9. “An Afflicted Sister.” May the good Lord hear and answer your cry! Your case has deeply affected us. Do not be discouraged. Persevere in prayer. “Wait on the living God. May He comfort and sustain your heart!
10. “C. W.,” Willesborough. We can only say, as to your difficulty in reference to Mark 10:29, 3029And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29‑30), that we have never met any true Christian who could not readily say that he had received a hundredfold for all he had ever given up for Christ. If one could not say so, it is plain that Christ is not the object before the heart.
11. “E. S.,” Ireland. We are deeply interested in your case, though we cannot enter upon your question here. In point of fact, there is no weight in the question whatever; but we must keep this magazine free from all such matters. We should be glad to hear from you again, with your full address. Meanwhile, seek to follow the light as it streams in upon your soul.
12. “Two Constant Readers.” You will find a paper on the subject to which you refer, in volume 8, page 209. The writer of this interesting article purposes, if the Lord will, to go more fully into the subject of the seven churches in a series of papers in our volume for ‘69.
13. “An Anxious Inquirer,” London. If you feel liberty before the Lord, continue to act as you have done; but see that you do not go against conscience, or grieve the Spirit of God.
14. “Juvenis,” London. We do not feel free to offer any counsel in your case. You must wait only upon God. Each one must learn, for himself, in communion with God, his proper path in this solemn matter. We have invariably found that those who were most forward in offering counsel were the most incompetent to give it; and, on the other hand, those whose counsel would be worth having were slowest to give it. Do not suppose, dear friend, that we do not sympathize with you in your exercise; we do most deeply. But we believe you must ask counsel of God. 1 Cor. 7:32-3432But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:32‑34) teaches, most certainly, that the unmarried are the most free from care but verse 7 as distinctly teaches that “every man hath his own proper gift of God;” and each one must know, for himself, what his proper gift is. It is one thing to say, “Follow Paul’s example;” and quite another thing to have the “proper gift” to do it. It is a fatal mistake for anyone to affect to walk in a path for which God has not given him a call, or endued him with spiritual power. We must remember, in these days of ritualism and revived monasticism, that marriage is a holy and honorable institution, established by God, in the garden of Eden; sanctioned by His presence, in Cana of Galilee; and pronounced to be honorable in all, by His Spirit, in Heb. 13:44Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4). Thus much as to the general principle; but the moment you come to individual cases, each one must be guided of God. To Him we affectionately commend you.
15. “A Berean,” London. We are not told in what particular way Satan hindered Paul’s visiting the Thessalonians. (1 Thess. 2:1818Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. (1 Thessalonians 2:18).) He did hinder him, once and again. This is very solemn, and should lead all Christ’s servants to great watchfulness and deep exercise of soul before God. Satan may use a thousand things to hinder. He has many idles, though his power is broken for faith. Christ has destroyed the power of Satan, so that the saint need not fear him on that score. It is his wiles, his devices, his temptations, that we have ever to guard against. It is remarkable that in the tenth chapter of Daniel, Satan was permitted to hinder the angelic messenger, and to detain him for three weeks, when he would have brought a message to Daniel. May God keep us in the secret of His presence!
16. “J. L.,” Fermanagh. Matt. 19:3030But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30) teaches us a weighty and solemn truth. Many set out to follow the Lord, with loud profession and large promise; but they do not persevere to the end. They fall back and get into the hindmost rank. Others, on the contrary, who, at first, seem slow paced, get on, through grace, and, in the end, are found in the very foremost rank. Therefore let high professors and loud talkers beware. It generally happens that where there is most conscience, most sincerity, most reality, there is the least apparent progress. Did you ever compare Matt. 19:3030But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30) with chapter 20:16? In the former, we read, “Many that are first shall be last; and the last first.” In the latter, we read, “So the last shall be first, and the first last.” It is not of man nor according to his thinking; and therefore the first shall be last. It is of God, and according to His sovereign goodness; and therefore the last shall be first.
17. “Lydia,” Lincolnshire. Thanks for your interesting letter, and the accompanying lines. Your suggestion as to the little book you name would, we doubt not, be attended to if sent to the publisher, whose address is on the cover.