MEDITATIONS NO .sx 87 .sx Dr. Thomas and the Scriptures .sx DR. THOMAS was a firm believer in the divinity and infallibility of the Scriptures , and so were the brethren , who , in the early days caused the truth to flourish ( see " Christadelphian" , 1904 , pp .sx 387 , 388) .sx Our duty is to proceed on the same lines , and not budge for friend or foe .sx The suggestion that we should broaden our basis of fellowship so as to admit uncertain minds is not new .sx What brother , ROBERTS wrote in 1885 , in regard to this plea , is applicable now - " The readiness to fellowship passive believers of a lie , while willing to withdraw from open teachers of it , is also a feature of the situation barring the way to agreement .sx Peace on such terms would be to consent to the handling of the Word of God deceitfully .sx The children of light have nothing to do with the reservations of darkness .sx Far better accept the company of a few on a sound foundation of truth and peace than preserve a numerous fellowship in which the leaven of corruption is at work .sx " A Divine Invitation .sx GOD invites the saints , not the alien , to offer praise " Sing unto the Lord , all ye saints " " Let the saints .sx .. sing " ( Psa .sx xxx .sx 4 ; cxlix .sx 5 ; Eph .sx v. 19 , 20 ; Col .sx iii .sx 16) .sx The allusions in the Psalms to universal praise refer , as a careful perusal of their respective contexts will show , not to the present but to the future , when all families will have been joined to the Lord ( Psa .sx lxviii .sx 32 ; lxvii .sx 4 ; lxvi .sx 4) .sx Praise , like the sacrifices of the law , must be offered in God's way , and that way now is through Christ , the beloved of God ( Heb .sx xiii .sx 15) .sx Let those who wish to be further assured on this important doctrine study Eureka , Vol. II .sx pp .sx 350-362 and 597-602 .sx Some further remarks by the Doctor on this subject will be found in the Herald , Vol. IX pp .sx 132 , 133 ; also by brother Roberts , in the Christadelphian , Vol. XXIII , p. 280 , and in his Law of Moses , pp .sx 186 , 187 .sx Among the many charges brought against Israel's religious instructors were that they " put no difference betwen the holy and profane " ( Ezek .sx xxii 26 ; Lev .sx x. 10 ) , and that they allowed " strangers , uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh , " to enter the sanctuary ( Ezek .sx xliv .sx 7) .sx What a solemn lesson is here for Israel after the Spirit .sx The Church of Christ is now the temple of God ( I Tim .sx iii .sx 15 ) , and the Church likewise forms the antitypical priesthood to officiate therein ( I Peter ii .sx 5) .sx Let the true priests take care !sx God is very jealous in regard to His appointments we think of the punishment of Nadab and Abihu ( Lev .sx x. ) , of Korah ( Num .sx xvi .sx ) , of Uzzah ( 2 Sam .sx vi .sx ) ; and of Uzziah ( 2 Chron .sx xxvi) .sx Let us keep close to the divine instructions .sx What is Faith ?sx FAITH is an unqualified belief in the word of God a complete surrender to whatever He may communicate or command .sx Such faith was exemplified by Abraham the father of the faithful .sx By faith he left , at God's bidding , his country , his kindred , and his father's house , not knowing whither he would be led .sx He believed the word of the Lord that he should have a son , when to all appearances it was an impossible thing .sx He withheld not his son from death , although the fulfilment of the divine promises seemed to depend on the son's existence .sx And at last , he closed his eyes in death in full assurance that a resurrection would bring to him all that God had covenanted to bestow .sx Those who follow in the footsteps of Abraham should grasp the ground of his confidence , which lay in the realization that God is all-wise , all-powerful , and faithful that He can and will perform all that He has said .sx Let those of us who are weak in faith read again and again the life of the patriarch , and the New Testament comments thereon .sx An Israelite Indeed .sx JEREMIAH'S lot was , indeed , cast in unpleasant places .sx But what endurance what life-long devotion he exhibited !sx Those who are given to murmuring as soon as the even tenor of their way is ruffled , and others too , for the matter of that , would do well to study particularly the life of this exemplary man .sx Who has trials that reach beyond the limits of Jeremiah's ?sx Have we black looks from enemies false accusations bitter taunts deprivations and physical sufferings ?sx Manifold were those which Jeremiah had to experience .sx Truly he was an example of " suffering affliction and of patience .sx " To an extent , the position of the prophet and that of twentieth-century saints in identical ; both are the messengers and witnesses of God ; both fulfil their mission in the midst of a superstitious , immoral , proud , cruel , godless people .sx Do we display Jeremiah's faithfulness ?sx Are we fearless in making known the whole counsel of God ?sx Men of the prophet's stamp do not sacrifice the Truth for popularity , for ease , or for fear of evil consequences , though the latter may involve the horrors of a dungeon or even death itself .sx What animated Jeremiah ?sx The hope of Israel .sx It was in this that his comfort lay comfort which will surely find its sequel in " that day of sweet surprise .sx " Let the mind picture the occasion .sx Jeremiah in the Kingdom of God and his adversaries cast out .sx Christ the Avenging Judge present to justify the righteous and to punish the wicked .sx What glory !sx What shame !sx Let us emulate Jeremiah , and take to heart his words , " It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord " .sx A. T. J. .sx THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT .sx 1 COR .sx XII .sx WE should make a mistake if we supposed the chapter on Spirit-gifts had no instruction for us , because our circumstances happen to be different in this particular .sx In the first place , it is a matter of immensely valuable information to be in possession of such an otherwise impossible insight into the most elaborate and diversified operations of the Spirit on record .sx And especially so in the light of the fact , that what we have seen here was but an " earnest , " and foretaste of the powers of the age to come .sx The knowledge of these things enables us to realise more vividly and richly the still larger place the Spirit will occupy in the arrangements of the kingdom of God , when Spirit-perfected apostles and prophets shall take charge of the affairs of universal man .sx Pending this future resumption of the Spirit's visible operations amongst men , we for the present learn the useful lessons of mutual co-operation in a common service to Christ ; and the necessity of the completest sympathy between all parts of the " one body , " accompanied by such wise and orderly arrangements as may be best calculated , in our day , to promote the edification of the brethren , and the general prosperity of the truth .sx We are much instructed in " these necessary things " by the chapter before us .sx So , whilst not ( like some ) laying claim to gifts which we don't possess ; nor bestowing upon ourselves the names by which the existence and possession of these gifts in the first century was signified which in our case would be a mere empty use of words ; we seek rather to turn to the best account the principles illustrated in the apostolic arrangements , and the results secured to us in the preservation of the Spirit's counsels doing which , we cannot fail both to grow in grace , and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour , Jesus Christ .sx This is made plain by the character of the next chapter , which shows us love as so essential a principle in the truth's service , that without it even the best gifts of the Spirit are as nothing .sx Here we are told that while ,prophecies shall fail , tongues shall cease , and the gift of knowledge shall vanish away ; faith , hope , and love shall abide .sx And we find it exactly as the Spirit speaking by Paul said it would be the various gifts of the Spirit have all disappeared from the scene , but the " three ruling principles of the Spirit are still the same abiding realities of twentieth century work for Christ as they were in the first .sx Of these the Apostle tells us that love is " the greatest .sx " Here we have quite a study in a single sentence .sx And yet it is but the same conclusion , a little more strikingly stated , as that which finds expression in the words , " love is the fulfilling of the law .sx " Love is the perfection of all law , whether human or divine .sx Here we have a whole chapter devoted to the exposition of love .sx It is the essence of all goodness possible to human experience .sx What works are to faith , love is to the .sx whole circle of divine virtues .sx It is the " bond of perfection , " securing the unity of the whole , and the effectual working of every separate part .sx Nothing could be more simple , practical or concise than these definitions .sx of love .sx They leave nothing to be desired they cover the entire .sx ground of faith's service .sx If faith without works is dead , much more faith .sx without love , from which all works of faith derive the glowing .sx stimulus that makes them also " labours of love .sx " Love is a thing that knows no artificial restrictions , and no defeat .sx " Many waters cannot .sx quench it , neither can the floods drown it .sx " It is immortal ; it will never .sx cease to be true that " God is love ; " and all His true and finally .sx immortalised children will always be distinguished by this perfection .sx of virtues ; and which even now imparts life and radiance to the whole .sx realm of fraternal service .sx Without it a brother or sister is only like so .sx cold dead clay , or ( to use another comparison ) like a polished .sx grate , on a cold winter's day , with no fire in it .sx Love's principal delight is with the truth in this it rejoices with .sx joy unspeakable .sx All the rest of its works are like planets circling .sx round the central sun .sx It is not inflated ; it is no boaster ; it is not easily subject to provocation ; it is not self-seeking ; it is not rudely behaved ; .sx is not unbelieving and evil-disposed ; it does not give up the ghost .sx every few years .sx It has no joy in iniquity ; its fellowship is with the abiding sons of God ; in whom it dwells like a " pillar of " ; leading and directing every enterprise of this dark gentile night , until the " smiling morn " of Christ's blest presence shall " tip the hills with gold , " and fill every truth-loving and brother-loving son and daughter of the Almighty with the eternal satisfaction that will come of final Fpcorporation into the perfected and immortal family of God .sx A BROTHER .sx THE REPRESENTATIVE CHARACTER OF ISRAELITISH .sx HISTORY .sx THOUGHTS EXPRESSED AT A SISTERS' BIBLE CLASS .sx ( Continued from page 50 ) .sx WE can , in view of the Scriptures already quoted , rest assured that we make no mistake in looking upon Moses and the events with which he was connected as typical .sx When we study the New Testament Scriptures they reveal that Moses' transactions with Israel had within them a design which was related to the future :sx " Moses was faithful in all his ( God's ) house , as a servant , for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after " ( Heb .sx iii .sx 5 R.V. , ) .sx Alluding to events in the time of the great Israelitish leader , Paul says :sx " Now all these things happened to them for types , and they are written for our admonition , upon whom the ends of the world are come " ( 1 Cor .sx x. 11 , ) .sx These testimonies indicate that Moses' faithful dealings with Israel and the nation's rebellious attitude towards God are both fraught with typical significance .sx What the significance is the writer to the Hebrews suggests in the words already quoted :sx " for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after .sx " That " those things have to do with the Lord Jesus and his mission the Scriptures plainly disclose .sx