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THE HERALD

of Christ's Kingdom


VOL. XIII. February 1, 1930 No. 3
Table of Contents

ONE MASTER OVER ALL THE CHURCH

THE CHRISTIAN'S JOY

HEAVEN'S HARMONY, UNITY AND LOVE

HALF HOUR MEDITATIONS ON ROMANS

LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT


VOL. XIII. February 15, 1930 No. 4
Table of Contents

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS !

"COPYING BUT A FRAGMENT"

A SEASONABLE WORD  CONCERNING THE MINISTRY

THE GIFT OF PEACE DIVINE

WHAT SHALL WE REAP?

"MY ONWARD PATH"

LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT


VOL. XIII. February 1, 1930 No. 3

ONE MASTER OVER ALL
THE CHURCH

"One is our Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." -- Matt. 23:8.

THE TEACHINGS of the Scriptures are most explicit that God purposed and called but one Church to be associated with His Son in the heavenly realm -- one Body, the members of which are all called in one hope of their calling. (1 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 4:4.) It is not less definitely established: in the Divine Word that this Church should have but one Head, one Guide, one spiritual Ruler, even Jesus whom God gave "to be Head over all things to the Church which is His Body."

Moreover, we find it clearly set forth also, that this assembly of called out ones throughout the Age is to have a definite order or government in its midst: first of all; under our Master in the beginning of the Age there were appointed twelve Apostles, under spiritual-guides, to serve the Church throughout the Age, and these have been designated the twelve Apostles of the Lamb, the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem, in view of their important positions as spiritual teachers in the Church. (Rev. 21:14.) Thus in the Book of Revelation, the New Jerusalem, the symbol of the new Millennial government, the Church, is shown as the bride united to her Lord and glorified with Him; and in the picture the statement is distinctly made that the twelve foundations of the City are precious, and that in the twelve foundations are the names written of the "twelve Apostles of the Lamb" -- no more, no less. What better proof could we have that there were never more than twelve who were specially designated Apostles of the Lamb, and that their chief mission was that of being Christ's witnesses. From what we gather of the conduct and ministry of these Apostles, their position was that of under-shepherds of the flock, rather than that of lords or masters of the Church.

The beautiful figure which the Apostle gives of the Church in its present condition, well illustrates the Divine order that was to prevail. It is that of the human figure, the head representing the Lord, and the various parts and members representing the Church. In 1 Cor. 12 the subject is grandly elaborated, and with profound simplicity: "As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many; are one body; so also is Christ [one body or company composed of many members]. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body." This Apostle continues and calls attention to the fact that as the well being of a human body depends largely upon the unity and harmony and co-operation of all its members, so also it is with the Church, the Body of Christ. If one member suffer, all suffer, etc. He points out that as we seek to cover and hide the weaknesses, blemishes of our natural bodies, and seek to relieve and help them, thus it should be with the Church, the Body of Christ. If one member suffer, all suffer, etc. He thus points to the mantle of charity, love.

Shepherds Who Feed the Flock

It was not in conflict with the foregoing that the Apostles, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, gave instructions to the various companies of the Lord's people that they elect certain of their number as elders and deacons to take the oversight and care of their .brethren in spiritual affairs Neither did it mean that any company of the Lord's people in those clays were brought into bondage to those thus elected to serve them in this way; for as a matter of fact, these thus appointed as elders, pastors, etc., must necessarily themselves be subject to the voice of the Church. No intimation whatever is given that any of these thus elected by various of the congregations of the Lord's people were to consider themselves constituted a kind of "authority" or "power" in the Church. To the contrary, the Apostle Peter admonishes those acting in the Church as its servants, that they "feed the flock of God which is among you, taking .the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, shut of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." (1 Pet. 5:2, 3.) The Master's words given to His disciples just before He left them were to be remembered, and to constitute a guide and a strength to His people all through the Age: "One is your Master; even Christ; and all ye are brethren."

It has been, therefore, in violation of the Savior's words and in conflict with the simplicity and order given by the Apostles, that there have arisen and developed from time to time "authorities" and "powers" in the professed Church claiming the right to direct and control its affairs; and claiming to have received from the Lord a kind of special unction constituting them a Divine channel, or government, whose authority and dictates must not be questioned or disobeyed The true Church has not needed any such authorities and powers in its midst, for invariably when such have appeared the result has been an apostasy, a departure from the primitive conditions which provided that each individual member of the Church should be free to exercise his or her own personal liberty in deciding what should be believed and accepted as truth.

Regarding Successorship to Brother Russell

Sometimes we have been inquired of as to this ministry and association known as The Pastoral Bible Institute, and its relationship to the various Ecclesias of the Lord's people. Explanations have frequently appeared in these columns, setting forth the situation; yet, on account of many new subscribers, some of whom have only of late withdrawn from their former association, we are adding another word of explanation. For example, we are asked if the brethren connected with this ministry consider themselves a kind of successor to Brother Russell and his work, or if they consider that they are constituted to "finish" his work, etc. Our reply is that to our understanding the thought of successorship to Brother Russell is entirely out of order, and such a claim made by ourselves or others would be utterly without foundation or warrant. We know of no reason for believing that Brother Russell's ministry and work in the Church set aside the order established in the primitive Church, nor did our dear Brother claim for himself any kind of special authority contrary to, or different from that which has existed in the Church all down through the Age; Therefore, in keeping with the New Testament order, we are to think of our dear Brother as having been one of the "evangelists, pastors, teachers," etc., for the perfecting of the saints. We know of no reason for believing that there was anything about his ministry requiring a successorship; neither can we think of his work as having been unfinished at the time of his decease. To the contrary, there is every reason to believe that he himself finished all the work that he was given to do, the same as other teachers in the Church have done through the Age; and he has and needs no successor. Therefore there is no ground for claiming or teaching that there is some kind of special power or authority descending from Brother Russell upon some one or some company of brethren since his decease.

But perceiving that there is a considerable number of the members of the Church still in their earthly pilgrimage since his departure, it is to !be recognized that there remains a ministry and a service to be performed amongst the Lord's people. It is, therefore, for the various companies of the Loral's people throughout the world to look for these more or less in their midst, and to accept the direction of the Lord's Spirit in appointing such of their number as their helps and teachers.

"All Ye are Brethren"

Again the question has been recently asked if the brethren who have been appointed to have charge of this ministry, regard themselves as in any special sense, custodians of the Truth to be dispensed to others; further, if the Editorial Committee of the "Herald" consider their utterances in the journal, their expositions, interpretations, etc., as final and the last word upon the subject. In answering these questions we can only say that no thoughts are farther from our minis than those suggested in the question; for it is just this very idea or claim that certain brethren in the Church have been set over others, that we have been combating ever since the publication of the "Herald" began more than eleven years ago. The election of the brethren to serve in various positions in this association does not justify them in assuming any prerogatives above others in the matter of teaching and interpreting the Word of God. Other brethren have the same rights and authority to study the Word of the Lord and to disperse the Truth. As we have repeatedly stated, other brethren of the Lord have equal rights to their views and to promulgate them regardless of how they may differ from those presented in our journal.

It is well to remember always that it is the anointing of the Spirit of the Lord that gives authority and power to handle the holy things and to proclaim the Message of the Lord. We may be safe therefore in saying that in proportion as any teacher in the Church is filled with the Spirit and is studying and ministering in the power of that Spirit, his messages will be correspondingly illuminating and edifying to the Church. It is the duty of the Ecclesias to look for and seek out such brethren of their number as indicate that they have this filling and illumination of the Spirit. The election of certain brethren in the Church to minister to them in holy things does not constitute their anointing or their power to preach the Word; they already have that from the Lord. But their election signifies that they have the Church's approval and endorsement as teachers.

Each Ecclessia Should be its Own Authority

Such was the nature of the Apostolic order in the beginning of the Age. To our understanding the order amongst the Lord's people today should be as it was in the early Church. Their full individual liberty should be exercised and none should be accepted as teachers whose teachings and service are not found in full harmony with the Truth as given in the Bible. Each company of the Lord's people guided by His Spirit, should be its own authority and should control its own affairs. As for the relationship of this association here to the various Ecclesias of the Lord's people, let it be distinctly understood that this arrangement exists merely by virtue of the brethren of the various Classes themselves appointing certain of their number to act in this capacity and to carry forward the ministry in which there may be a general co-operation. This Institute is not authorized by any Class or by any individuals in any Class to exercise any jurisdiction of any kind over any brother or company of brethren whatsoever. We. cannot too earnestly urge upon the friends everywhere to maintain their own separate and distinct individuality; to look after their own affairs in every sense of the word apart from the interference that may be attempted to be exercised by any kind of association apart from them. All such entanglements with outside forces, and all such yielding to the power and authority set up by a man or a company of men, invariably leads to a misuse of power and provides occasion for selfish ambition to creep in, resulting in depriving the Lord's people of their liberty, to be followed by general apostasy.

So then the method of operation, of service and ministry of this association is such only as is authorized by and entirely subject to the brethren who have formed this arrangement, and is only such as conforms to their wishes and to what they believe to be spiritually profitable and in accordance with the leading of the Lord's Spirit as they understand it. No claims are made for this ministry except that it is our trust and hope that it is a service of love for one another and an opportunity of laying down life in behalf of fellow-members of the Church. The brethren highly esteem the privilege of rendering this service and rejoice with all fellow members of the Body of Christ in the gifts, honors, and blessings that come as a result of the anointing, which all have in Him; for all the Royal Priesthood is described by the Prophet in the saying: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because He hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, to comfort all that mourn." -- Isa. 61:1, 2; Luke 4:17-20.


THE CHRISTIAN'S JOY

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." -- Psa. 16 :11.

WHEN we consider how much is said in the Scriptures about joy and rejoicing among God's people, we are deeply impressed with the thought that our Heavenly Father is very solicitous for the happiness of His children, even in the present life. The worldly minded cannot see this, they look upon the lot of God's children as a hard and joyless one, and upon God as a hard Master, without concern for the happiness of His children. This, however, is only because the natural man cannot receive the thing of the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually discerned. But the spiritually minded have meat to eat that the world knows not of; and their hearts rejoice, and their joy no man taketh from them.

How strange it seems! says the world. Why, there was Paul, a man of great talent and opportunity who might have been somebody in the world: he wasted his talents, was a poor man all his days, homeless, friendless, knocked about and persecuted, a sort of religious fanatic. But Paul, viewing the matter from the standpoint of his spiritual discernment, said, "I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations" (2 Cor. 7:4); for he was one of that anointed Body who, like his Lord and Head, could say, "I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad." -- Acts 2:25, 26.

So the Psalmist bids all the anointed Body rejoice saying, "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; for praise is comely for the up-right." (Psa. 33:1.) And Isaiah, speaking for the same class, says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels." -- Isa. 61:10.

The grand provision made for the comfort and joy of the Lord's people clearly indicates a necessity for such blessings. Nor is this necessity difficult to understand. The Lord's people are beset on every hand with adverse conditions -- the world, the flesh, the Adversary -- seeking to intimidate or discourage or entrap the new creature, so as to hinder its development in grace, knowledge, and love, and ultimately to hinder it from the attainment of the perfection and glory to follow, which God has promised to the faithful only. What we need, in order to make us sons and daughters of consolation in the Church, is a larger measure of love and sympathy in our hearts. In proportion as sympathy and love come in, they will crowd out the spirit of strife and contention and judging and fault-finding; even as they crowded out at first the spirit of the flesh -- anger, malice, hatred, strife, vain-glory.

As a rule (there probably are exceptions to all rules) those who have the spirit of helpfulness -- ability to impart joy and comfort, and who are able to pour this balm into the wounded hearts of others most liberally, are those who themselves have passed through severe trials, reverses, disciplines, and who have thus been touched with a feeling of the infirmities of our race, and, more than this, have been touched with a feeling of sympathy, for the weaknesses and oppositions which assail the "brethren" in their endeavor to walk after the Spirit -- not after the flesh. Those who have not "bowels of compassion," who have little of sympathy, little of desire to lend a helping hand to the weak or the stumbling or those who are out of the way, have much yet to learn respecting the real meaning of the word love, in its higher senses-perfect love, love for the brethren, yea, love that extends to all mankind, even to enemies, as it has opportunity, but "especially to the household of faith."

Earth's Joys Transitory and Unsatisfactory

This blessed joy, which so wonderfully lifts the soul above all the vicissitudes of the present life, is, as the Prophet expresses it, joy in the Lord, not a joy in earthly possessions, or earthly hopes or ambitions. These earthly things are all so transitory and so changeable that a single blast of adversity may sweep them all from us; but not so is it with those whose hearts are centered in God and to whom He has shown the path of life. These have learned to estimate the things of this present life according to their true values ; they see that all of its joys are (both transient and unsatisfactory and that the only real value in it is in the opportunities it affords for experience and discipline and education in the things of God and for hearing the call of God and making our calling and election sure. In thus making the proper use of the present life -- walking in the path of life which God shows us through His Word-we have the present joys of hope and faith in the things unseen, but sure and eternal; knowing also that by and by in the immediate presence of God we shall have fullness of joy, and pleasures for evermore at His right hand -- the chief place of favor.

But while the fullness of joy in its widest sense is reserved for that blessed time when we shall be like the Lord and see Him as He is (1 John 3:1, 2) and be in His presence at His right hand (in His chief favor), there is a fullness of joy in the presence and favor of God which is the privilege of every Christian now. Our capacity for joy now is not what it will be by and by, but it is possible now to have our little earthen vessels as full as they can hold of the joy of the Lord. And day by day it is our privilege to realize the presence and favor of God, if, by walking in the path of life, the path of obedience and loving service, we draw near to God. "If a man love Me," said our Lord Jesus, "he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him." -- John 14:23.

In such company as this, can any Christian fail utterly to realize some measure of joy in the Lord? No, if his faith grasps the promise and holds it, the realization of joy in the Lord is sure to follow, and the more firmly his faith lays hold upon the promise the more will he realize its fulfillment, and the more fully will his joys 'abound; for in the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy, no matter what may be the conditions and circumstances.

In the blessed realization of this experience and the assurance of faith which it gave, in the midst of all his labors, Paul exclaimed, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -- Rom. 8:33-39.

Cultivate the Lord's Acquaintance

It was this strong persuasion, this confident faith, of the Apostle that gave him such joy in the midst of all his tribulations. His faith laid hold upon the promises of God with a strong and. steady grasp, and love and gratitude impelled him to prompt obedience to the will of God and ardent zeal in His service; and evidently the Lord's promise was fulfilled to him in the abiding ;presence of the Father and the Son with him at all times and under all circumstances.

This blessed privilege is ours also, if by faith we enter fully into the Lord's will and favor. And with a blessed realization of the abiding presence of our Heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus at all imes, and of their love and favor, and a faith that lays hold of all the exceeding great and precious promises of God, what soul may not rejoice and be glad, even in the midst of deep sorrow or great tribulation? In the Lord's presence, no matter where we are, is fullness of joy. Let us cultivate the Lord's acquaintance more, drawing near to Him in prayer, in the study of His precious Word, in meditation upon all His goodness; His providential care, the marked manifestations of His grace in our own individual experiences, and His precious promises which are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Thus "draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8); He will manifest Himself to you and take up His abode with you.

It is indeed the will of God that all His children should be happy in Him, that they should be always rejoicing; and if any one lacks this blessing, he is living below his privileges. Beloved, let us not be contented to live beneath our privileges. Let us appreciate the favor of God to the extent of seeking for it more and more diligently, remembering the exhortation, "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." All the riches of Divine favor are ours if in faith and humility we claim them and place ourselves in position to receive them as directed through the Word of God. "Ask and receive, that your joy may be full." And your joy can no man take from you, so long as you abide in Him who is bur life, our joy, our rest, our hope.


HEAVEN'S HARMONY,
UNITY AND LOVE

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brethren
dwell closely together (in union)." -- Psa. 133:1 Leeser

THE UNIVERSAL desire for fellowship is heaven-born, and heaven itself the grand­est illustration of its desirability. God Himself delights in fellowship. From the beginning of creative time He has delighted in the fellowship of the Son, and He has delighted also in the association of all His angelic sons on their respective planes. He even delights in having that intimate fellowship of fatherhood that His grace has made possible with the children of men -- those whom He has redeemed and sancti­fied. This being true of God as Creator, it is not surprising to find all of His creatures seeking for the companionship of kindred beings. Indeed so general and universal is this desire, even among all the lower orders of creation, that long ago some one put this generally recognized fact into the familiar phrase, "Birds of a feather flock together." The great Creator of all, having planted this desire so deeply that all creation, either by law, or choice, or by instinct, finds its most desirable environment in association with its own kind.

If one desired to do so, it would not be difficult to trace this same law on and on through all the otter unnumbered, inanimate, visible and invisible objects, forces, and laws of attraction that control an almost unlimited universe. Are, not all of these so inseparably associated and attracted that their perpetuation depends entirely upon this law of affinity that binds them one to the other. Break that law in regard to a single planet and it becomes at once, a wandering star destined to extinction. Continuance in existence requires that every atom shall keep within the united movement of the whole. There may be an absence amongst these of any intelligent knowledge of this law, but all obey it, and thus in unison with intelligent creations bear testimony to the perfect design and character of God, who, in their creation and ordering, wrote on every page of His creative a unfolding, the eternal beauties, desirability, and necessity of unity -- companionship.

Manifestly then, it is no cause for wonderment that the Holy Spirit, inditing the Word of God, should so constantly direct our minds to this great desideratum -- teaching us that the love and unity that had its beginning in God, and receives its grandest expression among His perfect creatures in heaven, will, in proportion as it may be experienced by us, bring corresponding happiness. In view of this, we can readily understand why Jesus gave it a place of :greatest importance, when in His one, new commandment, He made such close friendship the pivotal center around which His Church would gather, indeed, the test of membership in that Body. Apostles, true to their responsibilities, were emphatic in their teachings on this point, urging upon the Church the all important matter of their relationship one to the other: In every epistle, a spirit of oneness, sympathy, service for one another, patience, brotherhood,, was stressed as being the spirit of the Master. And for all the Church throughout the entire Age they set the standard of a united, frictionless, unctuous co-operation of heart with heart, and hand with hand within the ranks of their brotherhood in Christ. The pity of it all is that this grand and glorious law of God, so universally taught, and so implicitly obeyed by inanimate creation, and, so laden with heaven's blessings of peace and concord, should have been so persistently disregarded, or so imperfectly obeyed, by so many of the special subjects of His grace -- His professing people. Truly, "the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider." -- Isa. 1:3.

God's Glory in the Heavens

The Psalmist David gave utterance to a profound truth in those sublime words of his nineteenth Psalm: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech, there are no words, their voice is, not heard; but their melody extendeth through all the earth, and to the end of the world their words." (Leeser.) What a volume of suggestion and instruction is contained in such a summary of God's creative work! What multiplied lessons have been literally written in the heavens to teach us the beauties of order and unity, of harmony with diversity, as these are exhibited in the wisdom of God, who created and related myriads of extremes and opposites in such marvelous settings, that all are needed to complete the operations and the grandeur of the whole. What a perpetual rebuke to the foolishness of earth, environed as it is in ceaseless strife and discord. Yea, what a daily and nightly voice from heaven, proclaiming the desirability of a diversity that destroys monotony, and makes possible the most pleasing and perfect variety.

As for the unregenerated, it is to be expected that these great lessons will go unheeded, since they have no desire to retain God in their knowledge. But what a powerful influence these things should have on the enlightened believer. His reaction thereto should be a feeling of reverent desire to humble himself before God, and in his own sphere to honor and glorify His name. As David has again so well expressed: "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that Thou visitest him?" (Psa. 8:3, 4.) This magnificent pageantry of the heavens should indeed elicit praise and admiration. Such noiseless activity and perfect obedience to Divine law should impress the most wholesome lessons upon our minds, and stir within us the most ardent desire to emulate them in reflecting the wisdom, love, and power of our Creator.

To Glorify God our Special Privilege

If God is glorified thus in mundane spheres of His creative work by the order, harmony, and co-operation of the separated, yet united worlds comprising His universe, how much more gloriously true this should .be in respect to His last and greatest display of creative love and power -- His New Creation. Are not these above all others destined to be "to the praise of the glory of His grace"? (Eph. 1:6.) Aid is this not the thought of all Scripture, namely that all created beings should, in their respective spheres, be constantly contributing to the glory of God. "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." "All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord." (Psa. 150:6; 145:10. See also Psa. 148.) Certainly the chief end of the New Creation class is, primarily, to glorify God and, as His children, to reflect His revealed character, that He may shine through them also upon every beholder.

Looking unto Jesus the Head of the New Creation, and noting His main objective in life, we observe that His chief purpose was to thus glorify God on earth, to finish the work the Father had given Him to do whereby He could best reveal and honor God. His great fear was that He might misrepresent the Father by acting contrary to His will. With Him the desire was that "like Father, like Son," should be a reality. This He accomplished so fully that those whose eyes beheld, whose ears heard, and whose hands touched Him, knew that it was also conversely true, "like Son, like Father." As He finished His earthly ministry and looked with desire into the future, the glory of God was still His chief consideration; for thus He prays, "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may also glorify Thee; I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." -- John 17:1, 4, 5.

Ye Shall be My Witnesses

It is only as we have God first in all our thoughts and aims, as did our Lord, that we can really appreciate the underlying ­principles involved in our spiritual sonship. Only the truly spiritual catch the Master's meaning, as by His example He so clearly says, As the Father sent Me into the world to glorify Him, a work which I have accomplished by My complete oneness with Him, in love, inspirit, and purpose, so I now send you out among men to glorify your Father, and to honor Me. Therefore let your light so shine before .men that they may glorify your Father in heaven. Let His glory be the first thought in your ministry, your conduct, and your associations, and men will then glorify God in the day of visitation, and they will know also that He sent Me. Would we inquire of Him how so great a witness could be given by us -- how we could cause an unbelieving world to acknowledge our testimony, and identify us as Christians, what would His answer be? "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35.) Beautiful, simple, sublime criterion by which a correct judgment would be formed! But after all it is but a repetition of that universal message, prepared and written in shining stars before the foundation of the world, revealing to us the deep lesson of how best we may glorify Him.

Let us, as devout students, lift our eyes once again to those brilliant orbs of light, where God's existence, power and love are constantly proved, and observing how, in their varied sizes, orbits, separateness, varieties, and co-operation, "their melody extendeth through all the earth, and to the end of the world their words," and we will have no difficulty in understanding this simple, but profound statement of Jesus. The witness is not so much in preaching, as in unity, peace, order, and a frictionless cooperation that represents love and attraction. The reason why men will know, by our spirit of lave for one another, that we are followers of His, is clear enough. The average man has sufficient knowledge of the purport of Jesus' teaching to know that peace, unity and close sympathetic brotherhood are its legitimate manifestations. He likewise .knows that discord, friction, divisions, sects and factions, are all contrary thereto. Men may fail to understand our speech, and certainly so, if controversial definitions of terms, shades of meaning, human inventions, etc., are permitted to .obscure the simple Gospel. They will be turned to scoffers by our jargon of sect and party, and fling the taunt, "Behold how these Christians love one another," to our shame. But all men, sincere observing men, will. understand us, and as Jesus taught, acknowledge us as belonging to Him, when we speak and act the language of love. They will apprize us correctly when our doctrines have all distilled upon our own hearts "as the small rain upon the tender herb, and 'as the showers upon the grass." -- Deut. 32:2.

Bride of the Lamb Thy Charms, O Seek to Wear

Being then, His Epistles, known ands read of all, bearing His name and message, it follows that we must, in our conduct, our ministry, and our co-operative fellowship, bear testimony to the effectiveness of His Gospel, and thus discharge .our responsibility of glorifying God, just as the star-studded sky must always witness to Him. And as others to whom we should witness read us, this will be their test.

"The wise men say, 'What language did Christ speak?'
They cavil, argue, search, and little prove.
O sages, leave your Syria and your Greek!
Christ spoke the universal language -- love."

Favored Church of Christ, created in Christ Jesus unto good works! Could there be a more laudable work filling our lives than this, to be one with the symphonies of angelic choirs, and the chorus of myriad worlds and created things, as in their sweet accord they glorify the name, wisdom, and power of God. "Behold, how good and how 'pleasant" is such a favor as ours! How exalted and worthy an aim to enlist our fervent zeal to accomplish by dwelling together in unity and love!

If anything more were needed to reinforce our effort toward this goal, surely it would be sufficient to remember that such blessed unity was the subject of our Master's special prayer -- the prayer that particularly represents His earnest desire for us, and its fulfillment in us intended by Him to be the burden of proof to the world that He had not come in vain: "That they all may be one; as Thou Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." Does some one say -- An impossible prayer." We answer, No. This prayer was answered !by the "good and pleasant" harmony and oneness of Apostolic associations as witnessed by the Jewish "world." "They acknowledged that they had been with Jesus and learned of Him." It remains for us, who have believed on Him through their word, to exhibit the same evidences of vital association with Him.

The United Church of Christ

Another important reason why it is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity, is that God has designed that by such association together their own best interests will be served. Assistance that is indispensable will in this way be received; qualities of mind and heart, essential to a place amongst the saints in future glory, can be cultivated and crystallized only in this, way. This is plainly illustrated in the natural earthly relationships. The natural man loves and enjoys natural fellowship, and is constantly seeking it, properly recognizing that though he be free to choose the life of a recluse if he so desire, yet his best interests are served by a proper recognition of his need of the assistance and association of others. We properly view the hermit life as being abnormal, and as being a useless life, both to the hermit and to the community at large. Likewise the New Creature craves fellowship, and seeks for it on his higher plane, with even greater realizations of its need. Indeed, this is so important, that if the fellowship of the spiritually minded is not appreciated above all others, is not longed for and sought after, and every opportunity improved to enjoy it, he may well understand that there are unhealthy indications as respects his spiritual condition. If he be deceived with the thought that such association is not conducive to his best interests, and that he can rise to greater things without it, he will find neither example nor precept in the Scriptures to sustain his perverted judgment, but repeated warnings against attempting a thing so unnatural and unspiritual.

Who are to be Recognized as Brethren

But before we ,proceed to examine the good and pleasant aspects of Christian fellowship, it would seem necessary to again review briefly a question that lies at the foundation of endless difficulties ex­perienced by many, a number of whom we have reason to believe are truly sincere. Their question presented in a variety of forms is -- With whom can we fellowship, and co-labor as brethren in Christ? This is an age-long problem. It appeared very early in the history of the Church, and received much attention from the Apostles, particularly Paul. Extremes of opinion, swinging from a wide open door policy to the narrowest bigotry, fill volumes of Church literature, and even yet the discussion and war of words continues unabated.

Even in this day of greater light and tolerance the same extremes prevail. Indeed comparatively few seem to find the happy medium between liberty and license, between the unity of the Spirit and the jots and tittles of the letter. Shorn of all its accumulations of definitions, and its appendages of Church contradictory precept and practice, and the question left to be answered according to the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus, the problem is simple enough. Concisely and finally, Jesus comprehends the entire brotherhood in His one statement: "One is your Master, even Christ: and all ye are brethren." Could we have any real difficulty in understanding a statement so simple as that, or experience further difficulties in adopting it as a rule for finding the brotherhood? Summarizing the teachings of Jesus, it means that He will recognize as His, any one who will come to the Father in His name. If he cone in humble faith seeking forgiveness and cleansing from guilt, he will in no wise be cast out. If his gratitude manifests itself by a full consecration of his heart to God, then he is received into the probationary membership, of the anointed class. Thereafter, his conduct bearing testimony to a desire to conform life and character to the will of God, he is to be acknowledged by us as a brother in Christ, eligible to the rights, the love, and the assistance due to every member of the Body. Only a repudiation of the atoning blood, or a deliberate course of sinful conduct contrary to righteousness, would exclude him from the number of the Lord's people, or release us from our obligation to love him, and to do all in our power to lay down life on his behalf. Not until God lets him go, are we free from our responsibility toward him.

Love Produces Unity

A people who have professed disapproval of manmade creeds, and protested against limiting Christian fellowship to requirements not Apostolic, should, by reason of such a protest, be prepared to follow this Scriptural rule. Furthermore, a people who invite "all believers in the Ransom," to share with them their feasts of love at the Master's table, should be well informed regarding the liberties enjoyed in Christ Jesus. A clear working distinction should by this time, be easily made between doctrines more or less important, between the vital essentials of Christian unity and service; otherwise we are still in need "that one teach us again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are ;become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." -- Heb. 5:12.

Granted of course that the questions of leadership, etc., are also involved, we will consider it sufficient to remark here, that wherever the simple rules of Apostolic order are followed, and their true broad, standard maintained, there will be comparatively little difficulty in maintaining primitive simplicity. If this be not true, the Apostolic instructions are misleading and worthless! But of a certainty, they will produce a unity, where the brotherhood will be properly led into a fellowship and service that will function true to Scriptural ideals throughout the entire Body. When love, which is the fulfilling of the law, pervades the Church, everything will adjust itself to that rule, for "love suffereth long, and is kind: love envieth not, love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thiniketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all thins, believeth all things, endureth all things." (1 Cor. 13:4-7.) Let the leaders be examples to the flock in these things and there will be little schism in the Body.

Blest be the Tie that Binds Us Together

The Lord never intended that man-made creeds written or unwritten, should be the vital bond that would hold us together. Such cords are too external and cold, and usually fail in times of strain and stress. "The love of Christ constraineth us," holds us together and makes our fellowship a heavenly association. Many have been the grateful hearts, touched by that spirit of Divine love, that have experienced the uniting influence of, the old familiar hymn:

"Blest be the tie that binds,
 Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds,
 Is like to that above."

Under the mellowing effect of that hymn, when sung in the spirit of sincerity, it is easy to feel the Spirit at work destroying all bitterness, and preparing the heart for a more generous expression of Christian sympathy. At such times it is not so difficult to strike a proper balance of mind regarding the things that differ, and to put the weight of love on the right side -- on the side that really matters for time and eternity. And this is just the influence our opening text declares is that good and pleasant atmosphere, so conducive to the loftiest degree of spiritual fellowship, where the Lord gathers us in His farewell prayer, and spreads over us His banner of love.

Fenton, in his modern English gives us this translation:

"See how good and sweet it is, when brothers rest as friends. 'Tis like the sweet oil from his head, that flowed down to the beard. And from the beard of Aaron ran down to his garment's hem: Like Hermon's dew that falls upon the height of Zion's Hill, for there the Lord His blessing gives, and life for evermore."

The Letter and the Spirit

Under this anointing, what a blessing He has given us! What a feast is ours! Sufficient surely to supply all our needs and equip us for both fellowship and service: God's plan of redeeming love unfolded before us to rejoice our hearts; His great high-calling invitation presented to us in so many that our trembling faith may lay hold with confidence; our grand future work and its glorious outcome reaffirmed by the testimony of all the holy Prophets and Apostles, with "Ages to come" of untold blessings awaiting us -- all this set before us as a joy, for which we are willing, yea, glad, to suffer for now, that we may share therein with Christ. Under such a banner "how happy are we, who in Jesus agree." Let us "rest as friends" on this foundation, and henceforth dwell "where the Lord His blessing gives." Thus "with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love: endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of, peace," we shall "love as brethren," and know thereby that we have truly experienced a passing from death unto life.

Out text supposes, by inferred contrast, two classes of brethren, those who dwell closely together in union, and those who do not. Let us note the characters of these two classes as they are presented to us in the Scriptures. Paul's teaching and example will serve to illustrate the pleasant aspect of the first class. First of all, he was wholly enslaved to Jesus, the Head of the Church. That of course accounts for his devotion to the Church, and incidentally it also explains why the Church has always had so few real pastors; though surfeited with orators and preachers. No man can, in the very nature of things, be a true under-shepherd of the flock., until he shares the love and sympathy of the great Shepherd for all the sheep. Secondly, Paul was a strong advocate of correct doctrine, and he is therefore a fitting example to follow in respect to the place of doctrine in the associations of the brethren. He delighted to see the Church reach proficiency in the understanding of doctrine, and to become sound in the faith. But above all he longed to see them exhibit maturity of character as a result of the truth received. Thirdly, Paul knew where to put the emphasis as respects the vital issues of faith and practice. He knew the coldness of the letter would chill and dwarf any Church, abut that the "spirit of the truth" would warm and unite bond and free, Jew and Gentile, in a brotherhood of love.

Let Your Moderation be Known unto All

As we have observed, Paul was, "sound on doctrine," but have we been careful to also observe that in all his ministry, he is ever on guard against making his own opinions, pro or con, on any subject aside from the fundamentals of the faith, a part of the doctrine that must be necessarily accepted as essential to fellowship. This is important, for let it be remembered that conflicting "opinions" have given the Christian Church a thousand times more trouble than basic doctrines. Furthermore, have we been careful to note that even on some points seemingly quite closely related to vital doctrines, Paul was an example of tolerance in his demands of others, willing to let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind, asking only that nothing be permitted to obscure the believer's vision of the all-sufficiency of the blood of Christ. But perhaps even more important still, have we been observant enough to note that on points where Paul "had the truth" and his 'brother was in error, he had the greatest respect for his brother's conscience, and was more afraid of his "liberty" stumbling that brother than he was worried about his brother's brother than he was worried about his brother's standing with the Lord. Finally, have we yet learned that Paul repeatedly taught and warned that the "strong" brother "in the truth" was in as much danger of the Lord's adverse judgment, because of his lack of sympathetic consideration and love, or his contentiousness, as was the less enlightened brother, and possible in more danger, because of his greater knowledge. Search and see, for this is a decidedly important matter in these days when "what we are" may be of greater moment than "what we know" if that knowledge be just knowledge of all mysteries without love. More often what "we know" never permits us to receive our brother, except "to doubtful disputations" and to harass him with our opinions, but what "we are" -- if we be Christlike -- will warm our greeting, modify our judgments, control our fellowship, demanding unity only on the same foundation as our noble example -- Paul. Then like Paul, our greatest interest in our brother's standing will be in respect to his. spiritual relationship to the Head of the Church.

Seeing "eye to eye" on doctrine is admittedly important and earnestly to be sought by all, but it is not a whit less important that we feel "heart to heart" on the many, many vital matters that search the very depths of our characters, perhaps revealing that many need yet to learn that the Kingdom of Heaven is not ":meats and drinks and holy days" but "peace' and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Behold how good and how pleasant it would be for brethren to dwell closely together, around, and with Christ, as Paul taught and practiced. If like him they made "the end of the commandment love out of a pure heart," and put spirituality, bearing .each other's burdens, essential doctrine, and practice in the forefront always, there would then be in many communities where the witness has well nigh ceased "a city set upon a hill whose light cannot be hid." For "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Blessed are the Peacemakers

In view of our Lord's statement, that peacemakers would in a special sense be identified as children of God, how earnestly we should seek to bear that stamp of identification. The qualities of a peacemaker are beautiful wherever found; but like every other virtue it is made even more beautiful when found as an adornment of Christian character. A true peacemaker is one who is capable of seeing the merits or demerits on both sides of a question. He is one who possesses a sound, calm judgment, unaffected by personalities, and who can give advice and counsel impartially. .His is in truth "the spirit of a sound mind." Most judgments being naturally and easily biased, others hopelessly prejudiced, and some impossible of anything but snap judgment, makes the sound judgment of the brother who is a peacemaker most surely a boon to the Church. It occasions no surprise then to learn that such brethren are greatly loved of the Lord, when we acknowledge their rarity and the urgent need of such service.

Doubtless, there frequently are developments in the Church locally or at large, that are serious, involving principles that cannot be -ignored, and requiring courageous, drastic treatment. There are times when peace at any price would be decidedly wrong, and would manifest a deplorable lack of character. But, we are just now lamenting the fact that so many conflicts are wholly unnecessary. Perhaps they may be defended as "contending for the faith," or "standing for the truth," but perhaps we need to go back and visit with Paul in his Epistles to the Ephesians, Galatians, or Corinthians for a little while and get a better view of things. "If the mists were rolled away" or "If we only understand, we would often find it (better than we thought we would," for we have been told, yes and we know it is true, that "most of our Church troubles are due to misunderstandings." Years ago, an observing commentator, thinking of just such regrettable conditions, gave us these words:

"But what they fought each other for,
I could not well make out,
But. everybody said, quoth he,
It was a famous victory."

Brethren, have there not been some "victories" in the past over which we were disposed to feel elated, that today seem rather questionable? As with maturer and kindlier judgment we now consider all the circumstances, are we not ready to confess that much of our feelings and conduct under those tests represented a large measure of defeat? Surely so! Then let us now covet that wisdom, patience, and justice, that will put us henceforth . among the blessed peacemakers, the children of God. "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden; and like a spring .of water, whose waters fail not [margin, "lie or deceive"] and they that be of thee, shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; [the age-long fundamentals] and thou shah be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." -- Isa. 58:11, 12.

We have also suggested that there were Scriptures intimating that some are not disposed to peace and constructive fellowship. May we not dismiss this unfortunate and much to be regretted fact, from our present discussion, with but one very descriptive quotation:

"These six things doth the Lord hate : yea, seven are an abomination with Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." -- Prov. 6:16-19.

Fenton renders verse 16 thus: "There are six things the Lord Himself hates and a seventh is abhorred by His soul." He gives the seventh particularly hateful thing as "the sender of strife among friends."

We are Laborers together with God

Workers together with God ! What a suggestion of condescending grace this is! God engaged in creative work of the most stupendous importance and yet condescending to invite our co-operation with Him in that work! And what is this work of God in which we are privileged to engage? Let the Scriptures answer: "Ye are God's building," His New Creation, "His workmanship created in Christ Jesus" -- "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:10, 21, 22.) Building together with God, and all the building being builded together for His habitation -- what oneness and co-operation is here revealed! With what fervent hearts we should pray that we might in all our labors be truly working "together with God," for there is the ever present danger of our working apart from Him, on buildings, and with materials of our own preference.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell closely together in union in a work so grand as this work of God! With the foundation laid by Paul "as a wise master builder," and the "gold, silver, and precious stones," put in our hands for a work so wonderful, will we not meditate deeply upon its real; eternal verities. The most unskilled laborer may pull down and destroy the most costly building, but it requires skill, intelligence, patience, and conscientiousness to erect such a structure. So it has been in the Church. This was the lament of Paul that there were so few like-minded as his co-laborer Timothy, zealous for the deeper, spiritual side of Church life, while he wept many tears over the destructive influences of the greater number of concisionists, traditionalists, factionists, and ritualists, who made much of the letter, but were strangers to the spirit. It was ever the effort of Paul to urge the brethren on in the work of building one another up in their most holy faith, the faith once delivered, to provoke them to love and good works, assuring them that in this, their labor would not be in vain in the Lord. How repeatedly he thought of a well organized human body as illustrating the unity of the Church under Christ its Head. "From whom the whole Body, being fitly joined and united, by means of every assisting joint, according to the proportionate energy of each single part, effects the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love." (Eph. 4:16, Diaglott.) The hand cannot say to the foot, or the foot to the hand, I have no need of thee, for neither can dispense with the services of the other. In this Body the sympathies are so acute, that the suffering or joy of one is felt by all. Surely this is the thought of the Holy Spirit's "together" in the texts we have quoted, and we cannot ignore their solemn import. God is building only one Church, one building, and the Pattern He has given us, as well as the materials indispensable to such a building, forbid that any part of its construction should be subcontracted to any builders, who would attempt to build after the style of "us four and no more." When God's building is complete, it will stand without a flaw, a "thing of beauty and a joy forever." But what a grotesque structure it would be, if built sectionally by "many men of many minds" at war amongst themselves, as to who are members in particular of the Church of Christ.

Out unto the Higher Levels

But, beloved brethren, all who stand "together" on Christ the solid Rock, how good and pleasant and profitable it is to step out into the full maturity of manhood in Christ -- to step out unto the higher levels -- of a truly sanctified spiritual life, and to see with clearer vision the thoughts and ways of God; to stand where we get a true perspective of the futility of our own little limited schemes, and receive instead the needed revelation, that as the heavens are high above the earth, so are God's plans transcendently more lofty than ours. This is a most salutary lesson to learn. Let us for the sake of our present joy learn it. As we value the joys to come let us not forget it. An abundant entrance, or a bitter disappointment, awaits us at the end of the way. "Together with God" and "'being builded together" now, will mean "together" there in that abundant entrance.

If we are obedient to the Lord in this, and we work "together" with Him, how blessed it will be. His is the building of a temple that will yet be filled with His glory, and endure forever. If we build alone, apart from Him, our structure will be a tower of Babel filled with confusion here and now. If we build "lawfully" with Him, He builds a Church, against which the gates of Hades shall not prevail. If we prefer to build on our own plan, we build a sect, a faction, destined to rejection and overthrow. If we love to build "together" in Him, we have a unity that is "good and pleasant" and encouraging, for then "they helped every one his neighbor: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage." (Isa. 41 :7.) If we prefer to build according to a multitude of personal ,preferences, then let us not be surprised, to find "every man's hand against his neighbor" and no peace within or without. If we build "together" in the deep fellowship of heavenly places, we will be occupied with things of "gold, silver and precious stones." If we reject the commonwealth of a united Israel, we will be occupied with "wood, hay and stubble" human tests, theories, channels, etc., and we may be preparing ourselves for an experience which, though a merciful deliverance, will mean being "saved so as by fire."

Send Thy Beauty upon Us

Ere long we shall enter in to that fellowship above, of which the present good and pleasant associations, have been but a little foretaste. May "the little while between in its golden light be seen," and may the prayer of every saint be henceforth in unison with our Lord for the oneness of soul that means our greatest peace. May our work be in full accord with His work, our hands so occupied that we may further pray, "Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants," give us a knowledge of Thy great purposes; let us see with a single eye Thy gracious favors. "Send Thy beauty upon us"; order and harmonize our devoted labors according to Thy great wisdom; and establish Thou the work of our hands; graciously take the little stones, the little things that we can bring, and build these stones which we have gathered and polished, into Thy great building, so that they too may endure forever. "Yea, the work of our hands, establish Thou it." And in so far as God may yet give us opportunity to witness to His Plan, let us be prepared for these responsibilities, by keeping in remembrance the wise counsel :of the Apostle, "Only behave yourselves worthily of the glad tidings of the Anointed One, so that whether coming and seeing you, or being absent, I may hear concerning your affairs, that you stand firm in One Spirit, with one soul vigorously co-operating for the faith of the glad tidings." -- Phil. 1:27, Diaglott.

 


HALF HOUR MEDITATIONS
ON ROMANS

No. 5

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the Gospel of God, . . , to all that be in Rome,
beloved of God, called to be saints." -- Rom: 1: 1,
7.

Separated Unto the Gospel

IF THERE is one thing more than another in the Apostle Paul's life which calls for our respect and admiration, and which provokes us in the only way we should ever allow ourselves to be provoked, namely unto love and. good works (Heb. 10:24), it is the fact, manifest again and again in the sacred records, that he was, in deed and in truth as well as in word, separated unto the Gospel of God. What that Gospel is, in all the fullness that Paul preached it, we shall see when we come to the study of the Epistle proper. At this time our attention is drawn more especially to the fact that to these Good Tidings of God he was set apart. With him the preaching of the Gospel was not incidental to other matters more important. It was not even one important thing among others that held place in his life. No! it was the business of his life to which all else was incidental, and to which all else was held subservient. And in this, in the complete, wholehearted abandonment to the Gospel, to which from his conversion and call he devoted his life, his strength lay. If when we see him publicly rebuking Peter for dissembling (Gal. 2:11), we find ourselves asking where he got the strength to speak against one whom he dearly loved, we shall know; for we shall remember that to the Gospel of God he has been set apart, yes, apart from Peter if needs be, and we shall under stand how he was able to perform that duty which must have been agony itself to one of so tender a heart. When we see him on another occasion separating from his close friend over the question of John Mark (Acts 15:37-40) and we are tempted to wonder at his ability to reconcile himself to the absence of one who had proved to be such a son of consolation and comfort as had Barnabas, we shall remember what he now tells us, and understand. We shall remember that to the Good Tidings of God his life is devoted. To the Gospel he has been set apart. Not for any consideration can he consent to what may put its progress, in the slightest degree, in jeopardy. In the words of another: "Such is the sole essential work and purpose of his life. He is separated to the Gospel of God; isolated from all other ruling aims to this. In some respects he is the least isolated of men; he is in contact all round with human life. Yet he is 'separated.' In Christ, and for Christ, he lives apart from even the worthiest personal ambitions. Richer than ever, since he 'was in Christ' (16:7), in all that makes man's nature wealthy, in power to know, to will, to love, he uses all his riches always for 'this one thing,' to make men understand 'the Gospel of God.' -- Moule.

The Heavenly Calling comes First

That we may not lose the practical application of this lesson to our own lives, this writer goes on to say: "Such isolation, behind a thousand contacts, is the Lord's call for His true followers still." And with this we are in very hearty agreement. Yet even here, it may be well to add a word of caution. As Brother Russell has so wisely observed: "The 'spirit of a sound mind' is to govern the Lord's people in all of their affairs, both temporal and spiritual . . . With many of us, as the Apostle explains, it is the Lord's will that we should abide in the vocation in which we were when the message of grace first reached us. (1 Cor. 7:20-22.) Not all are called to an open, public ministry, devoting all of time, talent, effort and interest to the Gospel message. The majority of the called the Lord evidently intends to instruct as His disciples while they are about their ordinary business, the duties and responsibilities of life.

"With these, however, it is necessary .that there be a forsaking of boats and fishing tackle, etc., in the heart from the moment that a full consecration is made to. the Lord. We cannot serve God and Mammon. We cannot have two objects in life, both equally prominent to our attention. The Lord will not have it so with those who are to be His joint-heirs in the Kingdom. This class must appreciate the privilege oaf fellowship in His labor, sufferings, and hopes of glory to such an extent that their hearts will no longer The in the ordinary affairs of life; their ambitions wild no longer The for wealth or name or fame from the world's standpoint. All such ambitions and hopes we must 'forsake' if we would be His disciples. He must be first, joint-heirship with Him must be our ambition; otherwise our hearts would not be in a condition that would be pleasing to the Lord or that would be single for His service; we would be of the kind described. as double minded, unstable in all our works and ways. (Jas. 1:8.) Undoubtedly this is a difficulty with a large number of those who have named the name of Christ and professed consecration to Him and His service.

That We do not Look Back

"It is high time that we learn that we cannot serve God and Mammon, and that we choose as between these. If we do not choose the Lard and His service and place these first before our hearts' affections, we will be counted as ,placing the others first, the interests of the natural man; and the Lord's appreciation of us and the reward He will give us will correspond. He has indeed blessings for all the families of the earth, but, the special blessing presented in the exceeding great and precious promises of glory, honor and immortality are for those who love Him supremely, more than they love houses or lands, business or wealth, family or kindred or self.

"Our exhortation to all who have forsaken all to follow the Lord is that we do not look back, that we estimate that we have made the grandest bargain imaginable, that we are in the way for obtaining the grandest prize imaginable, together with association with our Lord in His wonderful work and with the Divine approval.

"This seems to be the thought of the Apostle when he urges us to lay aside every weight and entanglement that we may run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author of our faith, until He shall have become its finisher. Let us as promptly as possible, at the beginning of our Christian experience settle once for all the matter of surrendering our wills to be followers of the Lamb; let us once for all arrange as wisely as possible our temporal affairs and interests in accordance with the reasonable demands of others respecting the same, and let us then faithfully persevere to the end of the race course."

Three great Missionary Journeys

But to return to the author of our Epistle. In our last. "meditation" we saw the Lord going before him to, Antioch of Syria. He whose interest in His own Gospel of mercy and love never flags or falters had not only prepared. with wondrous patience and skill a "choice" vessel, but had prepared the sphere of influence in which that vessel was to labor "a whole year." (Acts 11:26.) For this purpose the Lord had used some brethren whose names have not been preserved to us. All we know of them is that they were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. (Acts 11:20.) Little did these humble followers of Jesus realize the "increase" which should follow their faithful "planting." Jerusalem had indeed. been 'the cradle of Christianity,' but our Lord did not intend that it should also be its grave. And, as the sequel shows, from the testimony which these humble unknown brethren planted in Antioch of Syria, watered as it was by the rich teaching of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas, there arose a new capital of Christianity. To quote from Godet:

"After the martyrdom of Stephen, a number of believers from Jerusalem, from among the Greek speaking Jews (the Hellenists), fleeing from the persecution which raged in Palestine, had emigrated to Antioch, the capital of Syria. In their missionary zeal they had overstepped the limit which had been hitherto observed by the preachers of the Gospel, and addressed themselves to, the Greek population. It was the first time that Christian effort made way for itself among. Gentiles properly so called. Divine grace accompanied the decisive step. A numerous and lively church, in which a majority of Greek converts were associated with Christians of Jewish origin, arose in the capital of Syria. In the account given of the founding of this important Church by the author of the Acts (11:20-24), there is a charm, a fascination, a freshness, which are to be found only in pictures drawn from nature,

The Apostles and the Church of Jerusalem, taken by surprise, sent Barnabas to the spot to examine more closely this unprecedented movement, and give needed direction. Then Barnabas, remembering Saul, whom he had previously introduced to the Apostles at Jerusalem, went in search of him to Tarsus, and brought him to this field of action, worthy as it was of such a laborer. Between the Church of Antioch and Paul the Apostle there was formed from that hour a close union, the magnificent fruit of which was the evangelization of the world."

Never Loses Its Inspiration

It would be beyond the scope of this series to trace in detail the steps of our Author during the (perhaps fourteen) years which intervened until he came to pen the immortal chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. Perhaps in the Lord's providence it may be our privilege at another time to meet together in these pages for that purpose -- to accompany the Apostle in spirit, as he undertakes those three great missionary journeys which have been so marvelously blessed in their results. Familiar as we all must he with the history of this period of the Apostle's life, the story of those eventful years never seems to lose its inspiration in the retelling. If we who today find ourselves living in the closing days of the Gospel Age are sometimes betrayed into a mood of discouragement, we have only to take time to review the grand "sowing" time to become animated anew with zeal and .courage. Just to read: the story .of those early days is enough to make the heart !beat faster. But our present purpose will have been accomplished if we come to the study of the letter .to the Romans with a lively sense not alone of undying gratitude to "our beloved 'brother Paul," but also of appreciation of the fact that he was one to whom as unto a faithful steward God entrusted the Gospel. Coming thus we shall find ourselves not merely sitting at the feet of a Master in Israel, though that were enough to elicit our most .respectful attention, 'but we -shall find also the Spirit of the Lord speaking peace to our souls through Jesus Christ, to whom he was faithful unto death, and whom in this Epistle he will preach to us in words which notwithstanding all the centuries are yet aflame with all the passionate earnestness of which his heart of loving faithfulness was capable.

How was the Church at Rome Founded?

Thus far in these meditations we have sought to picture before our minds the author of our Epistle. Before examining the Epistle itself it will be proper for us to make inquiry concerning those to whom the letter was addressed. Much has (been written by many minds on this question, but it remains true that "The name of the original founder of the Roman Church has not been preserved to us by history nor even celebrated by tradition. This is a remarkable fact, when we consider how soon the Church, of Rome attained great eminence in the Christian world, both from its ,numbers, and from the influence of its metropolitan rank. Had any of the Apostles laid its first foundation, the fact :could scarcely fail to have been recorded." -- CONYBEARE AND HOWSON.

Barnes has summed up his conclusions as follows:

"At what time, or by whom, the Gospel was first preached at Rome has been a matter of controversy. The Roman Catholic Church have maintained that it was founded by Peter, and have thence drawn an argument for their high claims and infallibility. On this subject they make a confident appeal to some of the fathers. There is strong evidence to be derived from this Epistle itself, and from the Acts, that Paul did not regard Peter as having any such primacy and ascendancy in the Roman Church as are claimed for him by the Papists.

"(1) In this whole Epistle there is no mention of Peter at all. It is not suggested that he had been, or was then at Rome. If he had been, and the Church had been founded by him, it is incredible that Paul did not make mention of that fact. This is the more striking, as it was done in other cases where churches had been founded by other men; see l Cor, 1:12-15. Especially is Peter, or Cephas, mentioned repeatedly by the Apostle Paul in his other epistles; 1 Cor. 3:22; 9:5; 15:5; Gal. 2:9; 1:18; 2:7, 8, 14. In these places Peter is mentioned in connection with the Churches at Corinth and Galatia, yet never there as appealing to his authority, but in, regard to the, latter, expressly calling it in question. Now, it is incredible that if Peter had been then at Rome, and had founded the Church there, and was regarded as invested with any peculiar authority over it, that Paul should never once have even suggested his name.

"(2) It is clear that Peter was not there when Paul. wrote this epistle. If he had been, he could not have failed to have sent him a salutation, amid the numbers that he saluted in the 16th chapter.

"(3) In the Acts of the Apostles there is no mention of Peter's having been at Rome, but the presumption, from that history is almost conclusive that he had not been. In Acts 12:3, 4, we have an account of his having :been imprisoned by Herod Agrippa near the close of his reign. (Comp. 5:23.) This occurred about the third or fourth year oaf the reign of Claudius, who began to reign A. D. 41. It, is altogether improbable that he had been at Rome before this. Claudius had not reigned more than three years, and all the testimony that the fathers give is that Peter came to Rome in his reign.

"(4) Peter was at Jerusalem still in the ninth or tenth year of the reign of Claudius; Acts 16:6, etc. Nor is there any mention made then of his having been at Rome.

"(5) Paul went to Rome about A. D. 60. There is no mention made then of Peter's being with him or being there. If he bad been, it could hardly have failed of being recorded. Especially is this remarkable when Paul's meeting with the brethren is expressly mentioned (Acts 28:14, 15), and when it is recorded that he met the Jews; and abode with them, and spent at Rome no less than two years. If Peter had been there, such a fact could not fail to have been recorded or alluded to, either in the Acts or the Epistle to the Romans.

"(6) The Epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, to Philemon, and the second Epistle to Timothy were written from Rome during the residence of Paul as a prisoner; and the Epistle to the Hebrews probably also while he was still in Italy. In none of these epistles is there any hint that Peter was then or had been at Rome; a fact that cannot be accounted for if he was regarded as the founder of that Church, and especially if he was then in that city. Yet in those epistles there are the salutations of a number to those churches. In particular, Epaphras, Luke the beloved physician' (Col. 9:.12, 14), and the saints of the household of Caesar are mentioned; Phil. 4:22. 1n 2 Tim. 4:11, Paul expressly affirms that Luke only was with him, a declaration utterly irreconcilable with the supposition that Peter was then at Rome.

"(7) If Peter was ever at Rome, therefore, of which indeed there is no reason to doubt, he must have come there after Paul; at what time is unknown That he was there cannot be doubted without calling in question the truth of all history.

"When, or by whom, the Gospel was preached first at Rome, it is not easy, perhaps not possible, to determine. In the account o£ the day of Pentecost (Acts 2 :10); we find, among others, that there were present strangers of Rome, and it is not improbably that they carried back the (knowledge of Jesus Christ, and became the founders of the Roman Church. One design and effect of that miracle was doubtless to spread the knowledge of the Savior among all nations. In the list of persons who are mentioned in Rom. 16, it is not improbable that some of those early converts are included; and that Paul thus intended to showy honor to their early conversion and zeal in the cause of Christianity. Thus, 16:7, he designated Andronicus and Junia his kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who were distinguished among the Apostles, and who had been converted 'before himself, i. e., before A. D. 34, at least eight years before it was ever pretended that Peter was at Rome. Other persons are mentioned also as distinguished, and it is not improbable that they were the early founders of the Church at Rome.-- Chap. 16:12, 13, etc."

To All who in Rome are God's Beloved Ones

"Wonderful collocation, wonderful possibility!" writes Moule " 'Beloved ones of God,' as close to the eternal heart as it is possible to be, because 'in the Beloved'; that is one side. 'In Rome,' in the capital of universal paganism, material power, iron empire, immeasurable worldliness, flagrant and indescribable sin; that is the other side. 'I know where thou dwellest,' said. the glorified Savior to much tried disciples at a later, day; 'even where Satan has his throne.' (Rev. 11 :13.) That throne was conspicuously present in the Rome of Nero. Yet faith, hope, and love could breathe there, when the Lord 'called.' They could much more than breathe. This whole Epistle shows that a. deep and developed faith, a glorious hope, and the mighty love of a holy life were matters of fact in men and women who every day of the year, saw the world as it went by in forum and basilica, in Suburra and Velabrum, in slave-chambers and in the halls of pleasure where they had to serve or to meet company The atmosphere of heaven was carried down into that dark pool by the believing souls who were bidden to live there. They lived the heavenly life in Rome . . . . What a deadly air for the regenerate soul -- deadly not only in its vice, but in its magnificence, and in its thought! But nothing is deadly to the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul's regeneration means not only new ideas and likings, but an eternal Presence, the indwelling of the Life itself.

That Life could live at Rome; and therefore 'God's beloved ones in Rome' could live there also, while it was His will they should be there. The argument comes a fortiori to ourselves."

Shall we not, both writer and reader, take these words to heart? Would the writer prefer other circumstances in which he feels that he could labor better in the service of the Lord? Does the reader chafe sometimes and fret perhaps at his or her lot?' Do we think that in almost any other place than our "Rome" we could do better than we do, that elsewhere than where we find ourselves our. progress in the Christian way would be assured? Let us remember the lilies, how they grow; let us remember about them if we forget. all else that they do indeed grow, and let us allow the argument to come a fortiori to ourselves. Let us determine that His grace not only can be, nor yet alone that in the days to come it will be, but that here and now it is sufficient for us. Thus we shall each in our several spheres of influence prove to be more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us: Amen.


LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Dear ones in Christ:

I am sorry to be a little late on account of moving and changing my address. I am sending the money to pay for another year's subscription for your precious message sage, which I do need so much to cheer me; for I am a shut-in most of the time, suffering with a poor worn out body and nerves:, But I do thank God every hour for all the blessings He sends me, and that He gives me grace and strength each hour and day through all the many trials. Were it not that I know God is all-sufficient for every trial I would have sunk beneath my cross long ago.

May God bless you all and give you strength and grace for all the trials He may see best you shall have in these dark days that Daniel told us we might expect now at the end of this Age -- the end of the Devil's reign on this earth.

I was so glad to see our dear Pastor Russell so grandly thought of at your grand Convention. I wished I could be there, but I am too old now to travel any more. I am hoping soon to take the last journey and see my dear Master face to face, -- with you all, and be parted .no more.

I wish you all a very blessed Christmas. Love and greetings to you all in His dear name. Remember me at the throne of heavenly grace, where we can all meet together this side the veil. Thank God for this great privilege of praying for each other. Although miles separate us, we can meet in spirit and pray for one another.

Hoping to get your precious message of comfort, I remain

Your loving sister in Christ,

Mrs. F. H. -- Ohio.

Dear Brethren in Christ:

I cannot find words to express my appreciation of the articles that have appeared in the "Herald" since I became a reader. They are all good. I mention two that were to me "a feast of fat things": "The Hidden Life in Christ," and "The Life of Separation."

In reading the report in the "Herald" of the Pittsburgh Convention, my heart was glad. It brought back memories of days gone by, when we did not need any introduction; there was no formality, but love was welling up in every heart and speaking of the gracious things the Lord had done for them. I had the privilege of meeting and hearing Brother Russell the first time he visited Canada, and was a reader of the Watch Tower for forty years -- until the first of the present year. It was then that the words of the Prophet came to me so forcibly: "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfieth not." To me there was nothing to sustain or to develop the new creature, or to build one up in the most holy faith . . . .

My experience from 1922 to June of 1927 is something I would not wish to pass through again, as I think of the sleepless nights and of the long heart-rending days, with a bondage I cannot find words to describe. . . . Perhaps it was needful to pass through these experiences and feel to the utmost the evil effects of such teaching and bondage that I might more fully appreciate the "perfect law of liberty," the "liberty wherewith Christ bath made us free." I did not know that I was in such bondage, nor did I know there was any passing through this experience but myself. I did not know there was such a journal as the "Herald." . . . I prayed earnestly for guidance and was making plans, when . . a sister in Toronto sent me a double number of the "Herald." I believe this was the answer to my prayer. The Lord will provide chose who hunger and thirst for the Truth with the needed food. He also "takes the wise in 'their own craftiness."

"Precious is the night of sorrow
 Needful is its gloom;
There will be a glad tomorrow,
 Of eternal bloom."

Your brother in Christ, "by grace,"

J. E. -- Ohio


VOL. XIII. February 15, 1930 No. 3

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS !

"But lest we should offend them, go to the lake, throw a hook, and take the first fish coming up, and opening its mouth, thou wilt find a stater; take that, and give it to them, for Me and thee." -- Matt. 17:27, Diaglott.

IN the earlier days of our Lord's ministry, following His rejection by His own townspeople of Nazareth, He seems to have resided for some considerable time in Capernaum. According to Matthew's order of events it would appear that very shortly after His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had made His way to Capernaum, and had there attracted much attention to Himself by healing the servant of the Centurion and also restoring Peter's mother-in-law to health. Days of popularity followed, until Jesus found it expedient to depart to amore quiet place. But this popularity which at first promised so much, had sadly waned when in after days our Lord again visits this greatly privileged city. The hatred of the religious leaders had grown in volume, and they had succeeded in influencing many of the people against Jesus and His work. The incident recorded in Matthew 17, and from which our text is chosen, was a very manifest evidence of this changed attitude on the part of the people of Capernaurn.

Jesus had been absent with His disciples for some time, but now returns once more to this scene of many of His early activities. Shortly after their arrival, the tax collectors had encountered Peter with the challenge, "Doth not your Master pay tribute?" This tribute was a voluntary tax imposed only upon the Jews for the upkeep of the temple services, etc., having had its beginning in the days of Moses. By general consent it was understood that religious teachers were exempt from this tax, and in former days this courtesy seems to have been given to Jesus also. Now, however, He had lost caste, and was no longer thought worthy of this exemption. Hence the demand made upon Peter.

As the narrative shows, Peter entertained no doubt about Jesus being prepared to pay such a tax, and therefore in his usual impulsive way virtually promised it. By this promise he obligated both himself and his Master. We may judge therefore his surprise when he found himself being questioned

by Jesus as to the propriety of His paying such tribute. Surely the hasty promise was scarcely consistent with the confession he had made but a few days before, when he had confessed his Mater "the Son of the living God."

Jesus did not contest the payment of the tax, and recognizing that no principle was involved, He provided for its payment. Peter is sent down to the lake with the instructions contained in our text, and of course returns with the coin the Master had promised. As to how the money came to be in the mouth of the fish, a reasonable suggestion is that the bright coin had been thrown or had dropped into the water from a passing boat and was quickly seized by this particular fish, lodging in its throat in such a way as to prevent its getting rid of it. Doubtless in some such way, in the unlimited, overruling power of God, the matter was properly timed; the special feature of the miracle being in our Lord's power to find it there at the appropriate time.

Jesus Pays the Debt of His Disciple

This is the historical narrative as it pertains to the little incident itself, but like so many other things in our Lord's intimate associations with His immediate disciples, this incident with Peter is replete with suggestive lessons possible of present and personal application -- lessons that are surely calculated to draw us close to Him in a deeper appreciation of His love.

It should be observed that the fish did not provide two half shekels, but only one, a stater, which was in value equivalent to the one shekel needed -- "for Me and thee." Thus Jesus linked Himself in the payment of this demand in the most intimate way with His disciple. That little word "and" should not be overlooked, for it is laden with significance, not only to the weak and impoverished Peter, but full of encouragement to us -- to you and to me. Our blessed Master still pays the charges for all His penniless disciples, who like Peter have become indebted beyond their ability to pay, and who also in their extremities rejoice to hear Him say, "That take, and give for Me and thee."

"Let our debts be what they may,
 However great or small,
So soon as we have naught to pay
 Our Lord forgives us all;

"'Tis perfect poverty alone
 That sets the soul at large,
While we can call one mite our own,
 We have no full discharge."

At the call of Jesus, Peter had left all to follow Him. His fishing business had been abandoned, at least in so far as giving attention to it might go. No income would therefore be forthcoming from that source. In common with his fellow disciples he had "forsaken all to follow" the Lord in His ministry, and apparently is now without funds. When, therefore, he finds himself face to face with this demand for the tax, he makes his appeal to Jesus. His extremity, however, becomes the Lord's opportunity to teach him how graciously "the Lord will provide" for every need. To us also the lesson is taught that when we too can truthfully say, "Lord I have left all to follow Thee," I am therefore,

"Not my own, my time, my talent,
Freely all to Christ I bring,"

that He is ever ready to become our surety for demands made upon us for His name's sake, or because we have given up all for His cause.

Casting all Our Care upon Him

As in the days of His earthly ministry, when three years of absence from home and business had passed over the heads of His disciples, He could turn to them with the inquiry, "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything?" and they could promptly reply, "Nothing" (Luke 22:35), so it has been with all the long line of His faithful followers. With one voice all would say with Paul, "I have all and abound." All things needful and best have been supplied according to His riches in glory, for "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," fully assured that "He knows and loves and cares." If all has been given up for Him, He cannot fail to meet our needs, for His acceptance of our gift becomes His pledge that all our needs are now His special care. As a devoted life-long disciple has well expressed it, "Whenever you give yourself absolutely to Christ and His service, not at your whim, but by His direct invitation, you may reckon absolutely on His thoughtful provision, and even if your faith should give out, He will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."

Let us note that when Peter found himself involved by his promise, he did not attempt to carry the burden alone. He took it to the Lord for His attention. By His summons to leave all, and Peter's acceptance of that call, Jesus had now become his burden bearer. As Peter might interpret it, this experience was traceable to the fact that he was so vitally associated with Jesus that their experiences were one. What a relief it must then have been to him, when he found that the need had already been anticipated and provided for. And what a lasting impression must have been left on his mind to strengthen his faith in after days. He could always remember that no emergency could arise in the Lord's service that could not be met by Divine help. Jesus, by this act, had shown him, that even before he had any realization of his own need, ample provision had already been made for it, by One who makes the burden of His disciples first of all His own, before it touches those who have become the objects of His special love and care.

O that by some means our patient, loving Master might teach us this lesson also. What fully consecrated heart does. not long for a deeper realization of "What a friend we have in Jesus"-One who really does "stick closer than a brother" to every sincere disciple, One who in every experience of burden or trial never fails to assure and encourage by reminding us that this also is shared by Him. The trial is for our discipline and instruction in righteousness, and for Him, wherein He shows Himself gracious, sympathetic, and strong on behalf of those who flee to Him in every time of need. Like Peter, we may often be unmindful of the fact that before we found ourselves in the trial, He had already provided a way of escape; but oh, if we could only emulate Peter in our unquestioning confidence in His abundant provision, and roll our burdens on Him, then what a blessed afterward of joy would come into our experience. How wonderful it would be if we could only truthfully say: "I will neither murmur nor repine at what the Lord's providence may permit, because 'faith can firmly trust Him, come what may.'" His method of sharing our burdens may not be in some miraculous way, as in Peter's case, yet, though heaven and earth pass away, His word of promise can never fail. He will meet the need of His weakest and most impoverished, devoted disciple. None that put their trust in Him can ever be forsaken, or overburdened with a trial too great to bear. The tax gatherer may be ever at our door in many forms, but if we take his demands to Jesus, and lay them at His feet, we will be able to face every demand with His "grace sufficient" in our possession, and inexpressible joy in our hearts, for to us He will have also said, "That take, and give for Me and thee."

Our Master links Himself to Sinful Men

How often Peter must have recalled that memorable day, when Jesus first took him into partnership, and filled his boat to the brim, giving evidence of His power to assist those who obey Him. How often the same impulse that threw him at the Master's feet on that occasion, must have moved him again and again to acknowledge his unworthiness -- "depart from Me, for I am a sinful man." Beloved Peter, impetuous, yes, aggressive sometimes beyond discretion, yes, presumptuous, to the point of rebuking his Master, yes, but indeed, Peter with a heart of gold, and a power of affection sensitive to the slightest hint of its possible insincerity. "Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee." Now once mare his heart is thrilled, for again Jesus has linked him with. Himself in words that must have been music to his soul -- "For Me and thee." Again the lesson comes to us, for this also is our blessed privilege today. We too have enjoyed the privilege of turning our boats over to the Lord, and because we did so there are now hallowed memories deep down in our hearts, too sacred to parade before others who might not understand. Precious 'moments, when the very abundance of His blessings overwhelmed us with a sense of our utter unprofitableness, and, like Peter, we too have realized at such times more deeply than ever the depth of that condescending love that bridged the gulf between ourselves and the Blessed One who had so graciously accepted us into fellowship.

God's Love Broader than the Measure of Man's Mind

Surely this is the greatest wonder of all the "wideness in God's mercy"that we, unworthy mortals, should be called into such partnership. But even partnership was too cold a word for Jesus to convey His meaning to us, and to call us servants was unthinkable, for there were some confidences He sought that could not be enjoyed by servants, so He chose to call us friends. But He delights in even a more intimate term than that, for "He is not ashamed to call us brethren." And does He not like that term best, for the Prophet .has Him saying, "I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Heb. 2:12.) And not alone in the house of