February 10th, 1855.
The time to come is the church's glory and perfection; the present, that of fidelity and faith, but of a faith which counts on God that the church, by His power, may manifest His glory in this very world by its common superiority to all that governs it and to all that exercises an influence over it. The church is the seat of God's power in the world. What have we made of it? (See Eph. 3:20, 2120Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20‑21).) The Epistle to the Ephesians presents the perfection of the position of the church before God; that to the Thessalonians gives, in a manner most interesting and to me in the highest degree edifying, the perfection of the Christian's position individually.
March 25th, 1871.
Dear Brother,
One knows little about the history of what they call the church, of what the church is as to its responsibility, nor the walk of the clergy, nor even that of all the world. It is a happy thing only to have the word to follow, and to know that it is the word of God. What an immense privilege to have His word, the revelation of His grace toward us, the perfection of the person of Jesus, and the counsels of God, what God has ordered for our glory! It is in His kindness to us that He will show in the ages to come the unsearchable riches of His grace.
From the beginning, trusting to the enemy rather than to God, man has been estranged from Him, and the two questions, “Where art thou?” and “What hast thou done?” showed where man had got to. The responsibility completely put to the test until the rejection of Christ, then God glorified in justice, His love and the counsels of His grace, before the foundation of the world, have been put before us. This places the gospel in quite a particular position, as it shows the relation of responsibility and sovereign grace with great clearness.
More than this, there is no veil on the glory of God. From thence His wrath revealed from heaven, but also the glory of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ, a witness that all the sins of those who see it are no longer before God; then all that God is morally fully revealed and shown. We know it according to His glory, and our relationship with God, our position before God, is founded on it. We are changed from glory to-glory, according to this image, for we can pin on it: it is the proof of our redemption, and that our sins are no longer before God. We are renewed also in knowledge after the image of Him who created us; we are created according to God in righteousness and true holiness; for, according to this glory, He puts Him in our hearts to bring forth the glory of Christ in the world. We are like a lantern; the light is within, but to shine without, but a dim glass (the flesh, if it interferes) will hinder the light from shining as it ought. Thus, what is given us becomes an inward exercise, the treasure is in an earthen vessel; and it must be only a vessel that we should he dead, that the life of Jesus should be made manifest in our mortal bodies. It is not only a communication of what is in Christ as to knowledge; but, if it is real, we drink from the source of the river. It is a communication which exercises the soul, makes it grow, and judge the flesh in everything, so that we do not spoil the witness which has been confided to us.
In Christ Himself the life was the light of men, and it is necessary that the light which we receive should become life in us, the formation of Christ in us, and that the flesh should be subject to death. Death acts in us, says Paul, life in you.
That is the history of ministry-of true ministry. What we communicate is ours. It enlightens us, but it acts in us morally; and the glory of Christ is realized in us, and all that does not suit Him is judged. Now the flesh never suits Him.
The death of Christ put an end to all that was of Paul; thus the life of Christ acted by him on others, and only that. This is saying a great deal. Thus, with regard to this, there may be progress. As to my position before God, I reckon myself to be dead; and, as to living, death acts in me. There is the vessel, but it must be only a vessel, and the life of Christ acts in it and by it. If the vessel acts, it spoils all. In fact we live, but we must always bear about death, so that the glory of Christ, the image of God, may shine for others. But all the glory of God is revealed; there is no longer a veil upon it on God's side; if it is veiled, the veil is upon the heart of man by unbelief. An all-important truth! Under the law man could not enter; God did not come out. He has come forth, but in being nothing, in order to bring out grace. Then, the work of redemption accomplished, He has gone in, and there is no more veil on the glory.