98. “A Reader,” London. You should make your application to the publisher, Mr. Morrish.
99. “G. G. H.,” Oldham. You must distinguish between “conversion” and “ regeneration.” A man can only be regenerated once; he may be converted repeatedly. Hence when our Lord says to Peter, in the passage to which you refer, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” He simply alludes to his restoration, after his terrible fall. What marvelous grace, that one who had so terribly fallen should be called to such high and holy work!
100. “Friede,” Cork. We fully sympathize with you in your dread of acting under mere impulse. It is always well to be sure of every step we take—to be able to give a “Thus saith the Lord” for whatever we do, or whatever we refuse to do. Very much damage is done to the cause of truth and vital godliness, by impulsive acting, and by what we may term spasmodic devotedness. We greatly value calm, deep toned decision for Christ—a decision produced by genuine love to His Person and profound subjection to the authority of His word. These things are most needful, in this day of man’s will, man’s judgment, and man’s reason. As to the matter which seems to exercise your hearty you must simply act before the Lord. It is entirely a question for your own conscience. Do not act on the judgment of another. If you feel free in conscience, before God, it is better to continue as you have done, for the sake of others. But, by all means, keep a good conscience, cost what it may. We entirely agree with your remarks about the Church. The professing body is a ruin. The Body of Christ is one and indissoluble. It is our holy and happy privilege, as it is our bounden duty, to have our feet on God’s ground, and our eyes on God Himself—to see and own our failure, but yet to hold fast the faithfulness of God. It needs a single eye to discern God’s ground, and a simple faith to occupy it; but He is always sufficient, and His foundation standeth sure. There is no reason why we should continue one hour in connection with what is wrong. “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” This is perfectly conclusive. Nothing can justify our remaining in connection with what we know to be false. May the Lord Himself greatly bless you, beloved friend, and make you a blessing!
101. “Η. T.,” Waterford. Matt. 10:2:1 refers to the testimony sent forth in the days of our Lord. That testimony to the cities of Israel is, of necessity, suspended for the present; but it will be resumed again, just before the coining of our Lord, and ere its completion He will appear. It gives great clearness and simplicity to see the present break in the divine dealings with Israel. It is in this break or interval that the Church, properly so called, comes in. If this be not fully seen, there must be confusion in the mind both as to Israel and the Church of God.
102. “M. C,” Blackfriars Road. If you will turn to the fourth volume of “Things New and Old,” page 25, you will find an article on Heb. 6 which may help you. We have more than once referred to it in our correspondence. See “Nine Years’ Answers,” &c.
103. “S. G.” Accept our best thanks for the copy of Miss Fiske’s letter. A friend has sent us some lines on the subject.
104. “W. G.” Your questions are not at all in our line. We are fully determined, by the grace of God, to keep our pages free of all such matters. No doubt, they have their interest and importance; but they do not suit us.
105. “Ε. K,” Reading. You are desirous of light on 1 Cor. 7:1414For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (1 Corinthians 7:14): “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” If you will compare this passage with Ezra 10:11, 1211Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. 12Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. (Ezra 10:11‑12), you will see the contrast between Judaism and Christianity. The former strictly prohibited the union of the circumcised with the stranger; and, where a union had taken place, insisted upon a separation. The latter forbids the union of a believer with an unbeliever; but, where a union has been formed previous to conversion, it does not insist upon a separation; on the contrary, it counsels an abiding together, and pronounces the offspring holy. It is not a question of the conversion of the children. This must be obvious, inasmuch as we should not need to be told that converted children were holy. But it illustrates the grace and largeness of the gospel and of Christianity, to be told that the offspring of mixed marriages is sanctified and need not be put away. There is not a single syllable about baptism in the entire chapter.
106. “W.” Barnstaple. The editor of “The Good News Almanac” will, we feel assured, be happy to answer your query.
107. “A Subscriber from the first,” Bristol. We have read your letter with very deep interest, and we can thoroughly enter into your feelings. We believe assuredly that the Christian is bound to provide for his family, day by day—bound to educate his children, and put them in the way of earning an honest livelihood. All this is so plainly enjoined in the New Testament as to admit of no question. But these sacred duties leave wholly untouched the question of hoarding up, on the one hand, and of speculation on the other. We do not believe in these latter at all. We believe that hoarding covers the soul with rust, and speculation fills the heart and mind with care and anxiety. We love and honor industry and honest toil; but scripture tells us that “the love of money is the root of all evil;” and we do not believe that God’s blessing rests upon His children when they become shareholders in worldly companies. You yourself, dear friend, have proved this. We think you would have clone better had you purchased a house, either to live in or let, than to invest your money in such a company as you describe. But all these matters must be arranged between the Lord and one’s own conscience. We merely add that there is a vast difference between committing actual sin, and falling short of a high toned discipleship and personal devotedness. For ourselves, we long for the latter—long earnestly for it. We believe there is a sad lack of it in this our day. The tide of worldliness is rolling rapidly in upon us, and we know of no more effectual barrier with which to resist it than thorough heart-devotedness and consecration to Christ and His cause. Where the real bent of the soul is Christward, one is not troubled with questions as to the right or wrong of this or that; but where it is not, the heart can muster up a thousand and one plausible arguments; and it is labor lost to seek to answer such arguments, inasmuch as there is no spiritual capacity to see the force of the answer. May God bless you, dear friend, and comfort your heart under your heavy loss. May your undivided confidence be in Him, and He will prove Himself better than ten thousand limited companies.”
A dear Christian friend writes as follows: “May I ask one favor of you? Will you remember Russia, specially, in your prayers, and seek to induce some christian friends to do the same? God’s word is increasingly circulated there, and some efforts have been made, for some time, by enlightened Christians, to spread the gospel by means of schools, &c. God has His hidden ones in that vast empire and they are anxious for the sympathy and intercession of those who enjoy many advantages they lack.” The foregoing appeal needs not a word from us. We feel sure it will be warmly responded to by our beloved Christian readers.