56. “Τ.,” Teignmouth. You may not be aware that the subject of your letter is one of no little controversy; and we increasingly feel that the pages of our little serial cannot be open for the discussion of controversial subjects. This must particularly apply to subjects which are neither of vital nor fundamental importance. In your own case, all we suggest is, that you wait on God, and seek alone His guidance through the written word, in dependence on the Holy Ghost; you may then expect to be led into the true path.
57. Kent. With regard to servants having their time employed by those over them on the Lord’s day, we judge it to be a point of no little importance at the present time. We have sometimes been astonished at finding Christians justifying their absence from the Lord’s table, time after time, by reason of their employers requiring their services; and apparently with no exercise of conscience about it, though their principles show that they give, in these instances, priority to the claims of their employers over the claims of our precious Lord Jesus. This is very sad, and can scarcely be too severely censured. It is diametrically opposed to scripture, which says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” But worse than the class of cases we have alluded to, there are some, who we hope are the Lord’s people, who take situations which they know at the time must greatly, if not completely, debar them from the privileges of the Lord’s day. This is to be deeply deplored, for it is something like profane Esau, who, for one morsel of meat, sold his birthright. On the other hand, there are times when, from peculiar circumstances, such as sickness in a family, accidents, and peculiar trials in business, feeding and tending cattle, and other matters connected with their responsible employments, they may occasionally be deprived of the privileges of christian fellowship and public ministrations on the Lord’s day. In this, both masters and servants alike sometimes suffer. Of course, we are now thinking of exceptional cases.
With regard to the precise character of the occupation to which you refer, we have not sufficient facts before us to warrant our expressing a judgment. We are comforted, however, at finding there are some who are exercised before the Lord in these last days about these things. It is one of the many cases about which the individual must deal with God in secret. He only can give the seeking soul true wisdom and guidance. We consider there are few things which would detain a happy and faithful child of God from attendance at the Lord’s table, and other spiritual occupations, on the Lord’s day. A Christian must certainly be in a low condition of soul who could contentedly go on in such a course. We commend you to God, and to the word of His grace. He will assuredly guide you in waiting upon Him. We have long been persuaded that if those so occupied were in a healthy state of soul, walking in communion with the Lord, and, after prayer, that they kindly and respectfully expressed their difficulties of con science to their employers, they would often find a door of deliverance opened to them. In these days of growing willfulness, unrighteousness, and in subjection, christian servants have to watch against the sad habit—alas, so common!—of getting all they can from their employers, without being conscientious in doing their work well, and with order and regularity. How can a servant be taking up his work heartily to the Lord when these points are manifestly absent?
58. “A. B.,” Dublin. We should no more think it consistent for a Christian, professing to be dead with Christ and risen with Him, “to be a subscriber and regular attendant at a fashionable club-house,” than to be a subscriber and regular attendant at a theater. How deaf many have become to that word, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” (2 Cor. 6:1414Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).)
59. “H. C. B.,” Milton. You will find the apostle Paul received the gospel which he preached by the revelation of Jesus Christ. He did not receive it from man. Now what was received from the Lord must be infallible truth. (Gal. 1:11, 1211But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11‑12).) This infallible truth he preached by the power of the Holy Ghost (1 Thess. 1:55For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)): and believers received it as the infallible truth of God. (1 Thess. 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13).) Peter also speaks of “them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” (1 Pet. 1:1212Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:12).) All this was according to the promise of the Lord— “He shall teach you all things.” “Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 14:26; 16:1326But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13).) Now that which God giveth by the Holy Ghost, whether spoken or written, must be infallible truth.
Thus God was pleased to use the apostles, by the Spirit, as the foundation of the assembly. The assembly then had the infallible teaching of the Spirit, both in the preaching and inspired writings of the apostles. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16).)
The possible scarcity of copies does not affect this at all. The church, or assembly, is neither the teacher, nor spoken of in scripture as the source of infallibility. Never do we read, Let him that hath an ear, hear what the church saith.
You ask, “Was it committed to the church?” Evidently the inspired scriptures, or writings, were sent to the whole assembly. (See 1 Thess. 1:11Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:1); 2 Thess. 1:11Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:1); 1 Cor. 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2).) Indeed, we only need to read the introduction to each Epistle, and it is plain these inspired writings were not sent to any select class in the assembly, but to and for all believers.
The Spirit of God, foreseeing the fearful declension of Christendom, gave also inspired instructions to the servants of the Lord during these last days, in 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Jude, and especially Revelation. Infinite is the wisdom of God, and perfect is His word. To it we are commended, and not to vain traditions of men. (Acts 20:28-3228Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:28‑32).)
As to your last question, “Where was the church?” if we use the proper word, “assembly,” the question would be very simple. In each place, Thessalonica, Corinth, &c, wherever there were believers, saints, brethren, children of God, there was the assembly; and with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. All believers then formed, and all believers now form, the one only church, or assembly, of God. All churches of man’s making, whether national or dissenting, are utterly unknown in scripture.
60. “J. Η. B.,” Southall. Your question is an important one. It is indeed most sad that so many go on with what is contrary to the word of God, and do not even care to know what is the mind of the Lord. This is most marked as it regards the clear, distinct teaching of the word as to church, or rather assembly matters. We heard a professor say, the other day, “I have something else to do than to search the scriptures.” We fear thousands would have to say the same dreadful thing, if they spoke the truth. What! so occupied with Satan’s world as to have no time to obey the Lord in the blessed employment of searching His holy word: Is it so?
Surely it would be no excuse before an earthly judge to plead ignorance of right and wrong in the things of this world; of what avail, then, can it possibly be before the judgment-seat of Christ to say, I never searched the scriptures; I really never knew what was right or wrong in the walk of a Christian? How many such will (though even saved so as by fire) lose reward! (See 1 Cor. 3:1-151And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:1‑15).) May any such who may read these pages hear the Lord speak those words, “ Wherefore.... Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” God hath been pleased to restore much truth as to the assembly of God, and every Christian is, doubtless, responsible to search the scriptures to see whether these things be so.
61. Y., Cunnock. Scripture says those who believe are born of God. No doubt it is by the grace of God that they have believed on the Son. (See John 1:12, 1312But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12‑13); Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).) We must beware of reasoning in a carnal way on the truth. It is given to us to believe. Scripture plainly declares that “He that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.”