Sin, like a river,
begins in a quiet spring,
but ends
in a tumultuous sea.
"Evil will always overcome good, unless it is attacked and destroyed. We must destroy evil habits, and separate ourselves from evil company, if we do not want to be affected by these things. Evil habits are like bad fruit. Just as one rotten apple will affect the good fruit surrounding it, until the whole case is ruined, so a few evil thoughts, and bad company, if encouraged, will slowly alter our characters. First we begin to excuse things we know are wrong, then we profess to see no harm in them, and finally we are found doing them." Story of the Bible, volume 5, page 61
I long to hear that signal gun of that coming strife, which shall bring down Christ from the right hand of power to mingle in the combat, with Israel as his battle axe, and Judah for his goodly horse in the battle. Had his Kingdom belonged to the Kosmos, or constitution of things, contemporary with Pontius Pilate, his servants would have fought that should not have been delivered to the Jews. It belongs to the coming crisis looming ahead- to the Kosmos represented by Nebuchadnezzer's image standing upon his feet "in the latter days." Then his servants, Israel and the saints, will fight, and "break in pieces" the oppressor, "because the Lord is with them," in person as well as power. The idea, therefore, of war being of anti- christian character in the abstract is a mere notion. The righteous dead who have been murdered by the Sin Power cannot be avenged without it; not can the Kingdom of Christ, which is the medium of peace to the world, be established in the earth if arbitration be restored to instead of war .
-J.Thomas
Logos 1965
pg 120
Faithful saints of all ages have found that contending for the Gospel is looked upon by the ignorant and faithless as ‘uncharitable,' ‘harsh' and ‘bitter.' But every faithful saint will be actively engaged in this work despite the complaints of these pious sinners. You cannot simply ‘build up' and ‘teach the truth' without ‘casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.' Building up and casting down are the Divinely ordained procedures for enlightening men. The one is as essential as the other. Paul was called a ‘pestilent fellow' because he would not compromise with the errorists of his day. We would do well to pattern our lives after the example of our Master's life: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work ." The servant is not above his master.
The Christadelphian mind
that is constantly centered around
the "wisdom from above"
is certain to in,
actions,
life
and character -
exhibit symptoms of that which has been learnt.
Logos vol.1
"Ye believe in God."
There is no greater balm to the mind than this.
Only those who really believe, know the power of it.
It is the feeling expressed in Ps. 16:
"I have set Yahweh always before me. Therefore I will not be moved."
A full sense of the fact that all creation subsists in Him-
that it has been contrived by His wisdom and upheld by His power
- and that His very presence fills the whole of it
- that He is not far away from every one of us
- will fully fortify the mental man in all the fluctuating condition of our vain life....
So take courage in all circumstances.
Life as it is presently constituted will not last for ever.
It is but a "vapor that appeareth for a little time and than vanishes away."
But the things in Christ Jesus to which we have been called,
are the eternal realities of existence.
And the signs indicate that the consummation is near at hand.
Therefore continue to believe in God,
and take courage:
"The Lord is at hand."
-Logos 1974
We are all moving on a great march,
a vaster assembly than ever moved through the wilderness of old,
and when we stand revealed to Him,
-and He to us,
-and we to each other -
we shall look back with unspeakable sorrow
at the jars,
-and the discords,
- and the uncharities of this mortal life;
and for every sweet kindness,
-for every loving helpfulness,
-for every patience,
and for every self-denial
or self sacrifice,
we shall lift up thanks to Almighty God.
-R.R.
Once and for all let me say -
I have no controversy with persons.
It is with doctrine and principles,
in my view, destructive to the Truth,
and not with men that I am at war.
-John Thomas
Logos 1993
There is nothing more stringently forbidden
by the law of God,
nothing more blighting to friendship,
and nothing more common among men
than backbiting,
speaking evil of people behind their backs.
-R.R.
Do what is right; be valiant for the Truth;
teach it without compromise,
and all lovers of the Truth will approve you.
For all others you need not care a rush--John Thomas
The character we are required to form
That we may realize the
"One hope of our calling"
Must be inspirited by the Truth.
That is, the Law of the Lord must dwell in us,
With the courageous determination to obey it,
Or live in all conformity to it,
And to contend earnestly for it.
At all hazards,
God must be in all our thoughts,
And our actions must be shaped with a view
To His approbation alone.
-J.T.
Character, not Opinions
"...the interval between believing the Gospel and being baptized, and our departure hence, must be occupied in forming our characters after the model of Jesus; ‘who is the exact representation of the character of God,' and therefore, the very best after which we can aspire. Character and not opinions will be the test of our admission into the Kingdom of God; let us form, then, such a character as we have delineated in the Lamb's Book of Life—the New testament; and be assured, whether our names be repudiated by our contemporaries, or ourselves persecuted to the deprivation of the means of subsistence, we shall be invested with incorruptible life, and crowned with glory and honor in the future age. " ( John Thomas, The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come , 1860, p. 43)
Find if you can,
any ray of hope, any door of escape
for this miserable world,
save in the promises made to the Jewish nation,
and to the gentiles through and after them,
and in the coming of the Lord,
and in his universal reign and kingdom.
For which, let your souls be stirred up to pray most fervently,
while you wait most patiently,
and long most anxiously,
for the day of the glorious coming of this kingdom,
when God's will shall be done as it is in heaven
-J.T.
Logos 1960
Distresses and affliction
are a necessary part of the training
which is to fit us for a place in the perfect and abiding society of the future age.
By them, we become wiser and better and richer.
The process is painful, but the end is sweetness.
-R.R.
Logos 1986
Vilification
has been a well used implement in the hands of the malice.
Paul had his share of the experience.
He speaks of "evil report and good report"
as being alike his experience.
Why should we think it strange
if we have to taste the same?
-R.R.
The Lord will judge all presently. Meanwhile, some "men's sins are open beforehand to judgment." As one remarked the other day, "There are helpers and yelpers," and as to which is which, it is not what people claim to be, but what they are in fact as experienced by others, that settles the question. A tree is known by its fruits. The disaffected try to paint us black. We wipe off the pitch. They cannot object to this. If we tried to put it on others, they might complain: but this we have never done, and will not. We leave them in the Lord's hands. —R.R. (1897)
"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house:
Thy children like olive plants round about thy table..."
The faithful,
throughout the ages,
have valued their children as blessings from Yahweh,
to complement their own lives,
and provide a continuing testimony to Yahweh's Truth
from one generation to another.
Jacob touchingly referred to his offspring as
"the children which God hath graciously given thy servant."
Let us emulate his example.
Our children need our warm love,
as well as the disciplinary education in the Truth.
By this means,
the happy state in Psalm 128
will be manifested within our homes.
"...Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel."
Uncle -J. Ullman
"They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them." (Proverbs 28:4) "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded." (Proverbs 13:13) "My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words." (Psalm 119:139)
If what we teach cannot be demonstrated from the Word, then call it by what name you please, it matters not to us; but if what we teach be proved to be the teaching of God by Moses, the Prophets, Jesus, and the apostles, then call it Thomasism at your peril; unless by Thomasism you mean a system of doctrine taught by the apostles John and Thomas: but even then you might select for it a more appropriate term. But if this be not your meaning, then call God's system of truth by our name at your peril. You have nothing to fear from us, who, all told, are but a 'little flock' — (Luke 12:32). The fearful looking for of judgment contemplates the indignation of Him who magnifies His truth above all His name. — Psalm 138:2. (Bro. John Thomas, The Herald , 1856)
A brother that seeks to be a good teacher must first become a good student. "he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" -- anonymous
"When men advise us 'not carry any man's banner' we understand by experience that brethren who usually say this mean to say, 'do not carry any man's banner... except mine.' -- anonymous
"Blessed be Yahweh which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman,
that his name may be famous in Israel."
Ruth 4:14
When we contemplate the blessings we have accrued to us through Christ,
and the hopelessness state outside of him,
how completely we are enabled to enter into the joy
of Naomi as expressed in this verse.
Our daily prayers should ascend into heaven that He hath
"not left us this day without a redeemer."
We are greatly privileged, greatly blessed,
and we need to learn to express our heartfelt thanks
in words of appreciation to Him who has made it possible.
Naomi's joy took her to the throne of grace;
let ours do likewise.
Let us express our pleasure, our happiness,
in our association with our Lord,
And may His name be famous in Israel,
as it ultimately will be.
Uncle H.P. Ruth Expositor Many will discover -
that they have been wasting their time and hurting their brethren
by bootless and embittering controversy
instead of redeeming the evil days by the consolations of the Truth.
They will see too late that instead of imbibing the sincere milk of the word,
they have been feeding on ashes;
that instead of dispensing a portion of meat to the household in due season,
they have been giving them gall and vinegar;
that instead of strengthening the hands of fellow-laborers,
they have been casting stumbling-blocks in the paths of the weak,
and discouraging the hearts of the strong;
that instead of rejoicing in the Lord,
they have been fretting their souls with barren contentions;
that instead of filling up a good account with works of humility and mercy and faith,
they have been sowing a harvest of envy and strife and every evil fruit;
that instead of helping to purify a peculiar people,
zealous of good works,
their influence has only been mischievous,
and that continually -- obstructing the work of the Lord,
pulling down work already done
and throwing clouds and darkness over the beacon
intended to guide the feet of the stranger to life eternal.
Let us aim to be out of the ranks of this number,
that the Lord at his coming,
may approve our faithful ness in small things
and give us higher work to do.
-- R. Robert, Logos, v. 27, p. 97
Man is for strength, judgment and achievement;
Woman is for grace, sympathy and ministration.
Between them they form a beautiful unit:
"Heirs together of the grace of life."
-R.R.
The Bible Companion -
is a bond of fellowship among brethren and sisters around the world.
All who use it are within the space of twenty-four hours,
reading the same words,
guided into the same channels of holy thought,
moved in ways which can find expression in related prayer,
made strong before the throne of grace because they speak as one.
- taken from
Selah
God created the brain-
to be the thinking substance of the body.
It is governed by that which either
illuminates or stimulates it...
Logos 1993
Without the daily reading of the scriptures,
and meditation thereon,
there is no chance of success in the endeavor to
put on the new man.
There is so much in us by nature to hinder and oppose the work,
that we shall certainly be defeated
if we do not use amply the aid within our reach
in this life long struggle -
-J. Roberts
Three - fourths of the popular novels of the day
enfeeble the intellect,
impoverish the imagination,
vulgarize the taste and style,
give false or distorted views of life,
and human nature, and,
- which is worst of all,
waste that precious time
which should be given to
solid mental improvement.
Logos vol. 1
Our present life is the seed-time of an eternal harvest.
As we sow now, we shall reap at the coming of the Lord.
To reap as we sow is the postulate of moral responsibility.
It asserts, in measure, that
we are the masters of our own destinies.
It teaches that while God has determined the future of the saints,
our participation therein will be governed by our present independent actions.
Our destinies depend on our present choice..
-HPM
Logos 1984
Our pioneers
did not possess the material means available today,
nor the help of large communities -
but because faith dominated their activites,
they did good in laying a sound foundation
upon which we have been able to build.
Let us never forsake that foundation.
-Logos 1993
Spiritual preparedness
for the Lord's coming is not a thing to be hurried up in a moment.
It is a state reached by a process of growth
and that process is indicated by Peter, when he says,
"As newborn babes
desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby."
R.R.-
Logos 1994
We belong to the land promised to Abraham and his Seed,
and to the Kingdom to be established upon it.
The flesh is nothing.
According to this we are Gentiles of this or that country.
What are their questions and ambitions to us?
their "patriotism" is the selfishness and superstition of the flesh,
and all resolves itself into the love of goods,
chattels and effects,
vested interests, and cerebral magnetism.
they are zealous for what they feel.
there was none of what Satan terms
"patriotism"
in Jesus and his apostles, who are our example.
-J. Thomas
Logos 1974
His meat and drink was to do the will of his Father in heaven-
This is a healthy diet for all.
-J.T.
Logos 1960
A dumb or vocal religion: Which shall it be?
David says: "I will speak!"
What do we say? Too often we resolve that it is not the time for speech, and remain silent.
But how far are we guilty of keeping silence on the most vital and sublime of all subject -
the divine testimonies?
Are we not custodians of them today?
Do we not understand that which Yahweh has recorded concerning
pardon, purity, and peace of humanity?
Possessing this knowledge, are we not bound,
by the most powerful considerations, to communicate all we know,
and to set forth God's testimonies before men?
The difference between a dumb religion and a speaking one,
is the difference between a dead ecclesia and a living one.
Living men must speak, sincerity must manifest itself;
earnestness cannot be dumb.
If we neglect the opportunity of speaking the right word in season,
may we not be guilty of destryoing the destiny of an individual??
The matter of silence or speech in the things of the Truth,
therefore, becomes a test question,
by which we may determine the reality of our spiritual condition .
"I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed."
Psa. 119:46
-HPM
Logos 1986
Everybody does it.
This is a common apology for doubtful ways.
Sinners take courage from sinners, and when there are many of them,
the bands of iniquity are strong.
But, numbers do not alter principles.
Though hand join hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.
The transgressors were numerous at the Flood; and again in the wilderness under Moses;
and again, under Jerusalem in the days of Christ.
And they are in the overwhelming ascendant at this closing hour of the Gentile times.
Let us not be deceived by their numbers. It is their destiny to "fall,"
and the righteous shall "see it," as they have repeatedly done in the past.
-R.R.
Logos 1958
page 142
Those who do not read...
cannot know the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Those who read and do not reflect upon what they read-
are little better off.
Under the law, the clean animals were those which chewed the cud-
those which in zoological language are called ruminant animals,
which not only take food,
but afterwards bring it up again for re-mastication,
deriving additional pleasure and enjoyment and nutrition from the process.
-R.R.
Logogs 1959
The elegant tongue of even angelic oratory
Paul teaches us to despise when divorced
from the ways of righteousness and truth.
We implore true men to take care -
A flattering tongue is powerful to lead men into ways of destruction.
-R.R.
Logos 1963
If a man neglect the reading of the Scriptures...or if he only atttend to it in an occasional manner, his spiritual life will fade, and his mind will be gradually, but certainly, leavened with the deceptive principles around him. -R.R. Logos 1963
Let us not forget that our troubles have a purpose. They are the fruitful seeds of future glory for Christs brethren.. They are blessings in disguise. They are like early processes of the garden, when the soil is broken up and weeded in order that the fair flowers may at length adorn it. They are the medicine of our convalescene, the drudgery of our education, without which we can never be really healthy or happy, fit for the kingdom or qualified to bring forth fruit that will glorify the Lord. Logos 1975
The cause of Christ
is the cause of honor, of love, of integrity, of justice, of goodness, and all excellence.
It is the cause of everything that is morally beautiful, and pure minded, and noble and lofty;
and to these things we have to rise.
We must attain them, or be left in the valley of death.
Logos 1975
A man or a woman is worth little as a companion, either for wisdom or sympathy, who has not seen trouble. Those belivers "living in pleasure are dead while they live." Having a name to live, they are dead; they are not awake to the great dread realities of existence that are in God. If God loves, He will draw them into the furnace someway. -R.R. Logos 1975
We cannot avoid a certain amount of anxiety in these times of trouble
and difficulty, but let it be tempered with a full assurance of faith that God has spoken words of comfort
to us concerning these very times in which we live. the Prophets, the Psalms, the Gospels, the Epistles,
as well as the Apocalypse constantly refer to them, and the burden of their message is surely
summed up for us by the Lord in the well-known words,
"When these things begin to come to pass,
then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Logos
Oct. 1975
The young are quick to observe and are very imitative; they pin their faith to what father and mother do. How many are the examples of good and bad parentage recorded in God's Word for our leaning. Let us heed our obligations in this matter. Logos November 1969 pg 60
The characteristics of a true Christadelphian
are
"The obedience of faith" and a walk "worthy of God"; in other words,
He first understands the things of the Kingdom of God and Name of Jesus Christ;
Secondly, he believes what he understands, and loves what he believes above every other thing;
Thirdly, his "faith working by love" causes him to be immersed into the Divine Name;
Fourthly, he walks in the Truth, and is careful to do nothing to it's injury;
And fifthly, he will not fellowship those who do not believe and do.
J. Thomas
Logos November 1965
pg 100
The Lord has not yet come; and we are to continue "till He come,"unmoved by the instabilities everywhere manifesting themselves around us. The times are perilous for such as "have no root in themselves," and even for those whose feet are on track there is danger. Let us be on our guard. -R.R. Logos December 1965 pg 132
If our tribulations are many and heavy...
we must remember that our privileges are correspondingly numerous and great. We are liable to undervalue our privileges, and to exalt our troubles "above measure." A just estimate of our standing in Christ will show us that the sufferings incidental to the present form of service are not to be compared with the "riches of His grace" in whom we stand, and the "eternal weight of glory" to which we are called by the Gospel.
Logos
Oct. 1969
It is not the number of years a brother has been in the Truth that counts, but the example he is to others.
Logos Oct. 1965
pg 56
God's judgments are invariably accompanied by merciful kindness. When the flood was brought to destroy every living thing, Noah and his family were the subjects of divine care. God's beneficence was again shown in the case of Lot. The righteous are never lost sight of. When God punished the Canaanites He had borne with them for 400 years, and this exempted faithful Rahab from the wholesale slaughter that was inflicted. God is terrible in His anger, but equally kind to those who fear him- Logos Oct. 1965 pg 41
They are unfaithful to the doctrine of Christ who from any motive of personal interest would weaken the point of the doctrine, or soften it for the gratification of their natural feelings, or for fear of hurting the feelings of the enemy, and so affecting their popularity with him. bro. Thomas Logos 1965 pg 32
To show patience in tribulation will not only benefit ourselves but those who may be watching us. Christ's approval will also be earned, for he knows that apart from patiently borne tribulation his disciples will never attain to the Kingdom (Acts 14:22). Logos 1965 pg 22
The world's thinking is the "Thinking of the flesh," unenlightened by the teaching of God in the Scriptures. When the popular mind, expressed through its leading spirits, undertakes the delineation of the future, its vaticinations are sure to be false, because the people's thoughts are not God's thoughts, nor their ways. bro. Thomas Logos 1965 page 13
A man of unsprinkled heart, and of an unsanctified disposition, whose head is full of theory but his heart is untouched, though dipped with all the parade and circumstance of speech, prayer, baptistry and song, is in the predicament of the Jew who would bathe himself on the seventh day without having been previously sprinkled with water of separation on the third. He would be cut off from Israel. Logos March 1966 page 226
"The fear of man will keep a man straight in many things; but in times of temptation - when the eye of man has no bearing; when a man is left only to the power if his own heart - if the fear of God is not there, he will go wrong and depart from wisdom to his destruction. To "fear God and do His commandments" is Solomon's summary of the whole duty of man - R.R.
