PERHAPS no other church enjoyed so long a period of ministerial labor by the apostle Paul as did the church at Corinth. The record of his experiences at the time of his raising up that church is found in Acts 18. We read that "he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them." It is stated that he "reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." That would make seventy-eight Sabbaths that he thus observed. At the same time he worked at the trade he had learned in his youth, tent-making, in partnership with a Jew by the name of Aquila, and his wife Priscilla, who of course, like all other Jews, labored six days in the week and rested the seventh. We have here a good example of apostolic Sabbath-keeping. It was here that the Lord encouraged Paul's heart by saying to him in a vision: "I have much people in this city." These are the people to whom this epistle is addressed.
The Corinthian church furnishes one of the most pronounced instances of God's forbearance and goodness toward poor fallible mortals who profess to be His children. Brought out of heathen customs and surroundings, these Christians had much to learn in order to become fully freed from the influence of their former training and practises. Paul addresses his letter to "the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." By their being called saints, sanctified, are we to understand that they might claim, as some latterly do, that they were living absolutely without sin? Alas! for human depravity and weakness, as often evinced even among those from whom we might expect better things.
After introducing the matter of his epistle in the assuring and encouraging manner that he employed, Paul proceeds to mention some things that seriously need correction, which we will enumerate:
1. He says: "It hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, . . . that there are contentions among you." Some were claiming to be followers of Paul, some of Peter, some of Apollos, thus creating an imaginary division in the inseparable body of Christ, the church. This he says was a sure proof of carnality, and the same proof holds good today.
2. Besides these divisions there was "envying and strife" among the members of this congregation.
3. The next charge is a very serious one indeed: "It is commonly reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles." Chapter 5: 1.
4. The existence of this immoral condition did not serve to humble them and lead them to mourn over the matter, and vindicate the injured cause of Christ by exercising proper discipline toward the offending member, but they were, on the contrary, puffed up, and independent about the matter.
5. Instead of manifesting the Spirit of the Master by suffering wrong rather than doing wrong, they were going to law with their brethren, and that before unbelievers, and defrauding their own brethren. This was to their shame. 1 Cor. 6: 1–8.
6. When they came together to partake of the Lord’s Supper, they conducted themselves in a very disorderly manner, insomuch that Paul told them they were not really celebrating that solemn rite when they thus assembled; some feasted while others were suffering hunger. They thus failed to discern the Lord’s body, failed to recognize the true import of the sacred ordinance. The apostle could not praise them for such conduct. Chapter 11.
7. The women seem to have failed to act with proper decorum in the church at Corinth, imitating the manners of the Gentile females in this respect.
8. There were heretical teachings being inculcated in the church, one tenet of which was the denial of the resurrection of the dead. Chapter 15: 12. This gave occasion for Paul to write that masterly defense of the doctrine of the resurrection as found in chapter 15.
All these points make quite an array of evidence as to the sad condition into which the church had lapsed when Paul wrote his first epistle to that body of believers. But was not such a case and such a condition hopeless? The apostle did not so regard it, but set about the task of restoring the erring congregation, and we find by his second epistle to them that his efforts were not without results. He thus manifested the spirit of Him who will not break the bruised reed nor quench the glimmering torch, but who will encourage the faintest indication of hope, quicken to spiritual life the dormant energies now slumbering in carnal insecurity, and cause the dry bones to live again. An example and encouragement here for us. "His mercy endureth forever."
The most noted section of this intensely-interesting book is chapter 13. "The greatest of these is charity." The greatest theme in the universe is here revealed. Charity (in most versions rendered, love, and correctly, too) is the superior grace, the fundamental principle upon which every true Christian’s experience must be built. No gift, natural or acquired, amounts to anything in the absence of this qualification. Love must be the motive and the rule by which all of our actions and plans shall be weighed and determined. Love excels even so-called reason itself in this respect. Reason seemed to suggest that the costly gift from the alabaster box was misspent, but love moved the devoted worshiper to lavish the contents on the object of her affection. She loved much, and this was the standard by which her actions were determined. We shall never reach right conclusions unless we decide from the standpoint of love instead of finance.
In chapter 14 we find some very important instructions concerning the manner of conducting religious worship. "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Verse 15. The French version reads: "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray so as to be understood; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing so as to be understood." Quite a revolution would be effected in our assemblies if all would do likewise. When people pray in a tone so low that only a very few who are next to them can understand what they say, it is just the same as if they prayed in an unknown tongue; and when the singing is done in such a way that one can not distinguish one word from another it is the same as if we were listening to barbarians. Certainly our praying and singing should be so uttered that all who are present can understand.
The necessity of earnest study of the Scriptures is thus set forth in chapter 10: 11: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come." God had the past history of His people written for our benefit who are living in the closing days of this world’s history. So little heed, however, is paid to the admonition given, that professed Christians are found committing the same sins that brought the displeasure of the Lord upon the congregation so long ago. He meant that we should profit by their experience and not have to go over the same ground ourselves. But considering the ancient warnings of so little consequence, professors of religion have repeated the sad history of Israel over and over again. Let us search the Scriptures that we may not fall into the same error.
The Deluge
By W. E. Videto
"If ever there was a crisis, it is now," are the words of a well-known writer. Indeed there is a general impression that the present is a critical time; but as to what constitutes the crisis and what is to be the outcome, there is a wide divergence of opinion. If it be true that history repeats itself, we may get light on the present crisis by studying those of the past.
The first crisis of which we have any record occurred early in the history of the world. But a comparatively few centuries had passed, before the world became fearfully corrupt, so that every imagination of men’s hearts was only evil continually. There was danger that evil would hold undisputed sway over the whole earth unless the Lord should especially intervene.
The Deluge.
But the Lord will not pour out His judgments upon a people who are sinning in ignorance; before He punishes, He warns. He sent Enoch, whose pure life was a rebuke to the prevailing iniquity. He sent Noah, who for one hundred and twenty years preached of a coming Flood.
Noah’s preaching brought a crisis. It was light from heaven. The world had to take its stand for or against it, and its decision settled its fate. The message accomplished its purpose, it made clear and marked the division between the righteous and the wicked. Noah and his family, taking their stand against fierce opposition, developed in faith and strength of character.
Those who rejected the light were in a far worse condition than they were before the message came to them. Their hearts were hardened and more light would likewise have been despised. Infinite wisdom sees that nothing more can be done for them. Lust, violence, murder, and bold scoffing show that men have ceased to control themselves, and have become the slaves of demons.
Now that the decision has been made, and the world enlightened continues in and multiplies the sins of the world in darkness, Divine Justice tarries not, but speedily sweeps away the guilty race.
Out of Egypt.
Centuries passed, and the Lord was leading out of Egypt a people for His name. They9were full of sins and vices, ever ready to murmur and rebel. But how tender was the Lord with their faults. He passed over all their murmurings and unbelief. They had been for more than two hundred years in Egyptian bondage, and had fallen into almost heathen darkness.
The Lord instructed and led them step by step. But when He had enlightened them and set before them the principles of His government, He treated their sins in a sterner manner.
At Mount Sinai Israel was brought into the direct presence of God, and heard from His own lips the principles of His law. Then they beheld Moses ascend the mount at the call of God; and after waiting many days for his re-appearance, impatience filled their hearts. Those very men who have solemnly promised to know no God but the God of Israel, begin to turn their eyes toward Egypt. Aaron is persuaded to make a god for them to worship, and a golden calf is the result.
Moses, returning from the presence of the Lord, sees the people bowing before a senseless idol, dancing and singing, and engaging in all the abominable practises of the heathen.
A crisis has been reached. Israel, sinning in the face of great light, can not be dealt with as Israel emerging from the darkness of Egypt. Those who have not been advancing have been hardening their hearts. The time has come for vengeance, and three thousand of the leaders in the rebellion are speedily destroyed
At the First Advent.
Fifteen hundred years pass and the chosen people are in a condition worse than the heathen around them. There is not another nation in all the earth so full of corruption and hatred of the truth.
But divine Love can not leave the back-slidden nation. The Lord will make one last mighty effort to save Israel. He will not send simply another prophet, for prophet after prophet has been sent, only to be abused and stoned. The Lord will send one greater than a prophet into that cruel, hardened nation. He sends His own Son. The blessed light of truth, whose beams would have healed the nation, has been despised; now the very windows of heaven are opened and the light streams forth in a mighty flood.
As Jesus sets forth with such power and beauty the love and tenderness of the heavenly Father, men's hearts are warmed and drawn out after God. Priests and rulers hear and tremble. It is Israel's crisis, her opportunity. But the path of duty means self-denial, the rulers hesitate, selfish motives prevail, the light is rejected, and the very men whose hearts were pricked are the ones who head the mob and cry, "Crucify Him!"
One more effort is made to gather out the faithful. The chosen disciples linger at Jerusalem until the showers of Pentecost have fallen, and again, amid great power and mighty signs, the Gospel is proclaimed and the deluded nation bidden to turn and walk in the light. The word has gone forth and has not returned void. Here and there through the nation are scattered individuals who have forsaken all and followed Christ—precious jewels that shine all the more brightly in the surrounding darkness.
But the great mass of the nation have resisted all the loving entreaties of the Spirit of God, and now their darkness is in proportion to the light rejected. Infinite Love can do nothing more for them; they have trampled the Son of God underfoot, and there is no new Gospel.
As the rejection makes certain the doom of the nation, strange calamities, the first drops of the coming storm, are sent to warn them. What mean these things? they ask Jesus, as they hear of the Galilean peasants, being slain by Pilate, and of the men upon whom the tower of Siloam fell. Jesus replies, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Unless there is a general turning to God, they may regard these violent deaths as an omen of what will befall the whole nation. When all have made their decision, the judgments can not long be delayed; for the whole nation, giving themselves completely into the hands of Satan, are in a dreadful state. A mad, Satanic fury has taken possession of the people; violence and murder are seen on every hand.
At the very time when the Roman armies are at the gates of Jerusalem and its fall seems certain, the Jews in their blind rage are slaughtering each other. Armed bands are thus wasting their strength in internal strife. The time has come when God in mercy must cut off the unhappy people. The Romans gain the walls, and thousands perish in the flames or by the sword. Hundreds of thousands more perish miserably on crosses that are erected on almost every hill-top. Thus was the nation that rejected light destroyed, and the remnant scattered.
The Dark Ages.
Do we see evidences that the history of the crises of the past is being repeated? Six or eight hundred years ago, the world was in what is known as the Dark Ages. Disputes between nations, tribes, and men were settled by the sword; there was bloodshed, robbery, intolerance, and intemperance.
But men sinned in ignorance. Europe, the most enlightened of the continents, knew but little of the rest of the world; for she was under the dominance of Rome whose proud pontiffs had stamped out light and truth with merciless severity. The Bible was almost an unknown book. Ignorance was so great that scarcely one of the rulers could write his name; men depended upon charms in the treatment of disease. It would have been contrary to all God's dealings in the past to bring the terrible judgments of the last days upon such a people.
The Gospel of the kingdom must first go to all the world. A divine hand has been shaping human affairs so that for centuries there has been a steady increase in knowledge. First, the Waldensian missionaries traveled over Europe carrying a few pages of the blessed Word of God. How eagerly men listened! Tears flowed in love and gratitude as the Gospel story was heard for the first time.
Other influences were at work; the schools of the Moors, the educated Jews, even the bloody Crusades were means in the hands of God to hasten the movement for the world's enlightenment. Navigation received a great impulse from the discovery of America, and bold explorers in every part of the world gave men broader ideas and paved the way for the world-wide spread of the Gospel.
Books had been exceedingly rare; a Bible cost a fortune, for it must all be written by hand. But now the printing-press comes just in time to assist the Reformation, which turns men's minds to the neglected truths of God's Word. Universal education follows and places the Bible within the reach of all. The masses are raised out of feudal slavery that they may have a better opportunity to think and act for themselves.
A World's Crisis.
But the movement is not confined to Europe and America, it is a world's crisis. A little more than a century ago began the movement to carry the Gospel to heathen lands, and to-day the light is penetrating earth's darkest places. Foreign missionaries number more than eighteen thousand. Hundreds of millions of Bibles have carried the truth to many nations and many tongues. In various countries slavery has been destroyed that men might have liberty to hear and obey. Great light is shining upon the Word of God, especially upon the prophecies. This generation has had light beyond all that have gone before, but have men walked in the light?
Years ago men were intemperate, but they were largely in ignorance of the evil effects of narcotics upon the human system. To-day, every schoolboy knows the effect of these poisons. Is intemperance decreasing with the advancing light?—No; everybody knows that it is increasing year by year. If men, with all the light that this generation has had, are doing worse than generations that were in darkness, what more can be done for them?
Years ago, bloodshed was common, for men were taught that it was noble to kill an enemy. This generation has learned from the Gospel the value of human life, yet we find violence and murder increasing at a fearful rate. A record of from 8,000 to 10,000 men, in the United States alone, stricken down each year by the hand of the assassin, reveals a terrible condition of society.
Will the great light which is shining upon this generation bring the "millennium" in which everybody will be righteous? Great light has sealed the doom of the vast majority of every people to whom it has been sent, because the multitudes love the broad, easy way. They love darkness rather than light. They are not willing to deny self to obey the truth.
Light brings responsibility; it either ennobles or hardens. See the crime, drunkenness, revelry, murder, lust, scoffing, unbelief, and indifference to God's Word that everywhere abound. Then read Matt. 24:37, and the evidence is overwhelming that the history of the past is being repeated. You who say God is too kind to punish the ungodly, look to the past with its bloody record. He is too kind to allow such a condition to go on unchecked. Look around you at the fast-multiplying calamities on land and sea, and behold the first drops of the coming storm. Hear the words of the Saviour, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
The great movement that has been ripening the vast world-harvest is fast coming to a climax. Suppose you stand over a deep chasm and drop a stone into the abyss below. At first it starts slowly, but each second it dashes on with accelerated rapidity until it speeds to its destination with terrible velocity. So with the great movement to lift the world out of darkness and prepare for the coming of the Son of Man. It started slowly at first, it took centuries to mark much advance; but for the last one hundred years things have been moving faster, faster with each succeeding decade, until such intensity has seized every earthly element that everything is moving with the velocity of lightning.
How much longer can the world speed on even at the present rate before the crash10comes? But the movement will be accelerated year by year. The world will move faster and faster in the rejection of light, and the Lord will cut short the work in righteousness.
How great will be the catastrophe that marks the close of the present crisis! When in the past a nation has turned from the light, even tho its beams were but feeble compared with the strong, steady beams that have shone on this generation, how terrible has been the result!
What will be the culmination of a movement that has been growing and swelling for so many years; that has reached out until it has encircled the earth in its grasp. Language can not describe it. All the terrible scenes of the past are but types of that “day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,” “where the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted.”
Alma, Mich.
MAKING VOID THE LAW.
By F. M. Oliver
BY F. M. OLIVER.
THE way the popular churches are hurrying toward Rome is shown by the manner in which an evangelist here recently spoke in regard to God's law. He said that the law was no longer in force, and then added that the moral commandments of the Old Testament, excepting the fourth, were brought over and re-enacted in the New; that the fourth could not be found there. So it was really the only one that we were not to observe.
Also he said that the change from the seventh to the first day of the week could not be found in God's Word, and that the seventh day was the Sabbath, always had been, and always would be. But the first day was the Lord's day, which was kept in honor of Christ's resurrection. He said the Sabbath was made for the Jews; that the law that contains it was not given until proclaimed on Mount Sinai, and it was then added because of transgression. He further declared that when Jesus died upon the cross, the law, which was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, died also; for the law was not perfect, and could not convert any one.
Such teaching as this, altho without any scripture to prove his argument, is leading many a poor soul to destruction. He did not know, or avoided the statement of Christ, that “one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt. 5:17, 18. He also overlooked the statement of John that “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and of Paul (Rom. 3:20), that “by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
So long as it is true that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, it is only clasping hands with the enemy to try to take away this great memorial institution and set up the first day of the week in its stead—a change for which it is admitted that there is no scriptural authority. Not once does Christ call the first day His holy day, or in any way refer to its sanctification. If the Sabbath was made for Jews only, then Christ made a mistake when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27.
Christ, who was with the Father in the beginning, and who created all things, made the Sabbath, at the close of Creation, for man. And Christ Himself kept the law while upon earth. He came not to take away the law, but to magnify it and make it honorable (Isa. 42:21); and to show that, tho Adam failed, it was possible to live in harmony with the Father's will (Ps. 40:7, 8). “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Ps. 19:7), and to those who keep it perfectly will Christ reveal Himself, and they will become more and more like Him. Of such it is said that they shall “enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14. Surely “it is time for Thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void Thy law.” Ps. 119:126.
Pomeroy, Wash.
MEN'S HEARTS FAILING.
By Albert H. Darrow
BY ALBERT H. DARROW.
AND there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21 : 25, 26.
"Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen [unbelievers], and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them" when they see them and are compelled to believe them. Jer. 10:2.
"He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Eccl. 11:4.
"The New York Herald's estimates show about 6,000 deaths from pneumonia in that city since December 1."—Arizona Republican, April 4, 1904.
"For disasters the month of January, 1904, has broken all records. Beginning with the Chicago fire, which was followed by frightful train wrecks, storms, mine horrors, floods, and ending with street-car collisions at St. Louis, more than 2,000 lives have been lost."—Arizona Gazette, Jan. 29, 1904.
The extent to which the public mind was alarmed in June and July, 1905, may be seen by the predictions of the French writer, Carl Joubert, concerning the peasant outbreaks in Russia, that "the present Russian emperor, Nicholas II., is the last of his race. Not a Romanoff will survive this revolution. . . . Very soon there will be scenes there to which those in the French Revolution can not compare for horror. From Odessa to St. Petersburg heads will hang on trees." Another paper said in great headlines: "Within an Ace." "That Near Is the Romanoff Dynasty to Destruction."
"St. Petersburg Aflame," says another paper. "Revolution Threatening End of the Romanoffs." "The Paralysis of Russia," cries another. "Blood-red Anarchy Growing," declares a third.
"ST. PETERSBURG, OCTOBER 28.—A condition bordering upon panic prevails throughout the city to-day, business being completely suspended. Soldiers are everywhere in the streets, and bloodshed is momentarily expected."
"A Tottering Throne," is the next report we hear." St. Petersburg, October 29.—The people are extremely nervous and bordering on panic, and are easy victims to every sensational rumor.
"The Awakening of Asia," is the title of an editorial in another paper, in which sensational grounds of fear for European supremacy are set forth.
"Stricken Spain," cries another paper; "Starving Laborers Driven to Acts of Desperation."
"Bad Day Again," says still another paper in chronicling the spread of the yellow fever in Louisiana and elsewhere.
"Hungry Amid Work," is the title of an article in the New York Mail, which speaks of "the lengthening 'bread line' at the places where free food is given to hungry men."
"Serious signs of disturbance continue to appear upon the industrial horizon," says a newspaper of Aug. 3, 1905, "instead of the hoped-for clearing of the clouds. A general strike of coal miners in Pennsylvania, both in the anthracite and bituminous fields, is being arranged for."
Another paper (of July 20, 1905) speaks of "the gradual but steady spread of bubonic plague to all quarters of the world, the present vast dimensions of the scourge in Asia, and the absence of any signs of diminishing force in India, the seat of the epidemic;" and says that "bubonic plague is now prevalent at Aden, Arabia; Osaka and Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok, Siam; Amoy, China; Southeastern Russia; Leith, Scotland; Egypt; British South Africa; Cape Colony; New South Wales and Queensland, Australia; East Sumatra and the Island of Mauritius; Rio de Janeiro and the cities of Chile and Peru, South America; the Philippine Islands, and Hawaii. The disease has so far11baffled every effort to stamp it out, which is causing great alarm."
Another newspaper, of June 10, 1905, declares that "with machines that will enable men to produce ten to fifty times as much wealth as could be produced a century ago, and with that much actual wealth being produced by the workers, poverty is rampant, and every parent who has any brain development beyond the mere animal passes many sleepless nights over the problem of the future of his children. Alarmed as they are, they do not know the full truth. . . . It doesn't delight me to know that 80,000 school children in New York go to school every morning hungry, does it you?"
"The industrial panic has reached Germany," says another paper of August 19, 1905. "More goods are being made than can be sold. There is no trouble about wages, but simply a shut down. That is coming in all countries. If all the machinery of production were operated, it could supply the world demand in six months. When the Chinese and Japanese factories now building get into operation, there will be no world market for America or Europe."
"This is in truth the age of perplexity; it is the age of distress of nations; it is the age of universal dread of war; it is the age of violence; it is the age in which all these things are to culminate," says another editorial writer. "This is the most unsettled condition of the world since the crucifixion of Christ," said the late Bishop Newman. "The stability of government is no longer a fact. Change is in the atmosphere. Statesmen are at their wits' end. Philosophers speculate in vain."
Archbishop Ireland, not long ago, said: "The bonds of society are relaxed; traditional principles are losing their sacredness, and perils hitherto unknown are menacing the life of the social organization." "Doubt and uncertainty abound," says a prominent religious newspaper. "We are marching toward the unknown," says a European statesman.
"Among all the hard questions put to civilization," says another editor, "none are harder than these: 'Why is suicide increasing so fast? and why are so many women and children committing suicide?'" The Socialists are saying of the rich, "We will enter into their palaces and eat of their abundance;" and the wealthy ones are trembling with fear of them. The sincere Christian alone is undismayed amid the gathering strife.
THE COMING DAY.
By Eliza H. Morton
BY ELIZA H. MORTON.
THIS life is one of strange uncertainty,
A leaf that trembles on a slender twig,
A cloud that hurries o'er the noonday sky,
A reed that bends and breaks before the wind.
The days go on as sparkling waters rush,
And thoughtless, careless, is the heart of man.
But soon a mighty change we'll see, for He
Who holds the ocean in His hand and guides
The planets in their course, forgets no child
Of earth. His care is over all His works.
How strong is God! How sure the Word of Life!
The prophets tell us of a day to come,
Of days—the last, a day of clouds and gloom,
And yet when dawns that day, the current strong
Of worldliness will start to onward flow,
The merry laugh will ring out on the air,
The active brain be planning future work,
The heavy trains be rushing o'er the land,
The bride before the altar stand with smiles
Of love; the festive board be spread and guests
Be thronging to the feast; the skilful hand
Be rearing costly structures, high and grand;
The student with his books be dreaming dreams
Of fame to come; the noise of busy toil
At labor's loom, be heard adown the street.
But hark! a trumpet sounds forth loud and clear,
A mighty quaking of the earth throws down
The buildings high. The railway trains all stop,
No more to move. The mills shut down, no more
To give employ. All earthly trusts dissolve,
The heavens wrinkle backward as a scroll,
The graves give up their dead, and Christ
Appears upon a cloud to vengeance take
On all who know not God. O, awful day!
And yet not thus to those who look for Him,
For they with joy will shout and sing and praise
His holy name, and changed and glorified
Will meet Him in the air, to live for aye.
IS IT LEADING, OR FEEDING?
By H. A. St. John
BY H. A. ST. JOHN.
SOME people, even in the church of Christ, are far more anxious to lead than to feed.
Jesus said to Peter, and His injunctions were intended, undoubtedly, for all the disciples, "Feed My sheep;" "feed My lambs." The followers of Christ are enjoined to "preach the Word," "teach all nations," rightly divide the Word of truth, and give to saint and sinner their portion in due season, to feed the flock. Jesus says, "I am the good Shepherd;" I will lead My sheep into green pastures, and beside still waters. What this man, or that person, shall do, is not your business, "what is that to thee?" "You follow Me, you feed My sheep and lambs; "give ye them to eat." Jesus will do the leading, we may be co-workers with Him in feeding. Jesus alone led His people Israel to the promised land. Deut. 32:12. Jesus alone is leading the true Israel of God.
He will lead them all the way through this dark, dangerous wilderness world, to the promised land. He leads by His light and His truth. Ps. 43:3. And in the world to come the Lamb of God which is in the midst of the throne will continue to eternally feed His redeemed flock, and to "lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rev. 7:17.
It is not a good sign to see a person in the church of Christ more ambitious to lead than to feed. If permitted to lead, very soon such persons will be speaking perverse things, and leading away disciples after themselves. The falling away—the great apostasy—the development of the "man of sin," came about in just that way. Those early apostates, neglecting to feed the flock with the pure words of life, the Word of God, allowed themselves to be led captive by Satan at his will, and then they, in turn, ceasing to love and feed upon the truth, came to love and feed upon unrighteousness, and, as captives themselves, led multitudes of other souls into captivity.
May our constant prayer be, "Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness." Ps. 5:8. "Lead me in Thy truth." Ps. 25:5. "Lead me in a plain path." Ps. 27:11. "Lead me in the way everlasting." Ps. 139:24. "Lead me into the land of uprightness." Ps. 143:10. And if we are thus led, then we may tell others how the Lord is leading us, and how He will lead them also, if they will but listen to His Word. Thus we may be feeders instead of leaders, teaching others how they may find and follow our Leader, who will establish their goings, and order all their ways aright. Let us feed and follow, allowing Jesus to lead all the way.
"He leadeth me! O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me."
UNDERSTANDING.
1. What importance does the Lord attach to understanding?
He says, "With all thy getting get understanding." Prov. 4:7.
An inspired prayer is, "That ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Col. 1:9.
2. Who knows all about wisdom and understanding?
"God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof. . . . He prepared it, yea, and searched it out." Job 28:23-27.
3. Who, then, can give understanding?
"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2:7.
4. What promise is given to those who truly seek for understanding?
"My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Prov. 2:1-6.
5. What does God say that understanding is?
"And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." Job 28:28.
6. Who is said to have a good understanding?
"A good understanding have all they that do His commandments." Ps. 111:10.
"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding." Prov. 14:29.
7. What is the logical effect of true understanding?
"Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law." Ps. 119:34.
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that draweth out understanding." Prov. 3:13, margin.
"Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it." Prov. 16:22.
8. Then what good cause may one have for glorying?
"Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jer. 9:24.
9. What is the consequence of continuing in the way of unbelievers?
"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness [margin, "hardness"] of their heart." Eph. 4:17, 18.
10. What is said of them that do not love understanding?
"A fool hath no delight in understanding." Prov. 18:2.
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Ps. 14:1.
11. What counsel is given to this class?
"Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? . . . Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom; and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart." Prov. 8:1-5.
12. What special direction is given to this end?
"My son, forget not My law; but let thine heart keep My commandments; . . . Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart; so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Prov. 3:1-4.
Christ in All Things
By Canon Westcott
LET the thought of Christ rest on anything about us, great or small, and it will forthwith reflect on the awakened soul some new image of His power and love. Whatever is was made through Him and subsists in Him. —Canon Westcott.
WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?
By Thoro Harris
BY THORO HARRIS.
(All rights reserved.)
In the day when all the kindreds of the earth
Shall before the throne of Justice stand,
When the deep shall yield her hidden treasure,
And the dead arise from sea and land—
Who shall be able to stand
When the King shall name His own?
When the day of hope is flown
And we reap what we have sown,
Who shall be able to stand?
When the mountains and the hills shall disappear,
And the islands of the sea depart;
When the thunders of God's wrath awaken
Bitter mem'ries in each careless heart;
When the loud, despairing cry of myriads lost
Shall ascend from earth's unnumbered host,
Who have passed the bounds of God's forbearance
And have sinned against the Holy Ghost—
Who shall be able to stand
When the King shall name His own?
When the day of hope is flown
And we reap what we have sown,
Who shall be able to stand?
Shall we stifle now the Spirit's kindly voice
And in trespasses and sins lie dead,
While the door of mercy still stands open,
Ere the hope of pard'ning grace is fled?
