CALENDAR :May 16th to June 15th

DAILY BIBLE READING:May 16th, Ps. 114; May 31st,
Memory WORK :Jude 10-25. [Ps. 129; June 15th, Ps. 144.
GOOD READING:C. H. M's Miscellaneous Writ's., Vol. 4, " Christian Perfection," " Levi," and " Glad Tidings."
MONTHLY QUESTION :-What is the salvation we have, and the salvation we are waiting for ?

Our Memory Work

With this month's study we complete the memorizing of two epistles-2 Peter and Jude. I trust you all have found much profit in this work, and that, as a result, you have acquired a truer spiritual judgment as to the conditions which prevail in the world. The current is running very strong, and we need to exercise great watchfulness day by day, for we are in constant danger of being caught in the swift stream of this world's ways. " The Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken " (Prov. 3:26). " The end of all things is at hand :be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer " (1 Pet. 4:7). To be sober means to exercise a right judgment, and for this we must have God's mind as given us in His Word. It means, too, the exercise of self-control. Who can do this apart from knowledge of and enjoyment of God's Word ?-it must be the man of our counsel. " Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from God's mouth."

The time for our recitation will come again with the close of this present portion, and we shall look for the successful ones, according to our usual requirement, to be sent in not later than June 30th. This time we will send to them a very valuable little book entitled, " The Mysteries of God," by Mr. Ironside, giving a comprehensive unfolding of God's purposes in what are called " Mysteries " in the New Testament. Now we hope that many will be able to claim this volume. Try to enlist other young believers in this work, such as you may know outside of your assembly circle.

Some Outlines of Truth

I wish to begin with you some outlines of certain truths which may be both helpful and suggestive for further and more detailed study by yourselves.

First, I would like to take up the Assembly, and, to begin with, consider it as the one body, to which every believer belongs.

As to its beginning it was not whilst Christ was here, for He says, "I will build mine assembly" (Matt. 16:18). When and how it began, we see in Acts 2:1-4; and, 1 Cor. 12:13 says, " By one Spirit we have all been baptized into one body." That this is the same as the church or assembly (though there is much teaching connected with these different terms) is evident from Eph. 1:23, " the church, which is His body " (Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. S:30, New Tram.; Col. 1:18, 24).

From Acts 2:47 we see there is continual adding to this company of true believers in the Lord Jesus. So the apostle can say " we "-referring to the Corinthians, himself, and others, who were not present at Pentecost; all are participants in this baptism, all having ' been given to drink of one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13, New Tram.). Now this primarily is the unity of the Spirit, for there is but one Body, and one Spirit (Eph. 4:3, 4).

That every believer belongs to, or is part of, this one and only Church or Assembly, or Body, is clearly stated in 1 Cor. 12:12,13-the Body is one of many members, and " by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body."

Since all true believers are joined together into one Body, let us inquire, What was it which they believed ? The answer is given in 1 Cor. 15:1-4 :" I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand ; by which also ye are saved … how that Christ died for our sins . . . was buried, and that He rose again according to the Scriptures." So with the Ephesians, having heard the gospel, they trusted and believed Christ (Eph. 1:13). Likewise the Colossians (1:4-6) and the Philippians (1:4-7). Thus Christ and Him crucified was the great basic truth of their faith (1 Cor. 1:21, 22; Gal. 3:1). Should we consider the subject of what the gospel comprises, however, it would be needful to bring in many other features of truth. So also with the Thessalonians, they received the gospel, and became followers of those who preached it and of the Lord (1 Thess. 1:5,6); their faith in Christ, and suffering for His sake, became an example to other assemblies (spoken of in the plural here, assemblies, of which we shall speak later). We have noted the time and manner of the Church's beginning, of whom it is composed, and what it is which introduces into it. Let us now ask what is the character especially belonging to the Church ?

First, this may be gathered from the term itself. The word ecclesia, or assembly (rendered uniformly "church" in the Authorized Version, except in Acts 19:32, 29, 41), means a called-out company. The Spirit of God has adopted this word to designate the company of believers united together and to Christ in heaven by the action of the Holy Spirit. It clearly suggests separation. But from whom and from what ?The distinct place of this company, hence its separateness, is intimated in the threefold division of 1 Cor. 10:32 -" Jews, Gentiles, and Church of God." This is further emphasized when we know that this Church or Assembly is composed of believers from amongst both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6 with 2:11-22).They are thus separated, called out, from their natural relation and position in the world to be in this new Body, inaugurated on the day of Pentecost. The Lord prophetically speaks of this in John 10.He would lead out His sheep from the Jewish fold, and bring His other sheep(Gentiles), and unite them in one flock (ver. 16, New Trans.). Further, it is separated from the world not only by being thus called apart from it, but also by the fact that it is united to Christ in heaven, and the Holy Spirit here is witnessing to His exaltation while rejected by the world (John 16:8-1). And by the Spirit the Assembly is linked with its Head, Christ, in glory. This at once shows its character. In position, relation, and destiny, it is heavenly, separate from the world and its course, for so is Christ.

Concerning this called-out company, many descriptive terms or expressions are used in Scripture, which we may profitably consider, and hope to do so in a brief way. Then we must gather together, at least in outline, the precious truths as to worship, testimony, and fellowship of the Assembly, and how these truths are to be given practical form in days such as the present. We must think also of the life, the order and government which pertain to the Assembly. But our next outline study will be the aspects in which it bears relation to each of the divine Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Another interesting part of this subject-the Church- is the way in which it is typically presented in the Old Testament. This we hope to touch on as we proceed with our outlines. However, there is nothing in the O.T. types to present the Church as the Body of Christ. This aspect belongs entirely to the New Testament.

Again, various names are given to those who compose the Assembly ; each of which has a meaning worthy of our careful consideration, with profit and blessing. Here are some of them which you might look up and consider, both as to the privilege and responsibility which they suggest.

Believers …… Acts 5:14. Members of one Body and of one another
Disciples……. Acts 9:1.
Christians …. Acts 11:26.
Living stones… 1 Pet. 2:5.
Saints…… Eph. 1:1, etc.
Sons )
Children ) many passages
Priests )
Strangers and Pilgrims…….1 Pet. 2:11.
Fellow-citizens..Eph. 2:19. Soldiers…..2 Tim. 2:3,4.
Servants……….. Rom. 6.
Friends……. John 15:15.
Sheep, Lambs, John, chaps. 10 and 21.

Our Daily Bible Reading

We commence with Ps. 114. There is unity of theme through the first four psalms (114-117). They celebrate God, first in His great power (114), then in contrast to the idols of men (US), and as the One who in resurrection-power brings in salvation and blessing for His people-Israel especially (116); finally, all the world is called to worship. Such will be the millennial glory.

Suitably, there follows in Ps. 118, Christ Himself, as the Head of all blessing. Note also how parts of this psalm are referred to in the New Testament. Then in Ps. 119 it is the Word of God, which beautifully links with the previous theme-Christ, who is the Word, the Truth. Dispensationally, it is Israel under the New Covenant celebrating the law written upon their hearts, as in Ps. 118 we have the Mediator of that covenant.

There follows the fifteen psalms of degrees (120-134). They present, as we may say, the steps in Israel's restoration leading up to the blessed end of which the preceding psalms speak. They present the steps of progress by which God leads up to the great paean of praise which closes the book, and embraces all creation (135-150). We can find principles in them which govern at all times, and illustrations of God's ways with His people, whether individually or collectively considered.

Correspondence for the Y. B. Dept., please address to Mr. John Bloore, care of Loizeaux Brothers.