Glad to hear from you. Christ is “the truth.” Any deviation, therefore, from the holy standard of the written word, must affect Him, whether we discern it or not. When the truth is operative in us by the power of the Spirit, it is always to honor the Son, and glorify Him; but when it is not the truth, Christ is not ministered to us, and souls are damaged, even it may be to “overthrow the faith of some.” No doubt dear John Newton was correct in saying
“You cannot be right in the rest
Unless you think rightly of Him.”
Neither of us, I trust, would seek to make Mr. Raven offender for a word. Far be the thought. On the contrary, where there may be a doubt, we should willingly give him the advantage of it. To do unto others as we would be done by becomes us, and pleases the Lord, if we would be among those who keep His word, and do not deny His name. His word and His name, we may be sure are the weights and balance He has given us for testing every thing that professes to be of Him. If these are forgotten, or laid aside, “reasonings” and “philosophy” soon usurp their place; the former of which we are admonished to cast down, and the latter we are warned against most solemnly. All is to he refused that is “not after Christ,” for “in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Rev. 3:88I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8); 2 Cor. 10:55Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5); Col. 2:8, 98Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:8‑9)). Our place then, clearly, is to cast down reasonings, to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, to beware of systematizing truth by philosophy, to stand firmly for the final and conclusive authority of the written word, and to honor and not deny the name of Him at which, ere long, every knee shall bow. While the Scriptures plainly teach these things, they also give us the most solemn warning concerning those who are “lukewarm,” and, therefore, indifferent as to whether our adorable Lord be honored or dishonored (Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)). May we lay these Scriptures to heart as words in season, believe them, and act on them before the Lord as His word which abides for ever. All were, I think, glad to hear your strong condemnation of statements touching our blessed Lord not found in Scripture; so that the question now between us is whether a verbal condemnation is sufficient, or whether the word of God calls us to separation. Of the latter course many of us have had no doubt for some time, and it is my frequent prayer to God that, through His grace and power, you and I may yet “be of the same mind in the Lord.”
Passing by Mr. R.’s objection to the precious doctrine of “the righteousness of God” being now applied to the believer in an absolute way, which I judge to be contrary to Scripture and seriously false; omitting some strange doctrines brought out at Witney in 1888, and statements since as to eternal life, equally untrue and damaging to souls; I now briefly take up one line of Mr. R.’s teachings as not only unscriptural and therefore unsound, but necessarily calculated to result in much dishonor to our blessed Lord.
Mr. R.’s doctrine, brought out in January, 1889, that all the acts of the Lord were not the manifestation of eternal life has been often referred to; and two brothers who were present on one occasion when Mr. R. taught this, informed me that Dr. C. asked if our Lord’s sayings, when on the cross, to His mother and the loved disciple were the manifestation of eternal life? And Mr. R. replied, “No, but consistent with it.” Now where in Scripture do we find such doctrine, such a question, or such an irreverent reply? Are we not told to “hold fast the form of sound words”? (2 Tim. 1:1313Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13)).
Such teaching necessarily sets souls to consider whether this or that in our Lord’s life manifested eternal life or not; and thus speculate on, define, discuss, and divide the sacred person of our precious Savior. As a fact, we can scarcely meet with one who has been exposed to this teaching, who does not glibly enough speak of this being human and that divine, this the acting of eternal life and that not, to the damage of souls, and the dishonor of our Lord.
We find also Mr. R., in June, 1889, ridiculing the idea that “Christ never ceased to be the exhibition of eternal life from a babe in the manger to the throne of the Father.” He says, “Think of a helpless infant being the exhibition of eternal life!” Where does Scripture speak of the incarnate Son as “a helpless infant?” That blessed One who truly said, “I was cast upon Thee from the womb; Thou art my God from my mother’s belly . . . Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts (Psa. 22:9- 109But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. (Psalm 22:9‑10)).
Again in March, 1890, Mr. R. says, “I pointed out the monstrosity of an assertion of the Major’s {H. H. McCarthy}, that the Lord never ceased to be the exhibition of eternal life from a babe in the manger to the throne of the Father.” These and other irreverent statements that have followed, are, I judge, only the outcome of the new doctrine that our Lord only manifested eternal life in some of His acts. When Scripture speaks of the holy Babe, the Spirit calls Him Jesus, i.e., Jehovah-Savior, Immanuel or God with us, Christ the Lord, the Child born, the Son given, Son of God, the Mighty God, God manifest in flesh, the Eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us. John came baptizing that He might “be made manifest to Israel” (John 1:3131And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (John 1:31)).
Again, I copy a letter of Mr. R.’s in his own handwriting, dated July 30th ult. The question proposed was, “Could you say that the Lord in His every act down here did not manifest eternal life?” And Mr. R.’s reply was, “The only mention of the manifestation of eternal life which I know in Scripture is in 1 John 1:22(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (1 John 1:2), which I judge is referred to as a special grace to the Apostles. Publicly the Son revealed the Father. Eternal life was with the Father.” Many who have fallen under the power of this new teaching have gone still farther in irreverence. I only give a few instances out of many.
Mr. C.’s letter, was said to have been privately circulated for five months as precious truth; but after having been faithfully exposed by one of Mr. R.’s opponents, and said by him to be blasphemy, it was withdrawn by the author, with an expression of sorrow for having written it.
Another well-known preacher, Mr. M., when the evil doctrine was at first exposed by another of Mr. R.’s opponents, acknowledged that he had used the expression eighteen months before, and met the charge by explanations, contending for the soundness of the profane doctrine that our Lord, after talking with the woman, of Samaria, retired into the enjoyment of communion with the Father. Could we have thought it possible that such appalling things were among us?
Another active preacher was, only a few weeks since, confronted with having taught something very similar about our Lord at Sychar. Scripture says, “Jesus,” that is Jehovah-Savior “sat thus on the well.” How clear the written word makes everything!
As to Eternal life, writing to Mr. R., Mr. W. says: It was taught publicly in my hearing more than two years ago, by one of your principal followers, that Eternal life was like a vast estate to which we truly had a title. A very high wall surrounded it however, inside which we never had been, nor had we ever had a dish of gooseberries out of it. It had been taught also from house to house, that Eternal life was like a glass of water on the table, it was for you, but you had not tasted it, nor even taken it in your hand.
And so we might go on, for the increase of such profanities is almost daily made known; so that, as Captain B wrote to me lately, the whole house is becoming leprous, and its defilement can no longer he localized. Carnal ways, and moral failure are often the bitter fruits of evil doctrine (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); Rev. 2:6, 156But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6)
15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:15)).
With these facts before its, and the Scriptures too, the question is, what is the true and faithful course for those who love our Lord Jesus Christ? Would He not have its keep “His word” and not deny His “Name?” Has He not given us the most solemn warning found in the whole compass of Scripture against being lukewarm towards Himself? Are we not familiar with the word for an evil day charging us to purge ourselves front vessels to dishonor? “If a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” How full of encouragement! And what then? “Follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord, out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:20-2220But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:20‑22)). If we would serve and honor our Lord Jesus Christ, there certainly is no other way open than separation front evil, departing from iniquity. How else could we be loyal to Him, and seek to clear His holy Name from unscriptural doctrines and profane statements which are derogatory to Hin, who is the “holy” and the “true?”
It has been well said that Christ has not been presented to us for our discussion, but for our apprehension, faith, confidence, love and worship. And another was wont to say,
It never was nor I trust ever will be the notion of brethren that the truth of Christ’s person . . . was to be sacrificed to outward unity; it is making brethren of more importance than Christ . . . I must have a true Christ.
I speak not of sides in this painful matter. I know of no side but the Lord’s. May we never forget that “No man knoweth the Son but the Father,” and “He that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him.”
Our Lord’s reply to the insolent question, “Who is this Son of Man?” has forcibly reminded me of what is being questioned now, and His warning has come with uncommon power. “Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness cone upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus and departed, and did hide Himself from them” (John 12:34-3634The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. (John 12:34‑36)). Can we conceive a more solemn warning and dealing of the Lord?
In conclusion, I only ask that everything be dropped that is not according to the written word, and that the peerless, spotless Name of our adorable Lord and Savior may be maintained by us at all costs according to His own infinite perfections and glory. How soon He may come for us!
H.H.S Sheffield.