27. “F. A. F. G.,” Roscombe. “When the earth had passed through the waters of death, and when all that breathed were destroyed from the earth, Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. Then we read he presented clean sacrifices to God, a and the Lord smelled a sweet savor: and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake,” Gen. 8:20-22. And further, though the full accomplishment of Psalm 65:9, 13 be doubtless millennial, yet, as it is quoted in Heb. 6, we judge that as the curse and death came by sin, eternal blessing and life came in by the atoning death of Christ; all to be fully accomplished in the new heavens and new earth. And that for the present, though sin is in the world, and many of the circumstances of the curse, with briars and thorns, and Satan himself still here, yet God, through the precious death of Christ, gives us all things richly to enjoy. He is the Savior of all men in this sense. We therefore judge that the earth is not under the curse in the full sense in which it was before the flood, and the offering of Noah which pointed to the offering of the body of Jesus. Sin is terrible, and let it be remembered, “The earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up.” (2 Pet. 3:10.)
28. “P. S.,” Wolverhampton. The testimony of scripture as to Cornelius, before he heard the word from the lips of Peter, is, that he was “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” Again, the saying of the angel of God, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” &c. Could such a testimony be given of anyone who was not quickened, or born anew? The words of Old Testament scripture had been applied by the Spirit. Comparing him with the leper in Lev. 14, he had received the action of the water. (Vers. 8-9.) He needed the application of the blood. (Vers. 10-14.) And the moment this was done, the oil was put upon the blood. (Vers. 15-18.) As a quickened soul, he now hears the testimony to the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Ghost fell on all them that believed. The chapter is very suggestive of God’s dealings with His elect from all nations.
29. “A. H.,” Croydon. The faith of Joseph in giving commandment concerning his bones is very instructive. He said, “God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” Those bones were buried by the children of Israel in Shechem. (Josh. 24:32.) And there they wait the time, when God shall fulfill the hopes of Israel in that land, according to His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all those various promises to Joseph, type also of the risen Christ. The faith of Joseph went as far as those promises, and will be fulfilled in the kingdom of God in that land. But a Christian could not by faith give commandment that his bones should be carried to Palestine. This would be unbelief. It would be a denial of the heavenly calling and hope. The kingdom of God in Palestine will surely come; but for this to be our hope, as it was with Joseph, would be to deny the sweetest promise of Christ, (John 14:1-3.) And if it be His will that we depart to be with Christ a little while before, does it matter where our bones are laid? Our bodies, now the temples of the Holy Ghost, are in the safe keeping of our God and Father, and shall again be quickened “by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11.) Oh, glorious hope! He comes to receive us unto Himself. Soon, soon, we shall be forever with the Lord—not in Palestine, but in those mansions of glory—the place prepared.
30. “One of the Flock.” We judge, Abraham would not have been found in the Mechanics’ Hall, or the Reading Room of Sodom. Lot might. What a study! And if Abraham had been there, lie would have missed the visit of the Lord in the plains of Mamre. Surely we ought to be greater strangers on earth than Abraham. Has not this world, with all its halls and reading rooms, rejected and murdered the Son of God? Is it His will I should be there; or my will? If my will, then it is not the obedience of Christ, to which we are set apart by the Holy Ghost. (1 Pet. 1:2.) The Lord give spiritual discernment to the children of God, to know and do His will in all these matters.
31. “C.,” Peckham. Was it not God, who, by His Spirit, wrought in John the Baptist, Simeon, and others, to discern who Jesus was, and to accredit Him as the true Shepherd of the sheep?
32. “Faith.” It is easier to discern the contrast between Old Testament saints and those who now form the church of God, by considering what they had not, than the blessings they had. They certainly had forgiveness of sins, were born again, and were counted righteous. (Gen. 15:6; Psalm 32:1, 2; Rom. 3:25.) But they could not know an accomplished redemption, nor liberty of entrance into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; they had not the Holy Ghost, the other Comforter, indwelling them as we have, and were not delivered from the fear of death. We can only give a brief reply now; but the subject is most interesting, and we hope to enter into it more fully another time, if the Lord will.
33. “W. C.” Your lines are the breathings of true piety, but scarcely suitable for the pages of this magazine. We thank you for your love and interest in our work.
34. “H. R.” Diss. Nothing is more plainly revealed in scripture than that the apostles and prophets were the foundation stones of the church of God, so that we are said to be “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” There is not the least intimation in scripture that such gifts would be again given in these last days. In the present state of ruin, there is much pretension in various ways; so that we are only safe, when keeping close to the authority of scripture, the only revelation God has given us of His mind and will.
35. “Η. M.” Without question, practical fellowship with the Lord Jesus is of the very utmost importance. But it must not be confounded with the great foundation-truth set forth in the communion of the blood of Christ, and the communion of the body of Christ. This is no matter of attainment, but of facts. Every Christian is a member of that one body, and has the same eternal redemption through the blood. One thing is equally true, of all who have been translated from darkness to light; if there, in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. Fellowship, and communion are the same word. This foundation-truth is the basis of real practical separation from evil, and holiness of walk with the Lord.