Correspondence

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 7
59. “Η. G. Î’.,” Peckham. It is difficult for one to judge for another in the matter to which you refer. Each one must act before the Lord, and be guided of Him as to the best method of working. As a rule, it is the best way to study scripture apart from the idea of having to preach. It is not good always to be reading for others; one is in danger of falling into the mere business of sermon-making, which is very withering to the soul. It is well to go to the word on the principle set forth in John 7:37,37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37) “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” We only speak of the principle, not the strict application of the passage. We should betake ourselves to the fountain of holy scripture, not to draw for others, but to drink for ourselves. Then we shall be always full, always ready for the Master’s use. Far be it from us to encourage anyone in a random, haphazard way of speaking on scripture. We believe such a habit to be ruinous to the soul of the speaker, and worse than wearisome to the souls of the hearers. The apostle’s advice to his son Timothy is salutary to us all, “ Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Tim. 4:15, 1615Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:15‑16).) The “profiting” is sure to “appear” if the habit of meditation be diligently cultivated; but if one goes to a meeting with a sermon ready prepared, it may not be the thing which the Lord would have spoken at all. No doubt, the Lord can and does guide His servants in study and preparation beforehand; He can fix their minds upon the right subject, and teach the right method of handling it. He is so good that we can count on Him with fullest confidence in all things. But we have to watch against the habit of making ourselves up for an occasion, on the one hand, and against idleness and indifference on the other. May the Lord bless you, in your own soul, and help you in your work!
60. “A Reader,” Halifax. We consider it perfectly scriptural “for three or four Christians who happen to be on the Lord’s day, in a village or town where there is no assembly, to remember the Lord, in the breaking of bread.”
61. “A. S. O.,” Reading. There are very false notions afloat as to the point to which you call our attention; and very many, like yourself, are troubled thereby. We are continually asked about the “unpardonable sin,” and the “sin against the Holy Ghost.” If you will read carefully Matthew 12:24-32,24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:24‑32) you will see that our Lord speaks of “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost,” of which the apostate Jews were guilty. For this there was and could be no forgiveness. What could be done for those who not only rejected the Son, but resisted the Holy Ghost, and attributed His blessed operation to Beelzebub? They could neither be forgiven in the “age” of the law, nor in that of Messiah. In short, it is wholly a question, in this scripture, of the apostate nation of Israel, given over to hopeless perdition. We know that, just before the opening of the millennial age, there will be a repentant remnant for whom a fountain shall be opened, and who shall be the nucleus of the restored nation. But this is far too wide a subject to enter upon here. We merely add that we judge it to be a temptation of Satan to lead you to imagine that you have committed “the unpardonable sin;” for you may rest assured, dear friend, that you have never been guilty of any sin which cannot be canceled by that blood which cleanseth us from all sin. Many find difficulty in 1 John 5:1616If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16). “There is a sin unto death.” This we believe to be a question of God’s governmental dealings. We learn from 1 Corinthians 11 That God visits His people with sickness and even death itself because of their ways; but in neither of these passages is there any thought of “an unpardonable sin.” We do not believe that any sinner, in this acceptable year, this day of salvation, is beyond the reach of the pardoning love of God, and the atoning blood of Jesus. Those who reject the gospel shall be given over to “a strong delusion.” (2 Thess. 2:10-1210And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:10‑12).) But that terrible moment has not yet arrived. “The day of vengeance” is held back in God’s long-suffering mercy.
62. “J. C. H.,” Purton. The subject is hardly suitable for “Things New and Old.”
63. “A Constant Reader,” Bristol. Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) proves the grand foundation of the immortality of the soul, “Man became a living soul.” This was not the case with any other creature. If ever a moment could arrive in the which the soul shall cease to exist, then is there no force, no meaning in Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7). We need hardly say there are numberless other proofs; but this one is quite enough for us.