January
86. “J. B.,” Kingstown. The subject to which you advert is one which we do not feel led to discuss in our pages. Christians differ so widely about it, that we could hardly expect to promote the edification of our readers by its discussion. What we should say to any enquirer is this, Take the New Testament, and study it prayerfully, in the divine presence: seek to get your mind entirely free from preconceived thoughts and feelings; try and forget the thoughts and opinions of men, and seek to ascertain the will of your Lord, in this matter; and then arise, forthwith, and do it, looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. If this simple plan be adopted, we have no fears as to the result. But if any seek to be guided, as to this or any other point, by the commandments and doctrines of men, darkness, confusion, and vacillation must be the melancholy consequence. Oh! dear friend, when shall we learn to take our place at the feet of Jesus, and looking up into His face, say, from our very hearts, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
87. “S. G.” We do not know of any scripture to prove that “unclothed spirits” can recognize one another.
88. “G. H. E.” Your communication has come to hand, and we beg to assure you of our sympathy and interest. May the Lord Himself go before you as the Breaker-up of your way, and go with you, as your Companion therein!
89. “R. J. J.,” Rotherham. We have already gone into the question of your letter, and do not mean to discuss it again. We believe it to be contrary to the word of God to forbid the use of any creature of God.
90. “G. H.” Rom. 5:14 refers to the death of the body. Thousands were quickened and saved from Adam to Moses; but, with the exception of Enoch, they died; of course, all who died without faith perished eternally, then, as now, and at all times.
91. “R. F.,” Co. Antrim. We feel deeply for you. You are evidently in a false and very trying position; but it is one thing to see this, and another thing to know how to get out of it. It is clearly wrong for a Christian to be yoked with an unbeliever, for any object. The fact of your having entered into this partnership, in ignorance, may account for your entrance, but it cannot justify your continuance therein. You have only to bow down before your Lord, and confess your failure, and look to Him to deliver you out of your false position. Beware how you act. Do nothing rashly. You must seek to act honorably toward your partner and toward all to whom you owe anything. God honors the bent of the heart and conscience in a right direction; and we must not do wrong things in seeking to get into a right position. We cannot enter farther into your case, here; but you might order through our publisher, Mr. Morrish, a copy of a pamphlet, entitled, “The Unequal Yoke.” If you enclose him four postage stamps, he will send you the book.
92. “M. G.” Your kind communication did not reach us in time for our December issue. The difficulty of your friend arises, very much, we should say, from not seeing that the Church, as such, is not before the apostle’s mind in Galatians or Romans. He is speaking of believers, and the ground on which they are individually justified before God. They are justified by faith, as Abraham was, and hence are morally the children of Abraham. And, further, though Abraham did not and could not belong to a body which had no existence, save in the purpose of God, until the Head ascended into the heavens, still most assuredly Abraham and all the Old Testament saints will share in the heavenly glory. Very many, we doubt not, are perplexed, as to this point, because they make it a question of comparing individuals one with another. If it be a question of personal worthiness, holiness, or devotedness, Abraham might stand above the most holy and devoted amongst us. But it is not so at all, but simply a question of God’s dispensational arrangements; and if any be disposed to find fault with these, we are not at all disposed to argue with them. Some, now-a-days, have a way of turning the subject into ridicule which savors far more of wit than of spirituality or acquaintance with the word of God. But we trust that we shall never surrender the truth of God in order to escape the shafts of human ridicule.
93. “W. F.,” Peckham. Accept our hearty thanks for your kind communication. We cannot quite coincide with the criticism which you have so kindly sent us. We believe the apostle Paul received his instructions directly from the risen and glorified Christ, and not from the twelve. His apostleship and ministry were quite peculiar. Study Gal. 1:12, and the opening of 1 Cor. 15.
94. “F. T.,” Berks. You have to judge yourself in these things to which you refer, and wait, perseveringly, upon God for spiritual power. It is important to be able to get back to the point at which decline first showed itself, so that we may humble ourselves before God, and taste of divine restoration. The Lord is gracious and ever ready to help; but He loves reality.
95. “F. A.” That the application of Matt. 7:1 to what you refer is incorrect will be evident to you if you refer to verse 15 of this chapter. How can we “beware of false prophets” if we are not to judge at all? We must not judge motives; but we are bound to judge conduct and doctrine.
Look at 1 Cor. 5:12, 13. What does this mean? Clearly, that Christians are called upon to judge evil conduct, and put away the impenitent offender. If the Corinthians had not done so, God would have judged them. Again, look at 1 John 4:1. What does this mean? Clearly, that Christians are called upon to judge the doctrine of any coming to them, and reject the false. Matt. 16:28 refers to the transfiguration, which was a sample of the coming glory of the kingdom. Compare 2 Pet. 1:16.
96. “E. C. T.,” near Denbigh. Your MS. has come to hand; but we have not yet had time to read it. It shall, the Lord willing, have our best attention. Absence from home prevented our giving as early attention as usual to the communications of our friends.
97. “L. D.” Your MS. has come to hand.
98. “M. C. S.,” Sheffield. Thanks for your interesting letter. We hope to profit by your kind suggestions. We believe the Jews will, many of them, be gathered back to Palestine in unbelief.
99. “S. S.,” London. It was certainly very wrong of you to take a false oath; and still more wrong of those who compelled you to take it for their gain. We do not believe it to be “the unpardonable sin;” but you are bound to confess the sin, and get out of a false position. Do not trifle with conscience, else you may get into a state which can only be compared to hell upon earth. No human power should have induced you to tell a lie, much less to swear one!
February.
100. “W. S.,” Bournemouth. It may be you have been looking for an answer to your note of December 5; but as it was placed with all the other Communications to the Magazine, we have only this moment opened it. Perhaps you are not aware that we cannot undertake to send direct replies. We have repeatedly informed our Correspondents of this, and we would take it as a favor if they would not send us stamps, or stamped envelopes. As to the subject of your note, we have to remind you that you have not given us the title of the paper which you wish reprinted.
101. “J. A. H.,” Blackrock. We quite agree with your view of Abraham. Heb. 11:16 is conclusive as to all those Old Testament saints having their place in heavenly glory. Gen. 13:15 in nowise touches this fact. Abraham’s seed shall assuredly inherit the land of Canaan; but Abraham himself will enjoy that which he desired and looked for, namely, “a heavenly country.” With regard to your second question, we do not see what authority there is for predicating positively on the subject. Certainly Psalm 23:3 is no proof. We most fully believe that if a child of God wanders, he will be restored; but for any one to assert that the Lord “could not take him away by death, whilst in a condition of distance and worldliness,” seems to us quite unwarrantable. As to the formulary to be used in baptism, we have already given our judgment. We always adopt Matt. 28:19; but we do not dogmatize about it. May the Lord bless you, and make you deeply happy in His unchanging love!
102. “Baptista.” Luke 23:43; Acts 7:59; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Phil. 1:23 prove, very clearly, that the moment the spirit of a saint leaves the body it is with Christ in Paradise. The “leading man” to whom you applied for information must be deplorably ignorant of the New Testament. The whole of your letter shows that your mind has been sadly darkened by the cloud of skepticism which seems, just now, to be overshadowing so many thousands. In a very recent number we referred to the question of “everlasting punishment.” We believe it so connects itself with the truth of the immortality of the soul, and the infinite nature of Christ’s atonement, that you cannot touch it without disturbing the entire arch of Divine Revelation. The word “everlasting” occurs about seventy times in the New Testament, and is applied to the life of the believer, to the Spirit of God, to the inheritance of the saints, and the punishment of the wicked. On what authority, therefore, can the word be said to mean eternal in one case and not eternal in another? Be assured of it, that all this reasoning is the fruit of positive infidelity, from which may God, in His mercy, deliver the children of His people! We believe that “ hell-fire” is an awful and an eternal reality; nor should we be shaken in our belief by the absurd reasonings of ten thousand “leading men.” “ If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Dear friend, do you ask God to guide you by His word and Spirit; and place no confidence whatever in “ leading men.”
103. “M. C.” You do not give us your address, or even your name; and yet the nature of your communication is such as to demand some sort of guarantee. We have, for some time, been feeling strongly as to the practice of some of our Correspondents in writing to us about the condition of assemblies, and the walk and conversation of individuals. We consider it quite wrong, and we do not mean to take notice of any such communications in future. We do not believe it to be according to the mind of Christ to make the failings of our brethren the subject of anonymous letters to the conductors of a Magazine. If it be a question of individual failure, the proper course is to go and speak tenderly and faithfully to the person himself. But this needs much grace and self-subjugation. Serious mischief may be done by approaching a failing or erring brother in a harsh, legal, knock-me-down spirit; and if there be not moral power to act graciously, in such a case, it is better to go and tell the Lord about it. So also as to what transpires in the assembly, if half the time spent in murmuring and complaining about this, that, and the other, were spent in earnest prayer and loving intercession, how very different we should find it! We doubt not but that in very many cases, the deadness and want of power complained of are caused by the wrong state of soul of the persons who complain. There are two sides to every question; and we must say, that, in our experience and observation, for over a quarter of a century, we have always found that those persons who talked about the weakness and deadness of meetings, had really need to look to themselves; whereas the really spiritual and godly members, instead of gossiping about such things, went to the Lord in prayer about them, and thus brought down blessing on their own souls, and on the assembly. We are not ignorant of the fact that there is, everywhere, more or less to mourn over, much need of revival and bracing up; nay, we are fully alive to it, but we do not believe that the remedy lies in anonymous communications to the editor of a periodical.
104. “T. S.,” Kingsbridge. In Matt. 5:18, 19, our Lord is speaking of “the law” as contained in the Old Testament scriptures; of course, the same authority and the same eternal perpetuity belong to all scripture.
105. “Rev. R. S. L.” We do not know who has sent you the copy of “Things New and Old.” You do not say if you wish it forwarded to your present address.
106. “J. M.,” Worcester. We are deeply interested in your letter. The Lord be praised for the Sunday School! May He pour down His rich blessing upon it and upon you, beloved brother! As to the question of insurance, it must rest between the soul and the Lord. “According to your faith,” must be the rule.
107. “A. B.,” Southsea. In 1 Cor. 9:21, the expression “under the law” represents one word (ΐννομον) which simply means under the rule or authority of Christ. Paul was not under the law, nor are we either, thanks be to God.
108. “H. P. A.” We can only praise our Lord with an overflowing heart, for what you are able to tell us of the Lord’s gracious ministry to your soul, through the paper on “Arise, go up to Bethel.” Your letter is most cheering, and we thank you heartily for it. As to the terrible error into which your friend has fallen, 1 Pet. 3:18; 4:1, is perfectly conclusive. May God bless you, beloved friend, and make you a blessing!
109. “R. S.,” Manchester. We can see no objection to the expression “eternal word,” as applied to the scriptures. It is true there was a time when the book which we call the Bible was not extant, but the contents of the Bible are eternal, and this is all that is meant. But we can quite understand your friend’s objection, as also his charge of Antinomianism against the tracts you name. It is entirely owing to the standpoint from which he looks at these things. We believe the doctrine of the tracts to be the direct opposite of what your friend states.
110. “W. A. G.,” House of Commons. We do not believe that Hebrews 10:26-31, or Col. 1:23, or, in short, any passage in the New Testament, rightly interpreted, implies that a true believer can ever be lost. If you would procure from our publisher, Mr. Morrish, 24, Warwick Lane, a copy of a tract entitled, “ Final Perseverance: What is it?” it may help you. If you enclose three stamps, he will forward the tract to your address.
111. “J. C,” Stonehouse. We do not agree with the view of the 144,000.
March.
112. “J. F.,” Sheerness. We can only praise the Lord for His grace bestowed on your young friend, in enabling her to resist such a temptation, and to yield obedience to that solemn word, “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” It is most painful and humbling to think of the numbers that break down and dishonor and deny their Lord in the matter of marriage. As to the flimsy arguments used and the excuses urged in such cases, they could only have weight with persons blinded by self-will and inordinate affection. But we know of nothing more miserable, in this world, than for a child of God to be linked with an unconverted person; and, then, the dishonor done to Christ in this matter, who can calculate? As to the expression in 2 Cor. 5:1, we believe it refers to the body of the believer. The lines you have sent us, though interesting, from the occasion which suggested them, would hardly do for insertion.
113. “D. W. S.,” Kent. Your verses breathe a sweet spirit of piety and devotion; but the poetry is very poor.
114. “J. A. K.,” Rochdale. The term, “House of God,” in 1 Pet. 4:17, refers to the Church in its place of responsibility in this world. God judges His house now. He will judge the world by and by. Holiness becometh the house of God, and He must judge everything contrary thereto. A father rules and orders his house, because it is his house, and because he will have everything in his house agreeable to his tastes and suited to his dignity. Thus our God deals with us. It is not a question of the salvation of the soul, or of the eternal security of the believer; all that is settled. But God disciplines His children and judges His house. It is a most precious privilege to stand connected with God, in this world; but it is a most solemn responsibility also.
115. “J. L.,” Sydenham. You seem to confound two things quite distinct, namely, the evangelist and the elder. The former would necessarily be called to move about from place to place, and hence could not so well follow a settled occupation. The elder, on the contrary, is one who exercises a local charge, and remains stationary. The apostle, in 1 Cor. 9 is speaking of those that preach the gospel, but even in that case, he showed, by his own example, that the highest thing was to work with one’s hands. As to the elders, he tells them how they should act, in Acts 20:35.
116. “ W. H. H.,” Weymouth. We most fully agree with you in saying that our motto should ever be, “ Truth, first; unity if you can, but truth.” If unity be attained by the sacrifice of truth, it cannot be “ the unity of the Spirit.” Many, however, fall into the mistake of thinking that unity is something which they themselves have to set up; whereas the unity of the body is a grand reality, a substantial truth, in the light of which we are called to walk, and judge ourselves and all around us. We are no more competent to form that unity than we are to atone for our sins or to work out a righteousness for ourselves. It is God’s work from first to last. He has revealed His righteousness; we receive it by faith. He has revealed His unity; we receive it by faith; and as it would assuredly be a grave error for us to attempt to work out our own righteousness, so it is a grave error to attempt to work out our own unity. Christ is the center of God’s unity; the Holy Ghost is the power, and truth the basis. As to man’s unity, you will find all manner of centers, a man, an ordinance, a doctrine, something short of Christ. This unity may be maintained by the energy of the human will, and it is based upon tradition, expediency, or reason. In a word, it is not Christ, or the Spirit, or the truth—it is not of God; and if we do not gather with God, we must scatter.
117. “ S. B.,” Tunbridge Wells. We have no recollection whatever of your communication; but we must remind you that we have repeatedly requested our friends not to send us stamped envelopes, as we cannot undertake to send direct replies. If they will persist in doing so, it must be at their own risk; but they will really confer a favor upon us by not doing so. If friends wish to write to us on any subject, they are welcome to do so; but we must be allowed to use our own discretion in answering or not.
118. “E. S. K.,” North Brixton. Rev. 22:20 may help you. In reference to the second part of your letter, you might order from our publisher, Mark Morrish, a little book entitled, “A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible,” which will help you. We bless the Lord for what you are able to tell us of help received through our pages. To His precious Name be all the praise! May He bless you abundantly!
119. “George,” Swindon. We are surprised at your saying that you find yourself alone in the practice of kneeling to ask God’s blessing, on entering the assembly. We see numbers adopting the practice, and we greatly like it. You will excuse our saying that it was scarcely necessary to seek an opinion on such a point.
120. “A Young Brother,” Ryde. The question of going to law has been frequently discussed. If it be a matter between brethren, 1 Cor. 6 is conclusive. If it be a matter between a Christian and a man of the world, we can only say that if the former go to law, he is doing the very reverse of what God has done with him. He professes to have been forgiven ten thousand talents, and yet he takes his fellow by the throat for a paltry hundred pence. Is this right? Is it pleasing to God? Is it yielding a true testimony to our heavenly Father — is it representing Him — is it imitating Him? God is not imputing trespasses. He is a pardoning God, delighting in mercy. Now, if we go to law, we are not like Him; we are misrepresenting Him. Why was the man in Matt. 18 called “a wicked servant?” Because that having been forgiven ten thousand talents, he took his fellow by the throat for a hundred pence. No doubt there are many questions raised on this subject; persons may say, “What are we to do? How can we get on? we should be cheated on all hands if we did not avail ourselves of the law.” To all this we have to say, “Is it right — is it consistent — is it like God, for a Christian to bring a poor fellow sinner to the judgment seat on any ground whatever?” If not, why seek to defend it? We have nothing to do with results; we have only to do right, and leave results with God. But even were we to look at results, we question if people make much, in the long run, by going to law. They very often find it to be throwing good money after bad. We know many christian men in business who do not go to law, and they are none the worse for it, even in a pecuniary point of view. But it is our business to judge the question in the light of the New Testament, and if so judged, we believe the answer will be easily had.
121. “T. S.,” Manchester. Your paper has come to hand.
April.
122. “Mira.,” London. The testimony of holy scripture is clear, explicit, and abundant as to the grand cardinal truth that atonement is by the shedding of blood. In one of our earliest volumes you will find a series of papers entitled “Life through death” in which we have sought to adduce scripture proof on the very point to which your letter refers. The coats of skin which the Lord God made for Adam and Eve were procured from dead victims. The “more excellent sacrifice” of Abel consisted of blood and fat. So also in the history of Noah, in Gen. 8. And the history of Abraham, Gen. 15 Israel was screened from judgment, in the land of Egypt, by the blood of the paschal lamb, as we read, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exod. 12) The whole book of Leviticus is one great tributary stream tending to swell the tide of evidence on this vital question. The burnt offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering were all based on blood-shedding, See also that famous passage in Lev. 17 “The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (ver. 11.) But time would fail us to bring forward the thousandth part of the scripture proofs on this subject. We shall merely give two most pointed passages from the New Testament, and then leave you to follow out the chain of evidence for yourself. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood: and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22.) “Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” (Rev. 1:5; 5:9; comp. Acts 20:28.) These passages speak for themselves. We desire to bow, in reverent submission, in all things, to the authority of holy scripture. We do not want to reason or argue. “Thus saith the Lord” is amply sufficient for us.
123. “An Inquirer,” London. The passage to which you call our attention is designed to set forth the absolute completeness of the putting away of sin, and the introduction of divine righteousness by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The death of Christ is presented in various aspects; thus, for example, we read in Isa. 53 “His life is taken from the earth.” And again, “Ye killed the Prince of life.” And yet we read in John 10. “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” We see in the death of Christ, the expression of His perfect devotedness to God. We see in it the perfect putting away of sin. We see in it the perfect enmity of man to God, and the perfect love of God to man. We see in it the Divine Son laying down His life that He might take it again. We see Him as the Victim, bearing the judgment of sin. We see Him as the Martyr, suffering for righteousness. We must take all these things into account, if we would have a full view of the profound mystery of the death of Christ.
124. “W. B. F.,” Gosport. It is very plain that John 1:47 refers not to Jesus but Nathanael. See also Psalm 32:2. Everyone who takes his true place as a sinner — every truly repentant soul, is counted as a guileless one, and is freely and fully pardoned and counted righteous in Christ. Marvelous grace!
125. “D. J.,” London. Matt. 25:31-46 refers to the judgment of “the quick” previous to the millennium. Rev. 20:11-15 refers to the judgment of the “dead” who have died in their sins. This is after the millennium. 2 Cor. 5:10 states the great broad truth that all must be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ—all must come out in their true character, in the light of that great day. The believer shall never come into judgment, as regards his person. See John 5:24. His work, as a servant, must be tested. See 1 Cor. 3:13. But. he himself is God’s workmanship, and Christ is not going to judge God’s work. We thank God for the blessing which you say you and many others have received through the pages of “Things New and Old.”
126. “Pater,” Warrington. Your question is deeply and touchingly interesting. It is lovely for a father and son to work together in business; but if your son is not fully under your control, if he has taken a distinct and independent stand as a man of the world, if, as you suggest, he would do things that you could not, and thus involve your name as a Christian and dishonor your Lord, then, clearly, a partnership with him would be as thoroughly “an unequal yoke” as though he were in no wise related to you. From the tone of your letter, beloved brother, we feel assured the Lord will guide you. “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” God bless you, and give you the unspeakable joy of seeing your son brought to the feet of Jesus. This would indeed be a blessed settlement of the question.
127. “G. M. S.,” Bordeaux. We believe that Luke 17:26-37 refers to the coming of Christ in judgment on the world. So also 2 Thess. 1:7, 8 and 2:8. Accept our warmest thanks for your kind and interesting letter. The Lord bless you, and make you a blessing.
128. “Β. B.,” Swindon. We most fully believe that Bazaars are of the world, and hence for Christians to have recourse to such means of raising money for the Lord’s work is doing evil that good may come. Surely the Lord does not want money raised in such a manner.
129. “ Lillie,” Melcombe. You have our hearty sympathy and prayers. Wait on the Lord. Do nothing hastily. Be much in prayer. God will surely open your way for you. We do not at present know of a suitable opening; but the Lord will provide. Give Him the undivided confidence of your heart. We do, most earnestly, commend you to Him.
130. “J. B.,” Aberford. You will find an answer to your question in our March number. Remember that circumstances cannot alter the truth of God.
131. “ An Enquirer,” Ryde. It is quite true that the special object in the Lord’s Supper is to remember Him, and show forth His death; but, at the same time, John 14-16. very clearly proves that, after the Supper, our Lord discoursed on various subjects; and, if He did so, surely His servants may do the same. It would be a serious mistake, therefore, to shut out all teaching and exhortation save such as had for its subject the fact of the death of Christ or the circumstances attendant thereon. We believe in this, as in everything else, the Holy Ghost must lead and order. There is always great danger in taking up a certain idea and running it to seed. We most fully enter into the thought of the true nature and object of the Supper itself; but we also believe that when the feast has been duly celebrated, there is a wide field for the action of the Holy Ghost in teaching and exhortation. “ Let all things be done to edifying.”
132. “Η. Η. B,” Bradford. We fear you have never yet really looked the great and awful question of eternity and your soul’s salvation straight in the face. If you had, you would be in a condition of soul to receive consolation from these words, “His name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.”
133. “Μ. Α.,” Melksham. We do not undertake to expound the views of any particular body of Christians. We can only answer for ourselves that we cordially embrace the doctrine of election, as you may see in our leading article for March.
134. “A Stranger,” near Dublin. In Heb. 12:24, you have the whole millennial scene presented. It is not yet come, but we belong to it, and we can say, “ We are come” to it, in spirit, and by faith. The believer has his back to Mount Sinai, and his face to Mount Zion. These are the two great contrasted systems of law and grace. “The Church of the firstborn” (ones -πρωτοτόκον) is a unique thing, occupying its own distinct position. It is, and ever will be, distinct — distinct from the Old Testament saints and from the nation of Israel. “The spirits of just men made perfect” are the saints of the Old Testament. “The general assembly” may be viewed as setting forth the countless inhabitants of the invisible and eternal world. The whole scene is most glorious, and eminently calculated to bow the soul in holy worship and adoration.
As to John 16:23-26, the expression “that day” refers to their seeing their Lord in resurrection, and applies to the whole of this present time. When we see Him in glory, there will be no question of asking for anything. May God bless you, beloved friend, and comfort your heart by His own direct and perfect ministry, so that you may be able to say, by sweet experience, “In vain the creature streams are dry, I have a fountain still.”