A Lesson from Ephesians 4:16: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Samuel Hebich lived and labored on the west coast of India, being used mightily of God in blessing to saint and sinner. I was greatly struck by my first sight of the missionary, and the message I heard him deliver has never left me.

I will attempt to relate his discourse with the same vernacular in which it was given. I do this because there was a force and a pathos in his words that so materially helped me to remember the subject, and I do not wish to take away from it.

He read the fourth of Ephesians, and expounded it till he came to the sixteenth verse, which he read slowly, and repeated the words, “Fitly shoined togeder.”

He paused a few seconds, and abruptly put the question, “Did you ever see a tob?” This homely appeal roused the sleepy and caused a smile to pass over every face.

“If you go to Palhully (a factory in the neighborhood), you will see some fery large tobs. You and I cannot make a tob; it requires a good carpenter to make a tob; or it vill hold no water, because it is not made of vone peece of ood, but of many, and de many must be fitly shoined togeder. Dere are four tings to make a good tob.

“1. It must have a good bottom.

“2. Each of de peeces must be fitly shoined to de bottom.

“3. Each von must be fitly shoined to his fellow.

“4. Each von shall be kept close by de bands outside.

“Von peece may be narrow and de next peece be vide, yet it shall be a good tob; but if a little shtone or bit of shtick vill come between de peeces it vill not do at all. If de peeces are near, but do not touch, it vill not do at all; and if all de peeces but von touch, and are fitly shoined togeder, and dis von fall in or fall out of de circle, it is no tob at all. Now if vee haf a good bottom and efry peece be fitly shoined to de bottom, and all are fitly shoined togeder from de top to de bottom, haf vee now a tob? No, it vill not hold water for von moment till the bands are put on. De bands press hard on each peece of ood, and den are day yet more fitly shoined togeder.

“‘Oder foundation can no man lay dan dat is laid, vich is Jesus Christ.’ Here vee haf de good bottom for our tob. It is perfect, and efry von dat truly believes in Him is resting on dis good bottom, and is fitly shoined to it by de Holy Spirit.

“Dere are many who call demselves Christians who are not so shoined, but vee are not speaking of dem now.

“In de Acts of de Apostles, we read often of being ‘filled vid de Holy Ghost,’ and ven gadered togeder for prayer vonce de whole house did shake vid His power. Shust so now He fills vid peace and shoy de soul dat loves de Lord Jesus, and likewise de company gadered togeder in His Name, Sometimes! not always. Sometimes—not always—Vy not always? Ve shall see. Vat is de small shtick or shtone between de peeces of ood dat make de tob? It is de leetle quarrel—de hard vord—de dirty bit of money, dat keeps broder from being fitly shoined to broder. Vat is de space between de peeces from top to bottom, troo vich you can see de light? It is de coldness dat you feel, but do not tell. De Major’s vife and de Captain’s vife vill bow, but not speak or greet each oder as formerly, because vispering has come between dem. Vat is de peece of ood dat falls out of de circle? It is de proud, unforgiving spirit dat efry von can feel is in de meeting, and vich causes all heavenly peace to run out. So you vill pray dat de power of de Spirit may be known in de meeting but de Spirit is grieved and cannot act because you are no more fitly shoined togeder. You are fery sorry dot you have no blessing, and you leave de meeting because it can do you no good. You stay at home vid de debil, and become dry indeed.

“Oh, beloved, be fitly shoined togeder! You haf no power of your own. Dat vich shall keep you is de encircling bands of de love of Jesus, from head to foot, and as dis power presses on each of you, so vill you become yet more closely shoined togeder. Den de Holy Spirit shall remain among you and fill you to overflowing. Den all who come into your midst shall be refreshed, and de Name of de Lord Jesus be glorified! Amen.”

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).

“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).