Correspondence.

By:
Psalm 25:14; Acts 22:16
N.H.— “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him” (Psa. 25:1414The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. (Psalm 25:14)). What does this mean? The Lord reveals His hidden counsels and purposes to those who walk before Him in the fear of His holy name (Prov. 3:3232For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. (Proverbs 3:32); Amos 3:77Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)). He made known His ways to Moses, but only His acts to the children of Israel (Psa. 103:77He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)). Abraham, but not Lot, He told of the coming judgment of the cities of the plain (Gen. 18:1717And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (Genesis 18:17)); for he was the friend of God. See also John 15:1515Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15) for the believer now. It is true as a general principle that the more we advance in practical holiness and obedience, the more we learn what the mind of God is. In a difficulty how is one to know which is the right step? There is the very plain promise, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:66In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6)). This the Lord will always stand to. Hence it behooves us to wait patiently upon Him in prayer and supplication, also diligently searching the scripture for light. Then the voice will come, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” But we must wait, and let patience have, her perfect work. Those who act in the greatest hurry in the things of God commonly make most mistakes. You will be sure to know the Lord’s direction when you receive it. You know His voice (John 10:44And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:4)).
W.T.— Does baptism wash away sins (Acts 22:1616And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16))? Certainly not; for Simon Magus was baptized, yet his sins were not washed away or forgiven (Acts 8:20, 2120But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (Acts 8:20‑21)). Baptism is only the figure of remission of sins (Acts 2:3838Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)), as it is also of death to sin (Rom. 6:33Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)). Is baptism a saving ordinance (1 Pet. 3:20, 2120Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:20‑21))? No; for this very passage declares as much. The baptism spoken of is “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,” that is, not a ceremonial act of washing. There is a comparison between the waters of the deluge and the waters of baptism. As the eight souls were saved through water, so baptism is a like figure and saves us, for baptism typifies our death with Christ (Rom. 6:44Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)). But (reading without the parenthesis) we see that our salvation rests not on baptism only (Christ’s death), but on the resurrection also. “Baptism doth also now save us... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The parenthesis chews (1) that the apostle does not mean baptism in the sense of carnal washing by water; (2) that he does mean that real deliverance from sins which every exercised conscience requires, and of which baptism is the appointed sign. For “answer” read “demand,” or “inquiry.” A man’s conscience, when “good,” always denounces him for his sins until they are forgiven. In this sense baptism is the request of a good conscience. Compare Acts 2:37, 3837Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37‑38). This passage is somewhat difficult, as we may expect many parts of God’s word to be. We hope that with patient consideration the above may he of some service. If more is wanted please write again.
F.B.— Why was not Daniel put in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Probably because the accusers of the three Jews (Dan. 3:88Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. (Daniel 3:8)) hardly dared to accuse a man recently elevated to a position of such high rank as Daniel had been. He was ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon (Dan. 2:4848Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:48)). Daniel had performed a great personal service to Nebuchadnezzar, which could not be said of the others. Why were these three not with Daniel in the lions’ den? This event was many years later, and after Babylon had been taken by Darius the Mede. Nothing is said of the three companions after their deliverance out of the fiery furnace. It is impossible even to say whether they were in Babylon.