A letter has been received raising the question "Which assembly or church is more scriptural, the
Independent Fundamental Church, or the Assembly of brethren" (so called)? The writer then
proceeds to prove that the former is the more scriptural, by laying down a number of charges as to
the assemblies of brethren, and drawing a comparison in each case with what he believes to be the
more scriptural character of the independent fundamental church.

More than a hundred years ago God recovered for His people truth that had been hidden since the
days of the apostles. This recovered truth consisted primarily of the doctrine of the "one body of
Christ", the church, united by the Spirit to the living Head in heaven; the abiding presence of the
Spirit of God in the church from the day of Pentecost; and that blessed hope, the coming of the Lord
for all His own_and related truth. In addition much light was thrown on all of scripture. Many have
rejoiced in this truth, some of which is now being challenged. With the Lord’s help I will proceed
to test these assertions by "what saith the scripture."

The writer states, first:"The assembly of brethren do not have a written constitution, but are
nevertheless bound by certain rules set forth in the Bible and each must adhere to these rules, or be
out of fellowship with the assembly."

It is true, we have no human constitution, but we do have a divine one_the Bible. It is not true,
however, that we are bound by "certain rules set forth in the Bible"; we are bound by the entire Word
of God. Neither are those put out of fellowship who do not "adhere to these rules." The amount of
light one has is not made a test of fellowship, because the scripture does not make it so. Virtually all
of Paul’s epistles were written to impart truth that was unknown and to correct error that had come
in. Paul says in Philippians, "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:and if in. any
thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have
already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" (Phil. 3:15,16).

Now as to the question of discipline, it would take us beyond the scope of our paper to treat this
subject in detail. However, it is clear from scripture that the church is not to permit evil men in its
midst_whether they be mere professors or children of God acting in the flesh. "Them that are
without, God judgeth," but the saints are distinctly told to "put away from among yourselves that
wicked person" (1 Cor. 5:12,13).

Putting away from among ourselves is not simply to put one out of fellowship with the assembly,
for "truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). The church
(assembly) is the habitation of God through the Spirit. It is the body of Christ linked by the Spirit to
its glorious Head in heaven. We owe it to the Lord Himself to preserve the holiness of His table. The
primary object before us therefore, in discipline, is the glory of God.

Secondly, the church is to approve itself "to be clear in this matter" (2 Cor. 7:11). In 1 Cor. 5:6 in
connection with moral wickedness, and Gal. 5:9 in connection with doctrinal evil, it is written "A
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." We are told to "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye
may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and
wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor.5:7,8).

Thirdly, discipline is in view of recovery of the one who has erred; that by faithfully dealing with
him, he might be led to true repentance before God (2 Cor. 2:6-8).

Scriptural authority for church discipline is given in Matt. 18:18-20. "Verily I say unto you,
whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching
any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them."

Scripture teaches also that discipline does not always take the form of excommunication. Such action
is indeed the extreme measure employed when all else fails. In 1 Tim.5:20 it is said:"Them that sin
rebuke before all, that others also may fear." "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which
are spiritual, restore such an .one in the spirit of meekness" (Gal.6:1). "If any man obey not our word
by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count
him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thess. 3:14,15). See also Matt. 18:15-17.

Another important consideration is the spirit in which discipline is to be carried out. It is not to be
done in a spirit of pride or harshness, but is an occasion of deep sorrow and humiliation to all, and
should be carried out in a spirit of meekness "considering thyself".

The writer proceeds:"it seems easier to write out what we believe are the teachings of the Bible so
each believer can give assent to them and that will cause less confusion than if each believer in the
assembly is to interpret the Bible as he sees fit."

Although each believer is individually responsible to God, no believer has the right "to interpret the
Bible as he sees fit". This is the prerogative of the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer; He only
can guide us into all the truth_can take the things of Christ and show them to us. "Ye have an
unction from the Holy One and ye know all things." "But the anointing which ye have received of
Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:but as the same anointing teacheth you
of all things, and is the truth, and is no lie" (1 John 2:20,27). The believer is not dependent on man
for written or oral truth, though God may use these as His instruments. Every believer, by virtue of
the new nature, has a capacity for the knowledge of the truth and a power to know it by the Spirit
which has anointed him. Written or oral ministry can call attention to the truth but not give authority
to truth. Here the Word and Spirit have their supremacy with the soul. "They, and they alone, are the
guarantee of truth," one has said. Even as to the apostles ministry, it says of the Bereans, "they
searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so." Paul did not commend the elders at
Ephesus to a "constitution," but "to God and to the Word of His grace," and this in view of his
departure, after which grievous wolves would enter among them, and of their own selves men would

arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Depend upon it, my brethren, it
is not a "constitution" but God and the Word of His grace that can "build you up, and give you an
inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:27-35).

It is claimed that a "constitution" is easier, less confusing. Is God’s Word less clear, less plain-
speaking than man’s word? Does He not speak even to babes_to the unlearned? Is He our Father
and hides His mind from us? To supplement His Word with a constitution, an authoritative creed
(it is said "so each believer can give assent to them"), is in fact to supplant it. It is to say, God has
not done for us what man can do. Can any constitution written by man claim what all scripture can
claim, that it "is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16,17)? Are we not to live by every word which proceedeth out of
the mouth of God? Is it not a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path? We gather together as
members of the body of Christ, unto His Name, in the recognition of the presence and power of the
Spirit of God, and not as giving assent to certain views of truth. We endeavor to keep the unity of
the Spirit already formed, not form a new unity bound by written rules. (To be continued, D.V.)

"They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword:they
wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented." (Heb. 11:37).

Such is the description of many believers in times past. God has not yet asked us to make such
sacrifices as these. He has graciously spared us most of these things, and then we complain when
He asks us to surrender our bodies to His service, separate ourselves from the world, and abstain
from sinful pleasures. He asks its to witness for Him, without being stoned for out witness. He
asks us to study His Word, without being imprisoned for it. He asks us "not to forsake the
assembling of ourselves together" without having the meeting broken up by the police. And then
we complain and refuse to yield our all to Him. Oh, shame on us for our unwillingness to make
such small sacrifices for Him. Instead of heeding the admonition, "Be not conformed to this
world", we just go along with it in its extremes of dress, in its pleasures and amusements. Oh, if
we could only visualize what we are losing in the end for not daring to stand without fear or
compromise for Christ! My God help us to keep our eyes upon the One Who suffered and died
on the cross, for the joy of saving us.

M. Men are best kept where Christ alone is the object.

N. None can pray well but he who lives well.

O. Our sufficiency is in God’s all sufficiency.

P. Please God in all you do, and be pleased with all God does.

Q. Quickened by grace, quicken your pace.

R. Repentance is the tear drop in the eye of Faith.

S. Spiritual exhortations never offend the new nature.

T. Those who are alive to God’s glory are dead to vain glory.

U. Upward and heavenward be always your motto.

V. Virtue is a jewel of great price.

W. We cannot trust God too much nor ourselves too little.

Y. Yokes are good for youthful shoulders. (Lam.3:27).

Z. Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse. (No one knows where it will go or what mischief
it will do.)

Why should the prominent church-meeting of the New Testament (aside from the Lord’s supper)
have so little place among us? We may, call it by way of designation the "Open Meeting," as it has
often been called; open for what we may be led to _ prayer, praise, ministry, and worship. Ministry
being prominent as in 1 Cor. 14 where one had "a psalm," another "a doctrine," another "an
interpretation," and "two or three were to speak and the others to judge;" and all things were to be
done "decently and in order." But does not the necessity of giving a name of this kind to this meeting
arise from a lack of simplicity and obedience to Scripture? With simplicity and habitual yielding of
ourselves to the Spirit’s guidance would it not be a common meeting, and need no special
designation.

FRAGMENT. The importance of this meeting is that it tests us as to those principles which we
avow, as gathered to the Lord’s name.

FRAGMENT. Suggested reference material on the various meetings:The Assembly Meeting of 1
Cor. 14, E.S. Lyman, Help and Food, 1901.

The Open Meeting (l Cor.14), C. Crain, Field and Work, #35.

The Open Meeting at our Conferences, J Bloore, Help and Food, 1921.

A Divine Movement etc., F.W. Grant, pages 87-105.

Despise not Prophesyings, in Leaves from the Book, F.W. Grant.

Conferences as to the Assembly 1896, pages 20-23.

Papers on Evangelization (Letters #4-7 ), C.H. Mackintosh.

Special Meetings, Help and Food, 1927, pages 180-181.

General Meetings, E. S. Lyman, Help and Food, 1898, pages 163-167.

A. A Christian should never willingly be where there is no room for his Saviour.

B. Beauty is best when plainly dressed.

C. Christ became a Man for you; be a man for Christ.

D. Dignity does not lose by lowliness in any.

E. Earth is growing poorer; heaven is growing richer.

F. Faith sees God, and God sees faith.

G. Gentle answers kill growling speeches.

H. Hope is never ill when faith is well.

I. If you’ve no Scriptural reason for doing a thing, you’ve one good reason for leaving it alone.

J. Jesus eternally saves us sinners.

K. Keep such company as God keeps.

L. Look up for God looks down.

Faith circles around the cross.

Hope circles around His coming.

Love fills up the little while between.

Marriage is like a finger pointing to the union of Christ and the Church; and what a poor-hearted
thing he must be who, with the arm of a wife pressing on his own has never thought of it as
pointing to the love of the Lord Jesus for that Church, for whom He gave Himself, and which He
is to present to Himself without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. How good to know what the
setting is in which the two jewels are locked together! It is pure gold_gold not of Ophir, but of
the divine antitype, Christ in heaven.

My arm ought to be like the wing of the hen for her chickens, the place of shelter. Christ became
the shelter of the Church. We who are masters and mistresses have a very solemn sin lying at our
door for not knowing how to form in our houses homes, that those who are with us might feel to
be places that they covet, and, when they leave, th they love to turn back to, and look to us for
counsel. I ought to be one who, they know, (be they Christians or not) had a master in heaven,
one ever a master for their blessing.

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands…. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell
with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as
also being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Pet. 3:1,7).

Sweet to look back, and see my name
In life’s fair book set down!
Sweet to look forward, and behold
Eternal Joys my own!

Sweet to reflect how grace divine
My sins on Jesus laid!
Sweet to remember how His blood
My debt of suffering paid!

Sweet to look upward to the place
Where Jesus pleads above!
Sweet to behold Him, and attend
The whispers of His love!

Sweet on His faithfulness to rest,
Whose love can never end!
Sweet on His covenant of grace
For all things to depend!

Sweet, in the confidence of faith,
To trust His firm decrees!
Sweet to lie passive in His hands,
And know no will but His!

FRAGMENT. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:I will guide thee
with Mine eye.

As I sat at home during the lunch hour today, the daily news came on over the radio and the
various items of interest were announced. Among them was one which had a tendency to make
one shudder. Announcement was made of the solemn fact that two European women had been
burned to death in their car by an Arab mob. As I thought on the seriousness of the act, I realized
that the Scriptures teach that "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof
are the ways of death." Also "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes." These things
only serve to show us in some measure what is coming upon this poor Christ rejecting world. "Re
who now letteth will let, until he is taken out of the way, and THEN (Oh, the thought!) shall that
wicked one be revealed."

We are thankful for the bright prospect that Is ours as believers, "Because thou hast kept the
word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

In what has been said at the start of our paper, we see man’s way and the fruit thereof. Now we
will turn to something better_God’s way, which is pictured before us in that beautiful 24th
chapter of Genesis.

As we read the first verse there is brought very forcibly to our attention the past, the present, and
the future. Abraham, at this time of his life, is no doubt very conscious that his earthly sojourn is
nearing its close. Looking back over his past life there is one thing that is quite evident, "The
Lord had blessed Abraham in all things."He is encouraged to consider the one (Isaac) who would
be left behind. He therefore endeavors to bring about a provision whereby his loved one would
continue in the path of blessing. So he calls his proven and trusted servant and issues instructions
which, from his own personal experience, he was sure would mean ultimate blessing and comfort
for the son of his love.

Having received his master’s instructions in the presence of God, the faithful servant (a type of
the Holy Spirit) made preparation and proceeded on his mission. Having arrived at his
destination he, being conscious of his responsibility and his immediate need, turns in dependence
to God for guidance and for special provision in the mission which he was to perform. We now
see how soon his prayer was answered, and as we meditate for a moment we realize that it was
according to his request. This brings us to our first thought as he expresses it, "I being in THE
WAY, the Lord led me." In this we have a beautiful picture. If we desire blessing the only
possible way to obtain it is in obedience to His word, "This is THE WAY, walk ye in It." Isa.
30:21.

Passing on our journey as pilgrims, with the fervent . desire of being faithful, we may find
encouragement in the next thought, "The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with
thee, and prosper THY WAY." Can we have anything more encouraging than such a promise?
No! All we need to do is "Follow thou Me."

In this portion there are so many practical expressions which link themselves with other portions
of Scripture. As the Spirit unfolds the truth to our hearts, how truly humbling it is when we think
of our unworthy selves. Let us then follow this example and go over our past and be like the
servant as he, recounting the events of the journey, could tell of his supplication, "If now thou do
prosper MY WAY", telling also of the wonderful way in which it all worked out.

As we continued on we cannot help (unworthy though we be) but be solemnly impressed with the
attitude and admission of this faithful servant. The servant is overwhelmed with the blessings of
the way, and sets forth such a precious example in that which is next in line. He says "I bowed
down my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which
had led me in the RIGHT WAY." We might ask ourselves the question, "Where else could we be
if led by the Holy Spirit?"

Every step of the way we are made more responsible. We are being molded in time to fill a place
in eternity. It is our solemn duty to be alert an watchful, laying aside everything that would tend
to make us tardy or unfaithful, whatever it may be. In this portion we see certain arguments
advanced to halt the marvelous progress which had been made thus far. In the face of all the
claims, natural or otherwise, he says, "Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered MY
WAY." Relationships, however dear, and tradition, however pleasing, are not in any way
whatever to influence us in the sphere in which He has placed us for service! Alas, we must
confess it does, and it is to our own shame.

The effect of the servant’s faithfulness is seen in that which follows. "Rebekah arose and her
damsels and they rode upon the camels and followed the man:and the servant took Rebekah and
went HIS WAY." With this mission completed the journey is soon ended, and Isaac meets them
in THE WAY and takes her to himself. How wondrous as we apply these precious thoughts to
ourselves in the light of present day conditions when there seems to be much HINDERING in
one way or another. The end, so to speak, is in sight. May it be ours, by His grace, to endeavor to
follow the word given us in Rev. 3:2, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that
are ready to die."

Our thoughts in Genesis 24 have been as follows:The Way (v.27), Thy Way (v.40), My Way
(v.42), Right Way (v.48), My Way (v.56), His Way (v.61), and The Way (v.62). You will notice
that we have a beautiful line of truth beginning with the first expression THE WAY, and running
through to the last THE WAY. Surely it reminds us of Him who said, "I am THE WAY." May
He keep us all looking up.

FRAGMENT
In the desert God will teach thee
What the God that thou hast found;
Patient, gracious, powerful, holy,
All His Grace shall there abound.

MUSIC:Divine truth gives a sweeter, deeper meaning to music than it could possibly have
otherwise. “the morning stars sang together…" "the mountains and the hills shall break forth into
singing".

POETRY:What poetry can compare, either in scope or sentiment, with that of the Bible? See the
great epic of Job. What elegies can be compared with the pathos of David’s lament over Jonathan
and his bitter enemy Saul?

LITERATURE:Where shall we find a literature like that of the Bible? Indeed, all that is best in
literature, medieval and modern, has been derived directly, or indirectly, from the Scriptures.

POLITICAL SCIENCE:We shall find that the wisdom by which princes rule is found alone in
the Word of God. The origin of government under Noah is traced in Scripture. We are compelled
to own that regeneration, both in individual and national, alone can bring in a true Millennium, in
which the righteous Ruler over men, who rules in the fear, of God, will be none other than the
Son of David and Son of God.

HISTORY:The history of Israel first of all, supplies the great framework for the history of the
world. "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sone
of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the Children of Israel"
(Deut. 32:8). It is in Christ that all things are to be headed up, and all earthly history must have
relation to Him. See the rise and fall of the Jewish empire.

ARCHAEOLOGY:The light of divine revelation is needed to throw its quiet and holy beams
across the mass of ancient chronology and history,

ASTRONOMY:We would thus approach astronomy in the light of those sublime words:"The
heavens declare the Glory of God, and the firmament showed) His handiwork”

GEOLOGY; Geology would be for us but an enlargement of the first verse of the book of
Genesis:"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth".

PSYCHOLOGY:Man, however, is not only body, but soul and spirit. Thus psychology-the
science of personality and the attributes of knowledge, feeling, and will – can only get its full
explanation in the word of God.

FRAGMENT. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man (the
unsaved) the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed
them unto us (the saved) by his Spirit" (1 Cor. 2:9,10). "And in all matters of wisdom and
understanding, that the king (Nebuchadnezzar) enquired of them (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah), he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all
his realm" (Daniel 1:20). "As for these four children (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah)
God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom" (Daniel 1:17). "And King

Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth
sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart (2 Chron.
9:22,23).

Also see 1 Cor. 2:16, 1 John 2:20 and Matt. 12:42.

For some years I had felt there was something wrong. Indeed, though at times earth’s ambitions
occupied heart and hands, yet there was an aching void_a spot within_which nothing had yet
reached. The crisis had come at last. The awful truth had dawned upon me that all my past efforts
had been in vain:after all, I was only u poor, helpless, incorrigible sinner. But at the same time a
light, glorious. as it was sweet, had shined into me. It was the revelation that Jesus had done the work
which was necessary to save such a sinner. If Jesus had made propitiation for my sins I was free. And
indeed I was free, and praised God for it from the depths of my soul. Worship was no longer a form,
confined to a place or a time_it was "in spirit and in truth."

But sorrow was soon renewed. The company of God, my Father_the fellowship of Christ, my
Saviour and Lord_were the sweetest part of life now. To read the Scriptures, to sing, to pray, to
meet with them who enjoyed what I did was a hundredfold more than I had ever found in anything
in the world before. But, all of a sudden, while engaged in prayer perhaps, or reading the Scriptures,
or other holy exercises, some unholy thought, unbidden and hateful, would pass through my heart.
This startled me. The sight of Christ on the cross suffering the judgment of sin had been so vivid that
nothing now could shake the assurance of the redemption which was mine through it, but how could
I stay close to the God whose Presence I loved, with such unholy thoughts passing through me? I
could not, for I knew His holiness too well to think that He could allow that. If in prayer, I could only
leap from my knees and flee, as a poor leper would have done had he suddenly found himself in the.
Temple of Jerusalem.

What could I do now? Nature perhaps was too well fed and cared for. Starve and subdue it then, and
comfort will return. For one whole year that was tried, and with such austerity were its claims
repressed that bones once well covered now stuck out. But all was of no effect:the sin was there at
the end as at the beginning.

At the time when the case seemed hopeless I was reading the Epistle to the Colossians. Chapter three
had been reached, and the first clause of its third verse had arrested my attention. It said, "For ye are
dead." I answered "O Lord, that I might be dead, and not be distressed any more by the sin that is in
me!"

I returned to my verse, and it still said "For ye are dead." And again I uttered the same prayer to God.

Once more, and with a strange emphasis, the verse said "For ye are dead." And now the sweet light
which had broken in a year before broke in afresh. I had thought that to be "dead" was by some
special experience:now it broke upon me that it was a fact. God had put me to death in the death of
Christ, and in that death I had died once and forever. So now He could say to me "For ye are dead,"
_ not ye ought to be, as I had thought. And if I had indeed thus been put to death in and with Christ,
then had I also been raised up in and with Christ. So the first verse of my chapter spoke.

As the blessed truth of all this broke upon me, and illumined at once a vast portion of the Scriptures
_indeed their great underlying mystery_I could but exclaim, What a fool I have been! Here have
I been this long time trying to kill a man who was already dead. . Now I could stay on my knees,
keep on peacefully in all intercourse with God despite the consciousness of sin within. That sin is
the very nature of the man that God put to death on the cross of Christ _ the "old man." The painful
experience I had gone through had taught me to hate it, and made me thankful beyond expression
at such a deliverance from it. Now, free from that dreadful self, I could "serve in newness of spirit,"
and "bring forth fruit unto God.”

(From Help and Food.)

When wilt thou come, Lord Jesus,
And take us to Thy home?
While here on earth as strangers,
In loneliness we roam.

Though trials sore and heavy
Press down our weary heart;
We’re looking for Thy coming,
When we will never part.

On that resurrection morning,
Thou wilt appear from heaven;
To take us to be with Thee,
Whose sins Thou hast forgiven,

Our hearts will swell with gladness,
When we behold Thy face;
And gaze upon Thy beauty,
Through everlasting days.

Then may we be encouraged,
While waiting for Thee here;
To follow Thee with patience,
Let this our spirits cheer,

The waiting will be over
Our race will then be ran;
When we behold Thy glory,
Far brighter than the sun.

Matt. 11:28 is usually a verse from which the gospel is preached, but should we, as God’s people
apply it only to the unsaved? No, there is much in verses 28, 29 and 30 for us to muse upon and
by faith lay hold on and apply to our own hearts that we might receive a blessing.

This is a day when God’s dear people ate laboring, troubled and heavy ladened over many dungs.
In these verses a blessed invitation goes forth from the lips of our blessed Lord:"Come unto Me
all ye that labor and are heavy, laden". We must confess we are included in the "ALL YE". This
being true, what are we to do. Say, Lord we are not troubled. We do not heed help. We can get by
on our own strength. No, I am sure not one of us can answer Him thus. Then Just let us heed His
invitation and’ come with our cares, our trials, our burdens and see His promise fulfilled to us. "I
WILL GIVE YOU REST". Have we faith to believe this? Certainly you will agree He is able. He
has given us rest from our burden of sin. Now we can trust Him to soothe our troubled, cumbered
minds and then to better worship at His feet, to adore Him _ the one who has done all to bring
us into happiness.

Verse 29 – "Take my yoke;,upon you and learn of me) for I am meek and lowly in heart AND YE
SHALL FIND REST unto your souls". Oh, what a promise.

Oh, what healing to the burdened, troubled mind. What balm to the soul of those who by faith lay
hold and act upon this precious verse. No doctor can dispense such medicine. Only the Great
physician can give relief in days as these. May we not be stubborn. Just come and find rest unto
our souls. Truly we can say He is a very present help in time of need. We need just to cast all our
cares upon Him, for He careth for us.

We can only learn of Him by reading and studying His word. A child at school, in order to make
progress, not only reads but must study and enter into the subject in its fullest sense. We grow in
grace and in the further knowledge of Him, by studying the subject, and what a subject _ "The
love of God for us”.

In Job 14:1 – "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble". Christ knowing all
this and knowing that we are unable to better that condition, comes on the scene with help and
invites troubled ones to come for rest. Will we pass it by? Help He can give. Help He will give. It
is all for the taking of it by faith.

It is when we act on our own desires, without even taking Him into question, or seeking His
guidance that we labor in vain. Peter, in John 21, says "I go a fishing," and he goes. He toils all
night but his labor brings no results, only a worn out condition after a very toilsome night. But
the Lord is watching and in an opportune time comes in (what a deliverer) and Peter receives a
blessing. Truly, when He comes in all is well. It is now morning, the Light has. dispelled the
darkness, the net is cast and a hundred. fifty and three fish are brought in. He truly daily loadeth
us with benefits _ Psa. 68:19. We do not read of Peter being burdened now. It seems as if Peter
is just enjoying that perfect rest from labor as he sits and dines with our Lord. Oh, what peace
and rest He gives us as He feeds us with His words; MAY WE LEARN OF HIM.

Jesus said to the apostles, "Come ye yourselves apart- into a desert place and REST awhile." It is
important that we rest in Him, as it is in this way we may worship Him. Isaiah saw that rest was
good, shouldn’t we?

To obtain rich blessing for out souls we need, to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. His
yoke is easy, His burdens are light.

Jesus said to Martha in Luke 10:41, "Martha, thou are careful and troubled about many things."
Notice verse 42 _ "Mary has chosen that good part." Verse 39 – "And she (Martha) had a sister
called Mary, who sat at Jesus feet and HEARD HIS WORD." Here is the secret. Mary had
chosen that good part; and for how long? Eternity. "Which shall not be taken away from her."
She heard His words. She was a learner. "Take my yoke upon you and LEARN OF ME, and ye
SHALL find REST unto your souls.” God gives us as never before to heed the invitation and find
sweetness as did the Psalmist in Psalm 23. "

FRAGMENT

Behold how he loved him. John 11:36

WHO

He loved me, the Father’s only son;
He gave Himself, the precious spotless One;
He shed His blood, and thus the work was done.

LOVED

He loved_not merely pitied, Here I REST;
Sorrow may come, I to His heart am pressed;
What shall I fear while sheltered on His breast.

ME

Wonder of wonders, Jesus loves me;
A wretch_lost_ruined_sunk in misery;
He sought me, found me, raised me, set me free.

In the two wondrous gifts of His Son and His Spirit, God has given us all we need to enable us to
live on the highest plane. The Holy Spirit works to help the Christian to refuse the further reign of
self and to allow Christ to have full sway over his life by yielding to Him as Lord.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey?" (Rom. 6:16).

THE YIELDED LIFE_WHY? To yield the life unconditionally to Christ is the first step needed for
a walk in the Spirit. Self is reluctant to relinquish anything except under compulsion. Many of us
may think that God wants things from us. God is a Person, and what He desires most is fellowship
with a person, so He wants us. He asks first that we yield ourselves.

"And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves unto the Lord." (2 Cor. 8:5)

THE YIELDED LIFE_WHAT? "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" On
the cross through His shed blood, Christ paid the price for the possession of your life. It is His by
right of purchase. Have you delivered unto Him that which is His? Oh, how He appeals to you!

"I beseech you, therefore . . . that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God" (Rom. 12:1).

A noble act on the part of Daniel’s three friends was:

"They yielded their bodies, that they might not serve any God, except their own God." (Dan. 3:28)

But God goes still further; for He leaves no loop hole in the matter of yielding. He knows full well
how the beauty of a life may be marred by the unyieldedness of even one member of the body.

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:but yield yourselves unto
God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto
God" (Rom. 6:13.).

"Yourselves"_"Your bodies"_"Your members".

It is all inclusive. Our yielding to Christ then includes everything within:intellect, heart, will; and
everything without:home, children, business, possessions, pleasures, friendships, time, and money.
Let it be clearly understood that there should be no reservations. We may not set apart any part of
our lives and earmark it"reserved."If Christ is to be Lord, He must be Lord of all.

Yielding to Christ is a voluntary act. The Lord Jesus stands at the door of every unyielded room in
your life seeking entrance (Rev. 3:20). Oh, friends, have you allowed Christ to come into every
department of your life?

Shall we, with joy and reverence
Say, "Come in, Thou Honored Guest,
Take myself and my possessions,
I do yield to Thee my best."

Soon after the year 1845, when the numbers at Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse had
reached about a thousand souls, troubles arose which caused the first breach among the Brethren;
but it was not until 1848 that what had been strongly suspected by some came to the light and
brought matters to a crisis’ at Plymouth. It was discovered by Mr. Harris_through copious notes
of Mr. Newton’s lectures accidentally falling into his hands_that he had been diligently and
systematically teaching, not only that which is ecclesiastically, but that which is fundamentally
heretical as to Christ. When this became known, Brethren in all parts were deeply affected by the
sad tidings, and numerous meetings were held in different parts of the country to investigate the
charges. Nearly all were agreed, after much prayer and confession, that the doctrines which Mr.
Newton had been teaching were not only false, but utterly subversive of all that is essential to
Christianity.

But though they were thus agreed as to the character of the heresy, they were divided in their
judgment as to the principle of separation from it. One part thought that the poison of the
doctrines_which had been insidiously taught for some years_might have infected more than
were yet manifested; and, therefore, they could have no fellowship with any who sympathized
with the doctrines, or had fellowship with their author at the breaking of bread. Others thought
these terms of communion were too strict; that each one applying for fellowship should be
examined, and if it were found that they neither understood nor had imbibed the false doctrines,
they should be received, even though they came from Mr. Newton’s meeting; that every true
Christian should be received on the ground of his individual soundness in the faith, no matter
from what meeting he came. But many strongly objected to this way of dealing with so grave a
matter. They maintained that the glory of Christ was in question, as well as the purity of His
assembly; that, on this principle, the door was left open for the heresy to come in, and that it was
giving up the unity of the church of God, as the ground of action, and going back to
independency.

There are a good many songs given to us in Old Testament Scripture. This is the first, just as the
Song of Solomon, I suppose, is the last. This is the song of redemption. The Song of Solomon is
the song of reciprocal affection. Both are beautiful in their place. And I think we all should seek
to sing each of those songs. It is our portion.

In this song, which is beautifully simple, and very refreshing to the spirit, God is everything, and
SATISFACTION the result. Even though you and I may have been a good long time on the
wilderness journey, yet we can turn back with joy and gladness to re-echo this song. There are
many here who have just set out on the road, and I want to point out to such how suitable it is
that you should sing. Observe, there was no song in Egypt. You must be out of Egypt before you
can really sing to God. It is not a question of people having the vocal capacity, but the state of
soul which warrants such a song, so you must not “join the choir” until you are saved. Then you
will find yourself in it without joining.

I think it must have been a wonderful thing for God that day, when six hundred thousand men
opened their mouths and sang this beautiful song. Depend upon it heaven listened that morning.
They were very happy that day. They had a right to be. Was it not a beautiful song. It was a
lovely song. And what was there in the song? Veil, mere is a peculiar absence of a great deal that
is found in what you and I are wont to sing. Nine-teen-twentieths of our singing is about
ourselves. This redemption song from first to last is all about the Lord.

But I hear a sorrowful voice saying, I cannot sing, for I am very miserable, and I fear that I am
not converted. You would not be miserable, my dear friend, if you were not converted. If you
were still dead in your sins you would be insensible. Why are you wretched now? Because there
has been an action of God’s Spirit in your soul, and you have had a glance at the value of the
cross, but men, instead of keeping your eye resting on Christ, you have been looking into your
wretched miserable self. If I were you, I would drop all mat, and get into the spirit of mis
beautiful song.

Israel sighed, wept, and groaned in Egypt, but they could not sing. Even in the twelfth chapter
they did not sing. Why? Because they were not in liberty, but the moment they were, out comes
the song. So will it be with you, the moment you learn the fact that the cross, the death, and
resurrection of Christ are for you, and that in His death and resurrection you are dead and risen,
you will not then be able to help singing. The song will burst from your lips spontaneously
without a bit of effort. This gives us the true thought of worship. A religious service will in all
probability be a great deal about ourselves. But that is not worship. Worship is the overflow of a
full heart. No one can worship unless he be in the sense of the liberty of God.

Let us now briefly listen to this new song of redemption. It begins with, "I will sing unto the
Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously:the horse and his rider hath he thrown Into the sea" (ver.
1). It celebrates His victory. How does it finish? "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever" (ver.
18). It proclaims His glory. This song begins with the sense of the grace and power that has
delivered, but it closes with the glory. It takes us right into the glory. Faith enjoys the salvation

that it has found in the Lord, and faith takes a flying leap right over all the difficulties of the way,
saying, "Thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation" (ver. 13). There is faith’s
confidence, that what grace has commenced it will finish. Doubting friend, take up this language,
and let your doubts go. They are the fruit of unbelief. It is Satan diverting the eye from Christ.
You let the eye rest upon Christ, and all your doubts will go, and you will be occupied simply
with God, and with what Christ is.

Note how this chapter opens. "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song," (ver. 1).
Really the state of many a professing Christian to-day would find its expression, not in the word
they "sang," but they "sighed." Oh, my dear friends, I believe our lack of joy is a great sin. It is a
very serious matter, because it is a positive testimony against Christ, to His enemies. Instead of
being a testimony for Him, often times we are a testimony against Him, and a kind of
encouragement to half-hearted sinners to go on with the world. The reason of this poor state is
because our souls are not in the joy of this song. Listen again to the words, "I will sing unto the
Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously." It is the first out-burst in Scripture of real worship, and
is based on the fact that "He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into
the sea." All the power of the enemy is broken. And if you look back for a moment and see what
is connected with the cross, the death and resurrection of Christ, you will see that the power of
the enemy has been absolutely crushed, and we stand in the victory, deliverance, and acceptance
of Christ. Christ is all. What joy fills the heart when that is seen. What joy filled the heart of the
prodigal when he got the sense of the Father’s love (Luke 15).

There is music and dancing in our chapter (ver. 20), and you have music and dancing in the
fifteenth chapter of Luke. I want you to get into the spirit of the beginning of the chapter. In the
end of the chapter we, find that Israel murmured. It is true that the song of the Exodus 15 did the
away, but did you ever hear of the song of the Luke 15 dying away? "They began to be merry," it
says. And we never hear of it ceasing, and we must live in the spirit of our dispensation.

What is Christianity? It is the knowledge of the Father and the Son, with the Holy Ghost
dwelling in the body of the believer, and setting him up in this scene in the power and spirit of
Christ, that he may live in this scene as the Lord lived. Christianity is the repetition of the life of
Jesus, in the life of the Christian. I cannot therefore allow myself any comfort from this chapter if
I am a bit dejected. No, no! That might be overlooked in dial day, when God was testing the
flesh, as He was, but when I come to the full expression, of the truth of the day we are in, you get
Christ as the pattern,. Did you ever hear Him murmuring? No, never! Even in the darkest day, we
hear Him say, "I thank thee O Father" (Matt. 11:25). Always subject, always obedient, always
peaceful. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). Always joyful is also
our normal state. "These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full" (I John 1:4). Ah,
beloved, we have a perfect pattern in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us follow Him. (To be
continued.)

"But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes which I also hate" (to Ephesus;
Rev. 2:6). "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes which thing I hate" (to
Pergamos; Rev. 2:15).

I believe that the practical activity of the people, or Nicolaitanism, is set before us in the underlined
words above. Taking notice of the first verse quoted above, which we find addressed to the Church
at Ephesus, and comparing it with the other verse quoted in the third address to the Church at
Pergamos, let us record some special features perhaps gone unnoticed.

Nicolaitanism has two distinct sides which by careful examination we shall find are set before us;
namely, the active side and then the passive side.

The active side (see underlining) in both verses is condemned with vehement language, "which thing
I also hate.” How good to see in the first mentioned verse the commendation, "but this thou hast, that
thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes".

The Church at Ephesus was commended for unalterable opposition to this evil. This plain opposition
brings to mind such verses as:"striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27); or,
"earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 3). Do not these verses call upon us "for the obedience of
faith?"(Rom. 16:26).

As we have examined the active side of Nicolaitanism, let us now study the passive side as seen in
Pergamos:"So hast thou also them". Upon examination we find the active practitioners of
Nicolaitanism, and also those who have submitted themselves to such, and these necessarily subject
to them. Does not the Apostle Paul set forth this thought quite plainly in .his 1st Epistle to the
Corinthians:"I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ". I would apprehend
it thus. Therefore it would appear that_"so hast thou also them"_would set before us the passive
side. The Lord’s reproof is spoken directly to the passive class.

Another has well said:"Here (Rev. 2:15, Pergamos) it is more than the deeds of the Nicolaitanes.
There are now not merely deeds, but doctrine. And the Church, instead of repudiating it, was holding
with it. In the Ephesian days, they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes; but in Pergamos they hod, and
did not reprobate, those who held the doctrine."

I would add but one thought in closing, yet this thought is perhaps for the individual to think on. The
condemnation in both verses is practically the same:"which thing I hate". The question arises, is the
passive less guilty than the active? Nay, could it not be more guilty?

FRAGMENT. Discipline and Godly care exercised in the local assembly, when done in communion
with the Lord, will draw the hearts of all closer to each other in all their exercises and trials.

This ninth chapter of second Samuel is a very fine sample of the kindness of God. David, the
king, is chosen to set it forth in his treatment of a grandson of Saul, the enemy of David. Blessing
to this remnant of the house of an enemy no doubt foreshadows blessing for the remnant of a
nation in a future day. But we are here concerned in applying this picture to the fallen race of
man – and seeing the kindness of God extended to those deserving death.

Mephibosheth could expect no mercy at the hands of David; for in the usual course of things he
would be put to death. He comes before the king in great fear, for the king says, "Fear not, for I
will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake.

This poor man, lame on both his feet, conscious of being but a dead dog, is to receive all this
kindness for the sake of another.

Here is a picture drawn ten hundred and forty years before Christ, and all that time the love and
grace of God’s heart had been pent up, waiting that death when fully and consistently it might be
expressed; when John 3:16 could be read, believed and enjoyed; when God’s love overflowed Us
banks; and when His grace broke bounds or superabounded (see Rom. 5:20). The veil of the
temple was rent in twain -from the top to the bottom; it was God’s doing; and not only was it that
man might be within in righteousness, but that God might be out in grace.

Some reader may say I do not think God is kind; I have a thought that He is very austere. But is
not that because you do not know yourself? For when you know yourself as a sinner, then you get
to know God as a Saviour. When you confess your sins, then He forgives you because of what
Christ has accomplished.

Here is an outline of a study of this kindness of God. It was ABSOLUTE GRACE:"Is there not
yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? … for Jonathan’s
sake" (verse 3), like Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised
before the world began."

It is also SEEKING GRACE, "Where is he"(ver.4). "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

And COMPELLING GRACE_"David sent, and fetched him" (ver.5); "For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only-begotten Son" (John 3:16; 4:10), and who could resist such pace?

It is UNCONDITIONAL GRACE_"I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan they father’s
sake" (v.7); "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shall
make them drink of the river of thy pleasure" (Psa. 36:8, also Eph. 3:18,19).

And ENNOBLING GRACE_"As one of the king’s sons" (v.11); "Having predestinated us unto
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself" (Eph. 1:5; Heb. 2:10; John 14:2).

CONTINUOUS GRACE_"Eat continually at the king’s table" (v. 13); and see Psa.84:5:
"Blessed are that dwell in thy house:they will be still praising thee."

And HEART-WINNING GRACE_"At the king’s table and was lame on both his feet (v.13);
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rpm.5:6);
"Hold up my goings (says the Psalmist) in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not" (Psa. 17:5). So
the last thing mentioned is his lameness, as if to magnify the grace, with his feet under the table
out of sight; but his presence would be a constant reminder of the beloved Jonathan. "For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (I Peter
3:18).

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation" (Heb.2:3).

Here is a subject which bears much earnest consideration. The Lord Jesus at a very suitable
occasion cautioned his disciples, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Mark
14:38). The danger of entering into that which is not pleasing to God is so great that watching
alone is not enough. The heart must be instructed through prayer to be able to discern the devices
of the wicked one-. Scripture says, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

The word rendered "revelation," and sometimes "apocalypse," means literally an unveiling, or
manifestation. So this book is the unveiling, of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is its one great theme. It
presents Him as the Son of Man in the midst of the churches during the present dispensation; and
as the Judge and the King in the dispensations to come. If you would learn to appreciate Christ more,
read this book, frequently and prayerfully. It reveals Him as the Lamb rejected, soon to reign in glory
_ the Lamb on the throne!

And observe the tide is not in the plural. People often speak of the book of Revelations. There is no
such book in the Bible. It is the Revelation _ one blessed, continuous manifestation of God’s unique
Son, the anointed Prophet, Priest and King. Revelation is the crowning book of the Bible. It is like
the Headstone of Zech. 4:7 that completes and crowns the whole wondrous pyramid of truth. Have
you read it lately?

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more
out." Rev. 3:12.

In John 10 the Lord says, "I am the door:by Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall
go in and out, and find pasture." It is no longer the Jewish sheepfold and the bondage of the law,
but perfect liberty, going in for worship and out for service, everywhere finding food and
blessing. How sweet to think that the time is coming when we shall go in, never to come out
more! It will be always service in immediate connection with the Lord Himself_enjoyment of
the presence of God and of the Lamb_eternal worship! And let me again ask, for whom would
this be a welcome and happy promise? For those who had valued and enjoyed worship here
below_for those who have thought of Christ now, Christ will provide all the joy He can give
them then. The Lord grant that this may be our comfort while we wait for Him!

We may for Christ be outside all that looks strong and orderly. In that day we shall go no more
out, but enjoy the most intimate association with Christ, be a pillar in the temple of His God.

V. 1. The substance of faith; The evidence of faith.
V. 2. The older ones of faith, The report of faith.
V. 3. The medium of faith; The understanding of faith; The word of faith.
V. 4. The first martyr of faith; The offering of faith; The excellent sacrifice of faith; The opposite
of faith (Cain); The witness of faith; The righteousness of faith; The abiding testimony of faith;
The gift of faith.
V. 5. The preaching of faith; The dedication of faith (Enoch means dedicated); the walk of faith;
The pleasing testimony of faith; The translating hope of faith.
V. 6. The lack of faith; The approach of faith; The eternal abiding source of faith (God is); The
rewarder of faith; The diligence of faith; The seeking of God by faith.
V. 7. The warning of faith; The exercise of faith; The preparation of faith; The salvation of faith;
The house of faith; The world condemned by faith; The work of faith; The heir of faith; The
righteousness of faith.
V. 8. The palling of faith; The place of faith; The inheritance of faith; The obedience of faith.
V. 9. The sojourn of faith; The land of faith; The dwelling of faith; The tabernacles of faith; The
heirs of faith; The promise of faith.
V. 10. The hope of faith; The look of faith; The city of faith; The foundation of faith; The God
of faith.
V. 11. The fellowship of faith; The bride, or wife, of faith; The power of faith; The judgment of
faith; The promise of faith.
V. 12. The family of faith; The stars of faith (heavenly saints); The sands of faith (earthly saints);
The innumerable numbers of faith.
V. 13. The sleep of faith; The eyes of faith; The persuasion of faith; The embrace of faith; the
confession of faith.
V. 14. The testimony or declaration of faith;
V. 15. The faith that is dead faith.
V. 16. The desire of faith; The better country of faith; The heavenly country of faith.
V. 17. The trial of faith; The faithful character of faith.
V. 18. The calling of faith.
V. 19. The reckoning or accounting or imputation of faith.
V. 20. The joy or strength of faith (Isaac means "He shall laugh"); The blessing of faith.
V. 21. The glorious death of a saint of faith; Blessing others and worshiping God _ the
beautiful character of faith; The staff of faith; The sustainment of faith.
V. 22. The fruitfulness of faith; Another beautiful death of a saint of faith; The commandment or
authority of faith; The faith of the resurrection of faith.
V. 23. A child of faith; Parents of faith; The protection of faith; The beauty of faith (“proper”
means beautiful); The fearlessness of faith.
V. 24. The growth of faith; The manhood of faith.
V. 25. The refusal of faith; The choice of faith; The afflictions of faith; The people of faith; The
enjoyment that is not of faith; The pleasures that are not of faith.
V. 26. The reproach-of faith; The greater riches of faith; The respect of the recompense of faith.
V. 27. The stand of faith; The fearlessness of faith; The endurance of faith; The view of faith.
V. 28. The obedience of faith; The feast of faith; The value of the blood of faith; The shelter of

faith.
V. 29 The baptism of faith; The counterfeit of faith.
V. 30 The power of faith.
V. 31. The protection of faith; A sinner of faith; The hospitality of faith; There word of faith.
V. 32. The untold victories of faith.
V. 33. The:subduing power of faith; The work of (he righteousness of faith; The obtaining of
some of the promises of faith; The mouths of lions stopped by faith.
V. 34. The violence of fire quenched by faith; The edge of the sword escaped by faith; The
weakness and strength of faith; The bravery of faith; The putting to flight the enemies of faith;
The aliens of faith.
V. 35. Some women of faith; The receiving of their dead raised to life by faith; Others tortured,
not accepting deliverance by faith; The better resurrection of faith.
V. 36,37,38. The trials of faith.
V. 39. The good report of all of faith; The waiting for the promises of faith; The patience of faith.
V. 40. The better provision for us (the Church) of faith; The mutual blessings of faith.

If I have asked anything of God and received His answer, I then act with assurance, with the
conviction that I am in the path of His will:I am happy and satisfied. If I meet with a difficulty, it
does not stop me; it is only an obstacle for faith to overcome.

But if I have not this assurance, I am uncertain, and know not what to do. Maybe it is a trial for
my faith, or may be a direction which tells me not to do what I am doing. I am in suspense, I
hesitate. Even if I do the will of God, I am not sure as to that will, and I am not happy. I have
need, therefore, of being assured that it is the will of God before I begin to act.

Let us notice, in passing, that God disposes all, according to the desire of Eliezer; and this will
necessarily be the case with them who find their joy in the Lord. All the wheels of the providence
of God will move in the course of His will which I am doing. The Holy Spirit, by His Word,
gives me the will of God. That is all I need. God will see that everything contributes to the
accomplishment of His will. If, through spiritual intelligence, we walk with God, He helps us in
the accomplishment of His will and purposes. We have need of this spiritual discernment, that
we may abound in all wisdom and spiritual intelligence. "If thine eye be single, thy whole body
will be full of light" (Matt. 6). I cannot tell where this will lead me, but this is the step I have now
to take in the path I am called to tread.

The servant of Abraham came into the house. "And there was set meat before him to eat; but he
said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand;” and Laban said, “Speak on." What firmness of
character there is with the servant! Look at the man who is not decided:he consults with this one
and with that one when it is a question of knowing how he is to act; and even when he desires to
do his ova will, he will seek the counsel of those who have less faith than himself. Paul advised
not with flesh sad blood (Gal. 1). He saw it was Christ calling him, and he went ahead.

Eliezer, occupied with his mission, does not accept the food presented him. He does what he ‘has
to do. One of the secrets of the Christian’s life, as soon as he knows the will of God, is to do it, to
occupy himself with his work, to allow nothing to interpose, not even the question of the needs
of his body. That is the effect and the sign of the work of the Spirit. Eliezer must attend to his
mission.

And what was in question? The interests and the honor of Abraham his master.; Abraham had
intrusted him with the interests of his son Isaac, and God has intrusted us, here below, with the
glory of His Son Jesus; and that glory occupies us by the Holy Spirit given us _ that is, where
the eye is single and there is a spiritual discernment according to the place God has set us in. If
we are there, there will be no hesitation; being in our place, we will act freely and with joy.

If I think of my convenience, of my interests, of what concerns me, of my family (and there are a
thousand things contrary to prompt obedience), it is advising with flesh and blood; but if I ask,
What are the interests of Christ, the thing is clear at once. If I think of any other thing, whatever it
be, I have not at heart that glory intrusted to me, and I have not confidence in Him who put me
there.

After showing the general trend of Christendom, and the increase of apostasy in that which once
professed to hold the truth of God’s Word, a writer, in a letter written quite a number of years
ago, states, in conclusion, and in humility:

"We have the truth. I trust we have it in oat hearts. Let us use it, by holding fast Christ’s Word,
and not denying His Name. We are set, every one of us in our different and humble spheres, for
the defense of the Gospel, and let us by every means circulate the truth that corrects these evils.

"Let us not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. The great corrective is the truth as to
Christ’s Person and work_a true Christ_God and man, and the atoning merits of His sacrifice.
These let us rejoice in, meditate upon, and speak often one to another of, and to the needy world
around.

"Let us hold fast the lost and ruined condition of men; that it is not teaching they need, but
salvation, and when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard
against him. To be ready for all this we must be with our blessed Lord and Master, serving Him
and one another in true love. Honoring Him He will honor us (with this, of course, we must hold
fast to the whole Word and every word of God.)

"What an opportunity our lives are. May we step in and fill up the breach, serving God and our
generation in our day. Prof. Drumond has had great influence towards the down grade through
his beautiful way of neutralizing the real application of God’s Word. He so glibly applies, in true
Unitarian style, the precious truths and exhortations which belong only to the Christian, to the
unconverted, to man as such. Thus he denies the lost state of man negatively in all (I suppose) of
his earlier books. Even Christians, very many, not noting this important thing, have been carried
away by its beautiful manner and now he has them nearly evolutionized."

From the lips of our dear Saviour,
As he walked upon this earth,
Only gracious words were uttered,
Oh, how sweet their worth!

Kindly words of cheer and comfort,
Words the troubled soul to calm,
Full of entreaty and of pardon,
Oh, how sweet their balm!

As He speaks to little children,
When to Him they gather round,
Tender words of love and blessing,
Oh, how sweet their sound!

Do we take Him as our Pattern,
As we walk upon this earth,
Are the words from our lips gracious?
Oh, what is their worth?

Do we speak as in His Presence?
Are our thoughts to His thoughts tuned?
Or do we, instead of healing,
Open up a wound?

Gracious Saviour, deeply search us,
By the truth Thy Word affords,
For Thine honor ever using,
Only gracious words!

"If ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world,
are ye subject to ordinances?" (Col. 2:20).

"Why, as though living in the world," is a most remarkable expression. It shows that we are not
true to our standing, as well as to Christ, if we are as men alive in the world. We have a new life,
which is the life of Him who is dead and risen; and this had now brought us into the condition of
death to all that is of the world. Hence as to the religion of the world, the Christian has in
principle as really done with it as Christ Himself had after His death. What had our Lord from
His cross to do with the fasts and feasts of the Jews? Absolutely nothing, neither ought we; and
by "we" I mean every real Christian.

I admit that the great mass of Christians will not hear of such a breach with the world; and thus
comes one severe trial of those who see it thus a foundation truth of Christ… The taking up the
rudiments of the world, is then a fiat practical contradiction to our death with Christ.

The Colossians wanted to hold on to the truth of Christ, but to keep up, or adopt along with it,
religious forms which had been observed in olden times. No, says the apostle, it is Christ who is
all our good, and nothing but Christ:we need nothing else. Christ is all. Nothing was so
exclusive as Christ and the cross; as yet what was so large? "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily." But He was rejected."

"Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?" (Rev. 5:2).

The whole universe is challenged_is there anyone in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that
can deal with the evil and bring in the blessing? The result of the challenge is that no one "was
able to open the book", and no one "was found worthy to open the book".

For thousands of years men have been endeavoring to redress the evils of the world and introduce
a time of universal peace and blessing. To use the symbolic language of Rev. 5, men have been
endeavoring to open the book. They have tried by codes and laws, by courts of justice, by prisons
and reformations to repress evil:they have Sought by every form of government_monarchial
and republican, dictatorial and democratic_to bring in a time of peace and plenty. Every class
has been tested, kings and nobles, plebeians and socialists; but amongst them all no one has been
found with either ability or worthiness. Yet men still proceed by desperate efforts, by leagues,
conferences, and pacts, to redress the wrongs of the world, and to bring about a time of universal
peace and blessing; every effort only proving that they have never yet heard the voice of the
strong angel. Those who have heard that voice know full well that it loudly proclaims that all
efforts of men are foredoomed to failure, inasmuch as they are attempts to put the world right
without God and Christ. Men consider only the rights of man, they ignore the rights of God and
the requirements of His throne.

"If you do your part as well as I do mine, you’ll be all right,” I was the careless remark of a man
in a hotel lately, as to the matter of salvation. But how stands this matter, when brought to the
test of God’s holy word?

Have you ever learned what your part is in the matter of your salvation? According to God’s
testimony, that business as well as the judgment of all men, is committed unto the Son of God
alone. He bears the name of Saviour by divine right, and that, reader, does not mean helping us
to save ourselves. No, he cannot give His glory to another, nor can He divide this glory with you,
the Creator with the creature, the Redeemer with the redeemed, the Saviour of lost sinners with
the sinners that a lost need Him to save them.

But do you say, what! is there nothing to do in order to be saved? No, reader, for the work that
saves has already been done. The work that saves the soul was too great for any creature to do;
the archangel Michael could not do it, and therefore you, nor any other, plainly could not do it
either.

The work that saves has been done by the only One in heaven or earth competent to do it, and to
add to it on the part of any creature, is to insult Him who did it. "When He had by Himself
purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. l).

Because no creature ever could do it, and the only One in heaven or earth that could do it, has
done it, God now offers salvation on the only terms that we could ever have it on viz., that He
gives it and we take it.

Then if we understand the matter aright, reader, your only part in this divine matter was the sins
that made you need it, and now the repentance that owns your need of it, and the faith that takes
it as God’s free gift because we need it, and yet cannot buy it, could not pay for it, cannot earn or
deserve it, but blessed be God, can receive it now, and to our eternal blessing. Reader! do your
part then, now, and,

"Take with rejoicing from Jesus at once,
The life everlasting He gives;
And know with assurance thou never canst die,
Since Jesus thy righteousness lives."

Redemption sets us at rest and in peace in the presence of God. The whole character of Christian
life flows from being brought back to God, and thus we are called to walk with God. To believe
that we are brought back to God is not presumption; it is faith. It is presumption to think we can
be saved in any other way. It should always be remembered, that Christ is not our life, without
being our righteousness; and that neither is He our righteousness without being our life. If this be
surely grasped, it will enable the soul to look at the judgment seat of Christ with perfect
calmness. Confidence is founded on His being made our righteousness, who was made sin for us.

The letter continues:"The Bible Church is more scriptural here (in having a constitution) for in
Acts 16:4 ‘they delivered them the decrees for to keep.’ This could be similar to a constitution."

Can any "constitution" or "decrees" written since the days of the apostles claim what was written
of the decrees in Acts 16:4? "for it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us" (the apostles). The
"decrees" of Acts 16 formed only a part of the ministry of Paul to the churches, for in Acts 20:27
he says, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God".

It is asserted:"That is why some of the brethren of various assemblies do not see eye to eye on all
interpretations."

Alas, we must own our failure here, we do not all speak the same things, there have been
divisions among us; we have not been perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment (I Cor.1:10). Is this because we have no humanly written constitution as this writer
contends? No, that would be to put the blame for our failure on God – to imply that His provision
in His Word was not adequate – that man could do with a constitution what God could not
accomplish by His Word. What does the scripture say? "If any man will do His will, he shall
know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). Let us place the failure where it belongs, not in God’s
provision by His Word, but rather upon ourselves. "We have sinned, and have committed
iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled even by departing from Thy precepts and
from Thy judgments….. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of
faces, as at this day" (Dan. 9:5,7).

There is divine light in the Word of God for every possible exigency, and if we have not that
light, we had better wait on the Lord, and see whether the precious fullness of scripture will not
be rendered without doubt applicable to the difficulty, by the power of the Spirit, without
presuming to add anything like a rale (or constitution) to meet the case. It is not meant that there
will never be perplexity, nor that we may not feel our weakness and lack of wisdom. Humility,
patience, and faith will ere long prove better solvents than all the appliances of human art. God
has undertaken to provide for us in His word; and spiritual power consists in bringing that word,
by the Spirit, to bear practically upon every case that comes before us. (To be continued.)

FRAGMENT
Thy Word, 0 Lord, Thy precious Word alone,
Can lead me on;
By this until the darksome night be gone,
Lead Thou me on!
Thy Word is light, Thy Word is life and power;
By it, O guide me in each trying hour!

Whate’er my path, led by the Word ’tis good:
Oh, lead me on
Be my poor heart Thy blessed Word’s abode_
Lead Thou me on!
Thy Holy Spirit gives the light to see,
And leads me by Thy Word, close following Thee.

Led by aught else, I tread a devious way,
Oh, lead me on!
Speak, Lord, and help me ever to obey,
Lead Thou me on!
My every step shall then be well defined,
And all I do according to Thy mind.

Answer. This is entirely a question between the heart and the Lord. If one cannot fully trust the
Lord for the future, both for himself and for his family_if one has not such a sense of what God
is, and what the life of faith is, as to lift the heart entirely above the range of creature confidence,
human hopes, and earthly expectations, he can, of course, only lay up money, or insure his life. In
the case of a mere man of the world, it is very laudable to deny himself in order to lay up for his
wife and children; but the man of God steads on different ground altogether. We believe it is
better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in a store of money, or in an insurance policy.
"Leave thy fatherless children to me, and let thy widows trust in me." We have often seen the
truth of the old proverb:"If you lay up for a rainy day, God will send you a rainy day." And as to
children, the best provision you can make for them is, to teach them to provide for themselves by
honest industry.