19. “S. Μ.,” Stowmarket. It is possible the papers on “Job and his Friends” may yet appear in a separate form. The good Lord will guide.
20. “W. W.,” Montrose. We can only praise our God for your truly kind and encouraging communication. May He greatly bless you, beloved friend, and make you a blessing!
21. “Emma,” Devonshire. We cannot see the Church in any part of Deut. 33:1212And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. (Deuteronomy 33:12). “And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.” A most precious verse surely; but it applies primarily to that favored tribe of Israel, and shall be fully made good in its future history. No doubt, the Christian may prove, in a far higher and more intimate manner, the place of safety and strength here spoken of. May it be so with us!
22. “N. R.,” In Luke 23:3131For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? (Luke 23:31), “The green tree” refers to that special time when the Lord was present in their midst. “The dry tree,” on the contrary, points to the future. It is as though He had said, “ If they can act so now, in my presence, how will it be by and by?” We are truly thankful for your kind and interesting letter. May all needed blessing and grace be ministered to your precious soul! May you be kept in perfect peace, resting on the eternal stability of the grace of God!
23. “B. L.,” London. If the Lord has called you to the blessed work of teaching in the Sunday school, you should, by all means, at once enter upon it. You have received the gospel for your own soul’s salvation; and hence, however precious it may be to hear the gospel preached, over and over again, we do not think you ought to let this stand in your way in seeking to lead others to the Savior. Were it a question of the Lord’s Table, it would be a totally different matter. No line of service ought to be allowed to hinder our attendance at the celebration of that most precious institution. Every rightly taught and spiritually minded Christian will assuredly give the Lord’s Table the paramount place.
24. “W. Α.,” Blackheath. In 1 Cor. 15:2121For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:21), the word “resurrection” applies to all mankind, for all shall rise. But, in verse 22, the expression “in Christ shall all be made alive,” refers, most assuredly, only to believers, for none but such can be spoken of as being “in Christ.”
25. “G. H.,” Newcastle-on-Tine. 2 Cor. 5:1414For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (2 Corinthians 5:14), and many other passages of scripture, teach, in the most distinct manner, that Christ died for all. The aspect of the death of Christ, as also of the righteousness of God, is Unto all; but when we come to the practical application, it is “upon all them that believe.” All who hear are responsible to believe, for the message is sent into all the world, and to every creature. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” But what stumbles and perplexes so many people is that they are occupied with the dogmas of theology, instead of the love of God, the atonement of Christ, and the record of the Holy Ghost. The moment you take any doctrine of scripture, whether it be election, predestination, final perseverance, or any other doctrine whatsoever, and detach it from the Person of Christ, and the living and eternal reality of what God is, you instantly turn it into a stumbling-block. You may set it down as an absolute truth, dear friend, that our gracious God would never have people to be puzzled about their souls’ salvation. Theology often puzzles people, but God never does. As to cavilers, it would be far more honest of them to declare plainly that they do not want to have anything to say to God, than to be seeking to find out flimsy objections against His word.
26. “A Constant Reader,” South Hornsey. You cannot do better than to procure a copy of a work entitled, “The Irrationalism of Infidelity,” and get your friend to read it. It can be had of our publisher, Mr. Morrish, 24, Warwick Lane, Paternoster Bow.”
27. “C. V. W.,” Ramsgate. Rom. 9:1818Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. (Romans 9:18) sets forth God’s sovereign right to do as He pleases. Man must bow. It is of no use to reason, or reply, for God must have the upper hand in the end. As to Pharaoh, the hardening of his heart was judicial. He had set himself to resist God’s will, and he was given over to blindness and hardness of heart. No one was ever hardened or blinded who had the faintest or feeblest desire after God or His Christ. Theology makes difficulties in this matter: truth makes none.