EXTRACTS

J.K. Why does it say, “When thou art invited by any one to a wedding”?

J.T. Well, I believe it is a festive occasion, it is brought up here (Luke 14: 8) parabolically because much feeling, and right feeling, enters into weddings. The question is whether we are going to allow the feelings to inflate us, to turn the wedding into a time of inflation. Our ideas in Christianity are to be taken from the assembly and not from the world. Marriage is a time of display in the world—unequalled display—the clothes that are worn. We ought to discern these things and put away what is worldly. Women’s clothes cause a great commotion in the business world they form a great place in commerce. The money spent on wedding garments is very great. We have to understand what is here to deflate us. The Lord says, ‘Do not take the first place’, do not have personal distinction in mind. Learn not to be worldly; you are in fellowship and your clothing is to denote that. Do not go in for what surrounds a worldly bride and the like.

J. Taylor (Vol. 76, p.153)

What I have seen in this epistle (2 Timothy) is the extraordinary use which God can make of one man, if he be a man of faith, and the truth is the one thing that governs his heart.

Everything must be given up to it, it must be a man’s life. I do not think a man is a fit vessel for the Lord until that be the case. A man may have to work with his hands in order to support his family; but he must be wholly for the Lord in a day of evil, for a half-hearted man will not do. You want a man who is prepared to sacrifice all here in order that he may be close to the Lord; then I think the truth will be paramount, and what is more, we shall be ardent to make it manifest, not satisfied simply with knowing it.

F. E. Raven (Vol. 1, p.341)

The Corinthians were only babes, and the apostle says, I cannot speak to you as unto perfect, but we do speak the wisdom of God among the perfect. I refer to all this by way of warning.

A fleshly condition is seen in the recognition and maintenance of national things, occupation with man, with families, with business, and all that goes with these things. These are the marks of babes. You may have the Spirit and yet be going on with these things which shut out from you the hidden wisdom.

J. Taylor (Vol. 20, p.235)

Did it ever come into your heart to visit your brethren and see how they do? You say, ‘I have no gift’. But you can go and “see how they do”. It is not a question of gift for the moment, but a question of affection. He says, “Let us visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do”. Brethren, what about this?

J. Taylor (Vol. 21, p.106)

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