34. “A Young Disciple,” Surrey. Accept our warmest thanks for your truly kind and encouraging letter. The Lord be praised for all you can tell us of His goodness to you, and for the help and blessing you have received through the books.
36. “J. H.,” Keswick. Rom. 14:1313Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (Romans 14:13) is given quite correctly in our excellent Authorized Version, and it stands in fullest harmony with the glorious truth of an accomplished redemption. We must never forget that, while we stand in the free grace of God, we are called to walk in holy responsibility. The two things are most blessedly compatible. “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” And again, “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Let us seek to keep these things ever in the remembrance of the thoughts of our hearts.
37. “J. L.,” Bishop Stortford. Most assuredly, all the saints, from the days of Adam downward, shall have part in the first resurrection. We believe that both the Old Testament saints and the Church are seen in Rev. 4; 5, under the figure of the twenty-four elders. They are not distinguished, however, until the close of the book when the elders disappear and the Church is seen as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” It will help you immensely in your study of the book of Revelation, to see the transitional character of chapters 4, 5. They show us, most distinctly, where the Church will be during the opening of the seals, the sounding of the trumpets, and the pouring out of the vials. There is no mention of the Church on the earth, after chapter 3. We have a numbered company of Jews, and a countless multitude of Gentiles saved, in chapter 7. But the very fact of their being distinguished as Jews and Gentiles proves that they do not belong to the Church at all; for in this latter, as every intelligent Christian knows, all such distinctions vanish.
38. “S. E. S.” Your two poems contain much precious truth, and breathe a very sweet spirit; but they are rather too long for our limited space. Accept our thanks for your truly kind note.
39. “Quartus,” Cheltenham. Acts 10:3535But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:35) teaches, most clearly, that God accepts all who work righteousness, whether Jew or Gentile. See Rom. 1.
40. “Τ. B. D.,” Exeter. The expression in Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28) does not at all apply to the world; but only to believers. It is never said in scripture that Christ bore the sins of the world. “He put away sin.” “The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).) “He is the propitiation for... the whole world.” (1 John 2) But the moment you speak of sins, it becomes a question of persons, and then we have to do with the counsels of God, and the work of the Holy Ghost in the soul, producing repentance and faith. If Christ bore the sins of the whole world, then the whole world must be saved apart from all question of repentance and faith. In a word, this would involve the heresy of universal redemption. We must carefully distinguish between universal purchase and universal redemption. The former is a most weighty truth; the latter is a fatal heresy. Christ has bought the whole world, and every man, woman, and child therein. Hence the apostle Peter speaks of false teachers, “bringing in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.” He does not say, “that redeemed them.” But this is a wide and a weighty subject, and cannot be gone into here. If you can lay your hand on a little volume entitled, “Notes on Leviticus,” and read chapter 16 it will help you.
42. “T. S.,” Otley. Thanks for your kind note and the accompanying card.
43. “Alpha,” Teignmouth. It will help you in your study of the parable in Matt. 22 if you bear in mind the difference between Christians looked at individually, and the Church in its corporate character. Most surely, the guests are gathered in now by the gospel; but the object of the parable is not to set forth the Church, but a certain similitude of the kingdom of heaven. We are truly thankful for the large measure of light which the Lord has vouchsafed to you.
44. “Ε. B.,” London. It must be entirely a question of individual faith. The word is plain, “ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” If any one says you ought to lay up, he must settle the matter with the Lord Christ. Eph. 4:2828Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28) teaches us that the object for which a man is to work with his hands is, not to lay up, but that he may have to give to him that needeth. It is a fine question to put to the heart, namely, which would you rather have, a hoard of money or the living God? A genuine faith will not hesitate long about giving an answer.
45. “E. W.,” Ramsgate. Scripture is totally silent on the point. It seems to us a very unprofitable question. We believe the Spirit in the intermediate state is in the enjoyment of unhindered communion with Christ. It is utterly useless for us to offer conjectures or imagination where scripture maintains an impenetrable reserve. We most fully agree with your mode of putting this subject.
46. “Ν. N.,” Ivy House. Most gladly would we go into your questions were it not that they would carry us into a line of things quite unsuited to our pages.
47. “A Lamb in the Fold,” York. If you apply to our publisher, “ Mr. Morrish, 24, Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row, London, e.c.” he will give you the desired information and supply you with the proper books and tracts.
48. “Bartholomew,” Manchester. The subject to which you call our attention is, no doubt, one of deep interest and real practical value; but it hardly comes within the scope of this magazine.
49. “J. B.,” Huddersfield. Acts 5:3030The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30) is perfectly correct as rendered in our excellent Authorized Version. Most clearly, it refers to resurrection. How could it be applied to incarnation, in the face of the words, “whom ye slew and hanged on a tree?”
50. “S. Ε. H.” The Old Testament saints looked forward to a promised Savior. As to Israel, after the flesh, they went through the ordinances and ceremonies of the Mosaic ritual without any spiritual insight into their deep significance. You must distinguish between carnal Jews and true believers.
51. “W. E.,” Wem. We have replied to your question as to the watches of the night. As to your second question, the holy scriptures were buried, as it were, in the cloisters of Rome, in dead languages, until God, in His great mercy, gave them forth in the vernacular tongue. There were MSS in various monasteries and libraries, preserved by the good hand of God until the due time came, and competent hands were found, to make use of them for the blessing of the Church.