MY DEAR FRIEND, I am glad to hear again from you, and to know that you were well flogged at Antioch (Acts 11:2626And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)) last week. I can sympathize with you in each stripe; for I also “bear in my body the branding-marks of the Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:1717From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)). You will on your part be pleased to know that our young friend TIMOTHY TITUS has had his first taste of persecution for the truth’s sake. They fastened him to the stake in the marketplace, intending to burn him; but although they tried six times to light the fagots, they were too damp to catch fire. I like plenty of fire in the pulpit, of the right kind; but I think that the other kind of fire is kindled by Satan. It certainly does not fall from heaven, or manifest a heavenly spirit, or any sweet savor of love.
You have very kindly given me your thoughts upon. the subject of my last letter, namely, the preaching of the gospel to every creature. You have also told me that you named the matter at Antioch, and defended yourself by the example (i) of the Lord Jesus Christ, (2) of the apostles, and (3) of those great and good men we commonly call Puritans, including some later preachers, such as Bunyan and Whitefield, who were so abundantly honored of God in their ministry. But the only answer you received to this was that these godly men were in darkness, imperfectly instructed, and very ignorant; and that we in these days have more light.
Well, my dear friend, judging from the company you were in, I am not at all surprised at this. In fact, I have been told the same thing. And what is more to the point, I have read it in the Bible. The Pharisees and other blind teachers said that they were the only persons who had sound sight, and that all others were blind. But how did the Lord answer them? “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world,. that they which see not might see; and that they which, see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” (John 9:39-41; 10:139And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. (John 9:39‑41)
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)).
Here we clearly see that the judgment of all men has to bow to the judgment of the Lord. These things are still hidden from the (self-) wise and prudent, and revealed to the humbled disciple.
But, in replying to your kind note, I desire to examine this charge of darkness as to the Puritans, and this boast of having superior light.
1. In the first place, as the Puritans were godly men, and in this matter followed the Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching of Scripture; is it not a reflection upon Himself and His Word to charge them with darkness in so doing? For this is really implied by such remarks, and lies at the root of the whole matter. The Lord commanded men to repent. He commanded them to “labor for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” (John 6:2727Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27).) He commanded them to “strive to enter in at the strait gate.” (Luke 13:2424Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luke 13:24).) He also commanded the unbelieving Jews to believe (John 12:35-5035Then 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. 37But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 42Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:35‑50)): “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” I do not read that in all these cases He communicated the power to obey, without which not one sinner ever could obey; but I do read that in every case, whether of obedience unto life, or of rejection unto death, His sovereignty was displayed.
You will also read, in the parable of the marriage supper (Luke 14) that all who were invited refused to come; and in the end that not one of those who were bidden was permitted to taste of the supper. All who come have to be “compelled” by sweet almighty grace to come: all who refuse to come are justly condemned for not coming.
You will also have read the solemn words of the Lord Himself to those who refuse His call, in Proverbs 1:20-3320Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:20‑33). Also, to refer again to John 12:4848He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48): “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth Him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
I might quote numerous passages to the same purpose, but let these suffice. And I feel sure, my dear brother, you will agree with me when I say that to nullify this solemn teaching is supremely impertinent and profane.
2. But the apostles also are brought under the charge of “darkness and ignorance.” In obedience to their Lord’s command, they went forth, and preached that men should repent. What else could they preach when they went first among people who had never heard the gospel before? I need not quote the words of Peter, of John, of Paul: the Acts of the apostles is full of them. These servants of Christ knew perfectly that sinners dead in sin could not of themselves either repent or believe; yet they commanded them to do so. They preached with great power; and God gave testimony to the word of His grace. Satan tried hard, as he does now, to put a stop to such preaching; but the more they were flogged, and stoned, and imprisoned, and killed, the more they preached the gospel of the grace of God. Yet we are now asked to believe that all this gospel preaching was “ignorance and darkness” in the blaze of the superior light of these days of ours! Well; this is just what the other rulers said. They were “grieved that they taught the people, and they laid hands on them, and put them in hold.” (Acts 4:2, 32Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. (Acts 4:2‑3).) “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13).) So it proved then, as it must prove now, that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men.” May it be your happy lot, my dear friend, and mine, to be on God’s side. We shall have His sweet approval in the end.
3. But those eminent men known as “the Puritans” are also held up to shame and contempt on the same ground. They followed the example of Christ and the apostles. They exhorted men to repent and believe the gospel. They pointed out to sinners their awful danger, and warned them to flee from the wrath to come. They labored night and day, on their knees, in season and out of season, and with tears besought men to obey the gospel. Yet we are asked to believe that some wise men among us have discovered a more excellent way, and that the Puritans were all of them in gross darkness!
Now let me name these poor ignorant men. Calvin, Luther, Knox, Owen, Goodwin, Sibbes, Charnock, Manton, Brooks, Sedgwick, Rutherford, Alleine, Jane-way, and a hundred others of high eminence; to say nothing of the godly Reformers and martyrs. The treatise of blessed Bradford, the martyr, on Election is one of the best and sweetest ever written; yet he freely invited sinners to the Gospel feast. Then, a little later, we have Boston, the Erskines, Flavel, Bunyan, Berridge, Hervey, John Newton, Whitefield, and many more. These men no more believed that sinners have any gracious power to obey the gospel call than they believed they could create a new sun; yet because they followed the Lord and the apostles, we are asked to believe that they were in darkness!
Well; it was such darkness as God greatly honored. I would rather have their darkness than the modern light. Look at the fruits of their labors. We are reaping them today. God used their preaching to the conversion of thousands. Can as much be said of our friends who boast of superior light? I might go even further than this. I have often been tempted to think that our friends who talk thus do not desire to see sinners called by grace. They pronounce it weakness to weep over the perishing! A good man, quite recently, preached from the words (Lamentations 3:5151Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. (Lamentations 3:51)): “Mine eye affecteth mine heart.” He spoke of the condition of unsaved sinners, and the grief it gave him. And for this he was condemned as going “towards Arminianism!” What next? O where is there in all this the spirit of One who wept over Jerusalem; or of Paul who could wish himself separated from Christ for the sake of his fellow-men? No, my dear friend; there is nothing of the Spirit of Christ in all this, but very much of the malice and hatred of someone else.
To write down all the godly Puritans as in darkness is very sad and very pitiful. It reminds me of Matthew 6:2323But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:23): “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
O for more of the gracious light, immense zeal, holy love, godly power, and vast success, of the Puritans! O thou Spirit of the living God, come down 1 baptize Thy servants with living, loving, holy zeal! Shed forth a reviving rain of blessing upon the preachers of this dark day; and may I live to see a return of what is profanely called “the darkness of the old Divines!”
I fear, dear friend, I have tried your patience. And perhaps I had better not write more at this present, or I also may get a flogging. Believe me, my dear brother, your affectionate fellow-worker, JONATHAN JONES.
June 5th, 1905.