Question: What should be our bodily attitude during prayer?
Answer: We would all readily say that it is not a question of bodily attitude in prayer, but rather of the state of the heart the true attitude of the soul. At the same time, we must confess we like to see people kneel down, when they can. We say “when they can,” because, in many cases, it is utterly impossible when people are so packed together as to be hardly able to move. There is no attitude which so aptly expresses prostration of soul as kneeling. It looks lazy and irreverent to see people always sitting during prayer. But we must not judge one another in this matter. Many things have to be taken into account. The Lord looks upon the heart. May He ever find our hearts in the right attitude before Him! This is the grand point.
Question: Was the Lord Jesus the son of Joseph?
Answer: It was essentially necessary that our blessed Lord should he legally, the son of Joseph; virtually, the son of Mary; really, the son of God; and all three meet in Matt. 1:1818Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18), in such a way as to evoke from our souls accents of wonder, love, and praise. We can only exclaim, as we read such a record, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” If our Lord were not legally the son of Joseph, He could not claim the throne of David. If He were really his son, He could claim nothing at all.
Question: Should there be a collection after the breaking of bread on Lord’s Day?
Answer: It simplifies the matter of the collection immensely to bear in mind that it is for the Lord that He hath need of it, whether it be to pay for a room for His people to meet in; or for His poor; or for His workmen. It is the Lord’s collection. Marvelous grace on His part, to permit us to be co-workers under Him! May we be exercised about this.
Question: Should a Christian lay by his means?
Answer: It must be entirely a question of individual faith. The Word is plain, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” If any one says you ought to lay up, you must settle the matter with the Lord Christ. Eph. 4:2828Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28) teaches us that the object for which a man is to work with his hands is, not to lay up, but that he may have to give to him that needeth. It is a fine question to put to the heart, namely, which would you rather have, a hoard of money, or the living God? A genuine faith will not hesitate long about giving an answer.
Question: Will the Old Testament saints have part in the first resurrection?
Answer: Most assuredly, all the saints, from the days of Adam downward, shall have part in the first resurrection. We believe that both the O. T. saints and the Church are seen in Rev. 4 and 5, under the figure of the twenty-four elders. They are not distinguished, however, until the close of the book when the elders disappear, and the Church is seen as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” It will help you immensely in your study of the book of Revelation, to see the transitional character of chapters 4 and 5. They show us, most distinctly, where the Church will be during the opening of the seals, the sounding of the trumpets, and the pouring out of the vials. There is no mention of the Church on the earth, after chapter 3. We have a numbered company of Jews, and a countless multitude of Gentiles saved, in chapter 7. But the very fact of their being distinguished as Jews and Gentiles proves that they do not belong to the Church at all, for in this latter, as every intelligent Christian knows, all such distinctions vanish.