50. “W. Β.,” Bermondsey. We must never forget in reading scripture that it is God’s revelation of Himself and His ways, and that it is given to us to believe and not to judge. Among other declarations of Himself, He says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” “But,” says the apostle, “we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things.” (Rom. 2:22But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (Romans 2:2).) Among other statements of God in His word, the deliberate rejecter of His message is solemnly warned not to expect favor when he wishes it. “Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded, but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof”—continued and persistent rejection of God’s message, “I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.” (Pro. 1:24-3124Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. (Proverbs 1:24‑31).) Again, when the rejection of Messiah is foretold in Psalm 2, and vain men in their fancied greatness are saying, “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us,” we are told, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Vers. 1-5.) We must not forget that in both these instances, which speak of God’s derision, it is righteous judgment inconsequence of the creature’s antagonism to God, in the vanity of his fancied wisdom and power.
The other passage you refer to is of a somewhat similar character, “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned [or judged] who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thess. 2:11, 1211And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11‑12).) What cause? Because they were really in hostility to God, whatever their profession might have been. We are told, “They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved;” and again, “They believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” We must never forget that God is just as well as a Savior, that He is the judge of all, the righteous Judge, and that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”
51. Cleethorps. We must recognize the distinction between saints being gathered together as the assembly of God, such as is described in 1 Cor. 14:2323If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? (1 Corinthians 14:23), and a few believers who meet to search the word. “If the whole church be come together into one place” would alone be the true assembly meeting; but this, alas, can never take place now, because of the scattered condition of the church. There is therefore, as far as we know, no town on earth where all the Christians in it thus obey the Lord. What best answers to it now is, when any number of Christians in a place are gathered together to the name of the Lord Jesus, and on the ground of the one body according to the Spirit’s unity. There may be ten reading meetings in a town going on at the same time, but no one of these could be said to be on the ground of God’s assembly; so that it would be a mistake to apply the commandments of the Lord in 1 Cor. 14:29-3529Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:29‑35), as to women keeping silence, which apply to an assembly meeting, as though they were intended to include every meeting. There is, however, another scripture which speaks in a more general way, and which every godly woman will do well to observe. “ Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim. 2:11, 1211Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:11‑12).) This we judge would give sufficient guidance for the conduct of women at a reading meeting.
52. “Inquirer,” Wincanton. In coming together to eat the Lord’s supper, it is surely not a question of times, or days, or hours. The apostle did not receive of the Lord what hour of the day, but “This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” It is not stated what hour of the first day of the week the disciples came together to break bread. (Acts 20) Believers must agree as to the time when they come together to break bread. As to the precise hour, there is no commandment of the Lord. Indeed any given hour would not be the same in different parts of the world.
53. “Liversedge.” As children being “disobedient to parents,” is one of Christendom’s prominent sins in these last days, it behooves all children who really love our Lord Jesus to be careful to honor and obey their parents, according to His word. There are, however, points sometimes pressed by unconverted parents, which a converted child could not carry out in faithfulness to the Lord. As examples of this, we might name the command to attend such so-called places of worship where the Lord is dishonored, either in doctrine or practice, or in both; or to go to places of amusement and revelry, where the presence of a child of God would be for the Lord’s dishonor.
In these and similar cases, the claims of the Lord in His word to a walk of separation, must have the first place; and when pleaded for, with meekness and firmness, the opposing parents will often give way. We have known instances where parents have insisted on their children giving up the life of obedience to the word of the Lord, and returning to their former “pleasures of sin,” or to quit their house. The latter of course, though so painful, was preferred, and God was very gracious. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.” (2 Tim. 3:22For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2 Timothy 3:2); Matt. 10:3737He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37).)
With regard to the question of “dress,” the parents’ desire should be carried out as far as practicable with a good conscience. As to “marriage,” the parents’ judgment demands most serious consideration. There are few instances, in which a christian child would be justified in marrying a person to whom the parents objected. The Lord may be seeking to hinder it by the parents so objecting. We strongly advise no one to take such a step, without the counsel and fellowship of godly brethren in the Lord. We should fear lest self-will and a spirit of impendency and insubordination, alas! so rife in our day, should find shelter in the heart, under the apparent plea of faithfulness to the Lord. A person who has a single eye, an exercised conscience, a subject heart to the word of God, without any will of his own, may surely count upon God for guidance. It is clear that a child should always obey the parents, unless when their request is manifestly opposed to the will of God. “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise.” (Eph. 6)