33. “A. Α.,” Basingstoke. You should follow the light as it streams in upon your soul, and leave results to God. We must obey God, at all cost, but care should be taken to avoid giving needless offense to those who have claims upon us flowing out of natural relationships. Delicacy, tenderness, modesty, and humility will ever mark the actings of the true Christian. Your second communication has come to hand. May the Lord lead you into His own blessed and peaceful path!
34. “C.” Pately Bridge. We are much interested in your case. We can only praise the Lord for His goodness in leading you in His own blessed path. We fully agree with you in the purpose which you have formed. It is of the utmost importance, in our daily path, to have the assurance of divine guidance even in the most minute details. The promise is sure, “I will guide thee with mine eye.” But the admonition is solemn, “ Be not as the horse or as the mule”—the former, in high spirit, rushing where he ought not—the latter, in obstinacy, refusing to go where he ought. “The meek will he guide in judgment.” It is our privilege to be as sure that we are in God’s path as that our sins are forgiven; and if we have not that assurance we ought not to take a single step. May God bless you, beloved brother, and make you a blessing!
35. “B. F. J.,” Penzance. We should know more of the circumstances of your case before attempting to give you any opinion. As you have put the matter, you seem to be in a false position; and, of course, the sooner you get out of it the better. But then care must be taken to do things in a right way. It is very certain that no worldly advantage should induce you to remain in a position which robs you of communion with God and His people. So far as you have informed us, it would seem to be, very distinctly, an instance of the “unequal yoke.” May the Lord give you grace to do the right thing in a right way.
36. “A. S.,” Wolston Green. You have not quite laid hold of the force and meaning of the expression, “quick and dead.” There are distinct scenes of judgment spoken of in the New Testament. We have what may be called warrior judgment, and sessional judgment. Take 2 Thess. 1:6-10, as an example of the former; and Matt. 25:31-46, as an example of the latter. In the one case, there is no process of trial at all, but rapid execution of judgment. Thus it will be with the beast and false prophet, as in Rev. 19:20. In the other case, there is arraignment of the parties, the solemn statement of the ground of indictment, the passing of the sentence, and the execution of it. Then as to the “ quick and dead,” you must remember that there is at least a thousand years between the two. “ The quick” are those who shall be actually alive, in the body, when our Lord is revealed, in His judicial character, previous to the millennium. The dead “will not be judged till after the thousand years of millennial reign.” Study carefully Rev. 20:4-15. As to the saints, they will not come into judgment at all. (John 5:24, where the word should be “judgment,” not “condemnation.”) They belong to “the first resurrection”—“the resurrection of life.” They will be associated with Christ when He comes in judgment. They shall be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, where they shall shine in His perfection. They shall see themselves, their ways, their works, in the full blaze of the light of the glory of Christ. They shall see and think and judge as He sees and thinks and judges. The idea of saints standing to be judged as to their persons and title, is flagrantly opposed to the gospel, to Christianity, and to the teaching of the entire New Testament. May God the Spirit lead your precious soul in the full light of all this!
37. “A Constant Reader,” Canterbury. Mal. 3:16, 17 refers primarily to the godly remnant in Israel, at the close of the old dispensation. All was ruin and apostasy around them; but they feared the Lord, thought upon His name, and spake often one to another. They did not attempt to set up anything, or reconstruct a fallen system; they owned the ruin, feared the Lord, and communed one with another. Jude 20-23, gives us a christian remnant in the midst of the ruin of professing Christianity. You will find it interesting and instructive to mark the points of similarity and of contrast in these two passages of scripture.
38. “J. Α. H.,” Blackrock. We agree with your second view of “the day of the Lord.” As to the expression “righteousness, of God,” Romans 3:22, and 2 Cor. 5:21, we take it to mean that righteousness which He has provided for, and revealed to, us. It stands in contrast with man’s righteousness. Under the law, God demanded righteousness from man. In the gospel, God reveals righteousness to man. Under the law righteousness was on the principle of works; in the gospel it is on the principle of faith. Blessed contrast!
39. “Kate,” Ipswich. We could not think of confining, Matt. 11:28-30 in the way you suggest. We believe it refers to every weary, heavy laden, laboring sinner, Jew or Gentile. All such are made welcome to the “rest” which Jesus gives to those who come to Him.
40. “A. O.,” Dublin. Psalm 16 is a breathing of the spirit of Christ, in the place of dependence upon God into which He voluntarily entered. “In thee do I put my trust.” He speaks as the dependent man. As to Jehovah, He says, “My goodness extendeth not to thee.” As to the saints, He says, “All my delight is in them.” It is our privilege, in our little measure, to breathe the same spirit of trust in God, and of delight in His people. In Jesus, we need hardly say, it was perfect. He, though God over all, blessed forever, yet so perfectly took the place of man that He could say to God, “in thee do I put my trust”—“my goodness extendeth not to thee”—“my flesh shall rest in hope,” &c., &e. Thanks for the lines. They are pervaded by a deep spirit of piety. May God bless you!
41. “A Constant Reader.” Scripture is silent on the subject of smoking. Looked at from a moral standpoint, we regard it as a most abominable, idle habit. It may be needful, in some cases, on medical grounds; but we must confess we tremble for a young man’s future, when we see him puffing tobacco smoke.
42. “An Enquirer.” Your questions must be answered by conscience, in the presence of God.
43. “G. A. Y.,” Weymouth. Thanks for the lines from the pen of “St. Patrick.” Also for your own.
44. “C. C,” Spring Grove. That to which, you call our attention is a holy mystery, to be approached with unshod feet. God did hide His face from our blessed Lord Jesus Christ when He was making His soul an offering for sin; and yet the blessed Sin bearer was Himself very God as well as very man. To all this faith reverently bows. It is a sacred mystery, lying far beyond reason’s ken.
45. “A Sister,” Wallingford. It is very plain from Rom. 12:10, Eph. 6:12, and other passages, that Satan has access into the heavens. Milton has filled people’s minds with the thought that Satan is confined to hell. He will, ere long, be so confined, but it is only too plain that he is not so now. Accept our sincere thanks for your encouraging note. May God bless you!
46. “R. P. S.,” United States. It was very land of you to send us the touching incident on which the poem “Lean hard” is founded. Accept our warmest thanks.
Communications have come to hand from “G. C,” Sheerness;” II. N.,” Ipswich; “W.,” Cheltenham; “G. F.,” Swindon; “A Brother,” Salisbury: “S. Α. II.,” Fronie; “C. G. H.,” London.