In the early days of the Church, the elders were called for, and prayer was made. If the sick man confessed his sin, there was forgiveness; and if thus healed by prayer, and life was spared, it is plainly a question of God's governmental judgment, and not of salvation. "If any man see his brother sin a sin, which is not unto death (plainly temporal death), he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it." (1 John 5:1616If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16).)
This is certainly not a question of eternal life, but of temporal government; and the Church ought to be God's interpreter in this-" One amongst a thousand to show man his uprightness "-and able to discern God's mind. If a soul that knows the grace of God has committed sin, his real place of "uprightness" is the confession of the sin. God has concentrated His mercies in the Church, the place where redemption is owned, and there ought to be spiritual power to discern in such cases. There is not law now to bring sin to the conscience; but there is righteous chastisement in God's family; and we sometimes see immediate discipline for immediate faults. But if the will is broken, and sin is judged, the need of chastening no longer exists, and it is removed. Mercy, indeed, is over all God's works; still, where redemption is owned, God's governmental power is exercised, and there ought to be the knowledge of it, according to the revelation God has given of Himself, and of His ways.