of the mystery--yet, somehow, he seems to have drawn back, his testimony is silenced.

If he preaches or speaks in public, it is painfully evident to those who know the truth that

he is not emulating the apostle, who, by manifestation of the truth, commended himself to

every man's conscience in the sight of God."

If we have personal acquaintance with any of these brethren we soon become

convinced that it is not lack of "knowledge" that hinders. They may have ability to read

the Word in the original tongue, they may be level-headed and able to follow an

intelligent proposition. In fact, we feel that some have seen all too clearly the logical

conclusions of standing by such unpopular teaching as that which is associated with the

testimony of the Lord's prisoner. In such circumstances growth ceases.

If, after we have received a knowledge of the truth; if, after the eyes of our hearts

have been enlightened;  if, after that, we would receive "a spirit of wisdom and

revelation" so that we may "see" (eideo) what is the hope of His calling, that spirit must

be received "in the acknowledgment of Him". The eyes of our heart may be enlightened,

but we may not "see" for all that. Prejudice, fear of man, a too careful pondering of

consequences, all these may have a blinding effect, or if not blinding, a dimming and

distorting influence. We may still "see", but see "men as trees walking".

When we hear and read some of the things that are advanced under the aegis of Paul

the prisoner, we cannot help but feel that such must be the explanation. Let us take this

message to heart. Let us "acknowledge" the truth that we have seen. Let us not hide it

out of fear, or dissimulate because of advantage. The clear perception as to what is the

hope of our calling is largely associated with this acknowledgment, and where there is no

acknowledgment a blessed foretaste of the glory of our inheritance must be forfeited. A

realization of the source of all power to usward who believe will never be obtained where

there is not frank and full acknowledgment.

If in the fulfillment of our stewardship, The Berean Expositor had made no statement

about the Lord's Supper; if it had not made a clean cut at Acts 28:;  if it had

included the hope of I Thess. 4: in the doctrine of the mystery; if it could have retained

the ecclesiastical position of the first epistle to the Corinthians, while holding to the

teaching of Ephesians; if it could blend the New Covenant with the Mystery, it might

have "prospered" as the world or Christendom counts prosperity. Its readers might have

been multiplied, our spiritual pride fed, our creature comforts increased, but how poor in

all essentials we should have been! If this witness is comparatively "unknown" yet the

Lord acknowledges it. If we are comparatively "poor" we have proof that we have

"made many rich", and if in the eyes of the world we "have nothing", yet, with the eyes

of our heart enlightened, we are conscious that we "possess all things".

May every reader, together with the writer and his colleagues, be numbered among

that blessed company who thus "acknowledge Him".