PROVERBS 11


1 A false balance is abomination to Yahweh: but a just weight is his delight.

Commerce, in itself, is not evil.


It is lawful and imperative. Without commerce the world would soon collapse. It is an occupation, however, which is attendant with tremendous moral risks. The temptations of business men are truly legion and very subtle.

Shopkeepers and traders need, above most men, to be exceedingly circumspect and watchful. Their only safeguard lies in a determination to keep God's will in reference to their calling well in mind.

"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have"

(Lev. 19:36; Deut. 25:13-16).

This is our duty, and the brother who is faithful to it is now a delight in the ever and all-seeing eyes of God (Prov. 11:1). The one who is obedient will set his face against exaggeration and misrepresentation (the world's unconquerable failings). He will praise his wares (and use all his eloquence for the purpose), but he will not call brass, gold: nor margarine, butter, nor calico, linen.

It may be easier, nay, it is easier, and more lucrative in the short run, to be unconscientious, but it is wise to think of the by-and-bye.

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Bro AT Jannaway

The Christadelphian, Aug 1900



2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Conceit.‭-‬Even worldly wisdom says‭ "‬Take the conceit out of a man before you can make good use of him.‭" ‬This is the aim of God's discipline in the permission of evil.‭ ‬Get down to your proper level and you wont need pushing down.‭ ‬If you‭ ‬will stay up,‭ ‬there will be consequences.

The Christadelphian, Mar 1888.


27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

DAILY BIBLE READING


SALVATION depends upon the assimilation of the mind to the divine ideas, principles, and affections exhibited in the Scriptures.

This process commences with a belief of the gospel, but is by no means completed thereby; it takes a lifetime for its scope, and untiring diligence for its accomplishment.

The mind is naturally alien from God and all His ideas (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor 2:14), and cannot be brought at once to the Divine likeness. This is a work of slow development, and can only be achieved by the industrious application of the individual to the means which God has given for the purpose, viz., the expression of His mind in the Scriptures of truth.

Spiritual-mindedness, or a state of mind in accordance with the mind of the Spirit as displayed in these writings, can only grow within a man by daily intercourse with that mind, there unfolded.

Away from this, the mind will revert to its original emptiness. The infallible advice then to every man and woman anxious about their salvation is READ, THE SCRIPTURES DAILY. It is only in proportion as this is done, that success may be looked for. The man who sows sparingly in this respect, will only reap sparingly. Much spiritual fructification is only to be realized in connection with fructifying influences of the Spirit in the Word.

Bro Roberts



30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Tree of Life


37. What relation did the first man sustain to mortality and immortality?

That of a candidate for the one or the other. If obedient to the law, he would obtain the right to eat of the tree of life, and live forever. (Gen. 3:22; Rev.22:14.) If disobedient, he would

incur the penalty of the law, which consigned him to the dust from which he was taken. (Gen 2:17; 3:19.)

38. Having come under the penalty of the law, when did it begin to take effect?

After he had given account of himself at the judgment which sat upon his case, and sentence of death was pronounced upon him.

39. What is DEATH?

The cessation of the life of an earthy body.

40. What is CORRUPTION?

The returning of a lifeless earthy body to its primeval dust.

41. If the first man by obedience had obtained a "right" to immortality, when would he have realized "the gift?" After giving account of himself at the tribunal of the Life-giver, and

receiving permission to eat of the tree of Lives.

42. What effect would the eating from the tree of life have produced upon his earthy body?

It is a change of body, nature, or substance, by the transforming power of Spirit, which makes the earthy, living body so intensely vivescent, that all its earthy properties are "swallowed up,"or obliterated; in other words, its earthiness is superseded by incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and deathless consolidated spirit. The body into which the earthy body is transformed by quickening, is styled "the house which is from heaven."

43. Does this order of things, in regard to the first man, vary in relation to his posterity who may hereafter be re-created from the dust?

Not in the least. They come forth earthy bodies; they then appear at the judgment seat of the Spirit; they there give an account of themselves to Christ, who, according to the account rendered, sentences them to life, or condemns them to "fiery indignation" (Heb.10:27), death, and corruption.

44. What follows the pronunciation of the sentences according to the verdicts rendered?

The execution of the sentences pronounced. The righteous saints have "the Father's Name written upon their foreheads" in being quickened (Rev. 3:12;14:1); the others continue bound hand and foot in their primeval earthiness, are exiled from the King's presence, and driven into the darkness of the outer Babylonish world, then still subject to "the Devil and his angels," (Matt. 25:30, 41; 22:13); where, in the judgments by which the Beast, False Prophet, kings of the earth, and their armies, are destroyed, they are subjected to the punishments decreed, and which end in the corruption of "THE SECOND DEATH." (Rev.19:19, 20; 20:15.)

45. But if a man believe the gospel of the kingdom of the Deity and Name of Jesus Christ, and upon this belief have been duly immersed, is he not "IN CHRIST JESUS," and therefore free from all liability to condemnation?

Such a person is, without question, "in Christ Jesus;" and, on being introduced into him, the sinner, who out of Christ is "condemned already" (John 3:18), passes from that condemnation, and comes under the sentence to "justification of life." (Rom. 5:18; 8:1.)

Being "purged from his old sins" (2 Pet. 1:9), he is no longer liable to punishment on

their account; he has "passed from death unto life," in the sense of having obtained a "right to eat of the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city," -(Rev. 22:14.) But Paul teaches that this right maybe forfeited by saints; and that persons in Christ Jesus will be condemned if they walk after the flesh; for, in writing to saints, he says, "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." (Rom. 8:13.)

46. But does not Paul say that "there is now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus?" How, then, can there be condemnation to any such in a judgment?

Such quotation, as used in this question, is "handling the word of God deceitfully," and making the apostle stultify himself. When the whole verse is quoted, it is seen to contain two statements: first, that there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus who walk after the Spirit; and, second, that there is condemnation to them in Christ Jesus who walk after the flesh. (Rom 8:1.)

Catechesis



31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Eternal Wisdom has decreed that men shall be rewarded in the earth -- in the arena of their contention and suffering for the truth.

Eureka 11.4.2.