51. “S.,” Wineanton. Those who are born of God love His children. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (1 John 3:1414We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14).) Thus, while we are taught of God to love all saints, yet, when we speak of “fellowship” it is a very solemn matter. How can we be faithful to our Lord, and yet have fellowship with ways which the truth condemns? A faithful servant of the Lord will never plead for “the traditions of men.” How then can two walk together except they are agreed? How can there be fellowship, if one is standing out for doctrines of men, and the other, as having separated from such things for the Lord’s sake, contending only for the Lord’s claims, and the authority of His word? It seems to us to be simply a question of subjection to the will of God. We need grace and patience in dealing with such. It has been truly said, “It is not the quantity we do that marks our spirituality; but the perfectness with which we present Christ.” The word of God plainly says, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph. 5:1111And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11).)
52. “K.,” North Devon. Two things mark the ways of God in His present dealings—grace and government. Those who “have tasted that the Lord is gracious” and who know themselves to be His children, are nevertheless objects of His governmental dealings: so that “whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption,” &c. (Gal. 6:7, 87Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7‑8).) These two lines—grace and government—run all through scripture. It cannot be otherwise; for God’s saving us in pure grace by no means diminishes His perfect abhorrence of sin, and His perfect holiness. Though you say you once had the comfort of being God’s child, and were kept walking in His ways for a time, yet since you have fallen into sinful ways your now having darkness of soul, and doubts of your own eternal security cannot be wondered at; from your own statements it is clear you are reaping what you have sown. Our counsel to you is to make full confession to God of your sins, and then believe His word that He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins. Thus encourage yourself in Him, who delights to restore those who are out of the way. If you have weakness in reference to intoxicating drinks, touch nothing of the kind, let nothing persuade you even to taste such beverages. Above all, cry to God continually to keep you from falling, and He will do it. While you pursue a sinful course, never expect to be happy; but rather fear you may be spiritually blind, not able to see afar off, and to have forgotten that you were purged from your old sins. (Read 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).) We pray for you, and shall be thankful to hear of your true restoration to the Lord, and then to His people.
53. “S.,” London. You will find your question repeatedly replied to in this Magazine during the last few months. It is quite true that the church is not called “the bride” in Ephesians, but in chapter v. what is it that Christ loves and nourishes, but the church for which He gave Himself, and which He is now sanctifying and cleansing by the washing of water with the word? What is it that will ere long come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband? Who is it on earth that says, “Come” to the Bright and Morning Star, but “the Spirit and the bride?”
54. “C,” Bristol. It is always safe to keep to the lines of truth laid down in scripture. It is not said that a child of God must sin; but he is enjoined not to sin, and if he does Christ in heaven is His Advocate. The important point to see is that when a soul receives God’s testimony to the sin-cleansing value of the blood of Christ His Son, his conscience is purged, and he is so perfectly cleansed from sin and that forever, that God says, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” He is also a child of God. From that time, having no more conscience of sins, having received eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, such are commanded, as we have said, to “sin not.” With God’s children sin is the exception, not the rule of their lives, as it was in their unconverted days. When they sin their distress is great, because they are conscious of having sinned against the Father who so loves them as He loved Jesus. They not only have great sorrow of heart, but their communion with the Father is interrupted by their sin. It is therefore said that such have an Advocate with the Father. That Advocate is not only “the righteous” One, who once perfectly glorified the Father in this world of sin and death, but who is also “the propitiation, for our sins,” and the sender of the Holy Ghost. Hence in response to His advocacy the Spirit convicts us of our sin, enables us to judge ourselves and confess our sins, and so brings home the word of God upon our consciences as not only to assure us of forgiveness, but to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Thus communion with the Father is restored. Precious ministry for God’s feeble and erring children.
55. “M.,” Taunton. It is only after much gracious and patient dealing with our brethren, and waiting on the Lord, that we judge an individual Christian would be justified in saying that there is such “evil in a gathering that he cannot go to the Lord’s Table.” It sometimes happens that elder brethren are investigating a matter, and have found certain charges alleged to be untrue, and others requiring much careful examination, and, after all, find it to be a case that does not call to be laid before the assembly. Besides, one should be perfectly sure he has the Lord’s mind before he sets up his own judgment in opposition to the whole assembly. Again, is one to give up honoring the Lord at His Table, because the others are not so earnest and faithful as they should be? especially, as you say, when those among them are “far before us every way.” It is possible that a gathering of saints may be in such a bad state as the faithful must purge themselves from; but we do believe it will only be after every means has failed to recover them, by such who are spiritually-minded, and have the Lord’s glory at heart. It is not always, we grieve to say, that those who are occupied with assembly discipline are themselves personally walking orderly; on the contrary, their history has shown how much they had need to judge themselves. Gal. 6:11Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1) should never be forgotten by such. It is only when we are consciously in the presence of God, self-judged, forgiving, and humble, that we are able to deal aright with those who have erred.
56. “E.,” Sydenham. Man was created in God’s image, made upright, was in a state of innocence, and evidently without the knowledge of good and evil. This we know came in by the fall. After God had said to Adam, Cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life, it is added, and the Lord God said, “Behold the man is become [observe, is become] as one of us, to know good and evil.” We are told also that when they had both eaten of the tree of which God had commanded, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it; then “the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.’’ Hence they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons, and hid themselves from the presence of the Lord. They had now the internal consciousness of the difference between good and evil. Is not conscience always, when active, exercised about right and wrong? and could there have been this before man had the knowledge of good and evil?
57. “I.,” Maryport. In an assembly meeting, scripture forbids a woman to speak. “Let your women keep silence in the churches [assemblies], for it is not permitted unto them to speak,” &c. (1 Cor. 14:3434Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Corinthians 14:34).) But we do not see how a few gathered around the Bible, in a private house, to study the word, can be called an assembly meeting. It seems to us to partake more of a social gathering, where, as far as we see, there could be no restriction to a sister asking questions, or modestly making remarks, provided she does not teach. About this scripture says, “I suffer not a woman to teach.” The grace of God is needed for this, as well as everything connected with our behavior. It is blessed to know that “He giveth more grace,” and that “He giveth grace to the humble.”