Finally Be Ye All of One Mind.
By David Downer
THIS language is recorded in 1 Peter 3: 8. I have often feared that with us there are many who are at war with Peter in this requirement. We are told that men of different views and minds cannot see and think alike. If this be true, Peter has required an impossibility. Some of our sisters think they can wear useless ribbons, jewelry, ear-rings, &c., and when we refer them to Peter’s language, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or putting on of apparel,” we are often told by them, We are not proud of our ear-rings. This may be true in some instances, and it is not hard to determine who are truthful in making the statement. It is those who cheerfully put them away. I have been called to preach funeral sermons for some thoughtless young ladies who were slaves to fashion. They always appear in the coffin cold and lifeless. Their jewelry is stripped off. It is kept to remember them by. Now, sisters, candidly, have you ever died with Christ? When you died and were buried with Christ, did you leave your jewelry off to remember your death by? There is no better evidence of the death of a tree than to see its leaves die, and fall off. It is the blossoms that produce the fruit. When the fruit appears, the blossom is gone. I have noticed that those who bear the most good fruit are those that have changed their blossoms and jewelry for the fruit which Peter says is a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of the Lord of great price. But the text says, “Be ye all,” not part, “of one mind.” There is only one possible way to accomplish this. We must be all slain by the law. When we are dead indeed unto sin, then be buried with Christ. There are many who have been buried alive. They are like the beasts that went into the ark. They went in beasts, and come out beasts. So with those who are buried alive by baptism. They are buried the children of Adam, and are raised the children of Adam, and bear the fruits of the flesh. There never was an age when the daughters of Adam were more eager in the chase after fashion than now. Let us one and all be dead to these things, and be of one mind by having the mind of Christ. Our brethren are at war with Peter. Some of them say, I have used tobacco for years, and if you will show me that it hurts me, I will leave it off. They say they have tried it and it makes them sick and cross, and they cannot feel good-natured without it. How much like the drunkard. Without his liquor, he is cross. With it, he is crazy. When you will show me a dead man with a lighted pipe or a quid of tobacco in his mouth, I will show you a man who has died unto sin, been buried, and raised up a tobacco-user. Some only start to overcome part of their sins. When our appetite must be controlled, we are too apt to rebel. Let us be of one mind on this subject of tobacco-using. Some take a high and broad view of our work, but others are not of the same mind, and become opposers and hold the truth in unrighteousness. These are dead weights to the church. Oh! brethren, let us be of one mind; the gifts will bring us into a unity of the faith. May God reprove in his own appointed way the drones who are opposed to coming into the unity of the faith. I have seen poor families become rich by being of one mind, not one alone, but all were willing to sacrifice. They accomplished their desires, and why? Because they worked together. One did not waste what another could gain. Brethren, I beseech you all from this time to work together for the riches that do not perish with the using. We must have unity. Nothing can be done without it. We cannot sacrifice Bible truth for the friendship of the world. Water and oil will not mix. Put them in a bottle, shake them all you choose, and the oil will float on the top. So worldly-mindedness will not be found in a heart filled with the mind of Christ. Some are always finding fault that God does not bless them for their labors, that they never accomplish anything. Such people are to be pitied. They are like the man who was thirsty and went to the well to drink. He drew the bucket nearly out of the well, and in reaching for the bucket let go the crank, and lost the bucket. He continued to do so and died of thirst. It is so with many professors. They let go the crank too soon, and if they live, they are only babes, and never become able to bear strong meat, that they may grow thereby. Christ cannot work successfully through a church divided. One busy-body can do more harm than two Christians can do good in a church; therefore Peter says, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men’s matters.” Peter classes busy-bodies with thieves and murderers. They are but little if any better. One destroys character, the other takes property, or life. The apostle says, Examine yourselves. If we do it, we shall always be busy in our own matters. The Lord help us to run clear of Satan’s many snares and be of one mind.