EXTRACTS

As has been said by others the wife must be content to merge her own individuality in her husband. When there is undue assertion of her own individuality on the part of the wife, it will not tend to happiness, and a very heavy responsibility devolves on the husband. The husband is to give character to the wife. You see it in the church. The church takes its character from Christ. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. What for? That He might give character to it. It has been said that even the appearance of the wife may change, so intimate is the relationship. The principle at all events is true. The husband should imprint a character upon the wife, but there is only one thing will do it and that is love, pure unselfish love. The church takes its character from Christ but it is because He loved it and gave Himself for it.

‘Letters of F. E. Raven’, p.237

I should have very little to show for my work—I feel it sometimes; think I have not courage enough to face the world, and read, “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples”. But I pretend to nothing, and if I have only His approval, oh how content I should be, yet feel how little I have to deserve it in any sense. But I am sure it is all right, and He will be glorified, and in that I am wholly content.

J. N. Darby (‘Letters’, Vol. 2, pp.115, 116)

It has never been God’s way to give me much apparent present effect of work—it was good for me, I doubt not, to be kept doing it as work to Him. Besides, very often there was nothing very positive. In a few places I have had manifest blessing in evangelising, but my faith and courage are feeble in looking for present fruits; only I am willing to serve the Lord and His saints—I hope I can say to be nothing, if He is everything; and we are nothing, but if God gives one to serve, it is a wonderful mercy.

J. N. Darby (‘Letters’, Vol. 2, p.365)

The fact that it (Psalm 84) is “to the chief Musician” would remind us that tunes must be used, and suitable ones too. Sometimes what would be really edifying in the assembly is marred by the tune someone rashly starts. We must recognise the chief Musician … The readiness with which tunes are started would rather suggest that the chief Musician has not be thought of at all.

J. Taylor (Vol. 85, p, 91)

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