40. “V.,” Burgess Hill. Received your kind letter, and poetry enclosed, with thanks.
41. “H.” Tottenham. It certainly shows that a Christian must be in a sad state of soul—if a Christian at all—who “prefers the world’s company to the saints.” We can hardly conceive that one who is really born of God would prefer to live as a servant with unconverted people. No doubt some christian masters and mistresses are exacting, and not quite as considerate as they should be. On the other hand, christian servants often take great liberties, because those over them are in the Lord, and have a gracious and christian-like bearing toward them. We have visited no small number of the households of christian people, and the blessing and comfort we have sometimes known, when the servants and those over them are able, in a godly manner, to keep their places according to the word of God, and thus all serve Christ, have been most marked and striking. There is, however, an important point on this subject never to be lost sight of. It is not enough for a person to be converted in order to be happy as a servant; such must be fitted for the work they undertake, or they will not be in the place God has assigned to them. About this, christian servants should be much exercised before the Lord. Another cause of much failure in these days is that many set up in business without sufficient capital, who are manifestly in other respects unfitted to be masters, instead of keeping in the place of servants to which God has called them. About these, and many other points, both, servants and masters should be much in prayer to God, and exercised in conscience before Him over His word. If we are not in the place God has marked out for us, how can we be happy, or expect His blessing? It is a day of practical unrighteousness in many respects, and we know nothing more loudly calling for thorough self-examination and self-judgment than how we conduct ourselves in household matters, whether we be servants, masters, or mistresses. Perhaps there is no greater hindrance to blessing and testimony to the name of our Lord than unseemly conduct at home. May the Lord awaken souls to a sense of obligation to Him, who loved us, and gave Himself for us, about these things.
42. “E.,” Liversedge. We know nothing in scripture about “restored apostles.” The apostles were the foundation-stones of the church of God. Hence we read the saints “are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (Eph. 2:2020And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20).) And in accordance with this truth, the vision John had of the church as the bride, the Lamb’s wife, agrees. “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:1414And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14).) The foundation is always the beginning of a building, and not to be brought in after the work of building has been going on for eighteen hundred years.
The “sealing” now is not the work of a man, but of God. “After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise;” and when the gift of the Holy Ghost to indwell us is spoken of elsewhere, it is said, “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13); Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6).)
44. “B.,” Penzance. A child of God is restored to the Lord’s table because he is restored to the Lord. To be “put away” in the name of the Lord Jesus, by even two or three gathered together in His name, is most serious; for concerning such our Lord said, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven.” We believe that self-examination, self-judgment, self-loathing will be the true path of restoration; and also there will be full confession to the Lord, and the consciousness of His forgiveness, before such could have liberty before Him to be at His table. When the matter has thus been cleared up between the offenders own soul and the Lord, and then cleared up with His saints who were painfully concerned in putting away, they will gladly forgive such and thankfully own him as eligible for communion at the Lord’s table. Unless brethren had evidence of his restoration of soul to the Lord, how could they receive him back?
45. “D.,” Gravesend. We are most happy to reply to your interesting letter, for we believe many are in the state of soul you describe; they confound the operations of the Spirit in the in with the work of Christ for them. When it is a question in scripture of our peace with God, the answer is always founded on the work of Christ—“having made peace through the blood of his cross.” “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” It therefore is known in no other way than on the principle of faith—“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1).) This is why? in the Epistle to the Romans, there is scarcely any allusion to the operations of the Holy Spirit, until the ground of being reckoned righteous, justification in the sight of God, peace with God, and being dead unto sin, and alive unto God in Christ, and much more, are fully cleared up. When, in chapter 8, the soul is established in the blessed truth, that, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” then the life-giving, indwelling, and various operations of the Spirit of God are largely dwelt on. No doubt those who are born of God will hate sin, be sorry for their sins, and will judge themselves both by nature and in practice, to be unclean, undone, and very dishonoring to God. But the alone ground of peace is the sacrifice of Christ: as you say, by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are set apart for Him. The work of redemption has been done. Sins have been judged on the cross; and all are now perfectly forgiven through faith, (not through feeling this or that), in our Lord Jesus Christ. “By him all that believe are justified from all things.” May you rest in this precious declaration of divine truth; and, being justified, and having the Holy Ghost dwelling in you because you are God’s child, may you learn more and more of His gracious operations, and of the reality of His teaching, guidance, and comfort!
46. “Bristol.” Your question about singing hymns is very serious. It needs spiritual discernment, continual watching, and exercise of soul, to have the consciousness that what we are doing is pleasing to God. We hope to refer to this again, if the Lord will.