But the more we search the Scriptures, the more we perceive, in this doctrine, the fundamental truth of the gospel - that truth which gives to redemption its character, and to all other truths their real power. |
I know that those who esteem these little organised associations to be the churches of God, see nothing but mere meetings of men in every other gathering of God's children. |
I go farther, and say, that it is plainly our duty to desire pastors and teachers to take the care of such congregations, and that God did raise up such in the church as we see it in the word. |
I held apostolic succession fully, and the channels of grace to be there only. |
Jude has a very different character. It is not the cradle of Christianity, or of the assembly on earth: it is its decay and its death here below. It does not keep its first estate. |
After deep exercise of soul I was brought by grace to feel I could entirely. |
The salvation of the elect was as certain before His advent, though accomplished by it, as afterwards. |
Nothing is more prominently brought forward in the New Testament than the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. |
Nationalism - in other words, the dividing of the church into bodies - consisting of such and such a nation, is a novelty, not above three centuries old, although many dear children of God are found dwelling in it. |
This truth of the gathering together of God's children is in Scripture seen realised in various localities, and in each central locality the Christians resident therein composed but one body: Scripture is perfectly clear on that head. |
Every Christian will allow that sin is an evil, and that it is our duty not to commit sin. |
The cross is the centre of all this in every respect. |
It is the desire of our hearts, and as we believe God's will under this dispensation, that all the children of God should be gathered together as such, and, consequently, as not of the world. |
By one Spirit we are all baptised into one body. |
Obedience to the word in humility of mind never confuses. |
I add, that those who are bent on restoring the whole church ought to be well instructed in the word, and to abstain from doing anything under the pretext of simplicity. |
Among the children of God, it was they who were most able to rightly divide the word of truth. |
The Epistle is a correction of profession without life, and most valuable in this respect. |
The Reformation did not directly touch the question of the true character of God's church. |
During my solitude, conflicting thoughts increased; but much exercise of soul had the effect of causing the scriptures to gain complete ascendancy over me. |