120. “J. D. Gr.,” Bayswater, London. It seems to us that you confound two things perfectly distinct in Old Testament Scripture, namely, the nation of Israel under the law, and the true saints of God who were quickened by the Holy Ghost, believed in the promised Savior, and. possessed eternal life. Surely you do not mean to teach that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and the whole cloud of Old Testament witnesses had not eternal life. Had they not something more than “the Jewish knowledge of God”? Our Lord Christ declares, in John 8, that “Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad.” Was that merely “Jewish knowledge”? Moses “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.” Was not that something beyond “the blood of bulls and goats”? Do you really deny that the Old Testament saints possessed eternal life? We can hardly believe it; and yet it would seem so from the fact of your objecting to the statement, in our May number, in reply to our Correspondent “S.”—“Assuredly, the Old Testament saints possessed eternal life.” We do most surely believe this statement, and we marvel at your objection. We do not believe that the Jews, as such, had eternal life: and here, as we judge, lies the secret of your mistake, for all the scriptures to which you refer, specially Hebrews and Galatians, have respect to Israel under the law, and not to the spiritual people of God whose names are recorded in Heb. 11. No doubt a mighty change has taken place in the position and privileges of God’s people, in consequence of the death and resurrection of Christ, His glorification at the right hand of God, and the descent of the Holy Ghost. Our Lord Himself declares, in John 10, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” And not only this, but in every respect, believers are placed on advanced ground by the death and resurrection of Christ, but we regard it as a very grave error indeed to deny that Old Testament saints possessed eternal life.
121. “Η, M. C,” Tottenham. It is most painfully evident that persons who can take part in such proceedings as those set forth in the advertisement which you enclose, must know but little indeed of Christ as an object for the heart, and a covering for the eyes. It is not only deplorable, but most appalling, to find those who profess to be Christians rushing after such vanity and folly. We must say, and it is the very least we can say, that we should not like our Lord to come and find us at such work.
122. “Why Not,” Stroud. We most heartily concur in all you say as to the responsibility of those who speak or pray in public, to do so in an audible voice. We cannot see the use of speaking if it cannot be heard. An unheard tongue is, to all intents and purposes, the same as an unknown tongue. Now, the apostle, in 1 Cor. 14, insists upon edification as the result of all speaking, praying, and giving of thanks. A man speaking in an unknown tongue is to be silenced if there be no interpreter. Why? Because he cannot edify. Well, then, how can I be edified by a man whose words I cannot hear? Impossible. It seems to us that instead of edification, in such a case, one gets irritation. If a man rises to speak in an assembly, he owes it to his Lord and to his audience to do his very utmost to speak in such a voice as to be heard by the most distant auditor. It is most deplorable to find some of our young men falling into the insufferable habit of mumbling; and we would earnestly entreat of all such to watch against it, and cultivate diligently a plain audible style of speaking and praying. We do not, by any means, wish to encourage shouting or bawling, which is quite as insufferable in its way as mumbling. We would give the following passage, from the book of Nehemiah, as furnishing an example which we might all profit by. “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Chap. 8:8.) What was the result? “All the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” (5:12.) It’ Ezra and his companions had read in a mumbling style, or spoken obscurely, the people could not have understood them.
123. “M. M.” Rearsby. We judge there is still a little confusion in your mind as to “the old husband” in Rom. 7. We do not think it is the flesh any more than the law, though, assuredly, the flesh is to be reckoned dead, for such it is in God’s account; and faith always takes God’s view of matters. The fact is, we are apt to get confused through not distinguishing, in Rom. 7 between the illustration of the marriage tie, and the application. In the illustration it is the husband that dies; but in the application it is we who have died. In short, it is death that dissolves the tie—not the death of the law, but our death. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ:” And again, “But now we are delivered from the law, being dead to that wherein we were held.” (See Margin.) In chapter 6 the question of “the flesh” is handled. In chapter 7 the question of “the law.” Death delivers from both the one and the other. We heartily thank you for your letter.
124. “C. K,” Hastings. We entirely agree with your view of ministry. We believe that every member of the body has a ministry; and it is by each one knowing his place and his functions in the body, and working effectually therein, that the growth of all is promoted. On the other hand, it is most disastrous for anyone to mistake his line of things, since he not only fails as to his own work but hinders others in theirs. May the Lord give us grace to know our niche and fill it! And may we learn to be content with a very little and a very humble niche. Someone has said, “I never was truly happy until I ceased to wish to be great.” This is a wholesome saying, and one which some of us would do well to ponder. It is immensely important for each one to know his own proper work. A man’s whole life may be one tissue of mistakes, simply owing to his having never really fallen into his divinely appointed line of things. This is very deplorable, in every way. Not only does it involve a loss of time and labor on his own part, but it also, of necessity, interferes with the work of others.
May the Lord guide and keep us! And may our earnest breathing ever be “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
125. “G. B.,” Greensted, Essex. You should apply to our publisher, Mr. Morrish.
126. “S.N.” Your question is hardly suitable for our pages.
127. “A Country Reader.” We fully enter into your feelings, and those of the Christians to whom you refer. Wait on the Lord. Wait patiently. He will shine on your path, and lead you on in His ways.
129. “Friecle,” Cork. Your kind and interesting letter has come to hand. We should be most happy to reply to your queries were it not that they lead into a line of things rather foreign to the object of this Magazine. May the Lord Himself be your teacher, beloved friend. Be much in His presence. Inquire in the temple.
Communications have come to hand from “K. S. S.,” Hereford; “ Η. K.,” Dublin; Anonymous, Derby; “Ε. B.,” Uxbridge; “ C. A. M. Kilbany; W. H, N., Burwash; “G. S.” Deal.