Greater Love Hath No Man

"Greater LOVE hath no man...." John 15:13.

This morning I was perusing a book I had just recently acquired, [it was given to me,] when I discovered in its pages a "tear off" from a calendar. I am sure it dates back many years, but the Word of Truth never changes, as it is the Word of the immutable God and its central theme is "Jesus Christ the Same yesterday, and today and for ever." Hebrews 13:8.

The Scripture quotation above and that used in the "header" were not those on the calendar; they came to me when I read the poem at the close of the address on the page. It is beautiful; I have no idea who wrote it or anything more about it, and I felt I must share it with any of the Lords' people who come across this "Post."

To objects who deserve Thy wrath,

Thy boundless love extends;

Thou'rt tenderer to Thine enemies,

Than men are to their friends.

Perhaps the same line of a choice hymn will spring into your minds as it did into my own:

No man of greater love can boast
Than for his friend to die;
Thou for Thine enemies was slain;
What love with Thine can vie?

Psalms And Hymns And Spiritual Songs
number 88
J. Stennett 1663-1713






A Closure and a Conversion

A Closure and a Conversion.

It is sad to report the closure of another meeting place where saints gathered to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ alone. After recent closures in England, at least three come to mind, another Assembly in South Wales has ceased to maintain a testimony; I am not seeking to apportion blame or reveal any details, I have no knowledge of these things. But the meeting in Fairwater has "closed."

On a much lovelier note I heard only today that a lady who had been invited to the Gospel Meeting at Dursley, and had attended regularly, came into salvation blessing last Lords' Day evening! She was much in our prayers and we felt she was under exercise of soul. How gracious of the Lord Jesus to hear our intercession for her and answer with eternal blessings for her.

The Assembly at Dursley in Gloucestershire U.K. is numerically weak, but has remained faithful for many years. Their struggle to witness for the Saviour has been recompensed, with this addition of a sister, and the attendance for some while now of a brother from the denominations.

News of this character should furnish us with encouragement and thanksgiving. Please pray that Kath might grow in grace and be kept in the love of Christ; and that she may enjoy all the privileges of Assembly fellowship.  

Spiritual Bankruptcy of the Population of Britain

Spiritual Bankruptcy of the population of Britain

The findings of this very recent poll are staggering, and must horrify every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, living in this country. 

British people are more likely to believe in ghosts than a Creator – and self-identified Christians are more likely to believe in aliens than the devil

Most British people say Britain is – and should be – a Christian country, and self-identified Christians make up around half of the population. But it's partly a cultural term – last year we found only 55% of self-identified Christians believe there is a God; the year before we found only 23% of the total population say they are very (3%) or fairly (20%) religious.

A new analysis from YouGov Profiles of nearly 12,000 people who affiliate with Christianity and a control set of 39,000 British people representative of the whole population reveals some startling juxtapositions in belief. Asked to say which of 14 spiritual or paranormal phenomena they definitely do or do not believe in, only 41% of Christians say they definitely believe in a Creator while 18% say they do not.

Christians are more likely to believe in fate or destiny (46% definitely believe, 18% do not), not necessarily a tenet of Christianity, than either heaven (44% believe, 19% do not) or an everlasting soul (36% believe, 19% do not).

And there is a tendency to believe in the friendlier parts of faith than those which are difficult to contemplate. People who say they are Christian are more likely to definitely believe in heaven (44%) than hell (27%), and more likely to definitely believe in angels (35%) than the devil (24%).

British people as a whole are most likely to believe in fate (36%) and alien life (30%), while in net terms belief in ghosts (-9) and karma (-11) is more prevalent than belief in a Creator (-21) or heaven (-21).

In 1983 only 31% of British people said they had no religion, which has now risen to just under half of all adults. In 1983 only 2% said they belonged to a non-Christian religion and this figure has now risen to 8%.

I feel totally inadequate to express my profound sorrow and despair when I read these findings. Brethren and sisters in Christ, "tabernacling" in this land, this should bring us to our knees! We need to cry out to our God for His mercy to us-ward; praying for those in authority over us, as we remind our hearts that the powers that be are appointed by God. We need to flood this nation with the Word of God, redeeming the time. May our gracious God deal kindly with us, tempering His righteous indignation with His grace, for the sake of His Name, and His Son.



The Maker of the Universe

The Maker of the Universe

Perhaps some of you are a little like me and enjoy "spiritual" poetry; well we all sing hymns and they are spiritual poems set to music.

The above phrase is the title of a beautiful example of the poetry I have in mind. I knew a few phrases from it, but not its' title or first line. but now I have "discovered" it I wondered if other believers who are not familiar with it would appreciate an opportunity to read it. If so, here it is:

The Maker of the Universe

The Maker of the universe

As Man, for men was made a curse.

The claims of law which He had made,

Unto the uttermost He paid.

His holy fingers made the bough

Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow.

The nails that pierced His hands were mined

In secret places He designed.

He made the forest whence there sprung

The tree on which His body hung.

He died upon a cross of wood,

Yet made the hill on which it stood.

The sky that darkened o'er His head

By Him above the earth was spread.

The sun that hid from Him its' face

By His decree was poised in space.

The spear which spilled His precious blood

Was tempered in the fires of God.

The grave in which His form was laid,

Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.

The throne on which He now appears

Was His from everlasting years.

But a new glory crowns His brow.

And every knee to Him shall bow.

Well has another penned, "See from His head, His hands, His feet." "Head, hands and feet of a Divine Person tabernacling amongst us for a little while. "His head as the most fine gold, His hands as gold rings, His legs pillars of marble set in bases of fine gold;" The thoughts of His holy mind, the labour of His tender hands and the pure pathway of His sacred feet all shine resplendent with the gold of Deity."

What a Creator-Redeemer! Hallelujah, what a Saviour!