"Let your moderation (patient gentleness) be known unto all men" ..... "Charity (love) edifieth", (Phil. 4:5; I Cor. 8:1).
    There is an old saying that "Rome was not built in a day". Neither is Christian character. And a New Testament church is nourished to maturity only through the exercise of a stedfast love that is both patient and constructive.
    It is dangerously easy to attempt forcing others into a mold of our own making. Some who insist on being SUPERIOR CHRISTIANS are characterized by a rashness of words and harshness of judgment. Such as endeavor to exercise their "Christian liberty" while forcing others into strait-jackets are, to speak as kindly as possible, inexcusably inconsistent. They are people with double standards -- attempting to require restrictions upon others that they are not prepared to honor with their own lives.
    Why do you want other people to live so as to please you? Is it because you really love them, and believe it will be for their spiritual good? Or is your impatience with others rooted in self-love and the sort of stubborn self-will that

permits no interference with your plans, programs and feelings?
    Whoever seriously considers the sufferings of the Son of Man in our behalf -- and yet remembers His gentleness in dealing with us -- OUGHT to be patient in dealing with others. If no one else is willing to bear with others in their weakness, the person who remembers the gentleness and patience of Christ ought to so bear with them.
    Let no one who claims to be a true follower of Jesus be hasty in placing the blame for every discord on someone else. Rather, may we desire such a spirit of meekness as will bear with the weaknesses and infirmities of others -- ascribing much of the blame for the waywardness of our brethren to our own wicked and perverse hearts. Let us ask the Lord for deliverance from such pride and vain deceit as will stir the flesh to such boldness of action as will gender strife.
    Let us positively desire the "mind of Christ". In this way our "moderation" will be manifested before men and the name of our dear Lord will be magnified. Love ever "edifieth"; it always "builds up"; it is NEVER an enemy of that which is true. Love is constructive.

    In recalling the mighty transformation that had taken place in his own life following the Damascus Road experience (Acts 9), the apostle Paul gave all the glory to God. He wrote: "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain", (I Cor. 15:9-10). He viewed the grace of God as being a ruling principle in His dealing with mankind. Where sin abounded that grace super-abounded. It was such grace as was sufficient for every need of God's people -- and still is.
    But, to quote Paul's words: "By the grace of God I am what I am" as a cloak for one's despicable rotten sinfulness is to mishandle the Word of God and deepen one's guilt before Him. Such pretended

humility is nothing short of hypocrisy -- a form of lying deception that may temporarily impress a few people, but is so abominable in the eyes of the Lord as to make His judgment more severe.
    Let us rejoice in the bounty of divine grace -- freely bestowed. If there is anything worthwhile in our lives -- anything that blesses men and glorifies the name of our dear Lord -- it is obviously a work of divine grace. To God be the glory! But let us never be guilty of perverting the riches of His grace into a cloak for our own maliciousness!! Divine grace never winks at sin.           E.G.


    The Scriptures leave no room for doubt about the love we owe to God. We are to Love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, (Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:29-34; Deut. 10:12). This is the first and great commandment; it includes every other commandment. Love is a fulfilling of the law.
    This love may be manifested in various ways: (1) In keeping His commandments, (Ex. 20:6; 2 John 6; I John 5:3); (2) In whole-hearted service which is a "labor of love"; (3) In hatred of evil, (Psa. 97:10); (4) In loving God's house and people, (I John 4:20-21); and (5) In refraining from attachment to this present world-system -- setting his affections, rather, on things above (I John 2:15; Col. 3:1-2).     The blessings and promises of the Old Covenant were for those who truly loved God, (Deut. 5:10; 7:9;

Ex. 20:6; Psa. 69:36; 91:14; 145:20 Isa. 56:6-7). Such as truly love God under the New Covenant economy are richly blessed. These: (1) Are "known by God", (I Cor. 2:3); (2) Are promised a "crown of life", (Jas. 1:12); (3) Are given heirship in the Kingdom of God, (Jas. 2:5); (4) Are assured of blessings that "eye hath not seen or ear heard" -- deep things which the Spirit alone searches and reveals, (I Cor. 2:9); and (5) All things work together for their good, for they are "called according to His purpose", "foreknown", "predestinated ... to be conformed to the image of His son", "justified" and "glorified", (Rom. 2:28-30).
    Love to God is an evidence of our salvation, (I John 4:7). Such love is a reciprocation of His own love -- so richly and graciously bestowed, (I John 4:19). Our hearts are directed into such love through prayer, (2 Thes. 3:5).


    Pastor Jerry Thomas writes that Bro. Guilford Shuffield will be speaking for the Cave Hill MBC, of Lexington, Kentucky, during the week of June 23-29.
    Bro. Shuffield pastored for several years in Gardena, California. A few months ago he resigned that work and has moved to Malvern, Arkansas.
    The Cave Hill church, and pastor, extend an invitation to all who are in driving distance to visit with them during these services. Above all, they desire the prayers of the brethren for their spiritual prosperity,

and-that they may be useful instruments, in the Lord's hands, in reaching others with the message of salvation.


    The third-floor Pentagon office of the new defense secretary of the United States is described by a NEWSWEEK columnist as "an ominous perch" in "the world of hawks". Whatever the future may hold for the man who occupies that "perch", the label which the newsman pinned upon our war-conscious world is most appropriate. In the language of a U. S. General, "It's a very dangerous world", And current events confirm this appraisal.
    The uneasy condition of the Middle East, compounded by the economic power recently acquired by the Oil Kings, is unquestionably hawkish ... Communist forces continue their relentless advance in Cambodia and Vietnam. Soviet Russia steadily expands her military build-up in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean. China, with vast man-power and very considerable air-power is not "dovish" but "hawkish". Most of the Western nations are suffering militarily from reduced defense budgets, with all of the handicaps which that imposes upon the expensive business of military protection.
    While this world-wide "hawkishness" is unquestionably frightening it is not new. The history of war is a long, long record, which will not be completed until the second

coming of the Prince of Peace. He Himself said, "And ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom .." (Matt. 24:6-7). In this "world of hawks", the Lord has assured us that He will not vacate His throne, that the wrath of men shall praise Him, and that the remainder of wrath shall be divinely restrained, (Psa. 76:10).
    Amid the demonstrations of global hawkishness, it is the responsibility of Christ's followers to spread the Gospel of the grace of God. When the days are evil we are to redeem the time. When the darkness

deepens we are to shine as lights. When the conflict with sin and Satan is intense we are to defend truth and oppose error. As a matter of fact, the world of hawks provides us with a glorious opportunity to represent the God of righteousness and peace.


    Have YOU ever constructed anything? Or are you a specialist in wrecking the labor of others -- thinking thereby to divert attention from your own shallow, fruitless profession of godliness?
    The Lord knows, remembers and will soon execute "righteous judgment". AMEN!!          E.G.


If God is mine, then present things
And things to come are mine;
Yea, Christ, His Word, & Spirit too
And glory all divine.

If He is mine, then from His love
He every trouble sends;
All things are working for my good,
And bliss His rod attends.

If He is mine, let friends forsake,
Let wealth and honor flee:
Sure He who giveth me Himself
Is more than these to me.

Oh, tell me, Lord, that thou art
    mine;
What can I wish beside?
My soul shall at the fountain live,
When all the streams are dried.