3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but Yahweh trieth the hearts.

How numerous—how comprehensive are the commandments of Christ! Escape from their obligations we cannot, no not for a single conscious moment. The arrangement, though it makes life hard, has for its foundation wisdom and love. The frequent discomforts, deprivations, and difficulties, that cross our path are not accidental. They serve an infallible purpose.

The "well done" and the "depart from me" will make this very manifest by and bye. The commandments are proving us, and should be humbling us. How important that we should keep this truth always before us, that we meet them not with a rebellious face. Some of Christ's commands are easy to observe, others are not. The latter are they that form the test! Let us think of this when the temptation comes.

In the kingdom all the accepted will be able to say, and will say, for the encouragement and edification of the nations,

"Thou, O Lord, has proved us, thou hast tried us as silver is tried."

What pleasure will the contemplation of past victories then afford! Now we feel the insult and the injustice, though we overlook them because Christ has said "Avenge not." Forgive "seventy times seven." We feel the inconveniences and rebuffs which beset us in setting forth the truth, but we endure them because Christ has said,

"Let him that heareth say, Come."

We feel the pain of severing ourselves from former friends, but we suffer because Christ has said,

"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."

But when we shall stand amongst those who have "overcome," the pain will all be gone, and we shall look upon our trials as so many rounds in the ladder which will have enabled us to reach the top.

Bro AT Jannaway

The Christadelphian, Aug 1888

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

It is not edifying to hear a brother, whose usual habit it is to show coolness in regard to the meetings, and to the general well-being of the truth, sparkle up when a disturbance is on, and assert his voice and advice.

An ecclesia does well to think twice before receiving the counsel of such an one. His advice may be sound, but the chances are it will not be. A brother who can only be stirred to activity by noise and commotion is an unsafe man—his motive is carnal, and therefore dangerous.

A brother who has no disposition to work in quiet times—to support the meetings, to exhort and edify, and to make himself generally useful in the many and varied ecclesial requirements—is not a man to be relied upon when the brotherhood is passing through a critical and troublous time.

The truth's best and safest warriors will be found to be peace-lovers—men who know and value the advantages of peace—who engage in conflict solely as a duty, and then only sadly and reluctantly.

Love of the truth and love of the brethren—in time of peace as well as in time of war—are the traits that should be looked for in men elected to be ecclesial leaders and advisers; and these men should, if possible, be those who have had a hand in making the ecclesia, and whose heart is in their work.

Bro AT Jannaway

The Christadelphian, Jul 1901