Now, I believe we see among the saints at present, what we thus might have seen among the churches of old; we have our Ephesian and Corinthian difficulties still. The truths received by some disciples are treated as mere speculation by others, and the condition of some is low and doubtful. The large and blessed mind of God, which filled the apostle, could, of old, survey them all, and provide for them all, and feed them at Ephesus and trim them at Corinth. But we are weak and narrow-hearted; and the only result commonly is, to walk in mutual distance and suspicion. Thus we do not understand one another's speech, and we are scattered. But better is it to be scattered than to be brought together on the terms of any bond short of God's own bond in the Holy Ghost. Whereto we have already attained in that, let us walk by the same rule, hoping for more. But let us not force beyond that, by any fleshy compacts. The fear of God must not be taught by the commandment of men.
In connection with this I would notice the state of Job and his three friends; for I believe that it illustrates the same thing which this state of the churches does. Job could not understand the truth which was in their thoughts, nor could they allow that which he had of God's mind in his; they were but partially in the light, and, through the remainder of darkness that was in them, they mistook the way and jostled each other. And the correction lay only in God, and in the end He applied it. They were all accepted—God proved Himself the adequate healer of all their divisions, as He will, by-and-bye, join the whole of the heavenly family in one body in the mansions on high, and unite the two sticks of Ephraim and Judah in the earth below. The largeness of the mind of God contains the remedy, but nothing else does. That mind may express itself forth from the whirlwind, or by the ministry of an apostle; but however that be, it bears the remedy with it. The Lord who can with one hand separate the chaff from the wheat, with the other can gather up all the scattered grains that are now strewing His field in shameful disorder, and find room in His garner for them all.
And this comforts, while it admonishes. It is not that we are to confound the chaff with the wheat. It is as much of the Spirit of God to say, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema,” as to say, “Peace be on all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” It is as much of the testimony of God to say, “He that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” as to say, “He that hath the Son hath life"; “if any other man preach any other gospel let him be anathema.” But still let us know that there have been different measures of attainments among the saints, and let our personal and individual care be, so to walk in light and grace ourselves, as not to give occasion either to the enemy to speak reproachfully, or to our brethren to speak doubtfully of us. And let us have our hearts and consciences in lively exercise before God, with a purpose to follow our light, lead us where it may, in the grace and fear of the Lord. But when these are the springs of the personal movement and course of each of us, we have, though in many things differently minded, the materials of both safe and blessed communion. J. G. B.