Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

Some time ago I discovered that the Chief Engineer engaged in the structural concept and form of the Eiffel Tower was a brother in Assembly fellowship: Maurice Koechlin.

He and his wife Emma were in life-long fellowship with "Brethren commonly so called." 

The symbol of Paris though named after Gustave Eiffel owes more to the talents of brother Koechlin. Maurice was honoured becoming an "Officer of the Legion d'Honneur. 

But what has most intrigued me is the how Jean and Maurice Koechlin are related; I have no doubt that they were "family" as both were born in the same area of France, and both met with "Brethren."  Further than that I have not discovered.
Jean was the author of "Chaque Jour les Ecritures" a series of "notes" written in order to aid young believers in a consecutive reading of the whole Bible over a period of five years. These "notes" are far more profound and spiritually beneficial to ones' soul than to be limited to those young in the faith. I have been reading them every day for decades and have been richly rewarded and edified thereby. I owe Jean Koechlin a huge debt of gratitude and highly recommend his labour of love to you.  

 



Mother and Her Son Baptised

A Mother and her Son Baptised

We had the joy of supporting an Assembly exercise with our prayers and presence just last Lords' Day.

Both of the "candidates" (I'm not sure from where I dragged up that expression,) I hope it is not offensive to any believer of my fellow believers; but to continue both of these dear saints gave their testimony before entering the water.

I struggled with my "principles" as the sister opened her heart in witness to the saving grace of God. I remain a little concerned as to her "speaking," but partially console myself with the fact that it was not an Assembly gathering. The Assembly no more baptise than teaches! And it was clear to all that she was not "taking the lead" on that occasion. In honesty I still am a little concerned, but I cannot deprive you of this manifestation of the life-giving power of the Gospel of Gods' grace.

As indicated in the "Title" of this Post, it was a mother and one of her sons publicly declaring their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And both had been "won" for the Lord by another of her sons because of his totally transformed character and lifestyle. He had been deep in the darkness of this world and so had his mother and his brother. Truly "brands plucked out of the fire;" Zechariah 3:2.

Such an ignominious defeat for Satan their erstwhile master!

The sisters' testimony was courageous and passionate although she spoke so quietly and humbly. I doubt that any who listened could have remained unmoved. I hasten to add that the young man to witnessed a bold confession.

The brother given the responsibility to speak a little on baptism and preach the Gospel did not fail in his faithfulness to the Saviour. The Gospel was clearly "preached" and the Lordship of Christ was maintained throughout the meeting.

How precious to be able to muse upon blessing in a time of such failure among so many of Gods' people.

Please uphold these dear "babes in Christ" in prayer, especially in the next few weeks when they will without doubt be assailed by the evil one! 

H.A. Ironside

H.A. Ironside

I wondered if ant one could confirm that there are no copies of any works by  H.A. Ironside in the Brethren Archive housed in Rylands Library Manchester. I am really surprised if this is correct.

I have also recently bought a book by John Ritchie that is not listed there either; I do realise its scarcity even more now!



Handfuls on Purpose

Handfuls on Purpose

Of late I have been reading, with various levels of enjoyment "Handfuls on Purpose" by W.T.P. Wolston. One difficulty I encountered was the clear omission of some of the text. The pagination was correct, but moving from one page to the next often did not make sense; the final sentence on a page would be unfinished and a new one begun on the next page. Frequently the context was completely different from what had gone before. It obviously detracted from the expected blessing. I fear a whole "print-run" may have been corrupted in this way.

The book consists of sixteen addresses, differing in length and depth too.The seventh study is entitled "Overcoming: Its Secret;" and the thoughts based upon

1 John 2:12-29 I found to be perhaps the most satisfying to my soul. I would recommend it to you for your thoughtful consideration.

I do not want to be critical, but Wolstons' meditation on Psalm 45 was all too brief and so disappointed me.

I wish I was able to inform you as to which edition of the book I am referring to as it would help prevent you buying what is an incomplete manuscript. It is nowhere dis-bound either.

Dismay and Encouragement

Dismay and Encouragement

In the space of a number of weeks three Assemblies in South Wales terminated their local testimonies. This appears to be a general trend in the South West of England and South Wales. Sadly not all the saints involved in these Meeting closures find their continued fellowship in the Assemblies anymore. It fills my heart with sadness and dismay; how we must seek the Lords' help in the maintenance of local witness for Him in these rapidly-closing last days.

Now over the last couple of weeks I have experienced some personal encouragements that may be of similar blessing to my fellow believers in the lovely Son of God. I had the privilege of ministering the Word to a little company 9of the Lords' people in Somerset. They were very appreciative of the Word meditated upon, and a married couple I had not seen there before were particularly blessed. So much so that they intend to "ask for fellowship" there and intend moving nearer to the Hall. But what was precious was to hear the brothers' remarkable testimony. Brought up and practicing Roman Catholicism, he heard the Gospel elsewhere and believed. Immediately the scales dropped from his eyes, and he said, "one moment I was a Catholic, the next I was saved and a Protestant." We both laughed, but he remarked that he was serious having "prayed to idols and to Mary." He owned a gambling establishment and relinquished it immediately. He had no other means of earning his living and lost his house! He said, "I intended to make my living doing an honest days' work. He began by cleaning windows. He recently had a triple heart-bypass operation and needs prayer for this, it does cause one to "get down," I know I have had the same operation. Please pray for this dear brother and his wife that they may grow and be kept in their walk, witness and worship, for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

What a marvellous transformation in a soul and that in an instant; may this encourage us all.

This took place on the first Thursday in June [this month] and on the second Thursday I was invited to minister the Word of God at another little Assembly in the same county. On this occasion after the Meeting we gathered around a table furnished with refreshments and enjoyed conversation of a spiritual character. A sister from a different Assembly felt the need to speak briefly of her conversion; this too was so encouraging. Apparently she was familiar with many of the worlds' practices, including spiritism, and entrenched in these things she was forcefully sceptical of all things connected with the Word of God. Her father was in Assembly fellowship and invited her to the Meeting. It was the "Breaking of Bread," [unfortunately he only attended the Morning Meeting], this sister went along with numerous questions with which to bombard the saints. But every question was answered as the meeting progressed, and before she left the Hall she had repented and been "born from above!" 

Brethren and sisters in Christ, there is "no Gospel like this feast!" 

The Lord encourage our hearts in His will and for His own glory.

A Divine Warning to the U.K. and other Nations

A verse in the Psalms arrested me and has lingered in my mind. The verse is found in Psalm 94, which I purpose to refer to in a moment. But first I would direct your attention to two other quotations found in the Psalms, both of which echo a similar refrain.

"For there is no certainty in their mouth; their inward part is perversion..." Psalm5:9.

"Perversion" is the thought I am tracing in the three Psalms; the word is plural in each instance: "corrupt, depraved desires, wickedness, mischievous things."

"Perversities are in the midst thereof; and oppression and deceit depart not from its streets." Psalm 55:11.

Now I reach the verse that caught hold of my mind and caused me to ponder what repercussions would result from this that characterises this nation at present. How relevant and applicable is this word here and now:

"Shall the throne of wickedness, [lit. perversities] be united to Thee, [i.e. God] which frameth mischief [lit. iniquity] into a law!" Psalm 94:20.

This exactly corresponds with this country right now! Legislation has been passed to defend and promote the most vile of sexual practices which are an abomination to God. A massive lobby has ensnared, duped, frightened and brow-beaten many who make up "those in authority over us;" Thus their designs are being countenanced by officials who see an opportunity to "win" the support of those who practice these perversions, and thereby earn credence with them by implying that it is charitable, kind and democratic to permit, promote and praise these iniquitous practices. It is deemed "right" to adopt such a position, and dangerous to hold a different view. In political circles it has become a great "vote winner."  Meanwhile even various "churches" so called, [and I use that word in the loosest possible way,} not only allow these people to enjoy "fellowship" with them, but welcome them with open arms; some of these "denominations" even recognise "churches" where only those of this persuasion gather! 

Perversities are seated upon the moral "throne" of this country, our laws are permeated with them, and God, of course, has separated Himself from the nation He has so blessed over many centuries with His grace and mercy.

There must be a "remnant testimony, for He is never without witness; brethren and sisters let us determine to sever any and all connections with these things and these people. Do not be deluded by the honeyed words of the evil one, suggesting that it is unkind, unloving and discriminative to so act. 

May the Lord Jesus deign to enable His believing people to maintain that pristine, if feeble remnant testimony for Him amidst the wickedness of this sin-benighted world; and may He be so compassionate as to withhold something of the magnitude of His imminent judgment against a reprobate nation and a rebellious world.    

 



Creation--Death--Destiny

Creation--Death-- Destiny

I have just finished reading a book with the above title, authored by C.E. Lunden. It was a little bit of a struggle for me, but had some lovely thoughts and proved to be instructive at times. Personally I disagreed with some of his teaching, particularly in connection with prophetic events; he seemed to lurch to and from the Great Tribulation, the Millennial Scene and the Eternal State without any rhyme or reason; so it became dislocated, disjointed and difficult to follow. But nevertheless I am not sorry to have spent time in its pages. The book closes with a beautiful poem, I believe it must be his own composition, and worthy of a wider audience:

Creations, light and brightening hue,

Where all was fashioned for man anew,

Where each oncoming creature fills

The grassy land, the sea and rills;

There man upright, with God would see

Communion sweet on bended knee.

'Twas soon to change, because the foe

Would tempt the man all good to know,

Mistrust of his God, 'tis this we see

Has led to his sad destiny.

Then death its pall cast far and wide.

He forfeits life because of pride.

But in the purpose still I see
That God in love would rescue me,
A sacrifice, made in my stead,
Would cause my soul to look ahead;
And in His counsel long ago,
He made a plan and told me so.
The sin that once had led amiss
has caused instead to show me this:
That in a Man, the womans' Seed,
The One who on the cross did bleed,
The second Man, from heaven we know,
Has turned to bliss my doom of woe.

But, how, I pray, midst all this gloom
That gave the Son of God a tomb,
Could ever yet a path be known
That in its end would bring a throne?
'Tis only judgment here I see,
But in the end how rich 'twill be!
The curse remove, the heart renew,
Because a Man from heavens' blue,
Took up the wretched sinners' case
And died for mans' apostate race.
The thing required of you and me
Is only faith, Gods' gift, you see.

But shall my eyes as yet behold
A paradise on earth unfold?
Ah, no! Rejected here was He,
So where He's gone my place shall be.
In new creation life I'll prove
That God is just - that God is love.
The starry heaven I'll soon pass by
And reach my home beyond the sky;
The Fathers' house, 'twill soon be so,
The robe, the ring, the shoes to go;
The fatted calf He has set by
To swell the praise that fills the sky.

Then, deeply satisfied, He'll see
The fruit of all that set me free.
The hearts' deep longings, on my part,
Will soon be filled, and I will start
To learn, as endless ages roll,
The kindness great that saved my soul.
Then with the Bridegroom evermore,
As man, for ever to explore
The depths of love that made it so,
I'll share with those who're given to know
A brides' full part in wedded bliss,
Pity and grace, that led to this.