9. L. P., Barnstaple. What knowledge had the nations who lived before Christ of sin and of judgment; and how will they stand in the day of judgment? The oldest book now in existence, the Book of Job, throws great light on that question. It is evident, that in the earliest ages, God communicated to men the clearest knowledge of the atonement. (See chap, 33:23-33.) Notice the marginal reading. Yes, in the oldest book known, God declares that He hath found a Ransom, or Atonement, so that a man could say then, if he believed God, “I have sinned;” and “He hath delivered my soul from going down to the pit.” Blessed is that man even now who can so speak. Was not this truth known to Abel, and rejected by Cain? It is the truth most disliked and rejected, to this day—for near 6000 years. Abraham and his spiritual seed, that is, all believers, believed God; and it, faith, was reckoned to them for righteousness, perhaps “the promise” was not dim to them. (See Heb. 11) Surely all pointed forward to the death and resurrection of Christ.
10. Α., Bristol. Your question is a very interesting one. A husband cannot force light on a wife, or a wife on a husband. It is a sad thing for a christian partner to be in fellowship with evil. Worldliness and false doctrine is rapidly spreading in sectarianism all around, and I do not see from the word how a partner can “give his consent” for identification with such evil. His path seems to me to be this: kindly to explain, with meekness and godly fear, the way of truth which he believes to be pleasing to God; and, in the loving spirit of Christ, explain the evil of sectarianism; and say, Now whilst I cannot give my consent for you to do what I feel so contrary to the word of God (1 Cor. 3:1-71And 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. (1 Corinthians 3:1‑7), and many other scriptures), I do not want to force your conscience, but beg of you to search the word. Give any help you can, by tracts on what the church of God really is, according to scripture; and then say, I must in the things of God leave you to act for yourself, before Him. It is by a holy walk a wife or a husband will be won.
11. W. G. G, Ashford. The church is not spoken of in the Old Testament. It was the mystery kept hid, as stated in Eph. 3 The Song of Solomon may be used in illustration and meditation. But you will notice it never rises up to the heavenly position of the church, the bride of the Lamb. It is more expressive of the yearnings of the Jewish remnant immediately before the coming of the Lord. Still scripture is manifold, and no doubt the Spirit may use, in rich blessing to the Christian, such portions as speak of His having brought us into His banqueting-house, and of His banner over us being love. But Christ is precious everywhere in the word of God, is He not? The Book of Ruth may be used in a similar way. The call of Rebecca. The creation of Eve. But no one could have seen the church in these until it was revealed, especially to Paul. Now the storms of darkness and tempest, like the destroying blizzard, are sweeping over the world. The Lord keep us holding fast the foundation truths of the word of God.