10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Between my daily newspaper duties, the getting up of The Ambassador, and the work connected with a growing ecclesia, my time was fully occupied. One of the drawbacks connected with my reporting life was the encroachment it made on Sunday time. This was made as light as possible by the newspaper people in consideration of the purpose for which I had come to Birmingham, but I had to take my turn in routine duty, and had to make frequent calls at the hospitals and police stations for news of the latest accidents and misdeeds.

These calls having to be made after delivering the Sunday evening lecture, were very disagreeable. The transition from the congenial contemplation of the beautiful things of the Spirit to the handling of the dark and ugly ways of man in this sinful era caused something like the experience of a man who might be ejected into the darkness and the rain from the brightness and joy and warmth of a nuptial feast.

My companion took off the disagreeableness as much as she could. She would bring me some supper before I started, and would then accompany me on my rounds and come and wait for me in the newspaper office while I wrote out my paragraphs for the printer, after which we walked home together. These dreary performances were often in bad weather, which made them drearier still, but all things human have an end, and the time came when we had to do this no more.

My days and my ways Ch 25

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Trades Unionism and Brotherhood

To be a trade unionist is to be yoked with unbelievers in an enterprise conducted on the principles of unbelievers. This is a dangerous position for a son of God; and a wise man keeps out of danger. The true brethren of Christ are strangers and pilgrims, as sheep in the midst of wolves. They behave kindly to the wolves, but do not unite with them in wolves' business.

The true sheep cannot pretend to act as a wolf for the sake of getting along. The restriction is, doubtless, embarassing in a day when to be not of the union is almost to be out of the trade; but duty towards God is always inconvenient in the midst of an evil and adulterous generation. Here lies the trial at all times.

He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. The kingdom of God remains for those who overcome. The Father governs even now, directing the steps of those who commit their way to Him, knowing what things we have need of. Therefore, cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.

If the trades unionist levy tribute on you, submit under protest, as Jesus did when the emissary of the tetrarch of Galilee called on Peter, but take no part in their proceedings.

The Christadelphian, Aug 1874

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

‭My God and Our God—are phrases which can only (truthfully) be employed by the saints. Under the Mosaic dispensation, God was the God of Israel only (Amos iii. 2). In the age to come He will be the God of all the earth (Is. liv. 5). Now He is the God only of the few (embracing Jew and Gentile) who believe and obey the gospel. Such have responded to His call (Acts ii. 39), and through it, have become his acknowledged people (Acts xv. 14).

The religious world is‭ "‬without God‭"—‬this is a sad but positive fact.‭ ‬To have to contend for this in word and deed is far from pleasant‭; ‬but duty must not be shirked.‭ "‬Obey my voice,‭ ‬and I will be your God‭" (‬Jer.‭ vii. ‬23‭)‬.‭ ‬This determines divine relationship.‭ ‬The religious world in fellowshipping the blasphemous doctrines of anti-Christ is disobedient.‭ ‬The Word speaks plainly:

‭ "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. vi. 14–18). ATJ

The Christadelphian - June 1887

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The phrases "his name," "his tabernacle," and "them that dwell in the heaven," are all synonymous with the phrase in the seventh verse, "the saints," of whom Christ is "the Head." The Deity dwells in them, and therefore they are his temple, habitation, or tabernacle; as Paul writes to the saints in Corinth,

"Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Deity, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor. 6:16).

They are the tabernacle

"built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, the foundation cornerstone being Jesus Christ himself: in whom all the building fitly framed together increaseth for a Holy Name in the Lord: in whom ye are builded together for an habitation of the Deity in Spirit" (Eph. 2:20-22).

But Christ and the Saints are not only the Name and Tabernacle of the Deity, but they are also, "those who dwell in the heaven." The phrase "in the heaven" is Apocalyptically equivalent to "in the heavenlies in Christ" -en tois epouraniois en Christo (Eph. 1:3).

Paul tells the saints in Ephesus, that he with them were "blessed with all spiritual blessings" in these heavenlies; in which they and Christ, though the latter is at the Right Hand of the Divine Majesty, and they in Ephesus and elsewhere, were regarded as sitting together (Eph. 1:20; 2:6).

Eureka '13.20.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Problems of the Modern Situation.

In this situation of things, there are problems which did not embarrass the operations of the Gospel in the first century. People come to a knowledge of the truth, here and there throughout the world, by means of the published literature of the truth, which has gone widely abroad. What are they to do on attaining to this knowledge? They are members of the various religious bodies around them: shall they continue in their accustomed association?

Reason itself would answer this question even if there were no Scriptural guidance. How can a man continue in association with a body with whose sentiments and objects he has ceased to have sympathy? The Scriptures prescribe that which impulse would dictate: to "come out" (2 Cor. vi 17) to have no fellowship (Eph. v 11), to withdraw (2 Tim. iii 5). It is impossible that the truth could grow or live in the theological communions of the day.

The Ecclesial Guide

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Provided we allow ourselves to be actuated by the Spirit of God (and His words are spirit) then are we His sons and daughters

Bro AT Jannaway

The Christadelphian, May 1900