These, instead of needing reproofs and rebukes and smitings and upbraidings for their shortcomings, which they admit and deplore and strive against, need sympathy, assistance, comfort.įew probably have noticed to what extent the Scriptures administer this very "balm of Gilead" to the true children of Zion but the Scriptures are full of comfort, and there is great need that all who are truly the Lord's people should see to it that they are more and more sons and daughters of comfort in the Church, administering to one another the helpfulness and encouragement and refreshment which the Lord intended. But the true "wheat," the true members of the body of Christ, the consecrated, are, however imperfectly, continually seeking to walk after the Spirit though they are well aware that because of imperfections of the flesh they do not and cannot walk up to the spirit. Those who should be warned to flee from the wrath to come are such as have never yet fled for refuge to the hope set before them in the Gospel, – such as are without God, and have no hope in the world – no relationship to Christ, through faith and obedience. ![]() Those needing reproof, rebuke, etc., are such as are walking after the flesh and not after the Spirit – in violation of their covenant. ![]() We believe that such well meant but mistaken efforts have done much harm, have driven away from the family circle of Zion many who could not, without hypocrisy, claim that they were the vilest of sinners, nor properly appreciate prayers in which they were represented as saying, "Lord, be merciful unto us, miserable sinners!" when they realized divine favor and forgiveness – justification from all things. But we have no sympathy at all with the thought so common with some good people viz., that they should always be feeling miserable with themselves and making other people miserable, by continually nagging and faultfinding upbraiding and terrorizing. We would not ignore the fact that there are occasions when reproofs and corrections in righteousness are proper, as the Apostle advised. Some may be inclined to query, Does the true Church need comfort? Are not the majority too comfortable already? Do they not rather need to be stirred up, to be reminded of their sins, to be chided and made generally as uncomfortable as possible, to the intent that they may thus be helped onward and upward? We want to see this subject in its true light, in order that we may each act accordingly – that a larger and an increasing number of the children of Zion shall be sons and daughters of comfort to all with whom they come in contact, and thus in a general way comforters to the Church as a whole. Some of these are sons of comfort and daughters of comfort, while others are sons and daughters of pain, continually causing more or less of distress and discomfort to others and to themselves. ![]() In one sense of the word the Church is spoken of as a mother, Zion, and all the true people of God are thus represented as her children – sons and daughters. We know little about Barnabas, but if this one sentence of holy writ comprised the sum of our knowledge we could not fail to love and appreciate him. And we not only invite but urge our readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made, to facilitate such testing.ĬOMFORT! Consolation! What rest and refreshment and peace and joy these words imply! That the name, "son of consolation," or comfort, should be given to any one of mature years tells a whole volume in itself respecting the general character of the person. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. Its attitude is not dogmatical, but confident for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken – according to the divine wisdom granted unto us, to understand. It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the Holy Scriptures. 1:5-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to – "Make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which.has been hid in God.to the intent that now might be made known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God" – "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed." – Eph. ![]() 2:6.) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones ( 1 Cor. THIS journal is set for the defence of the only true foundation of the Christian's hope now being so generally repudiated, – Redemption through the precious blood of "the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all." ( 1 Pet.
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