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diff --git a/37274.txt b/37274.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a385d18 --- /dev/null +++ b/37274.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12112 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Assembly of God, by +C. (Charles) H. (Henry) Mackintosh + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Assembly of God + Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, volume III + +Author: C. (Charles) H. (Henry) Mackintosh + +Release Date: August 30, 2011 [EBook #37274] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD *** + + + + +Produced by Mark Young, Julio Reis, Moises S. Gomes and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +The Assembly of God + +_Miscellaneous Writings of_ C. H. MACKINTOSH + +_Volume III_ + +LOIZEAUX BROTHERS _New York_ + +FIRST EDITION 1898 TENTH PRINTING 1960 + +LOIZEAUX BROTHERS, INC., PUBLISHERS + +_A Nonprofit Organization, Devoted to the Lord's Work and to the Spread +of His Truth_ + +19 WEST 21ST STREET, NEW YORK 10, N. Y. + +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + CONTENTS + + + Pages + + THE MAN OF GOD 3-39 + + DECISION FOR CHRIST 1-28 + + PRAYER IN ITS PROPER PLACE 1-8 + + "GILGAL" 1-48 + + THOUGHTS ON CONFIRMATION VOWS 1-16 + + THOUGHTS ON THE LORD'S SUPPER 1-46 + + THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 1-47 + + THE CHRISTIAN: HIS POSITION AND HIS WORK 1-32 + + THE CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD 1-13 + + FATHER! THY SOVEREIGN LOVE--_Poem_ + + PAPERS ON EVANGELIZATION 1-86 + + THE LIVING GOD AND A LIVING FAITH 1-28 + + A SCRIPTURAL INQUIRY AS TO THE SABBATH, + THE LAW, AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 2-28 + + THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST; PAST, PRESENT, + AND FUTURE 3-30 + + PRAYER AND THE PRAYER MEETING 3-23 + +_The original numbering of these writings has been retained, Many of the +above may be had separately in pamphlet form._ + + + +"THE MAN OF GOD" + + +The sentence which we have just penned occurs in Paul's second Epistle +to his beloved son Timothy--an epistle marked, as we know, by intense +individuality. All thoughtful students of Scripture have noticed the +striking contrast between the two Epistles of Paul to Timothy. In the +first, the Church is presented in its order, and Timothy is instructed +as to how he is to behave himself therein. In the second, on the +contrary, the Church is presented in its ruin. The house of God has +become the great house, in the which there are vessels to dishonor as +well as vessels to honor; and where, moreover, errors and evils +abound--heretical teachers and false professors, on every hand. + +It is in this epistle of individuality, then, that the expression, "The +man of God" is used with such obvious force and meaning. It is in times +of general declension, of ruin and confusion that the faithfulness, +devotedness, and decision of the individual man of God are specially +called for. And it is a signal mercy for such an one to know that, spite +of the hopeless failure of the Church as a responsible witness for +Christ, it is the privilege of the individual to tread as holy a path, +to taste as deep communion, and to enjoy as rich blessings, as could be +known in the Church's brightest days. + +This is a most encouraging and consolatory fact--a fact established by +many infallible proofs, and set forth in the very passage from which our +heading is taken. We shall here quote at length this passage of +singular weight and power: + +"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been +assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a +child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee +wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All +Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for +doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, +that the man of God may be _perfect_, throughly _furnished unto all good +works_"[I.] (2 Tim. iii. 14-17). + +Here we have "the man of God," in the midst of all the ruin and +confusion, the heresies and moral pravities of the last days, standing +forth in his own distinct individuality, "perfect, thoroughly furnished +unto all good works." And, may we not ask, what more could be said in +the Church's brightest days? If we go back to the day of Pentecost +itself, with all its display of power and glory, have we anything +higher, or better, or more solid than that which is set forth in the +words "perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works?" + +And is it not a signal mercy for anyone who desires to stand for God, in +a dark and evil day, to be told that, spite of all the darkness, the +evil, the error and confusion, he possesses that which can make a child +_wise_ unto salvation, and make a man _perfect_ and thoroughly furnished +unto all good works? Assuredly it is; and we have to praise our God for +it, with full and overflowing hearts. To have access, in days like +these, to the eternal fountain of inspiration, where the child and the +man can meet and drink and be satisfied--that fountain so clear that the +honest, simple soul can understand; and so deep that you cannot reach +the bottom--that peerless, priceless volume which meets the child at his +mother's knee, and makes him wise unto salvation; and meets the man in +the most advanced stage of his practical career and makes him perfect +and fully furnished for the exigence of every hour. + +However, we shall have occasion, ere we close this paper, to look more +particularly at "the man of God," and to consider what is the special +force and meaning of this term. That there is very much more involved in +it than is ordinarily understood, we are most fully persuaded. + +There are three aspects in which man is presented in Scripture: in the +first place, we have _man in nature_; secondly, _a man in Christ_; and, +thirdly, we have, _the man of God_. It might perhaps be thought that the +second and third are synonymous; but we shall find a very material +difference between them. True, I must be a man in Christ before I can be +a man of God; but they are by no means interchangeable terms. + +Let us then, in the first place, consider + + +MAN IN NATURE. + +This is a very comprehensive term indeed. Under this title, we shall +find every possible shade of character, temperament, and disposition. +Man, on the platform of nature, graduates between two extremes. You may +view him at the very highest point of cultivation, or at the very lowest +point of degradation. You may see him surrounded with all the +advantages, the refinements and the so-called dignities of civilized +life; or you may find him sunk in all the shameless and barbarous +customs of savage existence. You may view him in the almost numberless +grades, ranks, classes, and _castes_ into which the human family has +distributed itself. + +Then again, in the self-same class, or caste, you will find the most +vivid contrasts, in the way of character, temper, and disposition. +There, for example, is a man of such an atrocious temper that he is the +very horror of every one who knows him. He is the plague of his family +circle, and a perfect nuisance to society. He can be compared to a +porcupine with all his quills perpetually up; and if you meet him once +you will not wish to meet him again. There, on the other hand, is a man +of the sweetest disposition and most amiable temper. He is just as +attractive as the other is repulsive. He is a tender, loving, faithful +husband; a kind, affectionate, considerate father; a thoughtful, +liberal master; a kindly, genial neighbor; a generous friend, beloved by +all, and justly so: the more you know him the more you must like him, +and if you meet him once you are sure to wish to meet him again. + +Further, you may meet on the platform of nature, a man who is false and +deceitful to the very heart's core. He delights in lying, cheating, and +deception. He is mean and contemptible in his thoughts, words and ways; +a man to whom all who know him would like to give as wide a berth as +possible. And, on the other hand, you may meet a man of high principle, +frank, honorable, generous, upright; one who would scorn to tell a lie, +or do a mean act; whose reputation is unblemished, his character +unexceptionable. His word would be taken for any amount; he is one with +whom all who know him would be glad to have dealings; an almost perfect +natural character; a man of whom it might be said, he lacks but one +thing. + +Finally, as you pass to and fro on nature's platform, you may meet the +atheist who affects to deny the existence of God; the infidel who denies +God's revelation; the skeptic and the rationalist who disbelieves +everything. And, on the other hand, you will meet the superstitious +devotee who spends his time in prayers and fastings, ordinances, and +ceremonies; and who feels sure he is earning a place in heaven by a +wearisome round of religious observances that actually _un_fit him for +the proper functions and responsibilities of domestic and social life. +You may meet men of every imaginable shade of religious opinion, high +church, low church, broad church, and no church; men who, without a +spark of divine life in their souls, are contending for the powerless +forms of a traditionary religion. + +Now, there is one grand and awfully solemn fact common to all these +various classes, castes, grades, shades, and conditions of men who +occupy the platform of nature, and that is there is not so much as a +single link between them and heaven--there is no link with the Man who +sits at the right hand of God--no link with the new creation. They are +unconverted, and without Christ. As regards God, and Christ, and eternal +life, and heaven, they all--however they may differ morally, socially, +and religiously--stand on one common ground; they are far from God--they +are out of Christ--they are in their sins--they are in the flesh--they +are of the world--they are on their way to hell. + +There is really no getting over this, if we are to listen to the voice +of Holy Scripture. False teachers may deny it. Infidels may pretend to +smile contemptuously at the idea; but Scripture is plain as can be. It +speaks in manifold places of a fire that NEVER shall be quenched, and of +a worm that shall never die. + +It is the very height of folly for anyone to seek to set aside the plain +testimony of the word of God on this most solemn and weighty subject. +Better far to let that testimony fall, with all its weight and +authority, upon the heart and conscience--infinitely better to flee +from the wrath to come than to attempt to deny that it is coming, and +that, when it does come, it will abide forever--yes, forever, and +forever, and forever! Tremendous thought!--over-whelming consideration! +May it speak with living power to the soul of the unconverted reader, +leading him to cry out in all sincerity, "What is to be done?" + +Yes, here is the question, "What must I do to be saved?" The divine +answer is wrapped up in the following words which dropped from the lips +of two of Christ's very highest and most gifted ambassadors. "Repent and +be converted," said Peter to the Jew. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, +and thou shalt be saved and thy house," said Paul to the Gentile. And +again, the latter of these two blessed messengers, in summing up his own +ministry, thus defines the whole matter, "Testifying both to the Jews, +and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord +Jesus Christ." + +How simple! But how real! How deep! How thoroughly practical! It is not +a nominal, national head belief. It is not saying, in mere flippant +profession, "I believe." Ah! no; it is something far deeper and more +serious than this. It is much to be feared that a large amount of the +professed faith of this our day is deplorably superficial, and that many +who throng our preaching rooms and lecture halls are, after all, but +wayside and stony ground hearers. The plough of conviction and +repentance has not passed over them. The fallow ground has never been +broken up. The arrow of conviction has never pierced them through and +through. They have never been broken down, turned inside out--thoroughly +revolutionized. The preaching of the gospel to all such is just like +scattering precious seed on the hard pavement or the beaten highway. It +does not penetrate. It does not enter into the depths of the soul; the +conscience is not reached; the heart is not affected. The seed lies on +the surface, it has not taken root, and is soon carried away. + +Nor is this all. It is also much to be feared that many of the preachers +of the present day, in their efforts to make the gospel simple, lose +sight of the abiding necessity of repentance, and the essential +necessity of the action of the Holy Ghost, without which so-called faith +is a mere human exercise and passes away like the vapors of the morning, +leaving the soul still in the region of nature, satisfied with itself, +daubed with the untempered mortar of a merely human gospel that cries +peace, peace, where there is no peace, but the most imminent danger. + +All this is very serious, and should lead the soul into profound +exercise. We want the reader to give it his grave and immediate +consideration. We would put this pointed question to him, which we +entreat him to answer, now, "_Have you got eternal life_?" Say, dear +friend, _have you_? "He that believeth on the Son of God hath eternal +life." Grand reality! If you have not got this, you have nothing. + +You are still on that platform of nature of which we have spoken so +much. Yes, you are still there; no matter though you were the very +fairest specimen to be found there--amiable, polished, affable, frank, +generous, truthful, upright, honorable, attractive, beloved, learned, +cultivated, and even pious after a merely human fashion. You may be all +this, and yet not have a single pulsation of eternal life in your soul. + +This may sound harsh and severe. But it is true; and you will find out +its truth sooner or later. We want you to find it out _now_. We want you +to see that you are a thorough bankrupt, in the fullest sense of that +word. A deed of bankruptcy has been filed against you in the high court +of heaven. Here are its terms, "_They that are in the flesh cannot +please God_." Have you ever pondered these words? Have you ever seen +their application to yourself? So long as you are unrepentant, +unconverted, unbelieving, you cannot do a single thing to please +God--not one. "In the flesh" and "on the platform of nature" mean one +and the same thing; and so long as you are there, you cannot please God. +"You must be born again"--must be renewed in the very deepest springs of +your being: unrenewed nature is wholly unable to see, and unfit to +enter, the kingdom of God. You must be born of water and of the +Spirit--that is by the living word of God, and of the Holy Ghost. There +is no other way by which to enter the kingdom. It is not by +self-improvement, but by new birth we reach the blessed kingdom of God. +"That which is born of the flesh is flesh;" and "the flesh profiteth +nothing," for "they that are in the flesh cannot please God." + +How distinct is all this! How pointed! How personal! How earnestly we +desire that the unawakened or undecided reader should, just now, take it +home to himself, as though he were the only individual upon the face of +the earth. It will not do to generalize--to rest satisfied with saying, +"We are all sinners." No; it is an intensely individual matter. "You +_must_ be born again." If you again ask, "How?" hear the divine response +from the lips of the Master Himself, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in +the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever +believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." + +Here is the sovereign remedy, for every poor broken-hearted, +conscience-smitten, hell-deserving sinner--for every one who owns +himself lost--who confesses his sins, and judges himself--for every +weary, heavy-laden, sin-burdened soul--here is God's own blessed +promise: Jesus died, that you might live. He was condemned, that you +might be justified. He drank the cup of wrath, that you might drink the +cup of salvation. Behold Him hanging on yonder cross for thee. See what +He did for thee. Believe that He satisfied, on your behalf, _all_ the +claims of justice before the throne of God. See all your sins laid on +Him--your guilt imputed to Him--your entire condition represented and +disposed of by Him. See His atoning death answering perfectly for all +that was or ever could be brought against you. See Him rising from the +dead, having accomplished all. See Him ascending into the heavens, +bearing in His divine Person the marks of His finished atonement. See +Him seated on the throne of God, in the very highest place of power. See +Him crowned with glory and honor. Believe in Him, and you will receive +remission of sins, the gift of eternal life, the seal of the Holy Ghost. +You will pass off the platform of nature--you will be "_A man in +Christ_." + +FOOTNOTE: + +[I.] The reader should be informed that the word which is rendered +"perfect," in the above passage, occurs but this once in the entire New +Testament. It is [Greek: artios] (artios) and signifies, ready, +complete, well fitted; as an instrument with all its strings, a machine +with all its parts, a body with all its limbs, joints, muscles, and +sinews. The usual word for "perfect" is [Greek: teleios] (teleios) which +signifies the reaching of the moral _end_, in any particular thing. + + +PART II. + +To all whose eyes have been opened to see their true condition by +nature, who have been brought under the convicting power of the Holy +Ghost, who know something of the real meaning of a broken heart and a +contrite spirit--to all such it must be of the deepest possible interest +to know the divine secret of rest and peace. If it be true--and it is +true, because God says it--that "they that are _in the flesh_ cannot +please God," then how is any one to get _out of the flesh_? How can he +pass off the platform of nature? How can he reach the blessed position +of those to whom the Holy Ghost declares, "Ye are not in the flesh but +in the Spirit"? + +These are momentous questions, surely. For, be it thoroughly known and +ever remembered, that no improvement of our old nature is of any value +whatsoever as to our standing before God. It may be all very well, so +far as this life is concerned, for a man to improve himself by every +means within his reach, to cultivate his mind, furnish his memory, +elevate his moral tone, advance his social position. All this is quite +true, so true as not to need a moment's argument. + +But, admitting in the fullest manner the truth of all this, it leaves +wholly untouched the solemn and sweeping statement of the inspired +apostle that, "they that are in the flesh cannot please God." There +_must_ be a new standing altogether, and this new standing cannot be +reached by any change in the old nature--by any doings or formalities, +feelings, ordinances of religion, prayers, alms or sacraments. Do what +you will with nature and it is nature still. "That which is born of the +flesh is flesh;" and do what you will with flesh you cannot make it +spirit. There must be a new life--a life flowing from the new man, the +last Adam, who has become, in resurrection, the Head of a new race. + +How is this most precious life to be had? Hear the memorable +answer--hear it, anxious reader, hear it and live. "Verily, verily, I +say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent +Me, _hath_ everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but _is +passed_ from death unto life" (John v. 24). + +Here we have a total change of standing; a passing from death to life; +from a position in which there is not so much as a single link with +heaven, with the new creation, with the risen Man in glory, into a +position in which there is not a single link with the first man, with +the old creation, and this present evil world. And all this is through +believing on the Son of God--not _saying_ we believe, but really, truly, +heartily, believing on the Son of God; not by a mere intellectual faith, +but believing with the heart. + +Thus only does any one become + + +A MAN IN CHRIST. + +Every true believer is a man in Christ. Whether it be the convert of +yesterday or the hoary headed saint of fifty or sixty years' standing as +a Christian, each stands in precisely the same blessed position--he is +in Christ. There can be no difference here. The practical _state_ may +differ immensely; but the positive standing is one and the same. As on +the platform of nature, you may meet with every imaginable shade, class, +grade, and condition (though all having one common standing) so on the +new, the divine, the heavenly platform, you may meet with every possible +variety of practical condition: the greatest possible difference in +intelligence, experience, and spiritual power, while all possessing the +same standing before God, all being in Christ. There can be no degrees +as to standing, whatever there may be as to state. The convert of +yesterday, and the hoary headed father in Christ are both alike as to +standing. Each is a man in Christ, and there can be no advance upon +this. We sometimes hear of, "The higher Christian life:" but, strictly +speaking, there is no such thing as a higher or a lower Christian life, +inasmuch as Christ is the life of every believer. It may be that those +who use the term mean a right thing. They probably refer to the higher +stages of the Christian life--greater nearness to God, greater likeness +to Christ, greater power in the Spirit, more devotedness, more +separation from the world, more entire consecration of heart to Christ. +But all these things belong to the question of our _state_, not to our +standing. This latter is absolute, settled, unchangeable. It is in +Christ--nothing less, nothing more, nothing different. If we are not in +Christ, we are in our sins; but if we are in Christ, we cannot possibly +be higher, as to standing. + +If the reader will turn with us, for a few moments, to I Cor. xv. 45-48, +he will find some powerful teaching on this great foundation truth. The +apostle speaks here of two men, "The first and the second." And let it +be carefully noted that the Second Man is by no means federally +connected with the first, but stands in contrast with him--a new, +independent, divine, heavenly source of life in Himself. The first man +has been entirely set aside, as a ruined, guilty, outcast creature. We +speak of Adam federally, as the head of a race. Personally, Adam was +saved by grace; but if we look at him from a federal standpoint, we see +him a hopeless wreck. + +The first man is an irremediable ruin. This is proved by the fact of a +_second_ Man; for truly we may say of the men as of the covenants, "If +the first had been found faultless, then should no place have been +sought for the Second." But the very fact of a second Man being +introduced demonstrates the hopeless ruin of the first. Why a second, if +aught could be made of the first? If our old Adam nature was, in any +wise, capable of being improved, there was no need of something new. But +"they that are in the flesh cannot please God." "For in Christ Jesus +neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new +creation" (Rom. viii.: Gal. vi.). + +There is immense moral power in all this line of teaching. It sets forth +Christianity in vivid and striking contrast with every form of +religiousness under the sun. Take Judaism or any other _ism_ that ever +was known or that now exists in this world, and what do you find it to +be? Is it not invariably something designed for the testing, or +experimenting for the improvement, or advancement of the first man? +Unquestionably. + +But what is Christianity? It is something entirely new--heavenly, +spiritual, divine. It is based upon the cross of Christ, in the which +the first man came to his end, where sin was put away, judgment borne, +the old man crucified and put out of God's sight forever, so far as all +believers are concerned. The cross closes, for faith, the history of the +first man. "I am crucified with Christ," says the apostle. And again, +"They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its affections and +lusts." + +Are these mere figures of speech, or do they set forth, in the mighty +words of the Holy Ghost, the grand fact of the entire setting aside of +the first man, as utterly worthless and condemned? The latter, most +assuredly. Christianity starts, as it were, from the open grave of the +Second Man, to pursue its bright career onward to eternal glory. It is, +emphatically, a new creation in which there is not so much as a single +shred of the old thing--for in this "all things are of God." And if +"_all things_" are of God, there can be nothing of man. + +What rest! What comfort! What strength! What moral elevation! What sweet +relief for the poor burdened soul that has been vainly seeking, for +years perhaps, to find peace in self-improvement! What deliverance from +the wretched thralldom of legality, in all its phases, to find out the +precious secret that my guilty, ruined, bankrupt self--the very thing +that I have been trying by every means in my power to improve, has been +completely and forever set aside--that God is not looking for any +amendment in it--that He has condemned it and put it to death in the +cross of His Son! What an answer is here to the monk, the ascetic, and +the ritualist! Oh, that it were understood in all its emancipating +power! This heavenly, this divine, this spiritual Christianity. Surely +were it only known in its living power and reality, it would deliver the +soul from the thousand and one forms of corrupt religion whereby the +arch-enemy and deceiver is ruining the souls of untold millions. We may +truly say that Satan's most successful effort against the truth of the +gospel, against the Christianity of the New Testament, is seen in the +fact of his leading unconverted people to take and apply to themselves +ordinances of the Christian religion, and to profess many of its +doctrines. In this way he blinds their eyes to their own true condition, +as utterly ruined, guilty, and undone; and strikes a deadly blow at the +pure gospel of Christ. The best piece that was ever put upon the "old +garment" of man's ruined nature is the profession of Christianity; and, +the better the piece, the worse the rent. See Mark ii. 21. + +Let us bend an attentive ear to the following weighty words of the +greatest teacher and best exponent of true Christianity the world ever +saw. "For _I_ through the law _am dead_ to the law, that I might live to +God. _I am crucified_ with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet _not I_, but +Christ liveth in me." Mark this, "I--not I--but Christ." The old +"I"--"crucified." The new "I"--Christ. "And the life which I now live in +the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave +Himself for me" (Gal. ii. 19, 20).[II.] + +This, and nothing else, is Christianity. It is not "the old man," the +first man, becoming religious, even though the religion be the +profession of the doctrines, and the adopting of the ordinances of +Christianity. No; it is the death and burial of the old man--the old +I--and becoming a new man in Christ. Every true believer is a new man in +Christ. He has passed clean out of the old creation-standing--the old +estate of sin and death, guilt and condemnation; and he has passed into +a new creation-standing--a new estate of life and righteousness in a +risen and glorified Christ, the Head of the new creation, the last Adam. + +Such is the position and unalterable standing of the feeblest believer +in Christ. There is absolutely no other standing for any Christian. I +must either be in the first man or in the Second. There is no _third_ +man, for the Second Man is the last Adam. There is no middle ground. I +am either _in Christ_, or I am _in my sins_. But if I am in Christ, I am +as He is before God. "As _He is so are we_, in this world." He does not +say, "As He _was_" but "as He _is_." That is, the Christian is viewed by +God as one with Christ--the Second Man, in whom He delights. We do not +speak of His Deity, of course, which is incommunicable. That blessed One +stood in the believer's stead--bore his sins, died his death, paid his +penalty, represented him in every respect; took all his guilt, all his +liabilities, all that pertained to him as a man in nature, stood as his +substitute, in all the verity and reality of that word, and having +divinely met his case, and borne his judgment, He rose from the dead, +and is now the Head, the Representative, and the only true definition +of the believer before God. + +To this most glorious and enfranchising truth, Scripture bears the +amplest testimony. The passage which we have just quoted from Galatians +is a most vivid, powerful, and condensed statement of it. And if the +reader will turn to Rom. vi. he will find further evidence. We shall +quote some of the weighty sentences. + +"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may +abound? Far be the thought. How shall _we that are dead_ to sin, live +any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized to +Jesus Christ were baptized to His death? Therefore we are buried with +Him by baptism unto death; that _like as Christ_ was raised up from the +dead by the glory of the Father, _even so we also_ should walk in +newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of +His death, we shall be also of resurrection. Knowing this that _our old +man is crucified with Him_, that the body of sin might be destroyed, +that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed +from sin. Now if we _be dead with Christ_, we believe that we shall also +live with Him. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no +more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died +unto sin once; but in that He liveth He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon +ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, +through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. vi. I-11). + +Reader, mark especially these words in the foregoing quotation--"We that +_are dead_"--"We are buried with Him"--"_Like as Christ_ was raised ... +_even so_ we also"--"Our old man is crucified with Him"--"Dead with +Christ"--"Dead indeed unto sin." Do we really understand such +utterances? Have we entered into their real force and meaning? Do we, in +very deed, perceive their application to ourselves? These are searching +questions for the heart, and needful. The real doctrine of Rom. vi. is +but little apprehended. There are thousands who profess to believe in +the atoning virtue of the death of Christ, but who do not see aught +therein beyond the forgiveness of their _sins_. They do not see the +crucifixion, death, and burial of the old man--the destruction of the +body of sin--the condemnation of sin--the entire setting aside of the +old system of things belonging to their first Adam condition--in a word +their perfect identification with a dead and risen Christ. Hence it is +that we press this grand and all-important line of truth upon the +attention of the reader. It lies at the very base of all true +Christianity, and forms an integral part of the truth of the gospel. + +Let us hearken to further evidence on the point. Hear what the apostle +said to the Colossians: "Wherefore, if ye be _dead with Christ_ from the +rudiments of the world, why, _as though living in the world_, are ye +subject to ordinances, after the commandments and doctrines of men, +[such as] touch not, taste not, handle not"?--thus it is that human +ordinances speak to us, telling us not to touch this, not to taste that, +not to handle the other, as if there could possibly be any divine +principle involved in such things--"which all are to perish with the +using;" and "which, have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and +humility, and neglecting of the body--not in any honor--to the +satisfying of the flesh. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those +things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. +Set your mind on things that are above, not on things on the earth. For +_ye have died_ and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. ii., iii. +2). + +Here, again, let us inquire how far we enter into the true force, +meaning, and application of such words as these--"Why as though _living +in the world_," etc.? Are we living in the world or living in +heaven--which? The true Christian is one who has died out of this +present evil world. He has no more to do with it than Christ. "Like as +Christ ... even so we." He is dead to the law--dead to sin: alive in +Christ--alive to God--alive in the new creation. He belongs to heaven. +He is enrolled as a citizen of heaven. His religion, his politics, his +morals are all heavenly. He is a heavenly man walking on the earth, and +fulfilling all the duties which belong to the varied relationships in +which the hand of God has placed him, and in which the word of God most +fully recognizes him, and amply guides him, such as husband, father, +master, child, servant, and such like. The Christian is not a monk, an +ascetic, or a hermit. He is, we repeat, a heavenly, spiritual man, _in_ +the world, but not _of_ it. He is like a foreigner, so far as his +residence here is concerned. He is in the body, as to the fact of his +condition; but not in the flesh as to the principle of his standing. He +is _a man in Christ_. + +Ere closing this article, we should like to call the reader's attention +to 2 Cor. xii. In it he will find, at once, the _positive standing_ and +the _possible state_ of the believer. The standing is fixed and +unalterable, as set forth in that one comprehensive sentence--"A man in +Christ." The state may graduate between the two extremes presented in +the opening and closing verses of this chapter. A Christian may be in +the third heaven, amid the seraphic visions of that blessed and holy +place; or he may, if not watchful, sink down into all the gross and evil +things named in vers. 20, 21. + +It may be asked, "Is it possible that a true child of God could ever be +found in such a low moral condition?" Alas! alas! reader, it is indeed +possible. There is no depth of sin and folly into which a Christian is +not capable of plunging, if not kept by the grace of God. Even the +blessed apostle himself, when he came down from the third heaven, needed +"a thorn in the flesh" to keep him from being "exalted above measure." +We might suppose that a man who had been up in that bright and blessed +region could never again feel the stirrings of pride. But the plain fact +is that even the third heavens cannot cure the flesh. It is utterly +incorrigible and must be judged and kept under, day by day, hour by +hour, moment by moment, else it will cut out plenty of sorrowful work +for us. + +Still, the believer's standing is in Christ, forever justified, +accepted, perfect in Him. And, moreover, he must ever judge his state by +his standing, never his standing by his state. To attempt to reach the +standing by my state is _legalism_; to refuse to judge my state by the +standing is _antinomianism_. Both--though so diverse one from the +other--are alike false, alike opposed to the truth of God, alike +offensive to the Holy Ghost, alike removed from the divine idea of "A +man in Christ." + +FOOTNOTE: + +[II.] The reader will distinguish between the expression "in the flesh" +as used in Gal. ii. 20, and in Rom. viii. 8, 9. In the former, it simply +refers to our condition as in the body. In the latter, it sets forth the +principle or ground of our standing. The believer is in the body, as to +the fact of his condition; but he is not in the flesh as to the +principle of his standing. + + +PART III. + +Having considered the deeply interesting questions of "a man in nature" +and "a man in Christ," it remains for us now to consider, in this third +and last Part, the deeply practical subject of the title of this paper, +namely, + + +THE MAN OF GOD. + +It would be a great mistake to suppose that every Christian is a man of +God. Even in Paul's day--in the days of Timothy, there were many who +bore the Christian name who were very far indeed from acquitting +themselves as men of God, that is, as those who were really God's men, +in the midst of the failure and error which, even then, had begun to +creep in. + +It is the perception of this fact that renders the second Epistle to +Timothy so profoundly interesting. In it we have what we may call ample +provision for the man of God, in the day in which he is called to +live--a dark, evil, and perilous day, most surely, in which all who will +live godly must keep the eye steadily fixed on Christ Himself--His +name--His person--His Word, if they would make any headway against the +tide. + +It is hardly possible to read second Timothy without being struck with +its intensely individual character. The very opening address is +strikingly characteristic. "I thank God, whom I serve from my +forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have +remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day." + +What glowing words are these! How affecting to harken thus to one man of +God pouring the deep and tender feelings of his great, large, loving +heart into the heart of another man of God! The dear apostle was +beginning to feel the chilling influence that was fast creeping over the +professing Church. He was tasting the bitterness of disappointed hopes. +He found himself deserted by many who had once professed to be his +friends and associates in that glorious work to which he had consecrated +all the energies of his great soul. Many were becoming "ashamed of the +testimony of our Lord, and of His prisoner." It was not that they +altogether ceased to be Christians, or abandoned the Christian +profession; but they turned their backs upon Paul, and left him alone in +the day of trial. + +Now, it is under such circumstances that the heart turns, with peculiar +tenderness, to individual faithfulness and affection. If one is +surrounded, on all hands, by true-hearted confessors--by a great cloud +of witnesses--a large army of good soldiers of Jesus Christ--if the tide +of devotedness is flowing around one and bearing him on its bosom, he is +not so dependent upon individual sympathy and fellowship. + +But, on the other hand, when the general condition of things is low, +when the majority prove faithless, when old associates are dropping off, +it is then that personal grace and true affection are specially valued. +The dark background of general declension throws individual devotedness +into beauteous relief. + +Thus it is in this exquisite Epistle which now lies open before us. It +does the heart good to harken to the breathings of the aged prisoner of +Jesus Christ, who can speak of serving God from his forefathers with +pure conscience, and of unceasing remembrance of his beloved son and +true yoke-fellow. + +It is specially interesting to notice that, both in reference to his own +history and that of his beloved friend, Paul goes back to facts of very +early date--facts in their own individual paths, facts prior to their +meeting one another, and prior to what we may call their church +associations--important and interesting as these things surely are in +their place. Paul had served God, from his forefathers, with pure +conscience, before he had known a fellow-Christian. This he could +continue to do though deserted by all his Christian companions. So also, +in the case of his faithful friend, he says, "I call to remembrance the +unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt in thy grandmother Lois, +and thy mother Eunice: and I am persuaded that is in thee also." + +This is very touching and very beautiful. We cannot but be struck with +such references to the previous history of those beloved men of God. The +"pure conscience" of the one, and "the unfeigned faith" of the other, +indicate two grand moral qualities which all must possess if they would +prove true men of God in a dark and evil day. The former has its +immediate reference, in all things, to the one living and true God; the +latter draws all its springs from Him. That, leads us to walk _before_ +God; this, enables us to walk _with_ Him. Both together are +indispensable in forming the character of the true man of God. + +It is utterly impossible to over-estimate the importance of keeping a +pure conscience before God, in all our ways. It is positively +invaluable. It leads us to refer everything to God. It keeps us from +being tossed hither and thither by every wave and current of human +opinion. It imparts stability and consistency to the entire course and +character. + +We are all in imminent danger of falling under human influence--of +shaping our way according to the thoughts of our fellow-man, adopting +his cue, or mounting his hobby. + +All this is destructive of the character of the man of God. If you take +your tone from your fellow, if you suffer yourself to be formed in a +merely human mould, if your faith stands in the wisdom of man, if your +object is to please men, then instead of being a man of God, you will +become a member of a party or clique. You will lose that lovely +freshness and originality so essential to the individual servant of +Christ, and become marked by the peculiar and dominant features of a +sect. + +Let us carefully guard against this. It has ruined many a valuable +servant. Many who might have proved really useful workmen in the +vineyard, have failed completely through not maintaining the integrity +of their individual character and path. They began with God. They +started on their course in the exercise of a pure conscience, and in the +pursuit of that path which a divine hand had marked out for them. There +was a bloom, a freshness, and a verdure about them, most refreshing to +all who came in contact with them. They were taught of God. They drew +near to the eternal fountain of Holy Scripture and drank for themselves. +Perhaps they did not know much; but what they did know was real because +they received it from God, and it turned to good account for "there is +much food in the tillage of the poor." + +But, instead of going on with God, they allowed themselves to get under +human influence; they got truth secondhand, and became the vendors of +other men's thoughts; instead of drinking at the fountain head, they +drank at the streams of human opinion; they lost originality, +simplicity, freshness, and power, and became mere copyists, if not +miserable caricatures. Instead of giving forth those "rivers of living +water" which flow from the true believer in Jesus, they dropped into the +barren technicalities and cut and dry common-places of mere systematized +religion. + +Beloved Christian reader, all this must be sedulously guarded against. +We must watch against it, pray against it, believe against it, and live +against it. Let us seek to serve God, with a pure conscience. Let us +live in His own immediate presence, in the light of His blessed +countenance, in the holy intimacy of personal communion with Him, +through the power of the Holy Ghost. This, we may rest assured, is the +true secret of power for the man of God, at all times, and under all +circumstances. We must walk with God, in the deep and cherished sense of +our own personal responsibility to Him. This is what we understand by "a +pure conscience." + +But will this tend, in the smallest degree, to lessen our sense of the +value of true fellowship, of holy communion with all those who are true +to Christ? By no means; indeed it is the very thing which will impart +power, energy, and depth of tone to the fellowship. If every "man in +Christ" were only acquitting himself thoroughly as "a man of God," what +blessed fellowship there would be! what heart work! what glow and +unmistakable power! How different from the dull formalism of a merely +nominal assent to certain accredited dogmas of a party, on the one hand, +and from the mere _esprit de corps_ of cliquism, on the other. + +There are few terms in such common use and so little understood as +"fellowship." In numberless cases, it merely indicates the fact of a +nominal membership in some religious denomination--a fact which +furnishes no guarantee whatsoever of living communion with Christ, or +personal devotedness to His cause. If all who are nominally "in fellow +ship" were acquitting themselves thoroughly as men of God, what a very +different condition of things we should be privileged to witness! + +But what is fellowship? It is, in its very highest expression, having +one common object with God, and taking part in the same portion; and +that object, that portion, is Christ--Christ known and enjoyed through +the Holy Ghost. This is fellowship with God. What a privilege! What a +dignity! What unspeakable blessedness! To be allowed to have a common +object and a common portion with God Himself! To delight in the One in +whom He delights! There can be nothing higher, nothing better, nothing +more precious than this. Not even in heaven itself shall we know aught +beyond this. Our own condition will, thank God, be vastly different. + +We shall be done with a body of sin and death, and be clothed with a +body of glory. We shall be done with a sinful, sorrowful, distracting +world, where all is directly opposed to God and to us, and we shall +breathe the pure, invigorating atmosphere of that bright and blessed +world above. + +For, in so far as our fellowship is real, it is now as it shall be then, +"with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ"--"in the light," and by +the power of the Holy Ghost. + +Thus much as to our fellowship with God. And, as regards our fellowship +one with another, it is simply as we walk in the light; as we read, "If +we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with +another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all +sin" (I John i. 7). We can only have fellowship one with another as we +walk in the immediate presence of God. There may be a vast amount of +mere intercourse without one particle of divine fellowship. Alas! alas! +a great deal of what passes for Christian fellowship is nothing more +than the merest religious gossip--the vapid, worthless, soul-withering +chit-chat of the religious world, than which nothing can be more +miserably unprofitable. True Christian fellowship can only be enjoyed in +the light. It is when we are individually walking with God, in the power +of personal communion, that we really have fellowship one with another, +and this fellowship consists in real heart enjoyment of Christ as our +one object, our common portion. It is not heartless traffic in certain +favorite doctrines which we receive to hold in common. It is not morbid +sympathy with those who think, and see, and feel with us in some +favorite theory or dogma. It is something quite different from all this. +It is delighting in Christ, in common with all those who are walking in +the light. It is attachment to Him, to His person, His name, His Word, +His cause, His people. It is joint consecration of heart and soul to +that blessed One who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own +blood, and brought us into the light of God's presence, there to walk +with Him and with one another. This, and nothing less, is Christian +fellowship; and where this is really understood it will lead us to pause +and consider what we say when we declare, in any given case, "such an +one is in fellowship." + +But we must proceed with our Epistle, and there see what full provision +there is for the man of God, however dark the day may be in which his +lot is cast. + +We have seen something of the importance--yea, rather, we should say the +indispensable necessity of "a pure conscience," and "unfeigned faith," +in the moral equipment of God's man. These qualities lie at the very +base of the entire edifice of practical godliness which must ever +characterize the genuine man of God. + +But there is more than this. The edifice must be erected as well as the +foundation laid. The man of God has to work on amid all sorts of +difficulties, trials, sorrows, disappointments, obstacles, questions +and controversies. He has his niche to fill, his path to tread, his work +to do. Come what may, he must serve. The enemy may oppose; the world may +frown; the Church may be in ruins around him; false brethren may thwart, +hinder, and desert; strife, controversy, and division may arise and +darken the atmosphere; still the man of God must move on, regardless of +all these things, working, serving, testifying, according to the sphere +in which the hand of God has placed him, and according to the gift +bestowed upon him. How is this to be done? Not only by keeping a pure +conscience and the exercise of an unfeigned faith--priceless, +indispensable qualities! but, further, he has to harken to the following +weighty word of exhortation--"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that +thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my +hands." + +The gift must be stirred up, else it may become useless if allowed to +lie dormant. There is great danger of letting the gift drop into disuse +through the discouraging influence of surrounding circumstances. A gift +unused will soon become useless; whereas, a gift stirred up and +diligently used grows and expands. It is not enough to possess a gift, +we must wait upon the gift, cultivate it, and exercise it. This is the +way to improve it. + +And observe the special force of the expression, "the gift of God." In +Eph. iv. we read of "the gift of Christ," and there, too, we find all +the gifts, from the highest to the lowest range, flowing down from +Christ the risen and glorified Head of His body, the Church. But in +second Timothy, we have it defined as "the gift of God." True it +is--blessed be His holy name!--our Lord Christ is God over all, blessed +forever, so that the gift of Christ is the gift of God. But we may rest +assured there is never any distinction in Scripture without a +difference; and hence there is some good reason for the expression "gift +of God." We doubt not it is in full harmony with the nature and object +of the Epistle in which it occurs. It is "the gift of God" communicated +to "the man of God" to be used by him notwithstanding the hopeless ruin +of the professing Church, and spite of all the difficulty, darkness, and +discouragement of the day in which his lot is cast. + +The man of God must not allow himself to be hindered in the diligent +cultivation and exercise of his gift, though everything seems to look +dark and forbidding, for "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but +of power and of love, and of a sound mind." Here we have "God" again +introduced to our thoughts, and that, too, in a most gracious manner, as +furnishing His man with the very thing he needs to meet the special +exigence of his day--"The spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound +mind." + +Marvelous combination! Truly, an exquisite compound after the art of the +apothecary! Power, love, and wisdom! How perfect! Not a single +ingredient too much. Not one too little. If it were merely a spirit of +power, it might lead one to carry things with a high hand. Were it +merely a spirit of love, it might lead one to sacrifice truth for peace' +sake; or indolently to tolerate error and evil rather than give offence. +But the power is softened by the love; and the love is strengthened by +the power; and, moreover, the spirit of wisdom comes in to adjust both +the power and the love. In a word, it is a divinely perfect and +beautiful provision for the man of God--the very thing he needs for "the +last days" so perilous, so difficult, so full of all sorts of perplexing +questions and apparent contradictions. If one were to be asked what he +would consider most necessary for such days as these? surely he should, +at once, say, "power, love, and soundness of mind." Well, blessed be +God, these are the very things which He has graciously given to form the +character, shape the way, and govern the conduct of the man of God, +right on to the end. + +But there is further provision and further exhortation for the man of +God. "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of +me His prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel +according to the power of God." In pentecostal days, when the rich and +mighty tide of divine grace was flowing in, and bearing thousands of +ransomed souls upon its bosom; when all were of one heart and one mind; +when those outside were overawed by the extraordinary manifestations of +divine power, it was rather a question of partaking of the _triumphs_ of +the gospel, than its afflictions. But in the days contemplated in second +Timothy, all is changed. The beloved apostle is a lonely prisoner at +Rome; all in Asia had forsaken him; Hymeneus and Philetus are denying +the resurrection; all sorts of heresies, errors, and evils are creeping +in; the landmarks are in danger of being swept away by the tide of +apostasy and corruption. + +In the face of all this, the man of God has to brace himself up for the +occasion. He has to endure hardness; to hold fast the form of sound +words; he has to keep the good thing committed to him; to be strong in +the grace that is in Christ Jesus; to keep himself _disentangled_ +--however he may be _engaged_; he must keep himself free as a soldier; +he must cling to God's sure foundation; he must purge himself from the +dishonorable vessels in the great house; he must _flee_ youthful lusts, +and _follow_ righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on +the Lord out of a pure heart. He must avoid foolish and unlearned +questions. He must turn away from formal and heartless professors. He +must be thoroughly furnished for all good works, perfectly equipped +through a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. He must preach the Word; be +instant in season and out of season. He must watch in all things; endure +afflictions; and do the work of an evangelist. + +What a category for the man of God! Who is sufficient for these things? +Where is the spiritual power to be had for such works? It is to be had +at the mercy-seat. It is to be found in earnest, patient, believing, +waiting upon the living God, and in no other way. All our springs are +in Him. We have only to draw upon Him. He is sufficient for the darkest +day. Difficulties are nothing to Him, and they are bread for faith. Yes, +beloved reader, difficulties of the most formidable nature are simply +bread for faith, and the man of faith will develop and grow strong +thereby. Unbelief says, "There is a lion in the way;" but faith slays +the lion that roars along the path of the nazarite of God. It is the +privilege of the true believer to rise above all the hostile influences +which surround him, no matter what they are, or from whence they spring; +and, in the calmness and brightness of the divine presence, enjoy as +high communion, and taste as rich and rare privileges as ever were known +in the Church's brightest days. + +Let us remember this--every man of God needs to remember it: there is no +comfort, no peace, no strength, no moral power, no true elevation to be +derived from looking at the ruins. We must look up out of the ruins to +the place where our Lord Christ has taken His seat, at the right hand of +the Majesty in the heavens. Or rather, to speak more according to our +true position, we should look down from our place in the heavens upon +all the ruins of earth. To realize our place in Christ, and to be +occupied in heart and soul with Him, is the true secret of power to +carry ourselves as men of God. To have Christ ever before us--His work +for the conscience, His person for the heart, His Word for the path, is +the one grand, sovereign, divine remedy for a ruined self, a ruined +world, a ruined Church. + +But we close. Very gladly would we linger, in company with the reader, +over the contents of this most precious second Timothy. Truly refreshing +would it be to dwell upon all its touching allusions, its earnest +appeals, its weighty exhortations. But this would demand a volume, and +hence we must leave the Christian reader to study the Epistle for +himself, praying that the eternal Spirit who indited it may unfold and +apply it in living power to his soul, so that he may be enabled to +acquit himself as an earnest, faithful, whole-hearted man of God and +servant of Christ, in the midst of a scene of hollow profession, and +heartless worldly religiousness. + +May the good Lord stir us all up to a more thorough consecration of +ourselves, in spirit, soul, and body--all we are and all we have--to His +service! We think we can really say we long for this--long for it, in +the deep sense of our lack of it--long for it, more intensely, as we +grow increasingly sick of the unreal condition of things within and +around us. + +O beloved Christian, let us earnestly, believingly, and perseveringly +cry to our own ever gracious God to make us more real, more +whole-hearted, more thoroughly devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ in all +things. + + IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE + + "The wanderer no more will roam, + The lost one to the fold hath come, + The prodigal is welcomed home, + O Lamb of God, through Thee! + + "Though clothed in rags, by sin defiled, + The Father did embrace His child; + And I am pardoned, reconciled, + O Lamb of God, through Thee! + + "It is the Father's joy to bless; + His love has found for me a dress, + A robe of spotless righteousness, + O Lamb of God, in Thee! + + "And now my famished soul is fed, + A feast of love for me is spread, + I feed upon the children's bread, + O Lamb of God, in Thee! + + "Yea, in the fulness of His grace, + God put me in the children's place, + Where I may gaze upon His face, + O Lamb of God, in Thee! + + "Not half His Love can I express, + Yet, Lord, with joy my lips confess, + This blessed portion I possess, + O Lamb of God, in Thee! + + "Thy precious name it is I bear, + In Thee I am to God brought near, + And all the Father's love I share, + O Lamb of God, in Thee!" + + + + +DECISION FOR CHRIST + + +In approaching the subject of "Decision for Christ," there are two or +three obstacles which lie in our way--two or three difficulties which +hang around the question, which we would fain remove, if possible, in +order that the reader may be able to view the matter on its own proper +ground, and in its own proper bearings. + +In the first place, we encounter a serious difficulty in the fact that +very few of us, comparatively, are in a condition of soul to appreciate +the subject, or to suffer a word of exhortation thereon. We are, for the +most part, so occupied with the question of our soul's salvation,--so +taken up with matters affecting ourselves, our peace, our liberty, our +comfort, our deliverance from the wrath to come, our interest in +Christ,--that we have but little heart for aught that purely concerns +Christ Himself--His name, His person, His cause, His glory. + +There are, we may say, two things which lie at the foundation of all +true decision for Christ, namely, a conscience purged by the blood of +Jesus, and a heart that bows with reverent submission to the authority +of His Word in all things. Now we do not mean to dwell upon these things +in this paper; first, because we are anxious to get at once to our +immediate theme; and secondly, because we have so often dwelt on the +subject of establishing the conscience in the peace of the gospel, and +on setting before the heart the paramount claims of the word of God. We +merely refer to them here for the purpose of reminding the reader that +they are absolutely essential materials in forming the basis of decision +for Christ. If my conscience is ill at ease, if I am in doubt as to my +salvation, if I am filled with "anxious thought" as to whether I am a +child of God or not, decision for Christ is out of the question. I must +know that Christ died for me before I can intelligently and happily live +for Him. + +So, also, if there be any reserve in the heart as to my entire +subjection to the authority of Christ as my Lord and Master; if I am +keeping some chamber of my heart, be it ever so remote, ever so small, +closed against the light of His Word, it must of necessity hinder my +whole-hearted decision for Him in this world. In a word, I must know +that _Christ is mine_ and _I am His_ ere my course down here can be one +of unswerving, uncompromising decision for Him. If the reader hesitates +as to this, if he is still in doubt and darkness, let him pause and turn +directly to the cross of the Son of God and hearken to what the Holy +Spirit declares as to all those who simply put their trust therein. Let +him drink into his inmost soul these words: "Be it known unto you, +therefore, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of +sins; and by Him _all_ that _believe are_ justified from _all_ things +from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Yes, reader, +these are the glad tidings for you. "_All_, from _all_," by faith in a +crucified and risen Lord. + +But we see another difficulty in the way of our subject. We greatly fear +that while we speak of decision for Christ, some of our readers may +suppose that we are contending for some notion or set of notions of our +own; that we are pressing some peculiar views or principles to which we +vainly and foolishly venture to apply the imposing title of "Decision +for Christ." All this we do most solemnly disclaim. The words which +stand at the head of this paper are the simple expression of our thesis. +We do not contend for attachment to sect, party, or denomination; for +adherence to the doctrines or commandments of men. We write in the +immediate presence of Him who searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins +of the children of men, and we distinctly avow that our one object is to +urge upon the Christian reader the necessity of decision for Christ. We +would not, if we know ourselves, pen a single line to swell the ranks of +a party, or draw over adherents to any particular doctrinal creed or any +special form of church polity. We are impressed with the conviction that +where Christ has His right place in the heart, all will be right; and +that where He has not, there will be nothing right. And further, we +believe that nothing but plain decision for Christ can effectually +preserve the soul from the fatal influences that are at work around us +in the professing Church. Mere orthodoxy cannot preserve us. Attachment +to religious forms will not avail in the present fearful struggle. It +is, we feel persuaded, a simple question of Christ as our _life_, and +Christ as our _object_. May the Spirit of God now enable us to ponder +aright the subject of "Decision for Christ"! + +It is well to bear in mind that there are certain great truths--certain +immutable principles--which underlie all the dispensations of God from +age to age and which remain untouched by all the failure, the folly and +the sin of man. It is on these great moral truths, these foundation +principles, that faith lays hold, and in them finds its strength and +sustenance. Dispensations change and pass away, men prove unfaithful in +their varied positions of stewardship and responsibility, but the word +of the Lord endureth forever. It never fails. "Forever, O Lord, Thy word +is settled in heaven." And again, "Thou hast magnified Thy word above +all Thy name."[III.] Nothing can touch the eternal truth of God, and +therefore what we want at all times is to give that truth its proper +place in our hearts; to let it act on our conscience, form our +character, and shape our way. "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I +might not sin against Thee." "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by +every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord." This is true +security. Here lies the real secret of decision for Christ. What God +has spoken must govern us in the most absolute manner ere our path can +be said to be one of plain decision. There may be tenacious adherence to +our own notions, obstinate attachment to the prejudices of the age, a +blind devotion to certain doctrines and practices resting on a +traditionary foundation, certain opinions which we have received to hold +without ever inquiring as to whether or not there be any authority +whatever for such opinions in Holy Scripture. There may be all this and +much more, and yet not one atom of genuine decision for Christ. + +Now we feel we cannot do better than furnish our readers with an example +or two drawn from the page of inspired history, which will do more to +illustrate and enforce our theme than aught that we could possibly +advance. And first, then, let us turn to the book of Esther, and there +contemplate for a few moments the instructive history of + + +"MORDECAI THE JEW." + +This very remarkable man lived at a time in which the Jewish economy had +failed through the unfaithfulness and disobedience of the Jewish people. +The Gentile was in power. The relationship between Jehovah and Israel +could no longer be publicly acknowledged. The faithful Jew had but to +hang his harp on the willows and sigh over the faded light of other +days. The chosen seed was in exile; the city and temple where their +fathers worshiped were in ruins, and the vessels of the Lord's house +were in a strange land. Such was the outward condition of things in the +day in which Mordecai's lot was cast. But in addition to this there was +a man very near the throne occupying only the second place in the +empire, sitting beside the very fountain-head of authority, possessing +princely wealth, and wielding almost boundless influence. To this great +man, strange to say, the poor exiled Jew sternly refuses to bow. Nothing +will induce him to yield a single mark of respect to the second man in +the kingdom. He will save the life of Ahasuerus, but he will not bow to +Haman. + +Reader, why was this? Was this blind obstinacy, or bold decision--which? +In order to determine this we must inquire as to the real root or +principle of Mordecai's acting. If, indeed, there was no authority for +his conduct in the law of God, then must we at once pronounce it to have +been blind obstinacy, foolish pride, or, it may have been, envy of a man +in power. But if, on the other hand, there be within the covers of the +five inspired books of Moses a plain authority for Mordecai's deportment +in this matter, then must we, without hesitation, pronounce his conduct +to have been the rare and exquisite fruit of attachment to the law of +his God, and uncompromising decision for Him and His holy authority. + +This makes all the difference. If it be merely a matter of private +opinion,--a question concerning which each one may lawfully adopt his +own view,--then, verily, might such a line of conduct be justly termed +the most narrow-minded bigotry. We hear a great deal now-a-days about +narrow-mindedness on the one hand, and large-heartedness on the other. +But as a Roman orator, over two thousand years ago, exclaimed in the +senate-house of Rome, "Conscript fathers: long since, indeed, we have +lost the true names of things," so may we, in the bosom of the +professing Church, at the close of the nineteenth century, repeat, with +far greater force, "Long since we have lost the true names of things." +For what do men now call bigotry and narrow-mindedness? A faithful +clinging to and carrying out of "Thus saith the Lord." And what do they +designate large-heartedness? A readiness to sacrifice truth on the altar +of politeness and civility. + +Reader, be thou fully assured that thus it is at this solemn moment. We +do not want to be sour or cynical, morose or gloomy; but we must speak +the truth if we are to speak at all. We desire that the tongue may be +hushed in silence, and the pen may drop from the hand, if we could +basely cushion the plain, bold, unvarnished truth through fear of +scattering our readers, or to avoid the sneer of the infidel. We cannot +shut our eyes to the solemn fact that God's truth is being trampled in +the dust--that the name of Jesus is despised and rejected. We have only +to pass from city to city, and from town to town, of highly-favored +England, and read upon the walls the melancholy proofs of the truth of +our assertions. Truth is flung aside, in cold contempt. The name of +Jesus is little set by. On the other hand, man is exalted, his reason +deified, his will indulged. Where must all this end? "In the blackness +of darkness forever." + +How refreshing, in the face of all this, to ponder the history of +Mordecai the Jew! It is very plain that he knew little and cared less +about the thoughts of men on the question of narrow-mindedness. He +obeyed the word of the Lord; and this we must be allowed to call real +breadth of mind, true largeness of heart. For what, after all, is a +narrow mind? A narrow mind we hold to be a mind which refuses to open +itself to admit the truth of God. And what, on the contrary, is a large +and liberal heart? A heart expanded by the truth and grace of God. Let +us not be scared away from decision in the path of obedience by the +scornful epithets which men have bestowed upon that path. It is a path +of peace and purity, a path where the light of an approving conscience +is enjoyed, and upon which the beams of divine favor ever pour +themselves in undimmed lustre. + +But why did Mordecai refuse to bow to Haman? Was there any great +principle at stake? Was it merely a whim of his own? Had he a "Thus +saith the Lord" for his warrant in refusing a single nod of the head to +the proud Amalekite? Yes. Let us turn to the seventeenth chapter of the +book of Exodus, and there we read, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Write +this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: +for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. +And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi; for +he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with +Amalek from generation to generation."[IV.] + +Here, then, was Mordecai's authority for not bowing to Haman the +Agagite. A faithful Jew could not do reverence to one with whom Jehovah +was at war. The heart might plead a thousand excuses and urge a thousand +reasons. It might seek an easy path for itself on the plea that the +Jewish system was in ruins and the Amalekite in power, and that +therefore it was worse than useless, yea, it was positively absurd, to +maintain such lofty ground when the glory of Israel was gone and the +Amalekite was in the place of authority. "Of what use," it might be +argued, "can it be to uphold the standard when all is gone to pieces? +You are only making your degradation more remarkable by the pertinacious +refusal to bow your head. Would it not be better to give just one nod? +That will settle the matter. Haman will be satisfied, and you and your +people will be safe. Do not be obstinate. Show a tendency to be +courteous. Do not stand up in that dogged way for a thing so manifestly +non-essential. Besides, you should remember that the command in Exodus +xvii. was only to be rehearsed in the ears of Joshua, and only had its +true application in his bright and palmy days. It was never meant for +the ears of an exile, never intended to apply in the days of Israel's +desolation." + +All this, and much beside, might have been urged on Mordecai; but ah, +the answer was simple: "God hath spoken. This is enough for me. True, we +are a scattered people; but the word of the Lord is not scattered. He +has not reversed His word about Amalek, nor entered into a treaty of +peace with him. Jehovah and Amalek are still at war, and Amalek stands +before me in the person of this haughty Agagite. How can I bow to one +with whom Jehovah is at war? How can I do homage to a man whom the +faithful Samuel would hew in pieces before the Lord?" "Well, then," it +might be further urged upon this devoted Jew, "you will all be +destroyed. You must either bow or perish." The answer is still most +simple: "I have nothing to do with consequences. They are in the hand of +God. Obedience is my path, the results are with Him. It is better to die +with a good conscience than live with a bad one. It is better to go to +heaven with an uncondemning heart than remain upon earth with a heart +that would make me a coward. God has spoken. I can do no otherwise. May +the Lord help me! Amen." + +Oh, how well we can understand the mode in which this faithful Jew would +be assaulted by the enemy. Nothing but the grace of God can ever enable +any one to maintain a deportment of unflinching decision at a moment in +which everything within and around is against us. True it is, we know +that it is better to suffer anything than deny our Lord or fly in the +face of His commandments; but yet how little are some of us prepared to +endure a single sneer, a single scornful look, a single contemptuous +expression, for Christ's sake. And perhaps there are few things harder, +for some of us at least, to bear than to be reproached on the ground of +narrow-mindedness and bigotry. We naturally like to be thought +large-hearted and liberal. We like to be accounted men of enlightened +mind, sound judgment, and comprehensive grasp. But we must remember that +we have no right to be liberal at our Master's expense. We have simply +to obey. + +Thus it was with Mordecai. He stood like a rock, and allowed the whole +tide of difficulty and opposition to roll over him. He would not bow to +the Amalekite, let the consequence be what it might. Obedience was his +path. The results were with God. And look at the result! In one moment +the tide was turned. The proud Amalekite fell from his lofty eminence, +and the exiled Jew was lifted from his sackcloth and ashes and placed +next the throne. Haman exchanged his wealth and dignities for a gallows; +Mordecai exchanged his sackcloth for a royal robe. + +Now it may not always happen that the reward of simple obedience will be +as speedy and as signal as in Mordecai's case. And moreover, we may say +that we are not Mordecais, nor are we placed in his position. But the +principle holds good, whoever and wherever we are. There is not one of +us, however obscure or insignificant, that has not a sphere within which +our influence is felt for good or for evil. And besides, independent +altogether of our circumstances and the apparent results of our conduct, +we are called upon to obey implicitly the word of the Lord--to have His +word hidden in our hearts--to refuse with unswerving decision, to do or +say aught that the word of the living God condemns. "How can I do this +great wickedness, and sin against God?" This should be the language, +whether it be the question of a child tempted to steal a lump of sugar, +or the most momentous step in evil that one can be tempted to take. The +strength and moral security of Mordecai's position lay in this fact, +that he had the word of God for his authority. Had it not been so, his +conduct would have been senseless in the extreme. To have refused the +usual expression of respect to one in high authority, without some +weighty reason, could only be regarded as the most unmeaning obstinacy. +But the moment you introduce a "Thus saith the Lord," the matter is +entirely changed. The word of the Lord endureth forever. The divine +testimonies do not fade away or change with the times and seasons. +Heaven and earth shall pass away, but one jot or tittle of what our God +hath spoken shall never pass away. Hence, what had been rehearsed in the +ears of Joshua, as he rested in triumph under the banner of Jehovah, was +designed to govern the conduct of Mordecai, though clothed in sackcloth +as an exile, in the city of Shushan. Ages and generations had passed +away; the days of the Judges and the days of the Kings had run their +course; but the commandment of the Lord with respect to Amalek had +lost--could lose--none of its force. "The Lord _hath sworn_ that the +Lord will have war with Amalek," not merely in the days of Joshua, nor +in the days of the Judges, nor in the days of the Kings, but "from +generation to generation." Such was the record--the imperishable and +immutable record of God; and such was the plain, solid and +unquestionable foundation of Mordecai's conduct. + +And here let us say a few words as to the immense importance of entire +submission to the word of God. We live in a day which is plainly marked +by strong self-will. Man's reason, man's will and man's interest are +working together, with appalling success, to ignore the authority of +Holy Scripture. So long as the statements of the word of God chime in +with man's reason, so long as they do not run counter to his will, and +are not subversive of his interests, so long will he tolerate them; or, +it may be, he will quote them with a measure of respect, or at least +with self-complacency; but the moment it becomes a question of Scripture +_versus_ reason, will or interest, the former is either silently ignored +or contemptuously rejected. This is a very marked and solemn feature of +the days that are now passing over our heads. It behooves Christians to +be aware of it, and to be on their watch-tower. We fear that very few, +comparatively, are truly alive to the real state of the moral atmosphere +which enwraps the religious world. We do not refer here so much to the +bold attacks of infidel writers. To these we have alluded elsewhere. +What we have now before us is rather the cool indifference on the part +of professing Christians as to Scripture; the little power which pure +truth wields over the conscience; the way in which the edge of Scripture +is blunted or turned aside. You quote passage after passage from the +inspired volume, but it seems like the pattering of rain upon the +window: the _reason_ is at work, the _will_ is dominant, _interest_ is +at stake, human opinions bear sway, God's truth is practically, if not +in so many words, set aside. + +All this is deeply solemn. We know of few things more dangerous than +intellectual familiarity with the letter of Scripture where the spirit +of it does not govern the conscience, form the character, and shape the +way. We want to tremble at the word of God, to bow down in reverential +submission to its holy authority in all things. A single line of +Scripture ought to be sufficient for our souls on any point, even +though, in carrying it out, we should have to move athwart the opinions +of the highest and best of men. May the Lord raise up many faithful and +true-hearted witnesses in these last days,--men like the faithful +Mordecai,--who would rather ascend a gallows than bow to an Amalekite! + +For the further illustration of our theme, we shall ask the reader to +turn to the sixth chapter of the book of Daniel. There is a special +charm and interest in the history of these living examples presented to +us in the Holy Scriptures. They tell us how the truth of God was acted +upon, in other days, by men of like passions with ourselves; they prove +to us that in every age there have been men who so prized the truth, so +reverenced the word of the living God, that they would rather face +death, in its most appalling forms, than to depart one hair's breadth +from the narrow line laid down by the authoritative voice of their Lord +and Master. It is healthful to be brought into contact with such +men--healthful at all times, but peculiarly so in days like the present, +when there is so much laxity and easy-going profession--so much of mere +theory--when every one is allowed to go his own way, and hold his own +opinion, provided always that he does not interfere with the opinions of +his neighbor--when the commandments of God seem to have so little +weight, so little power over the heart and conscience. Tradition will +get a hearing; public opinion will be respected; anything and +everything, in short, but the plain and positive statements of the word +of God, will get a place in the thoughts and opinions of men. At such a +time, it is, we repeat, at once healthful and edifying to muse over the +history of men like Mordecai the Jew, and Daniel the prophet, and scores +of others, in whose estimation a single line of Holy Scripture rose far +above all the thoughts of men, the decrees of governors, and the +statutes of kings, and who declared plainly that they had nothing +whatever to do with consequences where the word of the Lord was +concerned. Absolute submission to the divine command is that which alone +becomes the creature. + +It is not, be it observed and well remembered, that any man or any +number of men have any right to demand subjection to their decisions or +decrees. No man has any right to enforce his opinions upon his fellow. +This is plain enough, and we have to bless God for the inestimable +privilege of civil and religious liberty, as enjoyed under this +government. But what we urge upon our readers, just now, is plain +decision for Christ, and implicit subjection to His authority, +irrespective of everything, and regardless of consequences. This is what +we do most earnestly desire for ourselves and for all the people of God +in these last days. We long for that condition of soul, that attitude of +heart, that quality of conscience, which shall lead us to bow down in +implicit subjection to the commandments of our Lord and Saviour Jesus +Christ. No doubt there are difficulties, stumbling blocks, and hostile +influences to be encountered. It may be said, for instance, that "It is +very difficult for one, now-a-days, to know what is really true and +right. There are so many opinions and so many ways, and good men differ +so in judgment about the simplest and plainest matters, and yet they all +profess to own the Bible as the only standard of appeal; and, moreover, +they all declare that their one desire is to do what is right, and to +serve the Lord, in their day and generation. How, then, is one to know +what is true or what is false, seeing that you will find the very best +of men ranged on opposite sides of the same question?" + +The answer to all this is very simple. "If thine eye be single thy whole +body shall be full of light." But, most assuredly, my eye is not single +if I am looking at men, and reasoning on what I see in them. A single +eye rests simply on the Lord and His Word. Men differ, no doubt--they +have differed, and they ever will differ, but I am to harken to the +voice of my Lord and do His will. His Word is to be my light and my +authority, the girdle of my loins in action, the strength of my heart in +service, my only warrant for moving hither and thither, the stable +foundation of all my ways. If I were to attempt to shape my way +according to the thoughts of men, where should I be? How uncertain and +unsatisfactory would my course be! If I really want to be guided aright, +my God will surely guide me; but if I am looking to men, if I am +governed by mixed motives, if I am seeking my own ends and interests, if +I am seeking to please my fellows, then, undoubtedly, my body shall be +full of darkness, heavy clouds shall settle down upon my pathway, and +uncertainty mark all my goings. + +Christian reader, think of these things. Think deeply of them. Depend +upon it they have a just claim upon your attention. Do you earnestly +desire to follow your Lord? Do you really aim at something beyond mere +empty profession, cold orthodoxy, or mechanical religiousness? Do you +sigh for reality, depth, energy, fervor, and whole-heartedness? Then +make Christ your one object, His Word your rule, His glory your aim. May +the blessed Spirit be pleased to use for the furtherance of these ends +our meditation on the interesting narrative of + + +"DANIEL THE PROPHET." + +"It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, +which should be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three +presidents, of whom Daniel was first; that the princes might give +accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel +was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent +spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. +Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel +concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion or fault; +forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found +in him" (Dan. vi. I-4). + +What a testimony! How truly refreshing to the heart! "No error or +fault!" Even his most bitter enemies could not put their finger upon a +single blemish in his character, or a flaw in his practical career. +Truly this was a rare and admirable character--a bright witness for the +God of Israel, even in the dark days of the Babylonish captivity--an +unanswerable proof of the fact that no matter where we are situated, or +how we are circumstanced, no matter how unfavorable our position, or how +dark the day in which our lot is cast, it is our happy privilege so to +carry ourselves, in all the details of daily life, as to give no +occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully. + +How sad when it is otherwise! How humiliating when those who make a high +profession are found constantly breaking down in the most commonplace +affairs of domestic and commercial life! There are few things which more +tend to discourage the heart than that. + +No doubt worldly people are only too ready to find occasion against +those who profess the name of Jesus; and, further, we have to remember +that there are two sides to every question, and that, very frequently, a +broad margin must be left for exaggeration, high coloring, and false +impressions. But still, it is the Christian's plain duty so to walk in +every position and relationship of life, as that "no error or fault" may +be found in him. We should not make any excuses for ourselves. The +duties of our situation, whatever it may happen to be, should be +scrupulously performed. A careless manner, a slovenly habit, an +unprincipled mode of acting, on the part of the Christian, is a serious +damage to the cause of Christ, and a dishonor to His holy name. And, on +the other hand, diligence, earnestness, punctuality, and fidelity, bring +glory to that name. And this should ever be the Christian's object. He +should not aim at his own interest, his own reputation, or his own +advancement, in seeking to carry himself aright in his family and in his +calling in life. True, it will promote his interest, establish his +reputation, and further his progress, to be upright and diligent in all +his ways; but none of these things should ever be his motive. He is to +be ever and only governed by the one thing, namely, to please and honor +his Lord and Master. The standard which the Holy Ghost has set before +us, as to all these things, is furnished in the words of the apostle to +the Philippians, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God +without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom +ye shine as lights in the world." We should not be satisfied with +anything less than this. "They could find none occasion nor fault, +forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found +in him." Noble testimony! Would that it were more called forth, in this +our day, by the deportment, the habits, the temper, and ways of all +those who call themselves Christians. + +But there was one point in which Daniel's enemies felt they could lay +hold of him. "Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion +against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning _the law +of his God_." Here was a something in the which occasion might be found +to ruin this beloved and honored servant of God. It appears that Daniel +had been in the habit of praying three times a day with his windows open +toward Jerusalem. + +This fact was well known, and was speedily laid hold of, and turned to +account. "Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the +king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the +presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the +counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a +royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a +petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he +shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, +and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of +the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed +the writing and the decree." + +Here, then, was a deep plot, a subtle snare, laid for the blameless and +harmless Daniel. How would he act in the face of all this? Would he not +feel it right to lower the standard? Well, if the standard was something +of his own, he might surely lower it, and perhaps he ought. But if it +were something divine--if his conduct was based upon the truth of God, +then clearly it was his place to hold it up as high as ever, regardless +of statutes, decrees, and writings established, signed, and +countersigned. The whole question hinged upon this. Just as in the case +of Mordecai the Jew, the question hinged upon the one point of whether +he had any divine warrant for refusing to bow to Haman; so, in the case +of Daniel the prophet, the question was, had he any divine authority for +praying toward Jerusalem. It certainly seemed strange and odd. Many +might have felt disposed to say to him, "Why persist in this practice? +What need is there for opening your windows and praying toward +Jerusalem, in such a public manner? Can you not wait until night has +drawn her sable curtain around you, and your closet door has shut you +in, and then pour out your heart to your God? This would be prudent, +judicious, and expedient. And, surely, your God does not exact this of +you. He does not regard time, place, or attitude. All times and places +are alike to Him. Are you wise--are you right, in persisting in such a +line of action under such circumstances? It was all well enough before +this decree was signed, when you could pray when and as you thought +right; but now it does seem like the most culpable fatuity and blind +obstinacy to persevere; it is as though you really courted martyrdom." + +All this, and much more, we may easily conceive, might be suggested to +the mind of the faithful Jew; but still the grand question remained, +"What saith the Scripture?" Was there any divine reason for Daniel's +praying toward Jerusalem? Assuredly there was! In the first place, +Jehovah had said to Solomon, in reference to the temple at Jerusalem, +"Mine eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually." Jerusalem was God's +earthly centre. It was, it is, and ever shall be. True, it was in +ruins--the temple was in ruins; but God's word was not in ruins; and +here is faith's simple but solid warrant. King Solomon had said, at the +dedication of the temple, hundreds of years before Daniel's time, "If +Thy people sin against Thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and +Thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and +they carry them away captive unto a land far off or near. Yet if they +bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and +turn and pray unto Thee, in the land of their captivity, saying, We have +sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly; if they return to +Thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their +captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their +land, which Thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which +Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name: +then hear Thou from the heavens, even from Thy dwelling-place, their +prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive +Thy people which have sinned against Thee" (2 Chron. vi. 36-39). + +Now this was precisely what Daniel was doing--this was the ground he +took. He was a captive exile, but his heart was at Jerusalem, and his +eyes followed his heart. If he could not sing the songs of Zion, he +could at least breathe his prayers toward Zion's hill. If his harp was +on the willows at Babylon, his fond affections turned toward the city of +God, now a heap of ruins, but ere long to be an eternal excellency, "the +joy of the whole earth." It mattered not to him that a decree had been +signed by earth's greatest monarch, forbidding him to pray toward the +city of his fathers and to his father's God. It mattered not to him +that the lion's den was yawning to receive him, and the lion's jaws +ready to devour him. Like his brother Mordecai, he had nothing to do +with consequences. Mordecai would rather mount the gallows than bow to +Haman, and Daniel would rather descend to the lion's den than cease to +pray to Jehovah. These, surely, were the worthies. They were men whose +hearts and consciences were governed absolutely by the word of God. The +world may dub them bigots and fools; but, oh! how the heart does long +for such bigots and fools, in these days of false liberality and wisdom! + +It might have been said to Mordecai and Daniel that they were contending +for mere trifles--for things wholly indifferent and non-essential. This +is an argument often used; but, oh! it has no weight with an honest and +devoted heart. Indeed, there is nothing more contemptible, in the +judgment of every true lover of Jesus, than the principle that regulates +the standard as to essentials and non-essentials. For, what is it? +Simply this, "All that concerns my salvation is essential; all that +merely affects the glory of Christ is non-essential." How terrible is +this! Reader, dost thou not utterly abhor it? What! shall we accept +salvation as the fruit of our Lord's death, and deem aught that concerns +Him non-essential? God forbid. Yea; rather let us entirely reverse the +matter, and regard all that concerns the honor and glory of the name of +Jesus, the truth of His Word, and the integrity of His cause, as vital, +essential, and fundamental; and all that merely concerns ourselves as +non-essential and indifferent. May God grant us this mind! May nothing +be deemed trivial by us which has for its foundation the word of the +living God! + +Thus it was with those devoted men whose history we have been glancing +at. Mordecai would not bow his head, and Daniel would not close his +window. Blessed men! The Lord be praised for such, and for the inspired +record of their actings. Mordecai would rather surrender life than +diverge from the truth of God, and Daniel would rather do the same than +turn away from God's centre. Jehovah had said that He would have war +with Amalek from generation to generation, and therefore Mordecai would +not bow. Jehovah had said of Jerusalem, "Mine eyes and My heart shall be +there perpetually;" therefore Daniel would not cease to pray toward that +blessed centre. The word of the Lord endureth forever, and faith takes +its stand on that imperishable foundation. There is an eternal freshness +about every word that has come forth from the Lord. His truth holds good +throughout all generations; its bloom can never be brushed away, its +light can never fade, its edge can never be blunted. All praise be to +His holy name! + +But let us look for a moment at the result of Daniel's faithfulness. The +king was plunged into the deepest grief when he discovered his mistake. +"He was sore displeased with himself." So well he might. He had fallen +into a snare; but Daniel was in good keeping. It was all right with +him. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into +it, and is safe." It matters not whether it be a lion's den at Babylon +or a prison at Philippi; faith and a good conscience can make a man +happy in either. We question if Daniel ever spent a happier night on +this earth, than the night he spent in the lion's den. He was there for +God, and God was there with him. He was there with an approving +conscience and an uncondemning heart. He could look up from the very +bottom of that den straight into heaven: yea, that den was heaven upon +earth to his happy spirit. Who would not rather be Daniel in the den +than Darius in the palace? The one happy in God; the other "sore +displeased with himself." Darius would have every one pray to him; +Daniel would pray to none but God. Darius was bound by his own rash +decree; Daniel was bound only by the word of the living God. What a +contrast! + +And then see in the end what signal honor was put upon Daniel. He stood +publicly identified with the one living and true God. "O Daniel," cried +the king, "servant of the living God." Truly he had earned this title +for himself. He was, unquestionably, a faithful servant of God. He had +seen his three brethren cast into a furnace because they would worship +_only_ the true God, and he had been cast into the lion's den because he +would pray _only_ to Him; but the Lord had appeared for them and him, +and given them a glorious triumph. He had allowed them to realize that +precious promise made of old to their fathers, that they should be the +head and their enemies the tail; that they should be above and their +enemies below. Nothing could be more marked--nothing could more forcibly +illustrate the value which God puts upon plain decision and true-hearted +devotedness, no matter where, when, or by whom exhibited. + +Oh! for an earnest heart in this day of lukewarmness! O Lord, revive Thy +work! + + How gentle God's commands! + How kind His precepts are! + We'll cast our burdens on the Lord, + And trust His constant care. + + Beneath His watchful eye + His saints securely dwell: + The hand that bears all nature up, + Will guard His children well. + + Why should an anxious load + Press down our weary mind? + We haste, O Father, to Thy throne, + And sweet refreshment find. + + Thy goodness stands approved-- + Unchanged from day to day: + We drop our burdens at Thy feet, + To bear a song away! + + ---_Philip Doddrige._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[III.] ["Thou hast magnified Thy word (or saying) according to all Thy +Name," seems more exactly to give the meaning of the passage. ED.] + +[IV.] It is deeply interesting to note that neither the Jews' best +Friend nor their worst enemy is once formally named in the book of +Esther; but faith could recognize both the one and the other. + + + + +PRAYER, + +IN ITS PROPER PLACE + + +There is a strong tendency in the human mind to take a one-sided view of +things. This should be carefully guarded against. It would ever be our +wisdom to view things as God presents them to us, in His holy Word. We +should put things where He puts them, and leave them there. Were this +more faithfully attended to, the truth would be much more clearly +understood, and souls much better instructed. There is a divinely +appointed place for everything, and we should avoid putting right things +in wrong places, just as carefully as we would avoid setting them aside +altogether. The one may do as much damage as the other. Let any divine +institution be taken out of its divinely-appointed place, and it must +necessarily fail of its divinely-appointed end. This, I imagine, will +hardly be questioned by any enlightened or well-regulated mind. It will +be admitted, on all hands, to be wrong to put things in any place but +just where God intended them to be. + +And in proportion to the importance of a right thing is the importance +of having it in its right place. This remark holds good, in a special +manner, with respect to the hallowed and most precious exercise of +prayer. It is hard to imagine how any one, with the word of God in his +hand, could presume to detract from the value of prayer. It is one of +the very highest functions, and most important privileges of the +Christian life. No sooner has the new nature been communicated by the +Holy Ghost, through faith in Christ, than it expresses itself in the +sweet accents of prayer. Prayer is the earnest breathing of the new man, +drawn forth by the operation of the Holy Ghost, who dwells in all true +believers. Hence, to find any one praying is to find him manifesting +divine life in one of its most touching and beauteous characteristics, +namely, dependence. There may be a vast amount of ignorance displayed in +the prayer, both in its character and object; but the _spirit_ of prayer +is, unquestionably, divine. A child may ask for a great many foolish +things; but, clearly, he could not ask for any thing if he had not life. +The ability and desire to ask are the infallible proofs of life. No +sooner had Saul of Tarsus passed from death unto life, than the Lord +says of him, "_Behold he prayeth_!" (Acts ix.) Doubtless he had, as "a +Pharisee of the Pharisees," said many "long prayers;" but not until he +"saw that Just One, and heard the voice of His mouth," could it be said +of him, "behold, _he prayeth_." + +Saying prayers and praying, are two totally different things. A +self-righteous Pharisee may excel in the former; none but a converted +soul can enjoy the latter. The spirit of prayer is the spirit of the new +man; the language of prayer is the distinct utterance of the new life. +The moment a spiritual babe is born into the new creation, it sends up +its cry of dependence and of trust toward the Source of its birth. Who +would dare to hush or hinder that cry? Let the babe be gently satisfied +and encouraged, not ignorantly hindered or rudely silenced. The very cry +which ignorance would seek to stifle, falls like sweetest music on the +parent's ear. It is the proof of life. It evidences the existence of a +new object around which the affections of a parent's heart may entwine +themselves. + +All this is plain enough. It commends itself to every renewed mind. The +man who could think of hushing the accents of prayer must be wholly +ignorant of the precious and beautiful mysteries of the new creation. +The understanding of the praying one may need to be instructed; but oh! +let not the spirit of prayer be quenched. Let the beams of divine +revelation, in all their emancipating power, shine in upon the +struggling conscience, but let not the breathings of the new life be +interrupted. The newly-converted soul may be in great darkness. The +chilling mists of legalism may enwrap his spirit. He may not, as yet, be +able to rest fully in Christ and His accomplished work. His awakened +conscience may not, as yet, have found its peace-giving answer in the +precious blood of Jesus. Doubts and fears may sorely beset him. He may +not know about the important doctrine of the two natures, and the +continual conflict between them. He is bowed down beneath the +humiliating sense of indwelling sin, and sees not, as yet, the ample +provision which redeeming love has made for that very thing, in the +sacrifice and priesthood--the blood and advocacy of the Lord Jesus +Christ. The joyous emotions which attended upon the first moments of his +conversion may have passed away. The beams of the Sun of Righteousness +may be hidden by the heavy clouds which arise from within and around +him. It is not with him as in days past. He marvels at the sad change +which has come over him, and well nigh doubts if he were ever converted +at all. + +Need we wonder that such an one should cry mightily to God? Yea, the +wonder would be if he could do aught else. How, then, should we treat +him? Should we teach him not to pray? God forbid. This would be to do +the work of Satan, who, assuredly, hates prayer most cordially. To drop +a syllable which could even be understood as making little of an +exercise so entirely divine, would be to fly in the face of the entire +book of God, to deny the very example of Christ, and hinder the +utterance of the Holy Ghost in the new-born soul. The Old and New +Testament Scriptures literally teem with exhortations and encouragements +to pray. To quote the passages would fill a volume. The blessed Master +Himself has left His people an example as to the unceasing exercise of a +spirit of prayer. He both prayed Himself and taught His disciples to +pray. The same is true of the Holy Ghost in the apostles. (See the +following passages; Luke iii. 21; vi. 12; ix. 28, 29; xi. I-13; xviii. +I-8; Acts i. 14; iv. 31; Rom. xii. 12; xv. 30; Eph. vi. 18; Phil. iv. 6; +Col. iv. 2-4; I Thess. v. 17; 2 Thess. iii. I, 2; I Tim. ii. I-3; Heb. +xiii. 18; James v. 14, 15.) + +If my reader will look out and ponder the foregoing passages, he will +have a just view of the place which prayer occupies in the Christian +economy. He will see that disciples are exhorted to pray; and that it is +only disciples who are so exhorted. He will see that prayer is a grand +prominent exercise of the household of God, and that he must be of that +household to engage in it. He will see that prayer is the undoubted +utterance of the new life; and that the life therefore must be there to +utter itself. He will see that prayer is an important part of the +Christian's privilege; and that it enters in no wise in the foundation +of the Christian's peace. + +Thus, he will be able to put prayer in its proper place; and how +important it is that it should be so put! How important it is that the +anxious inquirer should see that the deep and solid foundations of his +present and everlasting peace were laid in the work of the Cross, +nineteen centuries ago! How important that the blood of Jesus should +stand out before the soul in clear and bold relief, in its solitary +grandeur, as the alone foundation of the sinner's rest! A soul may be +earnestly seeking and crying for salvation, and all the while be +ignorant of the great fact that it is ready to his hand--that he is +actually commanded to accept a free, full, present, personal, and +eternal salvation--that Christ has done all--that a brimming cup of +salvation is set before him, which faith has only to take and drink for +its everlasting satisfaction. The gospel of God's free grace points to +the rent vail--the empty tomb--the occupied throne above. (Matt. xxviii; +Heb. i. and x.) What do these things declare? What do they utter in the +anxious sinner's ear? Salvation! salvation! The rent vail, the empty +tomb, the occupied throne, all cry out, salvation! + +Reader, do you really want salvation? Then why not take it, as God's +free gift? Are you looking to your own heart or to Christ's finished +work for salvation? Is it needful, think you, to wait that God should do +something more for your salvation? If so, then Christ's work were not +finished; the ransom were not paid. But Christ said "_It is finished_," +and God says, "I have found a ransom" (Job xxxiii. John xix.). And if +_you_ have to do, say, or think aught, to complete the work of +salvation, then Christ would not be a whole, a perfect Saviour. And, +further, it would be a plain denial of Rom. iv. 5, which says, "To him +that _worketh not_, but believeth on Him that _justifieth the ungodly_, +his faith is counted for righteousness." Take heed that you are not +mixing up your poor prayers with the glorious work of redemption, +completed by the Lamb of God on the cross. Prayer is most precious; but, +remember, "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. xi. 6); +and if you have faith, you have Christ; and having Christ, you have ALL. +If you say you are crying for mercy, the word of God points you to +mercy's copious stream flowing from the finished sacrifice. You have all +your anxious heart can want in Jesus, and He is God's free gift to you +just as you are, where you are, _now_. If you had _to be_ aught else but +what you are, or _to go_ anywhere else from where you are, then +salvation would not be "by grace, through faith" (Eph. ii. 8). If you +are anxious to get salvation, and God desires you should have it, why +need you be another moment without it? It is all ready. Christ died and +rose again. The Holy Ghost testifies. The word is plain. "_Only +believe._" + +Oh, may the Spirit of God lead any anxious soul to find settled repose +in Jesus. May He lead you to look away from all besides, straight to an +all-sufficient atonement. May He give clearness of apprehension, and +simplicity of faith to all; and may He especially endow all who stand up +to teach and preach with the ability "rightly to divide the word of +truth," so that they may not apply to the unregenerate sinner, or the +anxious inquirer, such passages of Scripture as refer only to the +established believer. Very serious damage is done both to the truth of +God, and to the souls of men, by an unskilful division and application +of the Word. There must be spiritual life, before there can be spiritual +action; and the _only_ way to get spiritual life is by _believing_ on +the name of the Son of God[V.] (John i. 12, 13; iii. 14-16, 36; v. 24; xx. +31). If, therefore, the precepts of God's word be applied to persons who +have not the spiritual life to act in them, confusion must be the result. +The precious privileges of the Christian are turned into a heavy yoke for +the unconverted. A strange system of half-law half-gospel is propounded, +whereby true Christianity is robbed of its characteristic glory, and the +souls of men are plunged in mist and perplexity. There is urgent need +for clearness in setting forth the true ground of a sinner's peace. When +souls are convicted of sin, and have life, but not liberty, they want a +full, clear, unclouded gospel. The claims of a divinely-awakened +conscience can only be answered by the blood of the Cross. If anything, +no matter what, be added to the finished work of Christ, the soul must +be filled with doubt and darkness. + +May God grant us to know more fully the true place and value of simple +faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of earnest prayer in the Holy Ghost. + +C. H. M. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[V.] When the jailer at Philippi inquired of Paul and Silas, "What must +I do to be saved?" they simply replied, "_Believe_ on the Lord Jesus +Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts xvi. 30, 31). It +would, surely, be well if this method of dealing with an anxious +inquirer were more faithfully adopted. + + + + +"GILGAL" + +JOSHUA V. + + +"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, +that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" +(Rom. xv. 4). These few words furnish a title, distinct and +unquestionable, for the Christian to range through the wide and +magnificent field of Old Testament Scripture, and gather therein +instruction and comfort, according to the measure of his capacity and +the character or depth of his spiritual need. And were any further +warrant needed, we have it with equal clearness in the words of another +inspired epistle: "Now all these things happened unto them (Israel) for +ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends +of the world are come" (I Cor. x. 11). + +No doubt, in reading the Old Testament, as in reading the New, there is +constant need of watchfulness--need of self-emptiness, of dependence +upon the direct teaching of the Holy Spirit, by whom all Scripture has +been indited. The imagination must be checked, lest it lead us into +crude notions and fanciful interpretations, which tend to no profit, +but rather to the weakening of the power of Scripture over the soul, +and hindering our growth in the divine life. + +Still, we must never lose sight of the divine charter made out for us in +Rom. xv. 4--never forget for a single moment that "whatsoever things +were written aforetime were written for our learning." It is in the +strength of these words that we invite the reader to accompany us back +to the opening of the book of Joshua, that we may together contemplate +the striking and instructive scenes presented there, and seek to gather +up some of the precious "learning" there unfolded. If we mistake not, we +shall learn some fine lessons on the banks of the Jordan, and find the +air of Gilgal most healthful and bracing for the spiritual constitution. + +We have all been accustomed to look at Jordan as the figure of +death--the death of the believer--his leaving this world and going to +heaven. Doubtless the believer has often read and heard these lines: + + "Could we but stand where Moses stood, + And view the landscape o'er, + Not Jordan's stream nor death's cold flood + Could fright us from the shore." + +But all this line of thought, feeling and experience is very far below +the mark of true Christianity. A moment's reflection in the true light +which Scripture pours upon our souls would be sufficient to show how +utterly deficient is the popular religious thought as to Jordan. For +instance, when a believer dies and goes to heaven, is he called to +fight? Surely not. All is rest and peace up yonder--ineffable, eternal +peace. Not a ripple on that ocean. No sound of alarm throughout that +pure and holy region. No conflict there. No need of armor. We shall want +no girdle, because our garments may flow loosely around us. We shall not +need a breast-plate of righteousness, for divine righteousness has there +its eternal abode. We shall have no need of sandals, for there will be +no rough or thorny places in that fair and blissful region. No shield +called for there, inasmuch as there will be no fiery darts flying. No +helmet of salvation, for the divine and eternal results of God's +salvation shall then be reached. No sword, inasmuch as there will be +neither enemy nor evil occurrent throughout all that blissful, sunny +region. + +Hence, therefore, Jordan cannot mean the death of the believer and his +going to heaven, for the simplest of all reasons, that it was when +Israel crossed the Jordan that their fighting, properly speaking, began. +True they had fought with Amalek in the wilderness; but it was in Canaan +that their real war commenced. The careful reader of the Scriptures will +readily see this. + +But does not Jordan represent death? Most surely it does. And must not +the believer cross it? Yes; but he finds it dry, because the Prince of +Life has gone down into its deepest depths, and opened up a pathway for +His people, by the which they pass over into their heavenly +inheritance. + +Moses, from Pisgah's top, gazed upon the promised land. _Personally_, +under the governmental dealings of God, he was prevented from going over +Jordan. But looking at him _officially_, we know that the law could not +possibly bring the people into Canaan; so Moses' course must end there, +for he represents the law. + +But Christ, the true Joshua, has crossed the Jordan, and not only +crossed it, but turned it into a pathway by which the ransomed host can +pass over dry-shod into the heavenly Canaan. The Christian is not called +to stand shivering on the brink of the river of death, as one in doubt +as to how it may go with him. That river is dried up for faith. Its +power is gone. Our adorable Lord "has abolished death, and brought life +and incorruptibility to light by the gospel." Faith can now, therefore, +sing triumphantly, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy +victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law; +but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus +Christ" (I Cor. xv. 55-57). + +Glorious, enfranchising fact! Let us praise Him for it. Let all our +ransomed powers adore Him. Let our whole moral being be stirred up to +chant the praises of Him who has taken the sting from death, and +destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and +conducted us into a sphere which is pervaded throughout with life, +light, incorruptibility, and glory. May our entire practical career be +to His glory! + +We shall now proceed to examine more particularly the teaching of +Scripture on this great subject, and may the Holy Spirit Himself be our +immediate instructor! + +"And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, +and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there +before they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, that the +officers went through the host; and they commanded the people, saying, +When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the +priests, the Levites, bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, +and go after it. _Yet there shall be a space between you and it_, about +two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, _that ye may know +the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way +heretofore_" (Josh. iii. I-4). + +There are three deeply important points in Israel's history which the +reader would do well to ponder. There is, first, the blood-stained +lintel, in the land of Egypt; secondly, the Red Sea; thirdly, the river +Jordan. + +Now in each of these we have a type of the death of Christ, in some one +or other of its grand aspects--for, as we know, that precious death has +many and various aspects, and nothing can be more profitable for the +Christian, and nothing, surely, ought to be more attractive, than the +study of the profound mystery of the death of Christ. There are depths +and heights in that mystery which eternity alone will unfold; and it +should be our delight now, under the powerful ministry of the Holy +Ghost, through the perfect light of Holy Scripture, to search into these +things for the strength, comfort and refreshment of the inward man. + +Looking, then, at the death of Christ, as typified by the blood of the +paschal lamb, we see in it that which screens us from the judgment of +God. "I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite +all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against +all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the Lord. And the +blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when +I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon +you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Ex. xii.). + +Now, we need hardly say, it is of the deepest moment for the exercised, +consciously guilty soul, to know that God has provided a shelter from +wrath and judgment to come. No right-minded person would think for a +moment of undervaluing this aspect of the death of Christ. "When I see +the blood, I will pass over you." Israel's safety rested upon God's +estimate of the blood. He does not say, "When _you_ see the blood." The +Judge saw the blood, knew its value, and passed over the house. Israel +was screened by the blood of the lamb--by God's estimate of that blood, +not by their own. Precious fact! + +How prone we are to be occupied with our thoughts about the blood of +Christ, instead of with God's thoughts! We feel we do not value that +precious blood as we ought--who ever did, or ever could? and then we +begin to question if we are safe, seeing we so sadly fail in our +estimate of Christ's work and in our love to His person. + +Now if our _safety_ depends in the smallest degree upon our estimate of +Christ's work, or our love to His person, we are in more imminent danger +than if it depended upon our keeping the law. True it is,--most +true--who could think of denying it?--we ought to value Christ's work, +and we ought to love Himself. But if all this be put upon the footing of +a righteous claim, and if our safety rests upon our answering to that +claim, then are we in greater danger and more justly condemned than if +we stood on the ground of a broken law. For just in proportion as the +claims of Christ are higher than the claims of Moses, and in proportion +as Christianity is higher than the legal system, so are we worse off, in +greater danger, farther from peace, if our safety depends upon our +response to those higher claims. + +Mark, it is not that we ought not to answer to such claims; we most +certainly ought. But who among us does? and hence, so far as we are +concerned, our ruin and guilt are only made more manifest, and our +condemnation more righteous, if we stand upon the claims of Christ, +because we have not answered to them. If we are to be saved by our +estimate of Christ, by our response to His claims, by our appreciation +of His love, we are worse off by far than if we were placed under the +claims of the law of Moses. + +But, blessed be God, it is not so. We are saved by grace,--free, +sovereign, divine and eternal grace,--not by our sense of grace. We are +sheltered by the blood, not by our estimate of the blood. Jehovah did +not say, on that awful night, "When _you_ see the blood, and estimate it +as you ought, I will pass over you." Nothing of the kind. This is not +the way of our God. He wanted to shelter His people, and to let them +know that they were sheltered,--perfectly, because divinely +sheltered,--and therefore He places the matter wholly upon a divine +basis; He takes it entirely out of their hands, by assuring them that +their safety rested simply and entirely upon the blood, and upon His +estimate thereof. He gives them to understand that they had nothing +whatever to do with providing the shelter. It was His to _provide_. It +was theirs to _enjoy_. + +Thus it stood between Jehovah and His Israel in that memorable night; +and thus it stands between Him and the soul that simply trusts in Jesus +now. We are not saved by _our_ love, or _our_ estimate, or _our_ +anything. We are saved by the blood behind which faith has fled for +refuge, and by God's estimate of it, which faith apprehends. And just as +Israel, within that blood-stained lintel screened from judgment,--safe +from the sword of the destroyer,--could feed upon the roasted lamb, so +may the believer, perfectly sheltered from the wrath to come,--sweetly +secure from all danger, screened from judgment,--feed upon Christ in all +the preciousness of what He is. + +But more of this by and by. + +We are specially anxious that the reader should weigh the point on which +we have been dwelling, if he be one who has not yet found peace, even as +to the question of safety from judgment to come, which, as we shall see +(if God permit) ere we close this paper, is but a part, though an +ineffably precious part, of what the death of Christ has procured for +us. + +We have very little idea indeed of how much of the leaven of +self-righteousness cleaves to us, even after our conversion, and how +immensely it interferes with our peace, our enjoyment of grace, and our +consequent progress in the divine life. It may be we fancy we have done +with self-righteousness when we have given up all thought of being saved +by our works; but alas, it is not so, for the evil takes new forms; and +of all these, none is more subtle than the feeling that we do not value +the blood as we ought, and the doubting our safety on that ground. All +this is the fruit of self-righteousness. We have not done with _self_. +True, we are not, it may be, making a saviour of our _doings_, but we +are of our _feelings_. We are seeking, unknown to ourselves perhaps, to +find some sort of title in our love to God or our appreciation of +Christ. + +Now all this must be given up. We must rest simply on the blood of +Christ, and upon God's testimony to that blood. He sees the blood. He +values it as it deserves. He is satisfied. This ought to satisfy us. He +did not say to Israel, When I see how you behave yourselves; when I see +the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs, the girded loins, the shod feet, +I will pass over you. + +No doubt all these things had their proper place; but that proper place +was not as the ground of safety, but as the secret of communion. They +were called to behave themselves--called to keep the feast; but it was +as _being_, not _in order to be_, a sheltered people. This made all the +difference. It was because they were divinely screened from judgment +that they could keep the feast. They had the authority of the word of +God to assure them that there was no judgment for them; and if they +believed that word, they could celebrate the feast in peace and safety. +"Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest +He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them" (Heb. xi. 28). + +Here lies the deep and precious secret of the whole matter. It was by +faith he kept the passover. God had said, "When I see the blood, I will +pass over you," and He could not deny Himself. It would have been a +denial of His very nature and character, and an ignoring of His own +blessed remedy, had a single hair of an Israelite's head been touched on +that deeply solemn night. It was not, we repeat, in anywise a question +of Israel's state or Israel's deservings. It was simply and entirely a +question of the value of the blood _in God's sight_, and of the truth +and authority of His own word. + +What stability is here!--what peace and rest! What a solid ground of +confidence! The blood of Christ! the word of God! True, divinely +true--let it never be forgotten or lost sight of--it is only by the +grace of the Holy Spirit that the word of God can be received, or the +blood of Christ relied upon. Still, it is the word of God and the blood +of Christ, and nothing else, which give peace to the heart as regards +all question of coming judgment. There can be no judgment for the +believer. And why? Because the blood is on the mercy-seat, as the +perfect proof that judgment has been already executed. + + "He bore on the tree the sentence for me, + And now both the Surety and sinner are free." + +Yet, all praise to His name, thus it stands as to every soul that simply +takes God at His word, and rests in the precious blood of Christ. It is +as impossible that such an one can come into judgment, as that Christ +Himself can. All who are sheltered by the blood are as safe as the word +of God is sure--as safe as Christ Himself. It seems perfectly wonderful +for any poor sinful mortal to be able to pen such words; but the blessed +fact is, it is either this or nothing. If there is any question as to +the believer's safety, then the blood of Christ is not on the +mercy-seat, or it is of no account in the judgment of God. If it be a +question of the believer's state, of his worthiness, of his feelings, +of his experience, of his walk, of his love, of his devotedness, of his +appreciation of Christ, then would there be no force, no value, no truth +in that glorious sentence, "When I see the blood, I will pass over;" for +in that case the form of speech should be entirely changed, and a dark +and chilling shade be cast over its heavenly lustre. It should then be, +"When I see the blood, and----" + +But no, beloved, anxious reader, it is not, and it never can be, thus. +Nothing must ever be added--not the weight of a feather, to that +precious blood which has perfectly satisfied God as a Judge, and which +perfectly shelters every soul that has fled for safety behind it. If the +righteous Judge has declared Himself satisfied, surely the guilty +culprit may well be satisfied also. God is satisfied with the blood of +Jesus; and when the soul is satisfied likewise, all is settled, and +there is peace as regards the question of judgment. "There is no +condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." How can there be, seeing +He has borne the condemnation in their stead? To doubt the believer's +exemption from judgment is to make God a liar, and to make the blood of +Christ of none effect. + +The reader will note that thus far we have been occupied only with the +question of deliverance from judgment--a most weighty question surely. +But, as we shall see in the course of this series of papers, there is +far more secured for us by the death of Christ than freedom from +judgment and wrath, blessed as that is. That peerless sacrifice does a +great deal more for us than keep God out as a Judge. + +But for the present we pause, and shall close this paper with a solemn +and earnest question to the reader, _Art thou sheltered by the blood of +Jesus_? Do not rest, beloved, until you can answer with a clear and +unhesitating "Yes." Remember, you are either sheltered by the blood, or +exposed to the horrors of eternal judgment. + + +PART II. + +In our last paper we had before us Israel under the shelter of the +blood. A grand reality, most surely: who could duly estimate it? What +human language could suitably unfold the deep blessedness of being +screened from the judgment of God by the blood of the Lamb--of being +within that hallowed circle where wrath and judgment can never come? Who +can speak aright of the privilege of feeding in perfect safety on the +Lamb whose precious blood has forever averted from us the wrath of a +sin-hating God? + +But blessed as all this is, there is much more than this. There is far +more comprehended in the salvation of God than deliverance from judgment +and wrath. We may have the fullest assurance that our sins are forgiven, +that God will never enter into judgment with us on account of our sins, +and yet be very far indeed from the enjoyment of the true Christian +position. We may be filled with all manner of fears about +ourselves--fears occasioned by the consciousness of indwelling sin, the +power of Satan, the influence of the world. All these things may crop up +before us, and fill us with the gravest apprehensions. + +Thus, for example, when we turn to Ex. xiv., we find Israel in the +deepest distress, and almost overwhelmed with fear. It would seem as if +they had for the moment lost sight of the fact that they had been under +the cover of the blood. + +Let us look at the passage. + +"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of +Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and +the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. +For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in +the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden Pharaoh's +heart, that he shall follow after them: and I will be honored upon +Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am +the Lord. And they did so. And it was told the king of Egypt that the +people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned +against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, _that we have +let Israel go from serving us_?"--mark these words:--"And he made ready +his chariot, and took his people with him. And he took six hundred +chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every +one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, +and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel +went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the +horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and +overtook them, encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before +Baal-zephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted +up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they +were _sore afraid_: and the children of Israel _cried out_ unto the +Lord." + +Now, we may feel disposed to ask, Are these the people whom we have seen +so recently feeding, in perfect safety, under the cover of the blood? +The very same. Whence, then, these fears, this intense alarm, this +agonizing cry? Did they really think that Jehovah was going to judge and +destroy them, after all? Not exactly. Of what, then, were they afraid? +Of perishing in the wilderness after all. "And they said unto Moses, +Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in +the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us +forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, +saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians! For it had been +better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the +wilderness." + +All this was most gloomy and depressing. Their poor hearts seem to +fluctuate between "graves in Egypt" and death in the wilderness. There +is no sense of deliverance; no adequate knowledge either of God's +purposes or of God's salvation. All seems utter darkness, almost +bordering upon hopeless despair. They are thoroughly hemmed in and "shut +up." They seem in a worse plight than ever. They heartily wish +themselves back again amid the brick-kilns and stubble fields of Egypt. +Deserts sands on either side of them; the sea in front; Pharaoh and all +his terrific hosts behind! + +The case seemed perfectly hopeless; and hopeless it was, so far as they +were concerned. They were utterly powerless, and they were being made to +realize it, and this is a very painful process to go through; but very +wholesome and valuable, yea, most necessary for all. We must all, in one +way or another, learn the force, meaning, and depth of that phrase, +"without strength." It is exactly in proportion as we find out what it +is to be without strength, that we are prepared to appreciate God's "due +time." + +But, we may here inquire, "Is there aught in the history of God's people +now answering to Israel's experience at the Red Sea?" Doubtless there +is; for we are told that the things which happened unto Israel are our +ensamples, or types. And, most surely, the scene at the Red Sea is full +of instruction for us. How often do we find the children of God plunged +in the very depths of distress and darkness as to their state and +prospects! It is not that they question the love of God, or the efficacy +of the blood of Jesus, nor yet that God will reckon their sins to them, +or enter into judgment with them. But still, they have no sense of full +deliverance. They do not see the application of the death of Christ to +their _evil nature_. They do not realize the glorious truth that by that +death they are completely delivered from this present evil world, from +the dominion of sin, and from the power of Satan. They see that the +blood of Jesus screens them from the judgment of God; but they do not +see that _they_ are "dead to sin;" that their "old man is crucified +with Christ;" that not only have their sins been put upon Christ at the +cross, but _they themselves_, as sinful children of Adam, have been, by +the act of God, identified with Christ in His death; that God pronounces +them _dead and risen with Christ_. (See Col. iii. I-4 and the sixth +chapter of Romans.) But if this precious truth is not apprehended, by +faith, there is no bright, happy, emancipating sense of full and +everlasting salvation. They are, to speak according to our type, at +Egypt's side of the Red Sea, and in danger of falling into the hands of +the prince of this world. They do not see "_all_ their enemies dead on +the sea-shore." They cannot sing the song of redemption. No one can sing +it, until he stands by faith on the wilderness side of the Red Sea, or, +in other words, until he sees his complete deliverance from sin, the +world, and Satan--the great foes of every child of God. + +Thus, in contemplating the facts of Israel's history, as recorded in the +first fifteen chapters of Exodus, we observe that they did not raise a +single note of praise until they had passed through the Red Sea. We hear +the cry of sore distress under the cruel lash of Pharaoh's task-masters, +and amid the grievous toil of Egypt's brick-kilns. And we hear the cry +of terror when they stood "between Migdol and the sea." All this we +hear; but not one note of praise, not a single accent of triumph, until +the waters of the Red Sea rolled between them and the land of bondage +and of death, and they saw all the power of the enemy broken and gone. +"Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; +and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. And _Israel saw +that great work which the Lord did_ upon the Egyptians: and the people +feared the Lord and His servant Moses. _Then sang_ Moses and the +children of Israel." + +Now, what is the simple application of all this to us as Christians? +What grand lesson are we to learn from the scenes on the shores of the +Red Sea? In a word, of what is the Red Sea a type? And what is the +difference between the blood-stained lintel and the divided sea? + +The Red Sea is the type of the death of Christ, in its application to +all our spiritual enemies, sin, the world, and Satan. By the death of +Christ the believer is completely and forever delivered from the _power_ +of sin. He is, alas! conscious of the _presence_ of sin; but its power +is gone. He has died to sin, in the death of Christ; and what power has +sin over a dead man? It is the privilege of the Christian to reckon +himself as much delivered from the dominion of sin as a man lying dead +on the floor. What power has sin over such an one? None whatever. No +more has it over the Christian. Sin _dwells_ in the believer, and will +do so to the end of the chapter; but its _rule_ is gone. Christ has +wrested the sceptre from the grasp of our old master, and shivered it to +atoms. It is not merely that His blood has purged our _sins_; but His +death has broken the power of _sin_. + +It is one thing to know that our sins are forgiven, and another thing +altogether to know that "the body of sin is destroyed"--its rule +ended--its dominion gone. Many will tell you that they do not question +the forgiveness of their past sins, but they do not know what to say as +to indwelling sin. They fear lest, after all, that may come against +them, and bring them into judgment. Such persons are, to use the figure, +"between Migdol and the sea." They have not learnt the doctrine of Rom. +vi. They have not as yet, in their spiritual intelligence and +apprehension, reached the resurrection side of the Red Sea. They do not +know what it is to be dead unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus +Christ our Lord. + +And let the reader particularly note the force of the apostle's word, +"_reckon_." How very different it is, in every way, from our word, +"_realize_!" This latter word may do very well where natural or human +things are concerned. We can realize physical or material facts; but +where a spiritual truth is involved, it is not a question of realizing, +but of reckoning. How can I realize that I am dead to sin? All my own +experience, my own feelings, my inward self-consciousness seems to offer +a flat contradiction to the truth. I cannot realize that I am dead; but +God tells me I am. He assures me that He counts me to have died to sin +when Christ died. I believe it; not because I feel it, but because God +says it. I reckon myself to be what God tells me I am. If I were +sinless, if I had no sin in me, I should never be told to reckon myself +dead to sin; neither should I ever be called to listen to such words as, +"Let not sin, therefore, _reign_ in your mortal body." But it is just +because I have sin dwelling in me, and in order to give me full +practical deliverance from its reigning power, that I am taught the +grand enfranchising truth, that the dominion of sin is broken by the +death of Christ in which I also died. + +How do I know this? Is it because I feel it? Certainly not. How could I +feel it? How could I realize it? How could I ever have the +self-consciousness of it, while in the body? Impossible. But God tells +me I have died in the death of Christ. I believe it. I do not reason +about it. I do not stagger at it because I cannot find any evidence of +its truth in myself. I take God at His word. I reckon myself to be what +He tells me I am. I do not endeavor to struggle, and strive, and work +myself into a sinless state which is impossible. Neither do I imagine +myself to be in it, which were a deceit and a delusion; but by a simple, +childlike faith, I take the blessed ground which faith assigns me, in +association with a dead Christ. I look at Christ there, and see in Him, +according to God's word, the true expression of where I am, in the +Divine Presence. I do not reason from myself upwards, but I reason from +God downwards. This makes all the difference. It is just the difference +between unbelief and faith,--between law and grace--between human +religion and divine Christianity. If I reason from self, how can I have +any right thought of what is in the heart of God?--all my conclusions +must be utterly false. But if, on the other hand, I listen to God and +believe His Word, my conclusions are divinely sound. Abraham did not +look at himself and the improbability, nay, the impossibility of having +a son in his old age; but he believed God and gave glory to Him. And it +was counted to Him for righteousness. + +It is an unspeakable mercy to get done with self, in all its phases and +in all its workings, and to be brought to rest, in all simplicity, on +the written Word, and on the Christ which that written Word presents to +our souls. Self-occupation is a deathblow to fellowship, and a great +barrier to the soul's rest and progress. It is impossible for any one to +enjoy settled peace so long as he is occupied with himself. He must +cease from self, and harken to God's Word, and rest, without a single +question, on its pure, precious, and everlasting record. God's Word +never changes. I change; my frames, my feelings, my experience, my +circumstances, change continually; but God's Word is the same yesterday, +and to-day, and forever. + +Furthermore, it is a grand and essential point for the soul to apprehend +that Christ is the only definition of the believer's place before God. +This gives immense power, liberty, and blessing. "As He is, so are we, +in this world" (I John iv. 17). This is something perfectly wonderful! +Let us ponder it: let us think of a poor, wretched, guilty slave of +sin, a bondslave of Satan, a votary of the world, exposed to an eternal +hell--such an one taken up by sovereign grace, delivered completely from +the grasp of Satan, the dominion of sin, the power of this present evil +world--pardoned, washed, justified, brought nigh to God, accepted in +Christ, and perfectly and forever identified with Him, so that the Holy +Ghost can say, as Christ is, so is he in this world! + +All this seems too good to be true; and, most assuredly, it is too good +for us to get; but, blessed be the God of all grace, and blessed be the +Christ of God! it is not too good for Him to give. God gives like +Himself. He will be God, spite of our unworthiness and Satan's +opposition. He will act in a way worthy of Himself, and worthy of the +Son of His love. Were it a question of our deservings, we could only +think of the deepest and darkest pit of hell. But seeing it is a +question of what is worthy of God to give, and that He gives according +to His estimate of the worthiness of Christ, then, verily, we can think +of the very highest place in heaven. The glory of God, and the +worthiness of His Son, are involved in His dealings with us; and hence +everything that could possibly stand in the way of our eternal +blessedness, has been disposed of in such a manner as to secure the +divine glory, and furnish a triumphant answer to every plea of the +enemy. Is it a question of trespass? "He has forgiven us all +trespasses." Is it a question of sin? He has condemned sin at the cross, +and thus put it away. Is it a question of guilt? It is canceled by the +blood of the cross. Is it a question of death? He has taken away its +sting, and actually made it part of our property. Is it a question of +Satan? He has destroyed him, by annulling all his power. Is it a +question of the world? He has delivered us from it, and snapped every +link which connected us with it. + +Thus, beloved Christian reader, it stands with us if we are to be taught +by Scripture, if we are to take God at His word, if we are to believe +what He says. And we may add, if it be not thus, we are in our sins; +under the power of sin; in the grasp of Satan; obnoxious to death; part +and parcel of an evil, Christless, Godless world, and exposed to the +unmitigated wrath of God--the vengeance of eternal fire. + +Oh that the blessed Spirit may open the eyes of God's people, and give +them to see their proper place, their full and eternal deliverance in +association with Christ who died for them, and _in whom they have died_, +and _thus_ passed out of the power of all their enemies! + + +PART III. + +Having glanced at two of the leading points in our subject, namely, +Israel freed from guilt under the shelter of the blood, and Israel freed +from all their enemies in the passage of the Red Sea, we have now to +contemplate for a few moments Israel crossing the Jordan, and +celebrating the paschal feast at Gilgal, in which they represent the +risen position of Christians now. + +The Christian is one who is not only sheltered from judgment by the +blood of the Lamb, not only delivered from the power of all his enemies +by the death of Christ, but is also associated with Him where He now is, +at the right hand of God; he is, with Christ, passed out of death, in +resurrection, and is blessed with all spiritual blessings, in the +heavenlies, in Christ. He is thus a heavenly man, and, as such, is +called to walk in this world in all the varied relationships and +responsibilities in which the good hand of God has placed him. He is not +a monk, or an ascetic, or a man living in the clouds, fit neither for +earth or heaven. He is not one who lives in a dreamy, misty, unpractical +region; but, on the contrary, one whose happy privilege it is, from day +to day, to reflect, amid the scenes and circumstances of earth, the +graces and virtues of Christ, with whom, through infinite grace, and on +the solid ground of accomplished redemption, he is linked in the power +of the Holy Ghost. + +Such is the Christian, according to the teaching of the New Testament. +Let the reader see that he understands it. It is very real, very +definite, very positive, very practical. A child may know it, and +realize it, and exhibit it. A Christian is one whose sins are forgiven, +who possesses eternal life, and knows it; in whom the Holy Ghost dwells; +he is accepted in and associated with a risen and glorified Christ; he +has broken with the world, is dead to sin and the law, and finds his +object and his delight, and his spiritual sustenance, in the Christ who +loved him and gave Himself for him, and for whose coming he waits every +day of his life. + +This, we repeat, is the New Testament description of a Christian. How +immensely it differs from the ordinary type of Christian profession +around us we need not say. But let the reader measure himself by the +divine standard, and see wherein he comes short; for of this he may rest +assured, that there is no reason whatsoever, so far as the love of God, +or the work of Christ, or the testimony of the Holy Ghost, is concerned, +why he should not be in the full enjoyment of all the rich and rare +spiritual blessings which appertain to the true Christian position. Dark +unbelief, fed by legality, bad teaching, and spurious religiousness, rob +many of God's dear children of their proper place and portion. And not +only so, but, from want of a thorough break with the world, many are +sadly hindered from the clear perception and full realization of their +position and privileges as heavenly men. + +But we are rather anticipating the instruction unfolded to us in the +typical history of Israel, in Josh. iii.-v., to which we shall now turn. +"And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, +and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there +before they passed over. And it came to pass, after three days, that the +officers went through the host. And they commanded the people, saying, +When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the +priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, +and go after it. _Yet there shall be a space between you and it_, about +two thousand cubits by measure: _come not near unto it, that ye may know +the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way +heretofore_" (Josh. iii. I-4). + +It is most desirable that the reader should, with all simplicity and +clearness, seize the true spiritual import of the river Jordan. It +typifies the death of Christ in one of its grand aspects, just as the +Red Sea typifies it in another. When the children of Israel stood on the +wilderness side of the Red Sea, they sang the song of redemption. They +were a delivered people--delivered from Egypt and the power of Pharaoh. +They saw all their enemies dead on the sea-shore. They could even +anticipate, in glowing accents, their triumphal entrance into the +promised land. "Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou +hast redeemed; Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy +habitation. The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold +on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; +the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them: all the +inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon +them: by the greatness of Thine arm they shall be still as a stone; till +Thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over which Thou hast +purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of +Thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which Thou hast made for Thee +to dwell in; in the sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established. +The Lord shall reign for ever and ever." + +All this was perfectly magnificent, and divinely true. But they were not +yet in Canaan. Jordan--of which, most surely, there is no mention in +their glorious song of victory--lay between them and the promised land. +True, in the purpose of God and in the judgment of faith, the land was +theirs; but they had to traverse the wilderness, cross the Jordan, and +take possession. + +How constantly we see all this exemplified in the history of souls! When +first converted, there is nothing but joy and victory and praise. They +know their sins forgiven; they are filled with wonder, love, and praise. +Being justified by faith, they have peace with God, and they can rejoice +in hope of His glory, yea, and joy in Himself through Jesus Christ our +Lord. They are in Rom. v. I-11; and, in one sense, there can be nothing +higher. Even in heaven itself we shall have nothing higher or better +than "joy in God." Persons sometimes speak of Rom. viii. being higher +than Rom. v.: but what can be higher than "joy in God"? If we are +brought to God, we have reached the most exalted point to which any soul +can come. To know Him as our portion, our rest, our stay, our object, +our all; to have all our springs in Him, and know Him as a perfect +covering for our eyes, at all times, and in all places, and under all +circumstances--this is heaven itself to the believer. + +But there is this difference between Rom. v. and viii., that vi. and +vii. lie between; and when the soul has traveled practically through +these latter, and learns how to apply their profound and precious +teaching to the great questions of indwelling sin and the law, then it +is in a better state, though, most assuredly, not in a higher standing. + +We repeat, and with emphasis, the words "_traveled practically_." For it +must be even so, if we would really enter into these holy mysteries +according to God. It is easy to talk about being "dead to sin" and "dead +to the law"--easy to see these things written in Rom. vi. and vii.--easy +to grasp, in the intellect, the mere theory of these things. But the +question is, have we made them our own--have they been applied +practically to our souls by the power of the Holy Ghost? Are they +livingly exhibited in our ways to the glory of Him who, at such a cost +to Himself, has brought us into such a marvelous place of blessing and +privilege? + +It is much to be feared that there is a vast amount of merely +intellectual traffic in these deep and precious mysteries of our most +holy faith, which, if only laid hold of in spiritual power, would +produce wonderful results in practice. + +But we must return to our theme; and in doing so, we would ask the +reader if he really understands the true spiritual import of the river +Jordan? What does it really mean? We have said that it typifies the +death of Christ. But in what aspect? for that precious death, as we are +now considering, has many and various aspects. We believe the Jordan +sets forth the death of our Lord Jesus Christ as that by which we are +introduced into the inheritance He has obtained for us. The Red Sea +_delivered Israel from_ Egypt and the power of Pharaoh. Jordan _brought +them into_ the land of Canaan. + +We find both in the death of Christ. He, blessed be His name, has, by +His death on the cross--His death for us--delivered us from our sins, +from their guilt and condemnation, from Satan's power, and from this +present evil world. + +But more than this: He has, by the same infinitely precious work, +brought us _now_ into an entirely new position, in resurrection and in +living union and association with Himself, where He is at God's right +hand. Such is the distinct teaching of Eph. ii. "But God, who is rich in +mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead +in sins, _hath quickened us together with Christ_, (by grace ye are +saved;) and _hath raised us up together_, and made us _sit together in +the heavenlies_ in Christ Jesus" (vers. 4-6). + +Note the little word "_hath_." He is not speaking of what God _will_ do, +but of what He _hath_ done--done for us, and with us, in Christ Jesus. +The believer has not to wait till he passes out of this life to enjoy +his inheritance in heaven. In the person of his living and glorified +Head, through faith, by the Spirit, he belongs there now, and is free to +all that God has given to all His own.[VI.] + +Is all this real and true? Yes! As real and true as that Christ hung on +the cross and lay in the grave; as real and true as that we were dead in +trespasses and sins; as real and true as the truth of God can make it; +as real and true as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the body of +every true believer. + +Mark, reader, we are not now speaking of the practical working-out of +all this glorious truth in the life of Christians from day to day. This +is another thing altogether. Alas, alas! if our only idea of true +Christian position were to be drawn from the practical career of +professing Christians, we might give up Christianity as a myth or a +sham. + +But, thank God, it is not so. We must learn what true Christianity is +from the pages of the New Testament, and, having learnt it there, judge +ourselves, our ways, our surroundings, by its heavenly light. In this +way, while we shall ever have to confess and mourn our shortcomings, our +hearts shall ever, more and more, be filled with praise to Him whose +infinite grace has brought us into such a glorious position, in union +and fellowship with His own Son--a position, blessed be God, in nowise +dependent upon our personal state, but which, if really apprehended, +must exert a powerful influence upon our entire course, conduct, and +character. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[VI.] [There are three very distinct aspects of the death of Christ +which, to apprehend clearly, is of unspeakable value to the soul. + +1st. That which is typified in the blood of the paschal lamb on Israel's +doors in Egypt. This is the judgment of God against the sinner in the +person of the Substitute provided for him. Rom. iii. 23-27 applies to +this. + +It brings peace to the soul who believes, for his judgment is passed. +Christ has borne it in our stead. + +2nd. As revealed at the passage of the Red Sea. There it is fully +manifested that God is _for_ His people; He has completely overcome +their enemy and freed them from his power forever. The prince and his +hosts, who ruled over them unto death, are drowned in the sea. God's +people have passed out of his dominions, and can now go on with God in +perfect freedom. No condemnation remains. Henceforth, to faith, Satan is +a vanquished foe. God's people are delivered; they can now, in settled +peace, worship, praise, and serve their God. Blessed, holy deliverance +and service! Rom. vi.-vii. gives the full teaching of this aspect of the +death of Christ. + +3rd. As seen in the passage of Jordan. There is no judgment to escape +there; no foe pressing behind. It is a question of entering the good +land which is just across. It is the death of Christ here as _the ending +of His people's history_ _as children of Adam_; that, by resurrection, +He may now introduce them, as having died and risen with Him, into the +place of glory where He has gone. By this it can be said, "As He is, so +are we in this world" (I John iv. 17) + +Col. ii. 10-iii. 4, is the New Testament doctrine of this precious +truth. ED.] + + +PART IV. + +The more deeply we ponder the typical instruction presented in the river +Jordan, the more clearly we must see that the whole Christian position +is involved in the standpoint from which we view it. Jordan means death, +but, for the believer, a death that is _past_--the death we have gone +through as identified with Christ, and which, through resurrection, has +brought us on the other side--the Canaan side--where He is now. He, +typified by the ark, has passed over before us into Jordan, to stem its +torrent for us, and make it a dry path for our feet, so that we might +pass clean over into our heavenly inheritance. The Prince of life has +destroyed, on our behalf, him that had the power of death. He has taken +the sting from death; yea, He has made death itself the very means by +which we reach, even now, in spirit and by faith, the true heavenly +Canaan. + +Let us see how all this is unfolded in our type. Mark particularly the +commandment given by the officers of the host. "When ye see the ark of +the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing +it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it." The ark must +go first. They dared not to move one inch along that mysterious way, +until the symbol of the divine Presence had gone before. + +"Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand +cubits by measure: _come not near unto it that ye may know the way by +which ye must go_; for ye have _not passed this way heretofore_." It was +an awful flood ahead of them. No mortal could tread it with impunity. +Death and destruction are linked together. "It is appointed unto men +once to die; but after this the judgment" (Heb. ix.) Who can stand +before the king of terrors? Who can face that grim and terrible foe? Who +can encounter the swellings of Jordan? Who, except the Ark go first, can +face death and judgment? Poor Peter thought he could; but he was sadly +mistaken. He said unto Jesus, "Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered +him, Whither I go, _thou canst not follow Me now_; but thou shalt follow +Me afterwards." + +How fully these words explain the import of that mystic "space" between +Israel and the ark. Peter did not understand that space. He had not +studied aright Josh. iii. 4. He knew nothing of that terrible pathway +which his blessed Master was about to enter upon. "Peter said unto Him, +Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy +sake." + +Poor dear Peter! How little he knew of himself, or of that which he +was--sincerely, no doubt, though ignorantly--undertaking to do! How +little did he imagine that the very sound of death's dark river, heard +even in the distance, would be sufficient so to terrify him, as to make +him curse and swear that he did not know his Master! "Jesus answered +him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say unto +thee, the cock shall not crow till thou hast denied Me thrice." + +"Yet there shall be a space between you and it." How needful! How +absolutely essential! Truly there was a space between Peter and his +Lord. Jesus had to go before. He had to meet death in its most terrific +form. He had to tread that rough path in profound solitude--for who +could accompany Him? "There shall be a space between you and it: come +not near to it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye +have not passed this way heretofore." + +"Thou canst not follow Me _now_: but thou shalt follow me _afterwards_." +Blessed Master! He would not suffer His poor feeble servant to enter +upon that terrible path, until He Himself had gone before, and so +entirely changed its character, that the pathway of death should be +lighted up with the beams of life and the light of God's face. Our Jesus +has "abolished death, and brought life and incorruptibility to light by +the gospel." + +Thus death is no longer death to the believer. It was death to Jesus, in +all its intensity, in all its horrors, in all its reality. He met it as +the power which Satan wields over the soul of man. He met it as the +penalty due to sin. He met it as the just judgment of God against +sin--against us. There was not a single feature, not a single +ingredient, not a single circumstance, which could possibly render +death formidable which did not enter into the death of Christ. He met +all; and, blessed be God, _we are accounted as having gone through all +in and by Him_. We died in Him, so that death has no further claim upon +us, or power over us. Its claims are disposed of, its power broken and +gone for all believers. The whole scene is cleared completely of death, +and filled with life and incorruptibility. + +And hence, in Peter's case, we find our Lord, in the last chapter of +John, most graciously meeting the desire of His servant's heart--a +desire in which he was perfectly sincere--the desire to follow his +beloved Lord. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, +thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou +shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird +thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake He signifying +by what death he should glorify God." Thus death, instead of being the +judgment of God to overwhelm Peter, was turned into a means by which +Peter could glorify God. + +What a glorious change! What a stupendous mystery! How it magnifies the +cross, or rather the One who hung thereon! What a mighty revolution, +when a poor sinful man can, by death, glorify God! So completely has +death been robbed of its sting, so thoroughly has its character been +changed that, instead of shrinking from it with terror, we can meet it, +if it does come, and go through it with song of victory; and instead of +its being to us the wages of sin, it is a means by which we can glorify +God. All praise to Him who has so wrought for us! to Him who has gone +down into Jordan's deepest depths for us, and made there a highway by +which His ransomed people can pass over into their heavenly inheritance! +May our hearts adore Him! May all our powers be stirred up to magnify +His holy name! May our whole life be devoted to His praise! May we +appreciate the grace and lay hold of the inheritance. + +But we must proceed with our type. + +"And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the +covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of +the covenant, and went before the people. And the Lord said unto Joshua, +This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that +they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." Joshua +stands before us as a type of the risen Christ, leading His people, in +the power of the Holy Ghost, into their heavenly inheritance. The +priests bearing the ark into the midst of Jordan typify Christ going +down into death for us, and destroying completely its power. "He passed +through death's dark raging flood, to make our rest secure;" and not +only to make it secure, but to lead us into it, in association with +Himself, now, in spirit and by faith; by-and-by, in actual fact. + +"And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the +words of the Lord your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that +the _living_ God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out +from before you the Canaanites.... Behold, the ark of the covenant of +the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan." + +The passage of the ark into Jordan proved two things, namely, the +presence of the living God in the midst of His people; and that He would +most surely drive out all their enemies from before them. The death of +Christ is the basis and the guarantee of everything to faith. Grant us +but this, that Christ has gone down into death for us, and we argue, +with all possible confidence, that, in this one great fact, all is +secured. God is with us, and God is for us. "He that spared not His own +Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also +freely give us all things?" The difficulty of unbelief is, "How shall +He?" The difficulty of faith is, "How shall He _not_?" + +Israel might wonder how all the hosts of Canaan could ever be expelled +from before them: let them gaze on the ark in the midst of Jordan, and +cease to wonder, cease to doubt. The less is included in the greater. +And hence we can say, What may we not expect, seeing that Christ has +died for us? There is nothing too good, nothing too great, nothing too +glorious, for God to do for us, and in us, and with us, seeing He has +not spared His only-begotten Son, but delivered Him up for us all. +Everything is secured for us by the precious death of Christ. It has +opened up the everlasting flood-gates of the love of God, so that the +rich streams thereof might flow down into the very depths of our souls. +It fills us with the sweetest assurance that the One who could bruise +His only-begotten Son, on the cursed tree, for us, will meet our every +need, carry us through all our difficulties, and lead us into the full +possession and enjoyment of all that His eternal purpose of grace has in +store for us. Having given us such a proof of His love, even when we +were yet sinners, what may we not expect at His hands now that He views +us in association with that blessed One who glorified Him in death--the +death that He died for us? When Israel saw the ark in the midst of +Jordan, they were entitled to consider that all was secured. As our Lord +also said to His disciples before leaving them, "Be of good cheer, I +have overcome the world;" and, in view of His cross, He could say, "Now +is the prince of this world cast out." True, Israel had, as we know, to +take possession: they had to plant their feet upon the inheritance; but +the power that could stem death's dark waters, could also drive out +every foe from before them, and put them in peaceful possession of all +that God had promised. + + +PART V. + +In closing this series of brief papers on Gilgal, we must turn our +thoughts to the practical application of that which has been engaging +our attention. If it be true--and it is true--that Jesus died for us, it +is equally true that we have died in Him; as one of our own poets has +sweetly put it: + + "For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died + And I have died in Thee: + Thou'rt risen--my bands are all untied, + And now Thou livest in me. + The Father's face of radiant grace + Shines now in light on me." + +Now this is a great practical truth--none more so. It lies at the very +foundation of all true Christianity. If Christ has died for us, then, in +very deed, He has taken us completely out of our old condition, with all +that appertained to it, and placed us upon an entirely new footing. We +can look back from resurrection-ground on which we now stand, into the +dark river of death, and see there, in its deepest depths, the memorial +of the victory gained for us by the Prince of Life. We do not look +forward to death; we look back at it. We can truly say, "The bitterness +of death is past." + +Jesus met death for us in its most terrible form. Just as the river of +Jordan was divided when it presented its most formidable +appearance--"for Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of +harvest"--so our Jesus encountered our last great enemy, vanquished him +in his most fearful form, and left behind, in the very centre of death's +dark domain, the imperishable record of His glorious victory. All +praise, homage, and adoration to His peerless name! It is our privilege, +by faith and in spirit, to stand on Canaan's side of Jordan, and erect +our memorial of what the Saviour, the true Joshua, has done for us. + +"And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, +that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the +people, _out of every tribe a man_. And command ye them, saying, Take +you hence out of the midst of Jordan, _out of the place where the +priests' feet stood firm_, twelve stones; and ye shall carry them over +with you, and leave them in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge this +night. Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the +children of Israel, _out of every tribe a man_. And Joshua said unto +them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God, into the midst of +Jordan, and take you up _every man of you_ a stone upon his shoulder, +according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: that +this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers +in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? then ye shall +answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of +the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of +Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be _for a memorial_ unto the +children of Israel for ever" (Josh. iv: I-7). + +The great fact was to be seized, and practically carried out by the +whole assembly, "of every tribe a man"--"every man of you a stone upon +his shoulder," a stone taken from the very spot where the priests' feet +stood firm. All were to be brought into living personal contact with the +great mysterious fact that the waters of Jordan were cut off. All were +to engage in erecting such a memorial of this fact as should elicit +inquiry from their children as to what it meant. It was never to be +forgotten. + +What a lesson is here for us! Are we erecting our memorial? Are we +giving evidence--such evidence as may strike even the mind of a +child--of the fact that our Jesus has vanquished the power of death for +us? Are we affording any practical proof in daily life that Christ has +died for us, and that we have died in Him? Is there aught in our actual +history, from day to day, answering to the figure set forth in the +passage just quoted--"every man of you a stone upon his shoulder"? Are +we declaring plainly that we have passed clean over Jordan--that we +belong to heaven--that we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit? Do +our children see aught in our habits and ways, in our spirit and +deportment, in our whole character and manner of life, leading them to +inquire, "What mean ye by these things?" Are we living as those who are +dead with Christ--dead to sin--dead to the world? + +Are we practically freed from the world--letting go our hold of present +things, in the power of communion with a risen Christ? + +These are searching questions for the soul, beloved Christian reader. +Let us seek to meet them honestly, as in the divine presence. We profess +these things, we hold them in theory. We say we believe that Jesus died +for us, and that we died in Him. Where is the proof--where the abiding +memorial--where the stone on the shoulder? Let us judge ourselves +honestly before God. Let us no longer rest satisfied with anything short +of the thorough, practical, habitual carrying out of the great truth +that "we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God." Mere +profession is worthless. We want the living power--the true result--the +proper fruit. + +"And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first +month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. And _those +twelve stones which they took out of Jordan_"--stones of peculiar +import--no other stones could tell such a tale, teach such a lesson, or +symbolize such a stupendous fact--no other stones like them--"those +twelve stones did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children +of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to +come, saying, What mean these stones? then ye shall let your children +know, saying, _Israel came over this Jordan on dry land_. For the Lord +your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were +passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up +from before us, until we were gone over: that all the people of the +earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might +fear the Lord your God forever." + +Here, then, we see Israel at Gilgal. "Everything was finished that the +Lord commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that +Moses commanded Joshua." Every member of the host had passed clean over +Jordan--not one had been suffered to feel the slightest touch of the +river of death. Grace had brought them all safely over into the +inheritance promised to their fathers. They were not only separated from +Egypt by the Red Sea, but actually brought into Canaan across the dry +bed of the Jordan, and encamped in Gilgal, in the plains of Jericho. + +And now mark what follows. "And it came to pass, when all the kings of +the Amorites which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the +kings of the Canaanites which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had +dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until +we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit +in them any more, because of the children of Israel. _At that +time_"--note the words!--when all the nations were paralyzed with terror +at the very thought of this people--"at that time the Lord said unto +Joshua, Make thee _sharp knives_, and circumcise again the children of +Israel the second time." + +How deeply significant is this: How suggestive are these "sharp knives"! +How needful! If Israel are about to bring the sword upon the Canaanites, +Israel must have the sharp knife applied to themselves. They had never +been circumcised in the wilderness. The reproach of Egypt had never been +rolled away from them. And ere they could celebrate the passover, and +eat of the old corn of the land of Canaan, they must have the sentence +of death written upon them. No doubt this was aught but agreeable to +nature; but it must be done. How could they take possession of Canaan +with the reproach of Egypt resting upon them? How could uncircumcised +people dispossess the Canaanites? Impossible! The sharp knives had to do +their work throughout the camp of Israel ere they could eat of Canaan's +food or prosecute the warfare which of necessity belongs to it. + +"And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of +Israel at the hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua +did circumcise. All the people that came out of Egypt that were males, +even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they +came out of Egypt.... And their children, whom he raised up in their +stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because +they had not circumcised them by the way.... And the Lord said unto +Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. +Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal ("rolling") unto this +day. And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the +passover on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the plains of +Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow +after the passover, unleavened cakes and parched corn, in the self-same +day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old +corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but +they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." + +Here, then, we have a type of the full Christian position. The Christian +is a heavenly man, dead to the world, crucified with Christ, associated +with Him where He now is, and, while waiting for His appearing, occupied +in heart with Him, feeding by faith upon Him as the proper nourishment +of the new man. + +Such is the Christian's position--such his portion. But in order to +enter fully into the enjoyment thereof, there must be the application of +the "sharp knife" to all that belongs to mere nature. There must be the +sentence of death written upon that which Scripture designates as "the +old man." + +All this must be really and practically entered into if we would +maintain our position or enjoy our proper portion as heavenly men. If we +are indulging nature; if we are living in a low, worldly atmosphere; if +we are going in for this world's pursuits, its pleasures, its politics, +its riches, its honors, its fashions, and its distinctions--then, +verily, it is impossible that we can be enjoying fellowship with our +risen Head and Lord.[VII.] Christ is in heaven, and to enjoy Him we must +be living, in spirit and by faith, where He is. He is not of this world; +and if we are of it, we cannot be enjoying fellowship with Him. "If we +say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and +do not the truth" (I John i. 6). + +This is most solemn. If I am living in and of the world, I am walking in +darkness, and I can have no fellowship with a heavenly Christ. +"Wherefore," says the blessed apostle, "if ye be dead with Christ from +the rudiments of the world, why, _as though living in the world_, are ye +subject to ordinances?" Do we really understand these words? Have we +weighed the full force of the expression, "living in the world"? Is the +Christian not to be as one living in the world? Clearly not. He is to +live, in spirit, where Christ is. As to fact, he is obviously on this +earth, moving up and down, and in and out, in the varied relations of +life, and in the varied spheres of action in which the hand of God has +set him. But his home is in heaven. His life is there. His object, his +rest, his proper _all_, is in heaven. He does not belong to earth. His +citizenship is in heaven; and in order to make this good in practice +from day to day, there must be the denial of self, the mortification of +our members. + +All this comes vividly out in Col. iii. Indeed, it would be impossible +to give a more striking exposition of the entire subject of "Gilgal" +than that presented in the following lines: "If ye then be risen with +Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the +right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on +the earth. For ye have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. +When Christ our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in +glory." And now comes the true spiritual import and application of +"Gilgal" and its "sharp knives"--"Mortify, therefore, your members which +are upon the earth." + +May the Holy Spirit lead us into a deeper and fuller understanding of +our place, portion and practice as Christians. Would to God that we +better knew what it is to feed upon the old corn of the land, at the +true spiritual Gilgal, that thus we might be better fitted for the +conflict and service to which we are called! + +FOOTNOTE: + +[VII.] The reader may here remark that "the old corn of the land of +Canaan" is a type of Christ risen and glorified. The manna is a type of +Christ in His humiliation. The remembrance of Him in the latter is +ineffably precious to the soul. It is sweet to look back and trace His +way as the lowly, humble, self-emptied man. This is to feed upon the +hidden manna--"Christ, once humbled here." Nevertheless, a risen, +ascended and glorified Christ is the true object for the heart of the +Christian; but to enjoy Him there, the reproach of this present evil +world--all conformity to it--must be rolled away from us by the +spiritual application of the circumcision of Christ. He was not +conformed to this world, and we must be prepared to identify ourselves +with Him in this. + + + + +THOUGHTS + +ON + +THE CONFIRMATION VOWS + + +"All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." Such were the memorable +words with which the people of Israel virtually abandoned the ground on +which the blessed God had just been setting them, and on which, too, He +had dealt with them in bringing them up out of the land of Egypt. "Ye +have seen," said He, "what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you +on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself." All this was +grace--pure, perfect, divine grace. He heard the groans and beheld the +sorrows of the people amid the darkness and degradation of Egyptian +bondage, and in His unmingled mercy He came down to deliver them. He +sought not their aid, He looked not for aught from them. "His own arm +brought salvation." He acted _for_ them, _with_ them, and _in_ them; and +that, too, in the solitariness and sovereignty of His own unfailing +grace. He said to Moses at the opening of the book of Exodus, "_I am +come down to deliver them_." This was absolute and unqualified grace. +There was no "if," no "but," no condition, no vow, no resolve. It was +FREE GRACE, founded upon God's eternal counsels, and righteously +displayed in immediate connection with "the blood of the Lamb." Hence, +from first to last, the word to Israel was, "_stand still, and see the +salvation of Jehovah_." They were not called to "resolve," or to "vow," +or to "do." God was acting for them--He was doing ALL: He placed Himself +between them and every enemy, and every evil. He spread forth the shield +of His salvation that they might hide themselves behind its impenetrable +defences, and abide there in peace. + +But, alas, Israel made a vow--a strange, a singular vow indeed. Not +satisfied with God's doings, they would fain talk of their own. They +would be doing, as if God's salvation were incomplete; and in lamentable +ignorance of their own weakness and nothingness, they said, "All that +the Lord hath spoken we will do." This was taking a bold stand, a high +ground. For a poor worm to make such a vow proved how little grace was +really understood, or nature's true condition apprehended. + +However, Israel having undertaken to "_do_," they were put to the test, +and the most cursory view of Ex. xix. will be sufficient to show what a +marked change took place the moment they had uttered the words "we will +do." The Lord had just reminded them of how He "bare them on eagles' +wings, and brought them unto Himself;" but now He says, "Set bounds unto +the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not +up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the +mount shall be surely put to death." This was a very different aspect of +things. And let my reader remember, it was the simple result of man's +having said, "I will do." There is far more involved in those words than +many might imagine. If we take our eyes off from God's actings, and fix +them on our own, the consequences must be disastrous in the extreme. But +we shall see this more fully ere we close this paper. Let us now inquire +how the house of Israel fulfilled their singular vow. We shall see that +it ended like human vows in every age.[VIII.] + +Did they do "_all_" that the Lord commanded? Did they "continue in all +things which are written in the book of the law, to do them?" Alas, no. +On the contrary, we find that ere the tables of testimony were given, +they had broken the very first commandment in the Decalogue, by making a +golden calf, and bowing down thereto. This was the earliest fruit of +their broken vow; and then, onward they went, from stage to stage, +dishonoring the name of the Lord--breaking His laws, despising His +judgments, trampling under foot His sacred institutions. Then followed +the stoning of His messengers whom, in patient grace and long-suffering, +He sent unto them. Finally, when the only-begotten Son came forth from +the bosom of the Father, they with wicked hearts rejected and with +wicked hands crucified Him. Thus we pass from Sinai to Calvary: at the +former we hear man undertaking to do all the Lord's commandments, and at +the latter see him crucifying the Lord Himself. So much for man's vows, +so much for man's "_I will do_." The fragments of the tables of +testimony scattered beneath the fiery mount told the first melancholy +tale of the failure of man's audacious resolution: nor was there any +real break in the narrative, which has its closing scene around the +cross of Calvary. All was failure--gross, unmitigated failure. Thus it +must ever be when man presumes to vow or resolve in the presence of God. + +Now there is a very striking resemblance between Israel's vow at the +foot of mount Sinai and the Confirmation Vow of the Establishment. We +have rapidly glanced at the former; let us now refer to the latter. + +In "the ministration of public baptism of infants," after various +prayers and the reading of the Gospel, the minister addresses the +godfathers and godmothers on this wise: "Dearly beloved, ye have brought +this child here to be baptized; ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus +Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him of his sins, to +sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven and +everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath +promised in His gospel to grant all these things that ye have prayed +for: which promise He, for His part, will most surely keep and perform. +Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, this infant must also +faithfully, for his part, promise by you that are his sureties (until he +come of age to take it upon himself), that _he will renounce_ the devil +and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy word and +_obediently keep His commandments_. I demand, therefore, Dost thou, in +the name of this child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain +pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and +the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led +by them? _Answer_: I RENOUNCE THEM ALL." Again: "Wilt thou obediently +keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days +of thy life? _Answer_: I WILL." + +Both the above vows the children, when come to years of discretion, +deliberately and solemnly take upon themselves, as may be seen by +reference to "The Order of Confirmation." Thus we have, in the first +place, people vowing and resolving, on behalf of unconscious infants, to +"renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil," and to keep all God's +commandments, all the days of their life; and, in the second place, we +find those children, in due time, placing themselves under the weight of +those awful vows; and all this, moreover, as a necessary condition to +the fulfilment of Christ's promise. That is to say, if they allow aught +of the world, the flesh or the devil to adhere to them; or if they fail +in the faithful keeping of _all_ God's commandments, then they cannot be +saved, but must, so far as they are concerned, inevitably be condemned. +In short, salvation is here made to depend on a covenant to which man +makes himself a party. Christ is represented as willing to do His part, +provided always that man accomplishes his; but not otherwise. In other +words, there is an "_if_" in the matter, and, as a consequence, there +never is, and never can be, the certainty of salvation; yea, there can +only be the constant terror of eternal condemnation hanging over the +soul; that is, if there is any thought about the matter at all. + +If the heart is not perfectly assured of the fact that Christ has in +very deed done all; that He has put away our sin; that He has forever +canceled our debt; that He has settled, by His perfect sacrifice, every +question that could possibly arise, whether it be the charges of +conscience, the accusings of Satan, or the claims of divine justice; +that He has not left a cloud on the prospect; that all is perfectly +done--in a word, that we stand before God in the power of divine +righteousness, and in the same favor with His own Son; if, I say, there +be any doubt in the soul as to the eternal truth of all these +things--then there cannot be settled peace. And that there is not this +settled peace in the case of those who have taken on themselves the +above tremendous vows is but too evident from the clouds and darkness +which hang around their spirits as they tread the next stage of their +ecclesiastical journey. + +We could hardly expect that persons who boldly vow to renounce all evil, +and perfectly to fulfil all good, could approach the Lord's table with +any other acknowledgment than the following, namely: "The burden of our +sins is intolerable." It would need an obtuse conscience to be able to +shake off the conviction that those vows have been unfulfilled; and +then, assuredly, the burden must be intolerable. If I have taken vows +upon me, they will, without doubt, prove in the sequel to be dishonored +vows; and thus the whole matter of my salvation comes to the ground, and +I find myself, according to the terms of my own self-chosen covenant, +righteously exposed to the curses of a broken law. I have undertaken to +do everything; and yet I have in reality done nothing. Hence I am +"cursed;" for the word is, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in +all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." + +Nor will it at all alter the matter to say that those extraordinary vows +are entered into in dependence upon divine grace; for there cannot be +such a thing as dependence upon _grace_ when people are placing +themselves directly under the _law_. No two things can be more opposite +than law and grace. They are put in direct contrast in Paul's epistles +to the Romans and Galatians. "Whosoever of you are justified by the law +([Greek: en nomo]),[IX.] ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. v. 4). Hence, to +think of depending upon grace when putting myself under law is precisely +the same as if I were to look to God for grace to enable me to subvert +the entire gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. "As many as are of works of +law ([Greek: ergon nomou])[IX.] are under the curse." Could I depend +upon God's grace to enable me to abide under the curse? The thought is +preposterous in the extreme. And be it observed that the apostle, in the +last-quoted passage, does not merely say, "As many as fail to keep the +law are under the curse." This he distinctly teaches, no doubt; but the +special point is, that as many as attempt to stand before God on the +ground of "works of law," are of necessity under the curse, for the +simplest of all reasons, that they are not able to satisfy His claims. +In order for man to satisfy God's claims, he must bewhat in himself he +cannot be; that is, without sin. The law demands, as its right, perfect +obedience; and those who take upon them the Confirmation Vows promise +perfect obedience. They promise to renounce all evil, and to fulfil all +good, in the most absolute manner; and moreover, they make their +salvation to depend upon their fulfilment of those vows; else why make +them at all? + +This, when looked at in the light of the apostolic teaching in Romans +and Galatians, is the most complete denial of all the fundamental truths +of the gospel. In the first place, it is a denial of man's total ruin, +of his condition as one "dead in trespasses and sins," "alienated from +the life of God," "without strength," "ungodly," "enmity against God." +If I can undertake to renounce all evil, and to do all God's +commandments, then, assuredly, I do not know myself to be a lost, +ruined, helpless creature; and, as a consequence, I do not need a +Saviour. If I can boldly undertake to "_renounce_" and to "_do_," to +"keep" and to "walk," I am manifestly not lost, and hence I do not want +salvation; I am not dead, and hence I do not want life; I am not +"without strength," and hence I do not want the energy of that new, that +divine life which is imparted by the Holy Ghost to all who, by His +grace, believe in the Son of God. If I am capable of doing for myself, I +do not want another, even the Lord Jesus Christ, to do all for me. + +Again, as flowing out of what has already been stated, those vows do +entirely set aside the essential glories, divine dignities and sacred +virtues of the cross of Christ. If I can get a godfather and godmother +to take vows on them on my behalf until I am capable of taking them on +myself, then it is evident I cannot possibly know the deep blessedness +of having all my vows, all my responsibilities and liabilities as a lost +sinner, all my sins and shortcomings,--everything, in short,--fully and +eternally answered in the Cross. If there is anything in my case which +has not been perfectly settled in the Cross, then I must inevitably +perish. I may make vows and resolutions, but they are as the morning +cloud that passeth away. I may get a sponsor to renounce the devil on my +behalf, and I may in due time talk of renouncing him for myself; but +what if the devil all the while has fast hold of both my sponsor and +myself? He will not renounce me, unless the chain by which he binds me +has been snapped asunder by the Cross. + +Again, I may get a sponsor to undertake to keep all God's commandments +for me, and, in due time, I may undertake to keep them for myself; but +what if neither my sponsor nor I really understand the true nature or +spirituality, the majesty or stringency, of that law? Yea, more. What if +both he and I are, by our very vows, made debtors to do the whole law, +and thus shut up under its terrible curse? What then becomes of all our +vows and resolutions? Is it not plain that I am throwing overboard the +cross? Truly so. That cross must either be everything or nothing to me. +If it is anything it must be everything; and if it is not everything it +is nothing. Thus it stands, my beloved reader. The gospel of the grace +of God sets forth Christ as the great Sponsor and Surety of His people. +The Confirmation Service sets one sinner to stand sponsor for another, +or for himself. The gospel sets forth One, who is possessed of +"unsearchable riches," as the security for His people; the Confirmation +Service sets one bankrupt to stand security for another or for himself. +What avails such security? Who would accept of it? It is perfectly +valueless to God and man. If I am a bankrupt, I cannot promise to pay +anything, and if I could promise, no one would accept of it--yea, it +would be justly regarded in the light of an empty formality. The +promissory note of a bankrupt is little worth; and truly the vows and +resolutions of a poor ruined sinner are not merely an empty formality, +but a solemn mockery, in the presence of Almighty God. No one who knows +himself would presume to vow, or resolve, to keep all God's +commandments--such an one would have the full conviction that he could +never do anything of the kind. + +But, as a further reply to the statement that those Confirmation Vows +are made in entire dependence upon the grace of God, I would observe +that grace can only be known or trusted by those who are His. "They that +know Thy name will put their trust in Thee," and none else. Now, the +word of God connects eternal life with the knowledge of Him. "This is +life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus +Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John xvii. 3). If, therefore, I have +eternal life, I need not make vows to get it. If I am eternally saved, I +need not make vows to get salvation. If my sins are all canceled by the +precious blood of the Lamb, I need not make vows to get them canceled. +Neither baptismal vows, confirmation vows, sacramental vows, nor any +other vows are necessary for one who has found life, righteousness, +wisdom, sanctification, redemption--yea, all things in Christ. + +The comfort and peace of the feeblest believer are based upon the fact +that Christ took all his vows, all his liabilities, all his sins, all +his iniquities entirely upon Himself, and, by His death upon the cross, +gloriously discharged them all. This sets him entirely free. Hence, it +follows that if I am not a child of God, I cannot keep vows; and if I +am, I need not make them. In either case, I deny man's fallen condition, +and set aside the true glories of the Cross. It may be in ignorance--it +may be with the most sincere intention--no doubt; but the most profound +ignorance and the purest sincerity cannot alter the real principle which +lies at the root of all manner of vows, promises, and resolutions. There +is, beyond all question, involved therein a plain denial of the great +foundation-truths of the Christian religion. A vow assumes the +competency to fulfil. Well, then, if I vow to keep all God's +commandments perfectly, all the days of my life, I am not lost or +without strength. I must have strength, else I could not undertake such +a ponderous responsibility. + +And, my reader, remark further the strange anomaly involved in this +system of vows; that while it denies my lost estate, it robs me of +everything approaching to a certainty of ever being saved. If I resolve +to keep God's commandments as a necessary condition of my salvation, I +never can be sure of being saved until I have fulfilled the condition; +but inasmuch as I never can fulfil it, I, therefore, never can be sure +of my salvation; and thus I travel on, from stage to stage, from baptism +to confirmation, from confirmation to communion, and from communion to +the death-bed, in a state of miserable doubt and torturing uncertainty. +This is not the gospel. It is "a different gospel which is not another." +The immediate effect of the work of Christ, when laid hold of by faith, +is to give settled peace to the conscience; the effect of the system of +vows, is to keep the heart in constant doubt and heaviness. How many +have approached the ordinance of confirmation with trembling hearts, at +the thought of having to take upon their own shoulders the solemn vows +which, from the period of their baptism, had rested on their godfathers +and godmothers. How could it be otherwise with an honest mind? If I am +really sincere, the thought of having to take on myself those solemn +baptismal vows, must fill me with horror. Some, alas! go through these +things with thoughtless hearts and frivolous minds; but it is evident +the confirmation service was never framed for such. It was designed for +thoughtful, serious, earnest spirits; and all such must, assuredly, +retire from the ceremony, with troubled hearts and burdened consciences. + +With what different feelings we gaze upon the cross of the Son of God! +There, in good truth, Satan was renounced, and his works destroyed. +There the law of God was magnified and made honorable, vindicated, and +established. There the justice of God was fully answered. There Satan +was vanquished; there conscience gets its full answer; there the cup of +God's unmingled wrath against sin was drained to the dregs by His +blessed Son. Where is the proof of all this? Not in the unaccomplished, +dishonored vows of poor frail mortals; but in a risen, ascended, +glorified Christ, seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the +heavens. + +Who that knows aught of the pure and most excellent grace of God, or +that has tasted aught of the true blessedness of divinely-accomplished +redemption, could tolerate such language as, "CHRIST FOR HIS PART" and +"THIS INFANT FOR HIS PART?" Who that has listened, by faith, to those +words, "It is finished," issuing, as they do, from amid the solemn +scenes of Calvary, could endure a sinful mortal's "_I do_," or "_I +will_?" What a total setting aside of grace! What a tarnishing of the +brightness of God's salvation! What an insult to the righteousness of +God, which is by faith, and without works! What a manifest return to a +religion of ordinances and the poor works of man! Christ and an infant, +or the infant's sureties, are placed on the same platform to work out +salvation. Is it not so? If not, what mean the words, "Christ for His +part, and this infant for his part?" Is it not plain that salvation is +made to depend upon something or some one besides Christ? +Unquestionably. The vows must be fulfilled, or there is no salvation! +Miserable condition! Christ's accomplished work abandoned for a sinner's +unaccomplishable vows and resolutions! Man's "I do" substituted for +Christ's "I have finished!" + +My reader, can you own such a fearful surrender of the truth of God? Are +you content with such a sandy foundation? Whither, think you, will such +a system lead you? To heaven, or to Rome? Which? Be honest. Take the New +Testament, search it from cover to cover, and see if you can find such a +thing as infants making vows by proxy, to renounce the world, the flesh, +and the devil, and to keep all God's commandments, in order to +salvation. There is not so much as a shadow of a foundation for such an +idea. "By works of law shall no flesh living be justified." "But now the +righteousness of God, without law, is manifested, being witnessed by the +law and the prophets." "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him +that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for +righteousness." "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not +of yourselves it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should +boast." "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but +according to His mercy He saved us." (See Rom. iii. 20-28; iv. 4, 5; +Eph. ii. 8, 9; Titus iii. 5-7.) + +These are but a very few of the numerous passages which might be adduced +in proof of the fact that the Confirmation Vows are diametrically +opposed to the truth of God--totally subversive of the grace of God. If +my vows mean anything I must be miserable, because I am in imminent +danger of being lost forever, inasmuch as I have _not_ kept them, and +never could keep them. + +Oh! what sweet relief for the wearied heart and sin-burdened conscience +in the atoning blood of Jesus! What full deliverance from my worthless +and worse than worthless vows! _Christ has done all._ He has put away +sin--made peace--brought in everlasting righteousness--brought life and +immortality to light. In Him may you, my beloved reader, find abiding +peace, unfading joy, and everlasting glory. To Him and His perfect work +I now most affectionately commend you, body, soul, and spirit, fully +assuring you my object in this paper is not to attack the prejudices, or +wound the feelings of any, but simply to take occasion to show how the +perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ is thrown into full and blessed +relief by being looked at in contrast with the "Confirmation Vows." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[VIII.] There is a passage in the book of Deuteronomy which, as it may +present a difficulty to some minds, should be noticed here. "And the +Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord +said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people which +they have spoken unto thee: _they have well said all that they have +spoken_" (Deut. v. 28). From this passage, it might seem as though the +Lord approved of their making a vow; but if my reader will take the +trouble of reading the entire context, from verse 24 to 27, he will see +that it has nothing whatever to say to the vow, but that it contains the +expression of their terror at the consequences of their vow. They were +not able to endure that which was commanded. "If," said they "we hear +the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die. For who is +there of all flesh that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking +out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go thou near, and +hear all that the Lord our God shall say; and speak thou unto us all +that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it and do +it." It was the confession of their own inability to encounter Jehovah +in that awful aspect which their proud legality had led Him to assume. +It is impossible that the Lord could ever commend an abandonment of free +and changeless grace for a sandy foundation of works of law. (See "Notes +on the book of Exodus," page 253. Same publishers.) + +[IX.] [That is, as many as are on that principle--of "law," "works of +law." ED.] + + + + +THOUGHTS + +ON + +THE LORD'S SUPPER; + +DESIGNED FOR THE HELP OF CHRISTIANS IN THIS DAY OF DIFFICULTY. + +_NEW EDITION, REVISED._ + + +PREFACE + +The institution of the Lord's Supper must be regarded, by every +spiritual mind, as a peculiarly touching proof of the Lord's gracious +care and considerate love for His Church. From the time of its +appointment until the present hour, it has been a steady, though silent, +witness to a truth which the enemy, by every means in his power, has +sought to corrupt and set aside, namely, that redemption is an +accomplished fact to be enjoyed by the weakest believer in Jesus. +Eighteen centuries have rolled away since the Lord Jesus appointed "the +bread and the cup" in the Eucharist as the significant symbols of His +broken body and His blood shed for us; and notwithstanding all the +heresy, all the schism, all the controversy and strife, the war of +principles and prejudices which the blotted page of ecclesiastical +history records, this most expressive institution has been observed by +the saints of God in every age. True, the enemy has succeeded, +throughout a vast section of the professing Church, in wrapping it up in +a shroud of dark superstition; in presenting it in such a way as +actually to hide from the view of the communicant the grand and eternal +reality of which it is the memorial; in displacing Christ and His +accomplished sacrifice by a powerless ordinance--an ordinance, moreover, +which by the very mode of its administration proves its utter +worthlessness and opposition to the truth. (See note to page 29.) Yet, +notwithstanding Rome's deadly error in reference to the ordinance of the +Lord's Supper, it still speaks to every circumcised ear and every +spiritual mind the same deep and precious truth--it "shows the Lord's +death till He come." The body has been broken, the blood has been shed +ONCE, no more to be repeated; and the breaking of bread is but the +memorial of this emancipating truth. + +With what profound interest and thankfulness, therefore, should the +believer contemplate "the bread and the cup"! Without a word spoken, +there is the setting forth of truths at once the most precious and +glorious: grace reigning--redemption finished--sin put away--everlasting +righteousness brought in--the sting of death gone--eternal glory +secured--"grace and glory" revealed as the free gift of God and the +Lamb--the unity of the "one body," as baptized by "one Spirit." What a +feast! It carries the soul back, in the twinkling of an eye, over a +lapse of eighteen hundred years, and shows us the Master Himself, "in +the same night in which He was betrayed," sitting at the supper table, +and there instituting a feast which, from that solemn moment, that +memorable night, until the dawn of the morning, should lead every +believing heart at once backward to the cross and forward to the glory. + +This feast has ever since, by the very simplicity of its character, and +yet the deep significance of its elements, rebuked the superstition that +would deify and worship it, the profanity that would desecrate it, and +the infidelity that would set it aside altogether: and furthermore, +while it has rebuked all these, it has strengthened, comforted and +refreshed the hearts of millions of God's beloved saints. It is sweet to +think of this--sweet to bear in mind, as we assemble on the first day of +the week round the supper of the Lord, that apostles, martyrs and saints +have gathered round that feast, and found therein, according to their +measure, refreshment and blessing. Schools of theology have arisen, +flourished, and disappeared; doctors and fathers have accumulated +ponderous tomes of divinity; deadly heresies have darkened the +atmosphere, and rent the professing Church from one end to the other; +superstition and fanaticism have put forth their baseless theories and +extravagant notions; professing Christians have split into sects +innumerable--all these things have taken place; but the Lord's Supper +has continued, amid the darkness and confusion, to tell out its simple +yet comprehensive tale. "As oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this +cup, ye do show[X.] the Lord's death till He come" (I Cor. xi. 26). +Precious feast! Thank God for the great privilege of celebrating it! And +yet is it but a sign, the elements of which must, in nature's view, be +mean and contemptible. Bread broken, wine poured out--how simple! Faith +alone can read, in the sign, the thing signified; and therefore it +needs not the adventitious circumstances which false religion has +introduced in order to add dignity, solemnity and awe to that which +derives all its value, its power and its impressiveness from its being a +memorial of an eternal fact which false religion denies. + +May you and I, beloved reader, enter with more freshness and +intelligence into the meaning of the Lord's Supper, and with deeper +experience into the blessedness of breaking that bread which is "the +communion of the body of Christ," and drinking of that cup which is "the +communion of the blood of Christ." + +In closing these few prefatory lines, I commend this treatise to the +Lord's gracious care, praying Him to make it useful to the souls of His +people. + +C. H. M. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[X.] [The Greek word translated "show" is more exactly rendered +"announce" or "proclaim"--same word as in I Cor. ix. 14. ED.] + + +THOUGHTS + +ON + +THE LORD'S SUPPER + + "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered + unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was + betrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake + it, and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for + you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also + He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the + new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, + in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and + drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come."--I + Cor. xi. 23-26. + +I desire to offer a few brief remarks on the subject of the Lord's +Supper, for the purpose of stirring up the minds of all who love the +name and institutions of Christ to a more fervent and affectionate +interest in this most important and refreshing ordinance. + +We should bless the Lord for His gracious consideration of our need in +having established such a memorial of His dying love, and also in having +spread a table at which _all_ His members might present themselves +without any other condition than the indispensable one of personal +connection with and obedience to Him. The blessed Master knew well the +tendency of our hearts to slip away from Him, and from each other, and +to meet this tendency was _one_, at least, of His objects in the +institution of the Supper. He would gather His people around His own +blessed person; He would spread a table for them where, in view of His +broken body and shed blood, they might remember Him, and the intensity +of His love for them, and from whence, also, they might look forward +into the future, and contemplate the glory of which the Cross is the +everlasting foundation. There, if anywhere, they would learn to forget +their differences, and to love one another; there they might see around +them those whom THE LOVE OF GOD had invited to the feast, and whom THE +BLOOD OF CHRIST had made fit to be there. + +However, in order that I may the more easily and briefly convey to the +mind of my reader what I have to say on this subject, I shall confine +myself to the four following points, viz.: + +1st. The nature of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. + +2d. The circumstances under which it was instituted. + +3d. The persons for whom it was designed. + +4th. The time and manner of its observance. + + +I. And first, as to the nature of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. +This is a cardinal point. If we understand not the nature of the +ordinance, we shall be astray in all our thoughts about it. The Supper, +then, is purely and distinctly a feast of thanksgiving--thanksgiving for +grace already received. + +The Lord Himself, at the institution of it, marks its character by +giving thanks. "He took bread: ... when He had given thanks," etc. +Praise, and not prayer, is the suited utterance of those who sit at the +table of the Lord. + +True, we have much to pray for, much to confess, much to mourn over; but +the table is not the place for mourners: its language is, "Give strong +drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of +heavy hearts. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his +misery no more." Ours is "a cup of blessing," a cup of thanksgiving, the +divinely appointed symbol of that precious blood which has procured our +ransom. "The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body +of Christ?" How, then, could we break it with sad hearts or sorrowful +countenances? Could a family circle, after the toils of the day, sit +down to supper with sighs and gloomy looks? Surely not. The supper was +the great family meal, the only one that was sure to bring _all the +family together_. Faces that might not have been seen during the day +were sure to be seen at the supper table, and no doubt they would be +happy there. Just so it should be at the Lord's Supper: the family +should assemble there; and when assembled, they should be happy, +unfeignedly happy, in the love that brings them together. True, each +heart may have its own peculiar history--its secret sorrows, trials, +failures, and temptations, unknown to all around; but these are not the +objects to be contemplated at the supper: to bring them into view is to +dishonor the Lord of the feast, and make the cup of blessing a cup of +sorrow. The Lord has invited us to the feast, and commanded us, +notwithstanding all our shortcomings, to place the fulness of His love +and the cleansing efficacy of His blood between our souls and +everything; and when the eye of faith is filled with Christ, there is no +room for aught beside. If my sin be the object which fills my eye and +engages my thoughts, of course I must be miserable, because I am looking +right away from what God commands me to contemplate; I am remembering my +misery and poverty, the very things which God commands me to forget. +Hence the true character of the ordinance is lost, and, instead of being +a feast of joy and gladness, it becomes a season of gloom and spiritual +depression; and the preparation for it, and the thoughts which are +entertained about it are more what might be expected in reference to +mount Sinai than to a happy family feast. + +If ever a feeling of sadness could have prevailed at the celebration of +this ordinance, surely it would have been on the occasion of its first +institution, when, as we shall see when we come to consider the second +point in our subject, there was everything that could possibly produce +deep sadness and desolation of spirit; yet the Lord Jesus could "give +thanks;" the tide of joy that flowed through His soul was far too deep +to be ruffled by surrounding circumstances; He had a joy even in the +breaking and bruising of His body and in the pouring forth of His blood +which lay far beyond the reach of human thought and feeling. And if He +could rejoice in spirit, and give thanks in breaking that bread which +was to be to all future generations of the faithful the memorial of His +broken body, should not we rejoice therein, we who stand in the blessed +results of all His toil and passion? Yes; it becomes us to rejoice. + +But it may be asked, Is there no preparation necessary? are we to sit +down at the table of the Lord with as much indifference as if we were +sitting down to an ordinary supper table? Surely not--we need to be +right in our souls, and the first step toward this is peace with +God--that sweet assurance of our eternal salvation which most certainly +is not the result of human sighs or penitential tears, but the simple +result of the finished work of the Lamb of God, attested by the Spirit +of God. Apprehending this by faith, we apprehend that which makes us +perfectly fit for God. Many imagine that they are putting honor upon the +Lord's table when they approach it with their souls bowed down into the +very dust, under a sense of the intolerable burden of their sins. This +thought can only flow from the legalism of the human heart, that +ever-fruitful source of thoughts at once dishonoring to God, dishonoring +to the Cross of Christ, grievous to the Holy Ghost, and completely +subversive of our own peace. We may feel quite satisfied that the honor +and purity of the Lord's table are more fully maintained when THE BLOOD +OF CHRIST is made the only title than if human sorrow and human +penitence were superadded.[XI.] + +However, the question of preparedness will come more fully before us as +we proceed with our subject; I shall therefore state another principle +connected with the nature of the Lord's Supper, viz., that there is +involved in it an intelligent recognition of the oneness of the body of +Christ. "The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body +of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread, and one body; for we are +all partakers of that one bread." Now there was sad failure and sad +confusion in reference to this point at Corinth: indeed, the great +principle of the Church's oneness would seem to have been totally lost +sight of there. Hence the apostle observes that "when ye come together +into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for every one +taketh before other _his own_ supper" (I Cor. xi. 20, 21). Here, it was +isolation, and not unity; an individual, and not a corporate question: +"_his own supper_" is strikingly contrasted with "_the Lord's Supper_." +The _Lord's_ Supper demands that the body be fully recognized: if the +one body be not recognized, it is but sectarianism: the Lord Himself has +lost His place. If the table be spread upon any narrower principle than +that which would embrace the whole body of Christ, it is become a +sectarian table, and has lost its claim upon the hearts of the faithful. +On the contrary, where a table is spread upon this divine principle, +which embraces _all_ the members of the body _simply as such_, every one +who refuses to present himself at it is chargeable with schism, and +that, too, upon the plain principles of I Cor. xi. "There must," says +the apostle, "be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be +made manifest among you." + +When the great Church principle is lost sight of by any portion of the +body, there must be heresies, in order that the approved ones may be +made manifest! and under such circumstances it becomes the business of +each one to approve himself, and so to eat. The "approved" ones stand in +contrast with the heretics, or those who were doing their own +will.[XII.] + +But it may be asked, Do not the numerous denominations at present +existing in the professing Church altogether preclude the idea of ever +being able to gather the whole body together? and, under such +circumstances, is it not better for each denomination to have their own +table? If there be any force in this question, it merely goes to prove +that the people of God are no longer able to act upon God's principles, +but that they are left to the miserable alternative of acting on human +expediency. Thank God, such is not the case. The truth of the Lord +endureth forever, and what the Holy Ghost teaches in I Cor. xi. is +binding upon every member of the Church of God. There were divisions, +and heresies, and unholiness, existing in the assembly at Corinth, just +as there are divisions, and heresies, and unholiness, existing in the +professing Church now; but the apostle did not tell them to set up +separate tables on the one hand, nor yet to cease from breaking bread on +the other. No; he presses upon them the principles and the holiness +connected with "the Church of God," and tells those who could approve +themselves accordingly to eat. The expression is, "_So let him eat_." We +are to eat, therefore: our care must be to eat "_so_," as the Holy Ghost +teaches us; and that is in the true recognition of the holiness and +oneness of the Church of God.[XIII.] When the Church is despised, the +Spirit Be-must be grieved and dishonored, and the certain end will be +spiritual barrenness and freezing formalism: and although men may +substitute intellectual for spiritual power, and human talents and +attainments for the gifts of the Holy Ghost, yet will the end be "like +the heath in the desert." The true way to make progress in the divine +life is to live for the Church, and not for ourselves. The man who lives +for the Church is in full harmony with the mind of the Spirit, and must +necessarily grow. On the contrary, the man who is living for himself, +having his thoughts revolving round, and his energies concentrated upon, +himself, must soon become cramped and formal, and, in all probability, +openly worldly. Yes; he will become worldly, in some sense of that +extensive term; for the world and the Church stand in direct opposition, +the one to the other; nor is there any aspect of the world in which this +opposition is more fully seen than in its religious aspect. What is +commonly called the _religious world_ will be found, when examined in +the light of the presence of God, to be more thoroughly hostile to the +true interests of the Church of God than almost anything. + +But I must hasten on to other branches of our subject, only stating +another simple principle connected with the Lord's Supper, to which I +desire to call the special attention of the Christian reader; it is +this: the celebration of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper should be +the distinct expression of the unity of ALL believers, and not merely of +the unity of a certain number gathered on certain principles, which +distinguish them from others. If there be any term of communion +proposed, save the all-important one of faith in the atonement of +Christ, and a walk consistent with that faith, the table becomes the +table of a sect, and possesses no claims upon the hearts of the +faithful. + +Furthermore, if by sitting at the table I must identify myself with any +one thing, whether it be principle or practice, not enjoined in +Scripture, as a term of communion, there also the table becomes the +table of a sect. It is not a question of whether there may be Christians +there or not; it would be hard indeed to find a table amongst the +reformed communities of which some Christians are not partakers. The +apostle did not say, "there must be heresies among you, that they which +are _Christians_ may be made manifest among you." No; but "that they +which are _approved_." Nor did he say, "Let a man prove himself a +Christian, and so let him eat." No; but "let a man approve himself," i. +e., let him shew himself to be one of those who are not only upright in +their consciences as to their individual act in the matter, but who are +also confessing the oneness of the body of Christ. When men set up terms +of communion of their own, there you find the principle of heresy; +there, too, there must be schism. On the contrary, where a table is +spread in such a manner and upon such principles as that a Christian, +subject to God, can take his place at it, then it becomes schism not to +be there; for, by being there, and by walking consistently with our +position and profession there, we, so far as in us lies, confess the +oneness of the Church of God--that grand object for which the Holy Ghost +was sent from heaven to earth. The Lord Jesus, having been raised from +the dead, and having taken His seat at the right hand of God, sent down +the Holy Ghost to earth for the purpose of forming one body. Mark, to +form _one body_--not many bodies. He has no sympathy with the many +bodies, as such; though He has blessed sympathy with many members in +those bodies, because they, though being members of sects or schisms, +are nevertheless, members of the one body; but He does not form the many +bodies, but the one body, for "by one Spirit are we all baptized into +one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; +and have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (I Cor. xii. 13). + +I desire that there may be no misunderstanding on this point. I say the +Holy Ghost cannot approve the schisms in the professing Church, for He +Himself has said of such, "I praise you not." He is grieved by them--He +would counteract them; He baptizes all believers into the unity of the +one body, so that it cannot be thought, by any intelligent mind, that +the Holy Ghost could sustain schisms, which are a grief and a dishonor +to Him. + +We must however, distinguish between the Spirit's dwelling in the +Church, and His dwelling in individuals. He dwells in the body of +Christ, which is the Church (see I Cor. iii. 17; Eph. ii. 22); He dwells +also in the body of the believer, as we read, "your body is the temple +of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God" (I Cor. vi. +19). The only body or community, therefore, in which the Spirit can +dwell, is _the whole Church of God_; and the only person in which He can +dwell is the believer. But, as has already been observed, the table of +the Lord, in any given locality, should be the exhibition of the unity +of the whole Church. This leads us to another principle connected with +the nature of the Lord's Supper, viz., this, It is an act whereby we not +only shew the death of the Lord until He come, but whereby we also give +expression to a fundamental truth, which cannot be too strongly or too +frequently pressed upon the minds of Christians, at the present day, +viz., that_ all believers are_ "_one loaf--one body_." It is a very +common error to view this ordinance merely as a channel through which +grace flows to the soul of the individual, and not as an act bearing +upon the whole body, and bearing also upon the glory of the Head of the +Church. That it is a channel through which grace flows to the soul of +the individual communicant there can be no doubt, for there is blessing +in every act of obedience. But that individual blessing is but a very +small part of it, can be seen by the attentive reader of I Cor. xi. It +is the Lord's death and the Lord's coming, that are brought prominently +before our souls in the Lord's Supper; and where any one of these +elements is excluded there must be something wrong. If there be anything +to hinder the complete showing forth of the Lord's death, or the +exhibition of the unity of the body, or the clear perception of the +Lord's coming, then there must be something radically wrong in the +principle on which the table is spread, and we only need a single eye, +and a mind entirely subject to the Word and Spirit of Christ, in order +to detect the wrong. + +Let the Christian reader, now, prayerfully examine the table at which +he periodically takes his place and see if it will bear the threefold +test of I Cor. xi., and if not, let him, in the name of the Lord, and +for the sake of the Church, abandon it. There are heresies, and schisms +flowing from heresies, in the professing Church, but "let a man approve +himself, and so let him eat" the Lord's Supper; and if, once for all, it +be asked, What means the term "approved?" it may be answered, It is in +the first place, to be personally true to the Lord in the act of +breaking bread; and in the next place, to shake off all schism, and take +our stand, firmly and decidedly, upon the broad principle which will +embrace all the members of the flock of Christ. We are not only to be +careful that we ourselves are walking in purity of heart and life before +the Lord; but also, that the table of which we partake has nothing +connected with it that could at all act as a barrier to the unity of the +Church. It is not merely a personal question. Nothing more fully proves +the low ebb of Christianity at the present day, or the fearful extent to +which the Holy Ghost is grieved, than the miserable selfishness which +tinges, yea, pollutes, the thoughts of professing Christians. Everything +is made to hinge upon the mere question of self. It is _my_ +forgiveness--_my_ safety--_my_ peace--_my_ happy frames and feelings, and +not the glory of Christ, or the welfare of His beloved Church. Well, +therefore, may the words of the prophet be applied to us, "Thus saith +the Lord, Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain and bring wood, and +BUILD THE HOUSE; and I will take pleasure in _it_ and I WILL BE +GLORIFIED. Ye looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when ye +brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. +Because of _My house_ that is waste, and ye run every man to _his own_ +house" (Hag. i. 7-9). Here is the root of the matter. Self stands in +contrast with the house of God; and, if self be made the object, no +marvel that there should be a sad lack of spiritual joy, energy, and +power. To have these, we must be in fellowship with the Spirit's +thoughts. He thinks of the body of Christ; and, if we are thinking of +self, we must be at issue with Him; and the consequences are but too +apparent. + + +II. Having now treated of what I conceive to be by far the most +important point in our subject, I shall proceed to consider, in the +second place, the circumstances under which the Lord's Supper was +instituted. These were particularly solemn and touching. The Lord was +about to enter into dreadful conflict with all the powers of +darkness--to meet all the deadly enmity of man; and to drain to the +dregs the cup of Jehovah's righteous wrath against sin. He had a +terrible morrow before Him--the most terrible that had ever been +encountered by man or angel; yet, notwithstanding all this, we read that +"on _the same night_ in which He was betrayed, He took bread." What +unselfish love is here! "The same night"--the night of profound +sorrow--the night of His agony and bloody sweat---the night of His +betrayal by one, and His denial by another, and His desertion by all of +His disciples--on that very night, the loving heart of Jesus was full of +thoughts about His Church--on that very night He instituted the +ordinance of the Lord's Supper. He appointed the bread to be the emblem +of His body broken, and the wine to be the emblem of His blood shed; and +such they are to us now, as often as we partake of them, for the Word +assures us that "as often as ye eat _this bread_ and drink _this cup_, +ye do show _the Lord's death_, till He come." + +Now, all this, we may say, attaches peculiar importance and sacred +solemnity to the Supper of the Lord; and, moreover, gives us some idea +of the consequences of eating and drinking unworthily.[XIV.] + +The voice which the ordinance utters in the circumcised ear is ever the +same. The bread and the wine are deeply significant symbols; the bruised +corn and the pressed grape being both combined to minister strength and +gladness to the heart: and not only are they significant in themselves, +but they are also to be used in the Lord's Supper, as being the very +emblems which the blessed Master Himself ordained on the night previous +to His crucifixion; so that faith can behold the Lord Jesus presiding at +_His own table_--can see Him take the bread and the wine, and hear Him +say, "Take, eat; this is My body;" and again, of the cup, "Drink ye +_all_ of it. For this is My blood of the New Testament which is shed for +many for the remission of sins." In a word, the ordinance leads the soul +back to the eventful night already referred to--brings before us all the +reality of the cross and passion of the Lamb of God, in which our whole +souls can rest and rejoice; it reminds us, in the most impressive +manner, of the unselfish love and pure devotedness of Him, who, when +Calvary was casting its dark shadow across His path, and the cup of +Jehovah's righteous wrath against sin, of which He was about to be the +bearer, was being filled for Him, could, nevertheless, busy Himself +about us, and institute a feast which was to be both the expression of +our connection with Him, and with all the members of His body. + +And may we not infer, that the Holy Ghost made use of the expression +"_the same night_," for the purpose of remedying the disorders that had +arisen in the church at Corinth? Was there not a severe rebuke +administered to the selfishness of those who were taking "_their own +supper_," in the Spirit's reference to the same night in which the Lord +of the feast was betrayed? Doubtless there was. Can selfishness live in +the view of the cross? Can thoughts about our own interests, or our own +gratification, be indulged in the presence of Him who sacrificed Himself +for us? Surely not. Could we heartlessly and wilfully despise the Church +of God--could we offend or exclude beloved members of the flock of +Christ, while gazing on that cross on which the Shepherd of the flock, +and the Head of the body, was crucified?[XV.] Ah, no; let believers +only keep near the cross--let them remember "the same night"--let them +keep in mind the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, +and there will soon be an end to heresy, schism, and selfishness. If we +could only bear in mind that the Lord Himself presides at the table, to +dispense the bread and wine; if we could hear Him say, "Take this, and +divide it among yourselves," we should be better able to meet _all_ our +brethren on the _only_ Christian ground of fellowship which God can own. +In a word, the person of Christ is God's centre of union. "I," said +Christ, "if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto _Me_." +Each believer can hear his blessed Master speaking from the cross, and +saying of his fellow believers, "_Behold thy brethren_;" and, truly, if +we could distinctly hear this, we should act, in a measure, as the +beloved disciple acted towards the mother of Jesus; our hearts and our +homes would be open to all who have been thus commended to our care. The +word is, "_Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the +glory of God_." + +There is another point worthy of notice, in connection with the +circumstances under which the Lord's Supper was instituted, namely, its +connection with the Jewish Passover. "Then came the day of unleavened +bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, +saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat.... And _when +the hour was come_, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. And +He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with +you before I suffer; for I say unto you, I will not any more eat +thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. And He took the +cup [i. e., the cup of the Passover], and gave thanks, and said, Take +this and divide it among yourselves; for I say unto you, I will not +drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come" +(Luke xxii. 7-18). The Passover was, as we know, the great feast of +Israel, first observed on the memorable night of their happy deliverance +from the thralldom of Egypt. As to its connection with the Lord's +Supper, it consists in its being the marked _type_ of that of which the +Supper is the _memorial_. The Passover pointed _forward_ to the cross; +the Supper points _back_ to it. But Israel was no longer in a fit moral +condition to keep the Passover, according to the divine thoughts about +it; and the Lord Jesus, on the occasion above referred to, was leading +His apostles away altogether from the Jewish element to a new order of +things. It was no longer to be a lamb sacrificed, but bread broken and +wine drunk in commemoration of a sacrifice ONCE offered, the efficacy of +which was to be eternal. Those whose minds are bowed down to Jewish +ordinances, may still look, in some way or another, for the periodical +repetition, either of a sacrifice, or of something which is to bring +them into a place of greater nearness to God.[XVI.] + +Some there are who think that in the Lord's Supper the soul makes, or +renews, a covenant with God, not knowing that if we were to enter into +covenant with God, we should inevitably be ruined; as the only possible +issue of a covenant between God and man is the failure of one of the +parties (i. e., man), and consequent judgment. Thank God, there is no +such thing as a covenant with us. The bread and wine, in the Supper, +speak a deep and wondrous truth; they tell of the broken body and shed +blood of the Lamb of God--the Lamb of God's own providing. Here the soul +can rest with perfect complacency; it is THE NEW TESTAMENT IN THE BLOOD +OF CHRIST, and not a covenant between God and man. Man's covenant had +signally failed, and the Lord Jesus had to allow the cup of the fruit of +the vine (the emblem of joy in the earth) to pass Him by. Earth had no +joy for Him--Israel had become "the degenerate plant of a strange +vine;" wherefore, He had only to say, "I will not drink of the fruit of +the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come." A long and dreary season +was to pass over Israel, ere her King could take any joy in her moral +condition: but, during that time, "the Church of God" was to "keep the +feast" of unleavened bread, in all its moral power and significance, by +putting away the "old leaven of malice and wickedness," as the fruit of +fellowship with Him whose blood cleanseth from all sin. + +However, the fact of the Lord's Supper having been instituted +immediately after the Passover, teaches us a very valuable principle of +truth, viz., this: the destinies of the Church and of Israel are +inseparably linked with the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. True, the +Church has a higher place, even identification with her risen and +glorified Head; yet all rests upon the Cross. Yes; it was on the cross +that the pure sheaf of corn was bruised and the juices of the living +vine pressed forth by the hand of Jehovah Himself, to yield strength and +gladness to the hearts of His heavenly and earthly people forever. The +Prince of Life took from Jehovah's righteous hand the cup of wrath, the +cup of trembling, and drained it to the dregs in order that He might put +into the hands of His people the cup of salvation, the cup of God's +ineffable love, that they might drink and forget their poverty, and +remember their misery no more. The Lord's Supper expresses all this. +There the Lord presides; there the redeemed should meet in holy +fellowship and brotherly love, to eat and drink before the Lord; and +while they do so, they can look back at their Master's _night_ of deep +sorrow, and forward to His day of glory--that "morning without clouds," +when "He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in +all them that believe." + + +III. We shall now consider, in the third place, the persons for whom, +and for whom _alone_, the Lord's Supper was instituted. + +The Lord's Supper, then, was instituted for the Church of God--the +family of the redeemed. All the members of that family should be there; +for none can be absent without incurring the guilt of disobedience to +the plain command of Christ and His inspired apostle; and the +consequence of this disobedience will be positive spiritual decline and +a complete failure in testimony for Christ. Such consequences, however, +are the result only of wilful absence from the Lord's table. There are +circumstances which, in certain cases, may present an insurmountable +barrier, though there might be the most earnest desire to be present at +the celebration of the ordinance, as there ever will be where the mind +is spiritual; but we may lay it down as a fixed principle of truth that +no one can make progress in the divine life who wilfully absents himself +from the Lord's table. "ALL the congregation of Israel" were commanded +to keep the passover (Ex. xii.). + +No member of the congregation could with impunity be absent. "The man +that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the +passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: +because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, +that man shall bear his sin" (Num. ix. 13). + +I feel that it would be rendering really valuable service to the cause +of truth, and a furtherance of the interests of the Church of God, if an +interest could be awakened on this important subject. There is too much +lightness and indifference in the minds of Christians as to the matter +of their attendance at the table of the Lord; and where there is not +this indifference, there is an unwillingness arising from imperfect +views of justification. Now both these hindrances, though so different +in their character, spring from one and the same source, viz., +selfishness. He who is indifferent about the matter will selfishly allow +trifling circumstances to interfere with his attendance: he will be +hindered by family arrangements, love of personal ease, unfavorable +weather, trifling or, as it frequently happens, imaginary bodily +ailments--things which are lost sight of or counted as nothing when some +worldly object is to be gained. How often does it happen that men who +have not spiritual energy to leave their houses on the Lord's day have +abundant natural energy to carry them some miles to gain some worldly +object on Monday. Alas that it should be so! How sad to think that +worldly gain could exert a more powerful influence on the heart of the +Christian than the glory of Christ and the furtherance of the Church's +benefit! for this is the way in which we must view the question of the +Lord's Supper. What would be our feelings, amid the glory of the coming +kingdom, if we could remember that, while on earth, a fair or a market, +or some such worldly object, had commanded our time and energies, while +the assembly of the Lord's people around His table was neglected? + +Beloved Christian reader, if you are in the habit of absenting yourself +from the assembly of Christians, I pray you to ponder the matter before +the Lord ere you absent yourself again. Reflect upon the pernicious +effect of your absence in every way. You are failing in your testimony +for Christ; you are injuring the souls of your brethren, and you are +hindering the progress of your own soul in grace and knowledge. Do not +suppose that your actings are without their influence on the whole +Church of God: you are at this moment either helping or hindering every +member of that body on earth. "If _one_ member suffer, all the members +suffer with it." This principle has not ceased to be true, though +professing Christians have split into so many different divisions. Nay, +it is so divinely true, that there is not a single believer on earth who +is not acting either as a helper to, or a drain upon, the whole body of +Christ; and if there be any truth in the principle already laid down +(viz., that the assembly of Christians and the breaking of bread in any +given locality is, or ought to be, the expression of the unity of the +whole body), you cannot fail to see that if you absent yourself from +that assembly, or refuse to join in giving expression to that unity, you +are doing serious damage to all your brethren as well as to your own +soul. I would lay these considerations on your heart and conscience, in +the name of the Lord, looking to Him to make them influential.[XVII.] + +But not only does this culpable and pernicious indifference of spirit +act as a hindrance to many, in presenting themselves at the Lord's +table; imperfect views of justification produce the same unhappy result. +If the conscience be not perfectly purged, if there be not perfect rest +in God's testimony about the finished work of Christ, there will either +be a shrinking from the Supper of the Lord, or an unintelligent +celebration of it. Those only can show the Lord's death who know, +through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, the value of the Lord's death. +If I regard the ordinance as a means whereby I am to be brought into a +place of greater nearness to God, or whereby I am to obtain a clearer +sense of my acceptance, it is impossible that I can rightly observe it. +I must believe, as the gospel commands me to believe, that ALL my sins +are FOREVER put away ere I can take my place with any measure of +spiritual intelligence at the Lord's table. If the matter be not viewed +in this light, the Lord's Supper can only be regarded as a kind of step +to the altar of God, and we are told in the law that we are not to go up +by steps to God's altar, lest our nakedness be discovered (Ex. xx. 26). +The meaning of which is, that all human efforts to approach God must +issue in the discovery of human nakedness. + +Thus we see that if it be indifference that prevents the Christian from +being at the breaking of bread, it is most culpable in the sight of God, +and most injurious to his brethren and himself; and if it be an +imperfect sense of justification that prevents, it is not only +unwarrantable, but most dishonoring to the love of the Father, the work +of the Son, and the clear and unequivocal testimony of the Holy Ghost. + +But it is not unfrequently said, and that, too, by those who profess +spirituality and intelligence, "I derive no spiritual benefit by going +to the assembly: I am as happy in my own room, reading my Bible." I +would affectionately ask such, Are we to have no higher object before us +in our actings than our own happiness? Is not obedience to the command +of our blessed Master--a command delivered on "the same night in which +He was betrayed"--a far higher and nobler object to set before us than +anything connected with self? If He desires that His people should +assemble in His name, for the express object of showing forth His death +till He come, shall we refuse because we feel happier in our own rooms? +He tells us to be there: we reply, "We feel happier at home." Our +happiness, therefore, must be based on disobedience; and, as such, it is +an unholy happiness. It is much better, if it should be so, to be +unhappy in the path of obedience than happy in the path of disobedience. +But I verily believe, the thought of being happier at home is a mere +delusion, and the end of those deluded by it will prove it such. Thomas +might have deemed it indifferent whether he was present with the other +disciples, but he had to do without the Lord's presence, and to wait for +eight days, until the disciples came together on the first day of the +week; for there and then the Lord was pleased to reveal Himself to his +soul. And just so will it be with those who say, "We feel happier at +home than in the assembly of believers." They will surely be behindhand +in knowledge and experience; yea, it will be well if they come not under +the terrible woe denounced by the prophet: "Woe to the idol shepherd +that _leaveth the flock_! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his +right eye; his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be +utterly darkened" (Zech. xi. 17). And again, "Not forsaking the +assembling of ourselves together, _as the manner of some is_; but +exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day +approaching. For if we sin wilfully, after that we have received the +knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but +a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which +shall devour the adversaries" (Heb. x. 25-27). + +As to the objection upon the grounds of the barrenness and +unprofitableness of Christian assemblies, it will generally be remarked +that the greatest spiritual barrenness will always be found in +connection with a captious and complaining spirit; and I doubt not that +if those who complain of the unprofitableness of meetings, and draw from +thence an argument in favor of their remaining at home, were to spend +more time in secret waiting on the Lord for His blessing on the +meetings, they would have a very different experience. + +And now, having shown from Scripture who ought to be at the breaking of +bread, we shall proceed to consider who ought _not_. On this point +Scripture is equally explicit: in a word, then, none should be there who +are not members of the true Church of God. The same law which commanded +_all_ the congregation of Israel to eat the passover, commanded all +uncircumcised strangers _not_ to eat; and now that Christ our Passover +has been sacrificed for us, none can keep the feast, (which is to extend +throughout this entire dispensation,) nor break the bread nor drink the +wine in true remembrance of Him, save those who know the cleansing and +healing virtues of His precious blood. To eat and drink without this +knowledge, is to eat and drink unworthily--to eat and drink judgment; +like the woman in Num. v. who drank the water of jealousy, to make the +condemnation more manifest and awfully solemn. + +Now it is in this that Christendom's guilt is specially manifest. In +taking the Lord's Supper, the professing Church has, like Judas, put her +hand on the table with Christ and betrayed Him; she has eaten with Him, +and at the same time lifted up her heel against Him. What will be her +end? Just like the end of Judas. "He, then, having received the sop, +_went immediately out_: and"--the Holy Ghost adds, in awful +solemnity--"IT WAS NIGHT." Terrible night! The strongest expression of +divine love only elicited the strongest expression of human hatred. So +will it be with the false professing Church collectively, and each false +professor individually; and all those who, though baptized in the name +of Christ, and sitting down at the table of Christ, have nevertheless +been His betrayers, will find themselves at last thrust out into outer +darkness--involved in a night which shall never see the beams of the +morning--plunged in a gulf of endless and ineffable woe; and though they +may be able to say to the Lord, "We have eaten and drunk in Thy +presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets," yet His solemn, +heartrending reply will be, while He shuts the door against them, +"Depart from Me! I never knew you." O reader, think of this, I pray you; +and if you be yet in your sins, defile not the Lord's table by your +presence; but instead of going thither as a hypocrite, repair to Calvary +as a poor ruined and guilty sinner, and there receive pardon and +cleansing from Him who died to save just such as you are. + + +IV. Having now considered, through the Lord's mercy, the nature of the +Lord's Supper; the circumstances under which it was instituted; and the +persons for whom it was designed; I would only add a word as to what +Scripture teaches us about the time and manner of its celebration. + +Although the Lord's Supper was not _first_ instituted on the first day +of the week, yet the twenty-fourth of Luke and the twentieth of Acts are +quite sufficient to prove, to a mind subject to the Word, that that is +the day on which the ordinance should specially be observed. The Lord +broke bread with His disciples on "the first day of the week" (Luke +xxiv. 30); and "on the first day of the week the disciples came together +to break bread" (Acts xx. 7). These scriptures are quite sufficient to +prove that it is not once a month, nor once in three months, nor once in +six months, that disciples should come together to break bread, but once +a week at least, and that upon the first day of the week. Nor can we +have any difficulty in seeing that there is a moral fitness in the first +day of the week for the celebration of the Lord's Supper: it is the +resurrection day--the Church's day, in contrast with the seventh, which +was Israel's day; and as, in the institution of the ordinance, the Lord +led His disciples away from Jewish things altogether, (by refusing to +drink of the fruit of the vine--the passover cup,--and then instituting +another ordinance) so, in the day on which that ordinance was to be +celebrated, we observe the same contrast between heavenly and earthly +things. It is in the power of resurrection that we can rightly show the +Lord's death. When the conflict was over, Melchizedek brought forth +bread and wine, and blessed Abram, in the name of the Lord. Thus, too, +our Melchizedek, when all the conflict was over and the victory gained, +came forth in resurrection with bread and wine, to strengthen and cheer +the hearts of His people, and to breathe upon them that peace which He +had so dearly purchased. + +If, then, the first day of the week be the day on which Scripture +teaches the disciples to break bread, it is clear that man has no +authority to alter the period to once a month, or once in six months. +And I doubt not, when the affections are lively and fervent toward the +person of the Lord Himself, the Christian will desire to show the Lord's +death as frequently as possible: indeed, it would seem, from the opening +of Acts, that the disciples broke bread daily. This we may infer from +the expression "breaking bread from house to house" (or "at home"). +However, we are not left to depend upon mere inference as to the +question of the first day of the week being the day on which the +disciples came together to break bread: we are distinctly taught this, +and we see its moral fitness and beauty. + +Thus much as to the _time_. And now one word about the _manner_. It +should be the special aim of Christians to show that the breaking of +bread is their grand and primary object in coming together on the first +day of the week. They should show that it is not for preaching or +teaching that they assemble, though teaching may be a happy adjunct, but +that the breaking of bread is the leading object before their minds. It +is the work of Christ which we show forth in the Supper, wherefore it +should have the first place; and when it has been duly set forth, there +should be a full and unqualified opening left for the work of the Holy +Ghost in ministry. The office of the Spirit is to set forth and exalt +the name, the person and the work of Christ; and if He be allowed to +order and govern the assembly of Christians, as He undoubtedly should, +He will ever give the work of Christ the primary place. + +I cannot close this paper without expressing my deep sense of the +feebleness and shallowness of all that I have advanced, on a subject of +really commanding interest. I do feel before the Lord, in whose presence +I desire to write and speak, that I have so failed to bring out the full +truth about this matter, that I almost shrink from letting these pages +see the light. It is not that I have a shadow of doubt as to the truth +of what I have endeavored to state; no: but I feel that, in writing upon +such a subject as the breaking of bread, at the time when there is such +sad confusion among professing Christians, there is a demand for +pointed, clear, and lucid statements, to which I am little able to +respond. + +We have but little conception of how entirely the question of the +breaking of bread is connected with the Church's position and testimony +on earth; and we have as little conception of how thoroughly the +question has been misunderstood by the professing Church. The breaking +of bread ought to be the distinct enunciation of the fact that all +believers are _one body_; but the professing Church, by splitting into +sects, and by setting up a table for each sect, has practically denied +that fact. + +In truth, the breaking of bread has been cast into the background. The +table, at which the Lord should preside, is almost lost sight of, by +being placed in the shade of the pulpit, in which man presides: the +pulpit, which, alas! is too often the instrument of creating and +perpetuating disunion, is, to many minds, the commanding object; while +the table, which if properly understood would perpetuate love and unity, +is made quite a secondary thing. And even in the most laudable effort to +recover from such a lamentable condition of things, what complete +failure have we seen. What has the Evangelical Alliance effected? It has +effected this, at least, it has developed a need existing among +professing Christians, which they are confessedly unable to meet. They +want union, and are unable to attain it. Why? Because they will not give +up everything which has been _added_ to the truth to meet together +according to the truth, to break bread as disciples. I say, _as +disciples_, and not as Church-men, Independents, Baptists, etc. It is +not that all such may not have much valuable truth, I mean those of them +who love our Lord Jesus Christ: they certainly may; but they have no +_truth_ that should prevent them from meeting _together_ to break bread. +How could truth ever hinder Christians from giving expression to the +unity of the Church? Impossible! A sectarian spirit in those who hold +truth may do this, but truth never can. But how is it now in the +professing Church? Christians, of various communities, can meet for the +purpose of reading, praying, and singing together during the week, but +when the first day of the week arrives, they have not the least idea of +giving the only real and effectual expression of their unity, which the +Holy Ghost can recognize, which is the breaking of bread. "We being many +are one bread and one body; for we are _all_ partakers of that _one_ +bread." + +The sin at Corinth was their not tarrying one for another. This appears +from the exhortation with which the apostle sums up the whole question +(I Cor. xi.), "Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, +tarry one for another." Why were they to tarry one for another? Surely, +in order that they might the more clearly express their unity. But what +would the apostle have said, if, instead of coming together, into one +place, they had gone to different places, according to their different +views of truth? He might then say with, if possible, greater force, "Ye +cannot eat the Lord's Supper." (See _margin_.) + +It may, however, be asked, "How could all the believers in London meet +in one place?" I reply, if they could not meet in one place, they could, +at least, meet on one principle. But how did the believers at Jerusalem +meet together? The answer is, they were "_of one accord_." This being +so, they had little difficulty about the question of a meeting-room. +"Solomon's porch," or anywhere else, would suit their purpose. They gave +expression to their unity, and that, too, in a way not to be mistaken. +Neither various localities, nor various measures of knowledge and +attainment, could, in the least, interfere with their unity. There was +"one body and one Spirit." + +Finally, I would say, the Lord will assuredly honor those who have faith +to believe and confess the unity of the Church on earth; and the greater +the difficulty in the way of doing so, the greater will be the honor. +The Lord grant to all His people a single eye, and a humble and honest +spirit. + + Thy broken body, gracious Lord, + Is shadowed by this broken bread; + The wine which in this cup is poured + Points to the blood which Thou hast shed. + + And while we meet together thus, + We show that we are one in Thee; + Thy precious blood was shed for us-- + Thy death, O Lord, has set us free. + + Brethren in Thee, in union sweet-- + Forever be Thy grace adored-- + 'Tis in Thy name, that now we meet, + And know Thou'rt with us, gracious Lord. + + We have one hope--that Thou wilt come; + Thee in the air we wait to see, + When Thou wilt take Thy people home, + And we shall ever reign with Thee. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[XI.] It is needful to bear in mind that, while the blood of Christ is +that alone which introduces the believer, in holy boldness, into the +presence of God, yet it is nowhere set forth as our centre, or bond of +union. Truly precious is it for every blood-washed soul to remember, in +the secret of the divine presence, that the atoning blood of Jesus has +rolled away for ever his heavy burden of sin. Yet the Holy Ghost can +only gather us to the person of a risen and glorified Christ, who, +having shed the blood of the everlasting covenant, is gone up into +heaven in the power of an endless life, to which divine righteousness +inseparably attaches. A living Christ, therefore, is our centre and bond +of union. The blood having answered for us to God, we gather round our +risen and exalted Head in the heavens. "I, if I be lifted up from the +earth, will draw all men unto _Me_." We behold in the cup in the Lord's +Supper the symbol of shed blood; but we are neither gathered round the +cup nor the blood, but round Him who shed it. The blood of the Lamb has +put away every obstacle to our fellowship with God; and in proof of this +the Holy Ghost has come down to baptize believers into one body, and +gather them round the risen and glorified Head. The wine is _the +memorial_ of a life shed out for sin: the bread is _the memorial_ of a +body broken for sin: but we are not gathered round a life poured out, +nor round a body broken, but round a living Christ, who dieth no more, +who cannot have His body broken any more, or His blood shed any more. +This makes a serious difference; and when looked at in connection with +the discipline of the house of God, the difference is immensely +important. Very many are apt to imagine that when any one is put away +from or refused communion, the question is raised as to there being a +link between his soul and Christ. A moment's consideration of this point +in the light of Scripture will be sufficient to prove that no such +question is raised. If we look at the case of the "wicked person" in I +Cor. v., we see one put away from the communion of the Church on earth +who was nevertheless a Christian, as people say. He was not, therefore, +put away because he was not a Christian: such a question was never +raised; nor should it be in any case. How can we tell whether a man is +eternally linked with Christ or not? Have we the custody of the Lamb's +book of life? Is the discipline of the Church of God founded upon what +we can know, or upon what we _cannot_? Was the man in I Cor. v. linked +eternally with Christ, or not? Was the Church told to inquire? Even +suppose we could see a man's name written in the book of life, that +would not be the ground of receiving him into the assembly on earth, or +retaining him there. That which the Church is held responsible for, is +to keep herself pure in doctrine, pure in practice, and pure in +association, and all this on the ground of being God's house. "Thy +testimonies are very sure; holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, for +ever." When any one was separated, or "cut off," from the congregation +of Israel, was it because of not being an Israelite? By no means; but +because of some moral or ceremonial defilement which could not be +tolerated in God's Assembly. In Achan's case (Josh. vii.), although +there were six hundred thousand souls ignorant of his sin, yet God says, +"_Israel hath sinned_." Why? Because they were looked at as God's +Assembly, and there was defilement there which, if not judged, all would +have been broken up. + +[XII.] Those who are competent to do so can look at the original of this +important chapter, where they will see that the word translated +"approved" (ver. 19) comes from the same root as that translated +"examine himself" (ver. 28). Thus we see that the man who approves +himself takes his place amongst the approved, and is the very opposite +of those who were amongst the heretics. Now the meaning of a heretic is +not merely one who holds false doctrine, though one may be a heretic in +so doing, but one who persists in the exercise of _his own will_. The +apostle knew that there must be heresies at Corinth, seeing that there +were sects: those who were doing their own will were acting in +opposition to God's will, and thus producing division; for God's will +had reference to the whole body. Those who were acting heretically were +despising the Church of God. + +[XIII.] It may be well to add a word here for the guidance of any +simple-hearted Christian who may find himself placed in circumstances in +which he is called upon to decide between the claims of different tables +which might seem to be spread upon the same principle. To confirm and +encourage such an one in a truthful course of action, I should regard as +a most valuable service. + +Suppose, then, I find myself in a place where two or more tables have +been spread; what am I to do? I believe I am to inquire into the +_origin_ of these various tables, to see how it became needful to have +more than one table. If, for example, a number of Christians meeting +together have admitted and retained amongst them any unsound principles, +affecting the person of the Son of God, or subversive of the unity of +the Church of God on earth; if, I say, such principles be admitted and +retained in the assembly, or if persons who hold and teach them be +received and acknowledged by the assembly; under such painful and +humiliating circumstances the faithful can no longer be there. Why? +Because I cannot take my place at it without identifying myself with +manifestly unchristian principles. The same remark, of course, applies +if the case be that of corrupt conduct unjudged by the assembly. + +Now, if a number of Christians should find themselves placed in the +circumstances above described, they would be called upon to maintain THE +PURITY OF THE TRUTH OF GOD while acknowledging as ever the oneness of +the body. We have not only to maintain the grace of the Lord's table, +but the _holiness_ of it also. Truth is not to be sacrificed in order to +maintain unity, nor will _true_ unity ever be interfered with by the +strict maintenance of truth. + +It is not to be imagined that the unity of the body of Christ is +interfered with when a community based upon unsound principles, or +countenancing unsound doctrine or practice, is separated from. The +Church of Rome charged the Reformers with schism because they separated +from her; but we know that the Church of Rome lay, and still lies, under +the charge of schism because she imposes false doctrine upon her +members. Let it only be ascertained that the truth of God is called in +question by any community, and that, to be a member of that community, I +must identify myself with unsound doctrine or corrupt practice, and then +it cannot be schism to separate from such a community; nay, I am bound +to separate. + +[XIV.] It is usual to apply the term "unworthily," in this passage, to +_persons_ doing the act, whereas it really refers to the _manner_ of +doing it. The apostle never thought of calling in question the +Christianity of the Corinthians; nay, in the opening address of his +epistle, he looks at them as "the Church of God which is at Corinth, +sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints" (or saints by calling). How +could he use this language in the first chapter, and in the eleventh +call in question the worthiness of these saints to take their seat at +the Lord's Supper? Impossible. He looked upon them as saints, and as +such he exhorted them to celebrate the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner. +The question of any but true Christians being there, is never raised; so +that it is utterly impossible that the word "unworthily" could apply to +_persons_. Its application is entirely to the _manner_. The persons were +worthy, but their manner was not; and they were called, as saints, to +judge themselves as to their _ways_, else the Lord might judge them in +their _persons_ as was already the case. In a word, it was as true +Christians they were called to judge themselves. If they were in doubt +as to that, they were utterly unable to judge anything. I never think of +setting my child to judge as to whether he is my child or not; but I +expect him to judge himself as to his habits, else, if he do not, I may +have to do, by chastening, what he ought to do by self-judgment. It is +because I look upon him as my child, that I will not allow him to sit at +my table with soiled garments and disorderly manners. + +[XV.] The reader will bear in mind that the text does not touch the +question of Scriptural discipline. There may be many members of the +flock of Christ who could not be received into the Assembly on earth, +inasmuch as they may possibly be leavened by false doctrine, or wrong +practice. But, though we might not be able to receive them, we do not, +by any means, raise the question as to their being in the Lamb's book of +life. This is not the province nor the prerogative of the Church of God. +"_The Lord_ knoweth them that are His; and let every one that nameth the +name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. ii. 19). + +[XVI.] The church of Rome has so entirely departed from the truth set +forth in the Lord's Supper, that she professes to offer, in the mass, +"an unbloody sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead." Now, we +are taught, in Heb. ix. 22, that "without shedding of blood is no +remission;" consequently, the church of Rome has no remission of sins +for her members. She robs them of this precious reality, and instead +thereof, gives them an anomalous and utterly unscriptural thing, called +"an unbloody sacrifice, or mass." This, which, according to her own +practice and the testimony of Heb. ix. 22, can never take away sin, she +offers day by day, week by week, and year by year. A sacrifice without +blood must, if Scripture be true, be a sacrifice without remission. +Hence, therefore, the sacrifice of the mass is a positive blind raised +by the devil, through the agency of Rome, to hide from the sinner's view +the glorious sacrifice of Christ, "_once offered_," and never to be +repeated. "Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath +no more dominion over Him" (Rom. vi. 9). Every fresh sacrifice of the +mass only declares the inefficiency of all the previous sacrifices, so +that Rome is only mocking the sinner with an empty shadow. But she is +consistent in her wickedness, for she withholds the cup from the laity, +and teaches her members that they have body and blood and all in the +wafer. But, if the blood be still in the body, it is manifestly not +shed, and then we get back to the same gloomy point, namely, "no +remission." "Without shedding of blood is no remission." + +How totally different is the precious and most refreshing institution of +the Lord's Supper, as set before us in the New Testament. There we find +the bread broken, and the wine poured out--the significant symbols of a +body broken, and of blood shed. The wine is not in the bread, because +the blood is not in the body, for, if it were, there would be "no +remission." In a word, the Lord's Supper is the distinct memorial of an +eternally accomplished sacrifice; and none can communicate thereat, with +intelligence or blessing, save those who know the full remission of +sins. It is not that we would, by any means, make knowledge a term of +communion, for very many of the children of God, through bad teaching, +and various other causes, do not know the perfect remission of sins, and +were they to be excluded on that ground, it would be making _knowledge_ +a term of communion, instead of _life_ and _obedience_. Still, if I do +not know, experimentally, that redemption is an accomplished fact, I +shall see but little meaning in the symbols of bread and wine; and, +moreover, I shall be in great danger of attaching a species of efficacy +to the memorials, which belongs only to the great reality to which they +point. + +[XVII.] I can only feel myself responsible to present myself in the +assembly when it is gathered on proper Church ground, i. e., the ground +laid down in the New Testament. People may assemble, and call themselves +the Church of God, in any given locality, but if they do not exhibit the +characteristic features and principles of the Church of God as set forth +in Holy Scripture, I cannot own them. If they refuse, or lack spiritual +power, to judge worldliness, carnality, or false doctrine, they are +evidently not on proper Church ground: they are merely a religious +fraternity, which, in its collective character, I am in no wise +responsible before God to own. Hence the child of God needs much +spiritual power, and subjection to the Word, to be able to carry himself +through all the windings of the professing Church in this peculiarly +evil and difficult day. + + + + +THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD + +OR, THE + +ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE NAME OF JESUS + + +In a day like the present, when almost every new idea becomes the centre +or gathering-point of some new association, we cannot but feel the value +of having divinely formed convictions as to what the assembly of God +really is. We live in a time of unusual mental activity, and hence there +is the more urgent need of calm and prayerful study of the word of God. +That Word, blessed be its Author, is like a rock amid the ocean of human +thought. There it stands unmoved, notwithstanding the raging of the +storm and the ceaseless lashing of the waves. And not only does it thus +stand unmoved itself, but it imparts its own stability to all who simply +take their stand upon it. What a mercy to make one's escape from the +heavings and tossings of the stormy ocean, and find a calm resting place +on that everlasting Rock. + +This, truly, is a mercy. Were it not that we have "the law and the +testimony," where should we be? Whither should we go? What should we do? +What darkness! What confusion! What perplexity! + +A thousand jarring voices fall, at times, upon the ear, and each voice +seems to speak with such authority, that if one is not well taught and +grounded in the Word, there is great danger of being drawn away, or, at +least, sadly unhinged. One man will tell you that _this_ is right; +another will tell you _that_ is right; a third will tell you that +_everything_ is right; and a fourth will tell you that _nothing_ is +right. With reference to the question of church position, you will meet +with some who go _here_; some who go _there_; some who go _everywhere_; +and some who go _nowhere_. + +Now, under such circumstances, what is one to do? All cannot possibly be +right. And yet, surely, there is something right. It cannot be that we +are _compelled_ to live in error, in darkness, or uncertainty. "_There +is a path_," blessed be God, though "no fowl knoweth it, and the +vulture's eye hath not seen it. The lion's whelps have not trodden it, +nor the fierce lion passed by it." Where is this safe and blessed path? +Hear the divine reply: "Behold, _the fear of the Lord_, that is wisdom: +and _to depart from evil_ is understanding" (Job xxviii.). + +Let us, therefore, in the fear of the Lord, in the light of His +infallible truth, and in humble dependence upon the teaching of the Holy +Spirit, proceed to the examination of the subject which stands at the +head of this paper; and may we have grace to abandon all confidence in +our own thoughts, and the thoughts of others, so that we may heartily +and honestly yield ourselves up to be taught only of God. + +Now, in order to get fairly into the grand and all-important subject of +the assembly of God, we have first to state _a fact_; and, secondly, to +ask _a question_. The fact is this, _There is an assembly of God on the +earth_. The question is, _What is that assembly_? + +I. And, first then, as to our _fact_. There is such a thing as the +assembly of God on the earth. This is a most important fact, surely. God +has an assembly on the earth. I do not refer to any merely human +organization, such as the Greek Church; the Church of Rome; the Church +of England; the Church of Scotland; or to any of the various systems +which have sprung from these, framed and fashioned by man's hand, and +carried on by man's resources. I refer simply to that assembly which is +gathered by God the Holy Ghost, round the person of God the Son, to +worship and hold fellowship with God the Father. + +If we set forth upon our search for the assembly of God, or for any +expression thereof, with our minds full of prejudice, preconceived +thoughts, and personal predilections; or if, in our searchings, we seek +the aid of the flickering light of the dogmas, opinions, and traditions +of men, nothing is more certain than that we shall fail to reach the +truth. To recognize God's assembly, we must be exclusively taught by +God's Word, and led by God's Spirit; for, of God's assembly, as well as +of the sons of God, it may be said, "the world knoweth it not." + +Hence, then, if we are, in any wise, governed by the spirit of the +world; if we desire to exalt man; if we seek to commend ourselves to the +thoughts of men; if our object be to gain the attractive ends of a +plausible and soul-ensnaring expediency, we may as well, forthwith, +abandon our search for any true expression of the assembly of God, and +take refuge in that form of human organization which most fully commends +itself to our thinkings or our conscientious convictions. + +Further, if our object be to find a religious community in which the +word of God is read, or in which the people of God are found, we may +speedily satisfy ourselves, for it would be hard indeed to find a +section of the professing Christian body in which one or both of these +objects might not be realized. + +Finally, if we merely aim at doing all the good we can, without any +question as to how we do it; if _Per fas aut nefas_, "right or wrong," +be our motto in whatever we undertake; if we are prepared to reverse +those weighty words of Samuel, and say that, "To sacrifice is better +than to obey, and the fat of rams better than to harken," then is it +worse than vain for us to pursue our search for the assembly of God, +inasmuch as that assembly can only be discovered and approved by one who +has been taught to flee from the thousand flowery pathways of human +expediency, and to submit his conscience, his heart, his understanding, +his whole moral being to the supreme authority of "Thus saith the +Lord." + +In one word, then, the obedient disciple knows that there is such a +thing as God's assembly: and he it is, too, that will be enabled, +through grace, to understand what is a true expression of it. The +sincere student of Scripture knows, full well, the difference between +that which is founded, formed, and governed by the wisdom and the will +of man, and that which is gathered round, and governed by Christ the +Lord. How vast is the difference! It is just the difference between God +and man. + +But we may here be asked for the Scripture proofs of our fact that there +is such a thing on the earth as _the_ assembly of God, and we shall, at +once, proceed to furnish these; for we may be permitted to say that, +without the authority of the Word, all statements are utterly valueless. +What, therefore, saith the Scripture? + +Our first proof shall be that famous passage, in Matthew xvi., "When +Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, +saying Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And they said, Some +say that Thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, +or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? +And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the +living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, +Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but +My Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art +Peter; and upon this rock I will build My assembly[XVIII.] ([Greek: +ekklesian]); and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (vers. +13-18). + +Here our blessed Lord intimates His purpose to build an assembly, and +sets forth the true foundation of that assembly, namely, "Christ, the +Son of the living God." This is an all-important point in our subject. +The building is founded on the Rock, and that Rock is not the poor +failing, stumbling, erring Peter, but CHRIST, the eternal Son of the +living God; and every stone in that building partakes of the Rock-life +which, as being victorious over all the power of the enemy, is +indestructible.[XIX.] + +Again, passing over a section of Matthew's Gospel, we come to an equally +familiar passage: "Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, +go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear +thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then +take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three +witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to +hear them, tell it unto the assembly, but if he neglect to hear the +assembly, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I +say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in +heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in +heaven. Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth +as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of +My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are _gathered_ +together _in My name_, there am I in the midst of them" (chap. xviii. +15-20). + +We shall have occasion to refer to this passage again, under the second +division of our subject. It is here introduced merely as a link in the +chain of Scripture evidence of the fact that there is such a thing as +the assembly of God on the earth. This assembly is not a name, a form, a +pretence, an assumption. It is a divine reality--an institution of God, +possessing His seal and sanction. It is a something to be appealed to in +all cases of personal trespass and dispute which cannot be settled by +the parties involved. This assembly may consist of only "two or three" +in any particular place--the smallest plurality, if you please; but +there it is, owned of God, and its decisions ratified in heaven. + +Now, we are not to be scared away from the truth on this subject, by the +fact that the church of Rome has attempted to base her monstrous +pretensions on the two passages which we have just quoted. That church +is not God's assembly, built on the Rock Christ, and gathered in the +name of Jesus; but a human apostasy, founded on a failing mortal, and +governed by the traditions and doctrines of men. We must not, therefore, +suffer ourselves to be deprived of God's reality by reason of Satan's +counterfeit. God has His assembly on the earth, and we are responsible +to confess the truth of it, and to be a practical expression of it. This +may be difficult, in a day of confusion like the present. It will demand +a single eye--a subject will--a mortified mind. But let the reader be +assured of this, that it is his privilege to possess as divine certainty +as to what is a true expression of the assembly of God, as surely as the +truth concerning his own salvation through the blood of the Lamb; nor +should he be satisfied without this. I should not be content to go on +for an hour without the assurance that I am, in spirit and principle, +associated with those whose ground of gathering is purely their common +membership in the assembly of God--that assembly which includes all +saints. I say, in spirit and principle, because I may happen to be in a +place where there is no such local expression of the assembly; in which +case I must be satisfied to hold fellowship, in spirit, with all those +who are thus gathered. + +This simplifies the matter amazingly. If I cannot have a true expression +of God's assembly, I shall have nothing. It will not do to point me to a +religious community, with some Christians therein, the gospel preached, +and the ordinances administered. + +I must be convinced that in very truth, they are gathered on that ground +which, in my heart and conscience, frees them from the charge of +sectarianism. I can own the children of God individually anywhere; but +sectarianism I cannot own or sanction. + +No doubt this will give offence. It will be called bigotry, +narrow-mindedness, intolerance, and the like. But this need not +discourage us. All we have to do is to ascertain the truth as to God's +assembly, and cleave to it, heartily and energetically, at all cost. If +God has an assembly--and Scripture says He has--then let me be with +those who maintain its principles, and nowhere else. It must be in this +as in all other matters, truth or nothing. If there be a local +expression of that assembly, well; be there in person. If not, be +content to hold spiritual communion with all who humbly and faithfully +own and occupy that holy ground. It may sound and seem like liberality +to be ready to sanction and go with everything and everybody. It may +appear very easy and very pleasant to be in a place "where everybody's +will is indulged, and nobody's conscience is exercised"--where we may +hold what we like, and say what we like, and do what we like, and go +where we like. All this may seem very delightful--very plausible--very +popular--very attractive; but oh! it will be barrenness and bitterness +in the end; and, in the day of the Lord, it will assuredly be burnt up +as so much wood, hay, and stubble, that cannot stand the action of His +judgment. + +But let us proceed with our Scripture proofs. In the Acts of the +Apostles, or rather, the Acts of the Holy Ghost, we find the assembly +formally set up. A passage or two will suffice: "And they, continuing +daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to +house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, +praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added +to the assembly, daily, such as should be saved" (Acts ii. 46, 47). Such +was the original, simple apostolic order. When a person was converted, +he thereby belonged to the assembly and took his place in it: there was +no difficulty in the matter, there were no sects or parties, each +claiming to be considered _a_ church, a cause, or an interest. There was +just the one thing, and that was the assembly of God, where He dwelt, +acted, and ruled. It was not a system formed according to the will, the +judgment, or even the conscience of man. Man had not, as yet, entered +upon the business of church-making. This was God's work. It was just as +exclusively God's province and prerogative to baptize the saved into one +body by one Spirit, as to save the scattered.[XX.] + +Why, we may justly inquire, should it be different now? Why should the +regenerated seek to belong to something else than that to which they +already belong--the assembly of God? Is not that sufficient? Assuredly. +Should they seek aught else? Assuredly not. We repeat, with emphasis, +"_Either that or nothing_." + +True it is, alas! that failure, and ruin, and apostasy have come in. +Man's wisdom, and his will; or, if you please, his reason, his judgment, +and his misguided conscience have wrought, in matters ecclesiastical, +and the result appears before us in the almost numberless and nameless +sects and parties of the present moment. Still, we are bold to say, that +the ground of assembling as at the beginning, simply as being members of +the assembly of God, remains the same, spite of all the failure, the +error, and the confusion, which have come in. The difficulty in +reaching it practically may be great, but its reality, when reached, is +unaltered, and unalterable. In apostolic times the assembly stood out, +in bold relief, from the dark background of Judaism on the one hand, and +Paganism on the other. It was impossible to mistake it; there it stood, +a grand reality! a company of living men, gathered, indwelt, ruled and +regulated by God the Holy Ghost, so that the unlearned or unbelieving +coming in, were convinced of all, and constrained to acknowledge that +God was there. (See carefully, I Cor. xii., xiv. throughout.) + +Thus, in this Gospel, our blessed Lord intimates His purpose of building +an assembly. This assembly is historically presented to us in the Acts +of the Apostles. Then, when we turn to the Epistles of Paul, we find him +addressing the assembly in seven distinct places, namely, Rome, Corinth, +Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica; and finally, in +the opening of the book of Revelation, we have addresses to seven +distinct assemblies. Now, in all these places, the assembly of God was a +plain, palpable, real thing, established and maintained by God Himself. +It was not a human organization, but a divine institution--a +testimony--a light bearer for God, in each place. + +Thus much as to our Scripture proofs of the fact that God has an +assembly on the earth, gathered, indwelt, and governed by the Holy Ghost +who is the true and only Vicar of Christ upon earth. The Gospel +prophetically intimates the assembly; the Acts historically presents the +assembly; and the Epistles formally address the assembly. All this is +plain. And if it be broken into fragments now, it is for us to be +gathered on the ground of the _one_ assembly of God, and to be a true +expression of it. + +And let it be carefully noted that we will listen to nothing on this +subject but the voice of Holy Scripture. Let not reason speak, for we +own it not. Let not tradition lift her voice, for we wholly disregard +her. Let not expediency thrust itself upon us, for we shall give it no +place whatever. We believe in the all-sufficiency of Holy +Scripture--that it is sufficient to furnish the man of God +thoroughly--to equip him perfectly for all good works (2 Tim. iii. 16, +17). The word of God is either sufficient or it is not. We believe it to +be amply sufficient for every exigency of God's assembly. It could not +be otherwise if God be its author. We must either deny the divinity or +admit the sufficiency of the Bible. There is not a single hair's breadth +of middle ground. It is impossible that God could have written an +imperfect, an insufficient book. + +This is a very grave principle in connection with our subject. Many of +our protestant writers have, in assailing popery, maintained the +sufficiency and authority of the Bible; but it does seem very plain to +us that they are always at fault when their opponents turn sharp round +upon them and demand proof from Scripture for many things sanctioned and +adopted by protestant communities. + +There are many things adopted and practised in the National +Establishment and other protestant communities, which have no sanction +in the Word; and when the shrewd and intelligent defenders of popery +have called attention to these things, and demanded authority for them, +the weakness of mere protestantism has been strikingly apparent. If we +admit, for a moment, that, in some things, we must have recourse to +tradition and expediency, then who will undertake to fix the boundary +line? If it be allowable to depart from Scripture at all, how far are we +to go? If the authority of tradition be admitted at all, who is to fix +its domain? If we leave the narrow and well-defined pathway of divine +revelation, and enter upon the wide and bewildering field of human +tradition, has not one man as much right as another to make a choice? +The gates of hell shall assuredly prevail against every human +system--against all those corporations and associations which men have +set on foot. And in no case has that triumph been, even already, made +more awfully manifest than in that of the church of Rome itself, +although it has arrogantly laid claim to this very declaration of our +Lord as the bulwark of its strength. Nothing can withstand the power of +the gates of hell but the assembly of the living God, for that is built +upon "the living Stone." Now the local expression of that assembly may +be but "two or three gathered in the name of Jesus," a poor, feeble, +despised handful. + +It is well to be clear and decided as to this. + +Christ's promise can never fail. He has, blessed be His name, come down +to the lowest possible point by which the assembly can be represented, +even "_two_." How gracious! How tender! How considerate! How like +Himself! He attaches all the dignity--all the value--all the efficacy of +His own divine and deathless name to an obscure handful gathered round +Himself. It must be very evident to the spiritual mind that the Lord +Jesus, in speaking of the "two or three" thought not of those vast +systems which have sprung up in ancient, mediaeval, and modern times, +throughout the eastern and western world, numbering their adherents and +votaries, not by "twos or threes," but by kingdoms, provinces, and +parishes. It is very plain that a baptized kingdom, and "two or three" +living souls gathered in the name of Jesus, do not and cannot mean the +same thing. Baptized Christendom is one thing, and the assembly of God +is another. What this latter is, we have yet to unfold; we are here +asserting that they are not, and cannot be, the same thing. They are +constantly confounded, though no two things can be more distinct.[XXI.] + +If we would know under what figure Christ presents the baptized world, +we have only to look at the "leaven" and the "mustard tree" of Matt. +xiii. + +The former gives us the internal, and the latter the external character +of "the kingdom of heaven"--of that which was originally set up in truth +and simplicity--a real thing, though small, but which, through Satan's +crafty working, has become inwardly a corrupt mass, though outwardly a +far-spreading, showy, popular thing in the earth, gathering all sorts +beneath the shadow of its patronage. Such is the lesson--the simple but +deeply solemn lesson to be learnt by the spiritual mind from the +"leaven" and the "mustard-tree" of Matt. xiii. And we may add, one +result of learning this lesson would be an ability to distinguish +between "the kingdom of heaven" and "the assembly of God." The former +may be compared to a wide morass, the latter to a running stream passing +through it, and in constant danger of losing its distinctive character, +as well as its proper direction, by intermingling with the surrounding +waters. To confound the two things is to deal a deathblow to all godly +discipline and consequent purity in the assembly of God. If the kingdom +and the assembly mean one and the same thing, then how should we act in +the case of "that wicked person" in I Cor. v.? The apostle tells us "to +put him away." Where are we to put him? Our Lord Himself tells us +distinctly that "the field is _the world_;" and again, in John xvii., He +says that His people are not of the world. This makes all plain enough. +But men tell us, in the very face of our Lord's statement, that the +field is the assembly, and the tares and wheat, ungodly and godly, are +to grow together, that they are on no account to be separated. Thus the +plain and positive teaching of the Holy Ghost in I Cor. v. is set in +open opposition to the equally plain and positive teaching of our Lord +in Matt. xiii.; and all this flows from the effort to confound two +distinct things, namely, "the kingdom of heaven" and "the assembly of +God." + +It would not by any means comport with the object of this paper to enter +further upon the interesting subject of "the kingdom." Enough has been +said, if the reader has thereby been convinced of the immense importance +of duly distinguishing that kingdom from the assembly. What this latter +is we shall now proceed to inquire; and may God the Holy Ghost be our +teacher! + +II. In handling our question as to the assembly of God, it will give +clearness and precision to our thoughts to consider the four following +points, namely:-- + +First, what is the _material_ of which the assembly is composed? + +Secondly, what is the _centre_ round which the assembly is gathered? + +Thirdly, what is the _power_ by which the assembly is gathered? + +Fourthly, what is the _authority_ on which the assembly is gathered? + +I. And, first, then, as to the material of which God's assembly is +composed; it is, in one word, those possessing salvation, or eternal +life. We do not enter the assembly in order to be saved, but as those +who are saved. The word is, "_On_ this rock I will build My Church." He +does not say, "On My Church I will build the salvation of souls." One of +Rome's boasted dogmas is this--"There is no salvation out of the true +Church." Yes, but we can go deeper still, and say, "Off the true Rock +there is no Church." Take away the Rock, and you have nothing but a +baseless fabric of error and corruption. What a miserable delusion, to +think of being saved by that! Thank God, it is not so. We do not get to +Christ through the Church, but to the Church through Christ. To reverse +this order is to displace Christ altogether, and thus have neither Rock, +nor Church, nor salvation. We meet Christ as a life-giving Saviour, +before we have anything to say to the assembly at all; and hence we +could possess eternal life, and enjoy full salvation, though there were +no such thing as the assembly of God on the earth.[XXII.] + +We cannot be too simple in grasping this truth, at a time like the +present, when ecclesiastical pretention is rising to such a height. The +church, falsely so called, is opening her bosom with delusive +tenderness, and inviting poor sin-burdened, world-sick, and heavy-laden +souls to take refuge therein. She, with crafty liberality, throws open +her treasury door, and places her resources at the disposal of needy, +craving, yearning souls. And truly those resources have powerful +attractions for those who are not on "The Rock." There is an ordained +priesthood, professing to stand in an unbroken line with the +apostles.--Alas! how different the two ends of the line!--There is a +continual sacrifice. Alas! a bloodless one, and therefore a worthless +one. (Heb. ix. 22.)--There is a splendid ritual. Alas! it seeks its +origin amid the shadows of a by-gone age--shadows which have been for +ever displaced by the Person, the work, and the offices of the eternal +Son of God. For ever be His peerless name adored! + +The believer has a very conclusive answer to all the pretensions and +promises of the Romish system. He can say he has found his _all_ in a +crucified and risen Saviour. What does he want with the sacrifice of the +mass? He is washed in the blood of Christ. What does he want with a +poor, sinful, dying priest, who cannot save himself? He has the Son of +God as his priest. What does he want with a pompous ritual, with all its +imposing adjuncts? He worships in spirit and in truth, within the +holiest of all, whither he enters with boldness, through the blood of +Jesus. + +Nor is it merely with Roman Catholicism we have to do in the +establishment of our first point. We fear there are thousands besides +Roman Catholics who, in heart, look to the church, if not for salvation, +at least to be a stepping-stone thereto. Hence the importance of seeing +clearly that the materials of which God's assembly is composed are those +possessing salvation, in whom is eternal life; so that whatever be the +object of that assembly, it most certainly is not to provide salvation +for its members, seeing that all its members are saved ere they enter it +at all. God's assembly is a houseful of saved ones from one end to the +other. Blessed fact! It is not an institution set on foot for the +purpose of providing salvation for sinners, nor yet for providing for +their religious wants. It is a saved, living body, formed and gathered +by the Holy Ghost, to make known to "Principalities and powers in the +heavenlies, the manifold wisdom of God," and to declare to the whole +universe the all-sufficiency of the name of Jesus. + +Now, the great enemy of Christ and the Church is well aware of what a +powerful testimony the assembly of God is called and designed to yield +on the earth; and therefore he has put forth all his hellish energy to +quash that testimony in every possible way. He hates the name of Jesus, +and everything tending to glorify that name. Hence his intense +opposition to the assembly as a whole, and to each local expression +thereof, wherever it may happen to exist. He has no objection to a mere +religious establishment set on foot for the purpose of providing for +man's religious wants, whether maintained by government or by voluntary +effort. You may set up what you please. You may join what you please. +You may be what you please; anything and everything for Satan but the +assembly of God, and the practical expression of it in any given place. +That he hates most cordially, and will seek to blacken and blast by +every means in his power. But those consolatory accents of the Lord +Christ fall with divine power on the ear of faith: "On this rock I will +build My assembly, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." + +2. This conducts us naturally to our second point, namely, What is the +centre round which God's assembly is gathered? The centre is Christ--the +living Stone, as we read in the Epistle of Peter, "To whom coming as +unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and +precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a +holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by +Jesus Christ" (chap. ii. 4, 5). + +It is around the person of a living Christ then, that God's assembly is +gathered. It is not round a doctrine, however true; nor round an +ordinance, however important; but round a living, divine Person. This is +a great cardinal and vital point which must be distinctly seized, +tenaciously held, and faithfully and constantly avowed and carried out. +"To whom coming." It is not said "_To which_ coming." We do not come to +a thing, but to a Person. "Let us go forth therefore unto _Him_" (Heb. +xiii.). The Holy Ghost leads us _only_ to Jesus. Nothing short of this +will avail. We may speak of joining _a_ church, becoming a member of a +congregation, attaching ourselves to a party, a cause, or an interest. +All these expressions tend to darken and confuse the mind, and hide from +our view the divine idea of the assembly of God. It is not our business +to join anything. When God converted us, He joined us by His Spirit to +Christ and to all the members of Christ, and that should be enough for +us. Christ is the only centre of God's assembly. + +And, we may ask, is not He sufficient? Is it not quite enough for us to +be "joined to the Lord?" Why add aught thereto? "Where two or three are +gathered together _in My name_, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. +xviii. 20). What more can we need? If Jesus is in our midst, why should +we think of setting up a human president? Why not unanimously and +heartily allow Him to take the president's seat, and bow to Him in all +things? Why set up human authority, in any shape or form, in the house +of God? But this is done, and it is well to speak plainly about it. Man +is set up in that which professes to be an assembly of God. We see human +authority exercised in that sphere in which divine authority alone +should be acknowledged. It matters not, so far as the foundation +principle is concerned, whether it be pope, parson, priest, or +president. It is man set up in Christ's place. It may be the pope +appointing a cardinal, a legate, or a bishop to his sphere of work; or +it may be a president appointing a man to exhort or to pray for ten +minutes. The principle is one and the same. It is human authority acting +in that sphere where only God's authority should be owned. If Christ be +in our midst, we can count on Him for everything. + +Now, in saying this, we anticipate a very probable objection. It may be +said by the advocates of human authority, "How could an assembly ever +get on without some human presidency? Would it not lead to all sorts of +confusion? Would it not open the door for everyone to intrude himself +upon the assembly, quite irrespective of gift or qualification?" + +Our answer is a very simple one. Jesus is all-sufficient. We can trust +Him to keep order in His house. We feel ourselves far safer in His +gracious and powerful hand than in the hands of the most attractive +human president. We have all spiritual gifts treasured up in Jesus. He +is the fountain-head of all ministerial authority. "He hath the seven +stars." Let us only confide in Him, and the order of our assembly will +be as perfectly provided for as the salvation of our souls. This is just +the reason of our connecting, in the title of this pamphlet, "The +all-sufficiency of the name of Jesus" with the "Assembly of God." We +believe that the name of Jesus is, in very truth, all-sufficient, not +only for personal salvation, but for all the exigencies of the +assembly--for worship, communion, ministry, discipline, government, +everything. Having Him, we have all and abound. + +This is the real marrow and substance of our subject. Our one aim and +object is to exalt the name of Jesus; and we believe He has been +dishonored in that which calls itself His house. He has been dethroned, +and man's authority has been set up. In vain does He bestow a +ministerial gift; the possessor of that gift is not free to exercise it +without the seal, the sanction, and the authority of man. And not only +is this so, but if man thinks proper to give his seal, his sanction and +authority, to one possessing not a particle of spiritual gift--yea, it +may be, not a particle of spiritual life--he is nevertheless a +recognized minister. In short, man's authority without Christ's gift +makes a man a minister; whereas Christ's gift without man's authority +does not. If this be not a dishonor done to the Lord Christ, what is? + +Christian reader, pause here, and deeply ponder this principle of human +authority. We confess we are anxious you should get to the root of it, +and judge it thoroughly, in the light of Holy Scripture, and the +presence of God. It is, be assured of it, the grand point of distinction +between the principles of the assembly of God and every human system of +religion under the sun. If you look at all those systems, from Romanism +down to the most refined form of religious association, you will find +man's authority recognized and demanded. With that you may minister; +without it you must not. On the contrary, in the assembly of God, +Christ's gift _alone_ makes man a minister, apart from all human +authority. "Not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the +Father, who raised Him from the dead." (Gal. i. I). This is the grand +principle of ministry in the assembly of God. + +Now, in classing Romanism with all the other religious systems of the +day, let it, once for all, be distinctly understood that it is _only_ in +reference to the principle of ministerial authority. God forbid that we +should think of comparing a system which shuts out the word of God, and +teaches idolatry, the worship of saints and angels, and a whole mass of +gross, abominable error and superstition, with those systems where the +word of God is held up, and more or less of scriptural truth +promulgated. Nothing can be further from our thoughts. We believe popery +to be Satan's master-piece, in the way of a religious system, although +many of the people of God have been, and may yet be, involved therein. + +Further, let us at this stage plainly aver that we believe the saints of +God are to be found in every Protestant community, both as ministers and +members; and that the Lord uses them in many ways--blesses their work, +service, and personal testimony. + +And, finally, we feel it right to declare that we would not move a +finger to touch any one of those systems. It is not with the systems we +have to do; the Lord will deal with them. Our business is with the +saints in those systems, to seek by every spiritual and scriptural +agency to get them to own and act upon the divine principles of the +assembly of God. + +Having said thus much, in order to prevent misunderstanding, we return +with increased power to our point, namely, that the thread of human +authority runs through every religious system in Christendom, and that, +in good truth, there is not a hair's breadth of consistent standing +ground between the church of Rome and a true expression of the assembly +of God. We believe that an honest seeker after truth, setting out from +amid the dark shadows of popery, cannot possibly halt until he finds +himself in the clear and blessed light of that which is a true +expression of God's assembly. He may take years to travel over the +intervening space. His steps may be slow and measured; but if only he +follows the light, in simplicity and godly sincerity, he will find no +rest between those two extremes. The ground of the assembly of God is +the true position for all the children of God. Alas! they are not all +there; but this is only their loss and their Lord's dishonor. They +should be there because not only is God there, but He is allowed to act +and _rule_ there. + +This latter is of all-importance, inasmuch as it may be truly said, Is +not God everywhere? And does He not act in various places? True, He is +everywhere, and He works in the midst of palpable error and evil. But He +is not allowed to _rule_ in the systems of men, seeing that man's +authority is really supreme, as we have already shown. And in addition +to this, if the fact of God's converting and blessing souls in a system +be a reason why we should be there, then we ought to be in the church of +Rome, for how many have been converted and blessed in that awful system? +Even in the recent revival we have heard of persons being stricken in +Roman Catholic chapels. What proves too much proves nothing at all, and +hence no argument can be based on the fact of God's working in a place. +He is sovereign, and may work where He pleases. We are to be subject to +His authority, and work where we are commanded, My Master may go where +He pleases, but I must go where I am told. + +But some may ask, "Is there no danger of incompetent men intruding their +ministry upon an assembly of God? And in the event of this, where is the +difference between that assembly and the systems of men?" We reply, +assuredly there is very great danger. But then such a thing would be +_despite_, not in virtue of, the principle. This makes all the +difference. Yes, indeed, we have seen mistakes and failures which are +most humiliating. + +Let no one imagine that, while we contend for the truth concerning the +assembly of God, we are at all ignorant or forgetful of the dangers and +trials to which any carrying out its principles are exposed. Far from +it. No one could be for twenty-eight years on that ground without being +painfully conscious of the difficulty of maintaining it. But then the +very trials, dangers, and difficulties only prove to be so many +proofs--painful if you please, but proofs of the truth of the position; +and were there no remedy but an appeal to human authority--a setting up +of man in Christ's place--a return to worldly systems, we should without +hesitation pronounce the remedy to be far worse than the disease. For +were we to adopt the remedy, we should have the very worst symptoms of +the disease, not to be mourned over as disease, but gloried in as the +fruits of so-called order. + +But blessed be God, there is a remedy. What is it? "_There am I_ in the +midst." This is enough. It is not, "There is a pope, a priest, a parson, +or a president in their midst, at their head, in the chair, or in the +pulpit." No thought of such a thing, from cover to cover of the New +Testament. Even in the assembly of God at Corinth, where there was most +grievous confusion and disorder, the inspired apostle never hints at +such a thing as a human president, under any name whatsoever. "_God is +the author_ of peace in all the assemblies of the saints" (I Cor. xiv. +33). God was there to keep order. They were to look to Him, not to a +man, under any name. To set up man to keep order in God's assembly is +sheer unbelief, and an open insult to the Divine Presence. + +Now, we have been often asked to adduce Scripture in proof of the idea +of divine presidency in an assembly. We at once reply, "There am I;" and +"God is the Author." On these two pillars, even had we no more, we can +triumphantly build the glorious truth of divine presidency--a truth +which _must_ deliver all, who receive and hold it from God, from every +system of man, call it by what name you please. It is, in our judgment, +impossible to recognize Christ as the centre and sovereign ruler in the +assembly, and continue to sanction the setting up of man. When once we +have tasted the sweetness of being under Christ, we can never again +submit to the servile bondage of being under man. This is not +insubordination or impatience of control. It is only the utter refusal +to bow to a false authority--to sanction a sinful usurpation. The moment +we see man usurping authority in that which calls itself the church, we +simply ask, "Who are you?" and retire to a sphere where God alone is +acknowledged. + +"But, then, there are errors, evils, and abuses even in this very +sphere." Doubtless; but if there are, we have the word of God to correct +them. And hence, if an assembly should be troubled by the intrusion of +ignorant and foolish men--men who have never yet measured themselves in +the presence of God--men who boldly overleap the wide domain over which +common sense, good taste, and moral propriety preside, and then vainly +talk of being led by the Holy Spirit--restless men, who _will_ be at +something, and who keep the assembly in a continual state of nervous +apprehension, not knowing what is to come next--should any assembly be +thus grievously afflicted, what should they do? Abandon the ground in +impatience, chagrin, and disappointment? give all up as a myth, a fable, +an idle chimera? go back to that from which they once came out? Alas! +this is what some have done, thus proving that they never understood +what they had been doing; or if they had understood it, that they had +not faith to pursue it. May the Lord have mercy upon such, and open +their eyes that they may see from whence they have fallen, and get a +true view of the assembly of God, in contrast with the most attractive +of the systems of men. + +But what is an assembly to do when abuses creep in? Correct them by the +word of God. This is God's authoritative voice. + +We are fully aware of the difficulties and trials connected with any +expression of the assembly of God. We believe its difficulties and +trials are perfectly characteristic. There is nothing under the canopy +of heaven that the devil hates as he hates that. He will leave no stone +unturned to oppose it. We have seen this exemplified again and again. An +evangelist may go to a place and preach the all-sufficiency of the name +of Jesus for the salvation of the soul, and he will have thousands +hanging on his lips. Let the same man return, and, while he preaches the +same gospel, take another step and proclaim the all-sufficiency of that +same Jesus for all the exigencies of an assembly of believers, and he +will find himself opposed on all hands. Why is this? Because the devil +hates the very feeblest expression of the assembly of God. You may see a +town left for ages and generations to its dark and dull routine of +religious formalism--a dead people gathering once a week to hear a dead +man go through a dead service, and all the rest of the week living in +sin and folly. There is not a breath of life, not a leaf stirring. The +devil likes it well. But let some one come and unfurl the standard of +the name of Jesus--Jesus for the soul and Jesus for the assembly--and +you will soon see a mighty change. The rage of hell is excited, and the +dark and dreadful tide of opposition rises. + +This, we most fully believe, is the true secret of many of the bitter +attacks that have been recently made on those who maintain the +principles of the assembly of God. No doubt we have to mourn over many +mistakes, errors, and failures. We have given much occasion to the +adversary in various ways. We have been a poor blotted epistle, a faint +and feeble witness, a flickering light. For all this we have to be +deeply humbled before our God. Nothing could be more unbecoming in us +than pretention or assumption, or the putting forth of high-sounding +ecclesiastical claims. The dust is our place. Yes, beloved brethren, the +place of confession and self-judgment becomes us, in the presence of our +God. + +Still, we are not to let slip the glorious principles of the assembly of +God because we have so shamefully failed in carrying them out: we are +not to judge the truth by our exhibition of it, but to judge our +exhibition by the truth. It is one thing to occupy divine ground, and +another thing to carry ourselves properly thereon; and while it is +perfectly right to judge our practice by our principles, yet truth is +truth for all that, and we may rest assured that the devil hates the +truth which characterizes the assembly. A mere handful of poor people, +gathered in the name of Jesus, as members of His body, to break bread in +remembrance of Him, is a thorn in the side of the devil. True it is that +such an assembly evokes the wrath of men, inasmuch as it throws their +office and authority overboard, and they cannot bear that. Yet we +believe the root of the whole matter will be found in Satan's hatred of +the special testimony which such an assembly bears to the +all-sufficiency of the name of Jesus for every possible need of the +saints of God. + +This is a truly noble testimony, and we earnestly long to see it more +faithfully carried out. We may fully count upon intense opposition. It +will be with us as it was with the returned captives in the days of Ezra +and Nehemiah. We may expect to encounter many a Rehum and many a +Sanballat. Nehemiah might have gone and built any other wall in the +whole world but the wall of Jerusalem, and Sanballat would never have +molested him. But to build the wall of Jerusalem was an unpardonable +offence. And why? Just because Jerusalem was God's earthly centre, round +which He will yet gather the restored tribes of Israel. This was the +secret of the enemy's opposition. And mark the affected contempt. "If a +fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall." And yet Sanballat +and his allies were not able to break it down. They might cause it to +cease because of the Jews' lack of faith and energy; but they could not +break it down when God would have it up. How like is this to the present +moment! Surely there is nothing new under the sun. There is affected +contempt, but real alarm. And, oh! if those who are gathered in the name +of Jesus were only more true in heart to their blessed Centre, what +testimony there would be! What power! What victory! How it would tell on +all around. "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there +am I." There is nothing like this under the sun, be it ever so feeble +and contemptible. The Lord be praised for raising up such a witness for +Himself in these last days. May He greatly increase its effectiveness, +by the power of the Holy Ghost! + +3. We must now very briefly glance at our third point, namely, what is +the power by which the assembly is gathered. Here again man and his +doings are set aside. It is not man's will choosing; nor man's reason +discovering; nor man's judgment dictating; nor man's conscience +demanding; it is the Holy Ghost gathering souls to Jesus. As Jesus is +the only centre, so the Holy Ghost is the only gathering power. The one +is as independent of man as the other. It is "where two or three are +_gathered_." It does not say "where two or three are _met_." Persons may +meet together round any centre, on any ground, by any influence, and +merely form a society, an association, a community. But the Holy Ghost +gathers saved souls only to Christ. + +An assembly may not embrace all the saints of God in a locality. In such +a case they cannot be called the assembly of God in that place. But if +they are assembled as members of the body of Christ, they occupy the +ground of the assembly of God. + +This is a very simple truth. A soul led by the Holy Ghost will gather +only to the name of the Lord; and if we gather to aught else, be it a +point of truth, or some ordinance or another, we are not in that matter +led by the Holy Ghost. It is not a question of life or salvation. +Thousands are saved by Christ that do not own Him as their centre. They +are gathered to some form of church government, some favorite doctrine, +some special ordinance, some gifted man. The Holy Ghost will never +gather to any one of these. He gathers only to a risen Christ. This is +true of the whole Church of God upon earth; and each local assembly, +wherever convened, is the expression of the whole. + +Now, the _power_ in an assembly will very much depend upon the measure +in which each member thereof is gathered in integrity of heart to the +name of Jesus. If I am gathered to a party holding peculiar opinions--if +I am attracted by the people, or by the teaching--if, in a word, it be +not the power of the Holy Ghost, leading me to the true Centre of God's +assembly, I shall only prove a hindrance, a weight, a cause of weakness. +I shall be to an assembly what a waster is to a candle; and instead of +adding to the general light and usefulness, I shall do the very reverse. + +All this is deeply practical. It should lead to much exercise of heart +and self-judgment as to what has drawn me to an assembly, and as to my +ways therein. We are fully persuaded that the tone and testimony of an +assembly have been greatly weakened by the presence of persons not +understanding their position. Some present themselves there because they +get teaching and blessing there which they cannot get anywhere else. +Some come because they like the simplicity of the worship. Others come +looking for love. None of these things are up to the mark. We should be +in an assembly simply because the name of Jesus is the only standard set +up there, and the Holy Spirit has "gathered" us thereto. + +No doubt ministry is most precious, and we shall have it, in more or +less power, where all is ordered aright. So also as to simplicity of +worship: we are sure to be simple, and real, and true, when the divine +presence is realized, and the sovereignty of the Holy Ghost fully owned +and submitted to. And as to love, if we go _looking for it_ we shall +surely be thoroughly disappointed: but if we are enabled to _cultivate_ +and _manifest it_, we shall be sure to get a great deal more than we +expect or deserve. It will generally be found that those persons who are +perpetually complaining of want of love in others are utterly failing in +love themselves; and, on the other hand, those who are really walking in +love will tell you that they receive a thousand times more than they +deserve. Let us remember that the best way to get water out of a dry +pump is to pour a little water in. You may work at the handle until you +are tired, and then go away in fretfulness and impatience, complaining +of that horrible pump; whereas, if you would just pour in a little +water, you would get in return a gushing stream to satisfy your utmost +desire. + +We have but little conception of what an assembly would be were each one +distinctly led by the Holy Ghost, and gathered _only_ to Jesus. We +should not then have to complain of dull, heavy, unprofitable, trying +meetings. We should have no fear of an unhallowed intrusion of mere +nature and its restless doings--no _making_ of prayer--no talking for +talking's sake--no hymn-book seized to fill a gap. Each one would know +his place in the Lord's immediate presence--each gifted vessel would be +filled, fitted, and used by the Master's hand--each eye would be +directed to Jesus--each heart occupied with Him. If a chapter were read, +it would be the very voice of God. If a word were spoken, it would tell +with power upon the heart. If prayer were offered, it would lead the +soul into the very presence of God. If a hymn were sung, it would lift +the spirit up to God, and be like sweeping the strings of the heavenly +harp. We should have no ready-made sermons--no teaching or preaching +prayers, as though we would explain doctrines to God, or tell Him a +whole host of things about ourselves--no praying _at_ our neighbors, or +asking for all manner of graces for them, in which we ourselves are +lamentably deficient--no singing for music's sake, or being disturbed if +harmony be interfered with. All these evils should be avoided. We should +feel ourselves in the very sanctuary of God, and enjoy a foretaste of +that time when we shall worship in the courts above, and go no more out. + +We may be asked, "Where will you find all this down here?" Ah! this is +the question. It is one thing to present a _beau ideal_ on paper, and +another thing to realize it in the midst of error, failure, and +infirmity. Through mercy, some of us have tasted, at times, a little of +this blessedness. We have occasionally enjoyed moments of heaven upon +earth. Oh, for more of it! May the Lord, in His great mercy, raise the +tone of the assemblies everywhere! May He greatly enlarge our capacity +for more profound communion and spiritual worship! May He enable us so +to walk, in private life, from day to day so as to judge ourselves and +our ways in His holy presence, that at least we may not prove a lump of +lead or a waster to any of God's assemblies. + +And then, even though we may not be able to reach in experience the true +expression of the assembly, yet let us never be satisfied with anything +less. Let us honestly aim at the loftiest standard, and earnestly pray +to be lifted up thereto. As to the _ground_ of God's assembly, we should +hold it with jealous tenacity, and never consent for an hour to occupy +any other. As to the tone and character of an assembly, they may and +will vary immensely, and will depend upon the faith and spirituality of +those gathered. Where the tone of things is felt to be low,--when +meetings are felt to be unprofitable--where things are said and done +repeatedly which are felt by the spiritual to be wholly out of place, +let all who feel it wait on God--wait continually--wait believingly--and +He will assuredly hear and answer. In this way the very trials and +exercises which are peculiar to an assembly will have the happy effect +of casting us more immediately upon Him, and thus the eater will yield +meat, and the strong sweetness. We must count upon trials and +difficulties in any expression of the assembly, just because it is _the_ +right and divine way for God's people on earth. The devil will put forth +every effort to drive us from that true and holy ground. He will try the +patience, try the temper, hurt the feelings, cause offence in nameless +and numberless ways--anything and everything to make us forsake the true +ground of the assembly. + +It is well to remember this. We can only hold the divine ground by +faith. This marks the assembly of God, and distinguishes it from every +human system. You cannot get on there save by faith. And, further, if +you want to be somebody, if you are seeking a place, if you want to +exalt _self_, you need not think of any true expression of the assembly. +You will soon find your level there, if it be in any measure what it +should be. Fleshly or worldly greatness, in any shape, will be of no +account in such an assembly. The Divine Presence withers up everything +of that kind, and levels all human pretension. Finally, you cannot get +on in the assembly if you are living in secret sin. The Divine Presence +will not suit you. Have we not often experienced in the assembly a +feeling of uneasiness, caused by the recollection of many things which +had escaped our notice during the week? Wrong thoughts--foolish +words--unspiritual ways--all these things crowd in upon the mind, and +exercise the conscience, in the assembly! How is this? Because the +atmosphere of the assembly is more searching than that which we have +been breathing during the week. We have not been in the presence of God +in our private walk. We have not been judging ourselves; and hence, when +we take our place in a spiritual assembly, our hearts are detected--our +ways are exposed in the light; and that exercise which ought to have +gone on in private--even the needed exercise of self-judgment, must go +on at the table of the Lord. This is poor, miserable work for us, but it +proves the power of the presence of God in the assembly. Things must be +in a miserably low state in any assembly when hearts are not thus +detected and exposed. It is a fine evidence of the power of the Holy +Spirit in an assembly when careless, carnal, worldly, self-exalting, +money-loving, unprincipled persons are compelled to judge themselves in +God's presence, or, failing this, are driven away by the spirituality of +the atmosphere. Such an assembly is no place for these. They can breathe +more freely outside. + +Now, we cannot but judge that numbers that have departed from the ground +of the assembly have done so because their practical ways did not +comport with the purity of the place. No doubt it is easy, in all such +cases, to find an excuse in the conduct of those who are left behind. +But if the _roots_ of things were in every case laid bare, we should +find that many leave an assembly because of inability or reluctance to +bear its searching light. "Thy testimonies are very sure; holiness +becometh Thy house, O Lord, forever." Evil _must_ be judged, for God +cannot sanction it. If an assembly does not it is not practically God's +assembly at all, though composed of Christians, as we say. To pretend to +be an assembly of God, and not judge false doctrine and evil ways, would +involve the blasphemy of saying that God and wickedness can dwell +together. The assembly of God must keep itself pure, because it is His +dwelling-place. Men may sanction evil, and call it liberality and +large-heartedness so to do; but the house of God must keep itself pure. +Let this great practical truth sink down into our hearts, and produce +its sanctifying influence upon our course and character. + +4. A very few words will suffice to set forth, in the last place, "the +_authority_" on which the assembly is gathered. It is the word of God +alone. The charter of the assembly is the eternal Word of the living and +true God. It is not the traditions, the doctrines, nor the commandments +of men. A passage of Scripture, to which we have more than once referred +in the progress of this paper, contains at once the standard round which +the assembly is gathered, the power by which it is gathered, and the +authority by which it is gathered--"the name of Jesus"--"the Holy +Ghost"--"the word of God." + +Now these are the same all over the world. Whether I go to New Zealand, +to Australia, to Canada, to London, to Paris, to Edinburg, or Dublin, +the Centre, the gathering Power, and the authority are one and the same. +We can own no other centre but Christ; no gathering energy but the Holy +Ghost; no authority but the word of God; no characteristic but holiness +of life and soundness in doctrine. + +Such is a true expression of the assembly of God, and we cannot +acknowledge aught else. Saints of God we can acknowledge, love, and +honor as such, wherever we find them; but human systems we look upon as +dishonoring to Christ, and hostile to the true interest of the saints of +God. We long to see all Christians on the true ground of the assembly. +We believe it to be the place of real blessing and effective testimony. +We believe there is a character of testimony yielded by carrying out the +principles of the assembly which cannot be yielded otherwise, even were +each member a Whitefield in evangelistic power. We say this not to lower +evangelistic work. God forbid. We would that all were Whitefields. But +then we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that many affect to despise the +assembly, under the plea of going out as evangelists; and when we trace +their path, and examine the results of their work, we find that they +have no provision for the souls that have been converted by their means. +They seem not to know what to do with them. They quarry the stones, but +do not build them together. The consequence is that souls are scattered +hither and thither, some persuing a desultory course, others living in +isolation, all at fault as to true Church ground. + +Now, we believe that all these should be gathered on the ground of the +assembly of God, to have "fellowship in the breaking of bread and in +prayer." They should "come together on the first day of the week, to +break bread," looking to the Lord Christ to edify them by the mouth of +whom He will. This is the simple path--the normal, the divine idea, +needing, it may be, more faith to realize it, because of the clashing +and conflicting elements of the present day, but none the less simple +and true on that account. + +We are aware, of course, that all this will be pronounced proselytizing, +and party spirit, by those who seem to regard it as the very _beau +ideal_ of Christian liberality and large-heartedness to be able to say, +"I belong to nothing." Strange, anomalous position! It just resolves +itself in this: it is _somebody_ professing _nothingism_ in order to get +rid of all responsibility, and go with all and everything. This is a +very easy path for nature, and amiable nature, but we shall see what +will come of it in the day of the Lord. Even now we regard it as +positive unfaithfulness to Christ, from which may the good Lord deliver +His people. + +But let none imagine that we want to place the evangelist and the +assembly in opposition. Nothing is further from our thoughts. The +evangelist should go forth from the bosom of the assembly, in full +fellowship therewith; he should work not only to gather souls to Christ, +but also bring them to an assembly, where divinely-gifted pastors might +watch over them, and divinely-gifted teachers instruct them. We do not +want to clip the evangelist's wings, but only to guide his movements. +We are unwilling to see real spiritual energy expended in desultory +service. No doubt it is a grand result to bring souls to Christ. Every +soul linked to Jesus is a work done forever. But ought not the lambs and +sheep to be gathered and cared for? Would anyone be satisfied to +purchase sheep, and then leave them to wander whithersoever they list? +Surely not. But whither should Christ's sheep be gathered? Is it into +the folds of man's erection, or into an assembly gathered on divine +ground? Into the latter unquestionably; for that, we may rest assured, +however feeble, however despised, however blackened and maligned, is the +place for all the lambs and sheep of the flock of Christ. + +Here, however, there will be responsibility, care, anxiety, labor, a +constant demand for watchfulness and prayer; all of which flesh and +blood would like to avoid, if possible. There is much that is agreeable +and attractive in the idea of going through the world as an evangelist, +having thousands hanging on one's lips, and hundreds of souls as the +seals of one's ministry: but what is to be done with these souls? By all +means show them their true place with those gathered on the ground of +the assembly of God, where, notwithstanding the ruin and apostasy of the +professing body, they can enjoy spiritual communion, worship, and +ministry. This will involve much trial and painful excise. It was so in +apostolic times. Those who really cared for the flock of Christ had to +shed many a tear, send up many an agonizing prayer, spend many a +sleepless night. But, then, in all these things, they tasted the +sweetness of fellowship with the chief Shepherd; and when He appears, +their tears, their prayers, their sleepless nights will be remembered +and rewarded; while those who are building up human systems will find +them all come to an end, to be heard of no more forever; and the false +shepherds, who ruthlessly seize the pastoral staff only to use it as an +instrument of filthy gain to themselves, shall have their faces covered +with everlasting confusion. + +But, we may be asked, "Is it not worse than useless to seek to carry out +the principles of the assembly of God, seeing that the professing Church +is in such complete ruin?" We reply by asking, "Are we to be disobedient +because the Church is in ruin? Are we to continue in error because the +dispensation has failed?" Surely not. We own the ruin, mourn over it, +confess it, take our share in it, and in its sad consequences, seek to +walk softly and humbly in the midst of it, confessing ourselves to be +most unfaithful and unworthy. But though we have failed, Christ has not +failed. He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself. He has promised to +be with His people to the end of the age. Matt. xviii. 20 holds as good +to-day as it did 1800 years ago. "Let God be true and every man a liar." +We utterly repudiate the idea of men setting about church-making, or +pretending to ordain ministers. We look upon it as a pure assumption, +without a single shadow of Scripture authority. It is God's work to +gather His Church and raise up ministers. We have no business to form +ourselves into a church, or to ordain office-bearers. No doubt the Lord +is very gracious, tender, and pitiful. He bears with our weakness, and +overrules our mistakes, and where the heart is true to Him, even though +in ignorance, He will assuredly lead on into higher light. + +But we must not use God's grace as a plea for unscriptural acting, any +more than we should use the Church's ruin as a plea for sanctioning +error. We have to confess the ruin, count on the grace, and act in +simple obedience to the word of the Lord. Such is the path of blessing +at all times. The remnant, in the days of Ezra, did not pretend to the +power and splendor of Solomon's days, but they obeyed the word of +Solomon's Lord, and they were abundantly blessed in their deed. They did +not say, "Things are in ruin, and therefore we had better remain in +Babylon, and do nothing." No; they simply confessed their own and their +people's sin, and counted on God. This is precisely what we are to do. +We are to own the ruin, and count on God. + +Finally, if we be asked, "Where is the true expression of this assembly +of God now?" We reply, "Where Christ is truly the Centre of gathering; +the one body the ground; the Holy Spirit the Leader; the Holy Scriptures +the sole authority; and holiness the practice." + +Reader, are you assembled on this divine ground? If so, cling to it with +your whole soul. Are you in this path? If so, press on with all the +energies of your moral being. Never be content with anything short of +His dwelling in you, and your conscious nearness to Him. Let not Satan +rob you of your proper portion by leading you to rest in a mere name. +Let him not tempt you to mistake your ostensible _position_ for your +real _condition_. Cultivate secret communion--secret prayer--constant +self-judgment. Be especially on your guard against every form of +spiritual pride. Cultivate lowliness, meekness, and brokenness of +spirit, tenderness of conscience, in your own private walk. Seek to +combine the sweetest grace towards others with the boldness of a lion +where truth is concerned. Then will you be a blessing in the assembly of +God, and an effective witness of the all-sufficiency of the name of +Jesus. + + The veil is rent:--our souls draw near + Unto a throne of grace; + The merits of the Lord appear, + They fill the holy place. + + His precious blood has spoken there, + Before and on the throne: + And His own wounds in heaven declare, + Th' atoning work is done. + + 'Tis finished!--here our souls have rest, + His work can never fail: + By Him, our Sacrifice and Priest, + We pass within the veil. + + Within the holiest of all, + Cleansed by His precious blood, + Before the throne we prostrate fall, + And worship Thee, O God! + + Boldly the heart and voice we raise, + His blood, His name, our plea: + Assured our prayers and songs of praise + Ascend, by Christ, to Thee. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[XVIII.] The same Greek word, _ecclesia_, has been rendered both +"church" and "assembly" in our English translation--"assembly" gives the +true meaning. + +[XIX.] It is of the utmost importance to distinguish between what Christ +builds, and what man builds. "The gates of hell" shall assuredly prevail +against all that is merely of man; and hence it would be a fatal mistake +to apply to man's building words which only apply to Christ's. Man may +build with "wood, hay, stubble," alas! he does; but all that our Lord +Christ builds shall stand forever. The stamp of eternity is upon every +work of His hand. All praise to His glorious name! + +[XX.] There is no such thing in Scripture as being a member of _a_ +church. Every true believer is a member of _the_ Church of God--the body +of Christ, and can therefore no more be, properly, a member of anything +else, than my arm can be a member of any other body. + +The only true ground on which believers can gather is set forth in that +grand statement, "There is one body, and one Spirit." And again, "We +being many are one loaf, and one body" (Eph. iv. 4; I Cor. x. 17). If +God declares that there is but "one body," it must be contrary to His +mind to own more than that one. + +Now, while it is quite true that no given number of believers in any +given place can be called "the body of Christ," or "the assembly of +God;" yet they should be gathered on the ground of that body and that +assembly, and on no other ground. We call the reader's special attention +to this principle. It holds good at all times, in all places, and under +all circumstances. The fact of the ruin of the professing Church does +not touch it. It has been true since the day of Pentecost; is true at +this moment; and shall be true until the Church is taken to meet her +Head and Lord in the clouds, that "_there is one body_." All believers +belong to that body; and they should meet on that ground, and on no +other. + +[XXI.] The reader will need to ponder the distinction between the Church +viewed as "the body of Christ," and as "the house of God." He may study +Eph. i. 22; I Cor. xii. for the former. Eph. ii. 21; I Cor. iii.; I Tim. +iii. for the latter. The distinction is as interesting as it is +important. + +[XXII.] The reader will do well to note the fact that, in Matt. xvi., we +have the very earliest allusion to the Church, and there our Lord speaks +of it as a future thing. He says, "On this rock I _will_ build My +Church." He does not say, "I _have_ been, or I _am_ building." In short +the Church had no existence until our Lord Christ was raised from the +dead and glorified at the right hand of God. Then, but not until then, +the Holy Ghost was sent down to baptize believers, whether Jews or +Gentiles, into one body, and unite them to the risen and glorified Head +in heaven. This body has been on the earth since the descent of the Holy +Ghost; is here still, and shall be until Christ comes to fetch it to +Himself. It is a perfectly unique thing. It is not to be found in Old +Testament Scripture. Paul expressly tells us it was not revealed in +other ages; it was hid in God, and never made known until it was +committed to him. (See, carefully, Rom. xvi. 25, 26; Eph. iii. 3-11; +Col. i. 24-27.) True it is--most blessedly true--that God had a people +in Old Testament times. Not merely the nation of Israel, but a +quickened, saved, spiritual people, who lived by faith, went to heaven, +and are there "the spirits of just men made perfect." But the Church is +never spoken of until Matt. xvi., and there only as a future thing. As +to the expression used by Stephen, "The Church in the wilderness" (Acts +vii. 38), it is pretty generally known that it simply refers to the +congregation of Israel. The _termini_ of the Church's earthly history +are Pentecost (Acts ii.), and the rapture (I Thess. iv. 16, 17). + + + + +THE CHRISTIAN + +HIS POSITION AND HIS WORK. + + +PART I. + +What is the true position of a Christian? and what has he got to do? are +questions of the very deepest practical importance. It is assumed, of +course, that he has eternal life: without this, one cannot be a +Christian at all. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting +life." This is the common portion of all believers. It is not a matter +of attainment, a matter of progress, a thing which some Christians have +and others have not. It belongs to the very feeblest babe in the family +of God, as well as to the most matured and experienced servant of +Christ. All are possessed of eternal life, and can never by any +possibility lose it. + +But our present theme is not life, but position and work; and in +considering it, we shall ask the reader to turn for a moment to a +passage in Heb. xiii. Perhaps we cannot do better than quote it for him. +There is nothing like the plain and solid word of Holy Scripture. + +"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it is a +good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, +which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an +altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For +the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by +the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus +also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered +without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, +bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek +one to come" (vers. 9-14). + +Here, then, we have one grand aspect of the Christian's position. It is +defined by the position of his Lord. This makes it divinely simple; and, +we may add, divinely settled. The Christian is identified with Christ. +Amazing fact! "As He is so _are_ we in this world." It is not said, "As +He is, so _shall_ we be in the world to come." No; this would not come +up to the divine idea. It is, "so are we _in this world_." The position +of Christ defines the position of the Christian. + +But this glorious fact tells in a double way; it tells upon the +Christian's place before God; and it tells on his place as regards this +present world. It is upon the latter that Heb. xiii. instructs us so +blessedly, and it is that which is now more especially before us. + +Jesus suffered without the gate. This fact is the basis on which the +apostle grounds his exhortation to the Hebrew believers to go forth +without the camp. The cross of Christ closed his connection with the +camp of Judaism; and all who desire to follow Him must go outside to +where He is. The final breach with Israel is presented, morally, in the +death of Christ; doctrinally, in the Epistle to the Hebrews; +historically, in the destruction of Jerusalem. In the judgment of faith, +Jerusalem was as thoroughly rejected when the Messiah was nailed to the +cross, as it was when the army of Titus left it a smouldering ruin. The +instincts of the divine nature, and the inspired teachings of Scripture, +go before the actual facts of history. + +"Jesus suffered without the gate." For what end? "That He might sanctify +(or set apart to God) the people with His own blood." What follows? What +is the necessary practical result? "Let us go forth therefore unto Him +without the camp, bearing His reproach." + +But what is "the camp?" Primarily, Judaism; but, most unquestionably, it +has a moral application to every organized system of religion under the +sun. If that system of ordinances and ceremonies which God Himself had +set up--if Judaism, with its imposing ritual, its splendid temple, its +priesthood and its sacrifices, has been found fault with, condemned, and +set aside, what shall be said of any or all of those organizations which +have rebuilt it? If our Lord Christ is outside of that, how much more +out of these! + +Yes, Christian reader, we may rest assured that the outside place, the +place of rejection and reproach is that to which we are called, if we +would know aught of true fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Mark the +words! "Let us go forth." Will any Christian say, "No; I cannot go +forth. My place is inside the camp. I must work there?" If so, then, +there must be moral distance between you and Jesus, for He is as surely +outside the camp as He is on the throne of God. If your sphere of work +lies inside the camp, when your Master tells you to go forth, what shall +we say for your work? Can it be "gold, silver, precious stones?" Can it +have your Lord's approving smile? It may exhibit His overruling hand, +and illustrate His sovereign goodness; but can it possibly have His +unqualified approval while carried on in a sphere from which He commands +you to go forth? + +The all-important thing for every true servant is to be found exactly +where his Master would have him. The question is not, "Am I doing a +great deal of work? but am I pleasing my Master? I may seem to be doing +wonders in the way of work; my name may be heralded to the ends of the +earth as a most laborious, devoted, and successful workman; and, all the +while, I may be in an utterly false position, indulging my own unbroken +will, pleasing myself, and seeking some personal end or object." + +All this is very solemn indeed, and demands the consideration of all who +really desire to be found in the current of God's thoughts. We live in +a day of much wilfulness. The commandments of Christ do not govern all. +We think for ourselves, in place of submitting ourselves absolutely to +the authority of the Word. When our Lord tells us to go forth without +the camp, we, instead of yielding a ready obedience, begin to reason as +to the results which we can reach by remaining within. Scripture seems +to have little or no power over our souls. We do not aim at simply +pleasing Christ. Provided we can make great show of work, we think all +is right. We are more occupied with results which, after all, may only +tend to magnify ourselves, than with the earnest purpose to do what is +agreeable to the mind of Christ. + +But are we to be idle? Is there nothing for us to do in the outside +place to which we are called? Is Christian life to be made up of a +series of negations? Is there nothing positive? Let Heb. xiii. furnish +the clear and forcible answer to all these inquiries. We shall find it +quite as distinct in reference to our _work_ as it is in reference to +our _position_. + +What, then, have we got to do? Two things; and these two in their +comprehensive range take in the whole of a Christian's life in its two +grand aspects. They give us the inner and the outer life of the true +believer. In the first place, we read, "By Him therefore let us offer +the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our +lips, giving thanks to His name." + +Is not this something? Have we not here a very elevated character of +work? Yes, verily, the most elevated that can possibly engage the +energies of our renewed being. It is our privilege to be occupied, +morning, noon, eventide, and midnight, in presenting the sacrifice of +praise to God--a sacrifice which, He assures us, is ever most acceptable +to Him. "Whoso offereth praise," He says, "glorifieth Me." + +Let us carefully note this. Praise is to be the primary and continual +occupation of the believer. We, in our fancied wisdom, would put work in +the first place. We are disposed to attach chief importance to bustling +activity. We have such an overweening sense of the value of _doing_, +that we lose sight of the place which worship occupies in the thoughts +of God. + +Again, there are some who vainly imagine that they can please God by +punishing their bodies. They think that He delights in their vigils, +fastings, floggings, and flagellations. Miserable, soul-destroying, +God-dishonoring delusion! Will not those who harbor it and act upon it +bend their ears and their hearts to those gracious words which we have +just penned, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me?" True, it is, that +those words are immediately followed by that grand practical statement, +"And to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the +salvation of God." But still, here, as everywhere, the highest place is +assigned to praise, not to work. And, most assuredly, no man can be +said to be ordering his conversation aright who abuses his body and +renders it unfit to be the vessel or instrument by which he can serve +God. + +No, reader, if we really desire to please God, to gratify His heart and +to glorify His name, we shall give our heart's attention to Heb. xiii. +15, and seek to offer the sacrifice of praise _continually_. Yes, +"continually." Not merely now and then, when all goes on smoothly and +pleasantly. Come what may, it is our high and holy privilege to offer +the sacrifice of praise to God. It does so glorify God when His people +live in an atmosphere of praise. It imparts a heavenly tone to their +character, and speaks more powerfully to the hearts of those around them +than if they were preaching to them from morning till night. A Christian +should "rejoice in the Lord alway," always reflecting back upon this +dark world the blessed beams of his Father's countenance. + +Thus it should ever be. Nothing is so unworthy of a Christian as a +fretful spirit, a gloomy temper, a sour, morose-looking face. And not +only is it unworthy of a Christian, but it is dishonoring to God, and it +causes the enemies of truth to speak reproachfully. No doubt, tempers +and dispositions vary; and allowance must be made in cases of weak +bodily health, and of circumstances of sorrow. It is not easy to look +pleasant when the body is in suffering; and, further, we should be very +far indeed from the commending anything like levity or the everlasting +smile of mere unsubdued nature. + +But Scripture is clear and explicit. It tells us to "offer the sacrifice +of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving +thanks to His name." How simple! "_The fruit of our lips._" This is what +our God delights in. It is His joy to be surrounded with the praises of +hearts filled to overflowing with His abounding goodness. Thus it will +be throughout eternity, in that bright home of love and glory to which +we are so rapidly hastening. + +And let the reader specially note the words, "_By Him_." We are to offer +our sacrifice of praise by the hand of our Great High Priest, who is +ever in the presence of God for us. This is most consolatory and +assuring to our hearts. Jesus presents our sacrifice of praise to God. +It must therefore be ever acceptable, coming thus by the priestly hand +of the Great Minister of the sanctuary. It goes up to God, not as it +proceeds from us, but as it is presented by Him. Divested of all the +imperfection and failure attaching to us, it ascends to God in all the +fragrance and acceptancy belonging to Him. The feeblest note of praise, +the simple "Thank God!" is perfumed with the incense of Christ's +infinite preciousness. This is unspeakably precious: and it should +greatly encourage us to cultivate a spirit of praise. We should be +"continually" praising and blessing God. A murmuring or fretful word +should never cross the lips of one who has Christ for his portion, and +who stands identified with that blessed One in His position and His +destiny. + +But we must draw this paper to a close by a rapid glance at the other +side of the Christian's work. If it is our privilege to be continually +praising and blessing God, it is also our privilege to be doing good to +man. "But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such +sacrifices God is well pleased." We are passing through a world of +misery, of sin and death and sorrow. We are surrounded by broken hearts +and crushed spirits, if we would only look them out. + +Yes; this is the point; _if we would only look them out_. It is easy for +us to close our eyes to such things, to turn away from them, to forget +that there are such things always within reach of us. We can sit in our +easy chair, and speculate about truth, doctrines, and the letter of +Scripture; we can discuss the theories of Christianity, and split hairs +about prophecy and dispensational truth, and, all the while, be +shamefully failing in the discharge of our grand responsibility as +Christians. We are in imminent danger of forgetting that Christianity is +a living reality. It is not a set of dogmas, a number of principles +strung together on a thread of systematized divinity, which unconverted +people can have at their fingers' ends. Neither is it a set of +ordinances to be gone through, in dreary formality, by lifeless, +heartless professors. No; it is life--life eternal--life implanted by +the Holy Ghost, and expressing itself in those two lovely forms on which +we have been dwelling, namely, praise to God and doing good to man. Such +was the life of Jesus when He trod this earth of ours. He lived in the +atmosphere of praise; and He went about doing good. + +And He is our life, and He is our model on which the life is to be +formed. The Christian should be the living expression of Christ, by the +power of the Holy Ghost. It is not a mere question of leading what is +called a religious life, which very often resolves itself into a +tiresome round of duties which neither yield "praise" to God nor one +atom of "good" to man. There must be _life_, or it is all perfectly +worthless. "The kingdom of God is not meat or drink; but righteousness +and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth +Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men" (Rom. xiv. 17, 18). + +Beloved Christian reader, let us earnestly apply our hearts to the +consideration of these great practical truths. Let us seek to be +Christians not merely in name but in reality. Let us not be +distinguished as the mere vendors of peculiar "_views_." Oh! how +worthless are views! How utterly profitless is discussion! How wearisome +are theological hair-splittings! Let us have life, light, and love. +These are heavenly, eternal, divine. All else is vanity. How we do long +for reality in this world of sham--for deep thinkers and earnest workers +in this day of shallow talkers! + +NOTE.--The reader will find it profitable to compare Heb. xiii. 13-16 +with I Peter ii. 4-9. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him," says Paul. +"To whom coming," says Peter. Then we have "The holy priesthood" +offering up spiritual sacrifices of praise. And "the royal priesthood" +doing good and communicating--"showing forth the virtues of Him who hath +called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." The two scriptures +give us a magnificent view of fundamental, devotional and practical +Christianity. + + +PART II. + +We must ask the reader to open his Bible and read Heb. x. 7-24. In it he +will find a very deep and marvelous view of the Christian's position and +his work. The inspired writer gives us, as it were, three solid pillars +on which the grand edifice of Christianity rests. These are, first, _the +will of God_; secondly, _the work of Christ;_ and, thirdly, _the witness +of the Holy Ghost_, in Scripture. If these grand realities be laid hold +of in simple faith, the soul _must_ have settled peace. We may assert, +with all possible confidence, that no power of earth or hell, men or +devils, can ever disturb the peace which is founded upon Heb. x. 7-17. + +Let us then, in the first place, dwell, for a few moments, on the manner +in which the apostle unfolds, in this magnificent passage, + + +THE WILL OF GOD. + +In the opening of the chapter, we are instructed as to the utter +inadequacy of the sacrifices under the law. They could never make the +conscience perfect--they could never accomplish the will of God--never +fulfil the gracious desire and purpose of His heart. "The law, having a +shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can +never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually +make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased +to be offered? because _the worshipers once purged_ should have had _no +more conscience of sins_." + +Let the reader carefully note this. "The worshipers once purged should +have had no more conscience of sins." He does not say--"No more +_consciousness of sins_." There is an immense difference between these +two things; and yet, it is to be feared, they are often confounded. The +Christian has, alas, the consciousness of _sin in him_, but he ought to +have no conscience of _sins on him_, inasmuch as he is purged once and +forever, by the precious blood of Christ. + +Some of the Lord's people have a habit of speaking of their continual +need of applying to the blood of Christ, which, to say the least of it, +is by no means intelligent, or in accordance with the accurate teaching +of Holy Scripture. It seems like humility; but, we may rest assured, +true humility can only be found in connection with the full, clear, +settled apprehension of the truth of God, and as to His gracious will +concerning us. If it be His will that we should have "no more conscience +of sins," it cannot be true humility, on our part, to go on from day to +day, and year to year, with the burden of sins upon us. And, further, if +it be true that Christ has borne our sins and put them away forever--if +He has offered one perfect sacrifice for sins, ought we not assuredly to +know that we are perfectly pardoned and perfectly purged? Is it--can it +be, true humility to reduce the blood of Christ to the level of the +blood of bulls and of goats? But this is what is virtually done, +though, no doubt, unwittingly, by all who speak of applying continually +to the blood of Christ. One reason why God found fault with the +sacrifices under the law was, as the apostle tells us, "In those +sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year." This, +blessed be His name, was not according to His mind. He desired that +every trace of guilt and every remembrance of it should be blotted out, +once and forever; and hence it cannot be His will that His people should +be continually bowed down under the terrible burden of unforgiven sin. +It is _contrary_ to His will; it is subversive of their peace, and +derogatory to the glory of Christ and the efficacy of His one sacrifice. + +One grand point of the inspired argument, in Hebrews x., is to show that +the continual remembrance of sins and the continual repetition of the +sacrifice go together; and therefore, if Christians now are to have the +burden of sins constantly on the heart and conscience, it follows that +Christ should be offered again and again--which were a blasphemy. His +work is done, and hence our burden is gone--gone forever. "It is not +possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin. +Wherefore, when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and +offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me. In +burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. Then +said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do +Thy will, O God. Above, when He said, Sacrifice and offering and +burnt-offerings and offerings for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst +pleasure therein (which are offered by the law) then said He, Lo, I come +to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first that He may establish +the second. By the which will we are sanctified (or set apart) by the +offering of the body of Jesus Christ _once_." + +Here we are conducted, in the most distinct and forcible manner, to the +eternal source of the whole matter, namely, the will of God--the purpose +and counsel formed in the divine mind, before the foundation of the +world, before any creature was formed, before sin or Satan existed. It +was the will of God, from all eternity, that the Son should, in due +time, come forth and do a work which was to be the foundation of the +divine glory and of all the counsels and purposes of the Trinity. + +It would be a very grave error indeed to suppose that redemption was an +afterthought with God. He had not, blessed be His holy name, to sit down +and plan what He would do, when sin entered. It was all settled +beforehand. The enemy, no doubt, imagined that he was gaining a +wonderful victory when he meddled with man in the garden of Eden. In +point of fact, he was only giving occasion for the display of God's +eternal counsels in connection with the work of the Son. There was no +basis for those counsels, no sphere for their display in the fields of +creation. It was the meddling of Satan--the entrance of sin--the ruin of +man, that opened a platform on which a Saviour-God might display the +riches of His grace, the glories of His salvation, the attributes of His +nature, to all created intelligences. + +There is great depth and power in those words of the eternal Son, "In +the volume of the book it is written of Me." To what "volume" does He +here refer? Is it to Old Testament scripture merely? Surely not; the +apostle quotes from the Old Testament, but it is nothing less than the +roll of God's eternal counsels in which the "vast plan" was laid, +according to which, in the appointed time, the eternal Son was to come +forth and appear on the scene, in order to accomplish the divine will, +vindicate the divine glory, confound the enemy utterly, put away sin, +and save ruined man in a manner which yields a richer harvest of glory +to God than ever He could have reaped in the fields of an unfallen +creation. + +All this gives immense stability to the soul of the believer. Indeed it +is utterly impossible for human language to set forth the preciousness +and blessedness of this line of truth. It is such rich consolation to +every pious soul to know that One has appeared in this world to do the +will of God--whatever that will might be. "Lo, I come to do Thy will O +God." Such was the one undivided purpose and object of that perfect +human heart. He never did His own will in anything. He says, "I came +down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent +Me." It mattered not to Him what that will might involve to Himself +personally. The decree was written down in the eternal volume that He +should come and do the divine will; and, all homage to His peerless +name! He came and did it perfectly. He could say, "A body hast Thou +prepared Me." "Mine ears hast Thou opened." "I clothe the heavens with +blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. The Lord God hath given +Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in +season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth +Mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened Mine ear, and +I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave My back to the +smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not My +face from shame and spitting" (Isa. l. 3-6). + +But this leads us, in the second place, to contemplate + + +THE WORK OF CHRIST. + +It was ever the delight of the heart of Jesus to do His Father's will +and finish His work. From the manger at Bethlehem to the cross of +Calvary, the one grand object that swayed His devoted heart was the +accomplishment of the will of God. He perfectly glorified God, in all +things. This, blessed be God, perfectly secures our full and everlasting +salvation, as the apostle in this passage, so distinctly states. "By the +which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus +Christ once." + +Here our souls may rest, beloved reader, in sweetest peace and unclouded +certainty. It was the will of God that we should be set apart to +Himself, according to all the love of His heart, and all the claims of +His throne; and our Lord Christ, in due time, in pursuance of the +everlasting purpose as set forth "in the volume of the book," came forth +from the glory which He had with the Father, before all worlds, to do +the work which forms the imperishable basis of all the divine counsels +and of our eternal salvation. + +And--forever be His name adored!--He has finished His work. He has +perfectly glorified God in the midst of the scene in which He has been +so dishonored. At all cost He has vindicated Him and made good His every +claim. He magnified the law and made it honorable. He vanquished every +foe, removed every obstacle, swept away every barrier, bore the judgment +and wrath of a sin-hating God; destroyed death and him that had the +power of it, extracted its sting, and spoiled the grave of its victory. +In a word, He gloriously accomplished all that was written in the volume +of the book concerning Him; and now we see Him crowned with glory and +honor, at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens. He travelled +from the throne to the dust of death, in order to accomplish the will of +God, and having done so, He has gone back to the throne, in a new +character and on a new footing. His pathway from the throne to the cross +was marked by the footprints of divine and everlasting love; and His +pathway from the cross back to the throne is sprinkled by His atoning +blood. He came from heaven to earth to do the will of God, and, having +done it, He returned to heaven again, thus opening up for us "a new and +living way" by which we draw nigh to God, in holy boldness and liberty, +as purged worshipers. + +All is done. Every question is settled. Every barrier is removed. The +vail is rent. That mysterious curtain which, for ages and generations, +had shut God in from man, and shut man out from God, was rent in twain, +from top to bottom, by the precious death of Christ; and now we can look +right up into the opened heavens and see on the throne the Man who bore +our sins in His own body on the tree. A seated Christ tells out, in the +ear of faith, the sweet emancipating tale that all that had to be done +is done--done forever--done for God--done for us. Yes; all is settled +now, and God can, in perfect righteousness, indulge the love of His +heart, in blotting out all our sins and bringing us nigh unto Himself in +all the acceptance of the One who sits beside Him on the throne. + +And let the reader carefully note the striking and beautiful way in +which the apostle contrasts _a seated Christ in heaven with the standing +priest on earth_. "Every priest standeth daily ministering, and offering +oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this +Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever ([Greek: eis +to dienekes]--in perpetuity) sat down on the right hand of God; from +henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one +offering He hath perfected forever (in perpetuity) them that are +sanctified." + +This is exceedingly blessed. The priest, under the Levitical economy, +could never sit down, for the obvious reason that his work was never +done. There was no seat provided in the temple or in the tabernacle. +There is remarkable force and significance in the manner in which the +inspired writer puts this. "_Every priest_"--"standeth _daily_"--"offering + _oftentimes_"--"_the same sacrifices_"--"which can _never take +away sins_." No human language could possibly set forth, more +graphically, the utter inefficacy of the Levitical ceremonial. How +strange that, in the face of such a passage of Holy Scripture, Christendom +should have set up a human priesthood, with its daily sacrifice!--a +priesthood moreover, not belonging to the tribe of Levi, not +springing from the house of Aaron, and therefore having no +sort of divine title or sanction. And, then as to the sacrifice, it is, +according to their own admission, a sacrifice without blood, and +therefore a sacrifice without remission, for, "Without the shedding of +blood there is no remission" (Heb. ix. 22). + +Hence, this self-made priesthood is a daring usurpation, and her +sacrifices a worthless vanity--a positive lie--a mischievous delusion. +The priests of whom the apostle speaks in Heb. x. were priests of the +tribe of Levi and of the house of Aaron--the only house, the only tribe +ever recognised of God as having any title to assume the office and the +work of an earthly priest. And, further, the sacrifices which the +Aaronic priests offered were appointed by God, for the time being, to +serve as _figures_ of Him that was to come; but they never gave Him any +pleasure, inasmuch as they could never take away sins; and the true +Priest having come, the true sacrifice having been offered, the figures +have been forever abolished. + +Now, in view of all this, what shall we say of Christendom's priests and +Christendom's sacrifices? What will a righteous Judge say to them? We +cannot attempt to dwell upon such an awful theme. We can merely say, +alas! alas! for the poor souls that are deluded and ruined by such +antichristian absurdities. May God in His mercy deliver them and lead +them to rest in the one offering of Jesus Christ--that precious blood +that cleanses from all sin. May many be led to see that a repeated +sacrifice and a seated Christ are in positive antagonism. If the +sacrifice must be repeated, Christ has no right to His seat and to His +crown--God pardon the very penning of the words! If Christ has a divine +right to His seat and to His crown, then to repeat a sacrifice is simply +a blasphemy against His cross, His name, His glory. To repeat in any +way, or under any form whatsoever, the sacrifice, is to deny the +efficacy of Christ's one offering, and to rob the soul of anything like +an approach to the knowledge of remission of sins. A repeated sacrifice +and perfect remission are an absolute contradiction in terms. + +But we must turn, for a moment, to the third grand point in our subject, +namely, + + +THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY GHOST. + +This is of the deepest possible moment for the reader to understand. It +gives great completeness to the subject. How are we to know that Christ +has, by His work on the cross, absolutely and divinely accomplished the +will of God? Simply by the witness of the Holy Ghost in Scripture. This +is the third pillar on which the Christian's position rests, and it is +as thoroughly divine and, therefore, as thoroughly independent of man as +the other two. It is very evident that man had nothing to do with the +eternal counsels of the Trinity--nothing to do with the glorious work +accomplished on the cross. All this is clear; and it is equally clear +that man has nothing to do with the authority on which our souls receive +the joyful news as to the _will of God_, and _the work of Christ_, +inasmuch as it is nothing less than _the witness of the Holy Ghost_. + +We cannot be too simple as to this. It is not, by any means, a question +of our feelings, our frames, our evidences, or our experiences--things +interesting in their right place. We must receive the truth solely and +simply on the authority of that august Witness who speaks to us in Holy +Scripture. Thus we read, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to +us; for after that He had said before, This is the covenant that I will +make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws +into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins +and iniquities will I remember no more." + +Here, then, we have fully before us the solid foundation of the +Christian's position and the Christian's peace. It is all of God, from +first to last. The _will_, the _work_, and the _witness_ are all divine. +The Lord be praised for this glorious fact! What should we do, what +would become of us, were it otherwise? In this day of confusion, when +souls are tossed about by every wind of doctrine--when the beloved sheep +of Christ are driven hither and thither, in bewilderment and +perplexity--when ritualism with its ignorant absurdities, and +rationalism with its impudent blasphemies, and spiritualism with its +horrible traffic with demons, are threatening the very foundations of +our faith, how important it is for Christians to know what those +foundations really are, and that they should be consciously resting +thereon! + + +PART III. + +We would recall for a moment to the reader's attention the third point +in our subject, namely, "The witness of the Holy Ghost in Scripture." We +feel it to be of too much importance to be dismissed with such a cursory +glance as we were able to give it at the close of our last paper. + +It is absolutely essential to the enjoyment of settled peace that the +heart should rest _solely_ on the authority of Holy Scripture. Nothing +else will stand. Inward evidences, spiritual experiences, comfortable +frames, happy feelings, are all very good, very valuable, and very +desirable; indeed we cannot prize them too highly in their right place. +But, most assuredly, their right place is not at the foundation of the +Christian position. If we look to such things as the ground of our +peace, we shall very soon become clouded, uncertain, and miserable. + +The reader cannot be too simple in his apprehension of this point. He +must rest like a little child upon the testimony of the Holy Ghost in +the Word. It is blessedly true that "He that believeth hath the witness +in himself." And again, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our +spirit that we are the children of God." All this is essential to +Christianity; but it must, in no wise, be confounded with the witness +of the Holy Ghost, as given to us in Holy Scripture. The Spirit of God +never leads any one to build upon His work as the ground of peace, but +only upon the finished work of Christ, and the unchangeable word of God; +and we may rest assured that the more simply we rest on these the more +settled our peace will be, and the clearer our evidences, the brighter +our frames, the happier our feelings, the richer our experiences. In +short, the more we look away from self and all its belongings, and rest +in Christ, on the clear authority of Scripture, the more spiritually +minded we shall be; and the inspired apostle tells us that "to be +spiritually minded (or, the minding of the Spirit) is life and peace." +The best evidence of a spiritual mind is childlike repose in Christ and +His Word. The clearest proof of an unspiritual mind is self-occupation. +It is a poor affair to be trafficking in _our_ evidences, or _our_ +anything. It looks like piety, but it leads away from Christ--away from +Scripture--away from God; and this is not piety, or faith, or +Christianity. + +We are intensely anxious that the reader should seize, with great +distinctness, the importance of committing his whole moral being to the +divine authority of the word of God. It will never fail him. All else +may go, but "the word of our God shall stand forever." Heart and flesh +may fail. Internal evidences may become clouded; frames, feelings, and +experiences may all prove unsatisfactory; but the word of the Lord, the +testimony of the Holy Ghost, the clear voice of Holy Scripture, must +ever remain unshaken. "And this is the Word which by the gospel is +preached unto us." + +Thus much, then, as to the divine and everlasting basis of the +Christian's position, as set forth in the tenth chapter of the Epistle +to the Hebrews. Let us, now, see what this same scripture tells us of +the Christian's work, and of the sphere in which that work is to be +carried on. + +The Christian is brought into the immediate presence of God, inside the +veil, into the holiest of all. This is his proper place, if indeed we +are to listen to the voice of Scripture. "Having therefore, brethren, +boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a _new_ and +_living_ way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is +to say, His flesh; and having a high-priest over the house of God; _let +us draw near_ with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our +hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with +pure water." + +Our God, blessed be His holy name, would have us near unto Himself. He +has made out for us a title clear and indisputable in "_the blood of +Jesus_." Nothing more is needed. That precious blood stands out before +the eye of faith in all its infinite value. In it alone we read our +title. It is not the blood _and_ something else--be that something what +it may. The blood constitutes our exclusive title. We come before God in +all the perfect efficacy of that blood which rent the veil, glorified +God as to the question of sin, canceled our guilt according to all the +demands of infinite holiness, silenced, forever, every accuser, every +foe. We enter by a new and living way--a way which can never become old +or dead. We enter by the direct invitation, yea, by the distinct command +of God. It is positive disobedience not to come. We enter to receive the +loving welcome of our Father's heart, it is an insult to that love not +to come. He tells us to "come boldly"--to "draw near" with full, +unclouded confidence--a boldness and confidence commensurate with the +love that invites us; the word that commands us, and the blood that fits +and entitles us. It is offering dishonor to the eternal Trinity not to +draw near. + +Reader, is all this, think you, understood and taught in Christendom? +Say, do Christendom's creeds, confessions, and liturgical services +harmonize with apostolic teaching in Heb. x.? Alas! alas! they do not. +Nay, they are in direct antagonism; and the state of souls, accordingly, +is the very reverse of what it ought to be. In place of "draw near" it +is keep off. In place of liberty and boldness, it is legality and +bondage. In place of a heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, it is a +heart bowed down beneath the intolerable burden of unforgiven sin. In +place of a great High Priest seated on the throne of God, in virtue of +accomplished redemption, we have poor mortal--not to say sinful--priests +standing from week to week, all the year round in wearisome routine, +actually contradicting, in their barren formularies, the very +foundation truths of Christianity. + +How truly deplorable is all this! And then the sad condition of the +Lord's dear people, the lambs and sheep of that precious flock for which +He died! It is this that so deeply affects us. It is of little use +attacking Christendom. We quite admit this; but we yearn over the souls +of God's people. We long to see them fully delivered from false +teaching, from Judaism, legalism, and every other _ism_ that robs them +of a full salvation and a precious Saviour. We long to reach them with +the clear and soul-satisfying teachings of Holy Scripture, so that they +may know and enjoy the things that are freely given to them of God. We +can truly say there is nothing which gives us such painful concern as +the state of the Lord's dear people, scattered upon the dark mountains +and desolate moors: and one special object for which we desire to live +is to be the instrument of leading them into those green pastures and +beside those still waters where the true Shepherd and Bishop of their +souls longs to feed them, according to all the deep and tender love of +His heart. He would have them near Himself, reposing in the light of His +blessed countenance. It is not according to His mind or His loving heart +that His people should be kept at a dim cold distance from His presence, +in doubt and darkness. Ah, no; reader, His word tells us to draw +near--to come boldly--to appropriate freely--to make our very own all +the precious privileges to which a Father's love invites us, and a +Saviour's blood entitles us. + +"_Let us draw near._" This is the voice of God to us. Christ has opened +up the way. The veil is rent, our place is in the holiest of all, the +conscience sprinkled, the body washed, the soul entering intelligently +into the atoning value of the blood, and the cleansing, sanctifying +power of the Word--its action upon our habits, our ways, our +associations, our entire course and character. + +All this is of the very utmost practical value to every true lover of +holiness--and every true Christian is a lover of holiness. "The body +washed with pure water" is a perfectly delightful thought. It sets forth +the purifying action of the word of God on the Christian's entire course +and character. We must not be content with having the heart sprinkled by +the blood; we must also have the body washed with pure water. + +And what then? "_Let us hold fast_ the profession of our hope ([Greek: +elpidos]) without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)." Blessed +parenthesis! We may well hold fast, seeing He is faithful. Our hope can +never make ashamed. It rests, in holy calmness, upon the infallible +faithfulness of Him who cannot lie, whose word is settled for ever in +heaven, far above all the changes and chances of this mortal life, above +the din of controversy, the strife of tongues, the impudent assaults of +infidelity, the ignorant ravings of superstition--far away above all +these things, eternally settled in heaven is that Word which forms the +ground of our "hope." + +It well becomes us, therefore, to hold fast. We should not have a single +wavering thought--a single question--a single misgiving. For a Christian +to doubt is to cast dishonor upon the word of a faithful God. Let +sceptics, and rationalists, and infidels doubt, for they have nothing to +believe, nothing to rest upon, no certainty. But for a child of God to +doubt, is to call in question the faithfulness of the divine Promiser. +We owe it to His glory, to say nothing of our own peace, to "hold fast +the confession of our hope without wavering." Thus may it be with every +beloved member of the household of faith, until that longed-for moment +"when faith and hope shall cease, and love abide alone." + +But there is one more interesting branch of Christian work at which we +must glance ere closing this paper. "_Let us consider one another_, to +provoke unto love and to good works." + +This is in lovely moral keeping with all that has gone before. The grace +of God has so richly met all our personal need--setting before us such +an array of precious privileges--an opened heaven--a rent veil--a +crowned and seated Saviour--a great High Priest--a perfectly purged +conscience--boldness to enter--a hearty welcome--a faithful Promiser--a +sure and certain hope: having all these marvelous blessings in full +possession, what have we got to do? To consider ourselves? Nay verily; +this were superfluous and sinfully selfish. We could not possibly do so +well for ourselves as God has done for us. He has left nothing unsaid, +nothing undone, nothing to be desired. Our cup is full and running over. +What remains? Simply to "consider one another;" to go out in the +activities of holy love, and serve our brethren in every possible way; +to be on the lookout for opportunities of doing good; to be ready for +every good work; to seek in a thousand little ways to make hearts glad; +to seek to shed a ray of light on the moral gloom around us; to be a +stream of refreshing in this sterile and thirsty wilderness. + +These are some of the things that make up a Christian's work. May we +attend to them! May we be found provoking one another, not to envy and +jealousy, but to love and good works; exhorting one another daily; +diligently availing ourselves of the public assembly, and so much the +more, as we see the day approaching. + +May the Holy Spirit engrave upon the heart of both writer and reader +these most precious exhortations so thoroughly characteristic of our +glorious Christianity--"_Let us draw near_"--"_Let us hold fast_"--"_Let +us consider one another!_" + + * * * * * + The veil is rent:--our souls draw near + Unto a throne of grace; + The merits of the Lord appear, + They fill the holy place. + +His precious blood has spoken there. Before and on the throne: + +And His own wounds in heaven declare, The atoning work is done. + +'Tis finished!--here our souls have rest, His work can never fail: By +Him, our Sacrifice and Priest, We pass within the veil. + +Within the holiest of all, Cleansed by His precious blood, Before the +throne we prostrate fall And worship Thee, O God! */ + + + + +THE CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD + + +We want the reader to open his Bible and read I Pet. ii. I-9. In this +lovely scripture he will find three words on which we will ask him to +dwell with us for a little. They are words of weight and power--words +which indicate three great branches of practical Christian truth--words +conveying to our hearts a fact which we cannot too deeply ponder, +namely, that Christianity is a living and divine reality. It is not a +set of doctrines, however true; a system of ordinances, however +imposing; a number of rules and regulations, however important. +Christianity is far more than any or all of these things. It is a +living, breathing, speaking, active, powerful reality--something to be +seen in the every day life--something to be felt in the scenes of +personal, domestic history, from hour to hour--something formative and +influential--a divine and heavenly power introduced into the scenes and +circumstances through which we have to move, as men, women, and +children, from Sunday morning to Saturday night. It does not consist in +holding certain views, opinions, and principles, or in going to this +place of worship or that. + +Christianity is the life of Christ communicated to the +believer--dwelling _in_ him--and flowing out _from_ him, in the ten +thousand little details which go to make up our daily practical life. It +has nothing ascetic, or sanctimonious about it. It is genial, pure, +elevated, holy, divine. Such is Christianity. It is Christ dwelling in +the believer, and reproduced, by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the +believer's daily practical career. + +But let us turn to our three words; and may the Eternal Spirit expound +their deep and holy meaning to our souls! + +And first, then, we have the word "living." "To whom coming, as unto a +living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, +ye also, as living stones, are built up." + +Here we have what we may call the foundation of Christian priesthood. +There is evidently an allusion here to that profoundly interesting scene +in Matt. xvi. to which we must ask the reader to turn for a moment. + +"When Jesus was come into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His +disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?[XXIII.] +And they said, 'Some say Thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and +others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.'" + +There was endless speculation, simply because there was no real +heart-work respecting the blessed One. Some said this, some said that; +and, in result, no one cared who or what He was; and hence He turns away +from all this heartless speculation, and puts the pointed question to +His own, "But whom say ye that I am?" He desired to know what they +thought about Him--what estimate their hearts had formed of Him. "And +Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the +_living_ God." + +Here we have the true confession. Here lies the solid foundation of the +whole edifice of the Church of God and all true practical +Christianity--"Christ the Son of the _living_ God." No more dim +shadows--no more powerless forms--no more lifeless ordinances--all must +be permeated by this new, this divine, this heavenly life which has come +into this world, and is communicated to all who believe in the name of +the Son of God. + +"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; +for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which +is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter; and upon +this rock I _will build_ My Church; and the gates of hell shall not +prevail against it." + +Now, it is evidently to this magnificent passage that the apostle Peter +refers in the second chapter of his first epistle, when he says, "To +whom coming, as unto a _living_ stone, disallowed indeed of men, but +chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as _living_ stones (the same +words), are built up," etc. All who believe in Jesus are partakers of +His risen, victorious, _rock_ life. The life of Christ, the Son of the +living God, flows through all His members, and through each in +particular. Thus we have the _living_ God, the _living_ Stone, the +_living_ stones. It is all life together--life flowing down from a +living source, through a living channel, and imparting itself to all +believers, thus making them living stones. + +Now, this life having been tried and tested, in every possible way, and +having come forth victorious, can never again be called to pass through +any process of trial, testing, or judgment whatsoever. It has passed +through death and judgment. It has gone down under all the waves and +billows of divine wrath, and come forth at the other side in +resurrection, in divine glory and power--a life victorious, heavenly, +and divine, beyond the reach of all the powers of darkness. There is no +power of earth or hell, men or devils, that can possibly touch the life +which is possessed by the very smallest and most insignificant stone in +Christ's assembly. All believers are built upon the living Stone, +Christ; and are thus constituted living stones. He makes them like +Himself in every respect, save of course, in His incommunicable deity. +Is He a living Stone? They are living stones. Is He a precious Stone? +They are precious stones. Is He a rejected Stone? They are rejected +stones--rejected, disallowed of men. They are, in every respect, +identified with Him. Ineffable privilege! + +Here, then, we repeat, is the solid foundation of the Christian +priesthood--the priesthood of all believers. Before any one can offer up +a spiritual sacrifice, he must come to Christ, in simple faith, and be +built on Him as the foundation of the whole spiritual building. +"Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture (Isa. xxviii. 16), +Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious; and he that +believeth in Him shall not be confounded." + +How precious are these words! God Himself has laid the foundation, and +that foundation is Christ; and all who simply believe in Christ--all who +give Him the confidence of their hearts--all who rest satisfied with +Him, are made partakers of His resurrection-life, and thus made living +stones. + +How blessedly simple is this! We are not asked to assist in laying the +foundation. We are not called upon to add the weight of a feather to it. +God has laid the foundation, and all we have to do is to believe and +rest thereon; and He pledges His faithful word that we shall never be +confounded. The very feeblest believer in Jesus has God's own gracious +assurance that he shall never be confounded--never be ashamed--never +come into judgment. He is as free from all charge of guilt and every +breath of condemnation as that living Rock on whom he is built. + +Beloved reader, are you on this foundation? Are you built on Christ? +Have you come to Him as God's living Stone, and given Him the full +confidence of your heart? Are you thoroughly satisfied with God's +foundation? or are you seeking to add something of your own--your own +works, your prayers, your ordinances, your vows and resolutions, your +religious duties? If so, if you are seeking to add the smallest jot to +God's foundation, you may rest assured, you will be confounded. God will +not suffer such dishonor to be offered to His tried, elect, precious, +chief corner Stone. Think you that He could allow aught, no matter what, +to be placed beside His beloved Son, in order to form, with Him, the +foundation of His spiritual edifice? The bare thought were an impious +blasphemy. No; it must be Christ alone. He is enough for God, and He may +well be enough for us; and nothing is more certain than that all who +reject, or neglect, turn away from, or add to, God's foundation, shall +be covered with everlasting confusion. + +But, having glanced at the foundation, let us look at the +superstructure. This will lead us to the second of our three weighty +words. "To whom coming as unto a _living_ Stone ... ye also, as living +stones, are built up a spiritual house, a _holy_ priesthood, to offer +up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." + +All true believers are holy priests. They are made this by spiritual +birth, just as Aaron's sons were priests in virtue of their natural +birth. The apostle does not say, Ye _ought to be_ living stones, and, Ye +ought to be holy priests. He says ye _are_ such. No doubt, being such, +we are called upon to act accordingly; but we must be in a position +before we can discharge the duties belonging to it. We must be in a +relationship before we can know the affections which flow out of it. We +do not become priests by offering priestly sacrifices. But being, +through grace, made priests, we are called upon to present the +sacrifice. If we were to live a thousand years twice told, and spend all +that time working, we could not work ourselves into the position of holy +priests; but the moment we believe in Jesus--the moment we come to Him +in simple faith--the moment we give Him the full confidence of our +hearts, we are born anew into the position of holy priests, and are then +privileged to draw nigh and offer the priestly sacrifice. How could any +one, of old, have constituted himself a son of Aaron? Impossible. But +being born of Aaron, he was thereby made a member of the priestly house. +We speak not now of capacity, but simply of the position. This latter +was reached not by effort, but by birth. + +And now, let us enquire as to the nature of the sacrifice which, as holy +priests, we are privileged to offer. We are "to offer up spiritual +sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." So also in Heb. xiii. +15, we read, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to +God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His +name." + +Here, then, we have the true nature and character of that sacrifice +which, as holy priests, we are to offer. It is praise--"praise to God +continually." Blessed occupation! Hallowed exercise! Heavenly +employment! And this is not to be an occasional thing. It is not merely +at some peculiarly favored moment, when all looks bright and smiling +around us. It is not to be merely amid the glow and fervor of some +specially powerful public meeting, when the current of worship flows +deep, wide, and rapid. No; the word is, "praise _continually_." There is +no room, no time for complaining or murmuring, fretfulness and +discontent, impatience and irritability, lamenting about our +surroundings, whatever these may be, complaining about the weather, +finding fault with those who are associated with us, whether in public +or in private, whether in the congregation, in the business, or in the +family circle. + +Holy priests should have no time for any of these things. They are +brought nigh to God, in holy liberty, peace, and blessing. They breathe +the atmosphere and walk in the sunlight of the divine presence, in the +new creation, where there are no materials for a sour and discontented +mind to feed upon. We may set it down as a fixed principle--an +axiom--that whenever we hear anyone pouring out a string of complaints +about circumstances, his neighbors etc., such an one is not realizing +the place of holy priesthood, and, as a consequence, not exhibiting its +practical fruits. A holy priest should "rejoice in the Lord +always"--ever ready to praise God. True, he may be tried in a thousand +ways; but he brings his trials to God in communion, not to his +fellow-man in complaining. "Hallelujah" is the proper utterance of the +very feeblest member of the Christian priesthood. + +But we must now look, for a moment, at the third and last branch of our +present theme. This is presented in that highly expressive word "royal." +The apostle goes on to say, "But ye are a chosen generation, a _royal_ +priesthood ... that ye should show forth the virtues (see margin) of Him +who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." + +This completes the lovely picture of the Christian priesthood.[XXIV.] As +_holy_ priests, we draw nigh to God, and present the sacrifice of +praise. As royal priests we go forth among our fellow-men, in all the +details of practical daily life, to show forth the virtues--the +graces--the lovely moral features of Christ. Every movement of a royal +priest should emit the fragrance of the grace of Christ. + +Mark again, the apostle does not say, _Ye ought to be_ royal priests. He +says ye _are_; and as such we are to show forth the virtues of Christ. +Nothing else becomes a member of the royal priesthood. To be occupied +with myself, to be taking counsel for my own ease, my own interest, my +own enjoyment, to be seeking my own ends, and caring about my own +things, is not the act of a royal priest at all. Christ never did so; +and I am told to show forth His virtues. He, blessed be His name, grants +to His people, in this the time of His absence, to anticipate the day +when He shall come forth as a Royal Priest, and sit upon His throne, and +send forth the benign influence of His dominion to the ends of the +earth. We are called to be the present expression of the kingdom of +Christ--the expression of Himself. + +And let none suppose that the actings of a royal priest are to be +confined to the matter of _giving_. This would be a grave mistake. No +doubt, a royal priest will give, and give liberally if he has it; but to +limit him to the mere matter of communicating would be to rob him of +some of the most precious functions of his position. The very man who +penned the words on which we are dwelling said on one occasion--and said +it without shame, "Silver and gold have I none;" and yet at that very +moment, he was acting as a royal priest, by bringing the precious +virtue of the name of Jesus to bear on the impotent man (Acts. iii.). +The blessed Master Himself, we know, possessed no money; but He went +about doing good; and so should we: nor do we need money to do it. +Indeed it very often happens that we do mischief instead of good with +our silver and gold. We may take people off the ground on which God has +placed them, namely, the ground of honest industry, and make them +dependent upon human alms. Moreover, we may often make hypocrites and +sycophants of people by our injudicious use of money. + +Hence, therefore, let no one imagine that he cannot act as a royal +priest without earthly riches. What riches are required to speak a +kindly word--to drop the tear of sympathy--to give the soothing, genial +look? None whatever save the riches of God's grace--the unsearchable +riches of Christ, all of which are laid open to the most obscure member +of the Christian priesthood. I may be poorly clad, without a penny in +the world, and yet carry myself truly as a royal priest, by diffusing +around me the fragrance of the grace of Christ. + +But, perhaps, we cannot more suitably close these few remarks on the +Christian priesthood, than by giving a very vivid illustration drawn +from the inspired page--the narrative of two beloved servants of Christ +who were enabled, under the most distressing circumstances, to acquit +themselves as holy and royal priests. + +Turn to Acts xvi. 19-34. Here we have Paul and Silas thrust into the +innermost part of the prison at Philippi, their backs covered with +stripes, and their feet fast in the stocks, in the darkness of the +midnight hour. What were they doing? murmuring and complaining? Ah, no! +They had something better and brighter to do. Here were two really +"living stones," and nothing that earth or hell could do could hinder +the life that was in them expressing itself in its proper accents. + +But what, we repeat, were these living stones doing? these partakers of +the rock-life--the victorious, resurrection-life of Christ--how did they +employ themselves? Well, then, in the first place, as _holy_ priests +they offered the sacrifice of praise to God. Yes, "at midnight, Paul and +Silas prayed and sang praises to God." How precious is this! How morally +glorious! How truly refreshing! What are stripes, or stocks, or prison +walls, or gloomy nights, to living stones and holy priests? Nothing more +than a dark background to throw out into bright and beauteous relief the +living grace that is in them. Talk of circumstances! Ah, it is little +any of us know of trying circumstances. Poor things that we are, the +petty annoyances of daily life are often more than enough to cause us to +lose our mental balance. Paul and Silas were really in trying +circumstances; but they were there as living stones and holy priests. + +Yes, reader, and they were there as royal priests, likewise. How does +this appear? Certainly not by scattering silver and gold. It is not +likely the dear men had much of these to scatter. But oh, they had what +was better, even "the virtues of Him who had called them out of darkness +into His marvelous light." And where do these virtues shine out? In +those touching words addressed to the jailer, "_Do thyself no harm_." +These were the accents of a _royal_ priest, just as the song of praise +was the voice of a _holy_ priest. Thank God for both! The voices of the +holy priests went directly up to the throne of God and did their work +there; and the words of the royal priests went directly to the jailer's +hard heart and did their work there. God was glorified and the jailer +saved by two men rightly discharging the functions of "_the Christian +priesthood_." + + + + + Father! Thy sovereign love has sought + Captives to sin, gone far from Thee: + The work that Thine own Son hath wrought, + Has brought us back, in peace, and free! + + And now, as sons before Thy Face, + With joyful steps the path we tread, + Which leads us on to that blest place + Prepared for us, by Christ our Head. + + Thou gav'st us, in eternal love, + To Him, to bring us home to Thee; + Suited to Thine own thoughts above + As sons, like Him, with Him to be. + + Oh, boundless grace! What fills with joy + Unmingled all that enter there; + God's Nature, Love without alloy, + Our hearts are given e'en now to share! + + Oh, keep us, Love Divine, near Thee! + That we our nothingness may know; + And ever to Thy glory be, + Walking in faith while here below. + + J. N. D. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[XXIII.] Let the reader note this title, "_Son of Man_." It is +infinitely precious. It is a title indicating our Lord's rejection as +the Messiah, and leading out into that wide, that universal sphere over +which He is destined in the counsels of God, to rule. It is far wider +than Son of David, or Son of Abraham, and has peculiar charms for us, +inasmuch as it places Him before our hearts as the lonely, outcast +Stranger, and yet as the One who links Himself in perfect grace with us +in all our need--One whose footprints we can trace all across this +dreary desert. "The Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." And yet +it is as Son of Man that He shall, by-and-by, exercise that universal +dominion reserved for Him according to the eternal counsels of God. See +Daniel vii. + +[XXIV.] The intelligent reader does not need to be told that all +believers are priests; and, further, that there is no such thing as a +priest upon earth, save in the sense in which all true Christians are +priests. The idea of a certain set of men, calling themselves priests in +contrast with the people--a certain caste distinguished by title and +dress from the body of Christians, is not Christianity at all, but +Judaism or intelligently worse. All who read the Bible and bow to its +authority will be perfectly clear as to these things. + + + + + +PAPERS ON EVANGELIZATION + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A WORD TO THE EVANGELIST. + + +We trust it may not be deemed out of place if we venture to offer a word +of counsel and encouragement to all who have been and are engaged in the +blessed work of preaching _the gospel of the grace of God_. We are, in +some measure, aware of the difficulties and discouragements which attend +upon the path of every evangelist, whatever may be his sphere of labor +or measure of gift; and it is our heart's desire to hold up the hands +and cheer the hearts of all who may be in danger of falling under the +depressing power of these things. We increasingly feel the immense +importance of an earnest, fervent gospel testimony everywhere; and we +dread exceedingly any falling off therein. We are imperatively called to +"do the work of an evangelist," and not to be moved from that work by +any arguments or considerations whatsoever. + +Let none imagine that, in writing thus, we mean to detract, in the +smallest degree, from the value of teaching, lecturing, or exhortation. +Nothing is further from our thoughts. "These things ought ye to have +done, and not to leave the other undone." We mean not to compare the +work of the evangelist with that of the teacher, or to exalt the former +at the expense of the latter. Each has its own proper place, its own +distinctive interest and importance. + +But is there not a danger, on the other hand, of the evangelist +abandoning his own precious work in order to give himself to the work of +teaching and lecturing? Is there not a danger of the evangelist becoming +merged in the teacher? We fear there is; and it is under the influence +of this very fear that we pen these few lines. We observe, with deep +concern, some who were once known amongst us as earnest and eminently +successful evangelists, now almost wholly abandoning their work and +becoming teachers and lecturers. + +This is most deplorable. _We really want evangelists._ A true evangelist +is almost as great a rarity as a true pastor. Alas! alas! how rare are +both! The two are closely connected. The evangelist gathers the sheep; +the pastor feeds and cares for them. The work of each lies very near the +heart of Christ--the Divine Evangelist and Pastor; but it is with the +former we have now more immediately to do--to encourage him in his work, +and to warn him against the temptation to turn aside from it. We cannot +afford to lose a single ambassador just now, or to have a single +preacher silent. We are perfectly aware of the fact that there is in +some quarters a strong tendency to throw cold water upon the work of +evangelization. There is a sad lack of sympathy with the preacher of the +gospel; and, as a necessary consequence, of active co-operation with +him in his work. Further, there is a mode of speaking of gospel +preaching which argues but little sympathy with the heart of Him who +wept over impenitent sinners, and who could say, at the very opening of +His blessed ministry, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He +hath anointed Me _to preach the gospel to the poor_" (Isa. lxi.; Luke +iv.). And again, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there +also: for therefore came I forth" (Mark i. 38). + +Our blessed Lord was an indefatigable preacher of the gospel, and all +who are filled with His mind and spirit will take a lively interest in +the work of all those who are seeking in their feeble measure to do the +same. This interest will be evinced, not only by earnest prayer for the +divine blessing upon the work, but also by diligent and persevering +efforts to get immortal souls under the sound of the gospel. + +This is the way to help the evangelist, and this way lies open to every +member of the Church of God--man, woman, or child. All can thus help +forward the glorious work of evangelization. If each member of the +assembly were to work diligently and prayerfully in this way, how +different would it be with the Lord's dear servants who are seeking to +make known the unsearchable riches of Christ. + +But, alas! how often is it otherwise. How often do we hear even those +who are of some repute for intelligence and spirituality, when referring +to meetings for gospel testimony, say, "Oh, I am not going there; it is +_only_ the gospel." Think of that! "_Only the gospel._" If they would +put the idea into other words, they might say, "It is _only_ the heart +of God--_only_ the precious blood of Christ--_only_ the glorious record +of the Holy Ghost." + +This would be putting the thing plainly. Nothing is more sad than to +hear professing Christians speak in this way. It proves too clearly that +their souls are very far away from the heart of Jesus. We have +invariably found that those who think and speak slightingly of the work +of the evangelist are persons of very little spirituality; and on the +other hand, the most devoted, the most true hearted, the best taught +saints of God, are always sure to take a profound interest in that work. +How could it be otherwise? Does not the voice of Holy Scripture bear the +clearest testimony to the fact of the interest of the Trinity in the +work of the gospel? Most assuredly it does. Who first preached the +gospel? Who was the first herald of salvation? Who first announced the +good news of the bruised Seed of the woman? The Lord God Himself, in the +garden of Eden. This is a telling fact in connection with our theme. And +further, let us ask, who was the most earnest, laborious, and faithful +preacher that ever trod this earth? The Son of God. And who has been +preaching the gospel for the last eighteen centuries? The Holy Ghost +sent down from heaven. + +Thus then we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost all actually +engaged in the work of evangelization; and if this be so, who are we to +dare to speak slightingly of such a work? Nay, rather may our whole +moral being be stirred by the power of the Spirit of God so that we may +be able to add our fervent and deep Amen to those precious words of +inspiration, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel +of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Isa. lii. 7; Rom. x. +15.) + +But it may be that these lines shall be scanned by some one who has been +engaged in the work of preaching the gospel, and is beginning to feel +rather discouraged. It may be that he has been called to preach in the +same place for years, and he feels burdened by the thought of having to +address the same audience, on the same subject, week after week, month +after month, year after year. He may feel at a loss for something new, +something fresh, some variety. He may sigh for some new sphere, where +the subjects which are familiar to him will be new to the people. Or, if +this cannot be, he may feel led to substitute lectures and expositions +for the fervid, pointed, earnest preaching of the gospel. + +If we have in any measure set forth the reader's feelings on this +subject, we think it will greatly help him in his work to bear in mind +that the one grand theme of the true evangelist is Christ. The power to +handle that theme is the Holy Ghost. The one to whom that theme is to be +unfolded is the poor lost sinner. Now, Christ is ever new; the power of +the Holy Ghost is ever fresh; the soul's condition and destiny ever +intensely interesting. Furthermore, it is well for the evangelist to +bear in mind, on every fresh occasion of rising to preach, that his +unconverted hearers are totally ignorant of the gospel, and hence he +should preach as though it were the first time they had ever heard the +message, and the first time he had ever delivered it. For, be it +remembered, the preaching of the gospel, in the divine acceptation of +the phrase, is not a mere barren statement of evangelical doctrine--a +certain form of words enunciated over and over again in wearisome +routine. Far, very far from it. The gospel is really the large loving +heart of God welling up and flowing forth toward the poor lost sinner in +streams of life and salvation. It is the presentation of the atoning +death and glorious resurrection of the Son of God; and all this in the +present energy, glow, and freshness of the Holy Ghost, from the +exhaustless mine of Holy Scripture. Moreover, _the_ one absorbing object +of the preacher is to win souls for Christ, to the glory of God. For +this he labors and pleads; for this he prays, weeps, and agonizes; for +this he thunders, appeals, and grapples with the heart and conscience of +his hearer. His object is not to teach doctrines, though doctrines may +be taught; his object is not to expound Scripture, though Scripture may +be expounded. These things lie within the range of the teacher or +lecturer; but let it never be forgotten, the preacher's object is to +bring the Saviour and the sinner together--to win souls to Christ. May +God by His Spirit keep these things ever before our hearts, so that we +may have a deeper interest in the glorious work of evangelization! + +We would, in conclusion, merely add a word of exhortation in reference +to the Lord's Day evening. We would, in all affection, say to our +beloved and honored fellow-laborers, Seek to give that one hour to the +great business of the soul's salvation. There are 168 hours in the week, +and, surely, it is the least we may devote _one_ of these to this +momentous work. It so happens that during that interesting hour we can +get the ear of our fellow-sinner. Oh, let us use it to pour in the sweet +story of God's free love and of Christ's full salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A MOTTO FOR THE EVANGELIST. + +(2 Cor. x. 16.) + + +"To _preach the gospel in the regions beyond you_." These words, while +they set forth the large-heartedness of the self-denying and devoted +apostle, do also furnish a fine model for the evangelist, in every age. +The gospel is a traveler; and the preacher of the gospel must be a +traveler likewise. The divinely-qualified and divinely-sent evangelist +will fix his eye upon "_the world_." He will embrace, in his benevolent +design, the human family. From house to house; from street to street; +from city to city; from province to province; from kingdom to kingdom; +from continent to continent; from pole to pole. Such is the range of the +"good news" and the publisher thereof. "The regions beyond" must ever be +the grand gospel motto. No sooner has the gospel lamp cast its cheering +beams over a district, than the bearer of that lamp must think of the +regions beyond. Thus the work goes on. Thus the mighty tide of grace +rolls, in enlightening and saving power, over a dark world which lies in +"the region of the shadow of death." + + "Waft, waft, ye winds, the story, + And you, ye waters, roll, + Till, like the sea of glory, + It spreads from pole to pole." + +Christian reader, are you thinking of "the regions beyond you?" This +expression may, in your case, mean the next house, the next street, the +next village, the next city, the next kingdom, or the next continent. +The application is for your own heart to ponder: but say, are you +thinking of "the regions beyond you?" I do not want you to abandon your +present post at all; or, at least, not until you are fully persuaded +that your work, at the post, is done. But, remember, the gospel plough +should never stand still. "_Onward_" is the motto of every true +evangelist. Let the shepherds abide by the flocks; but let the +evangelists betake themselves hither and thither, to gather the sheep. +Let them sound the gospel trump, far and wide, o'er the dark mountains +of this world, to gather together the elect of God. This is the design +of the gospel. This should be the object of the evangelist, as he sighs +after "the regions beyond." When Caesar beheld, from the coast of Gaul, +the white cliffs of Britain, he earnestly longed to carry his arms +thither. The evangelist, on the other hand, whose heart beats in unison +with the heart of Jesus, as he casts his eye over the map of the world, +longs to carry the gospel of peace into regions which have heretofore +been wrapped in midnight gloom, covered with the dark mantle of +superstition, or blasted beneath the withering influences of "a form of +godliness without the power." + +It would, I believe, be a profitable question for many of us to put to +ourselves, how far are we discharging our holy responsibilities to "the +regions beyond." I believe the Christian who is not cultivating and +manifesting an evangelistic spirit, is in a truly deplorable condition. +I believe, too, that the assembly which is not cultivating and +manifesting an evangelistic spirit is in a dead state. One of the truest +marks of spiritual growth and prosperity, whether in an individual or in +an assembly, is earnest anxiety after the conversion of souls. This +anxiety will swell the bosom with most generous emotions; yea, it will +break forth in copious streams of benevolent exertion, ever flowing +toward "the regions beyond." It is hard to believe that "the word of +Christ" is "dwelling richly" in any one who is not making some effort to +impart that word to his fellow-sinners. It matters not what may be the +amount of the effort; it may be to drop a few words in the ear of a +friend, to give a tract, to pen a note, to breathe a prayer. But one +thing is certain, namely, that a healthy, vigorous Christian will be an +evangelistic Christian--a teller of good news--one whose sympathies, +desires, and energies, are ever going forth toward "the regions beyond." +"I must preach the gospel to other cities also, for therefore am I +sent." Such was the language of the true Evangelist. + +It is very doubtful whether many of the servants of Christ have not +erred in allowing themselves, through one influence or another, to +become too much localized--too much tied in one place. They have dropped +into routine work--into a round of stated preaching in the same place, +and, in many cases, have paralyzed themselves and paralyzed their +hearers also. I speak not, now, of the labors of the pastor, the elder, +or the teacher, which must, of course, be carried on in the midst of +those who are the proper subjects of such labors. I refer more +particularly to the evangelist. Such an one should never suffer himself +to be localized. The world is his sphere--"the regions beyond," his +motto--to gather out God's elect, his object--the current of the Spirit, +his line of direction. If the reader should be one whom God has called +and fitted to be an evangelist, let him remember these four things--the +sphere, the motto, the object, and the line of direction, which all must +adopt if they would prove fruitful laborers in the gospel field. + +Finally, whether the reader be an evangelist or not, I would earnestly +intreat him to examine how far he is seeking to further the gospel of +Christ. We must not stand idle. Time is short! Eternity is rapidly +posting on! The Master is most worthy! Souls are most precious! The +season for work will soon close! Let us, then, in the name of the Lord, +be up and doing. And when we have done what we can, in the regions +around, let us carry the precious seed into "THE REGIONS BEYOND." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST. + +(Acts xvi. 8-31.) + + +We ventured to offer a word to the evangelist, which we now follow up +with a paper on the evangelist's work; and we cannot do better than +select, as the basis of our remarks, a page from the missionary record +of one of the greatest evangelists that ever lived. The passage of +Scripture that stands at the head of this article furnishes specimens of +three distinct classes of hearers, and also the method in which they +were met by the great apostle of the Gentiles, guided, most surely, by +the Holy Ghost. We have, first, _the earnest seeker_; secondly, _the +false professor_; and thirdly, _the hardened sinner_. These three +classes are to be met everywhere, and at all times, by the Lord's +workman; and hence we may be thankful for an inspired account of the +right mode of dealing with such. It is most desirable that those who go +forth with the gospel should have skill in dealing with the various +conditions of soul that come before them, from day to day; and there can +be no more effectual way of attaining this skill than the careful study +of the models given us by God the Holy Ghost. + +Let us then, in the first place, look at the narrative of + + +THE EARNEST SEEKER. + +The laborious apostle, in the course of his missionary journeyings, +came to Troas, and there a vision appeared to him in the night, "There +stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into +Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we +endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had +called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from +Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day +to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of +that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding +certain days. And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river +side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto +the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a +seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard +us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things that +were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she +besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, +come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us" (Acts xvi. +8-15). + +Here, then, we have a touching picture--something well worth gazing at +and pondering. It is a picture of one who, having through grace gotten a +measure of light, was living up to it, and was earnestly seeking for +more. Lydia, the seller of purple, belonged to the same interesting +generation as the eunuch of Ethiopia, and the centurion of Caesarea. All +three appear on the page of inspiration as quickened souls not +emancipated--not at rest--not satisfied. The eunuch had gone from +Ethiopia to Jerusalem in search of something on which to rest his +anxious soul. He had left that city still unsatisfied, and was devoutly +and earnestly hanging over the precious page of inspiration. The eye of +God was upon him, and He sent His servant Philip with the very message +that was needed to solve his difficulties, answer his questions, and set +his soul at rest. God knows how to bring the Philips and the eunuchs +together. He knows how to prepare the heart for the message and the +message for the heart. The eunuch was a worshiper of God; but Philip is +sent to teach him how to see God in the face of Jesus Christ. This was +precisely what he wanted. It was a flood of fresh light breaking in upon +his earnest spirit, setting his heart and conscience at rest, and +sending him on his way rejoicing. He had honestly followed the light as +it broke in upon his soul, and God sent him more. + +Thus it is ever. "To him that hath shall more be given." There never was +a soul who sincerely acted up to his light that did not get more light. +This is most consolatory and encouraging to all anxious enquirers. If +the reader belongs to this class, let him take courage. If he is one of +those with whom God has begun to work, then let him rest assured of +this, that He who hath begun a good work will perform the same until the +day of Jesus Christ. He will, most surely, perfect that which +concerneth His people. + +But let no one fold his arms, settle upon his oars, and coolly say, "I +must wait God's time for more light. I can do nothing--my efforts are +useless. When God's time comes I shall be all right; till then, I must +remain as I am." These were not the thoughts or feelings of the +Ethiopian eunuch. He was one of the earnest seekers; and all earnest +seekers are sure to be happy finders. It must be so, for "God is a +rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. xi. 6). + +So also with the centurion of Caesarea. He was a man of the same stamp. +He lived up to his light. He fasted, he prayed, and gave alms. We are +not told whether he had read the sermon on the mount: but it is +remarkable that he exercised himself in the three grand branches of +practical righteousness set forth by our Lord in the sixth chapter of +Matthew.[XXV.] He was moulding his conduct and shaping his way according +to the standard which God had set before him. His righteousness exceeded +the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, and therefore he entered +the kingdom. He was, through grace, a real man, earnestly following the +light as it streamed in upon his soul, and he was led into the full +blaze of the gospel of the grace of God. God sent a Peter to Cornelius, +as he had sent a Philip to the eunuch. The prayers and alms had gone up +as a memorial before God, and Peter was sent with a message of full +salvation through a crucified and risen Saviour. + +Now it is quite possible that there are persons who, having been rocked +in the cradle of easy-going evangelical profession, and trained up in +the flippant formalism of a self-indulgent, heaven-made-easy religion, +are ready to condemn the pious conduct of Cornelius, and pronounce it +the fruit of ignorance and legality. Such persons have never known what +it was to deny themselves a single meal, or to spend an hour in real, +earnest prayer, or to open their hand, in true benevolence, to meet the +wants of the poor. They have heard and learnt, perchance, that salvation +is not to be gained by such means--that we are justified by faith +without works--that it is to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him +that justifieth the ungodly. + +All this is most true; but what right have we to imagine that Cornelius +was praying, fasting, and giving alms in order to earn salvation? None +whatever--at least if we are to be governed by the inspired narrative, +and we have no other means of knowing aught about this truly excellent +and interesting character. He was informed by the angel that his prayers +and his alms had gone up as a memorial before God. Is not this a clear +proof that these prayers and alms were not the trappings of +self-righteousness, but the fruits of a righteousness based on the +knowledge which he had of God? Surely the fruits of self-righteousness +and legality could never have ascended as a memorial to the throne of +God; nor could Peter ever have said concerning a mere legalist that he +was one who feared God and worked righteousness. + +Ah, no, reader; Cornelius was a man thoroughly in earnest. He lived up +to what he knew, and he would have been quite wrong to go further. To +him the salvation of his immortal soul, the service of God, and +eternity, were grand and all-absorbing realities. He was none of your +easy-going professors, full of flippant, vapid, worthless talk, but +_doing_ nothing. He belonged to another generation altogether. He +belonged to the _working_, not the _talking_ class. He was one on whom +the eye of God rested with complacency, and in whom the mind of heaven +was profoundly interested. + +And so was our friend of Thyatira, Lydia, the seller of purple. She +belonged to the same school--she occupied the same platform as the +centurion and the eunuch. It is truly delightful to contemplate these +three precious souls--to think of one in Ethiopia; another at Caesarea; +and a third at Thyatira or Philippi. It is particularly refreshing to +contrast such downright thorough-going, earnest souls, with many in this +our day of boasted light and knowledge, who have got the plan of +salvation, as it is termed, in their heads, the doctrines of grace on +the tongue, but the world in the heart; whose absorbing object is self, +self, self,--miserable object! + +We shall have occasion to refer more fully to these latter under our +second head; but, for the present, we shall think of the earnest Lydia; +and we must confess it is a far more grateful exercise. It is very plain +that Lydia, like Cornelius and the eunuch, was a quickened soul; she was +a worshiper of God; she was one who was right glad to lay aside her +purple-selling, and betake herself to a prayer-meeting, or to any such +like place where spiritual profit was to be had, and where there were +good things going. "Birds of a feather flock together," and so Lydia +soon found out where a few pious souls, a few kindred spirits, were in +the habit of meeting to wait on God in prayer. + +All this is lovely. It does the heart good to be brought in contact with +this deep-toned earnestness. Surely the Holy Ghost has penned this +narrative, like all Holy Scripture, for our learning. It is a specimen +case, and we do well to ponder it. Lydia was found diligently availing +herself of any and every opportunity; indeed she exhibited the real +fruits of divine life, the genuine instincts of the new nature. She +found out where saints met for prayer, and took her place among them. +She did not fold her arms and settle down on her lees, to wait, in +antinomian indolence and culpable idleness, for some extraordinary +undefinable thing to come upon her, or some mysterious change to come +over her. No; she went to a prayer-meeting--the place of expressed +need--the place of expected blessing: and there God met her, as He is +sure to meet all who frequent such scenes in Lydia's spirit. God never +fails an expectant heart. He has said, "They shall not be ashamed that +wait for Me;" and, like a bright and blessed sunbeam on the page of +inspiration, shines that pregnant, weighty, soul-stirring sentence, "God +is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY seek Him." He sent a Philip to the +eunuch in the desert of Gaza. He sent a Peter to the centurion, in the +town of Caesarea. He sent a Paul to a seller of purple, in the suburbs of +Philippi; and He will send a message to the reader of these lines, if he +be a really earnest seeker after God's salvation. + +It is ever a moment of deepest interest when a prepared soul is brought +in contact with the full gospel of the grace of God. It may be that that +soul has been under deep and painful exercise for many a long day, +seeking rest but finding none. The Lord has been working by His Spirit, +and preparing the ground for the good seed. He has been making deep the +furrows so that the precious seed of His Word may take permanent root, +and bring forth fruit to His praise. The Holy Ghost is never in haste. +His work is deep, sure and solid. His plants are not like Jonah's gourd, +springing up in a night and perishing in a night. All that He does will +stand, blessed be His name. "I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall +be forever." When He convicts, converts, and liberates a soul, the stamp +of His own eternal hand is upon the work, in all its stages. + +Now, it must have been a moment of intense interest when one in Lydia's +state of soul was brought in contact with that most glorious gospel +which Paul carried (Acts xvi. 14). She was thoroughly prepared for his +message; and surely his message was thoroughly prepared for her. He +carried with him truth which she had never heard and never thought of. +As we have already remarked, she had been living up to her light; she +was a worshiper of God; but we are bold to assert that she had no idea +of the glorious truth which was lodged in the heart of that stranger who +sat beside her at the prayer-meeting. She had come thither--devout and +earnest woman that she was--to pray and to worship, to get some little +refreshment for her spirit, after the toils of the week. How little did +she imagine that at that meeting she should hear the greatest preacher +that ever lived, save One, and that she should hear the very highest +order of truth that had ever fallen upon mortal ears. + +Yet thus it was. And, oh, how important it was for Lydia to have been at +that memorable prayer meeting! How well it was she had not acted as so +many, now-a-days, act, who after a week of toil in the shop, the +warehouse, the factory, or the field, take the opportunity of lying in +bed on Sunday! + +How many there are whom you will see at their post from Monday morning +till Saturday night, working away with all diligence at their calling, +but for whom you will look in vain at the meeting on the Lord's day. How +is this? They will tell you, perhaps, that they are so worn out on +Saturday night that they have no energy to rise on Sunday, and therefore +they spend this day in sloth, lounging, and self-indulgence. They have +no care for their souls, no care for eternity, no care for Christ. They +care for themselves, for their families, for the world, for +money-making; and hence you will find them up with the dawn of Monday +and off to their work. + +Lydia did not belong to this class at all. No doubt she attended to her +business, as every right-minded person will. We dare say--indeed, we are +sure--she kept very excellent purple, and was a fair, honest trader, in +every sense of the word. But she did not spend her Sabbath in bed, or +lounging about her house, or nursing herself up, and making a great fuss +about all she had to do during the week. Neither do we believe that +Lydia was one of those self-occupied folk whom a shower of rain is +sufficient to keep away from a meeting. No; Lydia was of a different +stamp altogether. She was an earnest woman, who felt she had a soul to +save, and an eternity before her, and a living God to serve and worship. + +Would to God we had more Lydias in this our day! It would give a charm, +and an interest, and a freshness to the work of an evangelist, for +which many of the Lord's workmen have to sigh in vain. We seem to live +in a day of terrible unreality as to divine and eternal things. Men, +women, and children are real enough at their money-making, their +pursuits, and their pleasures; but oh, when the things of God, the +things of the soul, the things of eternity, are in question, the aspect +of people is that of a yawning indifference. But the moment is rapidly +approaching--every beat of the pulse, every tick of the watch, brings us +nearer to it--when the yawning indifference shall be exchanged for +"weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth." If this were more deeply +felt, we should have many more Lydias, prepared to lend an attentive ear +to Paul's gospel. + +What force and beauty in those words, "Whose heart the Lord opened, that +_she attended_ unto the things that were spoken of Paul." Lydia was not +one of those who go to meetings to think of anything and everything but +the things that are spoken by the Lord's messengers. She was not +thinking of her purple, or of the prices, or the probable gains or +losses. How many of those who fill our preaching rooms and lecture halls +follow the example of Lydia? Alas! we fear but very few indeed. The +business, the state of the markets, the state of the funds, money, +pleasure, dress, folly--a thousand and one things are thought of, and +dwelt upon, and attended to, so that the poor vagrant, volatile heart is +at the ends of the earth instead of "_attending_" to the things that are +spoken. + +All this is very solemn, and very awful. It really ought to be looked +into and thought of. People seem to forget the responsibility involved +in hearing the gospel preached. They do not seem to be in the smallest +degree impressed with the weighty fact that the gospel never leaves any +unconverted person where it finds him. He is either saved by receiving, +or rendered more guilty by rejecting it. Hence it becomes a serious +matter to hear the gospel. People may attend gospel meetings as a matter +of custom, as a religious service, or because they have nothing else to +do, and the time would hang heavy upon their hands; or they may go +because they think that the mere act of going has a sort of merit +attached to it. Thus thousands attend preachings at which Christ's +servants, though not Pauls in gift, power, or intelligence, unfold the +precious grace of God in sending His only begotten Son into the world to +save us from everlasting torment and misery. The virtue and efficacy of +the atoning death of the divine Saviour--the Lamb of God--the dread +realities of eternity--the awful horrors of hell, and the unspeakable +joys of heaven--all these weighty matters are handled, according to the +measure of grace bestowed upon the Lord's messengers, and yet how little +impression is produced! They "reason of righteousness, temperance, and +judgment to come," and yet how few are made even to "tremble!" + +And why? Will anyone presume to excuse himself for rejecting the gospel +message on the ground of his inability to believe it? Will he appeal to +the very case before us, and say, "The Lord opened her heart; and if He +would only do the same for me, I, too, should attend; but until He does, +I can do nothing"? We reply, and with deep seriousness, Such an argument +will not avail thee in the day of judgment. Indeed we are most +thoroughly convinced that thou wilt not dare to use it then. Thou art +making a false use of Lydia's charming history. True it is, blessedly +true, the Lord opened her heart; and He is ready to open thine also, if +there were in thee but the hundredth part of Lydia's earnestness. + +And dost thou not know full well, reader, that there are two sides to +this great question, as there are to every question? It is all very +well, and sounds very forcibly, for thee to say, "I can do nothing." But +who told thee this? Where hast thou learnt it? We solemnly challenge +thee, in the presence of God, Canst thou look up to Him and say, "I can +do nothing--I am not responsible?" Say, is the salvation of thy +never-dying soul just _the_ one thing in which thou canst do nothing? +Thou canst do a lot of things in the service of the world, of self, and +of Satan; but when it becomes a question of God, the soul, and eternity, +you coolly say, "I can do nothing--I am not responsible." + +Ah! it will never do. All this style of argument is the fruit of a +one-sided theology. It is the result of the most pernicious reasoning of +the human mind upon certain truths in Scripture which are turned the +wrong way and sadly misapplied. But it will not stand. This is what we +urge upon the reader. It is of no possible use arguing in this way. The +sinner is responsible; and all the theology, and all the reasoning, and +all the fallacious though plausible objections that can be scraped +together, can never do away with this weighty and most serious fact. + +Hence, therefore, we call upon the reader to be, like Lydia, in earnest +about his soul's salvation--to let every other question, every other +point, every other subject, sink into utter insignificance in comparison +with this one momentous question--the salvation of his precious soul. +Then, he may depend upon it, the One who sent Philip to the eunuch, and +sent Peter to the centurion, and sent Paul to Lydia, will send some +messenger and some message to him, and will also open his heart to +attend. Of this there cannot possibly be a doubt, inasmuch as Scripture +declares that "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all +should come to repentance." All who perish, after having heard the +message of salvation--the sweet story of God's free love, of a Saviour's +death and resurrection--shall perish without a shadow of an excuse, +shall descend into hell with their blood upon their guilty heads. Their +eyes shall then be open to see through all the flimsy arguments by which +they have sought to prop themselves up in a false position, and lull +themselves to sleep in sin and worldliness. + +But let us dwell for a moment on "the things that were spoken of Paul." +The Spirit of God hath not thought proper to give us even a brief +outline of Paul's address at the prayer-meeting. We are therefore left +to other passages of Holy Scripture to form an idea of what Lydia heard +from his lips on that interesting occasion. Let us take, for example, +that famous passage in which he reminds the Corinthians of the gospel +which he had preached to them. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you +the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and +wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I +preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto +you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for +our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that +He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Cor. xv. +I-4). + +Now we may safely conclude that the foregoing passage of Scripture +contains a compendium of the things that were spoken of Paul at the +prayer-meeting at Philippi. The grand theme of Paul's preaching was +Christ--Christ for the sinner--Christ for the saint--Christ for the +conscience--Christ for the heart. He never allowed himself to wander +from this great centre, but made all his preachings and all his +teachings circulate round it with admirable consistency. If he called on +men, both Jews and Gentiles, to repent, the lever with which he worked +was Christ. If he urged them to believe, the object which he held up +for faith was Christ, on the authority of Holy Scripture. If he reasoned +of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, the One that gave +cogency and moral power to his reasoning was Christ. In short, Christ +was the very gist and marrow, the sum and substance, the foundation and +top stone of Paul's preaching and teaching. + +But, for our present purpose, there are three grand subjects, found in +Paul's preaching, to which we desire to call the reader's attention. +These are, first, the grace of God; secondly, the Person and work of +Christ; and thirdly, the testimony of the Holy Ghost as given in the +Holy Scriptures. + +We do not attempt to go into these vast subjects here; we merely name +them, and entreat the reader to ponder them, to muse over them, and seek +to make them his own. + +(I) The grace of God--His free, sovereign favor--is the source from +whence salvation flows--salvation in all the length, breadth, height, +and depth of that most precious word--salvation which stretches, like a +golden chain, from the bosom of God, down to the very deepest depths of +the sinner's guilty and ruined condition, and back again to the throne +of God--meets all the sinner's necessities, overlaps the whole of the +saint's history, and glorifies God in the highest possible manner. + +(2) Then, in the second place, the Person of Christ and His finished +work are the _only_ channel through which salvation can possibly flow to +the lost and guilty sinner. It is not the Church and her sacraments, +religion and its rites and ceremonies--man or his doings in any shape or +form. It is the death and resurrection of Christ. "He died for our sins, +was buried, and rose again the third day." This was the gospel which +Paul preached, by which the Corinthians were saved, and the apostle +declares, with solemn emphasis, "If any man preach any other gospel, let +him be accursed." Tremendous words for this our day! + +(3) But, thirdly, the authority on which we receive the salvation is the +testimony of the Holy Ghost in Scripture. It is "according to the +Scriptures." This is a most solid and comforting truth. It is not a +question of feelings, or experiences, or evidences; it is a simple +question of faith in God's word wrought in the heart by God's Spirit. + +It is a serious reflection for the evangelist, that wherever God's +Spirit is at work, there Satan is sure to be busy. We must remember and +ever be prepared for this. The enemy of Christ and the enemy of souls is +always on the watch, always hovering about to see what he can do, either +to hinder or corrupt the work of the gospel. This need not terrify or +even discourage the workman; but it is well to bear it in mind and be +watchful. Satan will leave no stone unturned to mar or hinder the +blessed work of God's Spirit. He has proved himself the ceaseless, +vigilant enemy of that work, from the days of Eden down to the present +moment. + +Now, in tracing the history of Satan, we find him acting in two +characters, namely, as a serpent, or as a lion--using craft or violence. +He will try to deceive; and, if he cannot succeed, then he will use +violence. Thus it is in this sixteenth chapter of the Acts. The +apostle's heart had been cheered and refreshed by what we moderns should +pronounce, "a beautiful case of conversion." Lydia's was a very real and +decided case, in every respect. It was direct, positive, and +unmistakable. She received Christ into her heart, and forthwith took +Christian ground by submitting to the deeply significant ordinance of +baptism. Nor was this all. She immediately opened her house to the +Lord's messengers. Hers was no mere lip profession. It was not merely +_saying_ she believed. She proved her faith in Christ, not only by going +down under the water of baptism, but also by identifying herself and her +household with the name and cause of that blessed One whom she had +received into her heart by faith. + +All this was clear and satisfactory. But we must now look at something +quite different. The serpent appears upon the scene in the person of + + +THE DECEIVER. + +"It came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with +a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by +soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men +are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of +salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned +and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to +come out of her. And he came out the same hour" (vers. 16-18). + +Here, then, was a case eminently calculated to test the spirituality and +integrity of the evangelist. Most men would have hailed such words from +the lips of this damsel as an encouraging testimony to the work. Why +then was Paul grieved? Why did he not allow her to continue to bear +witness to the object of his mission? Was she not saying the truth? Were +they not the servants of the most high God? And were they not showing +the way of salvation? Why be grieved with--why silence such a witness? +Because it was of Satan; and, most assuredly, the apostle was not going +to receive testimony from him. He could not allow Satan to help him in +his work. True, he might have walked about the streets of Philippi owned +and honored as a servant of God, if only he had consented to let the +devil have a hand in the work. But Paul could never consent to this. He +could never suffer the enemy to mix himself up with the work of the +Lord. Had he done so, it would have given the deathblow to the testimony +at Philippi. To have permitted Satan to put his hand to the work, would +have involved the total shipwreck of the mission to Macedonia. + +It is deeply important for the Lord's workman to weigh this matter. We +may rest assured that this narrative of the damsel has been written for +our instruction. + +It is not only a statement of what has occurred, but a sample of what +may and indeed what does occur every day.[XXVI.] + +Besides Christendom is full of false profession. There are multitudes of +false professors at this moment, throughout the wide domain of Christian +profession. It is sad to have to say it, but so it is, and we must press +the fact upon the attention of the reader. We are surrounded, on all +sides, by those who give a merely nominal assent to the truths of the +Christian religion. They go on, from week to week, and from year to +year, professing to believe certain things which they do not in reality +believe at all. There are thousands who, every Lord's Day, profess to +believe in the forgiveness of sins, and yet, were such persons to be +examined, it would be found that they either do not think about the +matter at all, or, if they do think, they deem it the very height of +presumption for any one to be sure that his sins are forgiven. + +This is very serious. Only think of a person standing up in the presence +of God and saying, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," and all the +while he does not believe any such thing! Can anything be more +hardening to the heart, or more deadening to the conscience than this? +It is our firm persuasion that the forms and the formularies of +professing Christianity are doing more to ruin precious souls than all +the forms of moral pravity put together. It is perfectly appalling to +contemplate the countless multitudes that are at this moment rushing +along the well-trodden highway of religious profession, down to the +eternal flames of hell. We feel bound to raise a warning note. We want +the reader most solemnly to take heed as to this matter. + +We have only instanced one special formulary, because it refers to a +subject of very general interest and importance. How few, comparatively, +are clear and settled as to the question of forgiveness of sins! How few +are able, calmly, decidedly, and intelligently, to say, "_I know_ that +my sins are forgiven!" How few are in the real enjoyment of full +forgiveness of sins, through faith in that precious blood that cleanseth +from all sin! How solemn, therefore, to hear people giving utterance to +such words as these, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins," while, in +fact, they do not believe their own very utterance! Is the reader in the +habit of using such a form of words? Does he believe it? Say, dear +friend, are thy sins forgiven? Art thou washed in the precious atoning +blood of Christ? If not, why not? The way is open. There is no +hindrance. Thou art perfectly welcome, this moment, to the free benefits +of the atoning work of Christ. Though thy sins be as scarlet; though +they be black as midnight, black as hell; though they rise like a +dreadful mountain before the vision of thy troubled soul, and threaten +to sink thee into eternal perdition; yet do these words shine with +divine and heavenly lustre on the page of inspiration, "_The blood of +Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from_ ALL _sin_" (I John i. 7). + +But mark, friend, do not go on, week after week, mocking God, hardening +thine own heart, and carrying out the schemes of the great enemy of +Christ, by a false profession. This marks the damsel possessed by a +spirit of divination, and here her history links itself with the present +awful condition of Christendom. What was the burden of her song, during +those "many days" in the which the apostle narrowly considered her case? +"These men are the servants of the most high God, which _show unto us_ +the way of salvation." But she was not saved--she was not delivered--she +was, all the while, under Satan's power herself. + +Thus it is with Christendom--thus it is with each false professor +throughout the length and breadth of the professing Church. We know of +nothing, even in the deepest depths of moral evil, or in the darkest +shades of heathenism, more truly awful than the state of careless, +hardened, self-satisfied, fallow-ground professors, who on each +successive Lord's Day give utterance, either in their prayers or their +singing, to words which, so far as they are concerned, are wholly +false. + +The thought of this is, at times, almost over-whelming. We cannot dwell +upon it. It is really too sorrowful. We shall therefore pass on, having +once more solemnly warned the reader against every shade and degree of +false profession. Let him not say or sing aught that he does not +heartily believe. The devil is at the bottom of all false profession, +and by means thereof he seeks to bring discredit on the work of the +Lord. + +But how truly refreshing to contemplate the actings of the faithful +apostle in the case of the damsel. Had he been seeking his own ends, or +had he been merely a minister of religion, he might have welcomed her +words as a tributary stream to swell the tide of his popularity, or +promote the interest of his cause. But Paul was not a mere minister of +religion; he was a minister of Christ--a totally different thing. And we +may notice that the damsel does not say a word about Christ. She +breathes not the precious, peerless name of Jesus. There is total +silence as to Him. This stamps the whole thing as of Satan. "No man can +call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost." People may speak of God, and of +religion; but Christ has no place in their hearts. The Pharisees, in the +ninth of John, could say to the poor man, "Give God the praise;" but in +speaking of Jesus, they could say, "This man is a sinner." + +Thus it is ever in the case of corrupt religion, or false profession. +Thus it was with the damsel in Acts xvi. There was not a syllable about +Christ. + +There was no truth, no life, no reality. It was hollow and false. It was +of Satan; and hence Paul would not and could not own it; he was grieved +with it and utterly rejected it. + +Would that all were like him! Would that there were the singleness of +eye to detect, and the integrity of heart to reject the work of Satan in +much that is going on around us! Such an eye Paul, through grace, +possessed. He was not to be deceived. He saw that the whole affair was +an effort of Satan to mix himself up with the work, that thus he might +spoil it altogether. "But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the +spirit, I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her. +And he came out the same hour." + +This was true spiritual action. Paul was not in any haste to come into +collision with the evil one, or even to pronounce upon the case at all; +he waited many days; but the very moment that the enemy was detected he +is resisted and repulsed with uncompromising decision. A less spiritual +workman might have allowed the thing to pass, under the idea that it +might turn to account and help forward the work. Paul thought +differently; and he was right. He would take no help from Satan. He was +not going to work by such an agency; and hence, in the name of Jesus +Christ--that name which the enemy so sedulously excluded--he puts Satan +to flight. + +But no sooner was Satan repulsed as the serpent, than he assumed the +character of a lion. Craft having failed, he tried violence. "And when +her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul +and Silas and drew them into the market-place unto the rulers, and +brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do +exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs which are not lawful for +us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose +up together against them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes, +and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon +them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them +safely" (vers. 19-23). + +Thus the enemy seemed to triumph; but be it remembered that Christ's +warriors gain their most splendid victories by apparent defeat. The +devil made a great mistake when he cast the apostle into prison. Indeed +it is consolatory to reflect that he has never done anything else but +make mistakes, from the moment that he left his first estate down to the +present moment. His entire history, from beginning to end, is one tissue +of errors. + +And thus, as has been already remarked, the devil made a great mistake +when he cast Paul into prison at Philippi. To nature's view it might +have seemed otherwise; but in the judgment of faith, the servant of +Christ was much more in his right place in prison for the truth's sake, +than outside at his Master's expense. True, Paul might have saved +himself. He might have been an honored man, owned and acknowledged as "a +servant of the most high God," if he had only accepted the damsel's +testimony, and suffered the devil to help him in his work. But he could +not do this, and hence he had to suffer. "And the multitude (ever fickle +and easily swayed) rose up together against them: and the magistrates +rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had +laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the +jailor to keep them safely. Who, having received such a charge, _thrust_ +them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks" +(vers. 22-24). + +Here, then, some might have said, was an end to the work of the +evangelist in the city of Philippi. Here was an effectual stop to the +preaching. Not so; the prison was the very place, at the moment, for the +evangelist. His work was there. He was to find a congregation within the +prison walls which he could not have found outside. But this leads us, +in the third and last place, to the case of + + +THE HARDENED SINNER. + +It was very unlikely that the jailor would ever have found his way to +the prayer-meeting at the river side. He had little care for such +things. He was neither an earnest seeker, nor a deceiver. He was a +hardened sinner, pursuing a very hardening occupation. Jailors, from the +occupation of their office, are, generally speaking, hard and stern men. +No doubt there are exceptions. There are some tender-hearted men to be +found in such situations; but, as a rule, jailors are not tender. It +would hardly suit them to be so. They have to do with the very worst +class of society. Much of the crime of the whole country comes under +their notice; and many of the criminals come under their charge. +Accustomed to the rough and the coarse, they are apt to become rough and +coarse themselves. + +Now, judging from the inspired narrative before us, we may well question +if the Philippian jailor was an exception to the general rule with +respect to men of his class. Certainly he does not seem to have shown +much tenderness to Paul and Silas. "He _thrust_ them into the _inner_ +prison, and made their feet _fast_ in the stocks." He seems to have gone +to the utmost extreme in making them uncomfortable. + +But God had rich mercy in store for that poor, hardened, cruel jailor; +and, as it was not at all likely that he would go to hear the gospel, +the Lord sent the gospel to him; and, moreover, He made the devil the +instrument of sending it. Little did the jailor know whom he was +thrusting into the inner prison--little did he anticipate what was to +happen ere another sun should rise. And we may add, little did the devil +think of what he was doing when he sent the preachers of the gospel into +jail, there to be the means of the jailor's conversion. But the Lord +Jesus Christ knew what He was about to do, in the case of a poor +hardened sinner. He can make the wrath of man to praise Him and restrain +the remainder. + + "He everywhere hath sway, + And all things serve His might, + His ev'ry act pure blessing is, + His path unsullied light. + + "When He makes bare His arm, + Who shall His work withstand? + When He His people's cause defends, + Who then shall stay His hand?" + +It was His purpose to save the jailor; and so far from Satan's being +able to frustrate that purpose, he was actually made the instrument of +accomplishing it. "God's purpose shall stand; and He will do all His +pleasure." And where He sets His love upon a poor, wretched, guilty +sinner, He will have him in heaven, spite of all the malice and rage of +hell. + +As to Paul and Silas, it is very evident that they were in their right +place in the prison. They were there _for the truth's sake_, and +therefore _the Lord was with them_. Hence they were perfectly happy. +What, though they were confined within the gloomy walls of the prison, +with their feet made fast in the stocks, prison walls could not confine +their spirits. Nothing can hinder the joy of one who has the Lord with +him. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were happy in the fiery furnace. +Daniel was happy in the lions' den; and Paul and Silas were happy in the +dungeon of Philippi: "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang +praises to God: and the prisoners heard them." + +What sounds to issue from the inner prison! We may safely say that no +such sounds had ever issued thence before. Curses and execrations and +blasphemous words might have been heard; sighs, cries, and groans come +forth from those walls. But to hear the accents of prayer and praise, +ascending at the midnight hour, must have seemed strange indeed. Faith +can sing as sweetly in a dungeon as at a prayer-meeting. It matters not +where we are, provided always that we have God with us. His presence +lights up the darkest cell, and turns a dungeon into the very gate of +heaven. He can make His servants happy anywhere, and give them victory +over the most adverse circumstances, and cause them to shout for joy in +scenes where nature would be overwhelmed with sorrow. + +But the Lord had His eye upon the jailor. He had written his name in the +Lamb's book of life before the foundation of the world, and He was now +about to lead him into the full joy of His salvation. "And suddenly +there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were +shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands +were loosed" (ver. 26). + +Now if Paul had not been in full communion with the mind and heart of +Christ, he would assuredly have turned to Silas and said, "Now is the +moment for us to make our escape. God has most manifestly appeared for +us, and set before us an open door. If ever there was an opening of +divine Providence surely this is one." But no; Paul knew better. He was +in the full current of His blessed Master's thoughts, and in full +sympathy with his Master's heart. Hence he made no attempt to escape. +The claims of _truth_ had brought him into prison; the activities of +_grace_ kept him there. Providence opened the door; but faith refused to +walk out. People talk of being guided by Providence; but if Paul had +been so guided, the jailor would never have been a jewel in his crown. + +"And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep and seeing the +prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, +supposing that the prisoners had been fled" (ver. 27). This proves, very +plainly, that the earthquake, with all its attendant circumstances, had +not touched the heart of the jailor. He naturally supposed, when he saw +the doors open, that the prisoners were all gone. He could not imagine a +number of prisoners sitting quietly in jail when the doors lay open and +their chains were loosed. And then what was to become of him if the +prisoners were gone? How could he face the authorities? Impossible. +Anything but that. Death, even by his own hand, was preferable to that. + +Thus the devil had conducted this hardened sinner to the very brink of +the precipice, and he was about to give him the final and fatal push +over the edge, and down to the eternal flames of hell; when lo, a voice +of love sounded in his ear. It was the voice of Jesus through the lips +of His servant--a voice of tender and deep compassion--"_Do thyself no +harm_." + +This was irresistible. A hardened sinner could meet an earthquake; he +could meet death itself; but he could not withstand the mighty melting +power of love. The hardest heart must yield to the moral influence of +love. "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came _trembling_, +and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, +Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Love can break the hardest heart. And +surely there was love in those words, "Do thyself no harm," coming from +the lips of one to whom he had done so much harm a few hours before. + +And, be it noted, there was not a single syllable of reproach, or even +of reflection, uttered by Paul to the jailor. This was Christ-like. It +was the way of divine grace. If we look through the Gospels, we never +find the Lord casting reproach upon the sinner. He has tears of sorrow; +He has touching words of grace and tenderness; but no reproaches--no +reflections--no reproach to the poor distressed sinner. We cannot +attempt to furnish the many illustrations and proofs of this assertion; +but the reader has only to turn to the gospel story to see its truth. +Look at the prodigal: look at the thief. Not one reproving word to +either. + +Thus it is in every case; and thus it was with God's Spirit in Paul. Not +a word about the harsh treatment--the thrusting into the inner +prison--not a word about the stocks. "Do thyself no harm." And then, +"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy +house." + +Such is the rich and precious grace of God. It shines, in this scene, +with uncommon lustre. It delights in taking up hardened sinners, melting +and subduing their hard hearts, and leading them into the sunlight of a +full salvation; and all this in a style peculiar to itself. Yes, God has +His style of doing things, blessed be His name; and when He saves a +wretched sinner, He does it after such a fashion as fully proves that +His whole heart is in the work. It is His joy to save a sinner--even the +very chief--and He does it in a way worthy of Himself. + +And now, let us look at the fruit of all this. The jailor's conversion +was most unmistakable. Saved from the very brink of hell, he was brought +into the very atmosphere of heaven. Preserved from self-destruction, he +was brought into the circle of God's salvation; and the evidences of +this were as clear as could be desired. "And they spake unto him the +word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them +the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, +he and all his straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, +he set meat before them, and rejoiced, _believing in God, with all his +house_." + +What a marvelous change! The ruthless jailor has become the generous +host! "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are +passed away: behold, all things are become new." How clearly we can now +see that Paul was right in not being guided by _providences_! How much +better and higher to be led by the "eye" of God! What an eternal loss +it would have proved to him had he walked out at the open door! How much +better to be conducted out by the very hand that had thrust him in--a +hand once the instrument of cruelty and sin, now the instrument of +righteousness and love! What a magnificent triumph! What a scene, +altogether! How little had the devil anticipated such a result from the +imprisonment of the Lord's servants! He was thoroughly outwitted. The +tables were completely turned upon him. He thought to hinder the gospel, +and, behold! he was made to help it on. He had hoped to get rid of two +of Christ's servants, and, lo! he lost one of his own. Christ is +stronger than Satan; and all who put their trust in Him and move in the +current of His thoughts shall most assuredly share in the triumphs of +His grace now, and shine in the brightness of His glory forever. + +Thus much, then, as to "the work of an evangelist." Such are the scenes +through which he may have to pass--such the cases with which he may have +to come in contact. We have seen the earnest seeker satisfied; the +deceiver silenced; the hardened sinner saved. May all who go forth with +the gospel of the grace of God know how to deal with the various types +of character that may cross their path! May many be raised up to do the +work of an evangelist! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[XXV.] The reader will notice that in Matthew vi. I, the marginal +reading is the correct one: "Take heed that ye do not your +_righteousness_ before men, to be seen of them." Then we have the three +departments of this righteousness, namely, alms-giving (ver. 2); prayer +(ver. 3); fasting (ver. 16). These were the very things Cornelius was +doing. In short, he feared God, and was working righteousness, according +to his measure of light. + +[XXVI.] [An evangelist will not travel far in our day to find persons +who will take him warmly by the hand, and profess lively interest in his +work. A moment's intercourse with them, however, will disclose them to +be agents of "Christian Science," of "Millennial Dawn" of "Seventh Day +Adventism" or of some one or other of like systems--messengers of Satan, +all professing Christianity, though in reality destroyers of it; pluming +themselves with its name, only to get inside and work destruction the +more easily. ED.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LETTERS TO AN EVANGELIST. + + +DEAREST A----, + +I have been much interested, and I trust profited, of late, by tracing, +through the Gospels and the Acts, the various notices of the work of +evangelization; and it has occured to me that it may not be amiss to +present to you, as one much occupied in the blessed work, a few of the +thoughts that have suggested themselves to my mind. I shall feel myself +much more free in this way, than if I were writing a formal treatise. + +And, first of all, I have been greatly struck with the simplicity with +which the work of evangelizing was carried on in primitive times; so +very unlike a great deal of what obtains among us. It seems to me that +we moderns are quite too much hampered by conventional rules--too much +fettered by the habits of Christendom. We are sadly deficient in what I +may call spiritual elasticity. We are apt to think that in order to +evangelize there must be a special gift; and even where there is this +special gift, there must be a great deal of machinery and human +arrangement. When we speak of doing the work of an evangelist, we, for +the most part, have before our minds great public halls, and crowded +audiences, for which there is a demand for considerable gift and power +for speaking. + +Now you and I thoroughly believe, that in order to preach the gospel +publicly, there must be a special gift from the Head of the Church; and, +moreover, we believe according to Eph. iv. 11, that Christ has given, +and does still give, "evangelists." This is clear, if we are to be +guided by Scripture. But I find in the Gospels, and in the Acts of the +Apostles, that a quantity of most blessed evangelistic work was done by +persons who were not specially gifted at all, but who had an earnest +love for souls, and a deep sense of the preciousness of Christ and His +salvation. And, what is more, I find in those who were specially gifted, +called, and appointed by Christ to preach the gospel, a simplicity, +freedom, and naturalness in their mode of working, which I greatly covet +for myself and for all my brethren. + +Let us look a little into Scripture. Take that lovely scene in John i. +36-45. John pours out his heart in testimony to Jesus: "Behold the Lamb +of God!" His soul was absorbed with the glorious Object. What was the +result? "Two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus." What +then? "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was +Andrew, Simon Peter's brother." And what does he do? "_He first findeth +his own brother_ Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, +which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus." +Again, "The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and +findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me.... _Philip findeth +Nathanael_, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the +law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of +Joseph.... _Come and see._" + +Here then, dearest A., is the style of thing for which I earnestly long: +this individual work, this laying hold of the first man that comes in +our way, this finding one's own brother, and bringing him to Jesus. I do +feel we are deficient in this. It is all right enough to gather +congregations, and address them, as God gives ability and opportunity. +Neither you nor I would pen a single word to detract from the value of +such a line of work. By all means hire rooms, halls, and theatres; put +out bills inviting people to come; leave no lawful means untried to +spread the gospel. Seek to get at souls as best you can. Far be it from +me to cast a damp upon any who are seeking to carry on the work in this +public way. + +But does it not strike you that we want more of the individual work? +more of the private, earnest, personal dealing with souls? Do you not +think that if we had more "Philips" we should have more "Nathanaels?" If +we had more "Andrews," we should have more "Simons?" I cannot but +believe it. There is amazing power in an earnest personal appeal. Do you +not often find that it is after the more formal public preaching is +finished, and the close personal work begins, that souls are reached? +How is it then that there is so little of this latter? Does it not often +happen at our public preachings, that when the formal address is +delivered, a hymn sung, and a word of prayer offered, all disperse +without any attempt at individual work? I speak not now, mark you, of +the preacher--who cannot possibly reach every case, but of the scores of +Christians who have been listening to him. They have seen strangers +enter the room, they have sat beside them; they have, it may be, noticed +their interest, seen the tear stealing down the cheek; and yet they have +let them pass away without a single loving effort to reach them, or to +follow up the good work. + +No doubt it may be said, "It is much better to allow the Spirit of God +to follow up His own work. We may do more harm than good. And besides, +people do not like to be spoken to: they will look upon it as an +impertinent intrusion, and they will be driven away from the place +altogether." There is considerable weight in all this. I fully +appreciate it; and I am sure you do likewise, dearest A. I fear great +blunders are committed by injudicious persons intruding upon the sacred +privacy of the soul's deep and holy exercises. It needs tact and +judgment; in short, it needs direct spiritual guidance to be able to +deal with souls; to know whom to speak to, and what to say. + +But allowing all this, as we do in the fullest possible manner, I think +you will agree with me that there is, as a rule, something lacking in +connection with our public preachings. Is there not a want of that deep, +personal, loving interest in souls which will express itself in a +thousand ways that act powerfully on the heart? I confess that I have +often been pained by what has come under my own notice in our +preaching-rooms. Strangers come in and are left to find a seat wherever +they can. No one seems to think of them. Christians are there, and they +will hardly move to make room for them. No one offers them a Bible or +hymn-book. And when the preaching is over, they are allowed to go as +they came; not a loving word of inquiry as to whether they enjoyed the +truth preached; not even a kindly look which might win confidence and +invite conversation. On the contrary, there is a chilling reserve, +amounting almost to repulsiveness. + +All this is very sorrowful; and perhaps you will tell me that I am +drawing too highly colored a picture. Alas! the picture is only too +true. And what makes it all the more deplorable is, that one knows as a +fact that many persons frequent our preaching-rooms and lecture-halls in +the deepest exercise, and they are only longing to open their hearts to +some one who could offer them a little spiritual counsel; but through +timidity, reserve, or nervousness, they shrink from making any advance, +and have but to retire to their homes and to their bedchambers, lonely +and sad, there to weep in solitude because no man cares for their +precious souls. Now I feel persuaded that much of this might be remedied +if those Christians who attend the gospel preachings were more _on the +look out_ for souls: if they would attend, not so much for their own +profit, as in order to be co-workers with God, in seeking to bring souls +to Jesus. No doubt it is very refreshing to Christians to hear the +gospel fully and faithfully preached. But it would not be the less +refreshing because they were intensely interested in the conversion of +souls, and in earnest prayer to God in the matter. And, besides, it +could in no wise interfere with their personal enjoyment and profit to +cultivate and manifest a lively and loving interest in those who +surround them, and to seek at the close of the meeting to help any who +may need and desire to be helped. It has a surprising effect upon the +preacher, upon the preaching, upon the whole meeting, when the +Christians who attend are really entering into, and discharging, their +high and holy responsibilities to Christ and to souls. It imparts a +certain tone and creates a certain atmosphere which must be felt in +order to be understood; but when once felt it cannot easily be dispensed +with. + +But, alas, how often is it otherwise! How cold, how dull, how +dispiriting is it at times to see the whole congregation clear out the +moment the preaching is over! No loving, lingering groups gathering +round young converts or anxious inquirers. Old experienced Christians +have been present; but, instead of pausing with the fond hope that God +would graciously use them to speak a word in season to him that is +weary, they hasten away as though it were a matter of life and death +that they should be home at a certain hour. + +Do not suppose, dearest A., that I wish to lay down rules for my +brethren. Far be the thought. + +I am merely, in the freest possible manner, pouring out the thoughts of +my heart to one with whom I have been linked in the work of the gospel +for many years. I feel convinced there is a something lacking. It is my +firm persuasion that no Christian is in a right condition, if he is not +seeking in some way to bring souls to Christ. And, on the same +principle, no assembly of Christians is in a right condition if it be +not a thoroughly evangelistic assembly. We should all be on the lookout +for souls; and then we may rest assured we should see soul-stirring +results. But if we are satisfied to go on from week to week, month to +month, and year to year, without a single leaf stirring, without a +single conversion, our state must be truly lamentable. + +But I think I hear you saying, "Where is all the Scripture we were to +have had? where the many quotations from the Gospels and the Acts?" +Well, I have gone on jotting down the thoughts which have for some +considerable time occupied my mind; and now, space forbids my going +further at present. But if you so desire, I shall write you a second +letter on the subject. Meanwhile, may the Lord, by His Spirit, make us +more earnest in seeking the salvation of immortal souls, by every +legitimate agency. May our hearts be filled with genuine love for +precious souls, and then we shall be sure to find ways and means of +getting at them! + +Ever, believe me, dearest A., Your deeply affectionate yoke-fellow, * * * + + +LETTER II. + +There is one point in connection with our subject which has much +occupied my mind; and that is, the immense importance of cultivating an +earnest faith in the presence and action of the Holy Ghost. We want to +remember, at all times, that we can do nothing, and that God the Holy +Ghost can do all. It holds good in the great work of evangelization, as +in all beside, that it is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, +saith the Lord of hosts." The abiding sense of this would keep us +humble, and yet full of joyful confidence. Humble, because we can do +nothing; full of joyful confidence, because God can do all. Moreover, it +would have the effect of keeping us very sober and quiet in our +work--not cold and indifferent, but calm and serious, which is a great +matter just now. I was much struck with a remark lately made by an aged +workman, in a letter to one who had just entered the field. +"Excitement," says this writer, "is not power, but weakness. Earnestness +and energy are of God." + +This is most true and most valuable. But I like the two sentences taken +together. If we were to take either apart, I think you and I would +prefer the latter; and for this reason: there are many, I fear, who +would regard as "excitement" what you and I might really consider to be +"earnestness and energy." Now I do confess, I love a deep-toned +earnestness in the work. I do not see how a man can be otherwise than +deeply and thoroughly in earnest, who realizes in any measure the +awfulness of eternity, and the state of all those who die in their sins. +How is it possible for any one to think of an immortal soul standing on +the very brink of hell, and in danger at any moment of being dashed +over, and not be serious and earnest? + +But this is not excitement. What I understand by excitement is the +working up of mere nature, and the putting forth of such efforts of +nature as are designed to work on the natural feelings--all high +pressure--all that is merely sensational. This is all worthless. It is +evanescent. And not only so, but it superinduces weakness. We never find +aught of this in the ministry of our blessed Lord or His apostles: and +yet what earnestness! what untiring energy! what tenderness! We see an +earnestness which wore the appearance of being beside oneself; an energy +which hardly afforded a moment for rest or refreshment; and a tenderness +which could weep over impenitent sinners. All this we see; but no +excitement. In a word, all was the fruit of the Eternal Spirit; and all +was to the glory of God. Moreover, there was ever that calmness and +solemnity which becomes the presence of God, and yet that deep +earnestness which proved that man's serious condition was fully +realized. + +Now, dear brother, this is precisely what we want, and what we ought +diligently to cultivate. It is a signal mercy to be kept from all +merely natural excitement; and, at the same time, to be duly impressed +with the magnitude and solemnity of the work. Thus the mind will be kept +properly balanced, and we shall be preserved from the tendency to be +occupied with _our_ work merely because it is ours. We shall rejoice +that Christ is magnified, and souls are saved, whoever be the instrument +used. + +I have been thinking a good deal lately of that memorable time, now +exactly ten years ago, when the Spirit of God wrought so marvelously in +the province of Ulster. I think I gathered up some valuable instruction +from what then came under my notice. That was a time never to be +forgotten by those who were privileged to be eyewitnesses of the +magnificent wave of blessing which rolled over the land. But I now refer +to it in connection with the subject of the Spirit's action. I have no +doubt whatever that the Holy Ghost was grieved and hindered in the year +1859, by man's interference. You remember how that work began. You +remember the little school-house by the road side, where two or three +men met, week after week, to pour out their hearts in prayer to God, +that He would be pleased to break in upon the death and darkness which +reigned around: and that He would revive His work, and send out His +light and His truth in converting power. You know how these prayers were +heard and answered. You and I were privileged to move through these +soul-stirring scenes in the province of Ulster; and I doubt not the +memory of them is fresh with you, as it is with me, this day. + +Well, what was the special character of that work in its earlier stages? +Was it not most manifestly a work of God's Spirit? Did not He take up +and use instruments the most unfit and unfurnished, according to human +thinking, for the accomplishment of His gracious purpose? Do we not +remember the style and character of the agents who were chiefly used in +the conversion of souls? Were they not for the most part "unlearned and +ignorant men?" And further, can we not distinctly recall the fact that +there was a most decided setting aside of all human arrangement and +official routine? Working men came from the field, the factory, and the +workshop, to address crowded audiences; and we have seen hundreds +hanging in breathless interest upon the lips of men who could not speak +five words of good grammar. In short, the mighty tide of spiritual life +and power rolled in upon us, and swept away for the time being a +quantity of human machinery, and ignored all question of man's authority +in the things of God and the service of Christ. + +Now we can well remember, that just in so far as the Holy Ghost was +owned and honored, did the glorious work progress; and, on the other +hand, in proportion as man intruded himself, in bustling +self-importance, upon the domain of the Eternal Spirit, was the work +hindered and quashed. I saw the truth of this illustrated in numberless +cases. There was a vigorous effort made to cause the living water to +flow in official and denominational channels, and this the Holy Ghost +would not sanction. Moreover, there was a strong desire manifested, in +many quarters, to make sectarian capital out of the blessed movement; +and this the Holy Ghost resented. + +Nor was this all. The work and the workman were _lionized_ in all +directions. Cases of conversion which were judged to be "striking" were +blazed abroad and paraded in the public prints. Travellers and tourists +from all parts visited these persons, took notes of their words and +ways, and wafted the report of them to the ends of the earth. Many poor +creatures, who had up to that time lived in obscurity, unknown and +unnoticed, found themselves, all of a sudden, objects of interest to the +wealthy, the noble, and the public at large. The pulpit and the press +proclaimed their sayings and doings; and, as might be expected, they +completely lost their balance. Knaves and hypocrites abounded on all +hands. It became a grand point to have some strange and extravagant +experience to tell; some remarkable dream or vision to relate. And even +where this ill-advised line of action did not issue in producing knavery +and hypocrisy, the young converts became heady and high-minded, and +looked with a measure of contempt upon old established Christians, or +those who did not happen to be converted after their peculiar +fashion--"stricken," as it was termed. + +In addition to this, some very remarkable characters--men of desperate +notoriety, who seemed to be converted, were conveyed from place to +place, and placarded about the various streets, and crowds gathered to +see them and hear them recount their history; which history was very +frequently a disgusting detail of immoralities and excesses which ought +never to have been named. Several of these remarkable men afterwards +broke down, and returned with increased ardor to their former practices. + +These things, dearest A., I witnessed in various places. I believe the +Holy Ghost was grieved and hindered, and the work marred thereby. I am +thoroughly convinced of this: and hence it is that I think we should +earnestly seek to honor the blessed Spirit; to lean upon Him in all our +work; to follow where He leads, not run before Him. His work will stand: +"Whatsoever God doeth it shall be forever." "The works that are done +upon the earth, He is the doer of them." The remembrance of this will +ever keep the mind well balanced. There is great danger of young workmen +getting so excited about _their_ work, _their_ preaching, _their_ gifts, +as to lose sight of the blessed Master Himself. Moreover, they are apt +to make preaching the _end_ instead of the _means_. This works badly in +every way. It injures themselves, and it mars their work. The moment I +make preaching my end, I am out of the current of the mind of God, whose +end is to glorify Christ; and I am out of the current of the heart of +Christ, whose end is the salvation of souls and the full blessing of His +Church. But where the Holy Ghost gets His proper place, where He is duly +owned and trusted, there all will be right. There will be no exaltation +of man; no bustling self-importance; no parading of the fruits of our +work; no excitement. All will be calm, quiet, real, and unpretending. +There will be the simple, earnest, believing, patient waiting upon God. +Self will be in the shade; Christ will be exalted. + +I often recall a sentence of yours. I remember your once saying to me, +"Heaven will be the best and safest place to hear the results of our +work." This is a wholesome word for all workmen. I shudder when I see +the names of Christ's servants paraded in the public journals, with +flattering allusion to their work and its fruits. Surely those who pen +such articles ought to reflect upon what they are doing: they should +consider that they may be ministering to the very thing which they ought +to desire to see mortified and subdued. I am most fully persuaded that +the quiet, shady, retired path is the best and safest for the Christian +workman. It will not make him less earnest but the contrary. It will not +cramp his energy, but increase and intensify it. God forbid that you or +I should pen a line or utter a sentence which might in the most remote +way tend to discourage or hinder a single worker in all the vineyard of +Christ. No, no, this is not the moment for aught of this kind. We want +to see the Lord's laborers thoroughly in earnest; but we believe, most +assuredly, that true earnestness will ever result from the most absolute +dependence upon God the Holy Ghost. + +But only see how I have run on! And yet I have not referred to those +passages of Scripture of which I spoke in my last. Well, dearly beloved +in the Lord, I am addressing one who is happily familiar with the +Gospels and Acts, and who therefore knows that the great Workman +Himself, and all those who sought to tread in His blessed footsteps, +owned and honored the Eternal Spirit as the One by whom all their works +were to be wrought. + +I must now close for the present, my much loved brother and +fellow-laborer; and I do so with a full heart, commending you, in spirit +and soul and body, to Him who has loved us, and washed us from our sins +in His own blood, and called us to the honored post of workers in His +gospel field. May He bless you and yours, most abundantly, and increase +your usefulness a thousandfold! + +As ever, and for ever, Your deeply affectionate work-fellow, * * * + + +LETTER III. + +There is another point which stands intimately connected with the +subject of my last letter, and that is, the place the word of God +occupies in the work of evangelization. In my last letter, as you will +remember, I referred to the work of the Holy Ghost, and the immense +importance of giving Him His proper place. How clearly the precious word +of God is connected with the action of the Holy Spirit, I need not say. +Both are inseparably linked in those memorable words of our Lord to +Nicodemus--words so little understood--so sadly misapplied: "Except a +man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom +of God" (John iii). + +Now, you and I, dearest A., fully believe that in the above passage the +Word is presented under the figure of "water." Thank God, we are not +disposed to give any credit to the ritualistic absurdity of baptismal +regeneration. We are, I believe, most thoroughly convinced that no one +ever did, ever will, or ever could, get life by water baptism. That all +who believe in Christ ought to be baptized we fully admit; but this is a +totally different thing from the fatal error that substitutes an +ordinance for the atoning death of Christ, the regenerating power of the +Holy Ghost, and the life-giving virtues of the word of God. I shall not +waste your time or my own in combating this error, but at once assume +that you agree with me in thinking that when our Lord speaks of being +"born of water and of the Spirit," He refers to the Word and the Holy +Ghost. + +Thus, then, the Word is the grand instrument to be used in the work of +evangelization. Many passages of holy Scripture establish this point +with such clearness and decision as to leave no room whatever for +dispute. In the first chapter of James, ver. 18, we read, "Of His own +will begat He us _with the word of truth_." Again, in I Pet. i. 23, we +read, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, +_by the word of God_, which liveth and abideth forever." I must quote +the whole passage because of its immense importance in connection with +our subject: "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the +flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth +away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever. _And this is the word +which by the gospel is preached unto you._" + +This last clause is of unspeakable value to the evangelist. It binds +him, in the most distinct manner, to the word of God as the +instrument--the only instrument--the all-sufficient instrument, to be +used in his glorious work. He is to give the Word to the people; and the +more simply he gives it the better. The pure water should be allowed to +flow from the heart of God to the heart of the sinner, without receiving +a tinge from the channel through which it flows. The evangelist is to +preach the Word; and he is to preach it in simple dependence upon the +power of the Holy Ghost. This is the true secret of success in +preaching. + +But while I urge this great cardinal point in the work of preaching--and +I believe it cannot be too strongly urged--I am very far indeed from +thinking that the evangelist should give his hearers a quantity of +truth. So far from this, I consider it a very great mistake. He ought to +leave this to the teacher, lecturer, or pastor. I often fear that very +much of our preaching shoots over the heads of the people, owing to the +fact of our seeking rather to unfold truth than to reach souls. We rest +satisfied, it may be, with having delivered a very clear and forcible +lecture, a very interesting and instructive exposition of Scripture, +something very valuable for the people of God; but the unconverted +hearer has sat unmoved, unreached, unimpressed. There has been nothing +for him. The lecturer has been more occupied with his lecture than with +the sinner--more taken up with his subject than with the soul. + +Now I am thoroughly convinced that this is a serious mistake, and one +into which we all--at least I am--very apt to fall. I deplore it deeply, +and I earnestly desire to correct it. I question if this very mistake +may not be viewed as the true secret of our lack of success. But, +dearest A., I should not perhaps say "_our_ lack" but _my_ lack. I do +not think--so far as I know aught of your ministry--that you are exactly +chargeable with the defect to which I am now just referring. Of this, +however, you will be the best judge yourself; but of one thing I am +certain, namely, that the most successful evangelist is the one who +keeps his eye fixed on the sinner, who has his heart bent on the +salvation of souls, yea, the one with whom the love for precious souls +amounts almost to a passion. It is not the man who unfolds the most +truth, but the man who longs most after souls, that will have the most +seals to his ministry. + +I assert all this, mark you, in the full and clear recognition of the +fact with which I commenced this letter, namely, that the Word is the +grand instrument in the work of conversion. This fact must never be lost +sight of, never weakened. It matters not what agency may be used to make +the furrow, or in what form the Word may clothe itself, or by what +vehicle it may be conveyed; it is only by "the Word of truth" that souls +are begotten. + +All this is divinely true, and we would ever bear it in mind. But do we +not often find that persons who undertake to preach the gospel +(particularly if they continue long in one place) are very apt to leave +the domain of the evangelist--most blessed domain!--and travel into that +of the teacher and lecturer? This is what I deprecate and deeply +deplore. I know I have erred in this way myself, and I mourn over the +error. I write in all loving freedom to you--the Lord has of late +deepened immensely in my soul the sense of the vast importance of +earnest gospel preaching. I do not--God forbid that I should--think the +less of the work of a teacher or pastor. I believe that wherever there +is a heart that loves Christ, it will delight to feed and tend the +precious lambs and sheep of the flock of Christ, that flock which He +purchased with His own blood. + +But the sheep must be gathered before they can be fed; and how are they +to be gathered but by the earnest preaching of the gospel? It is the +grand business of the evangelist to go forth upon the dark mountains of +sin and error, to sound the gospel trumpet and gather the sheep; and I +feel convinced that he will best accomplish this work, not by elaborate +exposition of truth; not by lectures however clear, valuable, and +instructive; not by lovely unfoldings of prophetic, dispensational, or +doctrinal truth--most precious and important in the right place--but by +fervid, pointed, earnest dealing with immortal souls; the warning voice, +the solemn appeal, the faithful reasoning of righteousness, temperance, +and judgment to come--the awakening presentation of death and judgment, +the dread realities of eternity, the lake of fire and the worm that +never dies. + +In short, beloved, it strikes me we want awakening preachers. I fully +admit that there is such a thing as _teaching_ the gospel, as well as +_preaching_ it. For example, I find Paul teaching the gospel in Rom. +i.-viii. just as I find him preaching the gospel in Acts xiii. or xvii. +This is of the very last importance at all times, inasmuch as there are +almost sure to be a number of what we call "exercised souls" at our +public preachings, and these need an emancipating gospel--the full, +clear, elevated, resurrection gospel. + +But admitting all this, I still believe that what is needed for +successful evangelization is, not so much a great quantity of truth as +an intense love for souls. Look at that eminent evangelist George +Whitefield. What think you was the secret of his success? No doubt you +have looked into his printed sermons. Have you found any great breadth +of truth in them? I question it. Indeed I must say I have been struck +with the contrary. But oh! there was that in Whitefield which you and I +may well covet and long to cultivate. There was a burning love for +souls--a thirst for their salvation--a mighty grappling with the +conscience--a bold, earnest, face-to-face dealing with men about their +past ways, their present state, their future destiny. These were the +things that God owned and blessed; and He will own and bless them still. +I am persuaded--I write as under the very eye of God--that if our hearts +are bent upon the salvation of souls, God will use us in that divine and +glorious work. But on the other hand, if we abandon ourselves to the +withering influences of a cold, heartless, godless fatalism; if we +content ourselves with a formal and official statement of the gospel--a +very cheerless sort of thing; if, to use a vulgar phrase, our preaching +is on the principle of "take it or leave it," need we wonder if we do +not see conversions? The wonder would be if there were any to see. + +No, no; I believe we want to look seriously into this great practical +subject. It demands the solemn and dispassionate consideration of all +who are engaged in the work. There are dangers on all sides. There are +conflicting opinions on all sides. But I cannot conceive how any +Christian man can be satisfied to shirk the responsibility of looking +after souls. A man may say, "I am not an evangelist; that is not my +line; I am more of a teacher, or a pastor." Well, I understand this; but +will any one tell me that a teacher or pastor may not go forth in +earnest longing after souls? I cannot admit it for a moment. Nay more; +it does not matter in the least what a man's gift is, or even though he +should not possess any prominent gift at all, he can and ought, +nevertheless, to cultivate a longing desire for the salvation of souls. +Would it be right to pass a house on fire, without giving warning, even +though one were not a member of the Fire Brigade? Should we not seek to +save a drowning man, even though we could not command the use of a +patent life-boat? Who in his senses would maintain aught so monstrous? +So, in reference to souls, it is not so much a gift or knowledge of +truth that is needed, as a deep and earnest longing for souls--a keen +sense of their danger, and a desire for their rescue. + +Ever, dearest A., Your deeply affectionate yoke-fellow, * * * + + +LETTER IV. + +When I took up my pen to address you in my first letter, I had no idea +that I should have occasion to extend the series to a fourth. However, +the subject is one of intense interest to me; and there are just two or +three points further on which I desire very briefly to touch. + +And in the first place I deeply feel our lack of a prayerful spirit in +carrying on the work of evangelization. I have referred to the subject +of the Spirit's work; and also to the place which God's word ought ever +to get; but it strikes me we are very deficient in reference to the +matter of earnest, persevering, believing prayer. This is the true +secret of power. "We," say the apostles, "will give ourselves +continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." + +Here is the order: "Prayer, and the ministry of the Word." Prayer brings +in the power of God; and this is what we want. It is not the power of +eloquence, but the power of God; and this can only be had by waiting +upon Him. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might +He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and +the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall +renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they +shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. +xl. 29-31). + +It seems to me, dearest A., that we are far too mechanical, if I may so +express myself, in the work. There is too much of what I may call going +through a service. I greatly fear that some of us are more on our legs +than on our knees; more in the railway carriage than in the closet; more +on the road than in the sanctuary; more before men than before God. This +will never do. It is impossible that our preaching can be marked by +power and crowned with results, if we fail in waiting upon God. Look at +the blessed Master Himself--that great Workman. See how often He was +found in prayer. At His baptism; at His transfiguration; previous to the +appointment and mission of the twelve. In short, again and again we find +that blessed One in the attitude of prayer. At one time He rises up a +great while before day, in order to give Himself to prayer. At another +time He spends the whole night in prayer, because the day was given up +to work. + +What an example for us! May we follow it! May we know a little better +what it is to agonize in prayer. How little we know of this!--I speak +for myself. It sometimes appears to me as if we were so much taken up +with preaching engagements that we have no time for prayer--no time for +closet work--no time to be alone with God. We get into a sort of whirl +of public work; we rush from place to place, from meeting to meeting, in +a prayerless, barren condition of soul. Need we wonder at the little +result? How could it be otherwise when we so fail in waiting upon God? +_We_ cannot convert souls--God alone can do this; and if we go on +without waiting on Him, if we allow public preaching to displace private +prayer, we may rest assured our preaching will prove barren and +worthless. We really must "give ourselves to prayer" if we would succeed +in the "ministry of the Word." + +Nor is this all. It is not merely that we are lacking in the holy and +blessed practice of private prayer. This is, alas! too true, as I have +said. But there is more than this. We fail in our public meetings for +prayer. The great work of evangelization is not sufficiently remembered +in our prayer-meetings. It is not definitely, earnestly, and constantly +kept before God in our public reunions. It may occasionally be +introduced in a cursory, formal manner, and then dismissed. Indeed, I +feel there is a great lack of earnestness and perseverance in our +prayer-meetings generally, not merely as to the work of the gospel, but +as to other things as well. There is frequently great formality and +feebleness. We do not seem like men in earnest. We lack the spirit of +the widow in Luke xviii., who overcame the unjust judge by the bare +force of her importunity. We seem to forget that God will be inquired +of; and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. + +It is of no use for any one to say, "God can work without our earnest +pleading; He will accomplish His purposes; He will gather out His own." +We know all this; but we know also that He who has appointed the end +has appointed the means; and if we fail in waiting on Him, He will get +others to do His work. The work will be done, no doubt, but we shall +lose the dignity, the privilege, and the reward of working. Is this +nothing? Is it nothing to be deprived of the sweet privilege of being +co-workers with God, of having fellowship with Him in the blessed work +which He is carrying on? Alas! alas! that we prize it so little. Still +we do prize it; and perhaps there are few things in which we can more +fully taste this privilege than in united earnest prayer. Here every +saint can join. Here all can add their cordial Amen. All may not be +preachers; but all can pray--all join in prayer; all can have +fellowship. + +And do you not find, beloved brother, that there is always a stream of +deep and real blessing where _the assembly_ is drawn out in earnest +prayer for the gospel, and for the salvation of souls? I have invariably +seen it, and hence it is always a source of unspeakable comfort, joy, +and encouragement to my heart when I see the assembly stirred up to +pray, for then I am sure God is going to give copious showers of +blessing. + +Moreover, when this is the case, when this most excellent spirit +pervades the whole assembly, you may be sure there will be no trouble as +to what is called "The responsibility of the preaching." It will be all +the same who does the work, provided it is done as well as it can be. If +the assembly is waiting upon God, in earnest intercession for the +progress of the work, it will not be a question as to the one who is to +take the preaching, provided Christ is preached and souls are blessed. + +Then there is another thing which has of late occupied my mind a good +deal; and that is our method of dealing with young converts. Most surely +there is immense need of care and caution, lest we be found accrediting +what is not the genuine work of God's Spirit at all. There is very great +danger here. The enemy is ever seeking to introduce spurious materials +into the assembly, in order that he may mar the testimony and bring +discredit upon the truth of God. + +All this is most true, and demands our serious consideration. But does +it not seem to you, beloved, that we often err on the other side? Do we +not often, by a stiff and peculiar style, cast a chill upon young +converts? Is there not frequently something repulsive in our spirit and +deportment? We expect young Christians to come up to a standard of +intelligence which has taken us years to attain. Nor this only. We +sometimes put them through a process of examination which only tends to +harass and perplex. + +Now assuredly this is not right. The Spirit of God would never puzzle, +perplex, or repulse a dear anxious inquirer--never, no never. It could +never be according to the mind or heart of Christ to chill the spirit of +the very feeblest lamb in all His blood-bought flock. He would have us +seeking to lead them on gently and tenderly--to soothe, nourish, and +cherish them, according to all the deep love of His heart. It is a great +thing to lay ourselves out, and hold ourselves open to discern and +appreciate the work of God in souls, and not to mar it by placing our +own miserable crotchets as stumbling-blocks in their pathway. We need +divine guidance and help in this as much as in any other department of +our work. But, blessed be God, He is sufficient for this as for all +beside. Let us only wait on Him: let us cling to Him, and draw upon His +exhaustless treasury for each case as it arises, for exigence of every +hour. He will never fail a trusting, expectant, dependent heart. + +I must now close this series of letters. I think I have touched most, if +not all, of the points which I had in my mind. You will, I trust, bear +in mind, beloved in the Lord, that I have, in all these letters, simply +jotted down my thoughts in the utmost possible freedom, and in all the +intimacy of true brotherly friendship. I have not been writing a formal +treatise, but pouring out my heart to a beloved friend and yoke-fellow. +This must be borne in mind by all who may read these letters. + +May God bless and keep you, dearest A. May He crown your labours with +His richest and best blessing! May He keep you from every evil work, and +preserve you unto His own everlasting kingdom! + +Ever believe me, My dearest A., Your deeply affectionate * * * + + +LETTER V. + +It seems as though I must once more take up my pen to address you on +certain matters connected with the work of evangelization, which have +forced themselves upon my attention for some time past. There are three +distinct branches of the work which I long to see occupying a far more +definite and prominent place among us; and these are, the Tract depot, +the Gospel preaching, and the Sunday-school. + +It strikes me that the Lord is awakening attention to the importance of +the Tract depot as a valuable agency in the work of evangelization; but +I question if we, on this side of the Atlantic, are thoroughly in +earnest on the subject. How is this? Have books and tracts lost their +interest and value in our eyes? Or does the fault lie in the mode of +conducting our Tract depots? To my mind there seems to be something +lacking in reference to this matter. + +I would fain see a well-conducted depot in every important town; by +"well-conducted" I mean one taken up and carried on as a direct service +to the Lord, in true love for souls, deep interest in the spread of the +truth, and at the same time in a sound business way. I have known +several depots fall to the ground through lack of business habits on the +part of the conductors. They seemed very earnest, sincere persons, but +quite unfit to conduct a business. In short, they were persons in whose +hands any business would have fallen through. Then in many places there +is the most deplorable failure as to the valuable and interesting work +of conducting a depot. + +And how can we best reach the people, for whom the tracts and books are +prepared? I believe by having the books and tracts exposed for sale in a +shop window, where that is possible, so that people may see them as they +pass, and step in and purchase what they want. Many a soul has been laid +hold of in this way. Many, I doubt not, have been saved and blessed by +means of tracts, seen for the first time in a shop window or arranged on +a counter. But where there is no such opportunity, the assembly's +meeting-room is the Tract depot's natural home. + +There is, manifestly, a real want of a Tract depot in every large town, +conducted by some one of intelligence and sound business habits, who +would be able to speak to persons about the tracts, and to recommend +such as might prove helpful to anxious inquirers after truth. In this +way, I feel persuaded, much good might be done. The Christians in the +town would know where to go for tracts, not only for their own personal +reading, but also for general distribution. Surely if a thing is worth +doing at all, it is worth doing well; and if the Tract depot be not +worth attending to, we know not what is. + +The Tract depot must be taken up in direct service to Christ. And I feel +assured that where it is so taken up and so carried on, in energy, +zeal, and integrity, the Lord will own it and He will make it a +blessing. Is there no one who will take up this valuable work for +Christ's sake and not for the sake of remuneration? Is there no one who +will enter upon it in simple faith, looking to the living God? + +Here lies the root of the matter, dearest A. For this branch of the +work, as for every other branch, we need those who trust God and deny +themselves. It seems to me that a grand point would be gained if the +Tract depot were placed on its proper footing, and viewed as an integral +part of the evangelistic work, to be taken up in responsibility to the +Lord, and carried on in the energy of faith in the living God. Every +branch of gospel work--the Depot, the Preaching, the Sunday-school--must +be carried on in this way. It is all well and most valuable to have +fellowship--full cordial fellowship, in all our service; but if we wait +for fellowship and co-operation in the starting of work which comes +within the range of personal, as well as collective, responsibility, we +shall find ourselves very much behind--or the work may not be done at +all. + +I shall have occasion to refer more particularly to this point, when I +come to treat of the Preaching and the Sunday-school. All I want now, is +to establish the fact that the Tract depot is a branch, and a most +important and efficient branch, of evangelistic work. If this be +thoroughly grasped by our friends, a great point is gained. I must +confess to you, dearest A., that my moral sense has often been +grievously offended by the cold, commercial style in which the +publishing and sale of books and tracts are spoken of--a style befitting +perhaps a mere commercial business, but most offensive when adopted in +reference to the precious work of God. I admit in the fullest way--nay, +I actually contend for it--that the proper management of the depot +demands good sound business habits, and upright business principles. But +at the same time I am persuaded that the Tract depot will never occupy +its true ground--never realize the true idea, never reach the desired +end--until it is firmly fixed on its holy basis, and viewed as an +integral part of that most glorious work to which we are called--even +the work of active, earnest, persevering evangelization. + +And this work must be taken up in the sense of responsibility to Christ, +and in the energy of faith in the living God. It will not do for an +assembly of Christians, or some wealthy individual, to take up an +inefficient protege, and commit to such an one the management of the +affair in order to afford a means of living. It is most blessed for all +to have fellowship in the work; but I am thoroughly convinced that the +work must be taken up in direct service to Christ, to be carried on in +love for souls, and real interest in the spread of the truth. + +I hope to address you again on the other two branches of my theme. + +Meanwhile, I remain, dearest A., Your deeply affectionate yoke-fellow, * +* * + + +LETTER VI. + +I have, in some of the earlier letters of this series, dwelt upon the +unspeakable importance of keeping up with zeal and constancy, a faithful +preaching of the gospel--a distinct work of evangelization, carried on +in the energy of love to precious souls, and with direct reference to +the glory of Christ--a work bearing entirely upon the unconverted, and +therefore quite distinct from the work of teaching, lecturing, or +exhorting, in the bosom of the assembly; which latter is, I need not +say, of equal importance in the mind of our Lord Christ. + +My object in referring again to this subject is to call your attention +to a point in connection with it, respecting which, it seems to me, +there is a great want of clearness amongst some of our friends. I +question if we are, as a rule, thoroughly clear as to the question of +individual responsibility in the work of the gospel. I admit, of course, +that the teacher or lecturer is called to exercise his gift, to a very +great extent, on the same principle as the evangelist; that is, on his +own personal responsibility to Christ; and that the assembly is not +responsible for his individual services; unless indeed he teach unsound +doctrine, in which case the assembly is bound to take it up. + +But my business is with the work of the evangelist; and he is to carry +on his work outside of the assembly. His sphere of action is the wide, +wide world. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every +creature." Here is the sphere and here the object of the +evangelist--"_All_ the world"--"_Every_ creature." He may go forth from +the bosom of the assembly, and return thither again laden with his +golden sheaves; nevertheless he goes forth in the energy of personal +faith in the living God, and on the ground of personal responsibility to +Christ; nor is the assembly responsible for the peculiar _mode_ in which +he may carry on his work. No doubt the assembly is called into action +when the evangelist introduces the _fruit_ of his work in the shape of +souls professing to be converted, and desiring to be received into +fellowship at the Lord's table. But this is another thing altogether, +and must be kept distinct. The evangelist must be left free: this is +what I contend for. He must not be tied down to certain rules or +regulations, nor cramped by special conventionalities. There are many +things which a large-hearted evangelist will feel perfectly free to do +which might not commend themselves to the spiritual judgment and +feelings of some in the assembly; but, provided he does not traverse any +vital or fundamental principle, such persons have no right to interfere +with him. + +And be it remembered, dearest A., that when I use the expression, +"spiritual judgment and feelings," I am taking the very highest possible +view of the case, and treating the objector with the highest respect. I +feel this is but right and proper. Every true man has a right to have +his feelings and judgment--not to speak of conscience--treated with all +due respect. There are, alas! everywhere, men of narrow mind, who object +to everything that does not square with their own notions--men who would +fain tie the evangelist down to the exact line of things and mode of +acting which according to their thinking would suit the assembly of +God's people when gathered for worship at the table of the Lord. + +All this is a thorough mistake. The evangelist should pursue the even +tenor of his way, regardless of all such narrowness and meddling. Take, +for example, the matter of singing hymns. The evangelist may feel +perfectly free to use a class of hymns or gospel songs which would be +wholly unsuitable for the assembly. The fact is, he _sings_ the gospel +for the same object that he _preaches_ it, namely, to reach the sinner's +heart. He is just as ready to sing "Come" as to preach it. + +Such, dearest A., is the judgment which I have had on this subject for +many years, though I am not quite sure if it will fully commend itself +to your spiritual mind. It strikes me we are in danger of slipping into +Christendom's false notion of "establishing a cause," and "organizing a +body." Hence it is that the four walls in which the assembly meets are +regarded by many as a "chapel," and the evangelist who happens to preach +there is looked upon as "the minister of the chapel." + +All this has to be carefully guarded against: but my object in referring +to it now is to clear up the point with respect to the gospel preaching. +The true evangelist is not the minister of any chapel; or the organ of +any congregation; or the representative of a body; or the paid agent of +any society. No; he is the ambassador of Christ--the messenger of a God +of love--the herald of glad tidings. His heart is filled with love to +souls; his lips anointed by the Holy Ghost; his words clothed with +heavenly power. Let him alone! Fetter him not by your rules and +regulations! Leave him to his work and to his Master! And further, bear +in mind that the Church of God can afford a platform broad enough for +all sorts of workmen and every possible style of work, _provided only_ +that foundation truth be not disturbed. It is a fatal mistake to seek to +reduce every one and every thing to a dead level. Christianity is a +living, a divine reality. Christ's servants are sent by Him, and to Him +they are responsible. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? +To his own master he standeth or falleth" (Rom. xiv.). + +We may depend upon it, dearest A., these things demand our serious +consideration, if we do not want to have the blessed work of +evangelization marred in our hands. + +I have just one other point that I would refer to before closing my +letter, as it has been rather a vexed question in certain places--I +allude to what has been termed "the responsibility of the preaching." + +How many of our friends have been and are harassed about this question! +And why? I am persuaded that it is from not understanding the true +nature, character, and sphere of the work of evangelization. Hence we +have had some persons contending for it that the Sunday evening +preaching should be left open. "Open to what?" That is the question. In +too many cases it has proved to be "open" to a character of speaking +altogether unsuited to many who had come there, or who had been brought +by friends, expecting to hear a full, clear, earnest gospel. On such +occasions our friends have been disappointed, and the unconverted +perfectly unable to understand the meaning of the service. Surely such +things ought not to be; nor would they be if men would only discern the +simplest thing possible, namely, the distinction between all meetings in +which Christ's servants exercise their ministry on their own personal +responsibility, and all meetings which are purely reunions of the +assembly, whether for the Lord's Supper, for prayer, or for any other +purpose whatsoever. + +Your deeply affectionate, * * * + + +LETTER VII. + +Through want of space I was obliged to close my last letter without even +touching upon the subject of the Sunday-school: I must, however, devote +a page or two to a branch of work which has occupied a very large place +in my heart for thirty years. I should deem my series incomplete were +this subject left untouched. + +Some may question how far the Sunday-school can be viewed as an integral +part of the work of evangelization. I can only say it is mainly in this +light I regard it. I look upon it as one great and most interesting +branch of gospel work. The superintendent of the Sunday-school and the +teacher of the Sunday-school class are workers in the wide gospel field, +just as distinctly as the evangelist or preacher of the gospel. + +I am fully aware that a Sunday-school differs materially from an +ordinary gospel preaching. It is not convened in the same way, or +conducted in the same manner. There is, if I may so express myself, a +union of the parent, the teacher, and the evangelist, in the person of +the Sunday-school worker. For the time being he takes the place of the +parent: he seeks to do the duty of a teacher; but he aims at the object +of the evangelist--that priceless object, the salvation of the souls of +the precious little ones committed to his charge. As to the mode in +which he gains his end--as to the details of his work--as to the varied +agencies which he may bring to bear, he alone is responsible. + +I am aware that exception is taken to the Sunday-school on the ground +that its tendency is to interfere with parental or domestic training. +Now I must confess, dearest A., that I cannot see any force whatever in +this objection. The true object of the Sunday-school is, not to +supersede parental training, but to help it where it exists, or to +supply its lack where it does not exist. There are, as you and I well +know, hundreds of thousands of dear children who have no parental +training at all. Thousands have no parents, and thousands more have +parents who are far worse than none. Look at the multitudes that throng +the lanes, alleys, and courtyards of our large cities and towns, who +seem hardly a degree above mere animal existence--yea, many of them like +little incarnate demons. + +Who can think upon all these precious souls without wishing a hearty +God-speed to all _true_ Sunday-school workers, and earnestly longing for +more thorough earnestness and energy in that most blessed work? + +I say "_true_" Sunday-school workers, because I fear that many engage in +the work who are not true, not real, not fit. Many, I fear, take it up +as a little bit of fashionable religious work, suited to the younger +members of religious communities. Many, too, view it as a kind of +set-off to a week of self-indulgence, folly, and worldliness. All such +persons are an actual hindrance rather than a help to this sacred +service. + +Then again, there are many who sincerely love Christ, and long to serve +Him in the Sunday-school, but who are not really fitted for the work. +They are deficient in tact, energy, order, and rule. They lack that +power to adapt themselves to the children, and to engage their young +hearts, which is so essential to the Sunday-school worker. It is a great +mistake to suppose that every one who stands idle in the market-place is +fit to turn into this particular branch of Christian labor. On the +contrary, it needs a person thoroughly fitted of God for it; and if it +be asked, "How are we ever to be supplied with suited agents for this +branch of evangelistic service?" I reply, Just in the same way as you +are to be supplied in any other department--by earnest, persevering, +believing prayer. I am most thoroughly persuaded that if Christians were +more stirred up by God's Spirit to feel the importance of the +Sunday-school--if they could only seize the idea that it is, like the +Tract depot and the preaching, part and parcel of that most glorious +work to which we are called in these closing days of Christendom's +history--if they were more permeated by the idea of the evangelistic +nature and object of Sunday-school work, they would be more instant and +earnest in prayer, both in the closet and in the public assembly, that +the Lord would raise up in our midst a band of earnest, devoted, +whole-hearted Sunday-school workers. + +This is the lack, dearest A.; and may God, in His abounding mercy, +supply it! He is able, and surely He is willing. But then He will be +waited on and inquired of; and "He is the rewarder of them that +_diligently_ seek Him." I think we have much cause for thankfulness and +praise for what has been done in the way of Sunday-schools during the +last few years. I well remember the time when many of our friends seemed +to overlook this branch of work altogether. Even now many treat it with +indifference, thus weakening the hand and discouraging the hearts of +those engaged in it. + +But I shall not dwell upon this, inasmuch as my theme is the +Sunday-school, and not those who neglect or oppose it. I bless God for +what I see in the way of encouragement. I have often been exceedingly +refreshed and delighted by seeing some of our very oldest friends rising +from the table of their Lord, and proceeding to arrange the benches on +which the dear little ones were soon to be ranged to hear the sweet +story of a Saviour's love. And what could be more lovely, more touching, +or more morally suited, than for those who had just been remembering the +Saviour's dying love to seek, even by the arrangement of the benches, to +carry out His living words, "Suffer the little children to come unto +Me?" + +There is very much I should like to add as to the mode of working the +Sunday-school; but perhaps it is just as well that each worker should be +wholly cast upon the living God for counsel and help as to details. We +must ever remember that the Sunday-school, like the Tract depot and the +preaching, is entirely a work of individual responsibility. This is a +grand point; and where it is fully understood, and where there is real +earnestness of heart and singleness of eye, I believe there will be no +great difficulty as to the particular mode of working. A large heart, +and a fixed purpose to carry on the great work and fulfil the glorious +mission committed to us, will effectually deliver us from the withering +influence of crotchets and prejudices--those miserable obstructions to +all that is lovely and of good report. + +May God pour out His blessing on all Sunday-schools, upon the pupils, +the teachers, and the superintendents! May He also bless all who are +engaged, in any way, in the instruction of the young! May He cheer and +refresh their spirits by giving them to reap many golden sheaves in +their special corner of the one great and glorious gospel field! + +Ever believe me, dearest A., Your deeply affectionate * * * + + + + +THE LIVING GOD AND A LIVING FAITH + + +There is one great substantial fact standing prominently forth on every +page of the volume of God, and illustrated in every stage of the history +of God's people--a fact of immense weight and moral power at all times, +but specially in seasons of darkness, difficulty, and discouragement, +occasioned by the low condition of things among those who profess to be +on the Lord's side. The fact is this, _That faith can always count on +God, and God will always answer faith_. + +Such is our fact, such our thesis; and if the reader will turn with us, +for a few moments, to 2 Chron xx., he will find a very beautiful and +very striking illustration. + +This chapter shows us the good king Jehoshaphat under very heavy +pressure indeed--it records a dark moment in his history. "It came to +pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of +Ammon, and with them other besides the Ammonites, came against +Jehoshaphat to battle. Then" (for people are ever quick to run with evil +tidings) "there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a +great multitude against thee from beyond the sea, on this side Syria." +Here was a difficulty of no ordinary nature. This invading host was made +up of the descendants of Lot and of Esau; and this fact might give rise +to a thousand conflicting thoughts and distracting questions in the mind +of Jehoshaphat. They were not Egyptians or Assyrians, concerning whom +there could be no question whatever; but both Esau and Lot stood in +certain relations to Israel, and a question might suggest itself as to +how far such relations were to be recognized. + +Not this only. The practical state of the entire nation of Israel--the +actual condition of God's people, was such as to give rise to the most +serious misgivings. Israel no longer presented an unbroken front to the +invading foe. Their visible unity was gone. A grievous breach had been +made in their battlements. The ten tribes and the two were rent asunder, +the one from the other. The condition of the former was terrible, and +that of the latter, shaky enough. + +Thus the circumstances of king Jehoshaphat were dark and discouraging in +the extreme; and, even as regards himself and his practical course, he +was but just emerging from the consequences of a very humiliating fall, +so that his reminiscences would be quite as cheerless as his +surroundings. + +But it is just here that our grand substantial fact presents itself to +the vision of faith, and flings a mantle of light over the whole scene. +Things looked gloomy, no doubt; but God was to be counted upon by faith, +and faith could count upon Him. God is a never failing resource--a great +reality, at all times, and under all circumstances. + +"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. +Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the +mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters +thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the +swelling thereof. There is a river, the stream whereof shall make glad +the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God +is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and +that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered +His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of +Jacob is our refuge" (Psa. xlvi. I-7). + +Here, then, was Jehoshaphat's resource in the day of his trouble; and to +it he at once betook himself, in that earnest faith which never fails to +draw down power and blessing from the living and true God, to meet every +exigency of the way. "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek +the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered +themselves together, to ask help of the Lord; even out of all the cities +of Judah they came to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat stood in the +congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before +the new court, and said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not Thou God in +heaven? and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in +Thy hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand +Thee? Art not Thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this +land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to _the seed of Abraham Thy +friend for ever_?" + +These are the breathings of faith--faith that enables the soul to take +the very highest possible ground. It mattered not what unsettled +questions there might be between Esau and Jacob; there were none between +Abraham and the Almighty God. Now, God had given the land to Abraham, +His friend. For how long? _For ever._ This was enough. "The gifts and +calling of God are without repentance." God will never cancel His call, +or take back a gift. This is a fixed foundation principle; and on this +faith always takes its stand with firm decision. The enemy might throw +in a thousand suggestions; and the poor heart might throw up a thousand +reasonings. It might seem like presumption and empty conceit, on the +part of Jehoshaphat, to plant his foot on such lofty ground. It was all +well enough in the days of David, or of Solomon, or of Joshua, when the +unity of the nation was unbroken, and the banner of Jehovah floated in +triumph over the twelve tribes of Israel. But things were sadly changed; +and it ill became one in Jehoshaphat's circumstances to use such lofty +language or assume to occupy such a high position. + +What is faith's reply to all this? A very simple, but a very powerful +one--God never changes. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. +Had He not made Abraham a present of the land of Canaan? Had He not +bestowed it upon his seed forever? Had He not ratified the gift by His +word and His oath--these two immutable things in which it was impossible +for Him to lie? Unquestionably. But then what of the law? Did not that +make some difference? None whatever, as regards God's gift and promise. +Four centuries previous to the giving of the law, was the great +transaction settled and stablished between the Almighty God and Abraham +His friend--and settled and stablished forever. Hence nothing can +possibly touch this. There were no legal conditions proposed to Abraham. +All was pure and absolute grace. God gave the land to Abraham by +promise, and not by law, in any shape or form. + +Now, it was on this original ground that Jehoshaphat took his stand; and +he was right. It was the only thing for him to do. He had not one hair's +breadth of solid standing ground, short of these golden words, "Thou +gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend forever." It was either this +or nothing. _A living faith always lays hold on the living God._ It +cannot stop short of Him. It looks not at men or their circumstances. It +takes no account of the changes and chances of this mortal life. It +lives and moves and has its being in the presence of the living God; it +rejoices in the cloudless sunlight of His blessed countenance. It +carries on all its artless reasonings in the sanctuary, and draws all +its happy conclusions from the facts discovered there. It does not lower +the standard according to the condition of things around, but boldly +and decidedly takes up its position on the very highest ground. + +Now, these actings of faith are always most grateful to the heart of +God. The living God delights in a living faith. We may be quite sure +that the bolder the grasp of faith, the more welcome it is to God. We +need never suppose that the blessed One is either gratified or glorified +by the workings of a legal mind. No, no; He delights to be trusted +without a shadow of reserve or misgiving. He delights to be fully +counted upon and largely used; and the deeper the need, and the darker +the surrounding gloom, the more is He glorified by the faith that draws +upon Him. + +Hence, we may assert with perfect confidence, that the attitude and the +utterances of Jehoshaphat, in the scene before us, were in full +accordance with the mind of God. There is something perfectly beautiful +to see him, as it were, opening the original lease, and laying his +finger on that clause in virtue of which Israel held as tenants forever +under God. Nothing could cancel that clause or break that lease. No flaw +there. All was ordered and sure. "Thou _gavest_ it to the seed of +Abraham Thy friend _forever_." + +This was solid ground--the ground of God--the ground of faith, which no +power of the enemy can ever shake. True, the enemy might remind +Jehoshaphat of sin and folly, failure and unfaithfulness. Nay, he might +suggest to him that the very fact of the threatened invasion proved +that Israel had fallen, for had they not done so, there would be neither +enemy nor evil. + +But for this, too, grace had provided an answer--an answer which faith +knew well how to appropriate. Jehoshaphat reminds Jehovah of the house +which Solomon had built to His name. "They have built Thee a sanctuary +therein for Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as a sword, +judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in +Thy presence (for Thy name is in this house), and cry unto Thee in our +affliction, then Thou will hear and help. And now, behold, the children +of Ammon, and Moab, and Mount Seir, whom Thou wouldest not let Israel +invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from +them, and distroyed them not. Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come +to cast us out of _Thy possession, which Thou hast given us to inherit_. +O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no might against this +great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do, but +_our eyes are upon Thee_" (vers. 8-12). + +Here, truly, is a living faith dealing with the living God. It is no +mere empty profession--no lifeless creed--no cold uninfluential theory. +It is not a man "saying he has faith." Such things will never stand in +the day of battle. They may do well enough when all is calm, smooth, and +bright; but when difficulties have to be grappled with--when the enemy +has to be met face to face, all merely nominal faith, all mere lip +profession, will prove like autumn leaves before the blast. Nothing will +stand the test of actual conflict but a living personal faith in a +living personal Saviour-God. This is what is needed. It is this which +alone can sustain the heart, come what may. Faith brings God into the +scene, and all is strength, victory, and perfect peace. + +Thus it was with the king of Judah, in the days of 2 Chron. xx. "We have +no might; neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon Thee." This +is the way to occupy God's ground, even with the eyes fixed on God +Himself. This is the true secret of stability and peace. The devil will +leave no stone unturned to drive us off the true ground which, as +Christians, we ought to occupy in these last days; and we, in ourselves, +have no might whatever against him. Our only resource is in the living +God. If our eyes are upon Him, nothing can harm us. "Thou wilt keep him +in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in +Thee." + +Reader, art thou on God's ground? Canst thou give a "Thus saith the +Lord" for the position which thou occupiest, at this moment? Art thou +consciously standing on the solid ground of holy Scripture? Is there +anything questionable in thy surroundings and associations? We beseech +thee to weigh these questions solemnly as in the divine presence. Be +assured they are of moment just now. We are passing through critical +moments. + +Men are taking sides; principles are working and coming to a head. Never +was it more needful to be thoroughly and unmistakably on the Lord's +side. Jehoshaphat never could have met the Ammonites, Moabites, and +Edomites, had he not been persuaded that his feet were on the very +ground which God had given to Abraham. If the enemy could have shaken +his confidence as to this, he would have had an easy victory. But +Jehoshaphat knew where he was; he knew his ground. He understood his +bearings; and therefore he could fix his eyes with confidence upon the +living God. He had no misgivings as to his position. He did not say, as +many do, now-a-days, "I am not quite sure. I hope I am; but sometimes +clouds come over my soul, and make me hesitate as to whether I am really +on divine ground." Ah! no, reader, the king of Judah would not have +understood such language at all. All was clear to him. His eye rested on +the original grant. He felt sure he was on the true ground of the Israel +of God; and albeit all Israel were not there with him, yet God was with +him, and that was enough. His was a living faith in the living God--the +only thing that will stand in the day of trial. + +There is something in the attitude and utterance of the king of Judah, +on that memorable occasion, well worthy of the reader's profound +attention. His feet were firmly fixed on God's ground, and his eyes as +firmly fixed on God Himself; and in addition to this, there was the deep +sense of his own thorough nothingness. He had not so much as a shadow +of a doubt as to the fact of his being in possession of the very +inheritance which God had given him. He knew that he was in his right +place. He did not _hope_ it; still less did he doubt it; no, he knew it. +He could say, "I believe and am sure." + +This is all-important. It is impossible to stand against the enemy, if +there is anything equivocal in our position. If there be any secret +misgiving as to our being in our right place--if we cannot give a "Thus +saith the Lord" for the position which we occupy, the path we tread, the +associations in which we stand, the work in which we are engaged, there +will, most assuredly, be weakness in the hour of conflict. Satan is sure +to avail himself of the smallest misgiving in the soul. All must be +settled as to our positive standing, if we would make any headway +against the enemy. There must be an unclouded confidence as to our real +position before God, else the foe will have an easy victory. + +Now, it is precisely here that there is so much weakness apparent among +the children of God. Very few, comparatively, are clear, sound, and +settled as to their foundation--very few are able, without any reserve, +to take the blessed ground of being washed in the blood of Jesus, and +sealed with the Holy Spirit. At times they hope it. When things go well +with them; when they have had a good time in the closet; when they have +enjoyed nearness to God in prayer, or over the Word; while they are +sitting under a clear, fervent, forcible ministry--at such moments, +perhaps, they can venture to speak hopefully about themselves. But, very +soon, dark clouds gather; they feel the workings of indwelling sin; they +are afflicted with wandering thoughts; or it may be, they have been +betrayed into some levity of spirit, or irritability of temper; then +they begin to _reason_ about themselves, and to question whether they +are, in reality, the children of God. And from reasonings and +questionings, they very speedily slip into positive unbelief, and then +plunge into the thick gloom of a despondency bordering on despair. + +All this is most sad. It is, at once, dishonoring to God, and +destructive to the soul's peace; and as to progress, in such a +condition, it is wholly out of the question. How can any one run a race, +if he has not cleared the starting post? How can he erect a building, if +he has not laid the foundation? And, on the same principle, how can a +soul grow in the divine life, if he is always liable to doubt whether he +has that life or not? + +But it may be that some of our readers are disposed to put such a +question as the following, "How can I be sure that I am on God's +ground?--that I am washed in the blood of Jesus and sealed with the Holy +Spirit?" We reply, How do you know that you are a lost sinner? Is it +because you feel it? Is mere feeling the ground of your faith? If so, it +is not a divine faith at all. True faith rests _only_ on the testimony +of holy Scripture. No doubt, it is by the gracious energy of the Holy +Ghost that any one can exercise this living faith; but we are speaking +now of the true ground of faith--the authority--the basis on which it +rests, and that is simply the holy Scriptures which, as the inspired +apostle tells us, are able to make us wise unto salvation, and which +even a child could know, without the church, the clergy, the fathers, +the doctors, the councils, the colleges, or any other human intervention +whatsoever. + +"Abraham believed God." Here was divine faith. It was not a question of +feeling. Indeed, if Abraham had been influenced by his feelings, he +would have been a doubter instead of a believer. For what had he to +build upon in himself? "His own body now dead." A poor ground surely on +which to build his faith in the promise of an innumerable seed. But, we +are told, "He considered not his own body now dead" (Rom. iv.). What, +then, did he consider? He considered the word of the living God, and on +that he rested. Now this is faith. And mark what the apostle says: "He +staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief" (for unbelief is +always a staggerer), "but was strong in faith, giving glory to God: and +being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to +perform. And _therefore_ it was imputed to him for righteousness." + +"Ah! but," the anxious reader may say, "what has all this to say to my +case? I am not an Abraham--I cannot expect a special revelation from +God. How am I to know that God has spoken to me? How can I possess this +precious faith?" Well, dear friend, mark the apostle's further +statement. "Now," he adds, "it was not written for his (Abraham's) sake +alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be +imputed, if"--if what?--if we feel, realize, or experience aught in +ourselves? Nay, but "if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord +from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again +for our justification." + +All this is full of solid comfort and richest consolation. It assures +the anxious inquirer that he has the self-same ground and authority to +rest upon that Abraham had, with an immensely higher measure of light +thrown on that ground, inasmuch as Abraham was called to believe in a +promise, whereas we are privileged to believe in an accomplished fact. +He was called to look forward to something which was to be done; we look +back at something that is done, even an accomplished redemption, +attested by the fact of a risen and glorified Saviour, at the right hand +of the Majesty in the heavens. + +But as to the ground or authority on which we are called to rest our +souls, it is the same in our case as in Abraham's and all true +believers' in all ages--it is the word of God--the holy Scriptures. +There is no other foundation of faith but this; and the faith that rests +on any other is not true faith at all. A faith resting on human +tradition--on the authority of the Church--on the authority of so-called +general councils--on the clergy--or on learned men, is not divine +faith, but mere superstition; it is a faith which "stands in the wisdom +of men," and "not in the power of God" (I Cor. ii. 5). + +Now, it is utterly impossible for any human pen or mortal tongue to +overstate the value or importance of this grand principle--this +principle of a living faith. Its value at the present moment is +positively unspeakable. We believe it to be the divine antidote against +most, if not all, the leading errors, evils, and hostile influences of +the day in which our lot is cast. There is a tremendous shaking going on +around us. Minds are agitated. Disturbing forces are abroad. There is a +loosening of the foundations. Old institutions, to which the human mind +clings, as the ivy to the oak, are tottering on every side; and many are +actually fallen: and thousands of souls that have been finding shelter +in them are dislodged and scared, and know not whither to turn. Some are +saying, "The bricks are thrown down, but we will build with hewn stone." +Many are at their wit's end, and most are ill at ease. + +Nor is this all; there is a numerous class, for the most part, of those +who are not so much concerned about the condition and destiny of +religious institutions and ecclesiastical systems, as about the +condition and destiny of their own precious souls--of those who are not +so much agitated by questions about "Broad Church," "High Church," "Low +Church," "State Church," or "Free Church," as about this one great +question, "What must I do to be saved?" What have we to say to these +latter? What is the real want of their souls? Simply this, "A living +faith in the living God." This is what is needed for all who are +disturbed by what they see without, or feel within. Our unfailing +resource is in the living God and in His Son Jesus Christ, as revealed +by the Holy Spirit in the holy Scriptures. + +Here is the true resting-place of faith, and to this we do, most +earnestly, most urgently and solemnly, invite the anxious reader. In one +word, we entreat him to stay his whole soul on the word of God--the holy +Scriptures. Here we have authority for all that we need to know, to +believe, or to do. + +Is it a question of anxiety about my eternal salvation? Hear the +following words, "Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in +Zion _for a foundation_, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner +stone, _a sure foundation_: he that believeth shall not make haste" +(Isa. xxviii. 16). These precious words, so pregnant with tranquilizing +power, are quoted by the inspired apostle in the New Testament +Scriptures: "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I +lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and _he that +believeth on Him shall not be confounded_" (I Peter ii. 6). + +What solid comfort--what deep and settled repose for the anxious soul is +here! God has laid the foundation, and that foundation is nothing less +than His own eternal and co-equal Son, the Son who had dwelt from all +eternity in His bosom. + +This foundation is, in every respect, adequate to sustain the whole +weight of the counsels and purposes of the eternal THREE IN ONE--to meet +all the claims of the nature, the character, and the throne of God. + +Being all this, it must needs be fully adequate to meet all the need of +the anxious soul, of what kind soever that need may be. If Christ is +enough for God He must of necessity be enough for man--for any man--for +the reader; and that He is enough is proved by the very passage just +quoted. He is God's own foundation, laid by His own hand, the foundation +and centre of that glorious system of royal and victorious grace set +forth in the word "Zion." (See Heb. xii. 22-24.) He is God's own +precious, tried, chief corner stone--that blessed One who went down into +death's dark waters--bore the heavy judgment and wrath of God against +sin--robbed death of its sting, and the grave of its victory--destroyed +him that had the power of death--wrested from the enemy's grasp that +terrible weapon with which sin had armed him, and made it the very +instrument of his eternal defeat and confusion. Having done all this, He +was received up into glory, and seated at the right hand of the Majesty +in the heavens. + +Such is God's foundation, to which He graciously calls the attention of +every one who really feels the need of something divinely solid on which +to build, in view of the hollow and shadowy scenes of this world, and in +prospect of the stern realities of eternity. + +Dear reader, you are now invited to build upon this foundation. Be +assured it is for you as positively and distinctly as though you heard a +voice from heaven speaking to your own very self. The word of the living +God is addressed "to every creature under heaven"--"Whosoever will" is +invited to come. The inspired volume has been placed in your hand and +laid open before your eyes; and for what think you? Is it to mock or to +tantalize you by presenting before you what was never intended for you? +Ah! no, reader; such is not God's way. Does He send His sunlight and +showers to mock and to tantalize, or to gladden and refresh? Do you ever +think of calling in question your own very personal welcome to study the +book of Creation? Never; and yet there might be some show of foundation +of such a question, inasmuch as, since that wondrous volume was thrown +open, sin has entered and thrown its dark blots over the pages thereof. +But, spite of sin and all its forms and all its consequences, spite of +Satan's power and malice, God has spoken. He has caused His voice to be +heard in this dark and sinful world. And what has He said? "Behold, I +lay in Zion a foundation." This is something entirely new. It is as +though our blessed, loving, and ever gracious God had said to us, "Here, +I have begun on the new. I have laid a foundation, on the ground of +redemption, which nothing can ever touch, neither sin, or Satan, or +aught else. I _lay_ the foundation, and pledge My word that whosoever +believes--whosoever commits himself, in childlike, unquestioning +confidence, to My foundation--whosoever rests in My Christ--whosoever is +satisfied with My precious, tried, chief corner stone, shall never--no, +never--no, never be confounded--never be put to shame--never be +disappointed--shall never perish, world without end." + +Beloved reader, dost thou still hesitate? We solemnly avow we cannot see +even the shadow of a foundation of a reason why thou shouldest. If there +were any question raised, or any condition proposed, or any barrier +erected, reason would that thou mightest hesitate. If there were so much +as a single preliminary to be settled by thee--if it were made a +question of feeling or of experience, or of aught else that thou couldst +do, or feel, or be, then verily thou mightest justly pause. But there is +absolutely nothing of the sort. There is the Christ of God and the word +of God, and--what then? "He that believeth shall not be confounded." In +short it is simply "A living faith in the living God." It is taking God +at His word. It is believing what He says because He says it. It is +committing your soul to the word of Him who cannot lie. It is doing what +Abraham did when he believed God and was counted righteous. It is doing +what Jehoshaphat did when he planted his foot firmly on those immortal +words, "Thou gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend, forever." It +is doing what the patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles, the saints in +all ages have done, when they rested their souls for time and eternity +upon that Word which "is settled forever in heaven," and thus lived in +peace and died in hope of a glorious resurrection. It is resting calmly +and sweetly on the immovable rock of holy Scripture, and thus proving +the divine and sustaining virtue of that which has never failed any who +who trusted it, and never will, and never can. + +Oh! the unspeakable blessedness of having such a foundation in a world +like this where death, decay, and change are stamped upon all; where +friendship's fondest links are snapped in the twinkling of an eye by +death's rude hand; where all that seems, to nature's view, most stable, +is liable to be swept away in a moment by the rushing tide of popular +revolution; where there is absolutely nothing on which the heart can +lean, and say, "I have now found permanent repose." What a mercy, in +such a scene, to have "A living faith in the living God." + +"They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me." Such is the veritable +record of the living God--a record made good in the experience of all +those who have been enabled, through grace, to exercise a living faith. +But then we must remember how much is involved in those three words, +"_wait for Me_." The waiting must be a real thing. It will not do to +_say_ we are waiting on God, when, in reality, our eye is askance upon +some human prop or creature confidence. We must be absolutely "shut up" +to God. We must be brought to the end of self, and to the bottom of +circumstances, in order fully to prove what the life of faith is, and +what God's resources are. God and the creature can never occupy the +same platform. It must be God alone. "My soul, wait thou _only_ upon +God; for my expectation is from Him. He _only_ is my rock and my +salvation" (Psa. lxii. 5, 6). + +Thus it was with Jehoshaphat, in that scene recorded in 2 Chron. xx. He +was wholly cast upon God. It was either God or nothing. "We have no +might." But what then? "Our eyes are upon Thee." This was enough. It was +well for Jehoshaphat not to have so much as a single atom of might--a +single ray of knowledge. He was in the very best possible attitude and +condition to prove what God was. It would have been an incalculable loss +to him to have been possessed of the very smallest particle of creature +strength or creature wisdom, inasmuch as it could only have proved a +hindrance to him in leaning exclusively upon the arm and the counsel of +the Almighty God. If the eye of faith rests upon the living God--if He +fills the entire range of the soul's vision, then what do we want with +might or knowledge of our own? Who would think of resting in that which +is human when he can have that which is divine? Who would lean on an arm +of flesh, when he can lean on the arm of the living God? + +Reader, art thou, at this moment in any pressure, in any trial, need, or +difficulty? If so, let us entreat thee to look simply and solely to the +living God. Turn away thine eyes completely from the creature: "Cease +from man, whose breath is in his nostrils." + +Let thy faith take hold now on the strength of God Himself. Put thy +whole case into His omnipotent hand. Cast thy burden, whatever it is, +upon Him. Let there be no reserve. He is as willing as He is able, and +as able as He is willing, to bear all. Only trust Him fully. He loves to +be trusted--loves to be used. It is His joy, blessed be His name, to +yield a ready and a full response to the appeal of faith. It is worth +having a burden, to know the blessedness of rolling it over upon Him. So +the king of Judah found it in the day of his trial, and so shall the +reader find it now. God never fails a trusting heart. "They shall not be +ashamed that wait for Me." Precious words! Let us mark how they are +illustrated in the narrative before us. + +No sooner had Jehoshaphat cast himself completely upon the Lord, than +the divine response fell, with clearness and power, upon his ear. +"Harken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king +Jehoshaphat; thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid or dismayed by +reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but +God's ... ye shall not need to fight in this battle. Set yourselves, +stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and +Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them; for +the Lord will be with you." + +What an answer! "The battle is not yours, but God's." Only think of +God's having a battle with people! Assuredly there could be little +question as to the issue of such a battle. Jehoshaphat had put the +whole matter into God's hands, and God took it up and made it entirely +His own. It is always thus. Faith puts the difficulty, the trial, and +the burden into God's hands, and leaves Him to act. This is enough. God +never refuses to respond to the appeal of faith; nay, it is His delight +to answer it. Jehoshaphat had made it a question between God and the +enemy. He had said, "They have come to cast us out of _Thy_ possession, +which Thou hast given us to inherit." Nothing could be simpler. God had +given Israel the land, and He could keep them in it, spite of ten +thousand foes. Thus faith would reason. The self-same Hand that had +placed them in the land could keep them there. It was simply a question +of divine power. "O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no +might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we +what to do; but our eyes are upon Thee." + +It is a wonderful point in the history of any soul, to be brought to +say, "I have no might." It is the sure precursor of divine deliverance. +The moment a man is brought to the discovery of his utter powerlessness, +the divine word is, "Stand still, and see the salvation of God." One +does not want "might" to "stand still." It needs no effort to "see the +salvation of God." This holds good in reference to the sinner in coming +to Christ, at the first; and it holds equally good in reference to the +Christian in his whole career from first to last. The great difficulty +is to get to the end of our own strength. + +Once there, the whole thing is settled. There may be a vast amount of +struggle and exercise ere we are brought to say "without strength!" But, +the moment we take that ground, the word is, "Stand still, and see the +salvation of God." Human effort, in every shape and form, can but raise +a barrier between our souls and God's salvation. If God has undertaken +for us, we may well be still. And has He not? Yes, blessed be His holy +name, He has charged Himself with all that concerns us, for time and +eternity; and hence we have only to let Him act for us, in all things. +It is our happy privilege to let Him go before us, while we follow on +"in wonder, love, and praise." + +Thus it was in that interesting and instructive scene on which we have +been dwelling. "Jehoshaphat bowed his head, with his face to the ground: +and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, +worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, +and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of +Israel with a loud voice on high." + +Here we have the true attitude and the proper occupation of the +believer. Jehoshaphat withdrew his eyes from "that great company that +had come against him," and fixed them upon the living God. Jehovah had +come right in and placed Himself between His people and the enemy, just +as He had done in the day of the exodus, at the Red Sea, so that instead +of looking at the difficulties, they might look at Him. + +This, beloved reader, is the secret of victory at all times, and under +all circumstances. This it is which fills the heart with praise and +thanksgiving, and bows the head in wondering worship. There is something +perfectly beautiful in the entire bearing of Jehoshaphat and the +congregation, on the occasion before us. They were evidently impressed +with the thought that they had nothing to do but to praise God. And they +were right. Had He not said to them, "Ye shall not need to fight"? What +then had they to do? What remained for them? Nothing but praise. Jehovah +was going out before them to fight; and they had but to follow after Him +in adoring worship. + +"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth in the wilderness of +Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O +Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the Lord your God, so +shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 +Chron. xx. 20). + +It is of the very last importance that God's word should ever have its +own supreme place in the heart of the Christian. God has spoken. He has +given us His Word; and it is for us to lean unshaken thereon. We want +nothing more. The divine Word is amply sufficient to give confidence, +peace, and stability to the soul. We do not need evidences from man to +prove the truth of God's word. That Word carries its own powerful +evidences with it. To suppose that we require human testimony to prove +that God's word is true, is to imply that man's word is more valid, more +trustworthy, more authoritative, than the word of God. If we need a +human voice to interpret, to ratify, to make God's revelation available, +then we are virtually deprived of that revelation altogether. + +We call the special attention of the reader to this point. It concerns +the integrity of Holy Scripture. The grand question is this, Is God's +word sufficient or not? Do we really want man's authority to make us +sure that God has spoken? Far be the thought! This would be placing +man's word above God's word, and thus depriving us of the _only_ solid +ground on which our souls can lean. This is precisely what the devil has +been aiming at from the very beginning, and it is what he is aiming at +now. He wants to remove from beneath our feet the solid rock of divine +revelation, and to give us instead the sandy foundation of human +authority. Hence it is that we do so earnestly press upon our readers +the urgent need of keeping close to God's word, in simple unquestioning +faith. It is really the true secret of stability and peace. If God's +word be not enough for us, without man's interference, we are positively +left without any sure basis of our soul's confidence; yea, we are cast +adrift on the wild watery waste of skepticism, we are plunged in doubt +and dark uncertainty: we are most miserable. + +But, thanks and praise be to God, it is not so. "_Believe in the Lord +your God, so shall ye be established: believe His prophets, so shall ye +prosper._" + +Here is the resting-place of faith in all ages. God's eternal Word, +which is settled forever in heaven, which He has magnified according to +all His name, and which stands forth in its own divine dignity and +sufficiency before the eye of faith. We must utterly reject the idea +that aught in the way of human authority, human evidences, or human +feelings, is needful to make the testimony of God full weight in the +balances of the soul. Grant us but this, that God has spoken, and we +argue with bold decision that nothing more is needed as a foundation for +genuine faith. In a word, if we want to be established and to prosper, +we have simply to "Believe in the Lord our God." It was this that +enabled Jehoshaphat to bow his head in holy worship. It was this that +enabled him to praise God for victory ere a single blow was struck. It +was this that conducted him into "the valley of Berachah" (_blessing_) +and surrounded him with spoil more than he could carry away. + +And now we have the soul-stirring record: "And when he had consulted +with the people, he appointed _singers unto the Lord_, and that should +praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to +say, Praise the Lord: for His mercy endureth forever." What a strange +advance guard for an army! A company of singers! Such is faith's way of +ordering the battle. + +"And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments +against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, which were come +against Judah, and they were smitten." Only think of the Lord setting +ambushments! Think of His engaging in the business of military tactics! +How wonderful! God will do any thing that His people need, if only His +people will confide in Him, and leave themselves and their affairs +absolutely in His hand. + +"And when Judah came toward the watch-tower in the wilderness, they +looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to +the earth, and none escaped." Such was the end of "that great +company"--that formidable host--that terrible foe. All vanished away +before the presence of the God of Israel. Yes, and had they been a +million times more numerous, and more formidable, the issue would have +been the same, for circumstances are nothing to the living God, and +nothing to a living faith. When God fills the vision of the soul, +difficulties fade away, and songs of praise break forth from joyful +lips. + +"And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of +them" (for that was all they had to do) "they found among them in +abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which +they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and +they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. And on +the fourth day, they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for +there they blessed the Lord." + +Such, beloved reader, must ever be the result of a living faith in the +living God. More than two thousand five hundred years have rolled away +since the occurrence of the event on which we have been dwelling; but +the record is as fresh as ever. No change has come over the living God, +or over the living faith which ever takes hold of His strength, and +counts on His faithfulness. It is as true to-day as it was in the day of +Jehoshaphat, that those who believe in the Lord our God shall be +established, and shall prosper. They shall be endowed with strength, +crowned with victory, clothed with spoils, and filled with songs of +praise. May we, then through the gracious energy of the Holy Spirit, +ever be enabled to exercise "A LIVING FAITH IN THE LIVING GOD!" + + + + +A SCRIPTURAL INQUIRY + +AS TO THE TRUE NATURE OF + +THE SABBATH, THE LAW, AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY + + +THE SABBATH. + +If it were merely a question of the observance or non-observance of a +day, it might be easily disposed of, inasmuch as the apostle teaches us +in Rom. xiv. 5, 6, and also in Col. ii. 16, that such things are not to +be made a ground of judgment. But seeing there is a great principle +involved in the Sabbath question, we deem it to be of the very last +importance to place it upon a clear and Scriptural basis. We shall quote +the Fourth Commandment at full length: "Remember the sabbath day, to +keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the +seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do +any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy +maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: +for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in +them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the +sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Ex. xx. 8-11). This same law is repeated +in Exodus xxxi. 12-17. And in pursuance thereof we find in Numbers xv. a +man stoned for gathering sticks on the sabbath day. All this is plain +and absolute enough. Man has no right to alter God's law in reference to +the sabbath; no more than he has to alter it in reference to murder, +adultery, or theft. This, we presume, will not be called in question. +The entire body of old Testament Scripture fixes the seventh day as the +sabbath; and the Fourth Commandment lays down the mode in which that +sabbath was to be observed. Now where, we ask, is this precedent +followed? Where is this command obeyed? Is it not plain that the +professing Church neither keeps the right day as the sabbath, nor does +she keep it after the Scripture mode? The commandments of God are made +of none effect by human traditions, and the glorious truths which hang +around "the Lord's day" are lost sight of. The Jew is robbed of his +distinctive day and all the privileges therewith connected, which are +only suspended for the present, while judicial blindness hangs over that +loved and interesting, though now judged and scattered, people. And +furthermore, the Church is robbed of her distinctive day and all the +glories therewith connected, which if really understood would have the +effect of lifting her above earthly things into the sphere which +properly belongs to her, as linked by faith to her glorified Head in +heaven. In result, we have neither pure Judaism nor pure Christianity, +but an anomalous system arising out of an utterly unscriptural +combination of the two. + +However, we desire to refrain from all attempt at developing the deeply +spiritual doctrine involved in this great question, and confine +ourselves to the plain teaching of Scripture on the subject; and in so +doing we maintain that if the professing Church quotes the Fourth +Commandment and parallel scriptures in defense of keeping the sabbath, +then it is evident that in almost every case the law is entirely set +aside. Observe, the word is, "Thou shalt not do any work." This ought to +be perfectly binding on all who take the Jewish ground. There is no room +here for introducing what we deem to be "works of necessity." We may +think it necessary to kindle fires, to make servants harness our horses +and drive us hither and thither. But the law is stern and absolute, +severe and unbending. It will not, it can not, lower its standard to +suit our convenience or accommodate itself to our thoughts. The mandate +is, "Thou shalt not do _any_ work," and that, moreover, on "the seventh +day," which answers to our Saturday. We ask for a single passage of +Scripture in which the day is changed, or in which the strict observance +of the day is in the smallest degree relaxed. + +We request the reader of these lines to pause and search out this matter +thoroughly in the light of Scripture. Let him not be scared as by some +terrible bugbear, but let him, in true Berean nobility of spirit, +"search the Scriptures." By so doing he will find that from the second +chapter of Genesis down to the very last passage in which the sabbath is +named, it means the _seventh_ day and none other; and further, that +there is not so much as a shadow of divine authority for altering the +mode of observing that day. Law is law, and if we are under the law we +are bound to keep it or else be cursed; for "it is written, Cursed is +every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the +book of the law to do them" (Deut. xxvii. 26; Gal. iii. 10). + +But it will be said, "We are not under the Mosaic law; we are the +subjects of the Christian economy." Granted; most fully, freely and +thankfully granted. All true Christians are, according to the teaching +of Romans vii. and viii. and Galatians iii. and iv., the happy and +privileged subjects of the Christian dispensation. But if so, what is +the day which specially characterizes that dispensation? Not "the +seventh day," but "the first day of the week"--"THE LORD'S DAY." This is +pre-eminently the Christian's day. Let him observe this day with all the +sanctity, the sacred reverence, the hallowed retirement, the elevated +tone, of which his new nature is capable. We believe the Christian's +retirement from all secular things cannot possibly be too profound on +the Lord's day. The idea of any one, calling himself a Christian, making +the Lord's day a season of what is popularly called recreation, +unnecessary traveling, personal convenience, or profit in temporal +things, is perfectly shocking. We are of opinion that such acting could +not be too severely censured. We can safely assert that we never yet +came in contact with a godly, intelligent, right-minded Christian person +who did not love and reverence the Lord's day; nor could we have any +sympathy with any one who could deliberately desecrate that holy and +happy day. + +We are aware, alas, that some persons have through ignorance or +misguided feelings said things in reference to the Lord's day which we +utterly repudiate, and that they have done things on the Lord's day of +which we wholly disapprove. We believe that there is a body of New +Testament teaching on the important subject of the Lord's day quite +sufficient to give that day its proper place in every well-regulated +mind. The Lord Jesus rose from the dead on that day (Matt, xxviii. I-6; +Mark xvi. I, 2; Luke xxiv. I; John xx. I). He met His disciples once and +again on that day (John xx. 19, 26). The early disciples met to break +bread on that day (Acts xx. 7). The apostle, by the Holy Ghost, directs +the Corinthians to lay by their contributions for the poor on that day +(I Cor. xvi. 2). And finally, the exiled apostle was in the Spirit and +received visions of the future on that day (Rev. i. 10). The above +scriptures are conclusive. They prove that the Lord's day occupies a +place quite unique, quite heavenly, quite divine. But they as fully +prove the entire distinctness of the Jewish sabbath and the Lord's day. +The two days are spoken of throughout the New Testament with fully as +much distinctness as we speak of Saturday and Sunday. The only +difference is that the latter are heathen titles, and the former divine. +(Comp. Matt. xxviii. I; Acts xiii. 14, xvii. 2, xx. 7; Col. ii. 16). + +Having said thus much as to the question of the Jewish sabbath and the +Lord's day, we shall suggest the following questions to the reader, +namely: Where in the word of God is the sabbath said to be changed to +the first day of the week? Where is there any repeal of the law as to +the sabbath? Where is the authority for altering the day or the mode of +observing it? Where in Scripture have we such an expression as "the +Christian sabbath"? Where is the Lord's day ever called the +sabbath?[XXVII.] + +We would not yield to any of our dear brethren in the various +denominations around us in the pious observance of the Lord's day. We +love and honor it with all our hearts; and were it not that the gracious +providence of God has so ordered it in these realms that we can enjoy +the rest and retirement of the Lord's day without pecuniary loss, we +should feel called upon to abstain from business, and give ourselves +wholly up to the worship and service of God on that day--not as a matter +of cold legality, but as a holy and happy privilege. + +It would be the deepest sorrow to our hearts to think that a true +Christian should be found taking common ground with the ungodly, the +profane, the thoughtless, and the pleasure-hunting multitude, in +desecrating the Lord's day. It would be sad indeed if the children of +the kingdom and the children of this world were to meet in an excursion +train on the Lord's day. We feel persuaded that any who in any wise +profane or treat with lightness the Lord's day act in direct opposition +to the Word and Spirit of God. + + +THE LAW. + +As regards the law, it is looked at in two ways; first, as a ground of +justification; and secondly, as a rule of life. A passage or two of +Scripture will suffice to settle both the one and the other: "Therefore +by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: +for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. iii. 20). "Therefore we +conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" +(ver. 28). Again: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of +the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in +Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not +by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be +justified" (Gal. ii. 16). + +Then, as to its being a rule of life, we read, "Wherefore, my brethren, +ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should +be married to another, even to Him that is raised from the dead, that we +should bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom. vii. 4). "But now are we +delivered from the law, being dead to that (see margin) wherein we were +held: that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness +of the letter" (ver. 6). Observe in this last-quoted passage two +things: first, "we are delivered from the law;" second, not that we may +do nature's pleasure, but "that we should _serve_ in newness of spirit." +Being delivered from bondage, it is our privilege to "serve" in liberty. +Again we read, further on in the chapter, "And the commandment which was +ordained to life, I found to be _unto death_" (ver. 10). It evidently +did not prove as a rule of _life_ to him. "I was _alive without the law_ +once; but _when the commandment came_, sin revived, and _I died_" (ver. +9). Whoever "I" represents in this chapter was alive until the law came, +and then he died. Hence, therefore, the law could not have been a rule +of life to him; yea, it was the very opposite, even a rule of death. + +In a word, then, it is evident that a sinner cannot be justified by the +works of the law; and it is equally evident that the law is not the rule +of the believer's life. "For as many as are of the works of the law are +under the curse" (Gal. iii. 10). The law knows no such thing as a +distinction between a regenerated and an unregenerated man: it curses +all who attempt to stand before it. It rules and curses a man so long as +he lives; nor is there any one who will so fully acknowledge that he +cannot keep it as the true believer, and hence no one would be more +thoroughly under the curse. + +What, therefore, is the ground of our justification? and what is our +rule of life? The word of God answers, "We are justified by the faith of +Christ," and Christ is our rule of life. He bore all our sins in His +own body on the tree; He was made a curse for us; He drained on our +behalf the cup of God's righteous wrath; He deprived death of its sting, +and the grave of its victory; He gave up His life for us; He went down +into death, where we lay, in order that He might bring us up in eternal +association with Himself in life, righteousness, favor and glory, before +our God and His God, our Father and His Father. (See carefully the +following scriptures: John xx. 17; Rom. iv. 25; v. I-10; vi. I-11; vii. +_passim_, viii. I-4; I Cor. i. 30, 31; vi. 11; xv. 55-57; 2 Cor. v. +17-21; Gal. iii. 13, 25-29; iv. 31; Eph. i. 19-23; ii. I-6; Col. ii. +10-15; Heb. ii. 14, 15; I Peter i. 23.) If the reader will prayerfully +ponder all these passages of Scripture he will see clearly that we are +not justified by the works of the law; and not only so, but he will see +how we are justified. He will see the deep and solid foundations of the +Christian's life, righteousness and peace planned in God's eternal +counsels, laid in the finished atonement of Christ, developed by God the +Holy Ghost in the Word, and made good in the happy experience of all +true believers. + +Then, as to the believer's rule of life, the apostle does not say, To me +to live is the law; but, "To me to live is Christ" (Phil. i. 21). Christ +is our rule, our model, our touchstone, our all. The continual inquiry +of the Christian should be, not is this or that according to law? but is +it like Christ? The law never could teach me to love, bless and pray for +my enemies; but this is exactly what the gospel teaches me to do, and +what the divine nature leads me to do. "Love is the fulfilling of the +law;" and yet, were I to seek justification by the law, I should be +lost; and were I to make the law my standard of action, I should fall +far short of my proper mark. We are predestinated to be conformed, not +to the law, but to the image of God's Son. We are to be like Him. (See +Matt. v. 21-48; Rom. viii. 29; I Cor. xiii. 4-8; Rom. xiii. 8-10; Gal. +v. 14-26; Eph. i. 3-5; Phil. iii. 20, 21; ii. 5; iv. 8; Col. iii. I-17.) + +It may seem a paradox to some to be told that "the righteousness of the +law is fulfilled in us" (Rom. viii. 4), and yet that we cannot be +justified by the law, nor make the law our rule of life. Nevertheless, +thus it is if we are to form our convictions by the word of God. Nor is +there any difficulty to the renewed mind in understanding this blessed +doctrine. We are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins," and what can a +dead man do? How can a man get life by keeping that which requires life +to keep it--a life which he has not? And how do we get life? Christ is +our life. We live in Him who died for us; we are blessed in Him who +became a curse for us by hanging on a tree; we are righteous in Him who +was made sin for us; we are brought nigh in Him who was cast out for us +(Rom. v. 6-15; Eph. ii. 4-6; Gal. iii. 13). Having thus life and +righteousness in Christ, we are called to walk as He walked, and not +merely to walk as a Jew. We are called to purify ourselves even as He +is pure; to walk in His footsteps; to show forth His virtues; to +manifest His spirit (John xiii. 14, 15; xvii. 14-19; I Peter ii. 21; I +John ii. 6, 29; iii. 3). + +We shall close our remarks on this head by suggesting two questions to +the reader, namely, Would the Ten Commandments without the New Testament +be a sufficient rule of life for the believer? Is not the New Testament +a sufficient rule without the Ten Commandments? Surely that which is +insufficient cannot be our rule of life. + +We receive the Ten Commandments as part of the canon of inspiration; and +moreover, we believe that the law remains in full force to rule and +curse a man as long as he liveth. Let a sinner only try to get life by +it, and see where it will put him; and let a believer only shape his way +according to it, and see what it will make of him. We are fully +convinced that if a man is walking according to the spirit of the +gospel, he will not commit murder nor steal; but we are also convinced +that a man, confining himself to the standard of the law of Moses would +fall very far short of the spirit of the gospel. + +The subject of "the law" would demand much more elaborate exposition, +but the limits of this paper do not admit of it, and we therefore +entreat of the reader to look out the various passages of Scripture +referred to and ponder them carefully. In this way we feel assured he +will arrive at a sound conclusion, and be independent of all human +teaching and influence. He will see how that a man is justified freely +by the grace of God through faith in a crucified and risen Christ; that +he is made a partaker of divine life, and introduced into a condition of +divine and everlasting righteousness, and consequent exemption from all +condemnation; that in this holy and elevated position Christ is his +object, his theme, his model, his rule, his hope, his joy, his strength, +his all; that the hope which is set before him is to be with Jesus where +He is, and to be like Him forever. And he will also see that if as a +lost sinner he has found pardon and peace at the foot of the cross, he +is not, as an accepted and adopted son, sent back to the foot of Mount +Sinai, there to be terrified and repulsed by the terrible anathemas of a +broken law. The Father could not think of ruling with an iron law the +prodigal whom He had received to His bosom in purest, deepest, richest +grace. Oh no! "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through +our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this +grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. +v. I, 2). The believer is justified not by works, but by _faith_; he +stands not in law, but in _grace_; and he waits not for judgment, but +for _glory_. + +We come now, in the third place, to treat of the subject of + + +THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY; + +in reference to which we have only to say, that we hold it to be a +divine institution: its source, its power, its characteristics, are all +divine and heavenly. We believe that the great Head of the Church +received in resurrection gifts for His body. He, and not the Church, or +any section of the Church, is the reservoir of the gifts. They are +vested in Him, and not in the Church. He imparts them as, and to whom, +He will. No man, nor body of men, can impart gifts. This is Christ's +prerogative, and His alone; and we believe that when He imparts a gift, +the man who receives that gift is responsible to exercise the same, +whether as an evangelist, a pastor or a teacher, quite independently of +all human authority. + +We do not by any means believe that all are endowed with the above +gifts, though all have some ministry to fulfil. All are not evangelists, +pastors, and teachers. Such precious gifts are only administered +according to the sovereign will of the divine Head of the Church. Man +has no right to interfere with them. Wherever they really exist, it is +the place of the assembly to recognize them with devout thankfulness. +Christians are exhorted to remember them that are over them in the Lord, +to know them that guide them, and those who addict themselves to the +ministry of the saints, and those who have spoken to them the word of +life. Were they to refuse to do so, they would only be forsaking and +rejecting their own mercies, for all things are theirs. (See Rom. xii. +3-8; I Cor. iii. 21-23; xii., xiv., xvi. 15; Gal. i. 11-17; Eph. iv. +7-16; I Thess. v. 12, 13; Heb. xiii. 7, 17; I Peter iv. 10, 11.) + +All this is simple enough. We can easily see where a man is divinely +qualified for any department of ministry. It is not if a man _say_ he +has a gift, but if he in reality has it. A man may say he has a gift on +the same principle as he may say he has faith (James ii. 14), and it may +only be, after all, an empty conceit of his own ill-adjusted mind, which +a spiritual assembly could not recognize for a moment. God deals in +realities. A divinely-gifted evangelist is a reality; a teacher is a +reality; a pastor is a reality; and such will be duly recognized, +thankfully received, and counted worthy of all esteem and honor for +their work's sake. + +Now we hold that unless a man has a _bona fide_ gift imparted to him by +the Head of the Church, all the instruction, all the education, and all +the training that men could impart to him would not constitute him a +Christian minister. If a man has a gift, he is responsible to exercise, +to cultivate, and to wait upon his gift. + +But unless a man has a direct gift from Christ, though he had all the +learning of a Newton, all the philosophy of a Bacon, all the eloquence +of a Demosthenes, he is not a Christian minister. He may be a very +gifted and efficient minister of religion, so called; but a minister of +religion and a minister of Christ are two different things. And further, +we believe that where the Lord Christ has bestowed a gift, that gift +makes the possessor thereof a Christian minister, whom all true +Christians are bound to own and receive, quite apart from all human +appointment: whereas, though a man had all the human qualifications, +human titles and human authority which it is possible to possess, and +yet lacked that one grand reality, namely, Christ's gift, he is not a +minister of Christ. + +We thank God for Christian ministry; and we feel assured that there are +many truly gifted servants of Christ in the various denominations around +us; but they are ministers of Christ on the ground of possessing His +gift, and not, by any means, on the ground of man's ordination. Man +cannot add aught to a heaven-bestowed gift. As well might he attempt to +add a shade to the rainbow, a tint to the violet, motion to the waves, +height to the snow-capped mountains, or daub with a painter's brush the +peacock's plumage, as attempt to render more efficient by his puny +authority the gift which has come down from the risen and glorified Head +of the Church. Ah no! the vine, the olive and the fig-tree, in Jotham's +parable (Judges ix.) needed not the appointment of the other trees. God +had implanted in each its specific virtue. It was only the worthless +bramble which hailed with delight an appointment that raised it from the +position of _a real nothing_ to be _an official something_. Thus it is +with a divinely-gifted man. He has what God has given him: he wants, he +asks no more. He rises above the narrow enclosure which man's authority +would erect around him, and plants his foot upon that elevated ground +where prophets and apostles have stood. He feels that it lies not within +the range of the schools and colleges of this world to open to him his +proper sphere of action. It appertains not to them to provide a setting +for the precious gem which sovereign grace has imparted. The hand which +has bestowed the gem can alone provide the proper setting. The grace +which has implanted the gift can alone throw open a proper sphere for +its exercise. What! can it be possible that those gifts which emanate +from the Church's triumphant and glorious Lord are not available for her +edification until they are dragged through the mire of a heathen +mythology? Alas for the heart that can think so! As well might we say +that the fatness of the olive and the pure blood of the grape must be +mingled with the contents of a quagmire to render them available for +human use. + +But it will be asked, "Were there not elders and deacons in the early +Church, and ought we not to have such likewise?" Unquestionably there +were elders and deacons in the early Church. They were appointed by the +apostles, or those whom the apostles deputed: that is to say, they were +appointed by the Holy Ghost--the only One who could then, or can now, +appoint them. We believe that none but God can make or appoint an elder, +and therefore for man to set about such work is but a powerless form, an +empty name. Men may, and do, point us to the shadows of their own +creation, and call upon us to recognize in those shadows divine +realities; but alas! when we examine them in the light of Holy +Scripture, we cannot even trace the outline, to say nothing of the +living, speaking features of the divine original. We see +divinely-appointed elders in the New Testament, and we see +humanly-appointed elders in the professing Church; but we can by no +means accept the latter as a substitute for the former. We cannot accept +a mere shadow in lieu of the substance. Neither do we believe that men +have any divine authority for their act when they set about making and +appointing elders. We believe that when Paul, or Timothy, or Titus, +ordained elders, they did so as acting by the power and under the direct +authority of the Holy Ghost; but we deny that any man, or body of men, +can so act now. We believe it was the Holy Ghost then, and it must be +the Holy Ghost now. Human assumption is perfectly contemptible. If God +raises up an elder or a pastor we thankfully own him. He both can and +does raise up such. He does raise up men fitted by His Spirit to take +the oversight of His flock, and to feed His lambs and sheep. His hand is +not shortened that He cannot provide those blessings for His Church even +amid its humiliating ruins. The reservoir of spiritual gift in Christ +the Head is not so exhausted that He cannot shed forth upon His body all +that is needed for the edification thereof. We are of opinion that were +it not for our impatient attempts to provide for ourselves by making +pastors and elders of our own, we should be far more richly endowed with +pastors and teachers after God's own heart. We need not marvel that He +leaves us to our own resources when by our unbelief we limit Him in +His. + +Instead of "proving" Him, we "limit" Him, and therefore we are shorn of +our strength and left in barrenness and desolation; or, what is worse, +we betake ourselves to the miserable provisions of human expediency. +However, we believe it is far better, if we have not God's reality, to +remain in the position of real, felt, confessed weakness than to put +forth the hollow assumption of strength; we believe it is better to be +real in our poverty than to put on the appearance of wealth. It is +infinitely better to wait on God for whatever He may be pleased to +bestow, than to limit His grace by our unbelief, or hinder His provision +for us by making provision for ourselves. + +We ask, where is the Church's warrant for calling, making or appointing +pastors? Where have we an instance in the New Testament of a Church +electing its own pastor? Acts i. 23-26 has been adduced in proof. But +the very wording of the passage is sufficient to prove that it furnishes +no warrant whatever. Even the eleven apostles could not elect a brother +apostle, but had to commit it to higher authority. Their words are, +"THOU, LORD, _which knowest the hearts of all_, show whether of these +two _Thou hast chosen_." This is very plain. They did not attempt to +choose. God knew the heart. He had formed the vessel. He had put the +treasure therein, and He alone could appoint it to its proper place. + +It is very evident, therefore, that the case of the eleven apostles +calling upon the Lord to choose a man to fill up their number affords +no precedent whatever for a congregation electing a pastor: it is +entirely against any such practice. God alone can make or appoint an +apostle or an elder, an evangelist or a pastor. This is our firm belief, +and we ask for Scripture proof of its unsoundness. Human opinion will +not avail; tradition will not avail; expediency will not avail. Are we +taught from the word of God that the early Church ever elected its own +pastors or teachers? We positively affirm that there is not so much as a +single line of Scripture in proof of any such custom. If we could only +find direction in the word of God to make and appoint pastors, we should +at once seek to carry such direction into effect; but in the absence of +any divine warrant we could only regard it as a mimicry on our part to +attempt any such a thing. Why was not the church at Ephesus, or why were +not the churches at Crete, directed to elect or appoint elders? Why was +the direction given to Timothy and Titus without the slightest reference +to the Church, or to any part of the Church? Because, as we believe, +Timothy and Titus acted by the direct power and under the direct +authority of God the Holy Ghost, and hence their appointment was to be +regarded by the Church as divine.[XXVIII.] + +But where have we anything like this now? Where is the Timothy or the +Titus now? Where is there the least intimation in the New Testament that +there should be a succession of men invested with the power to ordain +elders or pastors? True, the apostle Paul, in his second epistle to +Timothy, says, "The things which thou hast heard of me among many +witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to +teach others also" (2 Tim. ii. 2). But there is not a word here about a +succession of men having power to ordain elders and pastors. Assuredly +teaching is not ordination; still less is it imparting the power to +ordain. If the inspired apostle had meant to convey to the mind of +Timothy that he was to commit to others authority to ordain, and that +such authority was to descend by a regular chain of succession, he could +and would have done so; and in that case the passage would have run +thus: "The power which has been vested in you, the same do thou vest in +faithful men, that they may be able also to ordain others." Such, +however, is not the case; and we deny that there is any man or body of +men now upon earth possessing power to ordain elders, nor was that power +or authority ever committed to the Church. We hold it to be absolutely +divine; and therefore, when God sends an elder or a pastor, an +evangelist or a teacher, we thankfully hail the heaven-bestowed +gift;[XXIX.] but we desire to be delivered from all empty pretension. We +will have God's reality or nothing. We will have heaven's genuine coin, +not earth's counterfeit. Like the Tirshatha of old, who said "that they +should not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest +with Urim and Thummim" (Ezra ii.63), so would we say, let us rather, if +it must be so, remain without office-bearers than substitute for God's +realities the shadows of our own creation. Ezra could not accept the +pretensions of men. Men might _say_ they were priests; but if they could +not produce the divine warrant and the divine qualifications, they were +utterly rejected. In order for a man to be entitled to approach the +altar of the God of Israel, he should not only be descended from Aaron, +but also be free from every bodily blemish. (See Lev. xxi. 16-23.) So +now, in order for any man to minister in the Church of God, he must be a +regenerated man, and he must have the necessary spiritual +qualifications. Even St. Paul, in his powerful appeal to the conscience +and judgment of the church at Corinth, refers to his spiritual gifts and +the fruits of his labor as the indisputable evidences of his +apostleship. (See 2 Cor. x., xii.) + +Before dismissing the subject of the Christian Ministry, we would offer +a remark upon the practise of laying on of hands, which is presented in +the New Testament in two ways. First, we find it connected with the +communication of a positive gift. "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, +which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the +presbytery" (I Tim. iv. 14). This is again referred to in the second +epistle: "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift +of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands" (2 Tim. i. 6). +This latter passage fixes the import of the expression "presbytery," as +used in the first epistle. Both passages prove that the act of laying on +of hands in Timothy's case was connected with the imparting of a gift. +But secondly, we find the laying on of hands adopted simply for the +purpose of expressing full fellowship and identification, as in Acts +xiii. 3. It could not possibly mean ordination in this passage, inasmuch +as Paul and Barnabas had been in the ministry long before. It simply +gave beautiful expression to the full identification of their brethren +in that work unto which the Holy Ghost had called them, and to which He +alone could send them forth. + +Now we believe that the laying on of hands as expressing ordination, if +there be not the power to impart a gift, is worth nothing, if indeed it +be not mere assumption; but if it be merely adopted as the expression of +full fellowship in any special work or mission, we should quite rejoice +in it. For example, if two or three brethren felt themselves called of +God to go on an evangelistic mission to some foreign land, and that +those with whom they were in communion perceived in them the needed gift +and grace for such a work, we should deem it exceedingly happy were they +to set forth their unqualified approval and their brotherly fellowship +by the act of laying on of hands. Beyond this we can see no value +whatever in that act. + +Having thus, so far as our limits would permit, treated of the questions +of the Sabbath, the Law, and the Christian Ministry; having shown that +we honor and observe the Lord's day, that we give the Law its divinely +appointed place, and finally, that we hold the sacred and precious +institution of the Christian Ministry, we might close this paper, did we +not feel called upon to present a few other points. In our general +teaching and preaching we seek to set forth the fundamental truths of +the gospel, such as the doctrine of the Trinity; the eternal Sonship; +the personality of the Holy Ghost; the plenary inspiration of Holy +Scripture; the eternal counsels of God in reference to His elect; the +fullest and freest presentation of His love to a lost world; the solemn +responsibility of every one who hears the glad tidings of salvation to +accept the same; man's total ruin by nature and by practice; his +inability to help himself in thought, word, or deed; the utter +corruption of his will; Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection; +His absolute deity and perfect humanity in one person; the perfect +efficacy of His blood to cleanse from all sin; perfect justification and +sanctification by faith in Christ, through the operation of God the Holy +Ghost; the eternal security of all true believers; the entire separation +of the Church in calling, standing and hope from this present world. + +Then, again, we hold, in common with many of our brethren in the +denominations, that the hope of the believer is set forth in these words +of Christ: "I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I +am, there ye may be also" (John xiv.3). We believe that the early +Christians were converted to "that blessed hope"--that it was the common +hope of Christians in apostolic times. To adduce proofs would swell this +paper into a volume. + +Furthermore, we believe that all disciples should meet on the first day +of the week to break bread (Acts xx. 7); and when so met, they should +look to the Head of the Church to furnish the needed gifts, and to the +Holy Ghost to guide in the due administration of these gifts. + +As to the Scriptural ordinance of baptism, we look upon it as a +beautiful exhibition of the truth of the believer's identification with +Christ in death. (See Matt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 16; Acts ii. 38, 41; +viii. 38; x. 47, 48; xvi. 33; Rom. vi. 3, 4.) + +As regards the precious institution of the Lord's Supper, we believe +that Christians should celebrate it on every Lord's day, and that in so +doing they commemorate the Lord's death until He come. We believe that +as baptism sets forth our death with Christ, so the Lord's Supper sets +forth Christ's death for us. We do not see any authority in the word of +God for regarding the Lord's Supper as "a sacrifice," "a sacrament," or +"a covenant." The word is, "This do in remembrance of Me." (See Matt. +xxvi. 26-28; Mark xiv. 22-24; Luke xxii. 19, 20; I Cor. xi. 23-26.) + +The above is a very brief but explicit statement of what we hold, and +preach and practise. We meet in public: our worship meetings, our prayer +meetings, our reading meetings, our lectures, our gospel preachings, +are all open to the public. + +But we have done. We would in this closing line entreat the reader to +"search the Scriptures." Let him try everything by that standard. Let +him see to it that he has plain Scripture for everything with which he +stands connected. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not +according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. +viii. 20.). + +We can honestly say we love with all our hearts all those who love our +Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity; and wherever there is one who preaches a +full, free and an everlasting salvation to perishing sinners, through +the blood of the Lamb, we wish him godspeed in the name of the Lord. + +We now commend the reader to the blessing of the Father, and of the Son, +and of the Holy Ghost. If he be a true believer, we pray that in his +course down here he may be a bright and faithful witness for his absent +Lord. But if he be one who has not yet found peace in Jesus, we would +say to him, with solemn emphasis and earnest affection, "BEHOLD THE LAMB +OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!" (John i. 29). + +C. H. M. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[XXVII.] For a fuller exposition of the doctrine of the sabbath, see +"Notes on Genesis" (chap. ii.); also, "Notes on Exodus" (chaps. xvi. and +xxxi.). + +[XXVIII.] We would here offer a remark in reference to the appointment +of deacons in Acts vi. This case has been adduced in proof of the +rightness of a congregation electing its own pastor; but the proof fails +in every particular. In the first place, the business of those deacons +was "to serve tables." Their functions as deacons were temporal, not +spiritual. They might possess spiritual gift independently altogether of +their deaconship. Stephen did possess such. + +But more than this. Although the disciples were called upon to look out +for men competent to take charge of their temporal affairs, yet the +apostles alone could appoint them. Their words are, "Whom _we_ may +appoint over this business." In other words, although there is a vast +difference between a deacon and a pastor, between taking charge of money +and taking the oversight of souls, yet even in the matter of a deacon +the appointment in Acts vi. was entirely divine; and hence it affords no +warrant for a church electing its own pastor. + +We might further add that _office_ and _gift_ are clearly distinguished +in the word of God. There might be, and were, many elders and deacons in +any given church, and yet the fullest and freest exercise of gift when +the whole church came together into one place. Elders and deacons might +or might not have the gift of teaching or exhortation. Such gift was +quite independent of their special office. In I Cor. xiv., where it is +said, "Ye may all prophesy one by one," and where we have a full view of +the public assembly, there is not a word about an elder or a president +of any kind whatever. + +[XXIX.] Let the reader carefully note that _gifts_, as evangelists, +pastors, teachers, prophets, being given directly by the Head of the +Church for the edification of His people on earth (see Eph. iv. 8-13) +were never appointed or "licensed" by apostolic hands or any others. +Elders and deacons were to act as guides and to serve in the assemblies +in which they had their place. To this position or _office_ they were +appointed by an apostle, or one sent by him. [ED.] + + + + +THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST + +PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE + +(Scriptures read before lecture, Exodus xxi. I-6; John xiii. I-10; Luke +xii. 37.) + +"For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to +minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark x. 45.) + + +It is very necessary, beloved friends, to retire from all thoughts about +our service to the Lord, and our work for Him, and to have our hearts +occupied with His service toward us. And when I say this, you will not +suppose for a moment that it is my desire or thought to weaken in any +heart in this assembly, in the smallest degree, the desire to work for +Christ, whatever sphere He may open for you, or according to whatever +gift He may have bestowed upon you. Quite the reverse; indeed, I would +seek in every way to strengthen and intensify that desire. But then one +knows, both from experience and observation, that we may be so occupied +with _our_ work and _our_ services that our hearts may lose the sense of +what Christ is toward us in His marvelous character as a servant. + +And here let me say that my immediate thesis to-night is the Lord Jesus +as the servant of His people's necessities. That is the field into which +we are introduced by those scriptures which have been read in your +hearing. The Lord Jesus is the servant of the soul's necessities in +every stage of its history, from first to last,--from the depths of your +ruin and degradation as sinners, in all your weakness and failure as +saints from day to day, until He plants you in the joys of His own +kingdom. And His services will not end there; for, as we read in Luke +xii. 37, He will gird Himself, and serve us in the glory. Thus His work +as a servant overlaps the whole of the soul's history, past, present, +and future. He has served us in the past, He is serving us now, and He +will serve us forever. + +And here allow me to say that the line of truth which I have to bring +before you to-night is of a directly individual character. We were +speaking, on this night week, of the truth with respect to our corporate +condition and character, and therefore I feel all the more free on this +occasion to enter upon what is more directly personal--to speak of truth +which bears directly on the soul's individual condition and wants. And I +would ask you, my beloved hearers, to place yourselves, so far as +through grace you can, in all simplicity and reality, straight in view +of this theme--Christ the servant of our necessities. + +It is possible there may be souls in this room who want to begin at the +very beginning with this most precious theme. They want to know Christ +as the One who came into this world to serve them in all their deep and +varied need as lost, self-destroyed, guilty, hell-deserving sinners. If +there be any such present to-night, I would ask them to ponder deeply +that verse which I have read, "The Son of Man is come to serve and to +give." + +This is a divine reality. Jesus came into this world to meet our need, +to serve us in all that in which we need His precious service, and to +give His life a ransom for many; to serve us by bearing our sins in His +own body on the tree, and working out a full and an eternal salvation. +He did not come to get--He did not come to take--He did not come to be +ministered to--He did not come to be gazed at--He came to be used; and +therefore, while the soul that is exercised may be raising this +harassing question, "What can I do for the Lord?" the answer is, "You +must pause and see and believe what the Lord has done for you. You must +stand still and see the salvation of God." Remember those words of +divine and evangelistic sweetness, "To him that _worketh not_, but +believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for +righteousness." (Rom. iv. 5.) You can never intelligently or properly +serve Christ until you know and believe how He has served you. You must +cease your restless doings, and rest in a divinely accomplished work. +Then, but not until then, will you be able to start on a career of +Christian service. It is most necessary for all anxious souls to +understand that all true Christian service begins with the possession of +eternal life, and is rendered in the power of the Holy Ghost, the +indwelling Spirit, in the light and on the authority of holy Scripture. +This is the divine idea of Christian work and service. + +Now, though the primary object of this meeting, brethren, is for those +who are saints of God, who have set out on their course, still I do not +think it would be according to the heart and sympathies of Christ to +overlook the fact that there may be some soul in this congregation that +wants, as I said, just to begin at the very beginning with this precious +mystery--Christ the servant. I say, there may be some here to-night that +have never taken the attitude of simple repose in Christ's finished +work. They have, it may be, begun to think of their soul's salvation, to +think about eternity; but they are occupied with the thought that the +Lord is claiming something from them: "I must do this, I must do that, +and I must do the other." Now, my beloved friends, if such be here, I +repeat, with deepest earnestness, you must cease altogether from your +own doings, cease from your own reasonings, cease from your own +feelings; because, be assured of it, it is neither feeling nor thinking +nor reasoning nor doing at all, but it is pausing and gazing. It is +hearing and believing. It is looking off from yourselves and your +service to Christ and His service. It is ceasing from your restless and +worthless doings, and reposing in full, unquestioning confidence in the +one offering of Jesus Christ, which has perfectly satisfied and +perfectly glorified God as to the great question of your sin and guilt. +Here lies the divine secret of peace--peace in Jesus--peace with +God--eternal peace. Nothing will ever be right till you get on this +ground. If you are occupied with your doings for Christ, you will never +get peace; but if you will only take God at His word, and rest in His +Christ, you shall possess a peace which no power of earth or hell can +ever disturb. + +Now, my beloved hearers, I ask you, before I proceed, this question, Is +there a heart in this congregation that has not yet rested here? Is +there a heart here to-night that will say, I am not satisfied with +Christ's service: I cannot rest in His work? What! The Son of God has +stooped to serve you. The One who made you, the One who gave you life +and breath and all things, the One to whom all are responsible, He has +stooped to become your servant. It is not a question of asking you to do +any thing, or asking you to give any thing, because--mark those +words--they are words which sweep all through the history of the Son of +Man--they are words which, in all their length and breadth and fullness, +you can take up and use as if you were the only object of this service +in the world--"The Son of Man is come to serve and to give." He is not +come to get; He is not come to ask. The legal mind leads you to think +that God is an exactor--that He is making demands upon you--that He +wants your services in one way or another. But oh remember, I pray you, +that your first great business, your primary and all-important work, is +to believe in Jesus--to rest sweetly in Him, and in what He has done for +you on the cross, and in what He is doing for you on the throne. "This +is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." You +remember the interesting question of the Psalmist--a question asked when +his eye rested on the magnitude and multitude of Jehovah's +benefits--"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits?" What +is the reply? "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name +of the Lord." + +Is this the way to "render unto the Lord"? Yes, this is just the way +that gratifies and glorifies Him. If you really want to _render_, you +must _take_. Take what? "The cup of salvation"--a full and brimming cup, +most surely; and as you drink of that cup, as the glories of God's +salvation shine in the vision of your soul, then will streams of living +praise flow from your grateful heart. And you know He says, "Whoso +offereth praise, glorifieth Me." + +In a word, then, you must, first of all, allow your soul to dwell upon +the marvelous mystery of Christ's service toward you in all the depth of +your need; and the more you dwell upon that, the more will you be in the +true attitude to serve Him. + +Take another striking illustration. When David, as you remember, in that +remarkable passage in the second book of Samuel (chap. vii.), sat in his +house of cedar, and looked around at all that God had done for him, he +said, "I must rise and build a house." Immediately the prophet was +despatched to David to correct him on this point: "You shall not build +Me a house, but I will build you a house." You must reverse the matter. +God wants you to sit down and gaze yet more fully and intently upon His +actings on your behalf. He wants you to look, not only at the past and +the present, but to look on into the bright future; to see your entire +history overlapped by His own magnificent grace. + +And what, let me ask, was the effect of all this upon the heart of +David? We have the answer in that one pithy statement: "Then went King +David in, and sat before the Lord, and said, 'Who am I?'" Mark the +attitude, and ponder the question. They are full of deep meaning. "_He +sat._" This is rest and sweet repose. He wanted to go to work too soon. +No, says God, you must sit down and look at my work, and trace my +actings on your behalf in the past, the present, and the future. + +And then the question, "_Who am I?_" In this we see the blessed fact +that self was for the moment lost sight of. It was flung into the shade +by the lustre of divine revelation. Self and its poor little actings +were set aside by the glory of God and the rich magnificence of His +actings on behalf of His servant. + +Now, some might have thought that David was an active, useful man when +he was rising to take the trowel to build the house; and they might have +thought him a good-for-nothing man to be sitting still when there was +work to be done. But, brethren, let us remember that God's thoughts are +not as our thoughts. He prizes our worship much more highly than our +work. Indeed, it is only the true and intelligent worshiper that can be +a true and intelligent workman. No doubt God most graciously accepts our +poor services, even stamped as they so often are with mistakes of all +sorts. But when it becomes a question of the comparative value of +service and worship, the former must give place to the latter; and we +know that when our brief span of working time shall have expired, our +eternity of worship shall begin. Sweet thought! + +And let me further remark, ere leaving this part of our subject, that no +one need fear in the least that the practical effect of what I have been +saying will be to cripple your service, or lead you to fold your arms in +culpable idleness or cold indifference. The very reverse is the case, as +you may see in the history of David himself. Study at your leisure, I +Chronicles xxviii, xxix. There you have a splendid presentation of +service--a most triumphant answer to all who would place work before +worship. There you see, as it were, King David rising from the attitude +of a worshiper into that of a workman, and making ample provision for +the building of that very house of which he was not allowed to set one +stone upon another. And not only does he make provision according to the +claims of holiness, but, as he says, "Because I have set my affection to +the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, +which I have given to the house of my God, _over and above all_ that I +have prepared for the holy house, even three thousand talents of gold, +of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to +overlay the walls of the house." In other words, as we should express +it, out of his own private purse, he gave the princely sum of over +sixteen millions as a free gift toward the house which was to be reared +by the hand of another. This, as he informs us, was "over and above what +he had prepared for the holy house," which latter greatly exceeded the +amount of England's national debt. + +Thus we see that it is the true worshiper that makes the effective +servant. It is when we have sat and gazed on the actings of Christ for +us that we are enabled in any small degree to act for Him. And then, +too, we shall be able to say with David, as he surveyed the untold +wealth prepared for the house of God, "It is all Thine, and of Thine own +have we given Thee." + +I. But we must now turn for a few moments to the opening paragraph of +Exodus xxi--"If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and +in the seventh, he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by +himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife +shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she +have borne him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be +her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall +plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go +out free: then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also +bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore +his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." + +Here, then, we have one of the shadows of good things to come--a shadow +or figure of the True Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, that blessed One +who loved the Church and gave Himself for it. The Hebrew servant, having +served the legal time, was perfectly free to go out; but he loved his +wife and his children, and that, too, with such a love as led him to +surrender his own personal liberty for their sakes. He proved his love +for them by sacrificing himself. He might have gone forth and enjoyed +his freedom, but what of them? How could he leave them behind? +Impossible. He loved them too well for that; and hence he deliberately +walked to the door-post, and there, in the presence of the judges, had +his ear bored in token of perpetual service. + +This was love indeed. There was no mistake about it. The wife and each +child, as they gazed ever after on that bored ear, could read the +touching and powerful proof of the love of that servant's heart. + +Here, beloved, is something for the heart to dwell upon--yea, something +over which the heart may well break itself. We see in this Old-Testament +type the everlasting Lover of our souls--Jesus, the true servant. You +remember that remarkable occasion in our Lord's life when He was setting +before His disciples the solemn fact of His approaching cross and +passion. You will find it in the eighth chapter of the gospel of Mark: +"And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, +and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, +and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He spake that saying +openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him." Peter would fain, +though he knew it not, have interrupted the True Servant in His movement +to the door-post. He would have Him pity Himself, and maintain His own +personal freedom. But oh, brethren, hearken to the withering rebuke +administered to the very man who just before had made such a fine +confession of Christ! "But when He had turned about and looked on His +disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get thee behind Me, Satan; for +thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of +men.'" + +Mark the action. "He turned and looked on His disciples," as though He +would say, If I hearken to your counsel, Peter--if I pity Myself--if I +retreat from that cross which lies before Me, then what is to become of +these? It is the Hebrew servant saying, "I love my wife, I love my +children, I will not go out free." + +It is of the very last possible importance for us to see that there was +no necessity whatever laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ to walk to the +cross; there was no necessity whatever laid upon Him to leave the glory +which He had with the Father from all eternity and come down here; and +when He had come down into this world, and taken perfect humanity upon +Him, there was no necessity laid upon Him that He should have gone to +the cross; for at any moment during the whole of His blessed history, +from the manger of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary, He might have gone +back to where He came from. Death had no claim upon Him. The prince of +this world came and had nothing in Him. He could say, speaking of His +life, "No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself." (John x. +18.) And on His way from the garden to the cross we hear Him saying, +"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall +presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall +the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" And may we not say +there was much more truth than the utterers were aware of in these +accents of mockery which fell on the blessed Saviour's ear as He hung on +the cross--"He saved others; Himself He cannot save"? But they might +have said, Himself He will not save. + +Ah, no! blessed forever be His name! He did not pity or spare Himself, +but He pitied us. He beheld us in our hopeless ruin, guilt, misery, and +danger. He saw that there was no eye to pity, no arm to save; and--all +praise to His matchless name!--He laid aside His glory, came down into +this wretched world, became a man, that as a man He might, by the +sacrifice of Himself, deliver us from the lake of fire, and associate us +with Himself on the new and eternal ground of accomplished redemption, +in the power of resurrection-life, according to the eternal counsels of +God, and to the praise of His glory. + +Now, we cannot possibly overestimate the importance of dwelling upon the +fact that there was no necessity whatever laid upon our blessed Lord +Jesus Christ to die on the cross, and to endure the wrath of God. +Neither in His person, in His nature, nor in His relations was He +obnoxious to death. He was God over all, blessed forever. He was the +Eternal Son of God. And in His human nature He was pure, spotless, +sinless, perfect. He knew no sin. He did always and only the things that +pleased God. He glorified Him, and finished His work; and He has saved +us in such a way as to glorify God in the most wonderful manner. He was, +to use the language of our type, free to go out by Himself; but ah, +beloved, had He done so, your place and mine must inevitably have been +the lake of fire forever. + +To all this the Holy Ghost delights to bear testimony, as one of our own +poets has sweetly sung-- + + "And, Lord, Thy perfect fitness + To do a Saviour's part, + The Holy Ghost doth witness + To each believer's heart." + +Most true; and we might with equal truth say, "His fitness to do a +servant's part," because it was the very height of His glory, the very +dignity of His person; it was the glory whence He had descended, that +enabled Him to stoop down to the very depths of His people's +necessities. There is not a necessity--no, not one--in the deepest range +of His people's history, or in the lowest depths of their condition, +that He has not reached in His marvelous character and His divine +ministry as the servant of His people's necessities. + +Brethren, let us never forget this. Nay, rather let us constantly +cherish in our hearts the most grateful remembrance of it. The more we +dwell upon the height of Christ's personal glory, the more fully we +shall see the depths of His humiliation. The more profoundly we meditate +upon the glory of what He _was_, the more we must be arrested by the +grace of what He _became_. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, +that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye +through His poverty might be rich." + +Who can measure the heights and the depths of those two words, "rich" +and "poor," in their application to our adorable Lord and Saviour? No +created intelligence can fathom them; but most assuredly we should +cultivate the habit of dwelling upon the love that shines all along the +pathway of the divine Servant as He walked to the cross for us. It is as +we dwell upon His love to us that our hearts shall be drawn out by the +Holy Ghost in the power of responsive love to Him. "The love of Christ +constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then +were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not +henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and +rose again." (2 Cor. v. 14, 15.) + +II. Having thus glanced at our Lord's service toward us in the past, let +us look for a few moments at His present service--at what He is now +doing for us continually in the presence of God. This we have most +blessedly presented to us in that part of John xiii. which I have read +for you this evening. The same precious grace shines in this as in all +that on which we have been dwelling. If we look back at the past, we +behold the Perfect Servant nailed to the cross for us; if we look up to +the throne now, we behold Him girded for us, not only according to our +present need, but according to the perfect love of His heart--His love +to the Father, His love to the Church, His love to each individual +believer from the beginning to the end of time. + +"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was +come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having +loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And +during supper [see Greek], the devil having now put into the heart of +Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him; Jesus knowing that the +Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from +God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His +garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth +water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe +them with the towel wherewith He was girded." + +Here, then, we have a most marvelous presentation of Christ's present +service toward "His own which are in the world." There is something +peculiarly precious in the expression, "_His own_." It brings us so very +near to the heart of Christ. It is so sweet to think that He can look at +such poor, feeble, failing creatures as we are, and say, They are Mine. +It matters not what others may think about them; they belong to Me, and +I must have them in a condition worthy of the place whence I came, and +whither I am going. + +This, brethren, is ineffably precious and edifying for our souls. It was +in the sense of His personal glory, in the consciousness that He had +come from God and was going to God, that He could stoop down and wash +His people's feet. There was nothing, could be nothing, higher than the +place whence Jesus had come; there was nothing, could be nothing, lower +than the defiled feet of His disciples: but, blessed and praised forever +be His name! He fills up in His own divine person and marvelous service +every point between those two extremes. He can lay one hand on the +throne of God, and the other on our feet, and be Himself the divine and +eternal link between. + +Now, there are three things in this scripture which I am anxious to put +clearly before you this evening. In the first place, we have the special +action of our Lord toward His own in the world; secondly, the spring of +that action; and thirdly, the measure of the action:--the action, its +spring, and its measure. + +(I.) And first, the action itself. You will bear in mind, beloved in the +Lord, that what we have presented here is not "the washing of +regeneration." That pertains to the first stage of our Lord's service on +our behalf. "His own which are in the world"--all who belong to that +highly privileged class (and that is simply all who believe in His name) +have passed through that great washing, in virtue of which Christ can +pronounce them "clean every whit." + +There is not a spot or a stain upon the very feeblest of that blessed +number whom He calls "His own." "He that is washed needeth not save to +wash his feet, but _is clean every whit_: and _ye are clean_, but not +all." If a single spot could be detected on one of Christ's own, it +would be a dishonor cast upon Him, inasmuch as He has washed us from all +our guilt according to the perfection of His work as the Servant of our +need, and, far above all, the Servant of the eternal counsels, purposes, +and glory of God. He found us clean never a whit, and He has made us +"clean every whit." + +This is the washing of regeneration, which is never repeated. We have a +figure of this in the case of the priests of the Mosaic economy. On the +great day of their inauguration they were washed in water. This action +was never repeated. But after this, from day to day, in order to fit +them for the daily discharge of their priestly functions, they had to +wash their hands and their feet in the brazen laver in the tabernacle, +or the brazen sea in the temple. This daily washing is the figure of the +action in John xiii. The two washings, being distinct, must never be +confounded; and being intimately connected, must never be separated. The +washing of regeneration is divinely and eternally complete: the washing +of sanctification is being divinely and continually carried on. The +former is never repeated; the latter is never interrupted. That gives us +a part _in_ Christ, of which nothing can rob us; and this gives us a +part _with_ Christ, of which any thing may deprive us. The one is the +basis of our eternal life; the other is the ground of our daily +communion. + +Beloved brethren, see that you understand the meaning of having your +feet washed, moment by moment, by the hands of that blessed One who is +girded as the divine Servant of your present need. It is utterly +impossible for any one to overestimate the importance of this work; but +we may at least gather something of its value from our Lord's words to +Peter; for Peter, like ourselves, alas! was very far from seizing the +full significance of what his Lord was doing. "Then cometh He to Simon +Peter; and Peter saith unto Him, 'Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?' Jesus +answered and said unto him, 'What I do thou knowest not now; but thou +shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto Him, 'Thou shalt never wash my +feet.' Jesus answered him, 'If I wash thee not, thou hast no part _with_ +Me.'" + +Here is the grand point--"part with Me." The washing of regeneration +gives us a part _in_ Christ: the daily washing of sanctification gives +us a part _with_ Christ. In order to full, intelligent, happy communion, +we must have a clean conscience, and clean feet. The blood of atonement +secures the former; the water of purification maintains the other. But +both the blood and the water flowed from a crucified Christ. The death +of Christ is the necessary basis of every thing. He died to make us +clean; He lives to keep us clean. We are made as clean as His death can +make us; we are kept as clean as His life can keep us. + +And, be it remembered, this marvelous ministry of Christ on our behalf +never ceases. He ever liveth to act _for_ us on high, and to act _on_ us +and _in_ us by His Word and Spirit. He speaks to God for us, and He +speaks to us for God. He came from God, and traveled down to the +profoundest depths of our need. He has gone back to God, to bear us ever +on His heart, to meet our daily need, and to maintain us in the +integrity of the position and relationship into which He has introduced +us. + +This is replete with solid comfort for the soul. We are passing through +a defiling world, where we are constantly liable to contract evils of +one kind or another which, though they cannot touch our eternal life, +can very seriously affect our communion. It is impossible for us to +tread the sanctuary of the divine presence with soiled feet; and hence +the deep and unspeakable blessedness of having One ever in the presence +of God for us--One who, having been in this scene, knows its true +character; and One who, having come from God, and gone back to Him, +knows the full extent of His claims, and all that is needful to fit us +for fellowship with Him. The provision is divinely perfect. Sin or +uncleanness can never be found in the presence of God. If we can make +light of either the one or the other, God cannot and will not. The +holiness that shines in the demand for purity is as bright as the grace +that provides it. Grace has made the provision, but holiness demands the +application thereof. The goodness of God provided a laver for the +priests of old, but the holiness of God demanded that the priests should +use that laver. The great washing of inauguration introduced them to the +office of the priesthood; the washing in the laver fitted them for the +duties of that office. How could acceptable priestly service be +discharged with unclean hands? Impossible. And we may say it is as +impossible that we can walk in the pathway of holiness if our feet are +not washed and wiped by that blessed One who has girded Himself to serve +us in this matter perpetually. + +All this is divinely simple. There are two links in Christianity; +namely, the link of eternal life, which can never be snapped by any +thing; and the link of personal communion, which can be snapped in a +moment by the weight of a feather. Now, it is as our ways are cleansed +by the holy action of the Word, through the Holy Ghost, that our +communion is maintained in its unbroken integrity. But if I am afraid to +face the Word of God, or if I am willfully refusing its action, how can +I enjoy communion with God? + +I am not speaking now of ignorance of the Word of God. The Lord bears +with a wonderful amount of ignorance in us--far more than we could bear +with in one another. I do not now refer to the question of ignorance. +But suppose a case. A young person entered these walls a few weeks ago, +and took her seat on one of these benches. She was dressed out in all +the fashion of this world--her head adorned with feathers and flowers, +and her fingers with jewels. Her heart full of vanity and folly. Here +the grace of God met her in all its fullness and freeness. The arrow of +divine conviction entered her soul. She was broken down under the mighty +power of the Word, in the hands of the Holy Ghost. She was brought to +repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She was +saved, there and then, and left the place rejoicing in a full salvation. +This joy continued for many days. She was engrossed with her newly found +treasure. She never thought about her feathers, her flowers, or her +jewels. True, she continued to wear them, simply because she as yet saw +nothing wrong in so doing. She knew not as yet that there was so much as +a single sentence in the Word of God bearing upon such things. + +Brethren, let me just remind you that we should be prepared for such a +case as this, and be prepared to meet it. Some of us, I fear, have but +little wisdom or patience to deal with cases of this type. We are in +undue haste to enter upon what I may call the stripping process. This is +a mistake. We must allow time for the hidden virtues of the kingdom of +God to develop themselves. We must not attempt to reduce the Christian +assembly into a place in which a certain livery is adopted. This will +never do. We really cannot reduce all to a dead level. We must allow the +Word of God to act on the life which the Spirit of God has implanted. I +do nothing but mischief to people if I get them to adopt a certain style +of dress merely at my suggestion. The grand thing is to allow the +kingdom of God to assert its holy sway over the entire character. This +is to His glory and the soul's genuine progress. + +Let us pursue our case. Our young friend, in the course of her reading, +is arrested by the following pointed passage: "In like manner also, that +women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and +sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; +but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (I +Tim. ii. 9, 10.) And again, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward +adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on +of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is +not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is +in the sight of God of great price." (I Pet. iii. 3, 4.) + +Now, here, brethren, we have illustrated for us the present ministry of +Christ--the action of the Word upon the soul--the application of the +basin to the feet--the washing of water by the Word. It is Jesus +stooping down to wash the feet of this young disciple. The question is, +How will she receive the action? Will she resist it, or yield to it? +Will she push away the basin? Will she refuse the gracious ministry? "If +I wash thee not, thou hast no part _with_ Me." + +This is very solemn, and it demands our most serious attention. Next in +moral importance to having the conscience purged by the blood of Christ +stands this cleansing of our ways by the action of the Word, through the +power of the Holy Ghost. The former gives us a part _in_ Christ; the +latter, a part _with_ Christ. That is never repeated; this must never be +interrupted. If we really desire fellowship with Christ, we must allow +Him to wash our feet moment by moment. We cannot tread the pure +precincts of the sanctuary of God with defiled feet any more than we can +enter them with a defiled conscience. + +Hence, therefore, dearly beloved in the Lord, let us look well to it +that we have our ways continually submitted to the purifying action of +the precious Word of God. Let us put away every thing which that Word +condemns; let us abandon every position and every association and every +practice which that Word condemns, that so our holy fellowship with +Christ may be maintained in its freshness and integrity. Nothing is more +dangerous than to trifle with evil in any shape or form. Ignorance God +can and does most graciously bear with, but the willful resistance of +His Word in any one point is sure to lead to disastrous results. The +heart becomes hardened, the conscience seared, the moral sense blunted, +and the whole moral being gets into a most deplorable condition. We get +away from the Lord, and make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. +May the Lord keep us near to Himself, walking with Him in tenderness of +conscience and uprightness of heart. May His Word ever tell in living +formative power upon our souls, that so our way be cleansed according to +the claims of the sanctuary of God. + +(2.) But let us now inquire for a moment into the spring of this action +on which we have been dwelling. This is presented with touching +sweetness and power in the first verse of John xiii.--"Having loved His +own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." + +Here, then, brethren, we have the mighty spring of Christ's present +ministry. It is the changeless love of His heart--a love that was +stronger than death, and which many waters could not quench. "Christ +loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and +cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word." (Eph. v. 25, 26.) +This is the blessed basis and the motive-spring of that marvelous +ministry which our Lord Jesus Christ is now carrying on for us and +toward us. He knew what He was undertaking when He uttered those words +in the fortieth Psalm, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God." He knew what +it would cost Him when He took up our case. But His love was and is +divinely equal to all. We need not be afraid of exhausting that love +which triumphed over all the unutterable horrors of Calvary, and went +down under the deep and dark waters of death and judgment. We may at +times feel ashamed to have so often to bring our defiled feet to that +blessed One to cleanse them; but His love is equal to all, and that love +is the spring of His precious and indispensable ministry. + +It is a common saying that love is blind, but I look upon it as a libel +upon love. Most certainly it does not and could not apply to the love of +Christ. He knew all that was in us, and He knows now all our ways and +all our weakness and all our follies; but He loves us notwithstanding +all, and in the power of that love He acts toward us in order to deliver +us from all that He sees in us and about us which would hinder our holy +fellowship with the Father and with His Son. + +Brethren, of what use, may I ask you, would a blind love be to you or to +me? Surely, none whatever. How could we ever repose in a love which only +acted toward us in ignorance of our blots and blemishes! Impossible. +What we want is a love superior to all our imperfections, and a love +that can deliver us from them. This love we have in Christ, blessed be +His name! It is a love that, however it may expose us to ourselves, will +never expose us to another. It is a love that comes to us with the basin +and towel, and stoops down in infinite tenderness and lowly, matchless +grace to wash away every soil, and give us the comfortable sense of +being "clean every whit." This, brethren, is the love which you and I +need, and this is the love which we have found in divine fullness and +power in the heart of that perfect Servant who is girded for us ever +before the throne. "Having loved _His own_ which were in the world, He +loved them"--how long? As long as they behaved themselves, and walked +with unsoiled feet? Ah, no! this would never do for such as we. "He +loved them _unto the end_." Precious, perfect, divine, everlasting love! +a love that overlaps and underlies and outlives all our blots and +blemishes, our failings and falterings, our wants and weaknesses, our +wanderings and waywardness; a love that has come to us armed with all +that our condition could possibly demand; a love that will never cease +to act for us and toward us and in us, until it presents us in +unblemished perfectness before the throne of God. + +(3.) And now one word as to the measure of Christ's present action for +us and toward us. This is a point of unspeakable value and importance. +It is essential for us to know that, whether it be a question of +Christ's service for us in the past or His present service, the measure +of both the one and the other is and can be nothing less than the claims +of the sanctuary, the throne, and the nature of God. We might suppose +that the measure would be our necessities, but this would never do. If +we think of Christ's atoning work, we know, and rejoice to know, that +precious work has done very much more than meet the deepest measure of +our necessities as sinners. Blessed be God! the work of the cross has +divinely met all the claims of God. It could never give solid peace to +our souls merely to know that the very highest claims of human +conscience had been met by the atoning death of Christ. We must be +assured on divine authority that the highest claims of the government, +the character, the nature, and the glory of God have all been perfectly +met by the precious work of Christ. + +Thus it is through infinite grace, and here every divinely exercised +soul can find settled and eternal peace. Nor is it otherwise in respect +to Christ's present work for us. It could never satisfy our souls, +brethren, to be told that that work is measured by our very deepest +need. That need is met, no doubt; but it is because Christ's present +ministry goes far beyond that need, and reaches to, and satisfies the +claims of, the sanctuary of God. + +Unspeakable mercy! Here we may rest in perfect tranquillity. We have One +on high undertaking for us, ever living in the presence of God for us; +One who not only knows our necessities, but knows also the claims of +God. He knows what this scene is through which we are passing, and He +knows what that scene is into which He has entered; and, all praise to +His name! He meets in His own perfect ministry both the one and the +other. He must needs meet all our claims since He meets all God's +claims, for the less must ever be included in the greater. + +What solid comfort is here! What unruffled repose! We have One in the +presence of God for us, in whose hands all our affairs are perfectly, +because divinely, safe. They can never fall through, never go wrong. We +may say that ere ever the very weakest of those whom Christ calls "His +own in the world" can fail, Christ Himself must fail, and that can be +_never_. His own are as safe as Himself. + +What a grand reality! With what perfect confidence may we refer every +objector, every accuser, every opposer, to this blessed manager! And +what folly, on our part, to attempt to answer such ourselves! Oh, +beloved brethren, may we learn to lean more confidently on that blessed +One who thus presents Himself before our souls as the girded servant of +our deep and manifold necessities. May we prize His precious ministry +more and more--His ministry for us, His ministry to us. May we repose +more sweetly in the assurance that He is speaking to the Father for us, +in all our failures, in all our shortcomings, in all our sins. May we +remember, for our exceeding comfort, that even before we slip, He has +been pleading for us, as He pleaded for Peter. "I have prayed for thee," +said the loving One, "that thy faith fail not." Oh, the matchless grace +of these words! He did not pray that Peter might not fall, but that, +having fallen, his confidence might not give way, his faith might not +fail. Thus, too, He pleads for us, and thus we are sustained, and thus +we are restored when we fall, else we should very speedily go from bad +to worse, and make shipwreck altogether. "He ever liveth to make +intercession for us." We are sustained by His precious and powerful +ministry every moment. We could not stand for a single hour without Him. +Things are continually turning up which would prove destructive of our +fellowship, if we had not that blessed One acting for us, whose +intervention on our behalf never ceases. He knows not only our need, but +He knows what the sanctuary demands; and not only does He know it, but +He provides for it, according to His own infinite perfectness and +acceptance before God, meeting His people's necessities. + +Now, there are some people--I do not know whether there are any here +to-night--but there are some people who have got such a one-sided notion +of the standing of the believer, that they throw the Lord's priestly +ministry overboard altogether. I say it is one-sided, and there is +nothing more dangerous than one-sided truth--nothing. I would far rather +see a man going through the length and breadth of London publishing +palpable error, such as the simplest mind could detect. I would have far +less apprehension of the mischievous result of his ministry than of the +teaching of a man who takes up one side of a truth, and presses it in +such a way as to interfere with some other truth. + +Now, there is an adjusting power in the truth of God--an adjusting power +in Scripture that constitutes one of its brightest moral glories; and +hence we find that while the Word of God most fully and blessedly +establishes the truth that the believer stands complete in Christ, +justified from all things, accepted in the Beloved, "clean every whit," +it, at the same time, with equal clearness and fullness, sets forth the +fact that the believer is, in himself, a poor feeble creature, exposed +to manifold snares, temptations, and hostile influences; liable at any +moment to fall into error and evil; utterly unable to keep himself, or +to grapple with the difficulties and dangers which surround him; liable +at any moment to contract defilement, which would unfit him for the holy +fellowship and worship of the sanctuary. + +How, then, are all those things to be met? How is the Christian to be +kept in the face of such things? Having an evil nature, a crafty foe, +and a hostile world to cope with, how is he to get on? How is he to be +kept? How is he to be restored if he wanders? How is he to be lifted up +if he falls? The answer to all these questions is found in that +ever-precious sentence of inspiration, "He ever liveth to make +intercession for us;" and again, "He is able to save to the uttermost;" +and again, "We shall be saved by His life;" and again, "Because I live, +ye shall live also;" and again, "We have an advocate with the Father." + +Brethren, how the heart delights to give forth and to ponder over such +utterances as these! They are marrow and fatness to the soul. How can +any one, in the face of such passages--to say nothing of his own +necessary experiences as to himself and his surroundings--think of +calling in question the grand foundation-truth of the priesthood of +Christ, in its application to believers now? I can only say, I know not. +But alas! alas! there is no accounting for the depths of error into +which we may fall, if we allow our minds to work, and get away from the +direct authority of holy Scripture. And we may truly say that a most +palpable proof of our need of the intercession of Christ is to be found +in the sad fact that any of His servants should be found to deny it. + +I shall add no more on this point, save to warn all the Lord's dear +people against the terrible error of denying our continual need of the +priestly ministry, the precious intercession and all-prevailing +advocacy of our Lord Jesus Christ--an error second only to the denial of +His atoning work. For most surely our need of His priesthood is second +only to our need of His atoning blood. + +III. Having then briefly, and, alas! imperfectly, glanced at our Lord's +ministry in the past and in the present, we cannot close without a +reference to His ministry in the future. Some may feel disposed to say, +I do not understand how our Lord can ever be found serving us in the +future. I can understand His serving us now on the throne, but how He is +to serve us in the kingdom is, I confess, beyond me. + +No doubt it is most marvelous, and had we not His own veritable words +for it, we might well hesitate in our statement of the fact that our +Lord Christ shall serve His people in the very brightness of the glory. +But let us hear what He Himself saith to us. Turn for a moment to Luke +xii. 35: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and +ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will +return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open +unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he +cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that _he shall gird +himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and +serve them_." + +This is distinct and unmistakable. Most marvelous, no doubt, but as +plain as it is marvelous. Christ will serve us in the kingdom. He will +serve us forever. His ministry overlaps our entire history. It reaches +down to the very deepest depths of our need as sinners, and up to the +very loftiest heights of the glory. It goes back to the past, it covers +the present, and it stretches away into the boundless future. Blessed be +His name! He loves to serve us, and He gives us the assurance that the +very moment, as it were, that He enters upon the glory of name! has +given us a whole heart, and nothing can satisfy Him in return but a +whole heart from us. His entire service--past, present, and future--is +the fruit of His perfect love; and nothing can meet His desire, with +respect to us, save a heart responsive in its affections to Him. And +where there is this, it will express itself in an anxious, earnest +longing for His coming. "Blessed are those servants, whom their lord +when he cometh shall find watching." + +May the eternal Spirit fill our hearts with genuine love to the Person +of our own adorable Lord and Saviour; that so our one grand and +undivided purpose may be to live for Him in this scene from which He has +been cast out, and to wait for that moment when we shall see Him as He +is, and be like Him and with Him forever. + +_C. H. M._ + + + + +PRAYER AND THE PRAYER-MEETING + + +In considering the deeply important subject of prayer, two things claim +our attention; first, the moral basis of prayer; secondly, its moral +conditions. + +I. The basis of prayer is set forth in such words as the following: "_If +ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you_, ye shall ask what ye will, +and it shall be done unto you." (John xv. 7.) Again, "Beloved, _if our +heart condemn us not_, then have we confidence toward God. And +whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, _because we keep His +commandments_, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." (I +John iii. 21, 22.) So also, when the blessed apostle seeks an interest +in the prayers of the saints, he sets forth the moral basis of his +appeal--"Pray for us; _for we trust we have a good conscience_, in all +things willing to live honestly." (Heb. xiii. 18.) + +From these passages, and many more of like import, we learn that, in +order to effectual prayer, there must be an obedient heart, an upright +mind, a good conscience. If the soul be not in communion with God--if it +be not abiding in Christ--if it be not ruled by His holy +commandments--if the eye be not single, how could we possibly look for +answers to our prayers? We should, as the apostle James says, be "asking +amiss, that we may consume it upon our lusts." How could God, as a holy +Father, grant such petitions? Impossible. + +How very needful, therefore, it is to give earnest heed to the moral +basis on which our prayers are presented. How could the apostle have +asked the brethren to pray for him, if he had not a good conscience, a +single eye, an upright mind--the moral persuasion that in all things he +really wished to live honestly? We may safely assert, he could do no +such thing. + +But may we not often detect ourselves in the habit of lightly and +formally asking others to pray for us? It is a very common formulary +amongst us--"Remember me in your prayers," and most surely nothing can +be more blessed or precious than to be borne upon the hearts of God's +dear people in their approaches to the mercy-seat; but do we +sufficiently attend to the moral basis? When we say, "Brethren pray for +us," can we add, as in the presence of the Searcher of hearts, "For we +trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live +honestly"? and when we ourselves bow before the throne of grace, is it +with an uncondemning heart--an upright mind--a single eye--a soul really +abiding in Christ, and keeping His commandments? + +These, beloved reader, are searching questions. They go right to the +very centre of the heart--down to the very roots and moral springs of +our being. But it is well to be thoroughly searched--searched in +reference to every thing, but especially in reference to prayer. There +is a terrible amount of unreality in our prayers--a sad lack of the +moral basis--a vast amount of "asking amiss." + +Hence, the want of power and efficacy in our prayers--hence, the +formality--the routine--yea, the positive hypocrisy. The Psalmist says, +"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." How +solemn this is! Our God will have reality; He desireth truth in the +inward parts. He, blessed be His name, is real with us, and He will have +us real with Him. He will have us coming before Him as we really are, +and with what we really want. + +How often, alas! it is otherwise, both in private and in public! How +often are our prayers more like orations than petitions--more like +statements of doctrine than utterances of need! It seems, at times, as +though we meant to explain principles to God, and give Him a large +amount of information. + +These are the things which cast a withering influence over our +prayer-meetings, robbing them of their freshness, their interest, and +their value. Those who really know what prayer is--who feel its value, +and are conscious of their need of it, attend the prayer-meeting in +order to pray, not to hear orations, lectures, and expositions from men +on their knees. If they want lectures, they can attend at the +lecture-hall or the preaching-room; but when they go to the +prayer-meeting, it is to pray. To them, the prayer-meeting is the place +of expressed need and expected blessing--the place of expressed weakness +and expected power. Such is their idea of "the place where prayer is +wont to be made;" and therefore when they flock thither, they are not +disposed or prepared to listen to long preaching prayers, which would be +deemed barely tolerable if delivered from the desk, but which are +absolutely insufferable in the shape of prayer. + +We write plainly, because we feel the need of great plainness of speech. +We deeply feel our want of reality, sincerity, and truth in our prayers +and prayer-meetings. Not unfrequently it happens that what we call +prayer is not prayer at all, but the fluent utterance of certain known +and acknowledged truths and principles, to which one has listened so +often that the reiteration becomes tiresome in the extreme. What can be +more painful than to hear a man on his knees explaining principles and +unfolding doctrines? The question forces itself upon us, "Is the man +speaking to God, or to us?" If to God, surely nothing can be more +irreverent or profane than to attempt to explain things to Him; but if +to us, then it is not prayer at all, and the sooner we rise from the +attitude of prayer the better, inasmuch as the speaker will do better on +his legs and we in our seats. + +And, having referred to the subject of attitude, we would very lovingly +call attention to a matter which, in our judgment, demands a little +serious consideration; we allude to the habit of sitting during the holy +and solemn exercise of prayer. We are fully aware, of course, that the +grand question in prayer is, to have the _heart_ in a right attitude. +And further, we know, and would ever bear in mind, that many who attend +our prayer-meetings are aged, infirm, and delicate people, who could not +possibly kneel for any length of time--perhaps not at all. Then again, +it often happens that, even where there is not physical weakness, and +where there would be real desire to kneel down, as feeling it to be the +proper attitude, yet, from actual want of space, it is impossible to +change one's position. + +All these things must be taken into account; but, allowing as broad a +margin as possible in which to insert these modifying clauses, we must +still hold to it that there is a very deplorable lack of reverence in +many of our public reunions for prayer. We frequently observe young men, +who can neither plead physical weakness nor want of space, sitting +through an entire prayer-meeting. This, we confess, is offensive, and we +cannot but believe it grieves the Spirit of the Lord. We ought to kneel +down when we can; it expresses reverence and prostration. The blessed +Master "kneeled down and prayed." (Luke xxii. 41.) His apostle did the +same, as we read in Acts xx. 36, "When he had thus spoken, he kneeled +down and prayed with them all." + +And is it not comely and right so to do? Assuredly it is. And can aught +be more unseemly than to see a number of people sitting, lolling, +lounging, and gaping about while prayer is being offered? We consider it +perfectly shocking, and we do here most earnestly beseech all the Lord's +people to give this matter their solemn consideration, and to endeavor, +in every possible way, both by precept and example, to promote the godly +habit of kneeling at our prayer-meetings. No doubt those who take part +in the meeting would greatly aid in this matter by short and fervent +prayers; but of this, more hereafter. + + +PART II. + +We shall now proceed to consider, in the light of holy Scripture, the +moral conditions or attributes of prayer. There is nothing like having +the authority of the divine Word for every thing in the entire range of +our practical Christian life. Scripture must be our one grand and +conclusive referee in all our questions. Let us never forget this. + +What, then, saith the Scripture as to the necessary moral conditions of +prayer? Turn to Matthew xviii. 19--"Again I say unto you, that _if two +of you shall agree_ on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, +it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven." + +Here we learn that one necessary condition of our prayers is, +_unanimity_--cordial agreement--thorough oneness of mind. The true force +of the words is, "If two of you shall symphonize"--shall make one common +sound. There must be no jarring note, no discordant element. + +If, for example, we come together to pray about the progress of the +gospel--the conversion of souls, we must be of one mind in the +matter--we must make one common sound before our God. It will not do for +each to have some special thought of his own to carry out. We must come +before the throne of grace in holy harmony of mind and spirit, else we +cannot claim an answer, on the ground of Matthew xviii. 19. + +Now, this is a point of immense moral weight. Its importance, as bearing +upon the tone and character of our prayer-meetings, cannot possibly be +overestimated. It is very questionable indeed whether any of us have +given sufficient attention to it. Have we not to deplore the objectless +character of our prayer-meetings? Ought we not to come together more +with some definite object on our hearts, as to which we are going to +wait together upon God? We read in the first chapter of Acts, in +reference to the early disciples, "These all continued _with one accord_ +in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of +Jesus, and with His brethren."[XXX.] And again, in the second chapter, +we read, "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were _all with +one accord in one place_." + +They were waiting, according to our Lord's instructions, for the promise +of the Father--the gift of the Holy Ghost. They had the sure word of +promise. The Comforter was, without fail, to come; but this, so far from +dispensing with prayer, was the very ground of its blessed exercise. +They prayed; they prayed in one place; they prayed with one accord. They +were thoroughly agreed. They all, without exception, had one definite +object before their hearts. They were waiting for the promised Spirit; +they continued to wait; and they waited with one accord, until He came. +Men and women, absorbed with one object, waited in holy concord, in +happy symphony--waited on, day after day, earnestly, fervently, +harmoniously waited until they were indued with the promised power from +on high. + +Should not we go and do likewise? Is there not a sad lack of this "one +accord," "one place" principle in our midst? True it is, blessed be God, +we have not to ask for the Holy Ghost to come,--He has come; we have not +to ask for the outpouring of the Spirit,--He has been poured out: but we +have to ask for the display of His blessed power in our midst. Supposing +our lot is cast in a place where spiritual death and darkness reign. +There is not so much as a single breath of life--not a leaf stirring. +The heaven above seems like brass; the earth beneath, iron. Such a thing +as a conversion is never heard of. A withering formalism seems to have +settled down upon the entire place. Powerless profession, dead routine, +stupefying mechanical religiousness, are the order of the day. What is +to be done? Are we to allow ourselves to fall under the fatal influence +of the surrounding malaria? are we to yield to the paralyzing power of +the atmosphere that inwraps the place? Assuredly not. + +If not, what then? Let us, even if there be but two who really feel the +condition of things, get together, with one accord, and pour out our +hearts to God. Let us wait on Him, in holy concord, with united, firm +purpose, until He send a copious shower of blessing upon the barren +spot. Let us not fold our arms and vainly say, "The time is not come." +Let us not yield to that pernicious offshoot of a one-sided theology, +which is rightly called fatalism, and say, "God is sovereign, and He +works according to His own will. We must wait His time. Human effort is +in vain. We cannot get up a revival. We must beware of mere +excitement." + +All this seems very plausible; and the more so because there is a +measure of truth in it; indeed it is all true, so far as it goes: but it +is only one side of the truth. It is truth, and nothing but the truth; +but it is not _the whole truth_. Hence its mischievous tendency. There +is nothing more to be dreaded than one-sided truth; it is far more +dangerous than positive, palpable error. Many an earnest soul has been +stumbled and turned completely out of the way by one-sided or misapplied +truth. Many a true-hearted and useful workman has been chilled, +repulsed, and driven out of the harvest-field by the injudicious +enforcement of certain doctrines having a measure of truth, but not +_the_ full truth of God. + +Nothing, however, can touch the truth, or weaken the force of Matthew +xviii. 19. It stands in all its blessed fullness, freeness, and +preciousness before the eye of faith; its terms are clear and +unmistakable. "If two of you shall agree upon earth, as touching _any +thing_ that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which +is in heaven." Here is our warrant for coming together to pray for any +thing that may be laid on our hearts. Do we mourn over the coldness, +barrenness, and death around us? Are we discouraged by the little +apparent fruit from the preaching of the gospel--the lack of power in +the preaching itself, and the total absence of practical result? Are our +souls cast down by the barrenness, dullness, heaviness, and low tone of +all our reunions, whether at the table of our Lord, before the +mercy-seat, or around the fountain of holy Scripture? + +What are we to do? Fold our arms in cold indifference? give up in +despair? or give vent to complaining, murmuring, fretfulness, or +irritation? God forbid! What then? Come together, "with one accord in +one place;" get down on our faces before our God, and pour out our +hearts, as the heart of one man, pleading Matthew xviii. 19. + +This, we may rest assured, is the grand remedy--the unfailing resource. +It is perfectly true that "God is sovereign," and this is the very +reason why we should wait on Him; perfectly true that "human effort is +in vain," and that is the very reason for seeking divine power; +perfectly true that "we cannot get up a revival," and that is the very +reason for seeking to get it _down_; perfectly true that "we must beware +of mere excitement;" equally true that we must beware of coldness, +deadness, and selfish indifference. + +The simple fact is, there is no excuse whatever--so long as Christ is at +the right hand of God--so long as God the Holy Ghost is in our midst and +in our hearts--so long as we have the Word of God in our hands--so long +as Matthew xviii. 19 shines before our eyes--there is, we repeat, no +excuse whatever for barrenness, deadness, coldness, and indifference--no +excuse for heavy and unprofitable meetings--no excuse whatever for lack +of freshness in our reunions or of fruitfulness in our service. Let us +wait on God, in holy concord, and the blessing is sure to come. + + +PART III. + +If we turn to Matthew xxi. 22, we shall find another of the essential +conditions of effectual prayer. "And all things whatsoever ye shall ask +in prayer, _believing_, ye shall receive." This is a truly marvelous +statement. It opens the very treasury of heaven to faith. There is +absolutely no limit. Our blessed Lord assures us that we shall receive +whatsoever we ask in simple faith. + +The apostle James, under the inspiration of the + +Holy Ghost, gives us a similar assurance in reference to the matter of +asking for wisdom. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that +_giveth to all liberally_, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given +him. But"--here is the moral condition--"let him ask _in faith, nothing +wavering_. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with +the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall obtain any +thing of the Lord." + +From both these passages we learn that if our prayers are to have an +answer, they must be prayers of faith. It is one thing to utter words in +the form of prayer, and another thing altogether to pray in simple +faith, in the full, clear, and settled assurance that we shall have what +we are asking for. It is greatly to be feared that many of our so-called +prayers never go beyond the ceiling of the room. In order to reach the +throne of God, they must be borne on the wings of faith, and proceed +from hearts united and minds agreed, in holy purpose, to wait on our God +for the things which we really require. + +Now, the question is, are not our prayers and prayer-meetings sadly +deficient on this point? Is not the deficiency manifest from the fact +that we see so little result from our prayers? Ought we not to examine +ourselves as to how far we really understand these two conditions of +prayer, namely, unanimity and confidence? If it be true--and it is true, +for Christ has said it--that two persons agreed to ask in faith can have +whatsoever they ask, why do we not see more abundant answers to our +prayers? Must not the fault be in us?--are we not deficient in concord +and confidence? + +Our Lord, in Matthew xviii. 19, comes down, as we say, to the very +smallest plurality--the smallest congregation--even to "two;" but of +course the promise applies to dozens, scores, or hundreds. The grand +point is, to be thoroughly agreed and fully persuaded that we shall get +what we are asking for. This would give a different tone and character +altogether to our reunions for prayer. It would make them very much more +real than our ordinary prayer-meeting, which, alas! alas! is often poor, +cold, dead, objectless, and desultory, exhibiting any thing but cordial +agreement and unwavering faith. + +How vastly different it would be if our prayer-meetings were the result +of a cordial agreement on the part of two or more believing souls, to +come together and wait upon God for a certain thing, and to persevere in +prayer until they receive an answer! How little we see of this! We +attend the prayer-meeting from week to week--and very right we +should--but ought we not to be exercised before God as to how far we are +agreed in reference to the object or objects which are to be laid before +the throne? The answer to this question links itself on to another of +the moral conditions of prayer. + +Let us turn to Luke xi. "And He said unto them, 'Which of you shall have +a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, +lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, +and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer +and say, Trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with +me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, though he will +not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his +_importunity_ he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say +unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; +knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh +receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it +shall be opened.'" (Ver. 5-10.) + +These words are of the very highest possible importance, inasmuch as +they contain part of our Lord's reply to the request of His disciples, +"Lord, teach us to pray." Let no one imagine for a moment that we would +dare to take it upon ourselves to teach people how to pray. God forbid! +Nothing is further from our thoughts. We are merely seeking to bring the +souls of our readers into direct contact with the Word of God--the +veritable sayings of our blessed Lord and Master--so that, in the light +of those sayings, they may judge for themselves as to how far our +prayers and our prayer-meetings come up to the divine standard. + +What, then, do we learn from Luke xi? what are the moral conditions +which it sets before us? In the first place, it teaches us to be +_definite_ in our prayers. "Friend, lend me three loaves." There is a +positive need felt and expressed; there is the one thing before the mind +and on the heart, and to this one thing he confines himself. It is not a +long, rambling, desultory statement about all sorts of things: it is +distinct, direct, and pointed,--I want three loaves, I cannot do without +them, I must have them, I am shut up, the case is urgent, the time of +night--all the circumstances give definiteness and earnestness to the +appeal. He cannot wander from the one point, "Friend, lend me three +loaves." + +No doubt it seems a very untoward time to come--"midnight." Every thing +looks discouraging. The friend has retired for the night, the door is +shut, his children are with him in bed, he cannot rise. All this is very +depressing; but still the definite need is pressed: he must have the +three loaves. + +Now, we cannot but judge that there is a great practical lesson here +which may be applied, with immense profit, to our prayers and our +prayer-meetings. Must we not admit that our reunions for prayer suffer +sadly from long, rambling, desultory prayers? Do we not frequently give +utterance to a whole host of things of which we do not really feel the +need, and which we have no notion of waiting for at all? Should we not +sometimes be taken very much aback were the Lord to appear to us at the +close of our prayer-meeting and ask us, What do you really want Me to +give or to do? + +We feel most thoroughly persuaded that all this demands our serious +consideration. We believe it would impart great earnestness, freshness, +glow, depth, reality, and power to our prayer-meetings were we to attend +with something definite on our hearts, as to which we could invite the +fellowship of our brethren. Some of us seem to think it necessary to +make one long prayer about all sorts of things--many of them very right +and very good, no doubt--but the mind gets bewildered by the +multiplicity of subjects. How much better to bring some one object +before the throne, earnestly urge it, and pause, so that the Holy Spirit +may lead out others, in like manner, either for the same thing or +something else equally definite. + +Long prayers are often wearisome; indeed, in many cases, they are a +positive infliction. It will perhaps be said that we must not prescribe +any time to the Holy Spirit. True indeed;--away from us be the thought! +Who would venture upon such a piece of daring blasphemy? We are simply +comparing what we find in Scripture (where their brief pointedness is +characteristic--see Matt. vi, John xvii., Acts iv. 24-30, Eph. i, iii, +etc.) with what we too often--not always, thank God!--find in our +prayer-meetings. + +Let it, then, be distinctly borne in mind that "long prayers" are not +the rule in Scripture. They are referred to in Mark xii. 40, etc., in +terms of withering disapproval. Brief, fervent, pointed prayers impart +great freshness and interest to the prayer-meeting; but on the other +hand, as a general rule, long and desultory prayers exert a most +depressing influence upon all. + +But there is another very important moral condition set forth in our +Lord's teaching in Luke xi, and that is, "_importunity_." He tells us +that the man succeeds in gaining his object simply by his importunate +earnestness. He is not to be put off; he must get the three loaves. +Importunity prevails even where the claims of friendship prove +inoperative. The man is bent on his object; he has no alternative. There +is a demand, and he has nothing to meet it--"I have nothing to set +before my traveling friend." In short, he will not take a refusal. + +Now, the question is, how far do we understand this great lesson? It is +not, blessed be God, that He will ever answer us "from within." He will +never say to us, "Trouble me not"--"I cannot rise and give thee." He is +ever our true and ready "Friend"--"a cheerful, liberal, and unupbraiding +Giver." All praise to His holy name! Still, He encourages importunity, +and we need to ponder His teaching. There is a sad lack of it in our +prayer-meetings. Indeed, it will be found that in proportion to the lack +of definiteness is the lack of importunity. The two go very much +together. Where the thing sought is as definite as the "three loaves," +there will generally be the importunate asking for it, and the firm +purpose to get it. + +The simple fact is, we are too vague and, as a consequence, too +indifferent in our prayers and prayer-meetings. We do not seem like +people _asking for what they want, and waiting for what they ask_. This +is what destroys our prayer-meetings, rendering them pithless, +pointless, powerless; turning them into teaching or talking-meetings, +rather than deep-toned, earnest prayer-meetings. We feel convinced that +the whole Church of God needs to be thoroughly aroused in reference to +this great question; and this conviction it is which compels us to offer +these hints and suggestions, with which we are not yet done. + + +PART IV. + +The more deeply we ponder the subject which has been for some time +engaging our attention, and the more we consider the state of the entire +Church of God, the more convinced we are of the urgent need of a +thorough awakening every where in reference to the question of prayer. +We cannot--nor do we desire to--shut our eyes to the fact that deadness, +coldness, and barrenness seem, as a rule, to characterize our +prayer-meetings. No doubt we may find here and there a pleasing +exception, but speaking generally, we do not believe that any sober, +spiritual person will call in question the truth of what we state, +namely, that the tone of our prayer-meetings is fearfully low, and that +it is absolutely imperative upon us to inquire seriously as to the +cause. + +In the papers already put forth on this great, all-important, and deeply +practical subject, we have ventured to offer to our readers a few hints +and suggestions. We have briefly glanced at our lack of confidence, our +failure in cordial unanimity, the absence of definiteness and +importunity. We have referred in plain terms--and we must speak plainly +if we are to speak at all--to many things which are felt by all the +truly spiritual amongst us to be not only trying and painful, but +thoroughly subversive of the real power and blessing of our reunions for +prayer. We have spoken of the long, tiresome, desultory, preaching +prayers which, in some cases, have become so perfectly intolerable, that +the Lord's dear people are scared away from the prayer-meetings +altogether. They feel that they are only wearied, grieved, and +irritated, instead of being refreshed, comforted, and strengthened; and +hence they deem it better to stay away. They judge it to be more +profitable, if they have an hour to spare, to spend it in the privacy of +their closet, where they can pour out their hearts to God in earnest +prayer and supplication, than to attend a so-called prayer-meeting, +where they are absolutely wearied out with incessant, powerless, +hymn-singing, or long preaching prayers. + +Now, we more than question the rightness of such a course. We seriously +doubt if this be at all the way to remedy the evils of which we +complain. Indeed, we are thoroughly persuaded it is not. If it be right +to come together for prayer and supplication--and who will question the +rightness?--then surely it is not right for any one to stay away merely +because of the feebleness, failure, or even the folly of some who may +take part in the meeting. If all the really spiritual members were to +stay away on such a ground, what would become of the prayer-meeting? We +have very little idea of how much is involved in the elements which +compose a meeting. Even though we may not take part audibly in the +action, yet if we are there in a right spirit--there really to wait upon +God, we marvelously help the tone of a meeting. + +Besides, we must remember that we have something more to do in attending +a meeting than to think of our own comfort, profit, and blessing. We +must think of the Lord's glory; we must seek to do His blessed will, and +try to promote the good of others in every possible way; and neither of +these ends, we may rest assured, can be attained by our deliberately +absenting ourselves from the place where prayer is wont to be made. + +We repeat, and with emphasis, the words, "_deliberately_ absenting +ourselves"--staying away because we are not profited by what takes place +there. Many things may crop up to hinder our being present--ill-health, +domestic duties, lawful claims upon our time if we are in the employment +of others,--all these things have to be taken into account; but we may +set it down as a fixed principle that _the one who can designedly absent +himself from the prayer-meeting is in a bad state of soul_. The healthy, +happy, earnest, diligent soul will be sure to be found at the +prayer-meeting. + +But all this conducts us, naturally and simply, to another of those +moral conditions at which we have been glancing in this series of +papers. Let us turn for a moment to the opening lines of Luke xviii. +"And He spake a parable unto them to this end, _that men ought always to +pray, and not to faint_: saying, 'There was in a city a judge, which +feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that +city, and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he +would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I +fear not God, nor regard man, yet, because this widow troubleth me, I +will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' And the +Lord said, 'Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge +His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long +with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.'" (Ver. I-8.) + +Here, then, we have pressed upon our attention the important moral +condition of _perseverance_. "Men ought _always_ to pray, and _not to +faint_." This is intimately connected with the definiteness and +importunity to which we have already referred. We want a certain thing; +we cannot do without it. We importunately, unitedly, believingly, and +perseveringly wait on our God until He graciously send an answer, as He +most assuredly will, if the moral basis and the moral conditions be duly +maintained. + +_But we must persevere._ We must not faint, and give up, though the +answer does not come as speedily as we might expect. It may please God +to exercise our souls by keeping us waiting on Him for days, months, or +perhaps years. The exercise is good. It is morally healthful; it tends +to make us real; it brings us down to the roots of things. Look, for +example, at Daniel. He was kept for "three full weeks" waiting on God, +in profound exercise of soul. "In those days I Daniel was mourning three +full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my +mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three full weeks were +fulfilled." + +All this was good for Daniel. There was deep blessing in the spiritual +exercises through which this beloved and honored servant of God was +called to pass during those three weeks. And what is specially worthy of +note is, that the answer to Daniel's cry had been despatched from the +throne of God at the very beginning of his exercise, as we read at verse +12, "Then said he unto me, 'Fear not Daniel; for _from the first day +that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself +before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words_. +But"--how marvelous and mysterious is this!--"the prince of the kingdom +of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the +chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of +Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy +people in the latter days." + +All this is full of interest. Here was the beloved servant of God +mourning, chastening himself, and waiting upon God. The angelic +messenger was on his way with the answer. The enemy was permitted to +hinder; but Daniel continued to wait: he prayed, and fainted not; and in +due time the answer came. + +Is there no lesson here for us? Most assuredly there is. We, too, may +have to wait long in the holy attitude of expectancy, and in the spirit +of prayer; but we shall find the time of waiting most profitable for +our souls. Very often our God, in His wise and faithful dealing with us, +sees fit to withhold the answer, simply to prove us as to the reality of +our prayers. The grand point for us is, to have an object laid upon our +hearts by the Holy Ghost--an object as to which we can lay the finger of +faith upon some distinct promise in the Word, and to persevere in prayer +until we get what we want. "Praying _always_ with all prayer and +supplication in the Spirit, and _watching_ thereunto _with all +perseverance_ and supplication for all saints." (Eph. vi. 18.) + +All this demands our serious consideration. We are as sadly deficient in +perseverance as we are in definiteness and importunity. Hence the +feebleness of our prayers and the coldness of our prayer-meetings. We do +not come together with a definite object, and hence we are not +importunate, and we do not persevere. In short, our prayer-meetings are +often nothing but a dull routine--a cold, mechanical service--something +to be gone through--a wearisome alternation of hymn and prayer, hymn and +prayer, causing the spirit to groan beneath the heavy burden of mere +profitless bodily exercise. + +We speak plainly and strongly: we speak as we feel. We must be permitted +to speak without reserve. We call upon the whole Church of God, far and +wide, to look this great question straight in the face--to look to God +about it--to judge themselves about it. Do we not feel the lack of power +in all our public reunions? Why those barren seasons at the Lord's +table? Why the dullness and feebleness in the celebration of that +precious feast which ought to stir the very deepest depths of our +renewed being? Why the lack of unction, power, and edification in our +public readings--the foolish speculations and the silly questions which +have been advanced and answered for the last forty years? Why those +varied evils on which we have been dwelling, and which are being mourned +over almost every where by the truly spiritual? Why the barrenness of +our gospel services? Why are souls not smitten down under the Word? Why +is there so little gathering-power? + +Brethren, beloved in the Lord, let us rouse ourselves to the solemn +consideration of these weighty matters. Let us not be satisfied to go on +with the present condition of things. We call upon all those who admit +the truth of what we have been putting forth in these pages on "Prayer +and the Prayer-Meeting," to unite in cordial, earnest, united prayer and +supplication. Let us seek to get together according to God; to come as +one man and prostrate ourselves before the mercy-seat, and perseveringly +wait upon our God for the revival of His work, the progress of His +gospel, the ingathering and upbuilding of His beloved people. Let our +prayer-meetings be really prayer-meetings, and not occasions for giving +out our favorite hymns, and starting our fancy tunes. The prayer-meeting +ought to be the place of expressed heed and expected blessing--the place +of expressed weakness and expected power--the place where God's people +assemble with one accord, to take hold of the very throne of God, to get +into the very treasury of heaven, and draw thence all we want for +ourselves, for our households, for the Whole Church of God, and for the +vineyard of Christ. + +Such is the true idea of a prayer-meeting, if we are to be taught by +Scripture. May it be more fully realized amongst the Lord's people every +where. May the Holy Spirit stir us all up, and press upon our souls the +value, importance, and urgent necessity of unanimity, confidence, +definiteness, importunity, and perseverance in all our prayers and +prayer-meetings. + + Yes, there's a power which man can wield, + When mortal aid is vain; + That eye, that arm, that love to reach, + That list'ning ear to gain. + + That power is prayer, which soars on high, + Through Jesus, to the throne, + And moves the hand which moves the world + To bring deliverance down. + +_C. H. M._ + +NOTE.--It may perhaps be useful to notice that in the foregoing most +needful pages, the beloved author has been speaking of the +_prayer-meeting_, and the moral basis and conditions of prayer in +general, not of personal, secret prayer. The importance of it can hardly +be overestimated. The lack or neglect of this soon tells in the +spiritual life of the Christian. Is not the lack of this the explanation +of much leanness of soul, from which knowledge alone is not able to lift +us up? It is, as it were, the spiritual gauge of our soul's condition. +There, in the secret of the closet, the godly soul ever loves to pour +out in its Father's ear its trials, its fears, its desires, its wants, +its thanksgivings, in all their details. And what comfort, what joy, +what godly strength and purpose, the soul carries from thence! what +preparation to go through the daily toil, and testings of the day! +Beloved of the Lord, let us wait on God, that we may know more of this +secret power, gotten in our closet with Him. + +[Ed.] + +FOOTNOTE: + +[XXX.] How interesting to find "Mary the mother of Jesus" named here, as +being at the prayer-meeting! What would she have said if any one had +told her that millions of professing Christians would yet be praying to +her? + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber Notes: + +Common puctuation errors repaired obvious typos repaired + +Page 3-07-03 an "a" added" I shall only prove a hindrance, "a" weight, +a cause of weakness. + +Page 3-01-012 heavy laden changed to heavy-laden + +Page 3-01-018 "thradom" misspelled "thralldom" + +Page 3-03-004 "diciples" misspelled "disciples" page 3-01-027 true +hearted changed to true-hearted page 3-01-001 well regulated changed to +well-regulated + +Page 3-04-004 "O death, where is thy sing" changed to "O death, where is +thy sting. + +Page 3-06-043 "The breaking of break" changed to "The breaking +of bread". + +Page 3-05-004 "decalogue" should be a proper noun (Ten +Commandments), changed to "Decalogue". + +Page 3-05-012 "compentency" misspelled "competency". + +Page 3-06-003 "eucharist" is a proper noun, changed to "Eucharist". + +Page 3-10-011 "paraylzed" misspelled, changed to "paralyzed". + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Assembly of God, by +C. 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