"The husband is the Head [Ruler] of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Church." (Eph. v.) "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I [as Head or lord] in the midst of them."(Matt.xviii. Now, do you meet to a human president, or head? If so, you practically deny Christ's name! This did not Philadelphia. That church, in spite of contempt from others, did not deny Christ's name. Oh, dear one, meet with those who meet simply to Jesus in the midst. This was among the good things which the Son of God noted in Pergamos. "Thou holdest fast my name." (Rev. ii.) All sorts of things are said against us for denying the headship of man-in the presence of God!! We are said to be "spiritually proud, disdaining "to be taught by those who know better than our"selves!" We are said "to shut ourselves up from everybody, cherishing the sentiment I-am-holier"than-thou!!" 66 Of course, all this is to be expected from men who hire themselves out for religious work! 6. Such men are called by the Son of God "THEM OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN!" "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan—” "Synagogue" means assembly, and "Satan" means adversary. Those, therefore, who claim and take place and power in the church, (as "heads " leaders of meetings,) acting, as they do, adversely to the power and position of Christ, the Head, are— the synagogue of Satan. They will be found to be "adversaries Father as well of the Son, for or of the "circumcision." The place where Christians meet is with them the "house of God." The First Day of the week is to regarded as holy as the Jewish Sabbath, and for the same reasons. Then we have yearly feasts and fasts with some; and vestments and imitations of tabernacle glory. All these errors are, however, secondary to, and result from, their main position-their great assumption: which is this That they (or such as they) must alone minister in the assemblies of saints. This is a practical denial of the name (or headship) of Christ and the ministry of the Spirit. "They say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie." "SCRIBES, PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES!" and to be called Rabbi, Rabbi. Pretty things! who Your moral progenitors loved Robes, High Places, Your very dress, as most of you walk the streets, would despoil you of them! You glory in your shame! stamps you to be a somebody! a holy one! a favoured of heaven! But you lie! You are an "adversary" of God and His Christ! And (regarding you as a class) you are "The Synagogue of Satan!" 66 A PROFESSION OF ADVERSARIES! Oh, that you would take heed to the words of the Judge of all the earth "? "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lic! behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." Know this, that Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His "word shall never pass away." Says some one— "Such a threat as that can only apply to uncon "He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father "verted men who claim to be teachers and leaders in which hath sent Him." (John vi.) Equally true is it that all such are "adversaries" of the Holy Spirit of God, for while the saints are committed to His personal care, these "adversaries" take the "care of souls," and dreadfully hinder and grieve and vex the Holy Ghost. Thus are they convicted "adversaries" of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost! Oh, what a dreadful charge to lay against mortal men! These "adversaries" speak "great swelling words" of themselves. The Lord says they “SAY THEY ARE JEWS, AND ARE NOT, BUT DO LIE." The thought of the Jew was that he was specially favoured of God as an earthly one. So these will be found to take earthly ground for the Church; their teachings and practices will be found to be deeply coloured with Judaism; they also practically claim to be God's favourite ones on earth. For instance, some will speak of "clergy and lay workers" as answering to "the priests and levites;" others, that "infant baptism" is the counterpart of "the Church. Surely, some believers will not bow "down to others!" Well, when I get home, I feel I could honour in love all who have greatly honoured Jesus, (especially if I have spoken ill of them,) even as far as to casting myself at their feet and embracing them, and confessing how wrong I was. I shall rejoice that they honoured God in one respect in which I did not. Such Now this disparagement of speech is exactly what was done by some of us, and is done by many Christians still, towards those who meet simply in the name of Jesus without any minister! believers are, as of old, a "sect everywhere spoken against." Only press the walk of faith upon a stranger-brother you have incidentally met, and forth comes the exclamation-" Oh, I see! you're one of the Brethren!" Well, this state of things must be reversed. The "day" will declare all things. And then, should I not hasten to honour those who have honoured Jesus? Yes: surely. If Peter act wrongly, the Lord must needs say"Get thee behind me, Adversary!" Why should we feel difficulty, therefore, in admitting that true believers may be associated, while down here, with There is the fact of Satan"? the synagogue before our eyes-That both true believers and mere professors practically deny the Headship of the Master. There will remain, therefore, but one course with both. They shall admit the wrongness of their conduct at the feet of Philadelphia. Those who are on Philadelphian ground at the Lord's coming will doubtless be filled with a sense of their many shortcomings, but among their failings will not be the sin of " denying the name [headship]" of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not that the former [true believers] will bow down at the feet of Philadelphia in the same manner, time, and place, as the unconverted "adversaries." Let this be marked. In the first case, it will be done with joyfulness; in the latter with dismay. Of this let us be very sure: "GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS." (Acts x.) "I will give unto every one of you according to your works." (Rev. ii.) "We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor.v.) "I WILL COME AGAIN!" But Philadelphia's crown is-"I have loved thee!" This assurance is given, not because of the one good thing" loving the appearing" or "keeping the word of Christ's patience." But it is a special word called forth by general correctness "Little strength-kept my word—not denied my name." Oh, that dear ones may be anxious to "hold fast" all three. At one little gathering of saints we know of, it has been very grieving to hear enquiries con tinually "Who's coming next Sunday?" Surely such are not "holding fast" the last of the three, that is, Christ's Headship of the Church, which is His Body, and which He delights to nourish and cherish, by the Spirit with the Word. The Lord's admonition to Philadelphia is- So shall we "abide in His love"—that is, know His love upon us-that is, keep our crown, allowing no man, "by science (knowledge) falsely so-called," to cause us to lose this blessed inward assurance of His love resting upon us as a church. "Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness." Of all the churches it may be said-They are running. The Lord says of that church which is treasuring prize. So run that ye may obtain.... Now they do it to obtain -"keeping "this word: "I have loved Thee!" May we all, in "patience keep our souls"-the "patient waiting for Christ," (2 Thess. iii. 5.) "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim. iv.) "VII.-LET NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN." Paul thus refers, in the above passage, to a future crown for those who love the Lord's appearing. But does not the Lord Jesus Christ refer to a present crown when He says to Philadelphia : “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.' When we are in the glory, men will not be able to touch our "crowns". But the Lord, in this "They which run in a race run ALL, but one receiveth th a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." (1 Cor. ix.) The chaplet about Philadelphia's brow, which faith is conscious of, is indeed blessed. Yes, but it is not a mere chaplet, for it fadeth not away. Oh, the joy through eternity of knowing that the special love of Christ was upon us when we were in our ti state! The final word assuring future blessing (in addition to the present "crown,") is very wonderful; may the Holy Spirit lead us into those amazing as surances ending with-"I will write upon him my new name." And now let us finally read the whole Epistle, the italics showing the parts on which we have been lel out: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and sh teth, and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have s before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou has name. a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee in the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God. and I will write upon him my new name. "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev. iii.) An THE "HOUR OF TRIAL" FURTHER CONSIDERED. A TRUE spiritual proselyte to the Jews' religion was the Ethiopian Eunuch. How carefully treading, we see him, in the way of God's commandments! Distance and duties were not allowed to hinder him from appearing before God for to worship. adopted child-an obedient child-a devout child, we see him, like the good man of the First Psalm, sitting reading in his chariot, "delighting in the law of the Lord, and in His law meditating day and night." "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah vi.) But how conscious of helplessness was he! To Philip's question-"Understandest thou what thou readest?" there comes the almost-pitiful answer"How can I, except some man should guide me?" Ah, the Spirit, though with him, was not yet in him. There was the secret. Regenerate, doubtless, was he; but he was one of those many spiritual ones who were being "gathered together into one," (see John xi. 52,) "baptized by one Spirit into one Body," upon the reception of Christ as "the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." But how should he hear without a preacher ?" And so a preacher was sent. But the truth being received in the love of it, and baptism being administered, does the preacher accompany him to his far-off home? Nothing of the sort. The Spirit catches the preacher away! Oh, what a lesson to preachers of the Gospel! And that lesson is You're no longer wanted. Dear brother in the Lord, Art thou used of the Lord in the conversion of souls? Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; "commend them to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among all them that are sanctified," and leave them to the care of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of Promise. You may, indeed, remain with them-and will do so as long as the Lord shows you that He would have you do so; but then you would meet with them as a "I feel assured that your true desire is to encourage the Lord's dear ones to look forward with increased delight to His Coming. But, dear brother, if you admit of conflict with Satan and his hosts at the Lord's Coming, it must affect and take away from our joy in the prospect of that day.' [Answer. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.' (2 Cor. v.) ["Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (1 John iii.) "But I admit that the Word of the Lord seems plain about Judgment beginning at the House of God, and that the Lord, whispers of His love He will speak louder by some other in love, does judge His people. If we do not listen to the means. Therefore, I take it to be that the Lord deals in judgment with us now, day by day, as we go on our pilgrimage." [Reply. Doubtless there is individual tribulation for individual sin; but this a general trouble at the same time that Jezebel is cast into a bed. If you look at the epistles to the seven churches you will find JUDGMENT always associated with the Lord's coming. In the meantime, the Lord gives space to repent. See Rev. i. 5, 16, 25; iii. 3, 16. "My mistaking the word "tribulation" for the tribulation caused much difficulty. May the dear Lord make His Coming more and more a deep reality to our souls, and that for which we wait with patience and delight. And may the dear Lord preserve us blameless unto his coming, so that we may have boldness and not be ashamed. Believe me to remain your Brother in the Lord, W. J. C. "PS. If the threatened tribulation be confined to those who are in any way found connected with those principies you mention to answer to her), then I must ask-who will be free? who is as characterizing the Woman Jezebel' (which seem quite not more or less in adultery with her?" [Surely you are not, for one! Surely, you are not displacing the Holy Spirit, and looking up to college-taught men, in spite of your knowing it to be wrong! Consider, for a moment, the dreadful state of things around us! Believers go to certain buildings and look up to certain men. By some systems, they have a frequent change of men ; one week, a true believer; the next, an unregenerate man. Now, poor ignorant ones in the midst of this evil who know no better do certainly receive a present injury, and it may be that they will escape future tribulation. But what of those who have been enlightened, but still cleave to "that woman Jezebel "? "He that knew his Lord's will, and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes!" To this, you say, Who will escape, for who does his Lord's will? In the matter under consideration, are there not thousands who are doing their Lord's will - who have forsaken Jezebel, and are gathering to the Lord in the midst? Yes, indeed. You surely do not think that all believers will enter into the presence of the Lord with exactly the same feelings and experience at the moment! Is not such a thought contrary to the tenour of Scripture? Do not the following Scriptures show various shades of experience at the Lord's Coming? Shame at NOT abiding in Him. "Little [Dear] children, Abide in Him, that, when He shall appear we may have confidence, and Nor be ashamed before Him at His Coming." (1 John ii.) You and I may not be in adultery with Jezebel, but if we are found Nor abiding in Him-then inward shame (not outward tribulation) awaits us. Surely this should have a quickening, not saddening effect. Ministerial Confidences removed. "Thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick [the church's lamp or lightbearer, that is, man-minister or teacher] out of his place." (Rev. ii.) Surely this should quicken us to hold only the ministry of the Spirit in the assemblies of the saints. Doctrinal evil unsparingly dealt with by the Lord Himself. "Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them [those who hold the evil doctrines] with the sword of my mouth [the Word, that which "shall judge" us" in the last day."] (Rev. ii.) PERSONAL punishment for continuing in gross CARNAL sin. "Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor. iv.) PERSONAL punishment for continiung in gross SPIRITUAL sin. "Behold, I will cast them that commit adultery with her [Jezebel, the queenly, but worldly one] into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds." (Rev. ii.) The Worldly-minded startled with terror and suffering loss. "Remember how thou hast received, and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou wilt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shall not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Rev. iii.) [May these Scriptures quicken us in walking in "the fear of the Lord," "for our God is a consuming fire." Amen.] "WHATSOEVER things are lovely." (Phil. iv. 8.) Obedience is Lovely. Our JESUS, "was obedient unto death." (Phil. ii. 8.) OBEDIENCE is oft-times difficult-but lovely,-never presented to us without two things accompanying it-grace to enable us to overcome the difficulty, and promise of reward when overcome. Happy soul, that, living within the veil, REALISES these things. For there, there is companionship with HIM who was "obedient unto death," and so shall we be sweetly led to "THINK on these things." ANNOUCNEMENT. Brethren are hereby invited to a meeting for Prayer and Conference upon "the things pertaining to the kingdom of God," to be held (the Lord permitting at 335A, STRAND, on Monday, June 1, (known as Whit-Monday.) The meeting will commence at 10 A.M. and end at about 12.30. The motive which suggested this invitation was the desire to meet, face-to-face, any who take excepBut the Lord's presence being owned, the convener tion to the line of truth put forth in this Journal. desires to leave it all to Him as to what shall be brought forth. "He that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." (John iii.) "HE MADE THE STARS ALSO."-There are many double, triple, and multiple stars. The large star in the binary system in a Lyre is said to cmit eight times as much light as the sun of our system, and to be so distant that its light can only reach us after a period of thirteen years. Many of these double stars present the beautiful phenomenon of contrasted colours; in the two stars composing the system in Caneri, the larger star is yellow, the smaller blue. In g Andromeda, the larger is crimson, the smaller a beautiful green. e Cassiopieæ discloses a combination of a large white star, and a small one of a purple colour. In a Leonis, b Orionis, and a Serpentis, the large star is white and the small bluish. In 59 Andromeda the two stars are of a bluish colour, and equal in size; the same occurs in the star d Serpentis. There are also double, triple, quadruple, sextuple, and multiple stars! In the Unicorn's Head is a multiple star, consisting of one star with about twelve round it! The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament showeth His handiwork!"-the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, "without whom was not anything made that was made!" RECEIVED." Images in the Windows of Churches; Protest against Them." By G. R. C. Much labour lost, as must be all attempts to suppress the working of leaven! Evil must work-and work-and cannot be kept down. Even if pollution is banked-in for a time, it will soon overflow again. Nothing less will do than protesting against the whole system as utterly contrary to Scripture-" there is no soundness in it." One sighs over such a book-" Ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth." Consider the shameful spectacle before the world at this moment-The Worldly Professing Woman screaming with terror at the threatened withdrawal of the State-arm! BREAD LORD'S DEA A Series of Papers on the Commemoratin of the DEATH. One Penny. BAPTISM, its PLACE and MEANING, considered in the light of Scripture only To which is added "Remarks on the meaning of the Greek words Bapto and Baptizo." Price 1d. (12 copies, Is. post free. UNFOLDINGS OF THE WORD OF TRUTH.-Being selected con tributions to the monthly journal "Precious Truth." 1s. Cloth. To facilitate tre obtaining of PRECIOUS TRUTH, packets will be sent post free to any part of the United Kingdom, by remitting, in advance, as follows: Iwo copies for 2d., Five for 3d., Nine for 5d. Send Stamps. A remittance of 18 postage stamps will secure the regular transmission of each number, as issued, for 12 months- that is, if the Lord will. Wherever possible, we advise friends to procure "Precious Truth" through a bookseller, as the safest course. When ordered through the Post, address-"Proprietor of Precious Truth, 335, Strand, London, WC." or one of the Publishers. Vol. I. for 1865-6-7 now ready, cloth lettered, 38. Back Numbers in the form of Yearly Parts, can still be had. PART I. for 1865, 6d. PARTS II. and III. for 1866 AND 1867, 8d. each. Published for the Proprietor, by J. B. BATEMAN, 22, Paternoster-row, entrance in Ivy-lane. SMART & ALLEN, 2, Londonhouse-yard, Paternoster Row. West End-HEY WOOD & Co., 335, Strand, London, WC. Printed by JouN EVANS, 335a, Strand London. (Rev. ii.) "He that hath an Ear to Hear, let Him Hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches." Published by J. B. BATEMAN, 22, Paternoster Row, and SMART & ALLEN, 2, Londonhouse-yard, Paternoster-row. WITH the present number, this publication is suspended. For this course our readers will have been in a measure prepared by our occasional testimony that the saints ought to read nothing but the Word of God and to hold the need of no other Teacher than the Spirit of God. In taking this course, therefore, we trust we are influenced by that Word "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Indeed, the existence of this publication was practically inconsistent with our testimony, for while we were testifying that the Spirit is the only Expositor of the Word, our publication was circulating amongst the saints, to the great danger of their really seeking the Spirit's teachings only. An apostle could write to the Church of God-and an apostle only. 1. Printing produces confusion, for supposing that which we put forth is true, yet, if the Holy Spirit lead us further to-morrow, we shall then be glad to recal what we have said for something which is still nearer the full truth. 2. Printing is also a snare to the writer; for if what we print is not true, yet, having said it, we shall be in danger of contending for it with our natural mind rather than accept the humiliation of owning ourselves wrong. We are therefore pressed to the conclusion that the only God-honouring, and therefore the best course, every way, is for the saints to fall back upon Scriptural simplicity and the provisions of God's grace. And what are they? "Holding the HEAD," [the Lord the Ruler of the meeting,] (Col.) Dropping, therefore, all the devices of man-(as though God's ways could be improved upon!)-let us desire both in private and when met together, to be led of the SPIRIT into all truth, by the WRITTEN WORD, sitting at JESUS' feet. In proportion to our emptiness of self and our subjection of soul to the Holy Spirit (leading us to avoid pride and dogmatism) shall we receive light - Divine light. Under such circumstances, should any crude statement be made, or false thought be put forth, the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, may rebut it with the Word. Oh, the confusion and weakness that are all around us, like the troubled sea! But, the Spirit of God is moving on the face of the waters. And what followed the Spirit's moving on the face of the waters ?-First, Light; then Liberty, Separation, Usefulness, Beauty, Dominion, and Glory to God. Lecturing or sermonizing is of man-the Press is of man-they are therefore (when applied spiritually) dishonouring to God and dangerous to souls. May we all henceforth be endued with grace to treat that which is of man, as a dear brother treated a number of PRECIOUS TRUTH when it was put into his hand. Laying it down, he said : "Thank you; I shall be able to read it when I have finished with the Scriptures." • By "the Press" is meant Journalism and Authorship appropriating the things of the Spirit of God. We do not refer to the simple multiplication of copies of the Word. Nor are tracts for the unconverted here regarded: this latter is a question for individual conscience. |