42. “Β.,” Milton. We have received your interesting questions as to the indwelling, sealing, anointing, and baptism of the Holy Ghost.
No doubt all these took place on the day of Pentecost, and like those at Ephesus, having heard and believed the gospel of their salvation, they were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, the earnest of our inheritance; so, in every case now, where that same gospel is heard and believed, the same Holy Spirit is given as the seal and earnest of our inheritance. And, if sealed, we are indwelt; that is, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost. Amazing truth! And anointed for service, as you say. And all who are sealed, indwelt, and anointed, are also baptized by one Spirit into the body of Christ. And in scripture all this is distinct from the new birth and eternal life, though, no doubt, the operation of the same Spirit. But before the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, souls were born again, and Jesus also breathed His own life into them after His resurrection from the dead. See a valuable tract on the Sealing of the Holy Spirit, by J. N. D., just published. (G. Morrish, London.)
43. Needham Market. “Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment.” (Rom. 13:1, 21Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (Romans 13:1‑2).) And again, “Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Pet. 2:1313Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; (1 Peter 2:13).) These scriptures mark with the utmost clearness the Christian’s path in reference to the laws of his country. And by them we are also clearly warned against showing any resistance to them. If the point were one which commanded us to do what was plainly against some clearly defined principle of the word of God, the case would be very different, for then the Lord’s authority must be yielded to as superior to every other obligation. If under such circumstances, also, “the powers that be” gave us the choice of paying a fine, if we elected to obey the Lord instead of submitting to the law’s demands, we should thankfully pay the fine. But when a law is enacted for sanitary purposes, and in the rulers’ view, and that of an overwhelming majority, who, from observation and experience, are capable of judging of its beneficial results, it does not seem to us to be walking worthy of the Lord to make the least resistance. That suffering may have resulted in certain cases should in nowise deter us, for we are in a world where sin reigns unto death. Should it not rather cast us on the Lord, that His gracious care, and blessing may be with us in thus, for His sake, submitting to the ordinance of man? And may we not then count upon His goodness and mercy?
44. “Α.,” Walsall. We rejoice to hear of the work of restoration by the grace of God. What cause for gratitude and praise! What an encouraging word for a poor broken-hearted soul is, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It surely becomes such—yea, all of us—to avoid contention, and walk with all lowliness and meekness, and in every matter seek to keep a conscience void of offense both toward God and toward man.
45. “R. D.,” London. Let no child of God expect to be happy in the Lord who is careless as to his walk. Failure is the experience of all of us. But when we are conscious of not having obeyed the word which enjoins us to, “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” the Holy Spirit within us is grieved, our communion with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ interrupted, and we cannot but feel unhappy. Communion then will only be restored through self-judgment and confession to Him who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our souls are sometimes happier after this than they were before. But where, in such cases, there is the absence of self-judgment, souls must be unhappy. How can it be otherwise, when the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts is grieved? It is well to ponder these things seriously in the very presence of Him who has said, “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” The importance of the subject can scarcely be overrated. Why are so many now unhappy, and apart from the fellowship of saints, but from the absence of watchfulness and self-judgment? Why have the faithful the pain of putting away from among themselves, on some occasions, on account of evil, but because of the absence of self-judgment? If self-judgment were habitually practiced, there would not be the need of the Lord’s chastisement, nor of the discipline of the assembly. We believe that open dishonor to the Lord’s name among saints can usually be traced to a careless walk, with the absence of self-judgment. Of such, too, it may be said, there was the lack of reading the word for food, and of prayer and supplication to God. (Read prayerfully 2 Pet. 1:5-95And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:5‑9); 1 Cor. 11:31, 3231For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31‑32); John 14:21-2421He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (John 14:21‑24).)