57. “Q. R.” It is a question between the soul and the Lord. We believe the occupation is a very ensnaring one. May God guide you!
58. “C. N.” Your letter has awakened the liveliest interest. Your case has been made the subject of earnest prayer. May God sustain and comfort, guide and keep you! To Him we do very sincerely commend you. Let nothing move you from the path of plain decision for Christ. “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.” We must expect difficulties of all sorts; but our Lord Christ shall make us more than conquerors.
59. “A. E.,” Cork. We have repeatedly referred to 1 Cor. 11:29-3,2. It teaches that God will assuredly chasten those who unworthily partake of the Lord’s Supper. The passage applies to Christians now as well as in the early days of the Church. We are called to judge ourselves as we approach the Table of the Lord, else God will have to judge us in the way of present discipline, which may take the form of bodily sickness, or even of death itself. But, blessed be His name, He does this now, in order that we may not be judged with the world by and by. It is truly blessed to hear the accents, “No condemnation,” amid the judicial dealings of 1 Cor. 11, just as distinctly as amid the evangelic teachings of Rom. 8.
60. “S. O.,” Hobart Town, Tasmania. Your kind favor of December 22, 1867, is to hand. We do not believe that the saints spoken of in Dan. 8 and Rev. 13 belong to the Church. They are Jewish saints who shall be on the scene after the Church has been caught up. We quite feel with you the importance of seeking to rouse the consciences of men by the earnest preaching of the Lord’s coming, but we believe it is quite wrong to fix dates or to designate any man now living as “the man of sin.” Accept our best thanks for your kind letter. May the Lord bless you very abundantly!
61. “A sad heart,” Dublin. When you take your true place before God, confessing your sin and failure, you can count on His grace to meet you in your difficulties. But you must remember there is such a thing as God’s government as well as God’s grace; and that government has enacted, that “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”
62. “X.” Accept our warmest thanks for your kind communication. We feel it but right to tell you that you have been most manifestly used as an instrument in the hand of the living God, the Hearer and Answerer of prayer. May He return your love!
63. “J. S.,” Greenville, Bond Country, Illinois. We bless the Lord for your truly refreshing and encouraging letter of March 10, and tender you our hearty thanks. We prize the kind considerateness which kept you back so long from writing; and at the same time, we prize the love that prompted you to write at length. Most gladly would we send you a direct reply were it not for peculiar pressure of work, for which we feel assured you will kindly make allowance. May God bless you, and bless His work around you!
64. “R.,” Melbourne. Your truly interesting letter of January 23, is to hand. Accept our sincere thanks. We esteem it a real kindness your writing. It will cheer you to know that you are often remembered at our prayer meetings here. As to the question of reception at the Lord’s Table, we believe it simply rests on the ground of the “one body.” (See 1 Cor. 10:1717For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17).) With regard to the rendering of Eph. 5:44Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:4), the word “jesting” hardly brings out the real force of the Greek ευτραπελία. This latter takes in all that comes under the head of wit, liveliness, punning, and the like. As to Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17), it is very beautiful to note that the moment the Lord Jesus announces Himself as “the bright and. morning star,” “the Spirit and the bride say, Come:” this is the cry of the Church. Then “let him that heareth say, Come,” that is anyone who hears the voice of the Spirit in the Church—the saints individually. Thus we have the Church collectively, and the saints individually, saying to the Lord Jesus, “Come.” But then mark the other side of the picture. Poor thirsty souls are thought of, and invited to come and drink, and still the circle of love’s activity widens and the blessed invitation goes forth “whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” This lovely passage brings out, most sweetly, the two sides of the Christian’s character and attitude. He looks up to heaven and says to his Lord, “Come.” He looks around and says to every thirsty needy soul, “Come.” We long to be found in this twofold attitude. We believe it is what exactly suits the moment through which we are passing. May the Lord greatly bless you, beloved brother, and strengthen you in body and spirit, for Himself!
65. “A Sister,” West Kingston. We bless God for the tidings contained in your letter. May He cheer and comfort your heart very abundantly!
66. “J. G. Y.,” Gosport. It is perfectly correct to say that “our Lord took human nature, sin excepted, when He assumed the form of a man and dwelt among us.” To deny this would be to overturn the whole edifice of Christianity. See Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14); Gal. 4:44But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4); Phil. 2:7, 87But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:7‑8).
67. “Ο. H. W.,” London. Your question is hardly suitable for our pages.
68. “S.,” Lewisham. The statement to which you call our attention does not go beyond the legal system. The law did not propose eternal life. It merely said, “The man that doeth these things shall live by them.” Assuredly all the Old Testament saints possessed eternal life, and looked for immortality. To cite the proofs would fill a volume.
09. “E.G.,” London. We cannot see any foundation whatever for the distinction you suggest between the expressions, “Born of God,” and “Begotten of God.” (1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11).) Are you aware that the words rendered “born” and “begotten” are both from the same root, “γενναω?”
72. “Α. II.,” Godalming. Thanks for your letter. We have repeatedly touched on the subject to which you call our attention.
73. “E. A. C,” Blackheath. The Lord be praised for the blessing you have received. Thanks for your lines. They breathe a very sweet spirit. May God bless you, and confirm your soul in His own eternal truth!
74. “Hannah,” Malvern. The word “disciple” simply means a learner or follower. With regard to your difficulty in the matter of prayer, many, no doubt, are tried in the same way. It may be that you ask for things which would not be really good for you; or it may be the Lord sees it right to exercise your heart by keeping you in the attitude of continued waiting upon Him. We have often been struck with the teaching of 1 John 3:21, 2221Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:21‑22), and 5:14,15. If we are in communion with God, we shall ask for those things that are pleasing in His sight; we shall ask in faith; and we shall assuredly get an answer. See also John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7), “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” This is very practical. Your letter interests us greatly. May God Himself be your teacher!
Communications have come to hand from “C,” Halstead. “G. S. M.,” London. “Α. Α.,” Basingstoke. “E. W.,” London. “J. T. G,” Wiltshire.