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THE PRINTER'S PULPIT

    The printed page is the greatest pulpit that God has given to man; Its message stirs the heartstrings in every tribe and clan. It shouts to souls in silence, or whispers in a crowd; Gives courage to the humble or flags the monarch proud.
    It prompts no false demeanor, upholds no vain display; It pleads, persuades and reasons, at night or in the day. It reaches every cranny where men and women dwell; Goes in unhappy mansions, and into prison cell.
    And whether book or pamphlet -- a leaflet or in tomes; It speaks in mart and factory, in tenements and homes. It never shows resentment, though slighted for an age; And brings the Light to children, to fools and to the sage.
    This preacher has no equal, this pulpit has no peer, The printed page lives on and on, to comfort and to cheer.
    "Reappraise your understanding of the printed page", a Communist editor told hisstaff. "The written message is the one thatlives. Talk so often is misleading and empty. The printed page, rich in detail, exact in message, continues to be the surest way to convey an idea".
-- Selected
    What a feast is available, whilemillions starve their souls!

GOD'S POWER FOR HIS CHURCH

    To Timothy, his son in the ministry, Paul wrote: "that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth", (I Tim. 3:15). The God who has revealed Himself to men through the Scriptures is a God of "order". Order and design are everywhere observable in His works and ways. His orderly plan for the affairs of men is clearly setforth in the Scriptures. There in He reveals His order; for the home, for civil government, for the individual, the church, and for His coming Kingdom of righteousness. This study concerns His order for a New Testament Church. Various figures are used in the Bible to set forth that order.
I. A CHURCH, IN PROPER ORDER, FUNCTIONS AS A LIVING ORGANISM OF WHICH JESUS CHRIST IS THE HEAD; THIS IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE INTRICATE WORKINGS OF THE HUMAN BODY.
    The body is composed of many members -- each of which has been set therein for a specific function according to God's pleasure. No member is asked, or allowed, to determine its own position or function in the body. Each is responsi-
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The Clarion Herald The Clarion Herald

ATTENTION, ALL MEMBERS!

    The Quarterly Business Meeting of Landmark Church will be held at 7:00 P. M. on Saturday, April 3. Yes, that is THIS WEEK. Let every member make a special effort to be present, for the business of the church is the responsibility of EVERY MEMBER.

POTTER TRAVEL FUND

    September 2 has been tentatively set as the sailing date for the Edgar Potter's who are going to the Brazilian mission field to begin the life-work to which the Lord has called them. Some weeks before that time approximately $1,100.00 will be needed to pay their passage to the land of their labors. And we have not yet arrived at the half-way mark.
    Many doors remain to be opened -- including the obtaining of visas. This has come to be a very complicated matter for missionaries desiring to go to Brazil. Please join with us in asking God's help and guidance. And, if you can contrib-


ute to the Permanent Travel Fund, established for this missionary & family by Landmark Church, it will be deeply appreciated. Make your ehecks payable to: "Landmark Missionary Baptist Church", and designate it for "the Potter Travel Fund". Send it to:
      Benjamin F. Ward
      2519 Lindberg Drive
      Rockford, Illinois 61109.

COVENANT STUDIES AVAILABLE AGAIN

    Though the first run on my "Outline Studies in the Covenants" was soon exhausted, and some had to wait, they are now available once more. Many have written encouraging letters, or spoken encouraging words, which tell of being blessed through these studies. That others should be blessed, and God glorified, through our feeble effort is ample payment for the many hours of study and loving labor that went into this work.
    If YOU have not yet obtained a copy of this book, you may have one (postage paid) by sending $1.00. If you can invest more -- desiring to assist in spreading abroad the glorious message of our Father's unfailing purpose -- a liberal discount will be allowed, and your "fellowship" in this undertaking deeply appreciated. E. G.

GRACE SUFFICIENT
The powers of ill surrounding,
Seek for my soul's confounding,
But love of God abounding
    Sufficient grace provides;
Why, therefore, any fearing,
When dangers are appearing?
He's ever within hearing,
    Whate'er my soul betides.
-- Fred Scott Shepard



GOD'S ORDER .. Continued

ble to God for the specific function for which it has been endowed. There is no reason, no excuse, for envy, strife, jealousy, or an attempt by one member to usurp the place or function of another. All are INTER-DEPENDENT -- "members one of another". No member, in God's order, seeks his own honor, but labors for the strengthening and edification of the whole -- each considering the others "better than himself".
    As each member performs the work for which he is equipped and set in the body, he makes the best possible contribution to the function and perfection of the whole. (Let it be understood that it is the HOLY SPIRIT who: sets members in the body -- including the placing of pastors, as needful. He directs the worship of the church, and under His direction and power the life-giving Word is preached -- even when the message has been prepared days, or weeks, ahead of delivery. And when churches scheme, manipulate, devise and plan without seeking and following his direction they rightly deserve the kind of mess that inevitably follows.

    II. THE WORSHIP AND SPIRITUAL SERVICE OF A N. T. CHURCH IS SET FORTH UNDER THE FIGURE OF A TEMPLE OR HOUSE OF GOD WITH JESUS CHRIST AS ITS GREAT HIGH PRIEST.
    Again, there is a divine order, where that order is respected and followed there is no room for envy, strife, division and confusion. In this house God accepts the offering and spiritual sacrifice of His people. It is still true that what the Gentiles offer, they offer to

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idols. But spontaneous worship, adoration, thanksgiving and praise ascends from this "temple" -- from hearts knit together in the unity of the Spirit, and in the bonds of peace. And wherever worship is genuine, pure and true one will find a heart-attitude of unquestioning abandonment to the divine will -- a faith that is faithful, and a belief that behaves.

    III. THE DIVINE ORDER FOR CHURCH GOVERNMENT IS ALSO SET FORTH IN THE SCRIPTURES.
    There are varying degrees -- both of ABILITY and RESPONSIBILITY in a N. T. church, (Rom. 12:3-8). Every member has some of both: for witness, service, fellowship and fidelity of life. Greater ability always incurs greater responsibility. There are but two scriptural offices in a N. T. church, (I Tim. 3:1-13). They are those of deacons and bishops, or pastors.
    For the DEACONS there are some strict qualifications and grave responsibilities. No scripture, however, suggests that this involves "keeping the pastor in line". The office was originally established through apparent need. The deacon would serve in the realm of material things connected with the function of a church. If that initial design was ever modified, I am not aware of any such record in the Scriptures. And this responsibility was laid on them -- not to increase the burden of their spiritual leaders (through arrogant pride or haughty insubordination), but to RELIEVE him of certain cares, that he might more properly devote him self to a study of the Word and to prayer, (Acts 6:4).
    The qualifications and duties of



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a BISHOP (or pastor) are also stated in the Word of God. Spiritually, he must be saved, scripturally baptized, called of God, set in his office by the Holy Spirit, and prepared through study, meditation and prayer. While meeting the pattern set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7, he must love his people with a love that will not let them go. True love will always involve: respect, knowledge, care and responsibility, (Phil. 1:8-11; 2 Cor. 12:15). And the bishop must ever be ready to obey His Lord -- faithfully discharging his duties both toward God and the souls committed to his care. His work will not always be pleasant. Nor will his best service and purest motives ALWAYS be received with Christian gratitude and graciousness, (2 Tim. 2:24-26). But, like His Master, he must be willing to give himself for his sheep.
(Continued in Next Issue)

"HEM AND HAW"

Hem and Haw were the sons of sin,
Created to shally and shirk;
Hem lay 'round and Haw looked on
While God did all the work.

Hem was the father of bigots
   bores;
As the sands of the sea were they.
And Haw was the father of all the
   tribe
Who criticize today.

But God was an artist from the
   first,
And knew what He was about;
While over his shoulder sneered
   these two,
And advised Him to rub it out.

They prophesied ruin e'er man was
   made;
"Such folly must surely fail!"
And when he was done, 'Do you
   think, my Lord,
He's better without a tail?'

And still in the honest working
   world,
With posture and hint and smirk,
These sons of the devil are
   standing by
While man does all the work.

They balk endeavor & baffle reform,
In the sacred name of the law;
And over the quavering voice of Hem
Is the droning voice of Haw.
-- Bliss Carman