I should have been very glad to have seen you, and shall be so still, if the Lord so orders it. Meanwhile I will answer your letter briefly. I could not, of course, present myself as a Baptist, because I could not be one, and necessarily could not say I was, nor of any sect. It would violate my whole conscience in the church of God, and in these last days especially, for I do not doubt either that we are in them. I feel it is of the last importance to keep my testimony distinct-I mean distinctly in that truth which I believe the Lord would maintain as His own. I should receive a Baptist or an Independent cordially as a Christian, but I could not give any other testimony than what I believe to be the truth. I am very glad you _preach the gospel wherever the Lord opens a door. But I apprehend your desire to have access has led you to dim a part of that truth which might have seemed likely to shut the door to you. Do not suppose I am judging you; I speak simply from the contents of your letter. I doubt that faith is shown in lowering my own position from the light I have, to coalesce with that which has it not. I may adapt my teaching to all persons in grace, but not adapt myself to their ant of teaching. I have seen, dear brother, those who get into the forms of brethren, who had no faith in the reality of the unity of Christ's body, and who-when the support of those forms failed them-naturally sank, from not personally holding on to Christ according to the power of that truth, into the common course of what then might surround them. But such are not upon equal ground of blessing with those they have last got amongst them—[that of] the light which the others have left-because they have not the conscience of having left any. I think it very likely, from what I know of the gathering of M. at the time you were there, that there was very little light or feeling as to the church being the body of Christ, and that it ought to show itself as such in the earth; so I am not surprised it should not have had much hold on your mind. What I should say to you would be to preach as earnestly and as devotedly as you can, to seek the salvation of the souls around you, and search the word diligently to see if there was not an unity of the body of Christ through the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, and hence if sects are not wrong. See if that presence of the Holy Ghost be not a first principle of Christianity. I dare say, if you wished it, some tracts or books on these subjects which would serve as finger-posts to you might be sent down. The scriptures would, of course, remain as the treasury of the truth itself. We facilitate our path by running into the channels dug by men for the current of Christianity to run in, but we do not always maintain the testimony of the word by it.
As to the Lord's coming. It is not the subject always to bring to souls, though connected even with conversion by Paul to the Thessalonians; but at least it ought to be everywhere the expression of our own hope, so that it should be confessed and known to be our hope. Thus I may use it with the best wisdom I have for others, but it ought to be known as my faith with them who have to say to me-as my faith, not my opinion. I do not doubt that Louis Napoleon is doing his own part assigned of God in preparing the way of forming the Latin empire, but no man can say he is personally to be the head, because scripture has not said it. It is a mere man's opinion.
I do not believe even that the head of the beast is antichrist at all. I believe that the second beast is antichrist (Rev. 13), not the first. But, I add, to me the Lord's coming is not a question of prophecy, but my present hope. Events before His judging the quick are the subject of prophecy; His coming to receive the church is our present, heavenly hope. There is no event between me and heaven. There are between this time and Christ's judgment of the earth. Now we are blessed with Christ; as His bride and His body, we appear with Him, reign with Him: the great peculiar blessing of the church is being associated with Christ Himself. The government of the world is another thing; prophecy lights up that as a candle in a dark place, but I am of the day. It is this especially Christians have to learn that they are one with Christ, blessed with Him. And this applies to everything. "My peace I give unto you"—"That they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves"—"The glory which thou hast given me I have given them"—" That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them"- "I have given them the words which thou gavest unto me"—"I go to my Father and your Father; my God and your God." This brings perfect love so close to our hearts that it is very precious, and thus we nourish ourselves with that love.
I should have been glad if you could have come to Guelph. But God's will is better than all opportunities if we are clear as to that. May the Lord bless you in your toil for your family. I was very glad to get your letter, and shall be glad to hear from you again. If you write for any books or tracts, do not mind the cost, I will send them. They sometimes refresh us in the wilderness, and you could have some gospel ones to distribute. Have you any place you worship at with others besides your preaching? I do not doubt we are in the last days, but I do not confound the government of the world and the portion of the church-Christ's body. You will find in Rev. 12 that when Satan is cast down to begin the three and half years, the victory of the heavenly company is celebrated as complete, and their tribulation and conflict over.
Peace be with you, and blessing upon yours, is the sincere and earnest desire of Your affectionate brother in Christ.
Toronto,
September 17th, 1862.