Looking to a future #1 Thoughts by Robert Roberts & H. P. Mansfield

Time makes wonderful havoc of human things.
Each new generation treasures its own toys and mementoes.
Old Time looks on imperturbably with a smile of compassion.
The mighty wheel goes round, and alas!
for the perishing things.
The universal rot takes all at last.
Some things cannot be taken.
Happy are those who have these in possession.
Today, the expositions and standards of conduct as laid down by the pioneers are challenged, or removed.
As, one by one, the “ancient and honorable” fall asleep in Christ, opportunity is taken to “remove the ancient landmarks” (Proverbs 23:10).
The Apostasy originally developed out of minor divergences from the strict bounds of the Truth, but the further these went, the wider became the issues.
The landmarks were removed and the Ecclesia became the Church.Today we need not merely the expositions of the pioneers, but their attitude, their fighting spirit against the teaching and trends of the world, and their firm resistance to the torpedoing of standards within.
– Books like Elpis Israel, Eureka, Nazareth Revisited, Christendom Astray.
Let us beware of those who ignore or remove the landmarks, to make the way more palatable to the world without or the worldly-minded within.
The separateness between Christadelphians and Christendom that once was so pronounced is disappearing.
The writings of the pioneers no longer hold in the affections of many the place they once did.
Brethren mouth their names, but ignore their lead.
Criticisms of their teaching are multiplying. The past generation is said to have been too straitlaced and exclusive. The clamor is increasing for a new literature.
The “old school” is recommended to leave public work and the dissemination of the Truth to “young blood”,
and new, up-to-date methods. If the Truth is to survive, brethren will have to rouse themselves.
A great responsibility rests upon all.

Let us pray to God to multiply faithful shepherds, not ambitious aspirants for power and notoriety, but zealous, courageous, self-sacrificing brethren who, by ability and consistency, can command confidence and whose landmarks are respected.
– Brother H.P. Mansfield
November 1987

Living today

We must never expect in the present order of things,  that society will or can be perfect; in fact, it is part of God’s arrangement that it shall not be so.
The predominance of evil is the universal law of human affairs in the sin state.
Those who are God’s must not shrink away and refuse the battle, but must contend.
This contention extends to every aspect of life.
Evil reigns; weakness of nature besets us at every step in ourselves, and those with whom we are surrounded, and there is in all society a preponderating dead weight of indifference to divine things.
Association in the truth is the aspect which more immediately affects us; It is here where we may be most damaged. We look for nothing in this world.
We are apt to have too high ideas of what is attainable in the ecclesia.
Christ gives a parable which has a bearing on this question.
He likens the kingdom to a net cast into the sea, which draws all manner of fishes, both good and bad.
Therefore, we must not come into the community drawn together by the preaching of the kingdom, with the idea that it is a perfect thing, that each person in it is really the son of God.
There could be no more blissful state than that in which every man and woman should have a supreme sense of God, and with whom his law should be paramount.
But such a state of things might not be good for us at present.
We might, perhaps, get too much in love with mere persons and associations, and forget our present position in relation to eternal law, Yet we must take care not to be disheartened in relation to the truth, because we find all things are not to our mind.
What we must do is to pluck up a good courage, and move neither to the right hand nor to the left, but be steadfast, always doing what we ought to be doing, whatever others may be saying, thinking, or doing.
Never mind other people.
– Brother Robert Roberts
The Christadelphian 1868.

Being of yesterday

We are of yesterday:
most of our immediately surrounding circumstances are of yesterday, and if we suffered our thoughts to be moulded by these alone, we should find ourselves adopting a completely mistaken policy of life.
– Brother Robert Roberts; The Christadelphian 1873

A character to build up

Character is greater and higher than money, intellect, or love – because it determines the use and direction of these three.
It is the character of the rich man which determines whether he shall be a benefactor or a curse.
It is character which determines whether the learned man shall use his knowledge as a destructive or a constructive force in society.
It is character which determines whether love shall be a passion – working havoc in human life, or a grace beautifying and ennobling life.
Character is the determining force behind money, talent, love; and so it is the greatest force in human life.
– Brother Robert Roberts
  

 

Picture

The work of the truth will be done, whatever frets or oppositions arise among men.
The very frets and oppositions are part of its machinery.
Its great and solid and excellent power will quietly work its work among the good and honest-hearted, not only in spite of, but partly by means of the troubles that arise.
“All that the Father hath given to me shall come to me.”
Here lies the strength of the righteous. Let those who wish to be of their number use it.
– Brother Robert Roberts (1890)