The Presence of the Lord with His People, and its Effect
The Lord has said, "Behold, I am with you all the days, until the completion of the age", Matthew 28:20. It becomes us to ascertain from Scripture the way in which He declares this.
In the broken-up state of the church, and the varied divisions, there is little or no demonstration of His being with us. Yet surely His being with us would be in ...read
Article
The Quietness of Communion
SERVING the Lord in order to be happier in Him tends to legality. The work done is the source of the happiness and not Christ Himself. In John 14.; I learn what Christ is to me, and there is no service enjoined beyond obedience, which is the proof of love. If I love, I obey. Mary Magdalene is an example to me of one whose heart was so true to Chris ...read
Sermon
The Resurrection
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid h ...read
Article
The Secret of our Strength
"SKIN for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life". According as anything approaches in value to one's life, so is it tenaciously grasped and persistently retained. The sure evidence that the truth we have learned is of real value to us is the tenacity and inviolability with which we hold to it. If I believe it is the mind of God r ...read
Article
The Servant and the Truth for the Last Time
When the ruin of a beautiful order has occurred - when the ship, once perfectly trimmed, has been strained and dismasted - it is evident that all true hands on board have a very different service, and submit to a very modified order, to that at first appointed. It would be vain or foolish for anyone on board to suppose that because they had not sun ...read
Article
The Snare of a Step in the Right Direction
WHEN the conscience is in exercise, there is great need that it should not be checked or quieted by partial action, or by imperfect intelligence. The conscience of a saint is awakened by the Spirit of God to seek relief from the presence of evil around. This is a true, healthy purpose, and most blessed and effective when carried out according to th ...read
Letter
The Testimony of the Church
I see nothing of any avail now but well-trimmed lamps - going forth to meet the Bridegroom.
It was the devotedness, not the intelligence of the earlier brethren which awakened inquiry at the first.
Now the effort has been to persuade souls by much light on scripture, and this even when effectual produces a very different type of testimony fro ...read
Article
There Must be Heresies
TO the question, Why is evil permitted? I believe the true answer is, That the greater good may be declared. It is very interesting to note that for every evil expressed there is a good manifested to supersede it. That is, the one great purpose with God is to bring out the good. Hence, whenever evil intrudes and forces its way, He makes this inroad ...read
Article
Truth Revived in Late Years
THE TRUTH REVIVED IN LATE YEARS AND THE OPPOSITION TO IT
The doctrine of the justification by faith was revived to the church in Luther's day, and in late years two great truths have also been revived; one, that the Holy Spirit dwells on earth; the other, that the saints are the body of Christ here, baptised by one Spirit into one body, of which ...read
Sermon
Union with Christ and the Result
The Church, the Body of Christ
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery:but I speak concerning Christ and the church". Ephesians 5:30-32.
THE apostle here refers to what took ...read
Article
Visible Means Hinder Faith
To attempt to do anything without either visible means, or faith in Him who is invisible, is foolish and uncomely.
The presence and use of visible means satisfy and assure the natural mind, and therefore self-reliance, however you may try to silence it, is acquired from the possession of means. It is plain that nothing can be done without one or ...read
Article
What is a Laodicean?
Revelation 3: 14-22
It is very important for us to understand what is the state of things in the church; and when I say "church" I mean the whole house of God, not the real thing, the body of Christ, but that which will be spued out of the Lord's mouth when He comes. It is very important for us who are on the verge of this, if not quite in it, ...read
Article
What is a Philadelphian?
The apostle John sees the assembly on earth in seven phases, all existing at the time; but also each phase in succession becoming the characteristic one for the time; the four last remaining till the coming of the Lord, Philadelphia is one of these; as Thyatira sets forth Romanism, and Sardis the reformed church, so-called, under every denomination ...read
Article
What is Tempting the Spirit of the Lord?
THE evil first occurring in the church was not only the most vicious, but because the chief, it is one that is ever recurring, Satan ever seeking an opportunity to do the worst. When we know the manner and intent of this chief evil, we are watchful and prepared in faith to resist it. The evil, in whatever form it may show itself, has the one unifor ...read
Article
Ye are My Friends
THE Lord says to His disciples, "I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you," John 15:15. The evidence or mark, then, of being His friend, and not merely a servant, is that I know what my Lord does, and that I have ...read
J.B. Stoney