As to Mr. Irving, he is too much present as it were amongst us to say much. I believe their great defect to be (as it is of the editor and of all he has quoted) that he does not take scripture as his guide, but modern utterances as equivalent to it, as with the Quakers; and my experience of Irvingites is, that though full of particular passages there used, and interpretations upon them current among themselves, there is very little unborrowed study of scripture, very little reading of it for themselves, looking for the guidance of the Spirit. The peculiar characteristic of the system to my mind is the withdrawing people from this, and I never find them give simple heed to scripture.
On the other hand I think the editor treats holiness with very little ceremony—holiness, real holiness and subjection of heart according to the word can proceed only from God's Spirit; and that is not what will lead into darkness and mistake. The form of it may I admit, but spiritual subdual of evil is not the way of error, but a single eye the way of much light; and I do not think the editor is doing much service to Christianity in so carefully separating real holiness and truth. I believe there are many Christians amongst the Irvingites; I do not believe they are a holy people, but a deceived people.
Fuller, the editor tells us, complained in his day, and Baxter in his day, wise and holy men no doubt, and in every day along with the editor they have to complain of the same thing; but perhaps the editor would have the kindness in his next Journal to tell us what the different days were in which Baxter and Fuller lived. It is hardly honest to make a parade of names at different eras if the editor be ignorant whether they lived at the same or not; nor to state that the tenets of Swedenborgians are drawn from scripture if he does not know what they are; nor to make the scriptures an uncertain source of truth, that the infallibility of the Church of England (just going to be reformed) may be the restingplace of some weary Tostatus.
As to what he urges on the score of Dissent producing pride, it is very likely. The editor must settle that with his dissenting brethren: wherever the Spirit of the Lord is not there will be pride, be it in the Church of England or in Dissent. His “separating brethren” have nothing to do with either. I believe his dissenting brethren think for the most part worse of them than he does; for as for this sect it is everywhere spoken against; and may it ever remain so, and if they are called Nazarenes, be found to be Nazarites indeed!
“The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their house in the rock.”
With regard however to raising some to importance, we will not affirm that either adequate wisdom, or (we would add) adequate humility, is shown in those of this world's honor, who have separated from an evil state of things; but as to exalting the importance of individuals, they do not deny or shrink from the charge. Some are exalted and some brought low. If as the church and the clergyman in this Journal would have it, the high are to keep their place in the world, we grant it may often do so; but if they mind not high things, but walk with men of low estate in the simplicity of Christ, great blessing follows. We read, “let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, and the rich in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.” They do not say that there is not trial of grace in these things; but they believe, when done in grace, the approximation of these to each other is accompanied with great blessing.
The use, as to us, the Lord made of His glory was to empty Himself, give it up, become poor, that we by His poverty might become rich. He could not but be superior and different after all from those to whom He came; but He hid it, showed it only in the glory of continued and more abounding service, and knowing that all things were delivered unto Him of His Father, and that He came from God and went to God, He took a towel and girded Himself, and washed His disciples' feet, showing us that if He, our Lord and Master, washed their feet, we ought also to wash one another's feet, for He had given them an example that they should do as He had done to them. In a word, He took the privilege of His glory to be among them as one that serveth. May we be like Him! The only advantage I know of earthly glory is the privilege of giving it up. The poor man's grace will be shown in a wholly unassuming spirit, giving the other double honor because of his willing lowliness; but the principle our Lord gives is, “He that is great among you, let him be your servant.” The real secret is to give its value to Christ's grace. If it be the value of adding to numbers without the power of grace, it is purely evil.
But the great sin, the peevishness of the “separating brethren,” this hardness to please, seems to consist in their not thinking that the “Christian Journal” and the like are mending the world. This is a terrible thing, this “false fact.” But the editor seems to forget that the great body of godly clergy in this country believe in this “false fact” too; while his dissenting brethren quite agree with the editor that their Lord delayeth His coming.
But indeed it comes out a little after that there is a general agreement to set common sense and stubborn facts at the most open defiance, and that too in spite of all the pains of the editor of the “Christian Journal.”
“If there is one fact more indisputable than another, we think it is this, that within the last twenty years there has been an extraordinary spread of true religion throughout this country—so much so, as to produce a great and beneficial influence over those who are not ravingly influenced thereby,” &c. If any deny this, he asks pardon for not attempting to prove the same.
I do not think it a good thing continually to seek to make people pleased with themselves: it argues a low and a falling standard; but this, of course, must mend the country and improve it, and give reason to think prospects are indeed brightening. We will not listen to these Micaiahs that are always prophesying evil concerning us and not good. And now, gentle reader, what is the blessed result of this amazing improvement which proves that the world is growing better and not worse and worse, as these foreboders would say, who determine in their own minds that the wicked times prophesied of are our own times?
The “Christian Journal” shall tell.
(To be continued)