“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints”.

                                                                                                                                         1 Cor. 14:33.

B.C.G. – Chapter xiv., verse 33 is on the same line; we know that this is the chapter that regulates the ministry of the Church when it comes together. It is a sample case. After giving all these directions, he says the reason is, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” In all the churches it is the same. How could the apostle say this – how could he vouch for the various gatherings if this were not so? It is not but that gatherings may differ in their spiritual condition, but there was but one order maintained. There was but one centre; but one order of the assemblies coming together. So he can speak for all the assemblies of the saints. Now this is specially to be noticed, for I was challenged more than once across the sea, and have been this side, as to this expression which has been used, as to the “circle of fellowship.” A person said to me: I do not agree with what some of you American brethren say as to the circle of fellowship. Well, I said, if you can give us a better name to express a divine fact, we will be glad for any good name, because we know the name is but human but the thing is divine, and we do not want you, in objecting to the name, to do away with the thing. Here is a circle of fellowship — here is an order that the apostle can vouch for — that if you leave Corinth and go to Ephesus you will find it there too. So we have got to look into it to see what this order is. If we go to Ephesus, what ought we to do? We bear a letter from Corinth, we go to the same fellowship in Ephesus that we leave in Corinth; we are in the fellowship wherever it may be. Some people, for convenience or other reasons, do not put in their claim elsewhere, and they say they do not belong there for the time. That is not true. The day they land at the other place they belong there.

S.R. — Yes, and are under the discipline of that place – of the saints as gathered there. We, for instance, have been under the discipline of the assembly at Toronto for the last three days; subject to the discipline of the House of God as expressed in the assembly of Toronto of which for the time being we form part.

B.C. G. — In connection with that, then, if we had presented something here that the brethren were assured was a very evil thing, and they protested against it, and we still held to it, then the next thing, inasmuch as the order of the Church of God is but one, there should at once be an appeal made from us to those we came from. Why? because they are responsible — they sent us in a sense, or commended us; so that would stop any such mischievous notion as that we should deal with evil short and sharp and cut people off before those they came from have a full opportunity to identify themselves with the matter. If you are right in taking us up for something we have presented here, then the brethren, in deference to them should have an opportunity to act with you in all that is done.

F.J.E. — In connection with the circle of fellowship, would you say now that in view of the failure that has come in amongst those professing to be and actually gathered out to the Name of the Lord, that “circle of fellowship” is confined to those who are holding to the truth of God as it was accepted when the movement first took place?

B.C.G. — Certainly.

F. J. E. — That is to say, to take ourselves, for instance: Is it not confined to that “circle of fellowship” apart from other companies of those who are called brethren?

S.R. – Certainly. We cannot vouch for other people maintaining that which we do not know they are maintaining.

F. J. E. – If that is the case, we would say we are in the “circle of fellowship” on what ground? For what reason?

S.R. — To maintain the truth which we find in the Scriptures.

F.J.E. – Then that practically condemns the other circles.

S.R.— It does, unquestionably, brethren, and I do not believe we ought to have the slightest hesitation in saying that we are where we are by conviction, and that by God’s grace we maintain in love and lowliness, but with all firmness, our separate position as gathered to the Lord’s Name in subjection to His Word, and that we look on our dear brethren in the sects, and on our dear brethren who are not, but who are practically forming sections in that way, we look on them all alike, we test them all by the Word of God. Some have more truth; some have less truth, but none of them, for one reason and another – none of them can have that which commends them to us as being on the ground of God’s Word simply and only. The only way we can leave the ground we occupy is by conviction that it is wrong and unscriptural. That is the only upright and conscientious way that we can change our position — that is not according to God, and take a position that is according to God, whether it be with some other company or if we have to stand alone.