33. “S. W.,” London. You are perfectly right, because most thoroughly sustained by the word of God, in saying to any soul, “Only believe God’s testimony about His Son, and you are eternally saved.” This is a perfectly scriptural statement. The passages of scripture in which you find difficulty (Rom. 14:15, and 1 Cor. 8:11) do not refer to the question of salvation or eternal life at all. It is not in the power of any one to destroy eternal life; but if I interfere with the action of a brother’s conscience—if I cause him to do what he feels to be wrong, then, so far as in me lies, I destroy him, and cause him to make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. In short, in both the above passages, it is a question of personal responsibility and the integrity of conscience before God. This is most solemn. No man can touch the foundation on which a saved soul is built, but it is a most serious tiling to wound any weak conscience. Let us therefore beware.
34. “Mary,” London. We know of no way in which to get purity of heart but by faith in Christ. See Acts 15:9, Heb. 10:22. This is the basis of all purity, and then the more we walk in the maintenance of this purity, the more we shall know and enjoy God.
35. “J. Α.,” Spalding. In 2 Thess. 2:1, 2, the apostle is correcting a mistake into which the Thessalonian saints had fallen. They had been led, by some means or other, to think that “the day of the Lord” had actually set in. Now, in the first epistle, he had taught them to look for the Lord’s coming and their gathering unto Him in the air, to be forever with Him; and further he had taught them that “the day” was not to overtake them as a thief. Then, in the second epistle, the apostle exhorts them “by” or on the ground of Christ’s coming, not to be agitated as to “the day.” The former was their proper hope; the latter could not take place until after the manifestation of “the man of sin” which was then, and is still future. Your difficulty arises from not distinguishing between “the coming” of Christ for His saints, and “the day” of His manifestation in judgment upon the world. We are exhorted by the former not to be troubled about the latter. The two things are as distinct as possible. The one is the bright and blissful consummation of the Church’s hope; the other, the death knell of all this world’s glory. The distinction is of real moment.
36. “Χ. V. X.” Your lines do not quite suit us.
37. “C. Y.,” Alton. Pro. 1:24-32 is one of the most solemn passages in the Bible. There is a time coming when He who once wept over impenitent sinners, will laugh at them. Tremendous fact! As to Pro. 8:17, it holds good now, and shall hold good until that solemn moment in which the Master rises up and shuts the door. Oh! to be more in earnest with our fellow men!
38. “H. D.” Thanks for your lines.
39. “W. Β.,” H.M. Ship “Forte.” We have referred to the subject of your letter in a former volume (see “Nine Years’ Answers to Correspondence”), and we do not feel led to enter upon it again. If the heart be right with Christ, such things will find their true place.
40. “A. A. D.,” Penzance. We have repeatedly gone into the question of your note. We would here inform our dear friends that we cannot possibly reply to queries which have been noticed before. We trust they will kindly excuse us.
41. “B, J. M.,” Ross. “The everlasting gospel” is quite distinct from the gospel of the grace of God now preached. The former will go forth prior to the opening of the kingdom. No doubt the precious gospel now published is everlasting as to its source and subject; but it is not intelligent to apply Rev. 14:6 to it.
42. “R. C. H.,” Barnstaple. Thanks for your truly kind and encouraging letter. We do not think that Matt. 16:27 and 1 Thess. 4:16 refer to the same thing. That refers to the public manifestation, this to the coming of Christ for His saints, according to John 14:3. The proper hope of the Church is her Lord’s coming to receive her to Himself. She is called to wait for Himself, not for rewards. No doubt there will be rewards, but these belong to the manifestation of the kingdom, and are neither our proper hope nor the true motive for service. The love of Christ is our true motive spring—Himself our hope. As to the expression, “These my brethren,” it refers to the messengers who shall go forth to the nations previous to the setting up of the kingdom. No doubt they will be from among the Jews. The entire scene refers to the judgment of the living nations. There is no such thing in scripture as a general simultaneous judgment. There will be the judgment of “the quick” before the millennium; and the judgment of “the dead” after the millennium; and the warrior judgment executed upon “the beast,” &c, &c.