75. “Α. Ε.,” Friern, Barnet. Also “A. L.,” and “A Constant Reader.” We cannot now lay our hand on the letter containing the account of the incident on which.” Lean Hard” is founded; and we are almost afraid to trust memory. As well as we can remember, it was this: A lady attended some meeting; and, feeling herself getting very ill, and fainting, she fell back against the person who sat near her, and who, though a total stranger, said to the poor weakly one, in a loving soothing tone, “Lean hard.” But we do not at all vouch for the accuracy of the foregoing.
76. “Μ. H.” Your case is painfully interesting. We consider your mistake to be self-occupation. You are looking for evidences of your conversion as a ground of peace. This will never do. The true ground of peace is, not that you were converted six years ago, but that Christ died for your sins according to the scriptures; that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the scripture. We do not think you have ever really laid hold of the true ground of peace in the presence of God. This is not to be found in yourself, or in aught that you can do, or think, or feel, or experience, or pass through. It is wholly and exclusively in Christ. He has made peace by the blood of His cross. He is our peace. It is by Him God preaches peace; and being justified by faith we have peace with God. It is when your faith lays hold on God as the One who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead that your peace will flow as a river. Even though you could be sure that you were converted six years ago—though you could see your name written in the book of life, that would not be the proper basis of your peace in the presence of God, but simply that Christ died for you, and that God raised Him from the dead. Ponder this. You will never get any comfort by looking in at yourself, or back at your past history. We could not think of building upon the most remarkable conversion that ever took place in this world. Even supposing you had all the feelings of which man is capable, and all the feelings which attend upon true spiritual conversion, this would not be the proper ground for your soul to build upon; you must build upon Christ alone. You must commit your precious soul, absolutely, to the truth of God; you must believe what He tells you about Christ and not be looking for evidences in yourself. “Being justified by faith (not merely being sure of our conversion,) we have peace with God.”
It is not that we question your conversion. It is not that we do not believe in the reality and necessity of conversion; and in the proper feelings attendant thereon. Nay, we most fully believe in all these things. But we do not believe in such things as the ground of a sinner’s peace. If you ask us what gives us peace—true, settled peace, we reply, “Believing in Jesus”—“Believing in him that justifieth the ungodly”—“Believing in him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Head Rom. 3 and 4.) This takes us clean out of ourselves; and this is just what you want. Why have you fallen away? Why have you gone back? Why have you been drawn into worse sins since your conversion than ever you committed before? Because you have never really laid hold of Christ as your true ground of peace—as the one who is made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. If He were a covering for your eyes, and an object for your heart; if you were occupied with Him and not with yourself; you would have victory over your lusts, passions, tempers, and tendencies; over habits, influences, and circumstances. In short, to be occupied with Christ, by the Holy Ghost, is not only the true foundation of peace, but also the secret of strength and victory, and of all real progress in holiness.
Here is precisely where so many go astray. They are occupied with themselves—their conversion and its evidences—their frames and experiences—what they have passed through, and the like. They take comfort from their likings and dislikings, from their loving what they once hated, and hating what they once loved; all of which, though real enough in themselves, are not the ground of peace, the secret of liberty, or the source of true spiritual power. These latter you must seek in Christ alone. The moment you take your eye off Him, you lose peace and power. “Looking off unto Jesus” must be the motto, from the starting post right onward to the goal. May God’s Spirit make all this most real and precious to your soul!
77. “A Brother,” Penzance. We could not stand in such a position for an hour; but each one must act according to his light. “Come out from among them and be ye separate” would seem to us a word bearing very directly on all such associations. May God guide and help you!
78. “Α. Μ. II.,” Kensington. We consider you are perfectly right in refusing to hold friendly intercourse with anyone who denies that our Lord Christ is equal with God. Are blameless morals to be taken as evidences of Christianity when Christ is denied? Can there be true faith in the atonement of Christ where His Person is blasphemed or dishonored? We do not and cannot believe it?
79. “J. B.,” Paignton. You ask, “In what way may a Christian receive the grace of God in vain”? (2 Cor. 6:11We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1).) If the heart does not feel, and the life exhibit, the power of the grace which we profess to have received, we should judge it has been received in vain. Thanks for the sweet lines.
80. “G. Τ. H.,” Brighton. Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28) sets forth the proper attitude of all true believers whether from among the Jews or the Gentiles; they should be looking out for their Lord’s return. We quite agree with you in thinking that when Christ appears, the whole Church, and not a part merely, will be with Him. We heartily thank you for your loving note, and, add a fervent Amen to your prayer. May we all be found worshipping, working, and waiting.
81. “F. S.,” Norwood. The extract, to which you call our attention, confounds two things perfectly distinct, namely, “Priesthood” and “Ministry.” The sin of Korah did not consist in his aspiring to minister or to teach; for that he was called to as a Levite. (See Deut. 33:1010They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. (Deuteronomy 33:10).) But, not content with this, he aimed at the Priesthood. This was the sin for which he was judged.
82. “C. A. S.,” Clapham. Most assuredly all the Old Testament saints will have part in the first resurrection, and in heavenly glory, though quite distinct from the Church. The Song of Solomon and Psalm xlv. refer to Israel, though surely containing precious instruction for the Church.
83. “S. D.,” Chichester. We do not know of any book that would exactly meet your need.
84. “A. P.,” Ireland. You will find an answer to your question in our Correspondence for April. (No. 55.)
85. “T. G.” Lapford. We are precisely where you are yourself as to your first question, which we do not feel called upon to discuss in our pages. As to John 5:3939Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39), we judge it ought to be, “Ye search the scriptures.” The folly of the Jews was exhibited in the fact that while professing to search the scriptures which testified of Christ, they, nevertheless, would not come to Him that they might have life.
Communications are acknowledged from “A Tried One,” Edinburgh. “Mara;” and “A Young Christian.”
We regret to be again obliged to call the attention of our Correspondents to our earnest request that they will not send us stamped envelopes, as we really cannot undertake to send direct replies. We trust we may not have any further occasion to refer to this matter.