In Defense of The Faith

Men stand aghast at great punishments,

but who trembles at great sins!

We are all sensitive when the flesh suffers,

but not so much when Yahweh is mocked or Truth derided-

Brother H.P. Mansfield

It is particularly lamentable

that at a time of supreme interest like that in the day we live,

when the reappearing of the Lord

becomes more and more the possibility of any hour,

the minds of the brethren should be distracted by a futile and useless controversy,

instead of being built up and comforted in the glorious things of the faith.

But Jesus said it must needs be;

and therefore I have learnt to be resigned,

yet not without great sorrow for good and honest hearts entangled.

Brother Robert Roberts

It would not be difficult to achieve peace

if we were prepared to capitulate on principle;

but where the truth is loved more than self,

it seems inevitably to result in dissension.

Brother Robert Roberts

Now, if you are courageous, faithful and valiant for the Truth;

if you are really a good and useful man in your day and your generation,

you may lay your account with being misrepresented,

slandered and abused in various ways;

but if you turn traitor in faith or practice, or in both,

you will become popular, and obtain the applause of the ignorant and hypocrites.

This is my experience and certainly will be yours.

And how can it be otherwise?

Brother John Thomas

in a letter to young Brother Robert Roberts

Every true man will face the desert and the blast

and pursue his pilgrimage with the steady purpose

that will at last land him at the end,

with a good conscience and thankfulness

for the laying down of the weary load

in the presence of Christ at his coming.

Brother Robert Roberts

"We are not called upon to give a hearing to error merely

because the errorist thinks he is otherwise.

Scripture precept and common prudence

rather counsel a contrary attitude."

(Proverbs 19:27, 1 Timothy 6; 3-5)

Brother Robert Roberts

The "discussing everything and settling nothing" system

is that dispensation that must be superseded by

"wholesome words,"

the words of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the teaching which is according to godliness,

before there can be much change for the better anywhere-

Brother John Thomas

Man may corrupt the way of the Lord;

but he cannot improve it:

and as surely as he attempts to adapt it to circumstances,

he converts it into

"the way which leadeth to destruction"

-which is both broad and easy to walk in,

being in perfect harmony with the lusts and thinking of the flesh-

Brother John Thomas

Elpis Israel p156

The Truth must be

spoken,

maintained

and defended,

though all might be condemned

- including ourselves-

Brother John Thomas

Dear Brother Roberts. -

The story of your recent encounter with "Dowieism"

has been read by several in this city with great interest,

because of the light you have thrown upon the fortunes of the truth of God

among some of its professed friends,

and the fate it is likely to meet with at their hands.

The Truth in these latter days has,

in many places, fallen among a class of professed friends,

like those of whom you have spoken, who seek to make

a smoother path and a broader way,

wherein to journey to the heavenly city, than that which has already marked out.

The progress of Truth in the first centuries,

after the days of the Apostles, was also accompanied by a

"falling away" from the purity of doctrine and practice delivered by them.

It came very gradually, little by little;

but when men once began to step aside from the form of sound doctrine,

they will continue to wax worse and worse

until they are found identified with a state of apostasy corresponding

to the Laodiceans of the early times,

thus putting themselves in a position to be spued out of the Spirit's mouth

at His appearing in His kingdom.

In Him they will not find a champion to lead them to glory and honor,

as was the case in the days of Constantine, the first so called Christian emperor.

They will have to give place to their more humble and truth-loving brethren.

Sister Eusebia J. Lasius

Daughter of Brother John Thomas

The truth creates "sides" -

the for-it side, and the against-it side;

and between these two sides there is no neutral ground.

He that is not for me, saith Jesus, is against me;

and he styled himself "The Truth."

If we are for the truth, we cannot encamp with the enemy, and cooperate with them.

Being for the truth, it will place us in the minority,

and identify us with those who suffer tribulation for the truth's sake.

He that runs with the hare, but holds with the hounds,

will never save the fugitive from being worried to death.

There were men in the days of Jesus who would preach his doctrine,

and not speak lightly of him,

but would also carefully avoid identification with his unsavory name.

This is referable to the pride of life,

love of popularity,

or to some other equally unworthy thing.

It is certainly a course not prompted by a devotion to the truth,

or a love of righteousness-

Brother John Thomas

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come

1852/53 pg 286

We have no use for those who cause the Truth to be evil spoken of by their malpractice,

and certain we are they can have no use for us.

If people who profess the Truth dishonor that Truth,

they dishonor us.

And we do not want, nor will condescend to have,

any cooperation with them.

They are only stumbling blocks and hindrances in the way,

and the Truth can never progress in the shadow of their obliquity.

Nothing can be done with the unbelieving where the brethren are unfaithful to the Truth.

Brother John Thomas

He that bids a denier of the truth

"Godspeed"

by receiving him in approving cooperation is

"partaker of his evil deeds."

This is John's doctrine-

(2 John 10-11),

and John's doctrine is Christ's,

and Christ's is God's.

(Lk 10:16)

It is very inconvenient for the present world-

but the law of God was never given as a rule of convenience now.

Its convenience and joy will be unutterable at the last-

Christadelphian 1891

We are aware we have enemies,

but being ourselves no man's enemy, their enmity does not distress us,

especially as in nearly every case our enemies have become such for righteousness sake.

We have the friendship of all who truly rejoice in Truth,

because we serve the Truth, and that only.

Brother Robert Roberts

If there is a doubt,

give the Truth the benefit of the doubt.

Do not be governed by personal leanings.

Men have to be powerfully in love with the Truth to act upon this principle,

but men of God will act upon it.

To go with the wrong for friendship's sake,

or to retire in disgust into the corner,

are equally inconsistent with the fidelity to God

which is required of us in this dark and evil day-

Brother Robert Roberts

I lead no one of my own will,

nor do I wish to lead anyone.

The height of my ambition is

to persuade men to be lead by the Truth.

Brother John Thomas

We cannot perform miracles,

but we can do as John did; we can shew the truth;

we can reason the truth into the minds of those that are among us;

and the truth, getting into their minds, does the rest.

We are the mere agents in presenting the truth.

But when the truth has been worked into the thinking organ of the system,

when it takes root, it is not easy to cast out.

It then becomes a purifier;

and just in proportion as it gets deep in the mind of a man

does it purify and control him, govern him, and direct him, and keep him.

Brother John Thomas

What is wanted is a clear understanding-

a hearty appreciation-

a decided policy-

a disinterested determination to serve God-

exalt the honor of Christ-

and save men-

irrespective of discouragement or opposition.

These can only be acquired by the constant reading of the Word,

by which we imbibe the spirit of the ancients,

who were approved.

When acquired,

they will lead to a calm unquenchable pertinacity in the performance

of those things that are possible, in the Truth's service.

Brother Robert Roberts

1867

My purpose is to enlighten, not to condemn.

The more we understand of what we profess to believe,

the stronger is our faith therein;

and the nearer we approach its development,

the more necessary is it, that a lively interest be kindled in us,

that our lamps be well trimmed,

and our lights be found brightly burning.

Matt. 25:4-10

Brother John Thomas

In the course of a public address once delivered by Dr. Thomas in Glasgow,

the Doctor observed that “God was not the father of all men.”

At the close of the meeting, a man rose to his feet to take exception to this doctrine.

The Doctor, in reply to the remarks thus made,

referred for confirmation of what he had said,

to what Christ said upon one occasion to the Jews, when he is recorded to have addressed them in the words,

“Ye are of your father the devil” ( John 8:44 ).

Having read this, the Doctor added-

“If you don't like your father you can come over.”

The Christadelphian

1888

Conviction

does not usually blaze upon the human mind like a flash of lightening;

it steals upon us, as it were, like a thief in the night.

By keeping the mind on the truth, it is at length taken captive by it.

You cannot take man's intellect and heart by storm.

It is hardened by the tempest,

but melted by the genial influences of the truth.

Brother John Thomas

The Herald

1851

If what we demonstrate from the prophets and apostles be truth

(and where is the man here or beyond the sea [that] can convict it of error?)

the theories of all sects without distinction must be fabulous.

This is the ground we stand upon; this is the impregnable position we occupy:

it may be assailed, but it cannot be carried by assault.

If we are right, then all else is wrong.

There is no middle, no neutral ground between us and those who differ from us.

Brother John Thomas

The Herald 1851

The truest love

is that which stands by the Truth,

and regardless of consequences,

helps others to keep the way of salvation.

Brother Robert Roberts

Today,

the expositions and standards of conduct as laid down by the pioneers

are challenged, or removed.

As, one by one, the "ancient and honorable" fall asleep in Christ,

opportunity is taken to "remove the ancient landmarks" (Proverbs 23:10).

The Apostasy originally developed out of minor divergences from the strict bounds of the Truth,

but the further these went, the wider became the issues.

The landmarks were removed and the Ecclesia became the Church.

Today we need not merely the expositions of the pioneers, but

their attitude, their fighting spirit against the teaching and trends of the world,

and their firm resistance to the torpedoing of standards within.

Books like Elpis Israel, Eureka, Nazareth Revisited, Christendom Astray.

Let us beware of those who ignore or remove the landmarks,

to make the way more palatable to the world without or the worldly-minded within.

The separateness between Christadelphians and Christendom that once was so pronounced is disappearing.

The writings of the pioneers no longer hold in the affections of many the place they once did.

Brethren mouth their names, but ignore their lead.

Criticisms of their teaching are multiplying.

The past generation is said to have been too straitlaced and exclusive.

The clamor is increasing for a new literature.

The "old school" is recommended to leave public work and the dissemination of the Truth to "young blood",

and new, up-to-date methods. If the Truth is to survive, brethren will have to rouse themselves.

A great responsibility rests upon all.

Let us pray to God to multiply faithful shepherds,

not ambitious aspirants for power and notoriety,

but zealous, courageous, self-sacrificing brethren who,

by ability and consistency, can command confidence and whose landmarks are respected.

Brother H.P. Mansfield

November 1987

Does the Ruler of all the earth, in the coming age,

want men whose position, with regard to the Truth of the Gospel,

is so flexible as to admit doctrines directly antagonistic to the empathic Word,

whose resolutions are so loose and wavering, that they are settled on no point?

I say,

does the great King want such men to form his cabinet, and to place in responsible situations?

Nay, verily;

those who are to be kings and priests, must be firm;

they must be bold in defence of the Word of Truth,

and not afraid of showing their colors.

They must not be afraid to speak what they believe on Scripture topics.

It shows a lack of confidence when a man is afraid to tell what he believes.

And is a lack of confidence sufficient to betray a lack of faith?

"He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed."

This a bad condition to be found in at the appearing of our Lord and Master.

The Ambassador of the Coming Age

1867

When a brother lifts his hand against the Truth,

and belittles an important part

of the work of the man to whom, under God, we are indebted,

in this age, for our knowledge of saving Truth,

he must expect to be handled without reserve in the encounter he provokes in its defense-

Brother William Smallwood

"Bible Teaching Concerning Sin & Sacrifice"

1913

We admit that "thrashing" a man will not improve him,

but we deny the application of this to our procedure in reference to Dowie.

We simply made manifest of their true position.

The interests of the Truth are supreme.

If any man stand in the way of those interests,

he has himself to blame if he receive some blows struck in their defense.

Warfare with carnal weapons is prohibited,

but spiritual weapons we may use unsparingly,

if with just rigor.

In this there is no "vaunting" or thinking evil.

It is treachery and cowardice to shrink from duty to the matter.

Brother Robert Roberts

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.

Brother John Thomas

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-

Brother John Thomas

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 destroying 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

Brother H.P. Mansfield

Logos 1986

"By the beginning of the new year I was enabled to commence

the composition of Elpis Israel. I did not allow the grass to grow;

but worked while it was called today, and much of the night also.

For six weeks the world was without was a mere blank,

except through a daily perusal of the London Times;

for during that period I had no use for

hats, boots, or shoes,

oscillating, as it were, like a pendulum between two points -

the couch above, and the desk below.

In about four months the manuscript was completed."

Brother John Thomas

Faith in the Last Days

The man that is leaning upon the staff that is eternal will always be upright,

always at his post, never failing, never changing,

but keeping steadily to the purpose to which we are called in Christ.

Brother Robert Roberts

The Christadelphian 1868

"Let us then cease from men, whose breath is in their nostrils;

for wherein are they to be accounted of? “

They be blind leaders of the blind, in whom there is no light,

because they speak not according to the law and the testimony of God.

Let us repudiate their dogmatisms; let us renounce their mysteries;

and let us declare our independence of all human authority

in matters of faith and practice outside of the word of God.

The scriptures are able to make us wise, which the traditions of 'divines' are not.

Let us then come to these scriptures,

for we have the assurance that he who seeks shall find.

But we must seek by the light of scripture,

and not permit that light to be obscured by high thoughts and vain imaginations

which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.

Great is the consolation that 'the wise shall understand',

and 'shall shine as the brightness of the firmament'.

Be this then our happiness, to understand, believe,

and do, that we may be blessed in our deed,

and attain to the glorious liberty and manifestation of the sons of God."

Brother John Thomas

The truth is the standard, and must be alone allowed to rule. All doubts ought to be solved in its favor. This is the principle of action to which study will ultimately lead…

The truth has gradually emerged from the fables in which for centuries it had been lost: and only an inexorable policy on the part of those receiving it will preserve it from a recurrence of the disaster which drove it from among men

shortly after the days of the apostles…

Regret at the breach of unity must never overbear the determination to maintain the truth.

Brother Robert Roberts

Our principle is that

difficulties which cannot be avoided must be met and overcome.

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

1 Pet 2:19-20

Brother John Thomas

We recognize in sorrow and compassion,

the painful position of all men who love the good things revealed in the Scriptures,

and incline to pursue the course that is right,

and yet find themselves in a strait between their desire to live peaceably with all men,

and their resolution to walk in faithfulness to the Gospel in which they have been called.

We have from the beginning suffered from this agonizing embarrassment,

and can sympathize with all who suffer the same way.

This sympathy takes the edge off of the resentment we should feel at the odium's cast upon us

by many who love peace and misunderstand our attitude.

At the same time, we cannot relax enlightened determination to persevere the policy of the past.

Dr. Thomas recommended this policy and we have found it the only practicable one;

give the Truth the benefit of all doubts, and to accept such cooperations only as uncompromising loyalty to it might allow.

There are of course, extremes in the application of this principle to which Dr. Thomas himself did not go, and to which we cannot lend ourselves - where unrevealed details admit to variety in opinion. But as regards to the great general truths involved in

"the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ,"

there is no tenable ground between returning to the churches and unqualified assent to these elements of Truth.

Brother Robert Roberts

1898

It is not for us to apologize for the narrowness of the way.

We have simply to recognize that God has made it narrow, and act accordingly.

Brother Robert Roberts

Whoever

is afraid of submitting any question,

civil or religious, to the test of free discussion,

seems to be more in love with his own opinion than with Truth.

Herald of the Kingdom Age to Come

1851

They are unfaithful

to the doctrine of Christ,

who from any motive of personal interest

would weaken the point of 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-

Brother John Thomas

Truth is always consistent with itself;

and needs nothing to help it out;

it is always near at hand,

and sits upon our lips,

and is ready to drop out before we are aware;

whereas a lie is troublesome

and sets a man's invention upon the rack;

and one trick needs a great many more to make it good.

Brother John Thomas

We warn our readers against this easy kindly school who,

in much innocence it may be,

have carnalized the newly recovered doctrines of the kingdom and life by Christ,

and alloyed them with the apostasy,

committing fornication with the Harlot of the Earth

and her daughters in matters of doctrine-

and in matters of spirit and practice,

obliterating the line which divides the servants of God from the servants of the flesh,

and generally reducing the truth to a few soulless propositions

loosely held as a mere bond of social connection and entertainment.

They have in fact brought about a Laodiceanism wherever their influence is potent-

Brother Robert Roberts

Ambassador 1866

Where the ignorant acquire a smattering

of the Truth, and, loving the power for its own sake,

and the facility it affords for self-glorification,

set up to rule their fellows,

be they rough or polished as kings,

confusion and every evil work is sure to follow.

Our bearing towards such should be a standing rebuke.

We ought to give no countenance;

but, by abstaining from association with them,

whether they request or otherwise,

refuse or decline identification with them.

Brother John Thomas

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Psalm 11:3

Foundations can be undermined in a manner that is not apparent to outward observation,

until, suddenly the structure falls,

and its fall is blamed on a slight gust of wind that just happened at the same time.

The defense of the foundations is the first and most urgent duty.

Unity is the cement that makes the foundation strong.

To achieve unity,

there must be an agreed standard, and that standard must govern.

The natural minds of men vary to the four winds,

but the Word of God is one.

The scriptural standard is perfection-

"Be ye perfect."

We shall never in this life attain to perfection,

but we must agree upon it as the standard,

and constantly strive toward it.

Unity can never be built on compromise,

but only strict and humble submission to the Word of God in all

respects, large and small.

There is no large and small with God's commands.

Brother Robert Roberts

The estimate of wrong doings

depends upon the standard recognized.

The standard current in communities

would not include Bible depreciation

in the category of wrong doing;

but by the standard established by God in Israel

(which is the standard recognized by true brethren in Christ),

there is no greater act of wrong doing

than to interfere with His own Word.

Brother Robert Roberts

False doctrine

we shall doubtless always have to combat, while this probation lasts,

and we must not shun our duty;

but this is a comparatively easy battle.

It is only a small part of the conflict that has to be waged over the whole field of life.

In the largest form of the conflict,

our whole minds are the battle ground, and the war is a war of ideas,

which are the great force leading to action.

One state of mind is natural to us.

Another state of mind is that in which God finds pleasure.

He has given us the means of generating this other state of mind;

and victory consists in successfully establishing this state of mind

in the place of that which is natural, and acting it out in life.

Brother Robert Roberts

The Christadelphian

1884

There is such a persistent logic in truth

that the least deviation will betray into error.

The Christadelphian

1894

Let every tower fall

unless built upon a sure foundation.

Opinions may be plenteous as blackberries,

but what use unless established by unimpeachable evidence?

Henry Sulley

Pantaletheia

1899

Without unity of doctrine,

unity - real unity - cannot be obtained.

We must hope on.

There will be true unity in the Kingdom of God for which we wait.

It will come in "such an hour as ye think not" said the Lord,

but he gave signs whereby we may know that his coming is near.

We see them all in active operation, and we know that his coming draweth nigh.

Our only reasonable attitude in the circumstances is to be always ready-

Sister Jane Roberts 1907

...Edward Turney renounced the fellowship of the Dowieites years ago,

and now he renounces his renunciation,

and asks them, with open arms, to come to his bosom;

not, we would warn them, for the love of them,

but for hatred of others against whom he can use them.

They will find the bosom cold when the heat of present hate subsides.

The spectacle may open the eyes of some who are being misled to their destruction."

Brother Robert Roberts

The Christadelphian

1874

It is all the difference between faith and opinion,

between

'discussing everything and settling nothing'

and searching the scriptures, and believing what is written.

Brother John Thomas

1865

Progress

is a nice watchword,

but it is possible to mistake retrogression for progression.

Brother Robert Roberts

1890

Do you say we cannot be certain?

Then we differ.

There is an ever-learning and never attaining class-

ever-debating and never settling-

at home in endless froth-plungings like dogs in a puddle.

They were extant in Paul's day;

they have not ceased since; they are active now.

If you cannot recognise them, we do not quarrel with you;

but we cannot deny our own senses.

We must perforce exercise the prerogative of discrimination,

and, knowing the right road in the dark, take it-

Brother Robert Roberts

1890

It is a good thing

to be “for peace” and to “exercise charity,”

but these must be held in strict subordination to the conditions

which divinely precede them.

God is the pattern.

The perfection of peace is the ultimate design of all his procedure:

but you never find Him, for the sake of peace,

abandoning any of the conditions which are necessary to secure it.

Brother Robert Roberts

1866

Men who will not investigate, yet denounce,

are either fools or knaves.

There are multitudes of this sort of people in all parts of the world.

Their unwillingness to investigate what they denounce arises from a diversity of causes:

pride, avarice, love of ease, dullness of intellect,

indifference to truth and error, to right and wrong, etc.

are among the conditions that involve men in such folly and wickedness.

Brother John Thomas

The Herald

1851

No one has any right

to set up his own ignorance as the limit of that which God has revealed.

A thing may be unknown to such a man,

but it does not therefore follow that it is either absolutely unintelligible or a secret.

He may not know of it, or, if explained to him,

he may not have intellect enough to comprehend it,

or his prejudices or sectarian bias may darken his understanding --

this by no means makes the thing unintelligible or mysterious to other people.

All that such persons have a right to say is,

"we do not know anything about it."

Brother John Thomas

Elpis Israel

The nearer the spring head - the clearer the water;

the further off, the muddier,

and the more encumbered with extraneous matters in solution.

Brother John Thomas

Herald 1860

It is one thing

to wish to have truth on our side,

and another to wish sincerely to be on the side of the truth.

There is no genuine love of the truth implied in the former.

Truth is a powerful auxiliary, such as everyone wishes to have on his side;

everyone is rejoiced to find, and therefore seldom fails to find,

that the principles he is disposed to adopt - the notions he is inclined to defend,

may be maintained as true,

A determination to "obey the truth," and to follow wherever she may lead,

is not common.

In this consists the genuine love of truth;

and this can be realized in practice, only by postponing all other questions

to that which ought to come foremost,

"What is Truth?"

The Herald

1851

If a man spoils the furniture in a house by throwing water about,

to put out a fire kindled by a careless servant, who is to blame for the water-

the man or the servant?

The servant undoubtedly, though the man threw the water.

Ahab complained to Elijah that he (Elijah) was a troubler of Israel

in restraining the rain.

Elijah denied the impeachment, and said it was Ahab that was to blame.

How was this?

Elijah was the restrainer of the rain, and yet put the blame on Ahab.

Because Ahab was the first cause. Our current divisions have a first cause.

Place them there, and you will be right.

Brother Robert Roberts

It is an honor

to a man to change as often as he is convinced;

but it is dishonest and hypocritical to change,

and yet to pretend that he is still advocating what he always believed.

Brother John Thomas

The Herald

1851-52

Our sympathies

are with the people as sheep without a shepherd;

our antipathies against those who scatter them,

and pervert the right ways of the Lord.

Brother John Thomas

True views will keep a man in the path of wise action,

while erroneous views may turn him into a fool.

Brother Robert Roberts

The Ways of Providence

There is no peace to the wicked.

God is angry with them.

There is no life out of Christ for anybody,

though it would be a “philanthropic” thing to bestow good indiscriminately.

There is no setting aside the law of God, though God is love.

There is no escaping the judgments which are coming on the world,

though God intends to bless the world through Abraham and his seed.

“ First pure, then peaceable :”

this is the divine rule.

First conformity to God's arrangement;

then reconciliation, tranquility, and joy.

Brother Robert Roberts

1866

When a man throws away the words -

the doctrines follow.

1887 Christadelphian

Truth can stand any test.

Truth is immortal;

and fears nothing but the lukewarmness of her friends,

in whose house she is more frequently wounded

than in conflict with her foes-

Brother John Thomas

Herald of the Kingdom

1851 pg. 96

We have no use for those who cause the Truth to be evil spoken of by their malpractice,

and certain we are they can have no use for us.

If people who profess the Truth dishonor that Truth,

they dishonor us.

And we do not want, nor will condescend to have,

any cooperation with them.

They are only stumbling blocks and hindrances in the way,

and the Truth can never progress in the shadow of their obliquity.

Nothing can be done with the unbelieving where the brethren are unfaithful to the Truth.

Brother John Thomas

Brethren, whether rich or poor,

should all remember

that when they are redeemed from the sins of the past,

in putting on the Christ-robe of righteousness,

through the obedience of faith,

they are "a purchased people:'

and that when so purchased,

the purchaser bought all they possess;

so that they are no longer their own,

but property of another.

Now, when a man purchases a servant,

he does not buy him to sit all his days

with a bushel on his head in complacent quietude.

A slave owns nothing, neither himself, nor anything belonging to self

before he came a slave.

Such is the relation of brethren to Christ,

their Lord and Master.

A complacently quiescent Christian is one who will never inherit the kingdom,

though his faith be ever so orthodox,

or his baptism ever so valid.

He is an unprofitable concealer of his Master's property in a napkin.

Brother John Thomas

in a letter to brother Roberts

My Days and My Ways

pg 40

"Hear the other side"

is a plausible motto;

but is only applicable when men have not made up their minds,

or are ignorant of the other side.

When men have embraced the faith of the Lord Jesus,

they have made up their minds, and, as a rule,

men do not make up their minds until they have seen all around the subject.

When they have done this,

they feel it trifling with them to ask them to hear the other side.

They will even indignantly refuse the invitations.

There is a time for everything.

Everlasting investigation is not the function of enlightened conviction.

It is only the office of everlasting uncertainty

and develops everlasting muddle and unsettlement.

Everlasting listening to the Truth

is everlasting upbuilding, comfort and growth-

Brother Robert Roberts

It is the duty of God's servants

to do their utmost to protect His Word from corruption.

Faithfulness in dealing with this Word in all its aspects

will be the test of their fitness for acceptance in the day of judgment.

If unfaithful in their treatment of the "Word of Life,"

how can they expect to receive the "Life" itself?

-Brother William Smallwood

1913

taken from

"Bible Teaching Concerning Sin and Sacrifice"

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.

Brother John Thomas

Most controversies

Originate in the use of terms that are elastic from their vagueness-

Brother Robert Roberts

1894

Christ never laid down the foundation of Ecclesias as a social experiment.

They did not come into existence to provide for present well being,

or for the comfort of its members;

but by a personal sacrifice to draw them closer to God.

He revealed by precept and example a clear line of demarcation

between the service to God

and to a world that knows not God;

a way of life that is Truth-centered from one that is Man-centered.

Where that separating line is confused,

the distinction between the Ecclesia and world will become blurred.

the Truth will then become only one of the many fleeting interests

rather than the dominating motivation and real life of the individual...

Brother H.P. Mansfield

Logos 1986 pg 163

All truth

that God has condescended to reveal in His word

is worthy of being known,

and when known is calculated to soften the heart and improve the dispositions of men.

Brother John Thomas

Herald 1851

There is no authority for making one part of the truth less important than another.

A reception of the truth on one point will not condone its rejection of another…

Nothing short of fidelity to the whole Truth can be accepted as a safe policy.

Brother Robert Roberts

"No truth, much less the truth in whole or part, has been established in this world without controversy. So long as error exists, controversy must continue. It is indispensable not only to the overthrow of error, but to the preservation of the truth. This is a duty enjoined upon all true believers by Scripture,

"Contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."

Brother John Thomas

Established, strengthened, settled-

such is the expressive description of the state of stability in the Truth

to which Paul desired and exhorted believers in his day to attain.

The opposite state he speaks of as being

"carried about with every wind of doctrine"

-a state which he declares to appertain to spiritual childhood.

Brother Robert Roberts

1876

Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief,

while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it-

Herald of the Kingdom Age to Come

1852

Established, strengthened, settled-such is the expressive description of the state of stability in the Truth to which Paul desired and exhorted believers in his day to attain.

The opposite state he speaks of as being "carried about with every wind of doctrine"

-a state which he declares to appertain to spiritual childhood.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1 Pet 5:10

Brother Robert Roberts

1876

It is a monstrous conceit that

"the only discipline the ecclesia can enforce in these

times is against false doctrine,

and not against immorality of conduct."

Such a rule as this, approved by any society of professors,

would make it a fellowship of iniquity.

For myself, I would not belong to such a body of evil doers.

The conceit is itself false doctrine, and therefore, a matter of discipline.

Such a dogma is symptomatic of immorality in the holder.

An ecclesia should, at least, aim to keep itself free

from corruptions that are in the world through lust,

though it may not succeed to the extent desired. To fellowship iniquity knowingly, and without rebuke, makes us partakers of the guilt.

Brother John Thomas

Words are signs of ideas, but in this hypocritical age,

they are employed as words without knowledge to darken counsel.

Brother John Thomas

Apostolic Advocate

The truest love

is that which stands by the Truth,

and regardless of consequences,

helps others to keep the way of salvation.

Brother Robert Roberts

"Humanism is a way of looking at our world with emphases on the

importance of human beings...

All humanists agree that people are the center of their study...

Humanism teaches that every person has dignity and worth and therefore should

command the respect of every other person."

-Encyclopedia description of humanism

"Men were not ushered into being

for the purpose of being saved or lost.

God manifestation,

not human salvation,

was the great purpose of the eternal Spirit."

Brother John Thomas

Phanerosis

A philosophy fixed on the human point of view

is like a ship moored to a flower:

it won't hold.

Philosophy fixed of God will endure forever-

Brother Robert Roberts

As Paul begat Onesimus, so Brother Thomas,

either directly or remotely, has spiritually begotten us.

His writings are as powerful to instruct us today as when Elpis Israel first appeared.

But what about Dr. Thomas' mistakes?

These are not so likely to hinder anyone's obedience to the Truth

as is the discouragement caused by those who by loud and insistent criticism

turn many away from his peerless expositions.

If what we deem to be error calls for notice,

let us take it in hand, meekly and humbly, just as we should deal with a parent's fault.

The fruit of the doctor's teaching is to be seen in hundreds of ecclesias

and in thousands of brethren rejoicing in the teaching of the Gospel.

What can the doctor's critics show as the result of their efforts?

Time spent in handing on brother Thomas' instruction

will make both ourselves and others wise unto salvation.

Those who occupy themselves thus are not likely to devote much time and energy

to our Brother's shortcomings.

Brother Robert Roberts

People are in a state of stupor from which nothing can arouse them

but the "seven thunders" soon to issue from the throne.

What then are we to do in the prospect of certain failure?

Fold our arms, and exclaim "it's no use to try; lets take it easy;

and if the world is determined to perish, bid it good speed and away"?

By no means.

If the world is bent on suicide, we have meanwhile a duty to perform,

that we may perchance save some.

Our order is to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints."

This is entirely opposed to do-nothing-ism.

There can be no success without effort,

though there may be much effort without success.

Brother John Thomas

I feel like a bird of passage, just alighted upon a tree,

and ready to depart at any moment.

I have entered upon a new and probably the last phase of my mortal career,

antecedent to my resurrection or change, if I should live till the Lord come.

I am here temporarily and briefly,

sojourning until I can transfer myself to another field of operations,

where the “unadulterated milk of the word”

creates more interest and commands more respect-

though infinitely less withal than could be wished-

than in this land of theological monstrosities,

where the thorns and briars of mere speculative tradition

spring up spontaneously and choke the word.

Brother John Thomas

June 1870