“Now you will like to hear of what the Lord has been giving us. Our prayer meeting was quiet and happy; Ex. 16 in connection with John 6 (middle part) was read. There must be an individual, personal feeding on Christ Himself, day by day, or the soul will not get on. The manna came fresh, daily; its purity, as it lay on the dew, was like Him who is altogether lovely (Num. 15); only to be got early and to be collected in little pieces (verse by verse). On the sixth day (this was new to me) a double portion was gathered for the day of rest. Surely we may say that, as “ we see the day approaching,” we should redouble our exertions to gather up as much as we can of the Christ that will be our solace, joy, and comfort throughout the eternity of rest. There remaineth therefore a Sabbatism, or keeping of a Sabbath (Grk.) for the people of God— “let us labor therefore.” The six days are the period of the Church’s service, the seventh the time of her rest. The Lord refreshed me much by this thought.
“We finished Heb. 10 yesterday morning, and came to the conclusion that “the willful sin” could be committed only by professors, who give up the one Sacrifice for Ritualism or anything else, and thus become “ adversaries.” Ex. 24 explains “them who are sanctified”—a different sanctification from that given earlier in the chapter. All who professedly take their stand on the ground of the finished work of Christ, are outwardly sanctified, or set apart to God. Having the knowledge of the truth is one thing, having the truth itself is another. Dear compared the adversaries to the bad branches of John 15—a very suitable comparison, seeing Jewish disciples are primarily contemplated in each place. “No more sacrifice” means simply no other sacrifice. Verse 36, Patience is the only thing we need in this chapter. “Any man” and “we” of verses 38-39, are like the “man” and “ye” of John 15:6-76If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:6‑7), and the “him” and “you,” of 1 Cor. 10:12-1312Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:12‑13): in each case, the professor placed in contrast with the Christian.”
“ I have to thank you very much for your very welcome letter, expressing your gratitude to the Lord in me for what He has done for you. I praise Him for the grace displayed towards you, and do not cease to wait upon Him, that He may still more and more fill you with His Spirit, that in all things Christ may be magnified in your body.
“I often look back with pleasure at the many happy walks and talks we had together, and wonder sometimes if we shall ever be thrown together again; but, as I think I mentioned to you when I saw you, I am more and more satisfied daily that we live in a time when there must be, if ever, the individual clinging to Christ Himself. Ripening friendships are in a moment broken through, fellowship in the Spirit interrupted by intervening distances, but nothing can alter with Him.
“He maintains His place of nearness in spite of everything, washing our feet (and sometimes the process is painful enough), in order that He may do this, and insisting upon His right to retain the first place in our hearts, knowing full well that it must be His, where there is no flesh to hinder and no enemy to seduce. Happy, beloved brother, to think of that time when He shall no longer allow our eyes to rest on things around, but only on Him, the cry of my heart is, “Come, Lord Jesus.” I doubt not you can echo it. In the meantime, as you say it is well to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, leaving the rewards to Himself, satisfied to “win Christ”; and surely both you and I may rejoice that it is our privilege to be thus, for though our lives are different, yours being to serve Him in an earthly calling (1 Thess. 4:11,1211And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:11‑12)), and mine being to serve Him in the Word alone, yet we both serve the same Master, and both can ask His blessing on our work, “doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
“With me I find there is plenty of work, but I have much reason to complain of the way in which it is done, for we must ever remember it is not the amount we do, but to do what we have in hand well, as if His eye was upon us. I look at Him as a servant (say in the Gospel of Mark), and I find that though there never was a moment lost (you have observed how often “straightway” occurs) yet never was the work ill done. His prayer was interrupted, but He took it as from the Lord, and went on with His preaching.
“He could feel the danger of overwork for others, for in this very Gospel we find the invitation, “Come ye yourselves apart with me, and rest awhile.” And surely this has a word for us. Are we as happy and peaceful sitting in alone with Jesus, as mixed up with the toil of necessary commerce, or engaged in the more exciting scenes of night after night of meetings?
“I believe this true secret of happiness is to sit at His feet while we serve, enjoying His presence continually, which is quite possible amid the most bustling scenes. May it be your portion and mine to do this, abiding in Him and in His love, fruit-bearing resulting from the former, joy from the latter (John 15).
“Now midnight is past, so I must close this letter. O that “Himself our hopes may crown” at the “cock-crowing!”