. This cruel sentence was executed with its utmost rigor, and it being the depth of Winter, all these unhappy persons perished with cold and hunger".
    -- Story of the Baptists, by Richard B. Cook, pp. 74-75.


Come, Saviour dear, with us abide,
   We need Thy kind compassion;
Thy flock to living waters guide,
   Which are Thy wounds and passion;
And lead us into pastures green,
Where faithful souls are ever seen
   In peace and blissful union.

O Sea of love, pour out Thy flood
   O'er all in blessed showers;
The fiery darts quench with Thy
      blood,
   And crush hell's evil powers.
Thou, of the world the Mercy-seat,
Let of Thy love the gentle heat
    Set all our hearts aglowing.
- Andreas Carl Rutstrom (1721-1772)