56. “R. Μ.,” Cluny, Aberdeenshire. We should very much like to gratify you by inserting your poems; but we have more to think of than the gratification of our contributors. Still we feel deeply interested in you, dear young friend, and earnestly commend you to God for His blessing and guidance. Your lines are really very good for one so young, and, as you say, with so few educational advantages. We would fain encourage you to wait much on the Lord to strengthen and instruct you, and fit you, in every way, for whatever path He may design for you. Give yourself to the prayerful study of the word. This is the true secret of preparation for any department of work on which you may be called to enter. Do not be in haste to rush into public service. We all need much secret training in the divine presence, if we are to be used in public.
57. “A. F. C,” Ithaca, New York. Your letter of April 28 has greatly cheered and delighted us. We can only say, with an overflowing heart, The Lord be praised! It is all His sovereign grace, from first to last. May He keep you, beloved friend, very close to His side—the only place of safety, rest, and abiding satisfaction. To Him we do, most earnestly, commend you. Never mind the opposition. You were quite right not to enter upon any explanation. Our place is to obey, not to explain. Let our practical life be the answer to all the accusations and surmisings of men. “By well doing”—not by discussion—“put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” When called upon to apologize and explain, let our answer be, “I am doing a great work, I cannot come down.” It was very kind of you to write and tell us of the blessing through the books. That Christ should be magnified and His beloved flock fed and built up, is just the one object for which we desire to write, to speak, to live. We shall see about sending you some little books such as you desire. May the Lord’s richest and best blessing rest upon you I 58. “J. W.,” Bristol. Rom. 14:2222Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. (Romans 14:22), with the entire context, teaches us the necessity of walking tenderly in reference to the consciences of our brethren. A man may have faith as to certain things, perfect liberty, in his own mind, whether as regards days or meats or many other minor things; but his faith or his liberty should not lead him to act in such a way as to stumble his weak brother. This is the spirit and teaching of this entire beautiful chapter—this lovely compendium of christian morals. Of course, if there were any attempt to impose the eating of herbs, abstinence from meats, or the observance of days, as a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, it would be our place to resist, with uncompromising decision.
59. “C. G.,” South Norwood. Surely we shall not be less intelligent in heaven than we are here; but our natural relationships will not subsist there. We shall know each other in that bright and happy place, only on new creation-ground, as members of the body of Christ, children of the living God. Don’t you remember our blessed Lord’s reply to the Sadducees, in reference to the woman that had the seven husbands? “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scripture nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” It seems to us, dear friend, that many of our questions and difficulties as to the recognition of departed friends arise from our looking at things from a merely human or earthly standpoint. One thing is blessedly clear, we shall see Him, and be like Him, and with Him. This will be enough. We shall know Him and all who belong to Him, as such. The recognition of our natural relationships would be a very questionable addition to our bliss in heaven.
60. “ J. S. H.” You will find much help on the subject of your letter, in a volume entitled, “Lectures on the New Testament doctrine of the Holy Spirit” by W. Kelly. (Broom, 25 Paternoster Square, London, E.C.)
61. “W. M.,” Belfast. Your letter, with the accompanying lines, has come to hand.
62. “M. R.,” Teignmouth. As to the Book of Revelation, it is divided into, 1, “The things which thou hast seen,” chapter 1:2. “The things that are,” or the true condition of the church; the history of its responsibility on the earth, from first to last, chapters 2, 3:3. “The things which shall be, after these things.” Chapter 4-22. Chapters 4, 5 are transitional, showing the place which the church and the Old Testament saints will occupy, from the moment of the rapture, until the coming of Christ in judgment with all His saints, chapter 19. The Book of Revelation, being mainly judicial or governmental, does not record the rapture of the saints, or the coming of Christ for His people. The church is seen on earth, in chapters 2, 3. It is seen in heaven, in chapters 4, 5; but we are not told of its going—how or when. Such is not the object of the book. There is not a word about the church on earth from chapter 9 to chapter 18. Other saints will appear on the earth, during the stirring scenes in chapters 6-18; but the church will not be there. In chapter 19, Christ comes in judgment on the Roman Beast and the false prophet, Antichrist or the man of sin. Satan is bound, and Christ reigns for a thousand years. Then comes the judgment of the wicked dead: the consignment of Satan to the lake of fire; and finally the everlasting state. We may just add that, during the present period, righteousness suffers. During the millennium, righteousness will reign. In the new heavens and new earth, or the eternal state, righteousness will dwell.
A large number of communications must stand over. We trust our correspondents will not think themselves neglected. We find it almost impossible to reply to all.