The letter continued, “brethren don’t believe in governments or rulers in the church, but Rom.
12:8 and 1 Tim. 5:17 tells of ‘He that ruleth’ and in 1 Cor. 12:28 it tells us that there should be
governments, someone to administer the decrees of the church.” One cannot speak for others, but
insofar as I know, brethren acknowledge those gifts which are manifested among the people of
god today, including the gift of rule. 1 Cor. 12:28 does the decrees of the church” nor does
scripture speak of decrees of the church at all. Acts 16:4 says “they delivered them the decrees
for to keep; that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.”

It is evident from the portion of the letter quoted above, and also in later parts, that the writer
confuses “elders”and gifts”. Rom. 12:8 is treating the subject of gift and 1 Tim. 5:17 speaks of
elders, but these are not the same. Ephesians 4 shows that the ascended Christ “gave gifts unto
men”. Elders were appointed by apostles (“And when they had ordained them elders in every
church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed”
(Acts 14:23), or by those who were designated by the apostles to appoint elders, such as Timothy
or Titus. God set those who were gifted in “the church” 1 Cor. 12:28; elders were ordained “in
every city, as I (that is Paul) had appointed thee:(Titus 1:5).One who was a teacher at Ephesus –
elders had a local charge only.

The letter claims that the Bible Church is more scriptural because it gives the title of elders,
bishops and deacons to certain men as well as the office. Acts 6:3, 15:22, and 1 Cor. 16:3 are
cited to prove the church has authority to choose men or these offices. In none of the texts above
ate deacons or elders mentioned. (bishop, in scripture, is the office held by an elder). In Acts 6
the multitude chose seven men to serve tables, who were perhaps deacons although scripture
does not say so, but they were appointed by the apostles. Nowhere in scripture is the church
given authority to choose or appoint elders. In every case this was done by apostles or those
commissioned by the apostles to act in their stead. Accordingly, if we are subject to the word of
God, we cannot have elders in their precise official form because there is no competent authority
now to appoint them. However, those brethren who have the qualities mentioned in 1 Tim. 3 are
highly esteemed for their works’ sake, and are acknowledged as those who ate over the rest of
their brethren in the Lord.

Beloved brethren, permit me to take this occasion to emphasize aa important principle that
"oversight" was in the local assembly. Oversight of a fellowship is foreign to scripture but there
is ever the danger of such a practice, although perhaps not recognized by many, arising among
us. The following quotation illustrates what I refer to:"In a scene like this, the church, as it seeks
to walk faithfully to that which is committed into its hands by God, becomes increasingly the
object of Satan’s interest, and we cannot hope to avoid being beset by things that constantly test
us.” To this, I believe, we all agree. The quotation continues:“In a multitude of counselors there
is safety” (Prov. 11:14; 26:6). Only by thus counseling together are we able to meet the problems
that inevitably arise. Because of geographic distance, we cannot, it is apparent, come together
always to discuss such problems; letter-writing thus becomes a poor substitute for face to face
counsel, but is our only recourse.”The “letter-writing” referred to were letters written among
certain leading brothers concerning problems that arose in various assemblies and it is stated:

“Only by thus counseling together are we able to meet the problems that inevitably arise.”This, in
principle, establishes an oversight of the fellowship. While I own the fullest liberty for those in
the local assembly to seek counsel from any brother or brethren concerning problems that arise,
where in scripture is it taught that the inevitable problems that arise among the people of God are
to be solved by leading brethren from various local assemblies? Scripture shows that problems
which arose were settled locally whether they were matters that were predominantly local in
nature, such as 1 Cor. 5, or those in immediate connection with the whole church of God, such as
Acts 15.The seed of the suggestion advocated in the quotation (I am sure without intention), can
be seen in full flower in the Church of Rome. Principles governing the church of God are not
found in Proverbs but in the Epistles of Paul; particularly 1 Corinthians.

The following quotations are from Bro. Ridout’s book, "The Church”. "There has therefore
arisen, in a gradual way, the practice of a kind of oversight by leading and gifted non-resident
brethren, who in this way seek to guide, and in some measure review the actions of the local
assemblies." "It is practically a form of Presbyterian oversight, in which little or no room is left
for the individual conscience, save of the leaders. With the best motives, this fails to exercise the
whole assembly, and leads saints to look for some decision from without rather than to the Lord
alone. The effect will eventually be seen in a in a general legislation, rather than the simplicity of
each assembly acting in the fear of God and in the unity of the spirit. Room is given for private
influence rather than public exercise, and leaders have an undue prominence, which savors of
clerisy.” (To be continued, D.V.)

FRAGMENT. No doubt God’s Spirit is really and largely working; but His end and man’s
thought are diverse, in that, while He is converting souls to “deliver them out of this present evil
world,:man’s thought is an improved world, a Christian world:the effect of which is, to
amalgamate Christians and the world, and spoil the scriptural character of Christianity altogether.

"For whosoever shall give you a cap of water to drink, in My name, because ye belong to Christ,
verily, I say unto you, he shall not love his reward." (Mark 9:41).

The least expression of service or ministry on the part of anyone towards one of the Lord’s own,
having this motive in it – "because ye belong to Christ," will not go unrewarded. It is hardly
possible that an enemy of God would have such a thought or motive.

There may be some conscientiously inclined towards God and His Word, who might have this
motive in ministering to a child of God, and would not fail to be rewarded, in the mercy of God.
However, such reward cannot be taken to mean in material things, necessarily, but spiritually,
which would surpass any earthly blessings.

What a wonderful thing it is to "belong to Christ!" A child, born into a family, we say "belongs"
to its parents, And, again, of anything purchased by us, we may say "This belongs to me". And,
further, anything received as a gift, of this we can say "This is mine; it belongs to me".

So, it is true, that all who have trusted Christ for salvation, being ransomed, or "bought" by His
precious blood, can say "I belong to Him". Or, as being born again, we can say, "I belong to God
my Father".

Paul said to the Corinthian believers, in connection with their ways, "Ye are not your own. For ye
are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."
(1 Cor.6:19-20). This further emphasizes the fact that we belong to God and to Christ, having
been bought with His precious blood, and as such we are here exhorted to glorify God in our
lives, viz. by service and praise.

In this verse we have two things about sin. One, that it is deceitful; and two, that it hardens. As a
usual thing when we speak of sin, thoughts come to mind of that which in its very appearance is
evil, such as robbery, murder, or the like. But is this all that God counts sin? No, for in the very
beginning of the Bible we find that disobedience brought sin into the world. "For as by one man’s
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous."

When the keeping of Eden was committed into the hands of Adam, one command was given
unto him, with the death penalty "for disobedience. Once it was given, the enemy of God and
man started to work. How could he thwart the purposes of heaven and earth’s Creator, and rob
Him of the praises of His creatures? Deceit was the approach, and a successful one it was, for
"when the woman saw that the tree Was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat" (Gen. 3:6).

So we read, "and Adam was not deceived, but the Woman being deceived was in the
transgression" (I Tim. 2:14). This was but the beginning of man’s deception by Satan. Since then
he has tried every means to turn the heart of-man from God. And how easy it is for him to
succeed for scripture plainly tells us that, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked:who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). Having that within us which is susceptible to that which
is wrong, Satan finds us a ready prey.

Though the devil, under one guise or another, drew the hearts of men from God under the law,
yet now in this present age under grace he seems all the more vigilant to keep people from
receiving Jesus as their Saviour, and yielding themselves unto Him as their Lord. How shameful
it is that, under the pretense of following just some simple thing at first, we are drawn away from
that blessed One of whom it is written, "neither was any deceit in his mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). The
arch enemy of all that is called truth would try and cause even those who are sheltered under the
precious blood of the cross, to dishonor that One who could say "I am the way, the truth, and the
life"(John 14:6).

The scripture gives the character of this present time" when it says, "But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (II Tim. 3:13). If we will but take the
time to look around us we will see how true it is that deceit is so often practiced. Pick up most
any magazine or paper with advertisements in it and you-will find in large type, merits of that
particular product, intended to make you believe by catchy wording that it will do much more
than it really can. Then in very small type the limitations of that particular item might be listed.

One thing in connection with the deceitfulness of sin is the way in which it impoverishes our
spiritual growth. Perhaps the Lord has seen fit to take us through some particular trial, and when
we consider the circumstances, even as Peter did on the water, we get our eyes off the Lord and
look at what we are going through. We may be led to complain, at least to ourselves, and wish
that our lot was different. It may seem as though circumstances require us to take matters into our
own hands to better them, and all the while we are forgetting that the Lord is over everything,

and even the smallest detail in our fives is governed by Himself. Is it not a dishonor to Him and a
victory for the enemy when we are in such a state of soul? lam sure that it displeases our Lord
greatly to have even the youngest of us, His own, complain about our, lot, for He is only allowing
things to happen that will be for our good. But as we go on complaining, criticizing, belittling
others, or grasping after things for ourselves, our spiritual senses will be deadened, and
eventually reach the state of being hardened, all because we allowed ourselves, perhaps without
thinking, to be dissatisfied.

But Paul says, "we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Cor. 2:11). Young people, how are we to
know what his devices are but by the same word of God that was given unto Paul. Has anyone
ever asked you the question, "What do you get out of life, seeing you don’t smoke, drink, dance,
go to shows, etc.?" To many,, when comparing spiritual things with the things of this world, a
loss is suffered when they give up the things which they would like to have and enjoy down here.
That is the way with Satan; he would make us believe that the treasure which could be laid up in
heaven is not to be compared with the enjoyments of this earth. Many are deceived by this, not
realizing that, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).

Though it is right and proper to provide a living for yourself and family, it is a common thing for
a person to be so engrossed with work that the Word has little effect in their lives. "And these are
they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh
unfruitful" (Mark 4:18,19).

Many feel if they sit through a sermon or perhaps read their Bible regularly, that this is enough,
and well pleasing to God. It is true that to hear the Word is good, and it is in this way that God
speaks to us, but it is not enough. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves" (James 1:22). Practice the truth that the Word gives to each one of us.

It may seem hard to realize, but if the enemy cannot weigh us down under sin, he will seek to
make us think that we are beyond sinning. How many sects there are which are founded upon this
lie of the devil. The Lord Jesus never said that we would become sinless in this body. It is true
that our new man cannot sin, but we never get free of the old nature down here. "If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8).

In Psalm 40, the language of the One who won the mightiest victory, is that of utter dependence and
meekness. "I waited patiently .for the Lord, and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Me brought
me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established
my goings." This was the spirit of Jesus_"I waited on Jehovah, and He inclined unto me, and heard
my cry." No claim_perfect lowliness. And so the psalm ends as an example to us:"But I am poor
and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. Thou art my help and my deliverer." It ends in this way
because His own are still in this world, in suffering. We have been called to the fellowship of God’s
Son. May we feel that we are poor and needy. Let it be sufficient that "the Lord thinketh upon us."
If the Lord of glory was poor and needy, let all pride be put to shame.

FRAGMENT. O to be but emptier, lowlier, mean, unnoticed, and unknown, And to God a vessel
holier, filled with Christ and Christ alone.

I am sure we all remember Jonathan, who was not willing to share David’s rejection. Onesiphorus
is a name th will live to all eternity, as one who not only was willing to share the rejection and
reproach of Christ, but who very diligently sought out Paul, and found him, when he was the
prisoner of Nero, chained in a Roman dungeon. From that dungeon h e writes:"This thou
knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me." (2 Tim. 1:15). At his first
answer before Nero, no man stood with him:"but all forsook me", the apostle writes. Only Luke
was with him of all his beloved fellow-laborers. They were dark days indeed.

It was in these dark days that Onesiphorus came to Rome from Ephesus. The apostle writes:"he
sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of
the Lord in that day:and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest
very well." (2 Tim. l:l6-l8), How refreshing it is to find one whose love and loyalty stood the test:
one who was willing to share the rejection and danger of the old apostle; and as he shared Paul’s
rejection, he was also sharing the rejection and reproach of Christ.

Let us now consider the Household of Onesiphorus. The Apostle writes:"The Lord give mercy
unto the house of Onesiphorus" (2 Tim. 1:16), and again, "Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the
household of Onesiphorus" (2 Tim.4:19).The whole household is linked up with the loyalty of its
head:the whole household is especially commended to the mercy of the Lord for Onesiphorus’
loyal and loving heart. Like Ittai of old, the whole household shared the rejection with its head.
May it be so indeed in our households!

“And it came pass . . . that the brook dried up, . . . and the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
Arise, get thee to Zarephath. . . . I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” (I
Kings 17:2-9).

God knew when the widow’s cruise was low
And the meal was almost gone,
And He dried the brook where Elijah drank,
And He sent his servant on,
That the handful of meal should not be spent,
Or the little oil grow less,
And that, when the widow’s son lay dead ,
The prophet’s prayer should bless.

Hath He dried the brook where thou long hast dwelt?
Canst thou find no solace there?
Zarephath is ready if Cherith fail,
With oil and meal to share.
Oh, tarry not, should He bid thee go,
His messenger thou shalt be;
Thou shalt carry a blessing to those who wait,
And a blessing waiteth thee.

In our meditations in our last article we were leading up to the principal truths that we had before
us at the last conference at Queen. We saw that the times in which we are now living, in connection
with the Church’s history, are similar in character to those regarding Jerusalem at the time when
Nehemiah was in Shush an the palace .

The tidings brought to him by one of his brethren told of a condition that existed then and which we
now see all around us today_RUIN. This saddened Nehemiah as he could go back in his thoughts
to better things in connection with the place he loved, the place where God had set His Name and
the place that was dear to every sober-minded Israelite. As with Nehemiah, so it is with every truly
born again child of God. As we look around us we see the havoc that has been made and is still being
made by Satan himself, the arch enemy of our blessed Lord. We, like Nehemiah, are thus brought
to the place where we realize the absolute necessity of turning to our God for the much needed
wisdom to act in the right way, the way which will bring honor and glory to His precious Name.

The right way is our second thought_HUMILIATION. In chapters 1-3 the RUIN is mentioned. "The
wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire." Now
HUMILIATION is brought out in chapter one, verse four, "I sat down and wept, and mourned certain
days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven". This should search our hearts as we view
the condition around us now. They are heartrending indeed. One can only say that this is so because
of the lack of a sense of personal interest and responsibility in those things which are vital to the
bearing of a good testimony for Him and of Him "who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession".

Such laxity being verily true, brings us to our next thought which is a must if we are to be faithful
and that is_CONFESSION. We read in verses six and seven of chapter one, I "confess the sins of
the children of Israel (the Fellowship), which we have sinned against thee:both I (personal) and my
father’s house (collective) have sinned". We need to be wholly cast upon Him in these days of sad
failure and departure in order that He might grant us "a little reviving" as He did in this case. In
chapter two, verse eight, we have_ "the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God
upon me". Then in verse eighteen of the same chapter we have _ "I told them of the hand of my
God which was good upon me . . .". In verse twenty "we his servants will arise and build:but ye have
no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem".

All these things working together gives us our next thought_RESTORATION, which should be an
encouragement to us all in times like these. How good of Himself to show us these things from His
word and to allow us to share them one with the other. May it be ours to be fellow-workers together
along these lines while we are left here. As we go on with our musings arid exercises in this
wonderful book we get many precious thoughts. If these thoughts are practical in our lives,
wonderful indeed would be their effect upon us individually and upon those we may be privileged
to have fellowship with in our sojourn here below. We have at all times to be on the watchtower as
the enemy is never asleep.

As we come over to the last chapter we read of some awful things that were allowed to come in.

Verses fifteen to twenty-six give us our next thought and truly we are made more and more
conscious each day of the CORRUPTION * that is all around us.

* God is ever seeking to"take forth the precious from the vile" (see Jer.15:19)

May we be more alert and faithful in seeking, like Nehemiah of old, to exercise the spirit and the
right of our next thought_CORRECTION. Nehemiah says in verse twenty -eight "therefore I chased
him from me".

Thus when in faithfulness to Him we act according to His word we will certainly have for our own
comfort and consolation the next and last thought _ the SATISFACTION of knowing that in some
measure we have done something for Him who has done so much for us. See what Nehemiah says
in the last two verses. Because he had endeavored to be faithful, and saw some fruit of his labors,
he could add "Remember me, O my God, for good". Yes, let us by His grace humble ourselves in
His presence, remembering the exhortation of Paul when he says to the believer "not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think", and "not he that commendeth himself is approved, but
whom the Lord commendeth".

Going back over the thoughts that we have been considering they are respectively RUIN,
HUMILIATION, CONFESSION, RESTORATION, CORRUPTION, CORRECTION, AND
SATISFACTION.

The children of the saints_
How oft they chafe and fret,
Within the bonds of love and grace,
Which God has round them set.

Some have in childhood’s years,
Confessed Christ as their own,
But later on they oft rebel,
And dare to walk alone.

They find the path too straight,
They want a wider sphere,
And as they from the fold do stray,
Give cause for many a tear.

The world attractive seems,
They would its pleasures share,
Their youthful lusts they would indulge,
And shun parental care.

But God is ever near,
He slumbers not nor sleeps,
And over His rebellious ones,
A watchful eye He keeps.

He hears our every prayer,
He shares our deep concern,
And in His own good time and way,
Will back their footsteps turn.

He’d speak in tender love,
Ere He would use His rod,
He’s worthy of our perfect trust,
Our faithful Father-God.

And though our hearts may grieve,
That chastening they may see,
We know whatever He may do,
‘Twill for their blessing be.

So casting them on Him,
Each day from morn till night,
Our hearts may know His perfect peace,

Till faith be changed to sight.

Meetings for prayer and praise were frequent throughout the Catacombs. Cut off from ordinary
occupations of worldly business, they were thrown entirely upon other and higher pursuits.
Deprived of the opportunity to make efforts for the support of the body, they were constrained to
make their chief business the care of the soul. They gained what they sought. Earth with its cares,
its allurements, and its thousand attractions lost its hold upon them. Heaven drew nearer; their
thoughts and their language were of the Kingdom. They loved to talk of the joy that awaited
those who continued faithful unto death, to converse upon those departed brethren who to them
were not lost but gone before; to anticipate the moment when their own time should come.
Above all they looked every day for that great final summons which should raise the dead,
transform the living, and bring His blood-bought, blood-washed people about Him in the meeting
place in the air; and for the judgment seat of Christ, where He will bestow the rewards for
faithful service. (I Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20,21; I Cor.3).

FRAGMENT.

Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress (Psa. 4:1).

The harp, ere it gives forth its sweet sounds, must have its cords stretched, near the breaking
point, perhaps. So we who would lead others into the path of faith, and give praise to God, must
know experimentally the difficulties of the way.

There is another principle, which crowns and governs and gives character to all others:it is charity,
love properly so called. This, in its root, is the nature of God Himself, the source and perfection of
every other quality that adorns Christian life. The distinction between love and brotherly love is of
deep importance; the former is indeed, as we have just said, the source whence the latter flows; but
as this brotherly love exists in mortal men, it may be mingled in its exercise with sentiments that are
merely human, with individual affection, with the effect of personal attractions, or that of habit, or
suitability in natural character. Nothing is sweeter than brotherly affections; their maintenance is of
the highest importance in the assembly, but they may degenerate, as they may grow cool; and if love,
if God, does not hold the chief place, they may displace Him_set Him aside_shut Him out. Divine
love, which is the very nature of God, directs, rules, and gives character to brotherly love; otherwise
it is that which pleases us_that is, our own heart_that governs us. If divine love governs me, I love
all my brethren; I love them because they belong to Christ; there is no partiality. I shall have greater
enjoyment in a spiritual brother; but I shall occupy myself about my weak brother with a love that
rises above his weakness and has tender consideration for it. I shall concern myself with my brother’s
sin, from love to God, in order to restore my brother, rebuking him, if needful; nor, if divine love be
in exercise, can brotherly love, or its name, be associated with disobedience. In a word, God will
have His place in all my relationships. To exact brotherly love in such a manner as to shut out the
requirements of that which God is, and of His claims upon us, is to shut out God in the most
plausible way, in order to gratify our hearts. Divine love, then, which acts according to the nature,
character, and will of God, is that which ought to direct and characterize our whole Christian walk,
and have authority over every movement of our hearts. Without this, all that brotherly love can do
is to substitute man for God. Divine love is the bond of perfectness. for it is God, who is love,
working in us .and making Himself the governing object of all that passes in the heart.

FRAGMENT. A friend love that all times, and a brother is born for adversity, Prov. 17:17.

FRAGMENT. The child may throw its arms about the father’s neck, but its clasp is weak and it
might fall, but around about and underneath the little one are clasped the father’s stronger arms, and
the child is safe.

FRAGMENT. "Behold, He that keepeth thee shall neither slumber nor sleep." As the shepherd
watches his flock by day and night, so the Almighty Keeper watches over His wayward ones.

We have a growing reverence for the aged. It ever was characteristic of Jewish religious life to
honor the aged. It is a touching and beautiful sight to view one in the sunset of life waiting with
delight for the "Home” call_whether it be their Saviour’s shout in the air or for the spirit’s
release_to be ushered into His blessed presence. The heart is yet brave; the love is as fervent as
in early days, though more matured; the purpose of the heart and the calm unshaken confidence
in the Lord are unchanged; the growth of many years is reflected on the wrinkled, suffering, yet
patient countenance. How chastened! How mellowed! How useful the ripe experience! "They
shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psa. 92:14).

The physical vigor of youth may give way, but there is a power outside the domain of nature:
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint" (Isa. 40:31).

Think of the spirit of brave Caleb who, when 85 years of age said, “As yet I am as strong this day
as I was in the day that Moses sent me [40 years previously]; as my strength was then, even so is
my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (Josh. 14:11). Caleb was not tired of
the conflict. He drew his spiritual strength from God. The source of his courage was in God
Himself.

For ourselves, and for all our beloved aged pilgrims, we long and pray for spiritual energy. Press
on with increasing desire. The heavenly manna is needed equally for your closing hours as in the
springtide of earlier days. So feed on Christ, fathers and mothers in Israel. Where, of course,
there is a collapse of the physical powers, one can only wait in patience the joyful summons,
“Come Home!”A few more struggles and then Eternal Rest above, in the sunshine of His love.

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, while we look not at tire things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen:for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2
Cor. 4:17,18).

AFFLICTION LIGHT MOMENTARILY

Glory
Weight of Glory
Eternal weight of Glory
An exceeding and eternal weight of Glory
A more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory
A far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory

GLORY WEIGHT ETERNAL