2 The fear of a king [wrath of a melech] is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul [nefesh].

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: But a wise man will pacify it (16: 14)

3 It is an honour [kavod] for a man [ish] to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling [any fool can start a quarrel].

The kingdom of God will be upon a broad and liberal basis (in a scriptural sense), but the entrance gate is straight, and the pathway leading thereto is narrow. A broad church is a broad way, which will sooner or later come to grief.

Time and an evil state of things (in the light of the world) a fiery ordeal making manifest both the righteousness of the righteous, and the wickedness of the wicked, to complete which it only remains for God having judged the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, to reward every man according to his work.

If we would be found of the Lord Jesus in peace, we must needs pass the time of our sojourning here in fear, not in spiritual rioting or wordy strife, but as always abounding in the sober and sanctifying work of the Lord.

Bro Shuttleworth

The Christadelphian, Dec 1873

6 Most men [Rav adam] will proclaim every one his own goodness [chesed]: but a faithful man [an ish emunim] who can find [one]?

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (27: 2)

I have always found that wherever the Bible is clearly understood and fervently appreciated, as such themes are to be appreciated both by the nature of things and the express injunction of scripture, that there Dr. Thomas is loved and esteemed.

This result is quite apart from the personal peculiarities of the man. What mortal is without blemish? But what covers blemish like intelligent attachment to divine things? Who could surpass Dr. Thomas in his towering reverence for the oracles of God and his uncompromising loyalty to their authority as opposed to all tradition?

Some had become haters of him through his brusque treatment of crotchets. I had, myself, by and by, an opportunity of feeling the weight and sharpness of that steely executive mind which qualified him for the part he performed in tearing aside the webs of error woven by merely human sympathy; but that I could be separated from him was impossible with the discernment I had of his mastery of divine truth and his faithfulness to Christ in all its bearings.

My days and my ways Ch 19

Our daily bread

There is a wrong process of treatment possible in this as in everything. It is possible to yield to fits of intense application, to be followed by intervals of lassitude and spiritual aversion. Some let weeks roll on without reading their daily portion of Scripture, thinking to make it up by reading a great deal on some particular day.

We cannot feed healthily either in body or mind, by the plan of gorging. A steady supply, day by day, in quantity suited to our needs and capacities, is the method that leads to strength. A pertinacious adherence to the plan of daily reading an allotted portion (as by the Bible Companion)—a practice now happily common—will be found the best way to spiritual health.

Wisdom is also needed with regard to the treatment of the topics brought under our notice in the reading of the Scriptures. Some things are more important than others. Jesus spoke of

"the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith,"

in contrast with the subject of tithes, which was also scriptural in its place. A similar distinction will be found to exist in other cases. The nature of Paul's thorn, for instance, is an admissible subject of occasional speculation, but is not for a moment to be placed side by side with Paul's

"doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience"

So the question of what became of the saints who came out of their graves after their resurrection (Matt. 27:52) is not to be mentioned in importance with the fact of Christ's resurrection. Who was the devil that disputed about the body of Moses is of little consequence compared with the question, Who was the devil Christ destroyed in his death (Heb. 2:14.)

So whether Christ was tall or short, comely or forbidding, auburn or dark, are points which, though involved in the Scripture narrative, are without any value as compared with the fact of Christ's appearance in the flesh, and his invitation by Paul to the Gentiles to become partakers of the covenanted goodness of God.

There are many other such things, which even if true, being without practical value, become "crotchets" when exalted out of their place. They are matters of barren definition. Why "barren?" Because unproductive of fruitfulness to God. Some things induce spiritual fruitfulness and some have no effect one way or other. It is testified that

"the goodness of God leadeth to repentance."

Repentance is, in this case, a fruit springing from the goodness of God perceived and believed. It is a result produced in the mind by a hearty belief that God is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. The fact of God's goodness is not "barren;" it is fruit-producing. It leads a man to be and to do what he otherwise would not.

It is, therefore, most important to be known and maintained; and for any man to interfere with it—for any man to teach that God is not a rewarder of men at all, would be to interfere with a vital fruit-producing element of the testimony of God; and true men would oppose him and contend earnestly for the thing denied; and the thing so contended for by true men would not be a crotchet, but a matter of the utmost moment as affecting the well-being of God and man.

The Christadelphian, Nov 1875