`Beware of anyone getting hold of you by means of a theosophy which is specious make-believe, on the lines of

human tradition, corresponding to the Elemental spirits of the world and not to Christ. It is in Christ that the

entire Fulness of deity has settled bodily, it is in Him that you reach your full life, and He is the Head of every

angelic Ruler and Power ... So let no one take you to task on questions of eating and drinking ... with regard to

fasting and the cult of angels ... Why submit to rules and regulations like "Hands off this!" "Taste not that!"

"Touch not this!" - referring to things that perish by being used? These rules are determined by human precepts

and tenets; they get the name of `wisdom' with their self-imposed devotions, with their fasting, with their

rigorous discipline of the body, but they are of no value, they simply pamper the flesh!' (Col. 2:8-23, Moffatt).

We shall have to refer to this passage again when dealing with the enforcement of abstinence from both marriage

and meats with which the doctrine of demons is associated. Sufficient for the moment that light is shed upon the

very real danger that threatens the believer. The fact that both versions read `devils' in 1 Timothy 4:1, is of itself a

What intelligent and spiritually-minded believer in the truth of the Mystery, would `give heed' to `devils'? The

mind revolts against the suggestion, and the unspoken but implied reaction is that such a passage as 1 Timothy 4:1

cannot be a personal concern, but that it refers vaguely to `some' other company who would be prone to such things.

This is where the bait is so skilfully disguised. The Spirit may speak `expressly' but the translation `devils' has

already robbed the warning of its point. The true member of the Body of Christ, is and should be a markedly

humble person. Humility is inculcated (Eph. 4:1,2) and in view of superlative grace and superheavenly glory that

pertain to this high calling, nothing but `all lowliness and meekness' is fitting. Yet just here lies the snare.

Colossians reveals a false humility. Where Ephesians teaches `access', yea `access with boldness', the Colossians

were being driven by a false humility to speak of their unworthiness and to take to fasting, neglecting the body,

adopting the cult of angels, rather than glorying in the one and only Mediation that the N.T. knows. This false

doctrine pampers the religious flesh, it abstains from meats, it forbids marriage, it leads to a false sanctity.

We know alas of some, who, through the workings of this false humility, have denied the possibility that the

believer is `seated together' potentially with Christ at the right hand of God, and have not hesitated to label our

teaching on this passage as `blasphemy'. Little do they know that they have `given heed' to the first seductive

doctrine concerning demons, and have already retreated one step from their `completeness' in Christ, and the

`boldness' of their access as a consequence. The Mystery of godliness is betrayed in the house of its friends before it

is attacked and its glory usurped by the man of sin and by the mystery of iniquity. We have now to consider more

closely the inducements included in this doctrine of demons to a false holiness that eventually leads to apostasy.

This we must do in our next article.

We have a hymn, in the book used at the Chapel of the Opened Book, written to counter some erroneous

teaching in a very popular hymn. We feel constrained to quote the closing verse here:

NEARER, TO THEE.

`When our last call shall come

Our God from Thee,

When our last duty's done

And we are free;

Angels will stand aside

No one, but Christ beside

Can be our heavenly Guide,

Father, to Thee'.

The possession of the `knowledge' of the truth which is according to godliness is no guarantee that a `life' of

godliness will ensue. But the `acknowledgment' or `recognition' of such truth does carry with it the idea of taking

one's stand, and abiding by any consequences that may follow.

`Be not ... ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner' (2 Tim. 1:8),