1. “W.,” Birkenhead. In Rom. 8:26, 27, we are taught that the Spirit maketh intercession for us. He it is who is the Author of every true and right desire in our hearts. He teaches us to pray to the Father, in the Name of Jesus. It is only by the Spirit that we can pray as we ought. As to the question of praying to the Holy Spirit, we do not think it intelligent. True, the Holy Ghost is God, and is to be viewed in His own distinct Personality; but still the New Testament teaches us that He prays in us, to the Father, by the Son. A person praying to the Holy Ghost can hardly see with clearness the Spirit’s indwelling.
2. “F. T.,” Hungerford. It must ever be the desire of the heart that loves Jesus to see Him as He is, and be with Him, and like Him forever. Hence, the proper cry of an affectionate heart is, “Come, Lord Jesus.” But, on the other hand, it is our privilege to have fellowship with Him in His long-suffering toward this poor world. “The long-suffering of our Lord is salvation.” Blessed be His name, “he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3) “We do not think there is any difficulty in reconciling the two things. A loving wife may mourn the absence of her husband, and earnestly long for his return; but he is away preaching the gospel, and she may have such full fellowship with him in his work as to be quite willing that he should prolong his absence, if only a single soul should thereby be brought to Jesus. As to your difficulty about the expression “falling away,” in 2 Thess. 2 it arises, we judge, from you not seeing the distinction between the Lord’s coming to receive His people, and His coming to judge the world, — between His coming as the Bridegroom, and His coming as the Judge. “The day of the Lord” refers to the latter; and, ere that day comes, there will be a great apostasy or falling away, and “the man of sin will be revealed.” It is most needful to understand this distinction. The proper hope of the believer is the coming of the Lord, which may be actualized at any moment; but when the Church has gone to be with her Lord, the man of sin shall be revealed, “ whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” This is far too weighty and extensive a subject to be handled in our limited space; but you might study prayerfully 1 Thess. 4:13-5:10 compared with 2 Thess. 2:12.
3. “E. S.,” London. Your MS. has come to hand. It contains some very sweet and true thoughts; but, as a whole, it would not suit our pages. May the Lord bless you, and make you a blessing!
4. “A. M.,” Pimlico. If you can lay your hand on volume 4 of “Things New and Old,” you will find, page 25, a paper on Heb. 6:1-10, which will help you. It may also be useful to your young friend to remember that even though he could not explain this passage of scripture, yet it is impossible that the word of God can ever contradict itself. Now, we read in John 10 that Christ’s sheep can never perish. We read in Rom. 8 that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Hence, whatever Heb. 6:4-6 means, it cannot possibly contradict John 10 or Rom. 8. But the fact is that not one of the expressions in Heb. 6:1, 2 rises to the height of regeneration, or sets forth any special feature of Christianity as distinct from Judaism. Passages innumerable of the New Testament, declare that the believer possesses “everlasting life.” How can everlasting life ever be lost? Impossible. If the believer’s life could be lost, it should be termed “temporary or conditional,” not “everlasting life.” However, you might get your friend to read the paper above referred to. It is from the pen of a dear servant of Christ, now with his Lord, once a Wesleyan minister.
5. “Η. Α. Unita.” We believe the truth of the eternal Sonship of Christ is as distinctly taught in scripture as the truth of the Trinity. The fact that such an expression does not occur, no more militates against the one truth than it does against the other. If the Son is God, He must be eternal. “Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, Ο God, is forever and ever.” (Heb. 1:8.) It seems to us that the Deity and Eternity of the Son are so indissolubly linked together that whoso denies the one denies the other likewise. May God give us all subjection to Scripture!
6. “J. B.,” Manchester. We cannot recall the substance of the letter to which you refer. Indeed we have no remembrance whatever of having received it.
7. “J. Μ. H,” Edinburgh. We cannot understand how anyone calling himself a Christian could presume to speak, as you describe, of the holy and honorable institution of marriage. Neither can we understand why you should have occasion to seek a human opinion on the point, with Heb. 13:4 shining before you, on the one hand; and 1 Tim. 4:1-4 on the other. Oh! when will people learn to open then: Bible and bow down to its holy authority, in all things? We have a most perfect abhorrence of that mock spirituality, sanctimoniousness, and transcendentalism so apparent in the remarks to which you call our attention. To us it seems to be simply holiness in the flesh, which we know is one of Satan’s crafty wiles. Marriage was instituted by the Lord God, in the garden of Eden. It was sanctioned by the presence of Christ, in Cana of Galilee. It is pronounced honorable by the Holy Ghost in Heb. 13 To forbid it is said to be a doctrine of devils, in 1 Tim. 4 This is quite sufficient for us, let pious sentimentalists and hyper-spiritualists say what they will.
8. “J. F., Stowmarket. Your MS. has come safely to hand.
9. “Η. M. A. C. K.” You have only to cast yourself, in true contrition and self-judgment, on the changeless love of God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1) “He restoreth my soul, and leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Let nothing shake your confidence in the love of God, the work of Christ, or the record of the Holy Ghost.
10. “A Learner,” Berkely. John 12:32 refers distinctly to the death of Christ. Is this not plain from verse 33? “This he said signifying what death he should die.” The death of Christ is the ground on which all are gathered to Him. “Except a com of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.”
11. “R. A. W.,” Bristol. In Acts 7:50 we have Stephen addressing prayer to the Lord Jesus. We cannot see how anyone could object to our doing the same. We must beware of being hyper-critical.
12. “J. C,” Near Stonehouse. The question you propose is one for your own conscience to weigh ha the light of scripture. It could be of no real use to you for us to say that we could not for worlds occupy such a position, or stand in such a relationship as you describe; inasmuch as each one must act according to his light. We believe the servant of Christ ought to stand perfectly free from human influence, He should have to do only with His Lord, both as to his work and as to his support. But in all these things, the rule must ever be, “According to your faith.” It is none of our business to judge others · each one must stand or fall to his own Master.
13. “A Young Christian.” Be much in prayer for deliverance from tins sore temptation. You will also find it healthful to be continually occupied with positive good. This is a good preservative against evil thoughts. May the Lord grant you full deliverance from this grievous besetment!
Several communications stand over.