N.H.— “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him” (Psa. 25:14). What does this mean? The Lord reveals His hidden counsels and purposes to those who walk before Him in the fear of His holy name (Prov. 3:32; Amos 3:7). He made known His ways to Moses, but only His acts to the children of Israel (Psa. 103:7). Abraham, but not Lot, He told of the coming judgment of the cities of the plain (Gen. 18:17); for he was the friend of God. See also John 15:15 for the believer now. It is true as a general principle that the more we advance in practical holiness and obedience, the more we learn what the mind of God is. In a difficulty how is one to know which is the right step? There is the very plain promise, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:6). This the Lord will always stand to. Hence it behooves us to wait patiently upon Him in prayer and supplication, also diligently searching the scripture for light. Then the voice will come, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” But we must wait, and let patience have, her perfect work. Those who act in the greatest hurry in the things of God commonly make most mistakes. You will be sure to know the Lord’s direction when you receive it. You know His voice (John 10:4).
W.T.— Does baptism wash away sins (Acts 22:16)? Certainly not; for Simon Magus was baptized, yet his sins were not washed away or forgiven (Acts 8:20, 21). Baptism is only the figure of remission of sins (Acts 2:38), as it is also of death to sin (Rom. 6:3). Is baptism a saving ordinance (1 Pet. 3:20, 21)? No; for this very passage declares as much. The baptism spoken of is “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,” that is, not a ceremonial act of washing. There is a comparison between the waters of the deluge and the waters of baptism. As the eight souls were saved through water, so baptism is a like figure and saves us, for baptism typifies our death with Christ (Rom. 6:4). But (reading without the parenthesis) we see that our salvation rests not on baptism only (Christ’s death), but on the resurrection also. “Baptism doth also now save us... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The parenthesis chews (1) that the apostle does not mean baptism in the sense of carnal washing by water; (2) that he does mean that real deliverance from sins which every exercised conscience requires, and of which baptism is the appointed sign. For “answer” read “demand,” or “inquiry.” A man’s conscience, when “good,” always denounces him for his sins until they are forgiven. In this sense baptism is the request of a good conscience. Compare Acts 2:37, 38. This passage is somewhat difficult, as we may expect many parts of God’s word to be. We hope that with patient consideration the above may he of some service. If more is wanted please write again.
F.B.— Why was not Daniel put in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Probably because the accusers of the three Jews (Dan. 3:8) hardly dared to accuse a man recently elevated to a position of such high rank as Daniel had been. He was ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon (Dan. 2:48). Daniel had performed a great personal service to Nebuchadnezzar, which could not be said of the others. Why were these three not with Daniel in the lions’ den? This event was many years later, and after Babylon had been taken by Darius the Mede. Nothing is said of the three companions after their deliverance out of the fiery furnace. It is impossible even to say whether they were in Babylon.