In Hosea we have here the rejection of the house of Israel and the house of – Lo-ruhamah and Lo-ammi. The door is secretly opened to the Gentiles. Israel endures the long deprivation of everything. Then comes the restoration of the whole under Jehovah and David in the latter days. Paul quotes chapter 1:10, and 2:23; Peter only the latter. From chapter 4 we get the most earnest dealing with the conscience of Israel. The book closes with their return in repentance to the sure blessings of Jehovah. It is the testimony of the ways of the Lord.
Joel
Under the figure of the desolation left by a plague of insects we have announced the inroad of the northern armies in the last days, and the coming in of the whole power of man against God’s people. Then Joel gives us the consequent coming in of Jehovah to judge the whole power of man in the day of the Lord, and the valley of decision. Meanwhile, the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon all flesh, and the promise of certain deliverance to whoever called on the name of the Lord.
You may add, the summons to repentance of all who have ears to hear.
Amos
Amos gives the patience of God’s dealings and ways, which he rehearses in connection with the precise pointing out of the iniquity of Israel’s ways. He marks out the punishment of bordering nations on the same ground of definite moral evil. He notices the rejection of a testimony against the evil, and declares the sure, infallible, unescapable judgment of Jehovah on the whole people. The righteous remnant are certainly saved. The prophecy closes with the promise of building up the tabernacle of David, as head of the nation, and blessing the people.
Obadiah
Obadiah is the judgment of Edom for their hatred of Israel, warning them that the day of the Lord is upon all the heathen, while deliverance should be in Mount Zion, and thence holiness and blessing, and the kingdom be the Lord’s.
Jonah
Jonah is the witness that, though God has chosen Israel, He has not given up His right as a faithful Creator in mercy over all the earth. Those that are connected with Him must be subject to His power and bow to His grace, otherwise the sense of favour is unfaithfulness and self-exaltation. At the same time we get a type of death and resurrection as the way of blessing.
Micah
In Micah we have the general judgment of the Samaria and Jerusalem, for their transgressions, iniquities, idolatry, and their rejection of the testimony of God. The whole land is therefore treated as polluted, and no longer the rest of His people, who must arise and depart. He judges the princes and their prophets, brings in the power of the Spirit to judge even the chosen city of the Lord, but announces its re-establishment by Jehovah in grace in the last days. He brings in the siege of Jerusalem by the heathen, in fulfilment of God’s counsels, in consequence of the rejection of Christ, on account of which they were given up.
He also shows that the same Christ stands as their peace and defence, when the Assyrian comes in, in the last days. The remnant of Israel becomes the people of blessing to, and power over, others, while all evil in it is judged and destroyed, as well as the heathen who have come up against it. Having spoken of the restoration in the last days he returns and insists on the righteousness of God’s ways, contrasting the attempt at ceremonially pleasing Him with the practising of iniquity which He hates. Micah closes looking to God to restore and feed His people – the God who passes by iniquity.
Nahum
The power of the world, or man as such, is put down for ever in Nahum. We have the testimony of the faithfulness of the Lord in the midst of His vengeance, resulting in blessing to those that trust in Him and wait for Him. It is still the Assyrian. Babylon is another thing altogether.
Habakkuk
Habakkuk gives the soul exercised by the iniquity of God’s people – first, with indignation at the iniquity, and then with distress at their being destroyed by those who are God’s rod to chasten them.
He then gets the answer of God, showing that He knows the pride of the wicked, and will judge it, and that the righteous man must live by trusting in Him. Lastly, he rises above all to the glorious power of God, exercised in the salvation of His people, so that he trusts in Him, come what will.
Zephaniah
In Zephaniah we get the utter judgment of the land and of all the neighbouring nations around, at the great day of the Lord, because of iniquity, hypocrisy, and idolatry. Man’s natural power is dealt with. Because of her iniquity, Jerusalem is distinctly brought out as the special object of displeasure.
The prophecy then singles out the remnant in a very distinct and definite way, calling on them to wait on the Lord, who leaves them as an afflicted and poor people. They are delivered by the judgments which He executes, and rest in His love over Jerusalem, making it a name and praise among all people.
Originally by JND. Lightly edited by Sosthenes, July 2014
Haggai is occupied with the house, and declares that its latter glory will be greater than its first. Zechariah is particularly occupied with Jerusalem. He shows the Lord dealing with all nations, having Jerusalem as a centre. Malachi – Here we have the testimony of the restored Jews’ total failure.
In these books, Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews are never called God’s people, except in prospect of the future.
Haggai
Haggai is occupied with the house, and declares that its latter glory will be greater than its first. God says that shakes all nations, and encourages them to build, declaring that His Spirit went with them’ as it was when Israel left Egypt. God will overthrow the throne of all kingdoms, and establish Christ under the name of Zerubbabel, as the elect Man, as the signet on His right hand.
Zechariah
Zechariah is particularly occupied with Jerusalem. He shows the Lord dealing with all nations, having Jerusalem as a centre, using one nation to cast out another, till His purposes are accomplished. Then, when the glory has come, He establishes Himself at Jerusalem. In the person of Joshua, the high priest, He justifies her against the adversary; He declares that He will come, and He puts all wisdom, the omniscience of His government, in Jerusalem. He prophesies as to the perfection of the administrative order in the kingdom and priesthood, and the judgment of all corrupt pretension to it, which is shown to be Babylonish. He builds the temple of the land by means of the Branch, judging the hostile power of the world, using all this to encourage them at that time in building the temple. Thus far is one prophecy (chaps. 1-6).
In the next prophecy he takes occasion, by those who inquire whether they should fast for the ruin of Jerusalem, to promise her restoration (now, for the present, on the ground of responsibility). He declares that He will protect His house against all surrounding enemies. He brings in Christ in humiliation, and carries on to the time of glory. He foresees Chris’s executing judgment by Judah upon Greece (Javan), gathering all the scattered ones. In chapters 11-14 we have the details of Christ’s rejection, and the foolish and idolatrous shepherd, when He judges all the nations as meddling with Jerusalem. He defends Jerusalem, bringing them to repentance, and opens the fountain for their cleansing. In contrast to the false spirit of prophecy, we get Christ’s humiliation and the sparing of a remnant, when the body of the people are cut off from Judea at the end. We have the final deliverance and the sanctifying of Jerusalem by the presence of the Lord, making her the centre of all worship upon earth.
In chapter 13:5 we see Christ as the servant of man, the rejected one of the Jews, and the smitten of Jehovah. “For man possessed me from my youth.” It then appears that it was among His friends that He was wounded in His hands. The great secret of all comes out, that He was Jehovah’s fellow, and smitten of Him. (Note, where Christ is owned as God, He calls the saints His fellows; and where, as here, He is in deepest humiliation, God calls Him His fellow.)
Malachi
Here we have the testimony of the restored Jews’ total failure. This was in spite of God’s electing love, which He still maintained. Then the Lord comes, sending a messenger before His face. He comes in thoroughly sifting and purifying judgment, owning the remnant who spake one to another in the fear of the Lord, in the midst of the wickedness. He lifts them up, and sets them over the power of the wicked, the Sun of Righteousness rising upon them for healing. But at the same time He calls them back to the law of Moses, with the promise of sending them Elijah the prophet to turn their hearts.
Originally by JND. Lightly edited by Sosthenes, July 2014
The history of the Gentile empires, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar, the head of gold.
Daniel’s special vision
Daniel has two parts:
The history of the Gentile empires, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar, the head of gold.
Daniel’s special vision (beginning with chap. 7), marking out the condition and circumstances of the saints in relation to these empires. We have the coming of judgment to set them all aside in favour of Israel. But he only comes to the door of the millennium without unfolding it.
Originally by JND. Lightly edited by Sosthenes, July 2014
Ezekiel gives the judgment of Jerusalem. God comes from without, looking at all Israel, not just Judah. The nations around are judged – the ungodly oppressors in and over Israel, and the way individual souls are judged.
Ezekiel gives the judgment of Jerusalem. God comes from without, looking at all Israel, not just Judah. The nations around are judged – the ungodly oppressors in and over Israel, and the way individual souls are judged.
Then we have the setting up of David, and Israel’s new birth in blessing. We have the union of Judah and Israel into one stick, and, on their restoration to their land, the destruction of the Assyrian, or Gog, by divine power. This is in fact, by the presence of Christ. Then at the end of the book we have the vision of the restoration of the temple and of the order of the land.
Originally by JND. Lightly edited by Sosthenes, July 2014
We have in Jeremiah, the present dealing of God with rebellious Judah. Judah becomes Lo-ammi (not my people) by the captivity in Babylon.
Jeremiah
We have in Jeremiah, the present dealing of God with rebellious Judah. Judah becomes Lo-ammi (not my people) by the captivity in Babylon.
Then, from chapter 30, we have the revelation of the infallible love of Jehovah to Israel (Judah and Ephraim). We have the certainty of their establishment under David, according to the order of God, in Jerusalem, Jehovah being their righteousness. Then, after the history of Zedekiah, and the details of what brought in the captivity, and what passed in Palestine after that, we have the judgment of all the nations and Babylon itself.
Lamentations
In Lamentations we get the sympathy and entering in of the Spirit of Christ into the sorrows of Israel, especially the remnant, and the hope of restoration.
Originally by JND. Lightly edited by Sosthenes, July 2014
In Isaiah we have the whole framework of God’s dealings with Judah, Israel coming in later, with the judgment of surrounding nations, and especially of Babylon. Israel is the centre, and the Assyrian is the great latter-day enemy; Immanuel is the hope of Israel, and the securer of the land. He, though Himself Jehovah, is rejected when coming as a testimony: a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling to the disobedient.
In Isaiah we have the whole framework of God’s dealings with Judah, Israel coming in later, with the judgment of surrounding nations, and especially of Babylon. Israel is the centre, and the Assyrian is the great latter-day enemy; Immanuel is the hope of Israel, and the securer of the land. He, though Himself Jehovah, is rejected when coming as a testimony: a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling to the disobedient. We get, in addition, the details of the inroads of the Assyrian, and his judgment in the last days; and, included in the development of all this, we have the blessedness of Israel as re-established. This is the first part – chapters 1-35.
In the historical chapters (36-39) we get two great principles – resurrection, and deliverance from the Assyrians. It is a risen Christ who effects deliverance, which makes it so important. The captivity in Babylon is intimated here. This lays the ground for what follows.
In the last part we have God’s controversy with Israel, first on the footing of idolatry, and, secondly, because of the rejection of Christ. In this Israel is first looked at as a servant; and in chapter 49 the place of servant is transferred to Christ. He is rejected, and the remnant in the last days take the place of servant. All through this, though Israel be the object of favour, you get a definite contrast between the wicked and the righteous, and hence the separation of the remnant, and judgment of the wicked. There can be no peace to the wicked, whether Israel or others (end of chaps. 48, 57).
In the part that refers specially to the rejection of Christ we get the revelation of the call of the Gentiles, the judgment of the people, the coming of Jehovah, and the full blessing of the remnant of Israel at Jerusalem.
The object to be desired is the gathering of all God’s children.
2. The power of the Holy Spirit can alone effect this.
3. There is no need to wait till that power produces the union of all, because we have the promise that, where two or three are gathered together in the name of the Lord, He will be in the midst. Two or three may act in reliance upon this promise.
4. The idea of ordination for the administration of the Supper appears nowhere in the New Testament. Christians came together on the Lord’s Day to break bread; – see Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, 23.
Based on a Paper by J N Darby – ‘On the Formation of Churches’
In the town where I live there are several churches – three Church of England, one Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Salvation Army. There is a Gospel Hall, a ‘Free Evangelical’, a ‘Gospel Mission Church’ as well as evangelical groups gathering one in a shop and another in a local school. There may be more. Then an old CofE church was taken over by mostly Afro-Caribbean believers, and you can hear their music when we come from our meeting on Lord’s Day morning 150 yards away! They must take Psalm 150 literally. Then on Sunday mornings there is a sign outside of a community hall – ‘Peace and Love Assembly’ – whatever that is. Of course there may be more. And of course there is the little meeting room where I go. I am sure there are many devout Christians in each one.
Were these assemblies formed as a result of Godly concern as to evil working in a gathering from which it was necessary to separate, and to find other believers with whom to walk, or were they formed through Christians uniting behind a particular cause or person?
In his essay, summarised below, John Nelson Darby looked at the various church organisations amid the confusion that is Christendom. Many churches have adopted the title ‘Church of God’ formally or informally, seeking to strike a balance between keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3), and separating the precious from the vile (see Jer. 15:19).
The Lord’s Purpose in the Gathering of the Saints on Earth
The gathering together of saints into one was the immediate object on earth of Christ’s death. Salvation had always been in place; saints of the old dispensation were saved through the death of Christ. Now by the Spirit we are gathered as well as saved. That is what forms the church.
Hypocrites and evil men have crept into the church, but for that there must have been a church for them to creep into.
National Systems
National churches ensued from the Reformation. Whilst the Reformation brought out more clearly the doctrine of salvation, it did not touch the question of the true character of God’s church. Instead of restoring things to their original state, it made the state the supreme authority, replacing the pope. By definition, all citizens of a country were regarded as Christians, and automatically members of the national church.
Any serious believer must realise that a national church (the Church of England for example) cannot be regarded as the complete assembly of God. People refer to a visible and an invisible church, the national church being the former and the true church encompassing all believers the latter. But scripture says, Ye are the light of the world. A city set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matt 5:14). Of what use is an invisible light? To say that the true church is invisible, is to say that it has lost its original standing and departed from the purpose of God.
Non-Conformist, or Dissenting Congregations
Can any of the dissenting Protestant churches (Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal etc) attain to what God has in mind in the gathering together in one of His children – universally or locally?
In scripture, believers were gathered in various localities. The Christians in each town or city formed one body:- the Assembly of God in ‘X’. At Corinth, for example, a letter addressed to the church of God would have found its way to a known body. There may have been many physical gatherings in private homes and other places, but they formed one body in the place. God raised up shepherds and teachers in the assembly, but they served the whole. So we have the union of all the children of God universally, and the union of all the children of God in each city or town.
According to Scripture the sum of all the churches here on earth composed the whole church; and the church in any given place was no other than the regular association together of whatever formed part of the entire body of the church on earth; and he who was not a member of the church in that place , was not a member of Christ’s church at all.
Now the unified state that we see in the Bible has ceased to exist. What should Christians do when the condition of things set before us in the word no longer exists?
Maybe we should reform it? That presupposes:
That it is God’s will.
That we are capable and authorised to restore it.
We recognise that we have sinned. If we set about doing what was right, by being upright out of a sense of duty, that would be self-righteousness, and not pleasing to God. Apply the same logic to the church. We, as Christians, have departed from the original state, and are guilty of that sin. If we undertake to re-establish it ourselves, it would be in the same spirit of self-righteousness, and we would not have God’s support.
Now if we set up another body, taking the name of the church of God, by definition, we would have to regard all non-members of that body as schismatic strangers to God’s church. So what we now have is a large number of partial voluntary churches in different places, with tight hierarchical centralised organisations at one end of the spectrum and loose affiliations of independent assemblies at the other. The practice of making churches with various forms, has in itself led to the separation of the thoughts of universal and local church. The idea of God’s complete church, has been lost sight of.
Can Man Restore the Fallen Condition?
The church cannot fail. The Lord said, ‘The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ (Matt 16:18). The salvation of the elect is secure; the glory of the church will be seen in resurrection, with Satan defeated. Meanwhile God will maintain the confession of Jesus here on earth until the church has been taken away. That is not in question. Popery would maintain that it has not failed publicly, and that it is the whole church. But that line is leading to apostasy.
Publicly, the dispensation is in ruins, and in a condition of entire departure from its original standing. Persons are trying to set it up again, without any warrant to do so.
Because of man’s sin, believers have been scattered. Has there been anybody who has undertaken the apostolic office of re-establishing things on their original footing, and in so doing, re-establish the entire dispensation, apprehending the divine will, having by the Holy Spirit the power to accomplish the task? Of course not. He may have desired to, but like David in building the house was not able to do so.
What can be Done?
Bless God that the Word and the Spirit still remain in the church. May the church lean on that.
I do not have the competency to re-establish the first condition of the church. I humbly feel the real condition of the church, and this preserves me from activities which are unauthorised by the word.
I have to accept that the condition of the dispensation at its close will be just the reverse of what it was at its opening. Sadly, the wild olive tree which had been grafted in, has now been cut out (See Rom. 11:22). But there can be a revival. Nehemiah saw the fallen condition of Israel, and that they were in great distress. He did what he was authorised to do – not more. He did not re-make the Ark or the Urim and Thummim, or imitate the Shekinah. Neverthless we are told in that he had blessing such as had not been ‘since the days of Joshua’; (Neh. 8:17) because he was faithful to God in the circumstances in which he stood.
God has left faithful Christians sufficient directions for us to follow. And the Spirit of God is with us to strengthen us in the path of true obedience.
How it Can be Done.
The Spirit of God, foreseeing all that would happen in the church, has given us help and warnings. He tells us that there would be perilous times, and tells us that we should turn away from certain men. (See 2 Tim 3:1-5) We cannot break bread with all – maybe just with two or three gathered to His name. Indeed the Spirit gives us even more precise directions: he that names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. Where I find iniquity, I must leave it – I am in the great house (the Christian profession) but I must purge myself from vessels to dishonour so as to be a vessel made to honour, fit for the master’s use. And the man of God is exhorted to follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. See (2 Tim 2:19-22)
Planting of Churches
There is an expression that is current now (not in Darby’s time) as to the planting of churches. Those involved draw on Paul’s instructions to Timothy and Titus as to church order and see it in terms of choosing elders, deacons etc, even buildings. Pastors, teachers, and evangelists are gifts which have their places in the unity of the body, and are exercised wherever God has graciously given them.
So a ‘planted church’ from another nearby one presumes that there was no assembly of God in the target locality. This is almost never the case.
How are we to meet then?
To do nothing is not an option. But before doing anything we must feel deeply the ruined state of the church, and act with less presumption and more diffidence.
You say , ‘I have separated myself from evil , because my conscience disapproves what is at variance with the word’ That is good: now assemble together. Jesus aaid, ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ (Matt.18:20). However, if you organise a church, choosing a president or a pastor, and by implication claim to be the Church of God of the place where you live, I question your commission to do this. I see no trace in scripture of the churches having elected presidents or pastors. It is said that such appointments are necessary to maintain order. Such order, being constituted by the will of man, will soon be seen to be disorder in the sight of God. If there are but two or three who meet together in the name of Jesus, He will be there. Otherwise the appropriate scripture is, ‘He that gathereth not with me scattereth’ (Matt 12:30). If God raises up pastors (that is persons who shepherd, not an official position), it is a blessing. But ever since the day when the Holy Spirit formed the church, we have no record of the church choosing pastors.
We must acknowledge our weakness and dependence upon God. God is sufficient for His church. Despite the ruin, power is available. Call upon Him. He can raise up whatever is needed for the blessing of the saints. He will do that – have no doubt about it. Acknowledge the authority of Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep. He rules as Son over His house, whose house are we, and the Spirit of God is the sole power in the church. Anything else is pretence, and is under the domination of man. There is no promise in favour of the system by which men organise churches, but there is the promise of the Lord’s presence for those who ‘assemble together’.
We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, as we separate from that which we know to be evil, bearing with those persons who continue ignorantly as to the evil, though I may have to leave them. We must lean upon Him who is able to do all that is necessary, without assuming to do more, ourselves, than the word authorises us to do. Such is the position, humble it may be, but it is blessed by God, even if it is despised by men
Conclusions
1. The object to be desired is the gathering of all God’s children.
2. The power of the Holy Spirit can alone effect this.
3. There is no need to wait till that power produces the union of all, because we have the promise that, where two or three are gathered together in the name of the Lord, He will be in the midst. Two or three may act in reliance upon this promise.
4. The idea of ordination for the administration of the Supper appears nowhere in the New Testament. Christians came together on the Lord’s Day to break bread; – see Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, 23.
5. A commission from man to preach the gospel is a thing unknown in the New Testament.
6. The choosing of presidents or pastors by the church is also altogether without warrant in the New Testament. The choosing of pastors is an encroachment on the authority of the Holy Ghost, who distributes gifts according to His will.
7. It is clearly the duty of a believer to separate himself from every act that he sees to be not according to the word.
1 REST of the saints above,
Jerusalem of God,
Who in thy palaces of love,
Thy golden streets have trod,
To me thy joy to tell —
Those courts secure from ill,
Where God Himself vouchsafes to dwell,
And every bosom fill?
2 Who shall to me that joy
Of saint-thronged courts declare,
Tell of that constant sweet employ
My spirit longs to share?
That rest secure from ill,
No cloud of grief e’er stains;
Unfailing praise each heart doth fill,
And love eternal reigns.
3 The Lamb is there, my soul;
There, God Himself doth rest,
In love divine diffused through all
With Him supremely blest.
God and the Lamb — ’tis well,
I know that source divine,
Of joy and love no tongue can tell,
Yet know that all is mine.
4 And see, the Spirit’s power
Has ope’d the heavenly door,
Has brought me to that favoured hour
When toil shall all be o’er.
There on the hidden bread
Of Christ — once humbled here —
God’s treasured store — for ever fed,
His love my soul shall cheer.
5 Called by that secret name
Of undisclosed delight,
(Blest answer to reproach and shame)
Graved on the stone of white.
There in effulgence bright,
Saviour and Guide, with Thee
I’ll walk, and in Thy heavenly light
Whiter my robe shall be.
6 There in the unsullied way
Which His own hand hath dressed,
My feet press on where brightest day
Shines forth on all the rest.
But who that glorious blaze
Of living light shall tell,
Where all His brightness God displays,
And the Lamb’s glories dwell?
7 (There only to adore,
My soul its strength may find,
Its life, its joy for evermore,
By sight, nor sense, defined.)
God and the Lamb shall there
The light and temple be,
And radiant hosts for ever share
The unveiled mystery.
The above has been split into two hymns in Hymns for the Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – Nos 74 and 79
and kept as one hymn Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 79
Sinner, see thy God beside thee,
In a servant’s form come near,
Sitting, walking, talking with thee!
Sinai’s mount no longer fear.
Who hath despised the day of small things
Adoss Newsletter No 9
June 2014
A Day of Small Things
By Σωσθένης Ὁἀδελφὸς – Sosthenes the Brother
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Where is Heaven?
A brother said in our bible reading yesterday ‘Heaven is where Jesus is’. Paul said ‘And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:’ (Eph. 2:6). We tend to think of heaven as a long way away – beyond the millions of light-years of the observable universe. In one sense it is – to the unbeliever it is an infinite distance away. But for us it is so close.
Sinner, see thy God beside thee, In a servant’s form come near, Sitting, walking, talking with thee! Sinai’s mount no longer fear.A.P. Cecil (1841-1889
Last month I wrote about this publication. Since then I have received quite a number of valuable suggestions from persons whose judgment I value. The result has been numerous changes. There will be more. Click here for the latest download version
Accordingly we are not going to print, for the foreseeable future at any rate. Please feel free to distribute it by e-mail
Whom do we promote?
I get some very encouraging mail. For example a sister in Pakistan has translated Walking in the Light of the Assembly into Urdu and is having it printed. I look forward to corresponding more with her, and others she might meet with.
I get some mail from people after money. I guess this is to be expected. I do acknowledge them, but tell them that a church does not need any building, supplies or funds to operate.
But I had one from a gentleman who claimed to be ‘Prime Minister of Jesus’ and one of the two witnesses in Rev 11! Who does he think he is? I sent him the verse:
Lord! let me wait for Thee alone:My life be only this –To serve Thee here on earth, unknown;Then share Thy heavenly bliss.J N Darby 1800-82
Our Visit to Scotland
We have just returned from Scotland where we were able to enjoy fellowship with a number in Glasgow and in two meetings on the Moray Firth We stayed in Gardenstown. It is sad that the general spirit of these places has changed, these villages largely populated by newcomers and the owners of second homes. When we were on holiday up there when I was a boy, there were 250 in the meeting in Gardenstown alone – now there are 2 or 3 tiny gatherings of souls not in fellowship with one another, or those we break bread with.
But we had an encouraging conversation with an Australian Free Prebyterian (Wee-wee-free) Minister who we met on a train.
And a Tragedy
Bruce Pye d. 201
Many readers will be sorrowing over the sad home-going of Bruce Pye, a young man killed in a bike accident last Saturday in New York. Two sisters from our gathering have gone to the funeral. It is easy to say ‘with Christ which is far better’ when we are talking about a demented person in their nineties. When it comes to a young man of 34, do we really believe it? I hear he gave a word that week on being ready to see Jesus. He was ready; are we?
Hosea
