All four evangelists of the New Testament record the miracle in which Jesus multiplied the "five barley loaves and two small fishes" to feed a multitude of 5,000. All declare that when the multitude had been filled the disciples, at Jesus' command, gathered up of the fragments twelve baskets full, (Matt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:32-44; Lk. 9:10-27; Jn. 6:1-14). It is John who records the wonder of the multitude as the messianic significance of the miracle began to dawn upon them. "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world".
    On the following day, when they had followed Jesus across the sea, He charged them with seeking Him "not because ye saw the Miracles, but because ye did eat the loaves, and were filled". Contrasting the manna, which God had given to sustain Israel in the wilderness, with the "true bread from heaven", He then admonished them to "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you". He explained that "the bread of God is

he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world".
    When some finally asked, "Lord, evermore give us this bread", Jesus said, "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst". The fathers had eaten manna in the wilderness and were dead. "This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is MY FLESH, which I will give for the life of the world".
    Many were distressed at this saying. Turning back, they walked no more with Him. Finally, He turned to the twelve and inquired, "Will ye also go away?" The answer of Peter was a classic-one -- signifying love, devotion, adoration and worship. "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God".
    At the Last Supper Jesus chose the unleavened bread of the Passover meal to be the symbolic memorial of His broken body, (Lk. 22:19).

    "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom", (Lk. 12:32).
    Considerable confusion exists with regard to the relationship existing between "the church" & "the kingdom" in God's eternal purpose. The church, in this age, is the instrument through which God is "calling out" a people for His kingdom.
    The "blessed hope" of the church is associated, in its fulfillment, with the "coming" and "kingdom" of Christ -- indicating, as taught everywhere, that until His coming that kingdom will not be established on earth, (Tit. 2:13; 2 Tim 4:1). This "hope" involves the expectation of positive, definite blessing in the coming Kingdom of our Lord, (Rom. 8:14-18). One foolishly narrows, limits and depreciates the vast scope of "the blessed hope" when he thinks of it ONLY as a "RAPTURE" whereby men are enabled

to escape the tribulation that is coming on this earth.
    The glory and grace of God in ages past have ever been manifested -- NOT in delivering His people from facing trials and testings, but in the PRESERVATION and sustenance of His elect THROUGH such trials. (Consider: Job, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea & the Hebrew Children). The New Testament uses the faithfulness of God in past ages to encourage His people IN THIS AGE to be stedfast and faithful in the face of manifold temptations, (Heb. 11:32-40; I Pet. 4:12-16). Such trials are a necessary discipline for the maturing of a spiritual people. Of our Lord Himself, as a man, it is written: "Though He were a Son, yet LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY Him", (Heb. 5:8-9).
    The apostle Paul taught that the people of God must "through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God", (Acts 14:22). Thus, it would be a bit PRESUMPTUOUS for His people in this age to expect deliverance BEFORE, or without, TRIBULATION unless given a SPECIFIC PROMISE to this effect in the Word of God, (Matt. 24:29-31; Mk. 13:24- 27; Lk. 21:25-26).
    One must be careful not to read TOO MUCH into Paul's assurance to the Thessalonians that: "God hath not appointed us to wrath", (I Thess. 5:9). What God APPOINTS is one thing; what He PERMITS is another, He does not APPOINT His own people

    Four weeks ago, 18 Christian (???) thinkers, of nine religious denominations, conferred at Hartford Seminary Foundation in Connecticut, and in an 1,150 word statement crystallized their criticisms of contemporary American theology. The views which they condemned were labeled by the magazine NEWSWEEK as "The Hartford Heresies". No more appropriate label could be formed to describe the unbelief of the critics themselves. Following is an abbreviated digest of their specific views.
    1. Modern thought is superior to all past forms of understanding reality.
    2. Religious statements are totally independent of reasonable discourse.
    3. Religious language refers to human experience of nothing else. God being humanity's noblest creation.
    4. Jesus can only be understood in terms of contemporary models of humanity.
    5.All religions are equally valid, the choice among them is not a matter of conviction about truth, but only of personal preference.
    6. To realize one's potential and to be true to one-self is the whole meaning of salvation.
    7. Since what is human is good, evil can adequately be understood as failure to realize human potential.
    8. The sole purpose of worship is to promote individual self-realization and human community.
    9. Institutions and historical

traditions are oppressive and inimical to our being truly human.
    10. The world must set the agenda for the church.
    11. An emphasis on God's transactions is at least a hindrance to and perhaps incompatible with Christian social concern & action.
    12. The struggle for a better humanity will bring about the Kingdom of God.
    13. The question of hope beyond death is "irrelevant" or at least marginal to the Christian understanding of human fulfillment.
    Those 13 blatant examples of a humanism that denies every essential doctrine of Christianity, were produced by men who are labeled theologians, deans, chaplains and churchmen. Their statement reminds us of a blown-egg, from which not only the content of Christianity but even the shell has disappeared. No wonder the Apostle Peter warned against "false teachers, who privily bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them", (2 Pet. 2:1).

    It was a privilege to be with Pastor John Coleman and the Calvary Cross MBC for a time of fellowship on April 25-26. From Friday evening through Saturday afternoon I heard eight messages, and was then privileged to bring the closing message myself.
    To claim a spirit of unanimity on every point would be to stretch the truth; but a good, brotherly spirit prevailed.                   E.G.

    At "mail time" for this issue of the CLARION HERALD the editor plans to be in Fernandina Beach, Florida, assisting Pastor James C. Byrd and Calvary Baptist Church in a revival effort.
    I deeply appreciate the fact that every brother I asked to help with the home service (at Landmark) during my absence readily consented to do so. Bro. Clay Thompson will teach the Adult S. S. Class. Bro. Ben Ward will bring the morning message, and Bro. Ron Lewis will bring the evening message.
    Pray for these brethren, and for me, that Christ may he magnified in every service! - E.G.

THE CHURCH & KINGDOM...Continued

to the wrath that He Himself will pour out upon the rebellious; but He obviously DOES permit His own people to face the fiery wrath of kings, rulers, and of the ultimate MAN OF SIN, (Dan. 7:24-25; Rev. 13:1-9).
    It is obvious that God does not inflict the sore trials that come upon the saints during the reign of the anti-christ; thus, we must make a distinction between the WRATH OF GOD, on one hand, and the TRIBULATION brought by him who is the very personification of evil, on the other. It should be obvious that a promise of DELIVERANCE from the one does NOT make a person IMMUNE TO the other. We must be careful to claim ONLY what God has ACTUALLY PROMISED -- not something that is foreign to His intention. And we must obey the instruction of His Word in order to be PREPARED to stand in the evil days that are sure to come!


    Missionary Edgar Potter writes of their plans to return stateside in late June for a brief visit among supporting churches. He believes the Lord to be directing him to the Madeira Islands -- off N. Africa, and belonging to Portugal. (More about this later.)
    Should YOU care to assist in this move, write him at: