| |
| 1. | 2 Timothy 3 |
| This Epistle refers us from the church as an external thing to the word of God. So in the epistles to the churches we are called upon to hear not what the churches say, but what the Spirit says to the churches. In this chapter the professing church gets back |
| 2. | A Year With the Lord: S. M. T. January 18, 1878 |
| I. |
| 3. | Answer to Correspondent |
| Q. Will you give an exposition of 1 Cor. 12:13 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13), " For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body?" Also Gal. 26, 27? Is water baptism referred to? |
| 4. | Can We Know the Truth With Certainty? |
| IT is not an uncommon thing to find Christians greatly perplexed because of the great diversity of opinion among Christian teachers and writers; and, after a little time they seek escape from this distressing state by settling down into being satisfied that they are saved, and that all these "non-essentials" |
| 5. | Christianity |
| If you call yourself a Christian at all you must own you are in a world that crucified the Lord. |
| 6. | Church of God, Simple Papers on the |
| WHEN the Lord Jesus Christ was upon earth He -spike of His assembly as then non-existent. He had not yet built it (Matt. 16:18 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)). Till the Holy Ghost came, consequent on His ascension, it was not, and could not be, formed. The Spirit's presence, however, inaugurated a new era; |
| 7. | Church of God, Simple Papers on the: Prayer and Prayer Meeting |
| By the ministry of the word souls receive life, light, and understanding. As recipients of life there are desires formed within them which need an out-gate, either by prayer or by worship. By the former, dependence upon God is confessed and expressed; by the latter, relief is afforded to the |
| 8. | Church of God, Simple Papers on the: Prayer and Prayer Meetings |
| BUT further, since unlimited power was at His command to do whatever they asked, He proceeded to tell them on what conditions all their requests would be granted. " If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be |
| 9. | Church of God, Simple Papers on the: The Ministry of the Word |
| HAVING viewed the Church in its relation to God, to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Holy Ghost, and having also seen how the Body is formed, we would next direct the reader's attention to the way in which the work of God is carried on during this dispensation. |
| 10. | Church of God, Simple Papers on the: The Unity of the Spirit |
| " Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Such is the word of exhortation addressed by the Apostle Paul to Christians in the epistle to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:3 3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)). Then this of which he writes concerns Christians. As an exhortation, it acquaints us |
| 11. | Circle of the Church's Affections, The |
| " THE Spirit and the bride say, come.' " We get the whole circle of the church's affections. When the Spirit of God is working in the saints what will be the first affection? Christ. The Spirit and the bride turn to Him and say, " Come." What is the |
| 12. | Colossians 3:1-2 |
| "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth" ( Col. 3:1,2 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)) |
| 13. | Comforter Has Come, The |
| THE characteristic fact of this day, beginning with Pentecost (Acts 2) and lasting till the taking up of the saints (1 Thess. 4:15-18 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)) is the presence of the Holy Spirit. If we look in John 14 we notice two things of immense importance from the lips |
| 14. | Coming Glory, The |
| THE coming glory soon shall dawn, |
| 15. | Contentment |
| On! Lord I walk with Thee, |
| 16. | Corinth and Sects |
| MY DEAR― : In Corinth there existed, in the apostles' day, a company of people who had believed the gospel, been born again of the Holy Ghost, baptized by Him into " one body," gathered out by Him from among Jews and Gentiles, and gathered to the name of Jesus. |
| 17. | Corinth and Sects |
| Corinth and Sects
HERE then we have, according to supposition, in the city of Corinth, five distinct Christian assemblies-one of them adhering to the name, ground, and order on which they were set by God at the first; the other four being divisions or sects cut off from the |
| 18. | Correspondence |
| My judgment is (but I should seek peace, and there is no rule, save that all things be done decently and in order), that young children should be with their parents at the meetings, and that growing girls should be so too. When the boys grow up to a certain |
| 19. | Correspondence With the Late Arthur Belsham, on Taking His Place in Testimony, at the Lord's Table |
| In taking our readers into confidence, by opening private letters before them, it may be well to give a word of explanation. It will easily be seen that at the time of writing, on both sides, there could not possibly have been any thought of these letters ever being seen |
| 20. | Covenant |
| Q. Would it be right to covenant with God in this dispensation? |
| 21. | Devotedness |
| Devotedness is a much deeper and, at the same time, a much simpler thing than many suppose. Most think that if they are earnestly engaged in the Lord's work, and looking to Him for guidance and blessings this is being devoted; but it is much more. It is having Christ |
| 22. | Divine Man, The |
| - WE are led to look at our Lord Jesus, and through a succession of conditions we see in Him man presented to God with infinite though varied delight and satisfaction. I have, long since, traced Him in the following way, as man in all perfectness:― |
| 23. | Exaggerated Truth |
| Exaggerated truth is always error, and leads to the denial of the real truth, and ceases necessarily to be experimental, for what is not true cannot be true in me. J. N. D. |
| 24. | Exercise of Gifts, On the |
| THERE is a point in your letter I would just touch upon, and that is respecting the exercise of gifts. When the object in going to the Lord's table, and to meetings for worship, or for prayer, is to " exercise gift," it is plain that the true character |
| 25. | Extract |
| I TRUST there may be no questioning of what was once so plain to many as a path of duty. I am a little afraid of some being unsettled by looking too much to the present condition of gatherings, instead of to the fact of God's having a further work |
| 26. | Faith |
| IT is characteristic of faith to reckon on God, not simply spite of difficulty, but spite of impossibility. |
| 27. | Fellowship and the Right State for It |
| As regards your first question, I think there is a mistake as to the position of the assembly, both in the sister, and also of the brother who objected, perhaps in all. When a person breaks bread, he is in the only fellowship I know-owned as a member of the |
| 28. | For Me to Live Is Christ |
| THE definite notice we find in the beginning of this chapter relative to the former order of the church at Philippi is remarkable, because the epistle is all about eternal life in the believer, and the heart of Paul laboring in prayer for these Philippians; and then he takes up |
| 29. | Fragment: John 10 |
| John 10. is the substitution of a center without a circumference for a circumference without a center, i. e. the Lord's own personal love and care for His own is brought in instead of a fold to keep them in. In Judaism we had a fold. In |
| 30. | Fragment: Matthew 21:28-32 |
| Matt. 21:28-32 28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32) makes plain that the Son in Luke 15 is not in the sense of "adoption by Jesus Christ," for there one son represents scribes and Pharisees, the other publicans and harlots. |
| 31. | Fragment: The Spirit and the Church |
| Ques. How can the church be a ruin, and the Spirit still in it? |
| 32. | Gershom |
| 33. | Glory of the Lord, The |
| THE first principle of Christianity, whilst recognizing in the most solemn manner man's responsibility to answer for himself, puts the Christian on other and entirely different ground. This is the first principle and basis of all Christian truth, that there is a Mediator, a third person, between man and God. |
| 34. | God's Unity and Man's Union: The Difference |
| We have endeavored to look at three several presentations of God's unity, and three several presentations of man's union. We have seen that God has always had a unity to which He would gather His people; and have seen also that man makes attempts of his own at union, or |
| 35. | God's Unity and Man's Union: Their Difference |
| Now as to three several presentations of man's union which we proposed to notice. Take (first) Babel. There was union compact and comprehensive -man's great confederacy for his own aggrandizement, consolidation and glory. God called this, confusion, man united with man apart from God; it was manward not Godward. This |
| 36. | God's Unity and Man's Union: What Is the Difference? |
| In these days of demand for what is called Christian union, one may profitably, if the Lord will bless, bring under view three several presentations of God's unity, and three several presentations of man's union, by way of contrast, that the difference in principle between them may be the better |
| 37. | Hallelujah, Lord, to Thee |
| HALLELUJAH, Lord, to Thee, |
| 38. | He Is Coming! |
| HE'S coming, coming, coming! |
| 39. | Himself |
| CHRIST honored not Himself, |
| 40. | Life and Righteousness |
| "Christ, who is our life" (Col. 3:4 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)'. " Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us righteousness" (1 Cor. 1:3030 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)). |
| 41. | Lord's Table, The |
| MY DEAR BROTHER:-There are two quite distinct truths or objects of thought brought before us in the Lord's supper-the death of the blessed Lord, and His remembrance now He is gone, and the unity of the body as partaking of one loaf. We have to avoid at the same time |
| 42. | Love Manifested and Bestowed |
| A correspondent asks a question as to the expressions used in 1 John 4:9 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) and 3:1, in connection with the love of God. " In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might |
| 43. | Man's Trial of Jesus, and Its Results, Godward and Manward |
| This scene, or rather these scenes of Matt. 28, are very striking and solemn. In them we see Satan and man acting, doing deadly work, and telling out their thoughts and feelings toward God's holy One; He in meekness and grace submitting to all. Here He is seen as |
| 44. | Mark 4:21-25 |
| 21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. (Mark 4:21-25)THE seed which fell on good ground brought forth fruit in different proportions. We see the activity of grace in the heart, because it grows and bears fruit, and keeps on growing. He who has truly received the word in the heart is fitted to communicate it to others. |
| 45. | My Exceeding Joy |
| " The Lord Jehovah is become my strength and my song " (Psa. 43:4 4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. (Psalm 43:4); Heb. 3:1818 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? (Hebrews 3:18); Rom. 5:1111 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11)). |
| 46. | Notes of a Lecture by J. N. D.: Luke 12 |
| THE Lord had gone through every principle which could act as warning and instruction to His disciples in bearing testimony in an adverse and evil world, and in answering the one who came to Him to judge between him and his brother, shows the folly of man in laying up |
| 47. | Notes of Readings: 1 Thessalonians 1 |
| IT is very blessed to get back to the beginning of things. We come to the first epistle written to see what was given and the character of the people formed from it. We get precious and fundamental truths, and a people who are acting in great simplicity. It is |
| 48. | Notes of Readings by F. W. G. |
| John 8. The washing of water by the word. |
| 49. | Notes of Readings by F. W. G.: Romans 5 |
| This is the conclusion of the first part of the epistle, in which the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen meeting our sins. As yet there is no question of nature; it is the sin we have committed, and which is what exposes us to the judgment of |
| 50. | Notes of Readings by F. W. G.: Romans 6 |
| In Rom. 6 we are brought down to Jordan after Christ has been there for us. We are not baptized unto repentance, or merely to death, but His death. Of this we have a beautiful picture in Elisha (2 Kings 8:20, 51 20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. (2 Kings 8:20)). A dead man is let down |
| 51. | Notes of Readings by F. W. G.: Romans 7 |
| This is the necessary completion of Chap. 5. We find here the connection between sin and the law. People would say the strength of righteousness is the law. The apostle says it is the strength of sin. Paul takes up the question of law here, to look at it from |
| 52. | Notes of Readings by F. W. G.: Romans 8 |
| Chapter 8:1. " There is no condemnation," etc. I was looking for myself in the wrong direction, I now turn to Christ as what God sees me to be. There is nothing in Him that God can disapprove. |
| 53. | Notes of Readings by J. N. D. |
| LEVITICUS. 16 |
| 54. | Notes of Readings by J. N. D.: Colossians 2 |
| Ques. What was the conflict spoken of? |
| 55. | Notes of Readings: Galatians 3 |
| THE action of these Galatian Christians, who were Gentiles formerly, was a great grief to the Holy Spirit, and there is nothing sharper than the way in which He speaks to them here. Paul's gospel was taught him by the revelation of Jesus Christ. God revealed His Son in him |
| 56. | Notes of Readings: John 17 |
| ALL the heavenly truth that you find in Col., Eph., Heb., and the rest of the epistles, is found in this chapter. You see Christ stating the character of the work He performed. It is not your estimate; it is not man's expression of what it is; it is not |
| 57. | Notes of Readings: Matthew 6:9-13 |
| THIS is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer." |
| 58. | Notes of Readings: The House of God |
| IT is the house of God which gives the character to both the Epistles of Timothy; and what is connected with the house of God is holiness. "Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord forever." In God's house God is master, and we have got to conform to the rules of |
| 59. | Numbers 19 |
| THE sacrifices are given us in a very beautiful way in these first books of Scripture. In the book of Exodus we*find the Passover, the work of Christ mainly in its effect as covering sin. In Leviticus, as priests in the sanctuary, we find all the perfection of Christ's work, |
| 60. | One Body Vs. One of the Bodies, The |
| Answer to a Letter, in which a brother was spoken (f as having gone into " spiritual exile." |
| 61. | One Hesitating as to His Path of Service, A Letter to |
| BELOVED BROTHER:-It is some time since I found such rich blessings to my soul, such joy, such gladness, as I found in meditating upon the 14th of Mark, this afternoon; and I feel that I must tell out to some, one the sweet things that have made my own heart |
| 62. | Out and Into |
| He brought us OUT that He might bring us IN.―DEUTERONOMY. 6: 28. |
| 63. | Peace |
| IN Rom. 5:1 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1), Rom. 8:66 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6), Eph. 2:14,1514 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:14-15), we have peace put before us in three different aspects. The first is the result of our justification before God, through Christ having been delivered up to death for our offenses and having been raised from the dead for our |
| 64. | Peace |
| OH! the peace of simply resting |
| 65. | Poetry |
| I shall still proclaim Thy power, |
| 66. | Remnant Times, Characteristics of |
| BEFORE reading the passages in Malachi to which, the Lord helping me, I would desire to direct your attention, it is important to notice the position of this book -where it comes. It is the last outpouring of God's heart to His people Israel before the coming of the Lord, |
| 67. | Remnant Times, Characteristics of |
| CHAP. 2. is specially to the priests. You see why we refer to this (vers. 4-8). Levi had earned his place. You remember that when the children of Israel had got the calf, Moses stood in the gate, and said, " Who is on the Lord's side? let him come |
| 68. | Romans 5 and 6 |
| THE lively and energetic style of the apostle in these chapters is very striking. He treats sin as a person-as a king. He shows that he entered this world through the door of man's disobedience, and as soon as he entered, he took the seat of government, and death became |
| 69. | Service |
| CONNECT your service with nothing but God-not with any particular set of persons. You may be comforted by fellowship, and your heart refreshed; but you must work by your own individual faith and energy, without leaning on any one whatever; for if you do, you cannot be a faithful servant. |
| 70. | Spirit and the Assembly, Brief Remarks on the |
| "Now concerning spiritual operation (or manifestations)." This word is preferrable to that of "gifts," because here it includes diabolical demonstrations, as well as operations of the Spirit; and we do not like to call that which is really the working of the devil a " gift." Such is the meaning |
| 71. | Tabernacle, Notes of Lectures on the: By C. H. B. |
| READ Ex. 27:1-8 1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits. 2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. 3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. 4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof. 5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. 6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. 7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. 8 Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it. (Exodus 27:1-8). Notice first its position: God did not put it outside of the court, it was placed before the door of the tabernacle, but not outside of the gate. God does not expect from the sinner an appreciation or understanding of the work of Christ. He calls |
| 72. | Tabernacle, Notes of Lectures on the: By C. H. B. |
| FOUR CHARACTERISTIC OFFERINGS.―LEVITICUS 1-4 |
| 73. | Tabernacle, Notes of Lectures on the: By C. H. B. |
| THE LAVER. |
| 74. | Tabernacle, Notes of Lectures on the: By C. H. B. |
| 23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. 29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. 30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway. (Exodus 25:23-30)5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the Lord. 7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute. (Leviticus 24:5-9)THE table was made of wood, overlaid with gold. The wood was of the Acacia-seyal. Let me mention some instructing things about this tree, that we may see how well-chosen of God for this purpose it was. It can grow in a very dry soil; it is a |
| 75. | Tabernacle, Notes of Lectures on the: By C. H. B. |
| MANY of us here are interested in the subject of sanctification and consecration. Do you and I want to know how to be consecrated and sanctified? Let us pay attention to this chapter and we will see, for the way the priests were sanctified is a type of our sanctification, |
| 76. | Tabernacle, Notes of Lectures on the: By C. H. B. |
| Now we will consider the way in which these things were carried through the wilderness. Those who bore them were the Levites, divided into three families. Aaron's sons, the priests, first took down the covering, and the Levites bore them. We will commence as they are spoken of here: the |
| 77. | Tabernacle, Sacrifices and Priesthood, Notes of Lectures on the |
| ( With a Model.) BY C. H. B. READ EXODUS. 27:9-14. |
| 78. | Three Foundation Principles of Christianity, The |
| WE have these in 1 Cor. 13:13 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13), Col. 1:4,54 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (Colossians 1:4-5), and 1 Thess. 1:2,32 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)-stated didactically to the Corinthians, and acknowledged as practically exemplified in the Colossians and the Thessalonians. I am not aware of their occurrence together elsewhere in the word. But taken together they are the three |
| 79. | To Him Be Glory |
| GLORY give to Jesus' name, |
| 80. | To One Broken up in Business |
| DEAR BROTHER:―There is one thing in which we can never become bankrupt, that never suspends: the matchless, limitless Jove of our God and Father. And wonderful are its ways of manifestation. Oftentimes we are too full, too busy, too wise, too anything. It wants a fair field and an empty |
| 81. | Who but Christ? |
| MAKE tight work at the bottom, and your ships shall ride against all storms, if withal your anchor be fastened on good ground―I mean, within the veil; and verily I think this is all to gain Christ-all other things are shadows, dreams, fancies, nothing. |
| 82. | Will Not My Influence Be Less? |
| Iv is remarkable how often one hears this question, put by those who see in the word of God, that to act according to His mind there must be separation from existing ecclesiastical systems. To do so apparently denies access to the greater number of the children of God, and |
| 83. | Worship |
| To worship God is the duty of every intelligent creature. The angels worship Him. His saints too worship Him. By and by all on earth will worship Him (Zeph. 2:11 11 The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. (Zephaniah 2:11); Isa. 66:2323 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 66:23)). As God, He is the proper object of adoration for all His intelligent creatures, and men |
| 84. | Worship |
| WITH the mention of the person to be worshipped, and the character of true worship (these both taught directly), and the class of people who can be worshippers (this taught indirectly from the Lord thus conversing with the woman), His instructions on this important question ended. Scripture, however, gives us |
| 85. | Worship in Spirit and in Truth |
| IT is impossible to separate true spiritual worship and communion from the perfect offering of Christ to God. The moment our worship separates itself from this-its efficacy, and the consciousness of that infinite acceptance of Jesus before the Father-it becomes carnal, and either form or delight of the flesh. When |