43. H. R. K., Newport. “ The earth” in Revelation xiii. indicates the land of Palestine. ‘‘ The sea,” on the contrary, points to the nations. The second beast will arise in the land of Israel. Accept our hearty thanks for your truly kind letter.
44. “ A Little One,” London. Scripture gives us the simple fact that believers ought to be baptized. It says nothing as to whether it should be in public or in private. It does not tell us that it should be, “ In a place accessible to the public.” It is left entirely open. Who witnessed the baptism of the eunuch? Where was Paul baptized? or Lydia? or the gaoler? Where, in the New Testament, are we taught to contemplate the public, either in baptism, or the Lord’s supper? No doubt “ the unlearned or unbeliever” may come into the place where Christians are assembled; but testimony to the world is not the object when Christians come together for communion or worship. Matt. 10:32 does not refer specially to the act of baptism. Our whole life should be a testimony for Christ. The Christian himself is “ the epistle of Christ, known and read of all men.”
45. “ M.,” Surrey. Eze. 37 refers, unquestionably, to the future restoration and blessing of Israel. The closing chapters shall, most surely, have their accomplishment in the nation’s history. The temple will be rebuilt. The worship restored. The sacrifices, instead of being typical, will be commemorative. Thanks for your devotional lines. We greatly enjoyed their tone and spirit.
46. “ T. E. P. M.,” Kent. We are truly sorry to have left your kind and interesting letter so long unnoticed. But you will kindly make allowance, on the ground of a long and serious illness. We have a pile of letters lying on the desk unread. We claim the loving forbearance of all our dear correspondents whose communications may remain unacknowledged.
You are perfectly right, beloved friend, in judging that Luke 12:47, 48 leaves wholly untouched the solemn question of eternal punishment—a question so thoroughly and so distinctly settled for all who simply bow to holy scripture. The passage teaches the weighty and wholesome doctrine that responsibility, guilt, and punishment, are, in every case, measured by our privileges.
As to the parable of the unjust steward, the moral is this—use the present with an eye to the future. “The lord commended the unjust steward,” not for his honesty surely, but because he had dealt wisely;” and the wisdom consisted simply in providing for the future. This is the point of the parable. The lesson it teaches us is to use this world’s riches—which are not what properly belong to us, as Christians—in the service of Christ—to do good—to distribute and communicate—to open our hands wide to every form of human need—to lay up in store a good foundation against the time to come. Compare with Luke 16:1, 1-12 Tim. 6:17-19.
For the young friend to whom you allude, you might procure “ Papers on the Lord’s Coming,” a reprint from “Things New and Old,” to be had of our publisher, Mr. Morrish, 24, Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row, London, E. C.
47. “ S. F. F.,” Chester, Delaware Co. Rom. 5:12 Contains a direct reply to your question. “ By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” No trace of death was to be found in God’s fair creation until sin entered.
48. “ Q.,” Ipswich. There is nothing in scripture to hinder your being a servant of such a company as you name. To be a partner would be an ‘‘ unequal yoke,” which 2 Cor. 6:14 expressly forbids.