1. “Η. C. W.,” Cheltenham. Thanks for your letter. We do not question for a moment the truth of what you say as to Mr. Pearsall Smith’s personal love to Christ, or his desire to raise the spiritual tone of Christians. And, further, we may add the expression of oar full conviction that God has used him to call attention to much neglected truth. But, at the same time, we are persuaded that he has not only, as you say, “made some errors in judgment, and used slipshod phrases which might convey a different meaning to the hearer from that which he understands himself,” but that he has failed to bring out the precious truth unfolded in Rom. 6. That he has taught much precious truth we fully admit—truth found largely in other writings which are comparatively little known: but he has taught not a little error as well. As to the blessing which you yourself have received, we heartily thank God for it; and we earnestly pray that you may be thoroughly rooted, grounded, and settled on God’s foundation, namely, Christ Himself, “who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” Keep close to Him, dear friend—yea, abide in Him. Be at His side, and then you will be on His side.
2. “A Perplexed One,” Jersey. Scripture distinctly teaches that the believer will never come into judgment at all. 2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) declares that all shall be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, believers and unbelievers—not, of course, at the same time. But how will believers be manifested? In all the perfectness of Christ Himself. Are they to be judged? Assuredly not. Their judgment is past forever. It was executed at the cross. If there was a single atom of sin or guilt left unatoned for in the death of Christ, a single question left unsettled, a single thing-no matter what—that has to be judged, then, most assuredly, we shall be eternally damned. But no, dear friend, it is all settled—blessedly, divinely, eternally settled; and all who believe on the Son of God have passed from death unto life, and shall not come into judgment. (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).) Thus much as to the person of the believer. It is as impossible that he can come into judgment, as that Christ Himself can. The members can no more be judged than the Head. No doubt our work shall be tested. “The day shall declare it.” It shall be tried by fire, and all the wood, hay, and stubble will be burnt up. And, further, when we stand in the light of the judgment-seat of Christ, we shall look back with an enlightened gaze over the whole of our career, and see, as we never saw before, our mistakes, our follies, our sins, our infirmities, our mixed motives. But we shall see also, as we never saw before, the fullness of the grace of God, and the efficacy of the blood of Christ. With regard to Matt. 12:36, 3736But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12:36‑37), it teaches us that “men will have to give account for every idle word.” So also, in Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27) we read, “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment.” But the believer is taken completely off the ground of judgment, inasmuch as Christ was judged in his stead; and hence, instead of looking for judgment, he is looking for the Savior. Is all this precious grace to make us lax and careless? May we speak idle words because we are not to be judged? Far away be the horrible thought! Nay, dear friend, it is just because we believe that Jesus was judged in our stead, and that we shall never, can never, come into judgment, that therefore we judge ourselves day by day, and refuse to justify in ourselves a single sinful thought. “How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” It is our holy privilege to reckon ourselves “dead to sin.” We have passed through death and judgment, in the Person of our Substitute, and “we have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.” (John 4:1717The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: (John 4:17).) Here lies the grand secret of our peace—the secret of our deliverance from the power of sin—the secret of all holy living. May the Spirit of God expound and apply it in power to your heart, and then you will cease to be “A Perplexed One.”
3. “M. L. C.,” Cheltenham. We are not to do evil that good may come.
4. “H. J. D.,” Crediton. There is a place at the table of the Lord for every member of the body of Christ, provided always that there be nothing in doctrine or walk to disqualify. If anything more be required for admission to the table than the ability to cry, “Abba, Father,” that is, the Spirit of adoption, it is not the Lord’s table at all, but the table of a sect.
5. “W. R. L.,” Paddington. We most assuredly believe that the collection at the Lord’s table is an integral and most blessed part of the worship and communion of the assembly. Some, we are sorry to say, look upon it as an interruption: but we cannot so regard it. We believe 1 Cor. 16:22Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2) is the divine authority for the collection on the first day of the week. The inspired apostle had been dwelling upon the most sublime and precious truth at the close of chapter 15, and we may be sure he deemed it no interruption to communion or worship to pen the words, “Now concerning the collection.” Why should we deem it an interruption, when the Lord puts, as it were, His box or basket into our hands, and asks us to contribute to His cause? It is the most suited opportunity we have, as an assembly, of so doing. Besides, it is morally comely—yea, it is simple righteousness—to contribute. How is the rent to be paid? How are all the expenses to be met? And then the Lord’s poor, and the Lord’s work at home and abroad. How are these to be met? Is it not a holy privilege for all to have fellowship? And what more suited occasion than when we are seated at the table of our Lord, feasting, in holy communion, upon the rich provision of His love? Some may, perhaps, object that the words, “Let everyone of you lay by him in store,” militate against the idea of a public collection. But why say, “on the first day of the week” if it were merely a private matter? We believe that laying by in store sets forth the calm, deliberate, devoted nature of the offering. We should determine, before the Lord in secret, what we are able to give; and then in the public assembly, in full communion, deposit our offering in the Lord’s treasury, remembering that His eye is upon us. We greatly fear, dear friend, that some of us are sadly deficient in reference to the collection. We forget the words, “everyone of you,” and “as God hath prospered him.” We come and avail ourselves of the room and its accommodation—the assembly and its privileges; but we do not consider how all these things are to be provided. And this is simply taking the very lowest possible view of the matter. Were we merely to view it as a question of common righteousness, we are morally bound to contribute, according to our means, to the expenses of the place where we meet, and where we enjoy the very richest and rarest privileges that Christians can taste upon earth. We have no right to suppose that one, or two, or more wealthy members of the assembly will defray all the expenses. To act on such a supposition as this is to deny our individual responsibility, and surrender a most precious privilege. We have long felt that, did we only consider that the box on the Lord’s table is His treasury, out of which He pays the rent of the room for His people to meet in, and out of which He would meet the need of His poor, and the demands of His work, we should have more correct ideas “concerning the collection.” No doubt, those who take it upon them to manage the Lord’s money need much grace and wisdom; and they should seek to act in full fellowship with grave and godly brethren in the distribution of the offerings of the assembly. All this is most important; but for anyone to assert that the collection at the Lord’s table is an interruption to worship and communion, is, in our judgment, a very doubtful evidence of spirituality of mind, or largeness of heart.