,transcriber's note3 ,text enclosed by underscores is in italics 7italics74 ,text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face 7bold74 ,small capital text has been replaced with all capitals4 ,variations in spelling1 punctuation and hyphenation have been retained except in obvious cases of typographical error4 ,,miscellaneous ,,writings of ,c4,h4,m4 ,the ,lord's ,coming ,miscellaneous ,writings of ,c4 ,h4 ,,mackintosh ,volume ,,ii ,,loizeaux ,,brothers ,new ,york ,,first ,,edition #ahih ,,tenth ,,printing #aifj ,,loizeaux ,,brothers1 ,,inc41 ,,publishers ,a ,nonprofit ,organization1 ,devoted to the ,lord's ,work and to the ,spread of ,his ,truth #ai ,,west #ba,,st ,,street1 ,,new ,,york #aj1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,contents ,pages ,,god ,,for ,,us #a-bc ,,who ,,loved ,,me--,poem ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,god2 ,,or1 ,,reflections ,,on ,,the ,,characters ,,of ,,abraham ,,and ,,lot #c-fj ,,thou ,,and ,,thy ,,house2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,christian ,,at ,,home #c-dh ,,discipleship ,,in ,,an ,,evil ,,day #c-bb ,,sin ,,in ,,the ,,flesh ,,and ,,sin ,,on ,,the ,,conscience #a-h ,,god',s ,,way ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,find ,,it #c-af ,,the ,,unequal ,,yoke #e-ch ,,gideon ,,and ,,his ,,companions #c-ef ,,my ,,beloved--,poem ,,eternal ,,punishment #b-h ,,papers ,,on ,,the ,,lord',s ,,coming #c-aaa ,the original numbering of these writings has been retained4 ,many of the above may be had separately in pamphlet form4 ,,god ,,for ,,us 7,,romans ,,viii4 #ca47 ,how much is wrapped up in these few words1 ,god for us6 ,they form one of those marvelous chains of three links so frequently found in ,scripture4 ,we have ,god linked on to us by that precious little word for4 ,this secures every thing1 for time and eternity4 ,there is not a single thing within the entire range of a creature's necessities that are not included in the brief but comprehensive sentence which forms the heading of this paper4 ,if ,god be for us1 then it follows1 of necessity--blessed necessity--that neither our sins1 nor our iniquities1 nor our guilt1 nor our ruined nature1 nor ,satan1 nor the world1 nor any other creature can possibly stand in the way of our present peace and our everlasting felicity and glory4 ,god can dispose of all--has disposed of them1 in such a way as to illustrate ,his own glory1 and magnify ,his holy name1 throughout the wide universe1 forever and ever4 ,all praise and adoration be to the eternal ,trinity6 ,it may be1 however1 that the reader feels disposed1 at the very outset1 to inquire how he is to know his place amongst the us of our precious thesis4 ,this1 truly1 is a most momentous question4 ,our eternal weal or woe hangs upon the answer4 ,how1 then1 are we to know that ,god is for us8 ,in reply to this most weighty question1 we shall seek1 by ,god's grace1 to furnish the reader with five substantial proofs that ,god is for us1 in all our need1 our guilt1 our misery1 and our danger--for us1 spite of all that we are1 and all that we have done--for us1 although there is no reason whatever1 so far as we are concerned1 why ,he should be for us1 but every reason why ,he should be against us4 ,the first grand proof which we shall adduce is-- ,,the ,,gift ,,of ,,his ,,son4 ,for ,god so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 7,john iii4 #af47 ,now1 we are glad1 for various reasons1 to commence our series of proofs with these memorable words4 ,in the first place1 they meet a difficulty which may suggest itself to the mind of an anxious reader--a difficulty based upon the fact that the sentence culled from ,rom4 viii4 #ca evidently applies primarily to believers1 and only to such1 as does the entire epistle and every one of the epistles4 ,but1 blessed be ,god1 no such difficulty can be started in reference to the all-embracing1 and encouraging words of ,him who spake as never man spake4 ,when we have from the lips of our blessed ,lord ,himself1 the eternal ,son of ,god1 such words as these1 ,god so loved the world1 we have no ground whatever for questioning their application to each and all who come under the comprehensive word world4 ,before any one can prove that the free love of ,god does not apply to him1 he must first prove that he does not form a part of the world1 but that he belongs to some other sphere of being4 ,if indeed1 our ,lord had said1 ,god so loved a certain portion of the world1 call it what you please1 then verily it would be absolutely necessary to prove that we belong to that particular portion or class1 ere we could attempt to apply ,his words to ourselves4 ,if ,he had said that ,god so loved the predestinated1 the elect1 or the called1 then we must seek to know our place amongst the number of such1 before we can take home to ourselves the precious assurance of the love of ,god1 as proved by the gift of ,his ,son4 ,but our ,lord used no such qualifying clause4 ,he is addressing one who1 from his earliest days1 had been trained and accustomed to take a very limited view indeed of the favor and goodness of ,god4 ,nicodemus had been taught to consider that the rich tide of ,jehovah's goodness1 loving-kindness1 and tender mercy could only flow within the narrow inclosure of the ,jewish system and the ,jewish nation4 ,the thought of its rolling forth to the wide wide world had never1 we may safely assert1 penetrated the mind of one trained amid the contracting influences of the legal system4 ,hence1 therefore1 it must have sounded passing strange in his ear1 to hear a teacher come from ,god giving utterance to the great fact that ,god loved not merely the ,jewish nation1 nor yet some special portion of the human race1 but the world4 ,no doubt1 such a statement would add not a little to the amazement felt by this master in ,israel at being told that he himself1 with all ,his religious advantages1 needed to be born again in order to see or enter the kingdom of ,god4 ,do we then deny or call in question the grand truth of predestination1 election1 or effectual calling8 ,god forbid4 ,we hold these things as amongst the fundamental principles of true ,christianity4 ,we believe in the eternal counsels and purposes of our ,god--,his unsearchable decrees--,his electing love--,his sovereign mercy4 ,but do any or all of these things interfere1 in the smallest degree1 with the gracious activities of the divine nature1 or the outgoings of ,god's love towards a lost world8 ,in no wise4 ,god is love4 ,that is ,his blessed nature1 and this nature must express itself toward all4 ,the mistake lies in supposing that because ,god has ,his purposes1 ,his counsels1 ,his decrees--because ,he is sovereign in ,his grace and mercy--because ,he has chosen from all eternity a people for ,his own praise and glory--because the names of the redeemed1 all the redeemed1 were written down in the book of the slain ,lamb1 before the foundation of the world--that therefore ,god cannot be said to love all mankind--to love the world--and1 moreover that the glad tidings of ,god's full and free salvation ought not to be proclaimed in the ears of every creature under heaven4 ,the simple fact is that the two lines1 though so perfectly distinct1 are laid down with equal clearness1 in the word of ,god2 neither interferes1 in the smallest degree1 with the other1 but both together go to make up the beauteous harmony of divine truth and to set forth the glorious unity of the divine nature4 ,now1 it is with the activities of the divine nature and the outgoings of divine love that the preacher of the gospel has specially to do4 ,he is not to be cramped1 crippled1 or confined in his blessed work1 by any reference to ,god's secret decrees or purposes1 though fully aware of the existence of such4 ,his mission is to the world--the wide wide world4 ,his theme is salvation--a salvation as full as the heart of ,god1 as permanent as the throne of ,god--as free as the air--free to all without any exception1 limitation1 or condition whatsoever4 ,the basis of his work is the atoning death of ,christ which has removed all barriers out of the way1 and opened up the floodgates in order that the mighty tide of divine love may roll forth1 in all its fulness1 richness and blessedness1 to a lost and guilty world4 ,and here1 we may add1 lies the ground of man's responsibility in reference to the gospel of ,god4 ,if1 indeed1 it be true that ,god so loved the world as to give ,his only begotten ,son--if the righteousness of ,god is unto all 7,rom4 iii4 #bb7--;if it be ,god's gracious will that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 7#a ,tim4 ii4 #d7--;if ,he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 7#b ,pet4 iii4 #i7--then verily is every man who hears this glorious gospel laid under the most solemn responsibility to believe it and be saved4 ,no one can honestly and truthfully turn round and say1 ,i longed to be saved1 but could not1 because ,i was not one of the elect4 ,i longed to flee from the wrath to come but was prevented by the insuperable barrier of the divine decree which irresistibly consigned me to an everlasting hell4 ,there is not1 within the covers of the volume of ,god1 in the entire range of ,his dealings with ,his creatures1 in the aspect of ,his character1 or in the enactments of ,his moral government1 the very faintest shadow of a foundation for such an objection4 ,every man is left without excuse4 ,god can say to all who have rejected ,his gospel1 ,i would1 but ye would not4 ,there is absolutely no such thing as reprobation in the word of ,god1 meaning thereby the consignment on ,god's part1 of any number of ,his creatures to everlasting damnation4 ,everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his angels4 7,matt4 xxv47 ,men will rush into it4 ,vessels of wrath are fitted1 not by ,god1 but by themselves1 to destruction4 7,rom4 ix47 ,everyone who gets to heaven will have to thank ,god for it4 ,everyone who finds himself in hell will have to blame himself for it4 ,furthermore1 we have ever to remember that the sinner has nothing to do with ,god's unpublished decrees4 ,what does he--what can he--know about such8 ,nothing whatever4 ,but he has to do with ,god's published love--,his proffered mercy--,his free salvation--,his glorious gospel4 ,we may fearlessly assert that so long as these glowing and glorious words shine in the record of ,god1 ,whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely1 7,rev4 xxii4 #ag7 it is impossible for any son or daughter of ,adam to say1 ,i longed to be saved1 but could not4 ,i thirsted for the living water1 but could not reach it4 ,the well was deep and ,i had nothing to draw with4 ,ah1 no6 such language will never be used1 such an objection will never be urged by anyone in all the ranks of the lost4 ,when men pass into eternity they will see with awful clearness what they now affect to think is so obscure and perplexing1 namely1 the perfect compatibility of ,god's electing sovereign grace and the free offer of salvation to all--the fullest harmony between divine sovereignty and human responsibility4 ,we fondly trust the reader sees these things1 even now4 ,it is of the very last possible importance to maintain the balance of truth in the soul--to allow the beams of divine revelation to act1 with full power1 on the heart and conscience1 unimpeded by the murky atmosphere of mere human theology4 ,there is imminent danger in taking up a certain number of abstract truths and forming them into a system4 ,we want the adjusting power of all truth4 ,the growth and practical sanctification of the soul are promoted1 not by some truth1 but by the truth1 in all its fullness1 as embodied in the person of ,christ1 and set forth by the eternal ,spirit in the holy scriptures4 ,we must get rid completely of all our own preconceived notions--all merely theological views and opinions--and come like a little child1 to the feet of ,jesus to be taught by ,his ,spirit1 from out ,his holy word4 ,thus only shall we find rest from conflicting dogmas4 ,thus shall all the heavy clouds and mists of human opinion be rolled away1 and our enfranchised souls shall bask in the clear sunlight of a full divine revelation4 ,we shall now proceed with our proofs4 ,the second fact which we shall adduce to prove that ,god is for us will be found in ,,the ,,death ,,of ,,his ,,son4 ,and1 for our present purpose1 it is only necessary for us to take up one feature in the atoning death of ,christ1 but that one feature is a cardinal one4 ,we refer to the marvellous fact set forth by the ,holy ,ghost in the prophet ,isaiah1 ,it pleased ,jehovah to bruise ,him4 ,he hath put ,him to grief4 7,chapter liii47 ,our blessed ,lord might have come into this world of sin and sorrow4 ,he might have become a man4 ,he might have been baptized in the ,jordan--anointed by the ,holy ,ghost--tempted of ,satan in the wilderness4 ,he might have gone about doing good4 ,he might have lived and labored1 wept and prayed1 and1 at the close1 gone back to heaven again1 thus leaving us involved in deeper gloom than ever4 ,he might1 like the priest or the ,levite1 in the parable1 have come and looked upon us in our wounds and misery1 passed by on the other side and returned alone to the place from whence ,he came4 ,and what if ,he had8 what1 reader1 but the flames of an everlasting hell for thee and me8 ,for1 be it well remembered1 that all the living labors of the ,son of ,god--,his amazing ministry--,his days of toil and ,his nights of prayer--,his tears1 ,his sighs1 ,his groans--the whole of ,his life-work1 from the manger up to1 but short of1 the cross1 could not have blotted out one speck of guilt from a human conscience4 ,without shedding of blood is no remission4 ,no doubt1 the eternal ,son had to become a man that ,he might die2 but incarnation could not cancel guilt4 ,indeed1 the life of ,christ1 as a man on this earth1 only proved the human race more guilty still4 ,if ,i had not come and spoken to them1 they had not had sin4 ,the light that shone in ,his blessed ways only revealed the moral darkness of man--of ,israel--of the world4 ,hence1 therefore1 had ,he merely come and lived and labored here for three-and-thirty years1 and gone back to heaven1 our guilt and moral darkness would have been fully proved but no atonement made4 ,it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul4 ,without shedding of blood is no remission1 7,heb4 ix4 #bb47 ,this is a grand foundation-truth of ,christianity1 and must be constantly affirmed1 and tenaciously held4 ,there is immense moral power in it4 ,if it be true that all the life-labors of the ,son of ,god--,his tears1 ,his prayers1 ,his groans1 ,his sighs--if all these things put together could not cancel one single speck of guilt2 then1 indeed1 may we not lawfully inquire what possible value can there be in our works--our tears--our prayers--our religious services--our ordinances1 sacraments and ceremonies--the whole range of religious activity and moral reform8 ,can such things avail to cancel our sins and give us a righteousness before ,god8 ,the thought is perfectly monstrous4 ,if any or all of these things could avail1 then why the sacrificial1 atoning death of ,christ8 ,why that ineffable and inestimable sacrifice1 if aught else would have done8 ,but1 it will perhaps be said that1 although none of these things could avail without the death of ,christ1 yet they must be added to it4 ,for what8 ,to make that peerless death--that precious blood--that priceless sacrifice of full avail8 ,is that it8 ,shall the rubbish of human doings1 human righteousness1 be flung into the scale to make the sacrifice of ,christ of full avail in the judgment of ,god8 ,the bare thought is positive and absolute blasphemy4 ,but are there not to be good works8 ,yes1 verily2 but what are they8 ,are they the pious doings1 the religious efforts1 the moral activities of unregenerate1 unconverted1 unbelieving nature8 ,nay4 ,what then8 ,what are the ,christian's good works8 ,they are life-works1 not dead works4 ,they are the precious fruits of life possessed--the life of ,christ in the true believer4 ,there is not anything beneath the canopy of heaven which ,god can accept as a good work save the fruit of the grace of ,christ in the believer4 ,the very feeblest expression of the life of ,christ1 in the daily history of a ,christian1 is fragrant and precious to ,god4 ,but the most splendid and gigantic labors of an unbeliever are1 in ,god's account1 but dead works4 ,all this1 however1 is a digression from our main line1 to which we must now return4 ,we have said that1 for our present purpose1 we shall merely refer to one special point in the death of ,christ1 and that is the fact that it pleased ,jehovah to bruise ,him4 ,herein lies the striking and soul-subduing proof that ,god is for us4 ,he spared not his own ,son1 but delivered him up for us all4 ,he not merely gave ,him but bruised ,him1 and that for us4 ,that spotless1 holy1 perfect ,one--the only perfect ,man that ever trod this earth--the ,one who ever did the things which pleased ,his ,father--whose whole life from the manger to the tree was one continued sweet odor ascending to the throne and to the heart of ,god--whose every movement1 every word1 every look1 every thought was well-pleasing to ,god--whose one grand object1 from first to last1 was to glorify ,god and finish ,his work--this blessed ,one was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of ,god--was nailed to the cursed tree1 and there endured the righteous wrath of a sin-hating ,god2 and all this because ,god was for us--even us4 ,what marvellous and matchless grace is here6 ,the ,just ,one bruised for the unjust--the sinless1 spotless1 holy ,jesus1 bruised by the hand of ,infinite ,justice in order that guilty rebels might be saved2 and not only saved but brought into the position and relationship of sons--sons and daughters of the ,lord ,almighty--heirs of ,god and joint-heirs with ,christ4 ,this surely is grace--rich1 free1 sovereign grace--grace abounding to the very chief of sinners--grace reigning1 through righteousness1 unto eternal life1 by ,jesus ,christ4 ,who would not trust this grace8 ,who can look at the cross1 and doubt that ,god is for the sinner--for any sinner--for him--for the reader of these lines8 ,who would not confide in that love that shines in the cross8 ,who can look at the cross and not see that ,god willeth not the death of any sinner8 ,why did ,he not allow us to perish in our guilt--to descend into that everlasting hell which we so richly deserved because of our sins8 ,why give ,his ,only-begotten ,son8 ,why bruise ,him on that shameful cross8 ,why hide ,his face from the only perfect ,man that ever lived--that ,man ,his own ,eternal ,son8 ,why all this1 reader8 ,surely it was because ,god is for us1 spite of all our guilt and sinful rebellion4 ,yes1 blessed be ,his ,name1 ,he is for the poor self-destroyed1 hell-deserving sinner1 be he who or what he may2 and each one whose eye scans these lines is now entreated to come and confide in the love that gave ,jesus from the bosom and bruised ,him on the cross4 ,oh6 beloved reader1 do come1 just now4 ,delay not6 ,waver not6 ,reason not6 ,listen not to ,satan6 ,listen not to the suggestions and imaginings of your own heart2 but listen to that word which assures you that ,god is for you1 and to that love which shines forth in the gift and the death of ,his ,son4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in pursuing what we may truly call the golden chain of evidence in proof that ,god is for us1 we have dwelt upon the two precious facts of the gift and the death of ,his ,son4 ,we have traveled from the bosom to the cross1 along that mysterious and marvelous path which is marked by the footprints of divine and everlasting love4 ,we have seen the blessed ,one not only giving ,his only begotten ,son from ,his bosom1 but actually bruising ,him for us--making ,his spotless soul an offering for sin--bringing ,him down into the dust of death--making ,him to be sin for us--judging ,him in our stead--thus affording the most unanswerable evidence of the fact that ,he is for us1 that ,his heart is toward us1 that ,he earnestly desires our salvation1 seeing that ,he hath not withheld ,his ,son1 ,his only ,son from us1 but delivered ,him up for us all4 ,we shall now proceed to our third proof1 which is furnished by ,,the ,,raising ,,of ,,his ,,son4 ,and in speaking of the glorious fact of resurrection1 we must confine ourselves to the one point therein1 namely1 the proof which it furnishes of ,god's being friendly to us4 ,a passage or two of ,scripture will suffice to unfold and establish this special point4 ,in ,romans iv41 the inspired apostle introduces ,god to our hearts as the ,one who raised ,jesus our ,lord from the dead4 ,he is speaking of ,abraham who1 ,he tells us1 against hope believed in hope1 that he might become the father of many nations1 according to that which was spoken1 ,so shall thy seed be4 ,and being not weak in faith1 he considered not his own body now dead1 when he was about an hundred years old1 neither yet the deadness of ,sarah's womb4 ,he staggered not at the promise of ,god through unbelief2 but was strong in faith1 giving glory to ,god2 and being fully persuaded that what ,he had promised1 ,he was able also to perform4 ,and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness4 ,now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him2 but for us also1 to whom it shall be imputed1 if we believe on ,him that--what8 ,that gave ,his ,son8 ,nay4 ,that bruised ,his ,son upon the cross8 ,nay4 ,what then8 ,that raised up ,jesus our ,lord from the dead--the very same who was delivered for our offences1 and was raised again for our justification4 ,anxious reader1 weigh this great fact4 ,what was it that brought the precious ,saviour to the cross8 ,what brought ,him down to the dust of death8 ,was it not our offences8 ,truly so4 ,he was delivered for our offences4 ,he was nailed to the cursed tree for us4 ,he represented us on the cross4 ,he was our ,substitute1 in all the full value and deep significance of that word4 ,he took our place and was treated1 in every respect1 as we deserve to be treated4 ,the hand of infinite justice dealt with our sins--all our sins1 at the cross4 ,jesus made ,himself responsible for all our offences1 our iniquities1 our transgressions1 our liabilities1 all that was or ever could be against us2 ,he--blessed be ,his peerless and adorable name6--made ,himself answerable for all1 and died in our stead1 under the full weight of our sins4 ,he died1 the just for the unjust4 ,where is ,he now8 ,the heart bounds with ineffable joy and holy triumph at the thought of the answer4 ,where is the blessed ,one who hung on yonder cross1 and lay in yonder tomb8 ,he is at the right hand of ,god1 crowned with glory and honor4 ,who set ,him there8 ,who put the crown upon ,his blessed brow8 ,god ,himself4 ,the ,one who gave ,him1 and the ,one who bruised ,him is the ,one who raised ,him1 and it is in ,him we are to believe if we are to be counted righteous4 ,this is the special point before the apostle's mind4 ,righteousness shall be imputed to us if we believe on ,god as the ,one who raised ,jesus our ,lord from the dead4 ,mark the vital link4 ,seize the all-important connection4 ,the selfsame ,one who hung upon the cross1 charged with all our offences1 is now on the throne without them4 ,how did ,he get there8 ,was it in virtue of ,his eternal ,godhead8 ,no3 for on that ground ,he was always there4 ,he was ,god over all blessed forever4 ,was it in virtue of ,his eternal ,sonship8 ,nay2 for ,he was ever there on that ground also4#a ,therefore1 it could1 in no wise1 meet our need as guilty sinners1 charged with innumerable offences1 to be told that the eternal ,son of the ,father had taken ,his seat at the right hand of the majesty in the heavens1 inasmuch as that place ever belonged to ,him--yea1 the very deepest and tenderest place in the bosom of the ,father4 #a ,we rejoice in every opportunity for the setting forth of ,christ's eternal ,sonship4 ,we hold it to be an integral and essentially necessary part of the ,christian faith4 ,but1 further1 we may inquire1 was it as the spotless1 sinless1 perfect ,man that our adorable ,lord took ,his seat on the throne8 ,nay2 as such1 ,he could1 at any moment1 between the manger and the cross1 have taken ,his place there4 ,to what conclusion1 then1 are we absolutely shut up1 in this matter8 ,to that most precious1 that tranquilizing conclusion1 that the selfsame ,one who was delivered for our offences1 bruised for our iniquities1 judged in our stead1 is now in heaven2 that the ,one who represented us on the cross1 is now on the throne2 that the ,one who stood charged with all our guilt1 is now crowned with glory and honor2 that1 so perfectly1 so absolutely and completely1 has ,he disposed of the entire question of our sins1 that infinite justice has raised ,him from the dead1 and placed a diadem of glory upon ,his sacred brow4 ,reader1 dost thou understand this8 ,dost thou see its bearing upon thyself8 ,dost thou believe in the ,one who raised up ,jesus our ,lord from the dead8 ,dost thou see that1 in so doing1 ,he has declared ,himself friendly to thee8 ,and dost thou believe that1 in raising up ,jesus1 ,he set forth ,his infinite satisfaction in the great work of atonement1 and furnished thee with a receipt in full for all thy debts--a receipt for the ten thousand talents4 ,here lies the gist1 marrow1 and substance of this magnificent argument of ,romans iv4 ,if the ,man who was delivered for our offences is now in heaven1--in heaven1 too1 by the hand and act of ,god ,himself2 then1 most surely1 our offences are all gone1 and we stand justified from all things1 as free from every charge of guilt1 and every breath of condemnation1 as the blessed ,one ,himself4 ,it cannot possibly be otherwise1 if we believe on ,him who raised up ,jesus our ,lord from the dead4 ,it is utterly impossible for a charge to be brought against the believer in the ,god of resurrection1 for the simplest of all reasons that the ,one whom ,he raised was the ,one whom ,he bruised for the believer's sins4 ,why did ,he raise ,him8 ,because the sins for which ,he bruised ,him were all put away1 and put away forever4 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 having undertaken our cause1 and made ,himself answerable for us in every way1 could not be where ,he now is1 if a single jot or tittle of our guilt remained4 ,but1 on the other hand1 being where ,he now is1 and being there by ,god's own act1 it is impossible--utterly impossible--for any question to be raised as to the full and complete justification and perfect righteousness of the soul that believes in ,him4 ,thus1 the moment that any one believes in ,god1 in the special character of the raiser of ,jesus1 he is counted perfectly righteous before ,him4 ,this is most marvellous1 but divinely and eternally true4 ,may the reader feel its power1 sweetness1 and tranquilizing virtue6 ,yea1 may the eternal ,spirit give him the blessed sense of it1 deep down in his heart6 ,then1 indeed shall he have perfect peace in his soul2 then1 too1 shall he understand how that1 in raising1 as well as in bruising and giving ,his ,son1 ,god has declared and proved ,himself to be for us4 ,we had intended to bring under the special notice of the reader ,hebrews xiii4 #bj1 but we must allow him to dwell upon that lovely passage for himself1 while we proceed to exhibit our fourth proof that ,god is for us1 which will be found in ,,the ,,descent ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,ghost4 ,here1 too1 we must confine ourselves to one point in that most glorious event1 and that is the form in which that august witness1 the eternal ,spirit1 descended4 ,let the reader turn to the second chapter of the ,acts4 ,and when the day of ,pentecost was fully come1 they were all with one accord in one place4 ,and suddenly there came a sound from heaven1 as of a rushing mighty wind1 and it filled all the house where they were sitting4 ,and there appeared unto them cloven tongues1 like as of fire1 and it sat upon each of them4 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and began to speak with other tongues1 as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,and there were dwelling at ,jerusalem1 ,jews1 devout men1 out of every nation under heaven4 ,now1 when this was noised abroad1 the multitude came together1 and were confounded1 because that every man heard them speak in his own language4 ,and they were all amazed and marveled1 saying one to another1 ,behold1 are not all these which speak ,galileans8 ,and how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born8 ,parthians1 and ,medes1 and ,elamites1 and the dwellers in ,mesopotamia1 and in ,judea1 and ,cappadocia1 in ,pontus1 and ,asia1 ,phrygia1 and ,pamphylia1 in ,egypt1 and in the parts of ,libya about ,cyrene1 and strangers of ,rome1 ,jews and proselytes1 ,cretes and ,arabians1 we do hear them speak in our tongues1 the wonderful works of ,god4 ,here then we mark one special fact--a fact of deepest interest--three times referred to in the foregoing quotation4 ,it is this1 the ,holy ,ghost came down to speak to every man in his own dialect--not the dialect in which he was educated merely1 but in which he was born--the very dialect in which his mother first whispered into his infant ears1 the sweet and tender accents of a mother's love4 ,such was the medium1 such the vehicle which the divine ,messenger adopted for the blessed purpose of making known to man that ,god was for us4 ,he did not speak to the ,hebrew in ,greek1 or to the ,greek in ,latin4 ,he spoke to each one in the language which he understood1 in the plain vernacular--the mother tongue4 ,if there was any peculiarity in that mother tongue1 any idiom1 any provincialism in the dialect of each1 the blessed ,spirit would make use of it for the purpose of reaching the heart with the sweet story of grace4 ,contrast with this the giving of the law from ,mount ,sinai4 ,there ,jehovah confined ,himself absolutely to one language4 ,if persons had been gathered there from every nation under heaven1 they would not have understood a single syllable4 ,the law--the ten words--the record of man's duty to ,god and to his neighbor was sedulously wrapped up in one tongue4 ,but when the wonderful works of ,god were to be published--when the blessed story of love was to be told out--when the heart of ,god towards poor guilty sinners was to be revealed1 was one language enough8 ,no6 ,every nation under heaven must hear1 and hear1 too1 in their own mother tongue4 ,reader1 is not this a telling fact8 ,it will perhaps be said that those who heard ,peter and the rest on the day of ,pentecost1 were ,jews4 ,well1 that in no wise robs our fact of its charm1 its sweetness1 and its power4 ,our fact is that when the eternal ,spirit descended from heaven1 to tell of the resurrection of ,christ1 to tell of accomplished redemption--to publish the glad tidings of salvation--to preach repentance and remission of sins--,he did not confine ,himself to one language1 but spoke in every dialect under heaven6 ,and why8 ,because ,he desired to make man understand what ,he had to say to him--,he desired to reach his heart with the sweet tidings of redeeming love--the soul-stirring message of full remission of sins4 ,when the law was to be given--when ,jehovah had to speak to man about his duty--when ,he had to address him in such terms as1 ,thou shalt do this1 and thou shalt not do that1 ,he confined ,himself to one solitary language4 ,but when ,he would unfold the precious secret of ,his love--when ,he would prove to man that ,he was for him1 ,he1 blessed forever be ,his name1 took care to speak in every language under heaven1 so that every man might hear1 in his own dialect wherein he was born1 the wonderful works of ,god4#b #b ,the reader will note with interest a fact alluded to elsewhere1 that in ,genesis xi4 divers tongues were given as a judgment upon man's pride4 ,in ,acts ii4 divers tongues were given in grace to meet man's need4 ,and in ,revelation vii4 the various tongues are all found united in one song of praise to ,god and to the ,lamb4 ,such are some of the wonderful works of ,god4 ,may we praise ,him with all our ransomed powers6 ,may our hearts adore ,him6 ,thus1 then1 in our series of proofs--our golden chain of evidence1 we have traveled from the bosom of ,god to the cross of ,christ1 and from that precious cross back to the throne--we have marked the giving1 the bruising1 and the raising of the ,son2 we have seen the very heart of ,god told out in deep and marvelous love1 and tender compassion toward guilty perishing sinners4 ,moreover1 we have marked the descent of the eternal ,spirit1 from the throne of ,god--,his mission to this world to announce to every creature under heaven the glad tidings of a full1 free1 and everlasting salvation1 through the blood of the ,lamb1 and to announce these tidings not in an unknown tongue1 but in the very tongue wherein each was born4 ,what more remains8 ,is there yet another link to be added to the chain8 ,yes2 there is ,,the ,,possession ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,scriptures4 ,it may perhaps be said that our fifth proof is involved in our fourth1 inasmuch as the fact of my possessing a copy of the ,bible in my mother tongue is1 in reality1 the ,holy ,ghost speaking to me in the language in which ,i was born4 ,true2 but still1 so far as the reader is concerned1 the fact that ,god has put into his hand or within his reach the sacred volume--the inestimable boon1 the holy ,scriptures--is an additional proof that ,he is for him4 ,for why were we not left in ignorance and total darkness8 ,why was the divine book put into our hands8 ,why1 each one may say1 for himself and herself1 was ,i thus favored8 ,why was ,i not left to live and die in heathen blindness8 ,why was the heavenly lamp allowed to cast its precious beams on me--even me8 ,ah6 beloved reader1 the answer is1 ,because ,god is for thee4 ,yes1 for thee1 notwithstanding all thy many sins--for thee1 spite of all thy forgetfulness1 ingratitude and rebellion--for thee1 although as thou very well knowest1 thou canst not shew a single reason why ,he should not be against thee4 ,he gave ,his ,son from ,his bosom1 bruised ,him on the cross1 raised ,him from the dead1 sent down the ,holy ,ghost1 put into your very hands ,his blessed book1 all to shew you that ,he is for you1 that ,his heart is toward you1 that ,he earnestly desires your salvation4 ,and mark1 we pray thee1 thou canst not say1 nor wilt thou ever dare to say1 ,i could not understand the ,bible2 it was beyond me2 it was full of abstruse mysteries which ,i could not fathom2 of difficulties which ,i could not solve2 of discrepancies which ,i could not reconcile4 ,and when ,i turned to those who professed to be ,christians1 ,i found them split up into almost innumerable sects1 and divided into almost endless schools of doctrine4 ,and1 not only so1 but ,i saw such utter hollowness1 such gross inconsistency1 such flagrant contradiction between profession and practice1 that ,i was forced to abandon the whole subject of religion with a mingled feeling of perplexity1 contempt1 and disgust4 ,these objections will not stand in the judgment1 nor keep thee out of the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone4 ,remember this4 ,yes1 ponder it deeply4 ,let not the devil1 let not thine own heart deceive thee4 ,what does ,abraham say to the rich man1 in ,luke xvi48 ,they have ,moses and the prophets1 let them hear them4 ,why does the rich man not reply1 ,they cannot understand them8 ,he dare not4 ,no1 reader2 a child can understand the holy ,scriptures1 which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,there is not one beneath the canopy of ,god's heaven1 who possesses a copy of the holy ,scriptures1 who is not solemnly responsible before ,god for the use he makes of them4 ,if professing ,christians were split up into ten thousand times as many sects as they are2 if they were ten thousand times as inconsistent as they are2 if schools and doctors of divinity were ten thousand times more conflicting than they are--still the word to each possessor of the ,bible is1 ,you have ,moses and the prophets1 and the ,new ,testament1 hear them4 ,oh6 that we could persuade the unconverted1 the unawakened1 the unbelieving reader to think of these things1 to think of them now1 to ponder them1 in the very hidden depths of his moral being1 to give them his heart's undivided attention1 ere it be too late4 ,we contemplate1 with ever-deepening horror1 the condition of a lost soul in hell--of one opening his eyes1 in that place of endless torment1 to the tremendous fact that ,god is against him and against him forever2 that all hope is gone2 that nothing can ever bridge the chasm that separates the region of the lost from the heaven of the redeemed2 that there is a great gulf fixed4 ,we cannot proceed4 ,the thought is really overpowering4 ,the heart is crushed by the appalling contemplation4 ,dear1 dear reader1 do let us entreat of thee1 ere we lay down the pen1 to turn1 this very hour1 to a dear loving ,saviour who stands with open arms and open bosom to receive all who come to ,him1 and who assures thee that him that cometh unto ,me ,i will in no wise cast out4 ,do come and trust in ,god's faithful word and ,christ's finished work4 ,here lies the precious secret of the whole matter4 ,look away from self1 look straight to ,jesus1 confide simply in ,him1 and in what ,he has done for thee on the cross1 and all thy sins shall be blotted out1 divine righteousness shall be thine1 eternal life1 sonship1 an indwelling ,spirit1 an all-prevailing ,advocate1 a bright home in the heavens1 a portion in ,christ's eternal glory--yes1 reader1 if thou wilt but believe in ,jesus all shall be thine--,himself the best of all4 ,may the ,holy ,ghost lead thee1 this moment1 to the feet of ,jesus1 and enable thee to cry out1 in holy triumph1 ,if ,god be for us1 who can be against us8 ,god grant it for ,jesus ,christ's sake6 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,,who ,,loved ,,me ,galatians ii4 #bj4 ,three little sunbeams1 gilding all ,i see4 ,three little chords1 each full of melody4 ,three little leaves1 balm for my agony4 ,,who ,he loved me1 the ,father's only ,son4 ,he gave ,himself1 the precious1 spotless ,one4 ,he shed ,his blood1 and thus the work was done4 ,,loved ,he loved--not merely pitied4 ,here ,i rest4 ,sorrow may come1 ,i to ,his heart am pressed4 ,what should ,i fear while sheltered in ,his breast8 ,,me ,wonder of wonders1 ,jesus loved me2 ,a wretch--lost--ruined--sunk in misery4 ,he sought me1 found me1 raised me1 set me free4 ,my soul the order of the words approve3 ,christ first1 me last1 nothing between but ,,love4 ,lord keep me always down1 ,thyself above4 ,trusting to ,thee1 not struggling restlessly1 ,so shall ,i gain the victory4 ,i--yet not ,i1 but ,christ1 who loved me4 ,h4 ,w4 ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,god ,,gen ,,chapter ,,xii ,in a day of such widely extended profession as the present1 it is specially important that ,christians should be deeply impressed with the necessity of realizing personally the call of ,god1 without which there can be no permanency or steadiness in the ,christian course4 ,it is a comparatively easy thing to make a profession at a time when profession prevails2 but it is never easy to walk by faith--it is never easy to give up present things1 in the hope of good things to come4 ,nothing but that mighty principle which the apostle denominates the substance of things hoped for1 the evidence of things not seen 7,heb4 xi4 #a71 can ever enable a man to persevere in a course which in a world where all is wrong--all out of order1 must be thorny and difficult4 ,we must feel persuaded of something yet to come--something worth waiting for--something that will reward all the toil of a pilgrim's protracted course1 ere we rise up out of the circumstances of nature and the world1 to run with patience the race that is set before us4 7,heb4 xii4 #a47 ,all this is fully exemplified in ,abraham1 and the exemplification receives additional force from the contrast exhibited in the character of ,lot and others who are introduced in the course of the narrative4 ,in the seventh of ,acts1 we have the following words which bear directly upon the subject before us4 ,the ,god of glory appeared unto our father ,abraham1 when he was in ,mesopotamia1 before he dwelt in ,charran1 and said unto him1 ,get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred1 and come into the land that ,i shall show thee4 7,vers4 #a1 #b47 ,here then we are presented with the first dawning of that light which attracted ,abraham out of the darkness of ,ur1 of the ,chaldees1 and which shining in upon his wearisome path1 from time to time1 gave fresh vigor to his soul1 as he journeyed in quest of that city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god4 ,the ,god of glory caused ,abraham to see1 in the light of ,his character1 the true condition of things in ,ur1 and further1 to believe1 as some one has observed1 a report concerning future glory and inheritance1 and he therefore hesitates not1 but instantly girds himself up for the journey4 ,however1 upon a close comparison of the opening of the seventh of ,acts1 with the first verse of this twelfth chapter of ,genesis1 we get an important principle4 ,from the time that ,god appeared unto ,abraham1 until he finally gets up into the land of ,canaan1 an event occurs involving much deep instruction to us4 ,i allude to the death of ,abraham's father1 as we read in ,acts vii4 ,from thence1 when his father was dead1 ,he removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell4 7,ver4 #d47 ,this will enable us to understand the force of the expression in ,gen4 xii41 ,the ,lord had said unto ,abram1 etc4 7,ver4 #a47 ,from both these passages1 it would plainly appear the movement made by ,terah and his family1 recorded in ,gen4 x4 #ca1 was the result of a revelation made by the ,god of glory to ,abram1 but it would not appear that ,terah had received any such revelation from ,god4 ,he is presented to us rather as a hindrance to ,abram than any thing else1 for until he died1 ,abram did not come into the land of ,canaan--his divinely appointed destination4 ,now1 this circumstance1 trivial as it may seem to a cursory reader1 confirms in the strongest manner the statement already advanced1 namely1 that unless the call of ,god--the revelation from the ,god of glory be personally realized1 there can be no permanency or steadiness in the ,christian course4 ,had ,terah realized that call1 he would neither have been a clog to ,abram in his path of faith1 nor yet would he have dropped off1 like a mere child of nature1 ere reaching the future land of promise4 ,we get the same principle illustrated in ,laban afterward in ,gen4 xxiv4 ,laban1 as some one has well observed1 was fully alive to the value of the gold and silver jewels which the servant of ,abraham had brought with him1 but he had no heart to value the report concerning future things1 which dropped from his lips4 ,in other words1 he did not receive a revelation from the ,god of glory1 and as a consequence1 he remained1 as the same writer has observed1 a thorough man of the world4 ,in the conversion of ,saul of ,tarsus1 we are taught the same truth4 ,there were other persons with him when he was struck to the ground by the lustre of the glory of the ,lord ,jesus2 these persons saw indeed the light--they witnessed many of the external circumstances which had arrested the furious zealot2 but as he himself states1 they heard not the voice of ,him that spake ,,to ,,me4 7,acts xxii4 #i47 ,here is the grand point4 ,the voice must speak to me--the ,god of glory must appear to me1 ere ,i can take the place of a pilgrim and stranger in the world1 and perseveringly1 run the race that is set before me4 ,it is not national faith1 nor family faith1 but personal faith that will constitute us real witnesses for ,god in the world4 ,but when ,abram was released from the clog which he had experienced in the person of his father1 he was enabled to enter with vigor and decision upon the path of faith--a path which flesh and blood can never tread--a thorny path beset with difficulties from first to last1 in which ,god alone can sustain the soul4 ,and ,abram passed through the land unto the place of ,sichem1 unto the plain of ,moreh4 ,and the ,canaanite was then in the land4 ,and the ,lord appeared unto ,abram1 and said1 ,unto thy seed will ,i give this land3 and there builded he an altar unto the ,lord who appeared unto him4 7,gen4 xii4 #f1 #g47 ,here ,abram at once takes his stand as a worshiper1 in the face of the ,canaanite4 ,the altar marks him as one who1 having been delivered from the idols of ,ur of the ,chaldees1 had been taught to bow before the altar of the one true ,god1 who made heaven and earth4 ,in the following verse1 we get the second grand feature in the character of the man of faith1 namely1 the tent1 denoting strangership in the world4 ,by faith he sojourned in the land of promise1 as in a strange country1 dwelling in tabernacles with ,isaac and ,jacob1 the heirs with him of the same promise4 7,heb4 xi4 #i47 ,we shall have occasion to notice more fully1 as we proceed1 these two important points in the life of ,abraham1 and shall therefore rest satisfied for the present with establishing the fact that the tent and the altar do most clearly present him to us as a stranger and a worshiper1 and that as such1 he was a man entirely separated from the course of this evil world4 ,scarcely had ,abram entered upon his course1 when he had to encounter one of those difficulties which have a special tendency to test the genuineness of faith1 both as to its quality and its object4 ,and there was a famine in the land4 ,the difficulty meets him in the very place into which the ,lord had called him4 ,now1 it is no easy matter when we perceive trial and sorrow1 privation and difficulty awaiting us1 while walking in the strait and narrow way1 still to persevere--still to pursue the onward path1 and especially if we observe within our reach1 as ,abram did1 an entire exemption from the particular trial under which we may be smarting4 ,the men of this world are not in trouble as other men1 neither are they plagued as other men4 ,this feeling is still further increased by the entire absence of every thing1 as far as sight is concerned1 which could act as a confirmation of our hope4 ,abram had not so much as to set his foot upon--famine was raging around him on every side1 save in ,egypt4 ,could he only find himself there1 he would be able to live in ease and abundance4 ,here1 however1 the man of faith must pursue the path of simple obedience4 ,god had said1 ,get thee out of thy country 444 unto a land that ,i will show thee4 ,abram may1 it is true1 afterward discover that obedience to this command will involve his abiding in a land where nothing but starvation1 apparently1 awaits him4 ,but even though it should be so1 ,god had not in any way qualified the command4 ,no1 the word was simple and definite3 ,into a land that ,i will show thee4 ,this should have been as true and as binding upon ,abram when famine reigned around him1 as when peace and abundance prevailed4 ,famine should not1 therefore1 have induced him to leave the land1 neither should abundance have induced him to remain4 ,the influential words were1 ,i will show thee4 ,but ,abram leaves this land--he succumbs1 for the moment1 to the heavy trial1 and bends his footsteps down to ,egypt1 leaving behind him his tent and altar4 ,there he obtained ease and luxury2 he escaped1 no doubt1 the formidable trial under which he had suffered in the land of promise2 but he lost1 for the time being1 his worship and strangership1--things which should ever be dearest to the heart of a pilgrim4 ,there is nothing in ,egypt for ,abram to feed upon as a spiritual man2 it might1 and doubtless did1 afford abundance for him as a natural man1 but that was all4 ,egypt would give nothing to ,abram unless he sacrificed his character both as a stranger and as a worshiper of ,god4 ,it is needless to observe that it is exactly so at this very hour4 ,there is plenty in the world upon which our old nature could feed most luxuriously4 ,there are the rich delights of the flesh and of the mind1 and abundant means of gratifying the desires of the heart1 but what of all these1 if the enjoyment thereof leads1 as it must necessarily do1 right out of the path of faith--the path of simple obedience4 ,here then is the question for the ,christian3 which shall ,i have1 the gold and silver1 the flocks and herds--the present ease and affluence of ,egypt1 or the tent and altar of the land of promise8 ,which shall ,i have3 the carnal ease and delight of the world1 or a peaceful holy walk with ,god here1 and eternal blessedness and glory hereafter8 ,we cannot have both1 for1 if any man love the world1 the love of the ,father is not in him4 ,but1 we may ask1 why was it that ,abram had to experience famine and trial in the land of promise8 ,why did he not find a home and plenty there8 ,simply because the ,canaanite and ,perizzite dwelt then in the land4 7,chap4 xiii4 #g47 ,the land had not as yet been fitted up to be the residence of ,god's redeemed ones4 ,abram's faith might have enabled him to penetrate through the long and dreary period which should intervene ere the promise could be consummated2 but that very principle of faith it was that made him a pilgrim and a stranger4 ,he could wait for ,god's time1 and until then remain without so much as to set his foot on4 7,acts vii4 #e47 ,so should it be now4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,this beautiful chapter shows us the man of faith recovering himself1 through the faithfulness and loving-kindness of ,god1 who never allows such to wander far1 or tarry long away4 ,the gold and silver1 the flocks and herds of ,egypt1 could not long prove a satisfying portion for ,abram1 while deprived of his tent and his altar1 and he therefore once more1 in the renewed energy of faith rises1 as it were1 from the dust of ,egypt1 and retraces his steps to the land of promise4 ,happy recovery6 ,certain evidence of a fixed and honest purpose to serve the ,lord4 ,the ship may be tossed by the waves and the winds1 but the magnet still points to the north4 ,but some expressions in the opening of this chapter confirm most fully a thought already expressed1 namely1 that ,abram gained nothing1 as before ,god1 by his visit to ,egypt4 ,thus1 for example1 ,abram went on his journeys 444 unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning1 unto the place of the altar which he had made there at the first4 7,vers4 #c1 #d47 ,the words beginning1 and at the first1 prove that ,abram had made no progress while in ,egypt1 but that1 while there1 all his time was1 as it were1 lost4 ,no doubt he learnt a wholesome lesson1 and it is well when by our failures we learn to distrust our own hearts1 and dread the pernicious influence of the world4 ,abram learnt that there could be no tent or altar in ,egypt4 ,it is only faith that can enable a man to raise an altar or erect a tent1 but in ,egypt all is sight and not faith1 and hence1 the moment ,abram set his foot there he ceased to show forth the genuine fruits of faith--yea1 the very principle which led him to leave the land of promise1 led him1 at the same time1 to relinquish his character as a stranger and a worshiper4 ,how forcibly are we here reminded of a proposal made long after this1 by a king of ,egypt1 to ,abraham's seed4 ,and ,pharaoh called for ,moses and ,aaron1 and said3 ,go ye1 sacrifice to your ,god in the land4 7,ex4 viii4 #be47 ,thus1 it would seem ever to have been the design of the enemy to get the people of ,god1 the holy seed1 to defile themselves by worshiping or sacrificing to ,god1 in the world2 i4 e41 to make their character1 as worshipers of ,god1 accord with that of men of the world--men holding a place in society where ,christ is an outcast2 thus1 of course1 declaring that there is no difference between the religion of the world and the religion of ,god--a truly fearful delusion1 calculated to lead many souls out of the way of truth and holiness4 ,it is most sad to hear1 at times1 those who surely ought to know better1 in order1 as they say1 to manifest a liberal spirit1 speaking of the religion of the world in all its multiplied forms1 as if it were all right2 or1 as if it were a matter of total indifference whether we remained in communion with error or not4 ,oh1 let us not be deceived6 ,god's principle of separation is as strong and as binding to-day as it was in the days of ,abram or ,moses4 ,come out from among them1 and be ye separate1 and touch not the unclean thing1 must hold good as long as the unclean thing exists2 nor can any outward form alter the character--the true essential character of the unclean thing so as to make it a clean thing4 ,moses1 then1 was not liberal1 in the above acceptation of the word1 for he at once refused to countenance the religion of the world4 ,it is not meet so to do4 ,memorable words6 ,would that there were more amongst us who1 when invited to countenance the religion of the world1 would reply1 ,it is not meet so to do4 ,abram could not worship in ,egypt1 neither could his seed4 ,but ,abram had more difficulties than one to encounter in his course4 ,the path which every man of faith is called to tread lies between two dangerous extremes4 ,one is the temptation to return to the world2 the other1 to strive with brethren by the way4 ,abram had just recovered himself from the effects of the former1 and we have now to behold him buffeting the latter4 ,the moment ,abram emerged from ,egypt1 he appeared in a special manner to move under a new responsibility1 namely1 responsibility to his brother to walk with him in harmony4 ,while in ,egypt1 this responsibility stood quite in the shade4 ,the institutions--laws-- habits--luxury and ease of ,egypt1 would in an eminent degree tend to do away with every such feeling4 ,all these things would have had the effect of erecting barriers around each individual tending to prevent him from recognizing the fact that he was his brother's keeper4 ,nor is it otherwise now4 ,so long as we continue in the world--the religious world1 as it is termed--we shall find ourselves completely relieved from the difficult task of being our brother's keeper4 ,those who advocate a continuance therein may deny this fact1 but it is all in vain1 for ,scripture and experience alike demonstrate it4 ,abram and ,lot did not strive in ,egypt1 and a religious establishment presents this attraction at least--and it is by no means a feeble one--it effectually prevents brotherly collision2 and1 of course1 where there is no collision there can be no strife--no dispute2 where collision takes place1 there must be either grace to enable us to walk in unity of mind1 or strife and contention4 ,but ,egypt saps the very springs of grace by leading us out of a place of simple dependence upon the ,lord1 7for dependence ever genders grace and forbearance7 and because she does so1 she1 at the same time1 teaches us1 or attempts at least to teach us1 that we do not need grace1 by leading us into a sphere in which responsibility to brethren is never realized1 thus the need is not felt2 weakness is mistaken for strength1 folly for wisdom4 ,when the ,christian at first starts on his course1 he fondly dreams of nothing but perfection in his fellow ,christians2 but in this he soon finds himself mistaken1 for we have all our infirmities1 and as the apostle states1 ,in many things we offend all4 ,but why1 we may ask1 was there such a speedy development of infirmity upon their coming up out of ,egypt8 ,because they were now called to walk in the power of a naked principle1 without any of the props or barriers of ,egypt4 ,they were called to walk by faith1 and faith worketh by love4 ,now the ,canaanite1 etc41 was then in the land4 ,this should have acted as a hindrance to any strife between brethren1 for the ,canaanite cannot understand anything about the infirmities of believers1 and he therefore puts all their failure down to some defect in the principle professed4 ,but in every strife between brethren1 there must be fault somewhere4 ,in the contention between ,paul and ,barnabas there was fault somewhere4 ,nor can we be at any loss to decide where it lay4 ,barnabas wished to take his relative with him1 but this relative had before proved himself unfit1 or at least unwilling1 to endure hardness1 therefore it could not have been with a single eye to the ,lord's work that ,barnabas desired his company4 ,the ,lord ,himself1 too1 at once takes ,paul's side of the question by providing him with a dear son and fellow-laborer1 in the person of ,timothy1 with whom he had none like-minded4 ,so it is exactly in the case before us4 ,we can have no hesitation in asserting that ,lot was the man in error here4 ,lot does not appear to have fully got rid of the spirit of the world1 and where there is this spirit predominating in any one he will ever find the path of faith too strait for him to walk in1 and so it was1 ,they could not dwell together4 ,if1 then1 it be asked on what grounds one would pronounce ,lot to have been in the wrong8 ,the answer is1 first1 ,lot's subsequent conduct2 and1 second1 the ,lord's dealings with ,abram1 after that ,lot was separated from him4 ,what then did ,lot do8 ,he lifted up his eyes4 ,this is ever our mode of acting when not under the direct power of faith4 ,whenever we lift up our eyes without divine direction1 we are sure to go wrong4 ,i say1 without divine direction1 for we find the ,lord afterwards directing ,abram to lift up his eyes1 but then that was totally different from ,lot's act1 which was simply the suggestion of mere human wisdom and foresight4 ,human wisdom and foresight1 however1 can never assist our progress as men of faith--no1 quite the reverse2 human wisdom will ever suggest things which1 if acted upon1 will lead us right athwart the path of a man of faith4 ,therefore ,lot1 in lifting up his eyes1 could not penetrate beyond the things that are seen and temporal4 ,such was the utmost bound of his range of vision4 ,the things on which his eyes rested were those with which he had been conversant while in ,egypt1 as we read1 ,he beheld all the plain of ,jordan that it was well watered every where 444 like the land of ,egypt4 7#aj47 ,here we observe that ,lot had never been really detached in heart and affection from ,egypt--he had never learnt the vanity and unsatisfactoriness of all her resources in the light of a better order of things--he had never contrasted her with that city which hath foundations1 whose builder and maker is ,god--in a word1 he having put his hand to the plow1 was now beginning to look back1 and thus to prove himself unfit for the kingdom of heaven4 ,there is a striking notice of all this afforded in the opening verse of this chapter1 ,abram went up out of ,egypt and ,lot with him4 ,here we get the secret of ,lot's after instability4 ,he appears to have gone up rather with ,abram than with ,god1 and the consequence was that1 when he parted with ,abram1 he had nothing to lean upon4 ,he had been hitherto moving under ,abram's protection and guidance instead of being directly before the ,lord1 and therefore when he lost ,abram he went astray4 ,now then is the moment for ,abram to lift up his eyes1 at the ,lord's command1 and oh1 what a different range of vision was his6 ,while ,lot could not penetrate beyond the narrow limits of the present scene1 ,abram was enabled to survey the length and breadth of ,god's inheritance4 ,he soars on the strong and rapid pinion of faith1 and is1 as it were1 lost in the unbounded beneficence of ,god2 while ,lot1 the man walking by sight1 is well-nigh lost in the deep gulf of ,sodom's corruption4 ,let us then1 ere we enter upon the next chapter1 take a view of the different circumstances of these two men who had started together4 ,lot lifted up his eyes1 and the prospect on which they rested was1 as might be expected1 such as suited his natural desires1 well-watered plains1 which1 however fair in man's view1 were nevertheless1 in the sight of the ,lord1 filled with exceeding wickedness4 7,comp4 vers4 #aj and #ad47 ,abram1 on the contrary1 had allowed his eye to wander over the length and breadth of the promised inheritance--uninfluenced by all else1 he viewed the portion which ,god was reserving for him and his seed1 and took up his position accordingly4 ,thus do we find ,lot in the unhallowed region of ,sodom2 and ,abram--the pilgrim and stranger1 with his tent and altar--in the plain of ,mamre1 which is in ,hebron4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,here we have a very minute account of a battle fought by four kings with five1 and we may ask1 ,what connection had this strife between the potsherds of the earth1 with the history of the people of ,god8 ,with ,abram indeed none1 in one sense1 for he was outside it all4 ,his tent marked him as a stranger to all these things--it marked him as one to whom the battle of four kings with five would be a matter of very trivial moment4 ,and then his altar marked him as one whose pursuits were quite of another character1 even a heavenly4 ,his tent showed him to be a stranger on earth--his altar showed him to be at home in heaven4 ,happy man6 ,happy pilgrim6 who could thus from his high elevation1 even the lofty watch-tower of faith1 look down1 as a passer-by1 upon the battle fields of an evil world4 ,it mattered not to ,abram whether the laurel of victory were about to wreath the brow of the king of ,sodom1 or of ,chedorlaomer1 king of ,elam2 his portion was not in danger through their strife1 because he had it in that place where thieves do not break through and steal4 ,but1 though it was the happy lot of ,abram to have his being and his portion in a place where wars could have no influence1 yet such was not the case with his more worldly-minded brother4 ,his position was such as to place him in the midst of the strife1 and consequently the issue of this battle could not fail to be of the deepest moment to him4 ,if the child of ,god will stoop so low as to mix himself up with the world1 he must calculate upon being made a participator in its convulsions1 and woe be to that man who shall have his portion in the world in that day 7now fast approaching7 when all things shall be shaken by the mighty hand of ,god in judgment4 ,i would here observe that what has ever made the history of nations and the movements of mighty kings and conquerors1 matters of interest to the ,holy ,spirit1 has been the connection of such things with the history of the people of ,god4 ,beyond this they possessed nothing of moment to ,him4 ,he could find no pleasure in dwelling upon the abstract history of man4 ,the busy strife and tumult of nations--the fierce contests of ungodly tyrants grasping after power--the movements of armies1 could not attract the notice of the ,spirit of peace2 nevertheless1 when such things became1 in the least degree1 connected with the history of a righteous soul1 the ,holy ,ghost can be most minute in detailing the circumstances of a battle1 as is observable in the case under consideration4 ,what then were the results of this contest to ,lot8 ,ruin to him and his family4 ,he was made prisoner and all his goods were taken4 7,ver4 #ab47 ,he had laid up treasure for himself upon earth1 and the thieves had broken through2 and thus1 while ,abram was above it all1 in the power--the separating power of communion with ,god1 he found himself a prisoner and a beggar4 ,he had sown to the flesh1 and of the flesh he must now reap corruption4 ,but this was just the moment for ,abram to show himself in the powerful activities of love4 ,he had1 as above observed1 hitherto surveyed with calm indifference these movements of kings and their armies1 but the very same faith which had made him indifferent about the strifes of men1 made him quick to take cognizance of a brother in distress4 ,faith not only purifies the heart from worldly and carnal desires1 but it also works by love1 as is powerfully shown in ,abram's case1 for when ,abram saw that his brother was taken captive he armed his trained servants1 etc4 7,ver4 #ad47 ,now1 it is to be observed that it is in the hour of distress and difficulty that the relationship of brother gets the prominent place4 ,in days of unruffled peace1 ,lot might be known to ,abram as his brother's son1 but now he was in sorrow1 and therefore the claims of brotherhood act1 and act powerfully and effectually4 ,we are now called to witness a deeply interesting scene4 ,abram himself is about to meet a temptation--a temptation at once repulsed indeed by the power of ,god in him1 but nevertheless1 a temptation4 ,the king of ,sodom was about to come forth to display his treasures before the eye of ,abram1 and he had by nature a heart to value those treasures4 ,that man knows not his own heart who could say that the world does not present many--very many attractions to the natural heart4 ,there is a species of misanthropy which looks like elevation above the world1 but which1 after all1 is not it4 ,the ,cynic philosopher ,diogenes1 when he told ,alexander to get out of his sunshine1 was as proud and as worldly a man as ,alexander himself4 ,the only true and real way in which to be separated from1 and elevated above1 the world1 is by the knowledge of heavenly things1 and ,abram was led1 through the mercy of ,god1 into that knowledge4 ,but the victory obtained by ,abram1 was not owing to any power in himself4 ,he had1 as ,i have observed1 a heart to value the things which the enemy had to give him2 and1 therefore1 if he triumphed1 it was through the operation of a power outside himself4 ,in all this transaction1 the ,one who had watched over ,his dear servant during the dark season of his sojourn in ,egypt1 and who1 moreover1 had1 by that very sojourn1 taught him a lesson as to the true character of the world1 was now closely observing his ways1 and making preparations for his relief2 ,he was cognizant of the movements and designs of the enemy1 from first to last1 and ,he therefore prepares to supply a heavenly antidote to nullify his poison4 ,it is particularly worthy of observation that between the time at which the king of ,sodom went forth to meet ,abram1 and that wherein he made the proposal to him with reference to the persons and the goods1 there is a remarkable character introduced1 namely1 ,melchizedek4 ,this stranger1 commissioned by ,god1 was on his way to fortify ,abram's heart at the very moment when the enemy was on his way to attack 7,comp4 ver4 #ag1 #ah1 and #ba74 ,now1 why did not1 the priest of the ,most ,high ,god come to meet ,abram before8 ,because this was the very moment in which ,abram most needed the strength which he had to bring4 ,the enemy was about to display his gilded bait before the eye of the man of ,god1 and therefore is ,melchizedek at hand to display in his view the divine realities of the kingdom4 ,he was about to feed and strengthen his soul with the bread1 and cheer him with the wine1 of the kingdom1 in order that1 in the strength of that meat he might mount above the influence of all the allurements of the world4 ,from all this we may learn that it is communion with the joys and glories of the kingdom that can alone cause the heart to reject the pollutions of the world4 ,reader1 upon what are you now feeding8 ,what constitutes your habitual food8 ,is it the bread and wine which the ,lord provides1 or the goods of ,sodom8 ,are your ears open to the pernicious suggestions of the ,king of ,sodom1 or to the heavenly communications of the ,king of ,salem8 ,the ,lord grant that our hearts may ever choose that in which ,he delights4 ,but to proceed1 ,melchizedek leads ,abram's soul into present communion with ,,the ,,most ,,high ,,god1 ,,the ,,possessor ,,of ,,heaven ,,and ,,earth1 and thus completes the wondrous contrast between the ,king of ,sodom and the ,most ,high ,god1 possessor of heaven and earth1--the goods of ,sodom and the extensive possessions of heaven and earth4 ,blessed contrast1 which faith ever draws6 ,it is needless to say that ,abram at once rejects the offer of the ,king of ,sodom4 ,the bread and wine1 and the benediction of the priest of the ,most ,high ,god1 had raised ,abram to such a height that he could1 in one comprehensive glance1 take in the vast possessions of heaven and earth1 and further1 look down from thence upon the despicable proposal of the ,king of ,sodom and reject it4 ,melchizedek had just said1 the ,most ,high ,god1 the possessor of heaven and earth1 and ,abram had laid hold on these words and made use of them in his reply to the adversary4 ,i have lifted up my hand1 said he1 to the ,lord1 the ,most ,high ,god1 the possessor of heaven and earth1 that ,i will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet1 and that ,i will not take anything that is thine1 lest thou shouldest say1 ,i have made ,abram rich 7vers4 #bb1 #bc74 ,abram appears to breathe the very atmosphere of the presence of ,him1 who hath measured the waters in the hollow of ,his hand1 and meted out heaven with a span1 and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure1 and weighed the mountains in scales1 and the hills in a balance1 in whose sight the nations are as a drop of a bucket1 and are counted as the small dust of the balance4 ,behold6 he taketh up the isles as a very little thing1 and ,lebanon is not sufficient to burn1 nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering4 ,all nations before ,him are as nothing1 and they are counted to ,him as less than nothing and vanity4 7,isa4 xl4 #ab1 #ae-ah47 ,and surely1 we may say1 it was only thus that ,abram could triumph2 and let no one who moves not1 in some measure1 in the same sphere1 affect to despise the world--nothing can be more truly vain4 ,there must be the experimental acquaintance with the better thing--the fondly cherished hope of good things to come--ere we can obtain full victory over present things1 and our own worldly desires4 ,ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods1 knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance 7,heb4 x4 #cd74 ,if we are really waiting for the manifestation of the glory1 we shall be found standing apart from everything which will be judged in that day3 and it is written1 ,yet once more1 ,i shake not the earth only but also heaven2 and this word1 yet once more1 signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken1 as of things that are made1 that those things which cannot be shaken may remain 7,heb4 xii4 #bf1 #bg74 ,we have1 in the last verse of our truly interesting chapter1 a happy feature in the character of the true man of faith4 ,abram would not force others to walk according to his elevated standard4 ,although he might be able to reject1 in the most unreserved manner1 the offers of the king of ,sodom1 yet others might not be able to do so1 and therefore he says1 with regard to ,aner1 ,eshcol1 and ,mamre1 let them take their portion4 ,our walk should ever be according as ,god hath dealt to every man the measure of faith 7,rom4 xii4 #c74 ,we have seen1 in our own day1 many persons led1 at the outset1 to give up a variety of worldly things1 and afterwards plunge still deeper into those things2 and why8 ,because they acted through mere excitement or human influence1 and were not able to say with ,abram1 ,i have lift up my hand unto the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,in the opening verse of this chapter1 we have a principle fraught with comfort and encouragement to us--a principle eminently calculated to call out into full exercise a spirit of true devotedness to the ,lord4 ,we observe here1 the ,lord's grace in acknowledging and accepting the sacrifice laid upon ,his altar--the willing offering of the devoted heart of ,his servant4 ,our ,god is never slow in owning such things1 nor in rewarding them a hundredfold4 ,abram had just been manifesting a spirit of self-denial in refusing the attractive offers of the ,king of ,sodom4 ,he had refused to be enriched from such a source1 and had taken the ,most ,high ,god for his portion and his reward1 therefore the ,lord comes forth to confirm the soul of his servant with these words1 ,fear not1 ,abram1 ,i ,,am thy shield1 and thy exceeding great reward4 ,god is not unrighteous to forget the work and labor of love 7,heb4 vi4 #aj74 ,a similar principle is presented to us in chapter xiii4 where ,abram is seen giving way to ,lot1 in the matter of choosing the land4 ,abram's whole anxiety in that matter was about the ,lord's honor1 as maintained in the harmonious walk of brethren before the ,canaanite and the ,perizzite4 ,let there be no strife1 says he1 between me and thee 444 for we be brethren4 ,nor did ,abram desire to suppress the strife1 by exacting concessions from ,lot4 ,no2 he was willing to concede everything himself--to surrender every claim--to sacrifice every advantage1 provided the strife were suppressed4 ,is not the whole land before thee8 ,take what you please--possess yourself of the fairest spot in all the region round about4 ,here1 as some one has observed1 is the liberality--the unselfishness of faith4 ,what was land to ,abram in comparison with the ,lord's glory8 ,nothing4 ,he could give up anything1 or everything1 for that4 ,how then does the ,lord meet this self-sacrifice on the part of ,his servant8 ,just as ,he does in this xv4 chapter1 by coming in1 in the plenitude of ,his goodness1 to make it up to him a hundredfold4 ,lift up now thine eyes 444 for all the land which thou seest to thee will ,i give it1 and to thy seed after thee 7xiii4 #ad1 #ae74 ,how truly gracious it is of the ,lord to enable ,his servant to make a sacrifice for ,him1 and then reward that sacrifice by a vast increase of blessing4 ,such are ,his ways--,his ever adorable ways4 ,we are now called to trace in ,abram the development of a feature which1 in a special manner1 demonstrates the high order of his communion with ,god4 ,after all ,god's revelations and promises to him1 his soul still breathes after an object without which all besides was defective4 ,true1 he had surveyed1 with the eye of faith1 the promised inheritance--the magnificent gift of divine benevolence2 yet1 notwithstanding all this1 was there a great desideratum--a mighty blank4 ,he sighed for a ,,son4 ,a son alone could render complete1 in ,abram's estimation1 all his previous privileges4 ,and ,abram said1 ,lord ,god1 what wilt thou give me1 seeing ,i go childless1 and the steward of my house is this ,eliezer of ,damascus4 ,and ,abram said1 ,behold to me thou hast given no seed3 and lo1 one born in my house is mine heir 7vers4 #b1 #c74 ,now1 we have1 in tracing the path of this remarkable man1 beheld him1 at times1 displaying some very noble features of character4 ,his generosity--his high elevation of mind--his pilgrim-like habits--all these things denote a man of the very highest order2 yet ,i hesitate not to say1 that we find him1 in the passage just quoted1 exhibiting a temper of soul1 more in harmony with the mind of heaven than anything we have met hitherto4 ,abram desired to have his house enlivened by the cry of a child4 ,he had been long enough conversant with the spirit of bondage breathed by the steward of his house1 but the titles of lord and master1 though all very good in their place1 could not satisfy the heart of ,abram1 for ,abram had been taught of ,god1 and ,god ever instructs ,his children in those things which ,he loves1 and which ,he exhibits in ,his dealings with them4 ,and ,i would just observe1 in connection with this1 that we see in the case of the prodigal in ,luke xv41 the development of a principle very much in connection with what we have been saying4 ,he says1 in the very midst of all his misery ,i will arise and go unto my ,father1 and will say unto him1 ,father4 ,here we have a fine feature in the character of this poor wanderer4 ,he had such a sense of the grace of him against whom he had sinned1 that he could yet say ,father notwithstanding his long course of rebellion and folly4 ,but let us observe with what accuracy ,abram lays hold of the great principle afterwards brought out by the ,spirit in ,romans viii4 ,if children1 then heirs4 ,abram felt that sonship and heirship were inseparably connected1 so much so1 that without the former the latter could not be4 ,this is the meaning of his question1 ,lord ,god1 what wilt thou give me1 seeing ,i go childless1 and the steward of my house is this ,eliezer of ,damascus8 ,abram rightly judged that to have no seed was to have no inheritance1 for the word is1 not if stewards or servants1 then heirs1 but if children1 then heirs 7,rom4 viii4 #ag74 ,how very important it is that we should ever bear in mind1 that all our present privileges and future prospects stand connected with our character as sons4 ,it may be all well and very valuable1 in its right place1 to realize our responsibility to act as faithful and wise stewards1 in the absence of our ,master2 still the most ample privileges--the highest enjoyments--the brightest glories1 which belong to us through the grace and mercy of our ,god1 stand intimately connected with our character and place as sons4 7,comp4 ,john i4 #ab2 ,rom4 viii4 #ad1 #ai2 #a ,john iii4 #a1 #b2 ,eph4 i4 #e2 v4 #a2 ,heb4 xii4 #e47 ,in the vision presented to us in the close of our chapter1 and which was granted to ,abram as an answer to his question1 ,lord ,god1 whereby shall ,i know that ,i shall inherit it8 we have a further illustration of the teaching of ,romans viii4 ,abram is taught by the vision1 that the inheritance was only to be reached through suffering--that the heirs must pass through the furnace1 previous to their entering upon the enjoyment of that which ,god was reserving for them2 and ,i doubt not that1 were we more deeply and experimentally taught in the divine life1 we should more fully apprehend the moral fitness of such training4 ,suffering then1 is not connected1 in this chapter1 with sonship1 but with heirship2 and so we are taught in ,romans viii4 ,if children1 then heirs1 heirs of ,god1 and joint heirs with ,christ1 if so be that we suffer with ,him1 that we may be also glorified together4 ,again1 we must1 through much tribulation1 enter into the kingdom of ,god 7,acts xiv4 #bb74 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,himself1 likewise1 stands as the great illustration of the principle upon which we are dwelling4 ,he occupied the place and enjoyed the favor of a ,son from before all worlds1 7,prov4 viii47 yet ere ,he could lay ,his hand upon the inheritance ,he must pass through suffering4 ,he had a baptism to be baptized with1 and was straitened 77 until it was accomplished4 ,so also when ,he remembered that a corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die1 or else abide alone1 ,his soul was troubled4 ,now1 we are to know ,him in the fellowship of ,his sufferings1 before we can know ,him in the fellowship of ,his glory2 hence it is that the palmed multitude mentioned in ,revelation vii4 had to pass through great tribulation 7 7 ere they reached their peaceful1 heavenly home4 ,passages of ,scripture might be multiplied in proof of this point1 but ,i will merely refer to the following1 viz4--,phil4 i4 #bi2 #a ,thess4 iii4 #d2 #b ,thess4 i4 #e2 #a ,tim4 iv4 #aj2 #b ,tim4 ii4 #ab2 #a ,peter v4 #aj4 ,but1 in this remarkable vision1 there are two points which1 as they appear prominently in the whole of ,israel's after history1 deserve to be particularly noticed4 ,i allude to the smoking furnace1 and the burning lamp4 7ver4 #ag47 ,it has been well observed1 by a recent writer1 that ,israel's history might be summed up in these two words1 the furnace and the lamp4 ,egypt was a trying furnace to the seed of ,abraham4 ,there the fire burned fiercely1 but it was soon followed by the burning lamp of ,god's own deliverance4 ,the cry of the suffering seed had come up into the ears of ,jehovah4 ,he had heard their groanings and seen their afflictions1 and had come down to display above their heads the lamp of salvation4 ,i am come down to deliver them1 said ,he to ,moses4 ,satan might take delight in kindling the furnace1 and in adding to its intensity1 but the blessed ,god1 on the other hand1 ever delighted in letting the rays of ,his lamp fall upon the dark path of ,his suffering heirs4 ,so1 when ,jehovah had1 in the faithfulness of ,his love1 brought them into the land of ,canaan1 they again and again1 kindled a furnace by their sins and iniquities2 ,he1 as frequently1 raised up deliverers in the persons of the judges which were as so many lamps of deliverance to them4 ,further1 when by their aggravated rebellion1 they were plunged into the furnace kindled at ,babylon1 even there we observe the glimmerings of the burning lamp1 and finally it shone out for their full deliverance1 in the decree of ,cyrus4 ,now1 the ,lord was constantly reminding the children of ,israel of the above truth4 ,he says to them1 ,but the ,lord hath taken you1 and brought you forth out of the iron furnace4 7,deut4 iv4 #bj2 #a ,kings viii4 #ea47 ,again1 ,cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant1 which ,i commanded your fathers1 in the day that ,i brought them forth out of the land of ,egypt1 from the iron furnace4 7,jer4 xi4 #c1 #d47 ,finally1 we may ask1 are the seed of ,abraham now suffering in the furnace1 or are they enjoying the lamp of ,god8--for they must be experiencing either the one or the other--the furnace1 assuredly4 ,they are scattered over the face of the earth as a proverb and a byword1 a reproach and a hissing among all the nations of the earth4 ,thus are they in the iron furnace4 ,but1 as it has ever been1 the burning lamp will assuredly follow the smoking furnace1 for all ,israel shall be saved2 as it is written1 there shall come out of ,sion the ,deliverer1 and shall turn away ungodliness from ,jacob4 7,isa4 lix4 #bj2 ,rom4 xi4 #bf47 ,thus we see how that ,israel's eventful history has all along stood connected with the smoking furnace and the burning lamp1 here seen in vision by ,abram4 ,they are either presented to us in the furnace of affliction1 through their own sin1 or enjoying the fruits of ,god's salvation2 and even at this moment1 when1 as has been already observed1 they are manifestly in the furnace1 we can witness the fulfillment of ,god's promise1 so often repeated1 ,and unto his son will ,i give one tribe1 that ,david my servant may have a lamp 7margin7 always before me in ,jerusalem1 the city which ,i have chosen ,me to put ,my name there4 7#a ,kings xi4 #cf2 xv4 #ad2 #b ,kings viii4 #ai2 ,psalm cxxxii4 #ag47 ,if it be asked where does this lamp shine now8 ,not on earth1 for ,jerusalem1 the place of its earthly display1 is trodden down of the ,gentiles1 but the eye of faith can behold it shining with undimmed lustre in the true tabernacle1 where it will continue to shine until the fulness of the ,gentiles be come in2 and then1 when the furnace1 seen in this chapter by ,israel's great progenitor1 shall have been heated to the very highest degree of intensity1 when the blood of ,israel's tribes shall flow like water round the walls of ,jerusalem1 even then1 shall the blessed lamp come forth from the place where it now shines1 and cast its cheering rays upon the dark path of the oppressed and sorrowing remnant1 bringing to mind those oft-illustrated words1 ,o ,,israel1 ,,thou ,,hast ,,destroyed ,,thyself2 ,,but ,,in ,,me ,,is ,,thy ,,help4#c #c ,i would refer the reader to the following scriptures in confirmation of what has been above advanced on the subject of the lamp4--,ex4 xxvii4 #bj2 #b ,sam4 xxii4 #bi2 ,ps4 cxix4 #aje2 ,prov4 vi4 #bc2 xiii4 #i2 ,isa4 lxii4 #a4 ,,chapters ,,xvi41 ,,xvii4 ,these two chapters give us an account of ,abram's effort to obtain the promised seed by hearkening to the voice of his wife1 and also of ,god's mode of teaching him the unprofitableness of such an appeal to the mere energy of nature as that which his effort involved4 ,at the very opening of ,abram's course we find his faith put to the test in the matter of the famine1 but here we find him tried in quite another way1 a way moreover1 which involved a far higher exercise of faith and spiritual power4 ,his own body now dead and the deadness of ,sarah's womb2 although1 in the main1 he considered them not1 must have acted upon his mind to a considerable extent4 ,now1 as in the case of the famine already alluded to1 ,egypt was at hand1 holding out a refuge from anxiety as to present supply1 so here1 an ,egyptian maid1--one of those maid-servants1 doubtless1 which ,abram had gotten during his sojourn in that evil place--was presented to him as a relief in the time of anxiety touching the promised seed4 ,abram hearkened to the voice of ,sarai4 ,but why introduce the element of bondage into his house8 ,why did not ,abram's mind shrink from the thought of the bondwoman and her son as much as it had shrunk from the thought of the steward of his house8 ,might not the question1 ,lord1 what wilt thou give me1 be asked in connection with one as well as the other8 ,surely it was as much opposed to the divine economy to grant the inheritance to the seed of a bondwoman1 as to a servant4 ,in either case it would be an allowance of the claims of nature1 which cannot be4 ,the principles involved in this act of ,abram's are fully laid open to us in the inspired commentary given in the ,epistle to the ,galatians4 ,there we read1 ,abram had two sons1 the one by a bondmaid1 the other by a free woman4 ,but he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh2 but he of the free woman was by promise4 ,which things are an allegory3 for these are the two covenants2 the one from the ,mount ,sinai1 which gendereth to bondage1 which is ,agar4 ,for this ,agar is ,mount ,sinai in ,arabia1 and answereth to ,jerusalem which now is1 and is in bondage with her children4 ,but ,jerusalem which is above is free1 which is the mother of us all4 7chap4 iv4 #bb-bf47 ,the churches of ,galatia had been led away from the simplicity and liberty of ,christ and had returned to the flesh4 ,they were beginning to substitute religious ceremonies for the energies of the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,hence it is that the ,apostle1 in the course of his reasoning with them on their unhappy movement1 refers to the matter recorded in our chapters1 and the way in which he expounds it to them renders it unnecessary to dwell longer upon it4 ,this step of ,abram's only gendered to bondage2 it introduced an unhealthy and an unhappy element into his house which1 as we shall see when we proceed further with our subject1 he had to expel ere he could reach the highest point of elevation in his course4 ,in chapter xvii4 we have ,god's remedy presented to us1 and most consolatory it is to observe how the ,blessed ,one at once comes in in order to lead back ,his servant to the simple yet difficult position of faith in ,himself--simple1 because therein we have but one object with which to be occupied--difficult1 because therein we have to contend against the workings of an evil heart of unbelief1 leading us to depart from the living ,god4 ,and when ,abram was ninety years old and nine1 the ,lord appeared to ,abram and said unto him1 ,i ,,am ,,the ,,almighty ,,god2 walk before ,,me1 and be thou perfect4 ,here was at once the effectual cure for all impatient anxiety4 ,i am ,almighty--,i can quicken the dead--,i can call those things that be not as though they were--,i can1 if needs be1 raise up of stones1 children unto you--no flesh shall glory in ,my presence4 ,i am ,almighty1 walk before ,me and be thou perfect4 ,it is perhaps one of the finest principles with which the mind can be occupied1 that our ,god desires that ,he may ever be learnt1 in the variety of ,his perfections1 by the need of ,his people4 ,we have already met a striking illustration of this important principle1 in the matter of ,abram's conflict with the king of ,sodom1 in chapter xiv4 ,there1 when ,abram was tempted by the offers of the enemy1 he found relief in the apprehension of ,god's character as the ,most ,high ,god1 the possessor of heaven and earth4 ,the character of the communion into which ,melchizedek led the soul of ,abram was suited to the circumstances in which he stood4 ,so is it exactly in this #agth chapter4 ,communion with ,god as the ,almighty was the sole remedy for impatient anxiety as to the fulfillment of any promise4 ,now1 when once the ,lord exhibits ,himself in ,his character of ,almighty1 there can be no obstacle whatsoever to the outflow of ,his grace2 for1 when almighty power and almighty grace combine in behalf of the sinner1 faith may count upon a rich and an abundant harvest4 ,the promises1 therefore1 with which this chapter abounds are just such as we might have expected4 ,i will make thee exceeding fruitful1 and ,i will make nations of thee1 and kings shall come out of thee4 ,and ,i will establish my covenant between ,me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant1 to be a ,god unto thee and to thy seed after thee4 ,and ,i will give unto thee1 and to thy seed after thee1 the land wherein thou art a stranger1 all the land of ,canaan1 for an everlasting possession2 and ,i will be their ,god4 7xvii4 #f-h47 ,surely these are promises which almighty grace alone could utter1 almighty power alone fulfill4 ,the above promises stand connected with the covenant of circumcision which is specially important as looked at in connection with ,abram's effort to obtain the seed otherwise than by the operations of ,god's own hand4 ,it would be profitable to dwell for a little upon the doctrine of this covenant of circumcision but my design in taking up this history1 is not by any means to handle it in a doctrinal way1 but rather to draw from it some of those valuable principles of a decidedly practical tendency with which it so richly abounds2 and therefore ,i pass rapidly over chapters xvi41 xvii4 which contain a mine of precious doctrinal truth quite sufficient to occupy a separate treatise4#d #d ,i would observe here that the doctrine of the ,epistle to the ,galatians stands intimately connected with chap4 xvi41 xvii41 and ,i might add1 the important doctrine of ,israel's future restoration4 ,we also get the doctrine of justification by faith fully illustrated in chap4 xv4 ,ere closing my observations on this section of our narrative1 ,i would add that it is faith alone which can enable one to listen1 as ,abraham here does1 to the promises of ,almighty ,god1 and when faith listens1 ,god will surely continue to speak4 ,abram here gets his name changed to ,abraham1 and the ,lord unfolds to him the future greatness and number of his seed1 while ,abraham hearkens in the unquestioning silence of faith4 ,but when the ,almighty ,god goes on to say with reference to ,sarai1 ,as for ,sarai thy wife1 thou shalt not call her name ,sarai1 but ,sarah shall her name be4 ,and ,i will bless her1 and give thee a son also of her2 yea1 ,i will bless her1 and she shall be a mother of nations2 kings of people shall be of her4 7vers4 #ae1 #af47 ,he is at once overwhelmed by the pledges of such marvelous power and grace to be exercised towards him4 ,they exceeded anything he had as yet known1 and ,abraham fell on his face4 ,this is very instructive4 ,abraham with his face in the dust1 overcome by the plenitude of almighty power and grace6 ,surely1 we may say1 while dwelling upon such a scripture as this1 it is only faith that can rightly entertain the ,almighty ,god1 it alone can give ,him ,his due and proper place and honor ,him as ,he should be honored4 ,when the ,almighty displays ,himself1 self must be excluded1 hence we find that ,abram is set aside in all this--,sarai is lost sight of--the bondwoman and her son are1 for the moment1 put far out of view1 and nothing is seen but the ,almighty ,god in the sovereignty and fulness of ,his grace and power1 and the faith that could lie prostrate in the dust1 in silent adoration of such a display of the divine glories4 ,how different is this from the preceding chapter6 ,there we find ,abram hearkening to the suggestion of ,sarai his wife1 with regard to the bondwoman--here we find him hearkening to the voice of ,jehovah1 as ,almighty1 who is about to quicken the dead womb of ,sarah1 and to call those things that be not as though they were1 that no flesh might glory in ,his presence4 ,there it is ,abram and ,sarai without ,god--here it is ,god without ,abram and ,sarai4 ,in a word1 there it is flesh--here it is spirit--there it is sight--here it is faith4 ,wondrous contrast6 ,exactly similar to that afterwards displayed by the ,apostle to the churches of ,galatia1 when he sought to restore them from the sad influence of the beggarly elements of the flesh and the world1 to the full liberty wherewith ,christ had made them free4 ,,chapters ,,xviii41 ,,xix4 ,i class these two chapters together because1 like those we have just been considering1 they furnish us with a contrast--a contrast most marked and striking between the position occupied by ,abraham in chapter xviii41 and that occupied by ,lot in chapter xix4 ,the ,lord ,jesus when asked by ,judas1 not ,iscariot1 how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us and not unto the world8 replied1 ,if a man love ,me1 he will keep ,my words3 and ,my ,father will love him1 and ,we will come unto him and make our abode with him4 7,john xiv4 #bc47 ,again1 ,behold1 ,i stand at the door and knock3 if any man hear ,my voice1 and open the door1 ,i will come in to him1 and will sup with him1 and he with ,me4 7,rev4 iii4 #bj47 ,now1 ,abraham furnishes us with an exceedingly happy exemplification of the truth stated in the above passages4 ,the ,lord appeared unto him in the plains of ,mamre3 and ,he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day4 7chap4 xviii4 #a47 ,here we find ,abraham again in the full exhibition of his stranger character4 ,mamre and the tent are associated in our minds with the day of his triumph over the king of ,sodom4 ,abraham is still a stranger and a pilgrim dwelling in tabernacles4 ,the revelation made unto him by the ,almighty ,god had not altered the tone of his character in this respect1 but had rather imparted fresh vigor and energy thereto4 ,a simple dependence upon the promise of the ,almighty ,god was the most effectual means of maintaining him in his stranger condition4 ,now1 it is1 in the very highest degree1 instructive to see the honor here put upon the character and condition of the stranger4 ,throughout the wide range of the world there was just one spot in which the ,lord could accept the rites of hospitality and make ,himself at home1 and that was in the tent of a pilgrim and stranger4 ,the ,lord would not honor the sumptuous halls and princely palaces of ,egypt with ,his presence4 ,no4 ,all ,his sympathies and all ,his affections hung around the stranger of ,mamre1 who was the only one who1 in the midst of an evil world1 could be induced to take ,god for his portion4 ,what a season of enjoyment it must have been to ,abraham while those heavenly strangers sat with him and partook of the offerings of his generous heart4 ,mark how he calls forth into action all the energies of his house to do honor to his guests4 ,he hastens from the tent to the field1 and from the field to the tent again1 and seems to lose sight of himself in his effort to make others happy4 ,nor is it merely by partaking of ,abraham's hospitality that the ,lord gives expression to the high estimation in which ,he holds him2 ,he renews ,his promise to him with regard to the son--,he opens up ,his counsels to him with reference to ,sodom4 ,shall ,i1 says ,he1 hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i do2 seeing that ,abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation1 and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him8 ,for ,i know him1 that he will command his children and his household after him1 and they shall keep the way of the ,lord1 to do justice and judgment2 that the ,lord may bring upon ,abraham that which ,he hath spoken of him4 7vers4 #ag-ai47 ,here ,abraham is seen as the friend of ,god4 ,the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth1 but ,abraham was made acquainted with what the ,lord was about to do to ,sodom1 while ,lot--the one who was so deeply interested in the solemn event--was left in profound ignorance about it4 ,how then does ,abraham make use of his favored position8 ,does he use it to strengthen more fully1 and place on a firmer basis1 the future interests of his house8 ,surely the natural heart would at once have prompted him to make such a use of his present advantage in the matter of nearness to ,jehovah4 ,does he use it thus8 ,nay4 ,abraham had learnt too much of the ways of ,god to act in a way savoring so much of the selfishness of a heartless world4 ,but1 even had he thought of such a thing1 he had no need to utter a syllable on the subject1 for the ,almighty ,god had most amply satisfied his heart with regard to the everlasting interests of his house--,he had fixed it upon such a foundation that an anxious thought would have evidenced a complete want of moral order in ,abraham's soul4 ,he therefore entertained not a thought about himself or his house1 but like a genuine man of faith1 he takes advantage of his place in the presence of ,god to intercede for a brother1 whose worldliness had plunged him into the very midst of that place which was about to be given over to everlasting destruction4 ,and ,abraham drew near1 and said1 ,wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked8 7ver4 #bc47 ,the righteous6 to whom can he allude8 ,can it be to the man who had so deliberately turned aside out of the path of faith to take up his abode at ,sodom8 ,yes2 he speaks of ,lot--he calls him righteous1--he speaks of him in the very same terms as the ,spirit in the apostle afterward speaks of him when he calls him a righteous soul4 ,abraham1 therefore1 was taught of ,god when he could recognize in the man surrounded by all the pollution of ,sodom a righteous soul4#e #e ,although ,i consider ,lot the principal object in ,abraham's mind1 while interceding before the ,lord1 ,i do not forget that there is mention made of fifty1 etc4 ,i doubt not it will be admitted by every one taught of ,god that the conduct of ,abraham in this chapter1 furnishes us with one of the most important results of a holy and separated walk4 ,we observe in it a man pleading with ,god in a most urgent strain for one who had turned his back upon him1 and selected ,sodom as the place of his abode4 ,how completely must ,abraham's soul have been lifted above the things that are seen when he could thus forget the strife and the departure1 worldliness and evil of ,lot1 and plead for him still as a righteous soul4 ,if ,abraham appears as the friend of ,god under other circumstances and other scenes1 surely he is here seen as the child of ,god exhibiting most sweetly those principles which he had learnt in communion with his heavenly ,father4 ,we shall now leave ,abraham1 for a little1 enjoying his happy place before the ,lord1 while we contemplate the last sad scene in the life of one who seems to have valued the things of this life more highly than was consistent with the character of a stranger and pilgrim or a righteous soul4 ,from the time that the separation took place between ,abraham and ,lot1 the former seems to have proceeded from strength to strength2 while the latter1 on the contrary1 seems to have proceeded only downwards1 from one stage of weakness to another1 until we find him1 at the close1 making shipwreck of everything1 and merely escaping with his life4 ,the loss of all his goods in the battle between the four kings and five does not seem to have had any effect upon the mind of ,lot in the way of teaching him the evil of being mixed up with the world2 yea1 he seems to have become more deeply involved in worldliness after that event than he had been before2 for1 at the first1 he merely pitched his tent towards ,sodom 7chap4 xiii4 #ab72 but now we find him sitting in the gate 7chap4 xix4 #a71 which1 as we know1 was then the place of honor4 ,when once a man has put his hand to the plow if he begin to look back1 we have been told by ,him who cannot err1 that he is not fit for the kingdom of ,god4 ,nor is it possible to count upon the fearful lengths to which a man may go when once the world1 in any one of its varied aspects1 has taken possession of his heart1 or when once he has begun to turn his back upon the people of ,god4 ,the terrible declension spoken of in ,hebrews x41 which stops not short of trampling under foot the ,son of ,god1 has its beginning in the apparently simple act of forsaking the assembling of ourselves together4 ,how needful1 therefore1 it is that we should take heed to our ways1 and watch the avenues of our hearts and minds1 lest any evil thing should get dominion over us1 which1 however trivial in itself1 might lead to the most appalling results4 ,now1 it strikes me1 that we have in the circumstance presented to us in the opening of chapter xix4 the full evidence of ,lot's fallen condition4 ,the ,lord ,himself does not appear at all4 ,he remains at a distance from the unholy place1 and merely sends ,his angels to execute ,his commission upon the devoted city of ,sodom4 ,the angels1 too1 exhibit all the symptoms of distance and strangership--they refuse to go into ,lot's house when invited1 saying1 ,nay1 but we will abide in the street all night4 ,true1 they subsequently enter into his house2 but1 if they do so1 it is not so much to enjoy refreshment as to counteract the sad effects of ,lot's wrong circumstances4 ,how different was the scene at ,lot's house from that which they had so lately witnessed at the tent of the stranger of ,mamre6 ,the tumult of the men of ,sodom--to whom1 notwithstanding all their ungodly deeds and ungodly speeches1 ,lot applies the title of brethren--the evident embarrassment of ,lot at being discovered in such painful circumstances--the shocking proposal which he is constrained to make in order to screen his guests from the violence of the ungodly men of ,sodom--the struggle at the door1 and ,lot's danger--all these things must have shocked the heavenly strangers1 and stood in marked contrast with the holy peace and retirement of ,abraham's tent1 together with his own calm and dignified demeanor throughout the scene4 ,well might those angels have been astonished to find a righteous soul in such a place1 when he could have enjoyed1 in company with his separated brother1 the peaceful and holy joys of his steady and consistent course4 ,but the time had now arrived for the pouring out of the cup of divine wrath upon ,sodom4 ,the men said unto ,lot1 ,hast thou here any besides8444 bring them out of this place3 for we will destroy this place1 because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the ,lord2 and the ,lord hath sent us to destroy it4 7vers4 #ab1 #ac47 ,the critical moment which the ,lord ,jesus1 in the gospel1 notes by the exceedingly solemn word ,,until1 was now at hand for the careless inhabitants of ,sodom1 who dreamed not of any interruption to their eating1 and drinking1 buying and selling1 marrying and giving in marriage4 ,a moment's respite is allowed1 during which ,lot bears a message to his son-in-law1 a testimony as to the rapidly approaching judgment2 but1 ah6 what power could the testimony of one who had voluntarily come in and settled amongst them1 have upon those who had lived and moved from their earliest infancy in the midst of the ungodly scene8 ,how could ,lot expect that his words would have any weight when his ways had so sadly contradicted them8 ,he might now1 with terrified aspect and earnest entreaties1 urge them to leave a place which he knew was doomed to everlasting destruction1 but they could not forget the calm and deliberate way in which he had at first pitched his tent toward ,sodom1 and finally taken his seat in the gate2 hence1 as might be expected1 he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law4 7ver4 #ad47 ,and how1 so far as he was concerned1 could it be otherwise8 ,his sons-in-law might be1 and doubtless were1 responsible before ,god for the rejection of the testimony2 but ,lot could not1 by any means1 expect them to heed him much1 indeed1 we find that even he himself was tardy in departing from the place2 for while he lingered--while his heart still went after some object or another that was dear to him--the men laid hold upon his hand1 and upon the hand of his wife1 and upon the hand of his two daughters2 the ,lord being merciful to him1 and they brought him forth and set him without the city4 7ver4 #af47 ,from this statement1 it is manifest that1 had not the men laid hold of1 and brought forth ,lot1 he would1 no doubt1 have lingered on until the fire of ,god's judgment had fallen upon him1 and prevented even his escaping with his life4 ,but they pulled him out of the fire1 because the ,lord had mercy upon him4 ,but this escape of ,lot's only served to put fresh honor upon ,abraham1 for we read that when ,god destroyed the cities of the plain1 he remembered ,abraham and sent ,lot out of the midst of the overthrow 7ver4 #bi74 ,thus1 as ,abraham's sword had delivered ,lot in the time of the conquest of ,sodom1 his prayer delivered him in the time of its final overthrow1 for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much4 ,nor does the contrast between those two men stop here4 ,there is yet another scene in which they stand at a great distance from each other as to the moral condition of their souls4 ,abraham gat him up early in the morning1 to the place where he stood before the ,lord 7ver4 #bg74 ,here the man of faith1 the holy pilgrim1 once more raises his head amid the mighty scene of desolation4 ,all was over with ,sodom and its guilty inhabitants1 the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace4 ,sad spectacle6 ,the din and bustle of that once stirring city was hushed2 silence reigned around--the buying and selling--the eating and drinking--the marrying and giving in marriage--all the intercourse of social life had been awfully broken in upon4 ,the solemn ,,until had come at last--the only one in all that wicked place who1 notwithstanding his failure1 could be regarded as the salt1 had been removed--the measure of ,sodom's iniquity had been filled up--the day of divine longsuffering closed1 and nothing now met the eye of ,abraham but misery and desolation throughout all the plain4 ,how melancholy6 ,and yet it was but a type of the far more terrible desolation which shall sweep across this guilty world when the ,son of man makes ,his appearance1 when every eye shall see ,him1 and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn and wail because of ,him4 ,thus1 ,abraham stood before the ,lord1 completely exempt from all the sad effects of the recent visitation1 as far as he was personally concerned4 ,his stranger condition which1 in the days of ,chedorlaomer1 had enabled him to live outside of ,sodom and all its circumstances1 still kept him free1 and was the means of his escape from ,sodom's unutterable woe and misery4 ,had ,abraham1 when solicited by the ,king of ,sodom1 mixed himself up with the things of ,sodom1 he would have been involved1 in some measure1 as was his brother ,lot1 in its overthrow4 ,he himself would have been saved1 but his work would have been burnt up4 ,but ,abraham was looking for a city that hath foundations1 and he knew at once that ,sodom was not that city1 and hence he would have nothing whatever to do with it4 ,he would hate even the garment spotted by the flesh--he would touch not the unclean thing1 and now he was permitted to realize the blessed results of his conduct1 for1 while ,lot had to retreat in confusion and sorrow to a cave in the mountains1 his wife and all his possessions being lost1 ,abraham takes his stand1 in all that blessed calmness and dignity which ever characterized him1 in the presence of ,jehovah1 and from thence surveys the heart-rending scene4 ,but what of ,lot8 ,how did he end his course8 ,oh1 tell it not in ,gath6 publish it not in the streets of ,askelon6 ,well may we desire to throw a veil over the closing scene of the life of one who does not seem to have ever realized1 as he should1 the power of the call of ,god4 ,he had always displayed a secret desire for the things of ,egypt or those of ,sodom4 ,his heart does not seem to have been thoroughly detached from the world1 and therefore his course was always unsteady2 from the time he separated himself from ,abraham1 he went from bad to worse--from one stage of evil to another1 until at last the scene closes with the shocking transaction in the cave2 the sad results of which were seen in the persons of ,moab and ,ammon1 the enemies of the people of ,god4 ,thus ended the course of ,lot1 whose history ought to be a solemn warning to all ,christians who feel a tendency to be carried away by the world4 ,the history has not been left on record without a purpose4 ,whatever things were written aforetime1 were written for our learning1 may we therefore learn from the above narrative1 not to lust after evil things1 for1 although the ,lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation1 yet it is our place to keep as much out of the way of temptation as we can1 and our prayer should ever be lead us not into temptation4 ,the world passeth away1 and the lust thereof2 but he that doeth the will of ,god abideth forever 7#a ,john ii4 #ag74 ,,chapters ,,xx41 ,,xxi4 ,lot has now passed off the scene--his sun has gone down amid thick clouds and a gloomy atmosphere2 it now remains for us to pursue1 for a few moments longer1 the narrative of ,abraham's ways1 and ,god's dealings with him4 ,there was one point involved in chapter xii4 which ,i left untouched1 knowing that it would come before us again in this place4 ,when ,abraham went down into ,egypt1 he entered into a compact with ,sarah his wife to conceal part of the truth1 ,say1 ,i pray thee1 said he1 thou art my sister 7,chap4 xii4 #ac74 ,one evil ever leads to another4 ,abraham was moving in the wrong direction when he went down into ,egypt for help1 and therefore did not exhibit that refinement of conscience which would have told him of the moral unsoundness of this mental reservation4 ,speak every man truth with his neighbor1 being a divine principle1 would always exercise an influence upon one walking in communion with ,god2 but ,abraham's desire to get out of present trial was an evidence of failure in communion1 and hence his moral sense1 as a recent writer has termed it1 was not as keen or as elevated as it should have been4 ,however1 although the ,lord plagued ,pharaoh's house because of his having taken ,sarah into it1 and further1 although ,pharaoh rebukes ,abraham for his acting in the matter1 yet the latter says nothing whatever about the deliberate compact into which he had entered with his wife1 to keep back part of the truth2 he silently takes the rebuke and goes on his way1 but the root of the evil remained still in his heart1 ready to show itself at any time if circumstances should arise to draw it out4 ,now1 it is marvelous to behold ,abraham coming up out of ,egypt--building an altar and pitching a tent--exhibiting the noble generosity of faith--vanquishing ,chedorlaomer and repulsing the temptation of the ,king of ,sodom--urging his request for a son and heir1 receiving the most gracious answer--on his face before ,god in the sense of ,his almighty grace and power--entertaining the heavenly strangers and interceding for his brother ,lot4 ,in a word1 ,i say1 it is marvelous to behold ,abraham passing through such brilliant scenes1 comprising a series of years1 and1 all the while1 this moral point1 in which he had erred at the very threshold of his course1 remains unsettled in his heart4 ,true1 it did not develop itself during the period to which ,i have just referred1 but why did it not8 ,because ,abraham was not in circumstances to call it out1 but there it was notwithstanding4 ,the evil was not fully brought out--not confessed1 not got rid of1--and the proof of this is1 that the moment he again finds himself in circumstances which could act upon his weak point1 it is at once made manifest that the weak point is there4 ,the temptation through which he passed in the matter of the ,king of ,sodom1 was not by any means calculated to touch this peculiar point2 nor was anything that occurred to him from the time he came up out of ,egypt until he went down into ,gerar1 calculated to touch it1 for had it been touched1 it would no doubt have exhibited itself4 ,we never can know what is in our hearts until circumstances arise to draw it out4 ,peter did not imagine that he could deny his ,lord1 but when he got into circumstances which were calculated to act upon his peculiar weakness1 he showed that the weakness was there4 ,it required the protracted period of forty years in the wilderness to teach the children of ,israel what was in their hearts 7,deut4 viii4 #b72 and it is one of the grand results of the course of discipline through which each child of ,god passes1 to lead him into a more profound knowledge of his own weakness and nothingness4 ,we had the sentence of death in ourselves1 that we should not trust in ourselves1 but in ,god which raiseth the dead 7#b ,cor4 i4 #i74 ,the more we are growing in the sense of our infirmities1 the more shall we see our need of clinging more closely to ,christ--drawing more largely upon ,his grace1 and entering more fully into the cleansing virtue and value of ,his atoning blood4 ,the ,christian1 at the opening of his course1 never knows his own heart2 indeed1 he could not bear the full knowledge of it2 he would be overwhelmed thereby4 ,the ,lord leads us not by the way of the ,philistines lest we should see war1 and so be plunged in despair4 ,but ,he graciously leads us by a circuitous route1 in order that our apprehension of ,his grace may keep pace with our growing self-knowledge4 ,in chapter xx41 then1 we find ,abraham again1 after the lapse of many years1 falling into the old error1 a suppression of truth1 for which he has to suffer a rebuke from a mere man of the world4 ,the man of the world1 in this scene1 seemed1 for the moment1 to possess a more refined moral sense than the man of ,god4 ,said he not unto me1 says he1 ',she is my sister'6 and she1 even she herself said1 ',he is my brother'3 in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have ,i done this4 ,but mark how ,god enters the scene for the purpose of vindicating ,his servant4 ,he says to ,abimelech1 ,behold1 thou art but a dead man4 ,yes1 with all the integrity of his heart and innocency of his hands--with all his fine moral sense of right and wrong1 he was but a dead man1 when it came to be a question1 for one moment1 between him and even an erring child of ,god4 ,god1 in ,his grace1 was looking at ,his dear servant from quite a different point of view from that adopted by ,abimelech4 ,all that the latter could see in ,abraham was a man guilty of a manifest piece of deception1 but ,god saw more than that1 and therefore ,he says to ,abimelech1 ,now therefore restore the man his wife2 for he is a prophet1 and he shall pray for thee1 and thou shalt live4 ,what dignity is here put upon ,abraham6 ,god himself vindicates him before the world6 ,not a syllable of reproof6--not a breath of disapprobation6--no1 he is a prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live4 ,how truly consolatory it is for the poor1 weak1 and harassed believer to remember that ,his ,father is ever viewing him through the medium of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,he sees nothing whatever upon ,his child but the excellency and perfectness of ,jesus4 ,thus1 while a man of the world may have to rebuke a child of ,god1 as in the case before us1 ,god declares that ,he values that character which the believer has received from ,him more than all the amiability1 integrity1 and innocency that nature can boast of4 ,this reminds us of the way in which the ,lord vindicates the ,baptist before the multitude1 although ,he had sent a message to himself which must have exercised him deeply2--,i say unto you1 among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than ,john the ,baptist 7,luke vii4 #bh74 ,thus1 whatever unfavorable aspect the child of ,god may wear in the world's view1 ,god will ever show ,himself the vindicator of such4 ,he suffered no man to do them wrong2 yea1 he reproved kings for their sakes1 saying1 ,touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm 7#a ,chron4 xvi4 #ba1 #bb74 ,however1 as was observed with regard to ,john the ,baptist1 the message sent from the ,lord to ,his servant must have exercised his spirit deeply in secret1 so is it in ,abraham's case4 ,abraham must have felt deeply humbled in his soul at the thought of what had occurred1 and the consciousness of the fact that ,god would not enter into judgment with him about it would have augmented that feeling4 ,when ,abraham fell into the same error in ,egypt we do not find that ,pharaoh's reproof produced any manifest effect4 ,he was not humbled by it to such a degree as to make a full confession of the whole thing4 ,he takes his departure out of ,egypt1 but the root of evil remains in his heart1 ready to shoot forth its pernicious branches again4 ,not so in chapter xx42 here we get at once at the root of the matter--,abraham opens up his whole heart1 he confesses that from the very first moment of his course he had retained this thing in his heart which had twice betrayed him into an act1 which1 to say the least of it1 would not bear the light4 ,and as there is the full confession of the evil on his part1 so is there the complete renunciation of it--he gets rid of it fully1 root and branch4 ,the leaven is put forth out of every corner of his heart1 he hearkens to ,abimelech's reproof and profits by it2 it was ,god's instrument by which ,he brought out the matter1 and delivered the soul of his servant from the power of evil4 ,but1 in addition to the point upon which we have been dwelling1 there was yet another question to be settled ere ,abraham could reach the most elevated point of his course as a man of faith4 ,the bondwoman and her son were yet in the house4 ,he must put forth these from his house as he had put forth the evil from his heart4 ,the house and the heart must be cleared out4 ,in chapter xxi4 we find matters brought to a crisis with regard to the bondwoman and her son1 concerning whom we have heard comparatively nothing until now4 ,the element of bondage had heretofore lain dormant in ,abraham's house because not roused into action1 by anything of an opposite nature and tendency4 ,but1 in the birth of ,isaac--the son of the free woman--the child of promise--we see a new element introduced4 ,the spirit of liberty and the spirit of bondage are thus brought into contact1 and the struggle must issue in the expulsion of either one or the other4 ,they cannot move on in harmony1 for how can two walk together except they be agreed4 ,now we are invited by the ,apostle1 in his epistle to the ,galatians1 to behold in these two children1 the two covenants1 the one gendering to bondage1 the other to liberty2 and further1 to behold in them samples of the fleshly and spiritual seed of ,abraham1 the former1 born after the flesh1 the latter1 born after the ,spirit4 ,nor can anything be more marked than the line of demarcation between1 not only the two covenants1 but the two seeds4 ,they are totally distinct the one from the other1 and can never1 by any operation1 be brought to coalesce4 ,abraham was made to feel1 and that painfully1 this fact4 ,cast out this bondwoman and her son2 for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son1 even with ,isaac 7,chap4 xxi4 #aj74 ,here the natural result shows itself4 ,the two elements could not mingle4 ,as well might the north and the south winds be expected to blow in all their strength without exciting a convulsion in the elements4 ,but it was most painful work to ,abraham to be obliged thus to thrust forth his son4 ,the thing was very grievous in ,abraham's sight because of his son2 but it mattered not1 he must be put out1 for the son of a bondwoman could never inherit the promises made only to the spiritual seed4 ,if ,ishmael were to have been retained1 it would have been an open allowance of the claims of the flesh4 ,abraham would have found something as pertaining to the flesh and would thus have had whereof to glory4 ,but no--all ,god's promises are to be made good to those who1 like ,isaac1 are the children of promise1 born after the ,spirit1 not of blood1 not of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god 7,john i4 #ac74 ,ishmael was manifestly born of the will of the flesh1 and of the will of man1 and flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,the flesh must therefore be set aside and kept under1 no matter how grievous it may be to our hearts4 ,the ,christian will often find it grievous enough to keep down the old principle which ever lusts against the new1 but the ,lord gives spiritual power for the struggle so that we are more than conquerors through ,him that loves us4 ,but ,i must again remind the reader that it is not my present purpose to pursue the doctrinal matter involved in this instructive history#f2 were ,i to do so it would carry me far beyond the limits ,i have prescribed for myself in this little paper1 the design of which is1 as before observed1 simply to direct attention to a few leading principles put forward in the narrative4 ,i will therefore pass on to the next chapter which is the last of the section laid out for consideration4 #f ,for a fuller examination and spiritual instruction contained in ,abraham's and others' history1 see ,genesis in the ,light of the ,new ,testament2 from the same publishers4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,the circumstances through which ,abraham passed in chapters twenty and twenty-one were most important indeed4 ,an evil which had long been harbored in his heart had been put away2 the bondwoman and her son1 who had so long retained quiet possession of his house1 were cast out1 and he now stands forth as a vessel sanctified and meet for the master's use1 prepared unto every good work4 ,and it came to pass after these things1 that ,god did tempt 7or try7 ,abraham4 ,here ,abraham is at once introduced into a place of real dignity and honor4 ,when ,god tries an individual it is a certain evidence of ,his confidence in him4 ,we never read that ,god did tempt ,lot--no1 the goods of ,sodom furnished a sufficiently strong temptation for ,lot4 ,the enemy laid a snare for him in the well-watered plains of ,sodom which he seemed but too prone to fall into4 ,not so with ,abraham4 ,he lived more in the presence of ,god1 and was1 therefore1 less susceptible of the influence of that which had ensnared his erring brother4 ,now1 the test to which ,god submits ,abraham--the furnace in which ,he tries him1 marks at once a pure and genuine metal4 ,had ,abraham's faith not been of the purest and most genuine character1 he would assuredly have winced under the fiery ordeal through which we behold him passing in this beautiful chapter4 ,when ,god promised ,abraham a son1 he believed the promise and it was counted unto him for righteousness4 ,he staggered not at the promise of ,god through unbelief1 but was strong in faith1 giving glory to ,god4 ,but then1 having received this son1 having realized the truth of the promise1 was there not a danger that he would rest in the gift instead of in the ,giver8 ,was there not a danger that he would lean upon ,isaac1 in thinking upon the future seed and future inheritance1 rather than upon ,god ,himself who had promised him the seed8 ,surely there was1 and ,god knew that1 and therefore tries ,his servant in a way1 more than anything1 calculated to put him to the test as to the object on which his soul was resting4 ,the grand inquiry put to ,abraham's heart1 in this wondrous transaction1 was1 are you still walking before ,,the ,,almighty ,,god1 ,,the ,,quickener ,,of ,,the ,,dead8 ,god desired to know whether he could apprehend in ,him the ,one who was as able to raise up children from the ashes of his sacrificed son as from the dead womb of ,sarah4 ,in other words1 ,god desired to prove that ,abraham's faith reached forth1 as some one has observed1 ,,to ,,resurrection1 for if it stopped short of this1 he never would have responded to the startling command1 ,take now1 thy son1 thine only son ,isaac whom thou lovest1 and get thee into the land of ,moriah2 and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which ,i will tell thee of 7,chap4 xxii4 #b47 ,but ,abraham staggered not4 ,he at once responds to the call4 ,god had asked for ,isaac1 and ,isaac must be given1 and that too without a breath of murmur4 ,he could give up anything or everything so long as his eye rested upon the ,almighty ,god4 ,and mark the point of view in which ,abraham puts this journey of his to ,mount ,moriah1 ,i and the lad will go yonder and worship4 ,yes1 it was an act of worship1 for he was about to lay upon the altar of the ,quickener of the dead the one in whom all ,god's promises centred4 ,it was an act of worship--most elevated worship1 for he was about to prove1 in the sight of heaven and hell1 that no other object filled his soul but the ,almighty ,god4 ,hence1 what calmness6 what self-possession6 what pure devotion6 what elevation of mind6 what self-renunciation6 ,he never falters throughout the scene4 ,he saddles the ass1 prepares the wood1 and sets off to ,mount ,moriah1 without giving expression to one anxious thought1 although1 as far as human eye could see1 he was about to lose the object of his heart's most tender affection1 yea1 the one upon whom the future interests of his house1 to all appearance1 depended4 ,abraham1 however1 showed most fully that his heart had found a nearer and dearer object than ,isaac1 dear as he was2 he showed also that his faith was resting upon another object altogether1 with reference to the future interests of his seed1 and that he was as simply resting upon the promise of ,almighty ,god after the birth of ,isaac as before it4 ,behold1 then1 this man of faith as he ascends the mount1 taking with him his well-beloved6 ,what a scene of breathless interest6#g ,how must the angelic hosts have watched this illustrious father from stage to stage of his wondrous journey1 until at last they beheld his hand stretched forth for the knife to slay his son--that son for which he had so long and ardently wished1 and for which he had so steadily trusted ,god4 ,then again1 what an opportunity for ,satan to ply his fiery darts6 ,what abundant room for such suggestions as the following1 viz41 ,what will become of the promises of ,god with regard to the seed and the inheritance1 if you thus sacrifice your only son8 ,beware that you are not led astray by some false revelation2 or1 if it be true that ,god has said so and so1 doth not ,god know that1 in the day you sacrifice your son1 all your hopes will be blasted8 ,further1 think of ,sarah2 what will she do if she lose ,isaac1 after having induced you to expel from your house ,ishmael8 ,all these suggestions1 and many beside1 the enemy might bring to bear upon the heart of ,abraham4 ,nor would ,abraham himself have been beyond the region of those thoughts and reasonings which1 at such a time1 would not fail to arise within him4 ,what then was his answer to all such dark suggestions8 ,,resurrection6 ,by faith ,abraham1 when he was tried1 offered up ,isaac2 and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son1 of whom it was said1 that in ,isaac shall thy seed be called3 ,,accounting ,,that ,,god ,,was ,,able ,,to ,,raise ,,him ,,up1 ,,even ,,from ,,the ,,dead2 ,,from ,,whence ,,also ,,he ,,received ,,him ,,in ,a ,,figure 7,heb4 xi4 #ag-ai74 #g ,it strikes me that we get1 in ,abraham's journey to ,mount ,moriah1 a remarkable type of the mysterious scene afterwards exhibited at ,calvary1 when ,god was really providing himself a lamb4 ,we can have no difficulty in losing sight of ,herod and ,pilate1 the chief priests and scribes1 the ,pharisees and the multitude1 and thus we have none remaining but ,,the ,,father ,,and ,,the ,,son1 who1 in company1 ascend the ,mount and carry out the gracious work of redemption in the unbroken solitude of that place4 ,resurrection is ,god's mighty remedy for all the mischief and ruin introduced by ,satan2 when once we arrive at this point1 we have done with the power of ,satan1 the last exercise of which is seen in death4 ,satan cannot touch the life that has been received in resurrection1 for the last exercise of his power is seen in the grave of ,christ2 beyond that he can do nothing4 ,hence the security of the ,church's place2 her life is hidden with ,christ in ,god4 ,blessed hiding place6 ,may we rejoice in it more and more each day4 ,i will now draw this paper to a close4 ,we have followed ,abraham in his course1 from ,ur of the ,chaldees up to the ,mount ,moriah--we have seen him resign1 at the call of ,god1 family and kindred1 lands and possessions1 worldly ease and prosperity2 and lastly1 we have seen him1 in the power of faith1 at the same call of ,god1 ascend the solitary mount1 for the purpose of laying his only begotten upon ,god's altar1 and thus to declare that he could give up everything and every one but ,god ,himself--and that1 being acquainted with the meaning of ,,the ,,almighty and ,,resurrection1 he cared not though he were called to look to the stones for the raising up of seed unto him4 ,on the other hand1 we have followed ,lot from ,ur of the ,chaldees also2 but alas6 his path was a far different one from that of his brother4 ,he does not seem to have realized the power of the call of ,god in his own soul2 he moved rather under ,abraham's influence than under that of ,jehovah2 hence we find that1 while ,abraham was1 at every step of his journey1 letting go the world1 ,lot was doing the very reverse2 he was grasping at the world in every shape and form1 and he obtained that at which he was grasping1 but what then8 ,what of the end8 ,ah1 that is the point4 ,what of ,lot's end8 ,instead of being a noble spectacle unto angels1 and a pattern to all future generations of the faithful1--of what faith can enable a man to do and to suffer for ,god1--he was just the reverse2 he was led away by the enemy of his soul1 who ensnared him by means of the things of the world2 he spent his days amid the uncleanness of ,sodom1 and the scene closes with the sad circumstances in the cave4 ,all he did for ,god or his people was to beget the ,ammonite and the ,moabite1 the enemies of both4 ,how wondrous then is that grace1 which1 speaking of the history of such an one1 could say1 ,and delivered just ,lot1 vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked2 for that righteous man dwelling among them1 in seeing and hearing1 vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds 7#b ,peter ii4 #g1 #h74 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,,thou ,,and ,,thy ,,house4 ,there are two houses which occupy a very prominent place on the page of inspiration1 and these are1 the house of ,god and the house of ,god's servant4 ,god attaches immense importance to ,his house2 and justly so1 because it is ,his4 ,his truth1 ,his honor1 ,his character1 ,his glory1 are all involved in the character of ,his house2 and hence it is ,his desire that the impress of what ,he is should plainly appear on that which belongs to ,him4 ,if ,god has a house1 it assuredly should be a godly house1 a holy house1 a spiritual house1 an elevated house1 a pure and heavenly house4 ,it should be all this1 not merely in abstract position and principle1 but practically and characteristically4 ,its abstract position is founded upon what ,god has made it1 and where ,he has set it2 but its practical character is founded upon the actual walk of those who form its constituent parts down here upon this earth4 ,now1 while many minds may be prepared to enter into the truth and importance of all the principles connected with ,god's house1 there may be but few1 comparatively1 who are disposed to give a due measure of attention to those connected with the house of ,god's servant2 although if one were asked the question1 ,what house stands next in order to the house of ,god8 he should undoubtedly reply1 ,the house of ,his servant4 ,however1 as there is nothing like bringing the holy authority of ,god's ,word to bear upon the conscience1 ,i shall quote a few passages of ,scripture1 which will tend to show1 in a clear and forcible point of view1 what are ,god's thoughts about the house of one holding connection with ,him4 ,when the iniquity of the antediluvian world had risen to a head1 and the end of all flesh had come before a righteous ,god1 who was about to roll the heavy tide of judgment over the corrupted scene1 these sweet words fell upon ,noah's ear3 ,come thou and all thy house into the ark2 for thee have ,i seen righteous before ,me in this generation4 7,gen4 vii4 #a47 ,now1 it will be said that ,noah was a type of ,christ--the righteous head of a saved family--saved in virtue of their association with him4 ,all this is fully granted2 but ,noah's typical character does not in any wise interfere with the principle which ,i seek to deduce from this and kindred passages1 which principle ,i shall here1 at the outset1 distinctly lay down--it is this3 the house of every servant of ,god is1 in virtue of its connection with ,him1 brought into a position of privilege and consequent responsibility4#h ,that this is a principle involving vast practical consequences we shall1 with ,god's blessing and grace1 see ere we close this paper2 but we must first seek to establish its truth from the ,word of ,god4 ,were we merely left to argue from analogy1 our thesis might be easily proved2 for it could never be supposed1 by any mind at all acquainted with the character and ways of ,god1 that ,he would attach such unspeakable importance to ,his own house1 and attach none at all1 or almost none1 to that of ,his servant4 ,this were impossible2 it would be utterly unlike ,god1 and ,god must always act like ,himself4 ,but we are not left to analogy on this most important and deeply practical question2 and the passage just quoted forms one of the first of a series of direct and positive proofs4 ,in it we find those immensely significant words1 ,thou and thy house inseparably linked together4 ,god did not reveal a salvation for ,noah which was of no avail to ,noah's house4 ,he never contemplated such a thing4 ,the same ark that lay open to him lay open to them also4 ,why8 ,was it because they had faith8 ,no2 but because he had1 and they were connected with him4 ,god gave him a blank check for himself and his family1 and it devolved upon him to fill it up by bringing them in along with him4 ,i repeat it1 this does not in the least interfere with ,noah's typical character4 ,i look at him typically1 but ,i look at him personally also4 ,nor can ,i1 under any circumstances1 separate a man from his house4 ,the house of ,god is brought into blessing and responsibility because of its connection with ,him2 and the house of the servant of ,god is brought into blessing and responsibility because of its connection with him4 ,this is our thesis4 #h ,the reader will not1 ,i trust1 imagine that the necessity for the work of the ,holy ,ghost in the regeneration of the children of ,christian parents is denied or interfered with4 ,god forbid6 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,this is as true of a ,christian's child as of every one else4 ,grace is not hereditary4 ,the sum of what ,i would press upon ,christian parents is1 that ,scripture inseparably links a man with his house1 and that the ,christian parent is warranted in counting upon ,god for his children1 and responsible to train his children for ,god4 ,let any one who denies this interpret ,ephesians vi4 #d4 ,the next passage to which ,i shall refer occurs in the life of ,abraham4 ,and the ,lord said1 ',shall ,i hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i do8444 ,for ,i know him1 that he will command his children and his household after him1 and they shall keep the way of the ,lord1 to do justice and judgment2 that the ,lord may bring upon ,abraham that which ,he hath spoken of him4' 7,gen4 xviii4 #ag-ai47 ,here it is not a question of salvation1 but of communion with the mind and purposes of ,god2 and let the ,christian parent note and solemnly ponder the fact that when ,god was seeking out a man to whom ,he could disclose ,his secret counsels1 ,he selected one possessing the simple characteristic of commanding his children and his household4 ,this1 to a tender conscience1 cannot fail to prove a most pungent principle4 ,if there is one point above another in which ,christians have failed1 it is in this very point of commanding their children and household4 ,they surely have not set ,god before them in this particular2 for if ,i look at the entire record of ,god's dealings with ,his house1 ,i find them invariably characterized by the exercise of power on the principle of righteousness4 ,he has firmly established and unflinchingly carried out ,his holy authority4 ,it matters not what the outward aspect or character of ,his house may be1 the essential principle of ,his dealing with it is immutable4 ,thy testimonies are very sure2 holiness becometh thy house1 ,o ,lord1 forever4 ,now1 the servant must ever take his ,master as his model2 and if ,god rules ,his house with power exercised in righteousness1 so must ,i2 for if ,i am in any one particular of my conduct different from ,him1 ,i must in that particular be wrong4 ,this is plain4 ,but not only does ,god so rule ,his house2 ,he likewise loves1 approves of1 and treats with ,his marked and honored confidence those who do the same4 ,in the above passage1 we find ,him saying1 ,i cannot hide my purposes from ,abraham4 ,why8 ,is it because of his personal grace or faith8 ,no2 but simply because he will command his children and his household4 ,a man who knows how to command his house is worthy of ,god's confidence4 ,this is a stupendous truth1 the edge of which should pierce the conscience of many a ,christian parent4 ,many of us1 alas6 with our eye resting on ,genesis xviii4 #ai1 may well prostrate ourselves before the ,one who uttered and penned that word1 and cry out1 ,failure6 failure6 shameful1 humiliating failure6 ,and why is this8 ,why have we failed to meet the solemn responsibility devolving upon us in reference to the due command of our households8 ,i believe there is but one reply1 viz41 because we have failed to realize1 by faith1 the privilege conferred upon those households in virtue of their association with us4 ,it is remarkable that our two earliest proofs should present to our view1 with such accuracy1 the two grand divisions of our question1 namely1 privilege and responsibility4 ,in ,noah's case1 the word was1 ,thou and thy house in the place of salvation2 in ,abraham's case1 it was ,thou and thy house in the place of moral government4 ,the connection is at once marked and beautiful1 and the man who fails in faith to appropriate the privilege will fail in moral power to answer the responsibility4 ,god looks upon a man's house as part of himself1 and he cannot1 in the smallest degree1 whether in principle or practice1 disregard the connection without suffering serious damage1 and also marring the testimony4 ,now1 the question for the ,christian parent's conscience really is1 ,am ,i counting upon ,god for my house1 and ruling my house for ,god8 ,a solemn question1 surely2 yet it is to be feared very few feel its magnitude and power4 ,and here1 perhaps1 my reader may feel disposed to demand fuller ,scripture-proof than has yet been adduced1 as to our warrant for counting upon ,god for our houses4 ,i shall therefore proceed with the ,scripture-quotations4 ,i give one from the history of ,jacob4 ,and ,god said to ,jacob1 ',arise1 go up to ,bethel4' ,this would seem to have been addressed to ,jacob personally2 but he never thought for a moment of disconnecting himself from his family1 either as to privilege or responsibility2 wherefore it is immediately added1 ,jacob said unto his household1 and to all that were with him1 ',put away the strange gods that are among you1 and be clean1 and change your garments2 and let us arise1 and go up to ,bethel4' 7,gen4 xxxv4 #a-c47 ,here we see that a call to ,jacob put ,jacob's house under responsibility4 ,he was called to go up to ,god's house1 and the question immediately suggested itself to his conscience1 whether his own house were in a fit condition to respond to such a call4 ,we now turn to the opening chapters of the book of ,exodus1 where we find that one of ,pharaoh's four objections to the full deliverance and separation of ,israel had specific reference to the little ones4 ,and ,moses and ,aaron were brought again unto ,pharaoh2 and he said unto them1 ',go1 serve the ,lord your ,god2 but who are they that shall go8' ,and ,moses said1 ',we will go with our young and with our old1 with our sons and with our daughters1 with our flocks and with our herds will we go2 for we must hold a feast unto the ,lord4' 7,ex4 x4 #h1 #i47 ,the reason why they should take the little ones and all with them was because they were going to hold a feast unto the ,lord4 ,nature might say1 ,oh1 what can these little creatures know about a feast unto the ,lord8 ,are you not afraid of making them formalists8 ,the reply of ,moses is simple and decisive--,we will go with our young 444 for we must hold a feast unto the ,lord4 ,they had no idea of seeking one thing for themselves and another for their children4 ,they dreamed not of ,canaan for themselves and ,egypt for their children4 ,how could they taste the manna of the wilderness1 or the old corn of the land1 while their children were feeding upon the leeks1 the onions1 and the garlic of ,egypt8 ,impossible4 ,moses and ,aaron understood not such acting4 ,they felt that ,god's call to them was a call to their little ones2 and1 moreover1 were it not fully carried out1 they would no sooner have gone forth from ,egypt by one road than their children would draw them back by another4 ,that such would have been the case ,satan was but too well aware1 and hence appears the reason of the objection1 ,not so3 go now ye that are men4 ,this is the very thing which so many professing ,christians are doing 7or attempting1 rather1 to do7 at this present time4 ,they profess to go forth themselves to serve the ,lord1 but their little ones are in ,egypt4 ,they profess to have taken three days' journey into the wilderness2 in other words1 they profess to have left the world1 they profess to be dead to it1 and risen with ,christ1 as the possessors of a heavenly life1 and the heirs and expectants of a heavenly glory2 but they leave their little ones behind1 in the hands of ,pharaoh1 or rather of ,satan4#i ,they have given up the world for themselves1 but they cannot do so for their children4 ,hence1 on ,lord's day1 the professed position of strangers and pilgrims is taken2 hymns are sung1 prayers uttered1 and principles taught which bespeak a people far advanced in the heavenly life1 and just on the borders of ,canaan1 in actual experience 7in spirit1 of course1 they are already there72 but1 alas6 on ,monday morning1 every habit1 every pursuit1 every object1 contradicts all this4 ,the little ones are trained for the world4 ,the scope1 aim1 object1 and entire character of their education is worldly1 in the truest and strictest sense of the word4 ,moses and ,aaron would not have understood such actings1 and neither indeed should any morally honest heart1 or upright mind1 understand them4 ,i should have no other principle1 portion1 or prospect for my children but what ,i have for myself2 nor should ,i train them with a view to any other4 ,if ,christ and heavenly glory are sufficient for me1 they are sufficient for them likewise2 but then the proof that they are really sufficient for me should be unequivocal4 ,the tone of the parent's character should be such as to afford not a shadow of a doubt as to the real1 deep-seated purpose and object of his soul4 #i ,it will be said that there cannot be any analogy between the actual removal of people from one country to another and the training of our children4 ,i reply1 the analogy only applies in principle4 ,it is perfectly evident that we cannot take our children to heaven in the sense in which the ,israelites took theirs to ,canaan4 ,god alone can fit our children for heaven1 by implanting in them the life of ,his own ,son2 and ,he alone can bring them to heaven1 in ,his own time4 ,but then1 although we can neither fit our children for1 nor bring them to1 heaven1 we can1 nevertheless1 by faith1 train them for it2 and it is not merely our duty 7a poor1 cold1 and unworthy expression71 but our high and holy privilege so to do4 ,hence1 therefore1 if the principle on which1 and the object with which1 we train our children are manifestly worldly1 we do1 virtually1 and so far as in us lies1 leave them in the world4 ,and on the other hand1 if our principle and object are unequivocally heavenly1 then do we1 so far as in us lies1 train them for heaven4 ,this1 my beloved reader1 is all that is meant in this tract by leaving our children in ,egypt or taking them to ,canaan4 ,we are responsible to train our children1 though we cannot convert them2 and ,god will assuredly bless the faithful training of those whom ,he has graciously given us4 ,but what shall my child say to me if ,i tell him that ,i am earnestly seeking ,christ and heaven for him1 while at the same time ,i am educating him for the world8 ,which will he believe8 ,which will exert the more powerful practical influence on his heart and life--my words1 or my acts8 ,let conscience reply2 and oh1 let it be an honest reply1 a reply emanating from its deepest depths1 a reply which will unanswerably demonstrate that the question is understood in all its pungency and power4 ,i verily believe the time is come for plain dealing with one another's conscience4 ,it must be apparent to every prayerful and attentive observer of the ,christianity of the present day1 that it wears a most sickly aspect2 that the tone is miserably low2 and1 in a word1 that there must be something radically wrong4 ,as to testimony for the ,son of ,god1 it is rarely--alas6 how rarely6--thought of4 ,personal salvation seems to form the very highest object with ninty-nine out of every hundred professing ,christians1 as if we were left here to be saved2 and not1 as saved ones1 to glorify ,christ4 ,now1 ,i would affectionately1 yet faithfully1 suggest the question1 whether much of the failure in practical testimony for ,christ is not justly traceable to the neglect of the principle involved in the expression1 ,thou and thy house4 ,i cannot but think it has much to do with it4 ,one thing is certain1 that a quantity of worldliness1 confusion1 and moral evil has crept in amongst us through our little ones having been left in ,egypt4 ,we see many who1 it may be1 ten1 fifteen1 or twenty years ago1 took a prominent place in testimony and service1 and seemed to have their hearts much in the work1 are now gone back1 lamentably1 not having power to keep their own heads above water1 much less to help any one else4 ,all this utters a warning voice for ,christian parents having rising families2 and the utterance is1 ,,beware ,,of ,,leaving ,,your ,,little ,,ones ,,in ,,egypt4 ,many a heart-broken father1 at the present moment1 is left to weep and groan over his fatal mistake in reference to his household4 ,he left them in ,egypt1 in an evil hour1 and under a gross delusion1 and now when he ventures1 it may be in real faithfulness and earnest affection1 to drop a word into the ear of those who have grown up around him1 they meet it with a deaf ear and an indifferent heart1 while they cling with vigor and decision to that ,egypt in which he faithlessly and inconsistently left them4 ,this is a stern fact1 the statement of which may send a pang to many a heart2 but truth must be told1 in order that1 though it wounds some1 it may prove a salutary warning to others4 ,but ,i must proceed with the proofs4#aj #aj ,there is1 ,i should say1 a very serious error involved in a ,christian parent's committing the training of his children to unconverted persons1 or even to those whose hearts are not one with him as to separation from the world4 ,it is natural that a child should look up to1 and follow the example of1 one who has the training and management of him4 ,now1 what can a teacher make of a child1 save what he is himself8 ,whither can he lead him1 but to where he is himself8 ,what principles can he instill1 save those which govern his own mind1 and form the basis of his own character8 ,well1 if ,i see a man governed by worldly principles--if ,i see plainly1 from his whole course and character1 that he is an unconverted person1 shall ,i commit to him the training and instruction of my children1 or the formation of their characters8 ,it would be the height of folly and inconsistency so to do4 ,as well might a man who desired to make an oval-shaped bullet cast the melted lead into a circular mould4 ,the same principle applies to the reading of books4 ,a book is decidedly a silent teacher and former of the mind and character2 and if ,i am called to look well to the character and principles of the living teacher1 ,i am equally so to look to those of the silent teacher4 ,i am quite convinced that in reference both to books and teachers1 we need to have our consciences stirred and instructed4 ,in the book of ,numbers1 the little ones are again introduced to our notice4 ,we have just seen that the real purpose of a soul in communion with ,god was to go up with the little ones out of ,egypt4 ,they must be brought forth from thence at all cost2 but neither faith nor faithfulness will rest here4 ,we must not only count upon ,god to bring them up out of ,egypt1 but also to bring them on into ,canaan4 ,here ,israel signally failed4 ,after the return of the spies1 the congregation1 on hearing their discouraging report1 gave utterance to these fatal accents1 ,wherefore hath the ,lord brought us unto this land1 to fall by the sword1 that our wives and our children should be a prey8 ,were it not better for us to return into ,egypt8 7,numb4 xiv47 ,this was terrible4 ,it was1 in reality1 so far as in them lay1 verifying ,pharaoh's wily prediction in reference to these very little ones1 ,look to it now1 for evil is before you4 ,unbelief always justifies ,satan and makes ,god a liar1 while faith always justifies ,god and proves ,satan a liar2 and as it is invariably true that according to your faith so shall it be unto you1 so we find1 on the other hand1 that unbelief reaps as it sows4 ,thus it was with unhappy1 because unbelieving1 ,israel4 ,as truly as ,i live1 saith the ,lord1 as ye have spoken in ,mine ears1 so will ,i do to you4 ,your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness2 and all that were numbered of you1 according to your whole number1 from twenty years old and upward1 which have murmured against ,me1 doubtless ye shall not come into the land concerning which ,i sware to make you dwell therein1 save ,caleb the son of ,jephunneh1 and ,joshua the son of ,nun4 ,but your little ones1 which ye said should be a prey1 them will ,i bring in1 and they shall know the land which ye have despised4 ,but as for you1 your carcasses1 they shall fall in the wilderness4 7,ver4 #bh-cb47 ,they limited the ,holy ,one of ,israel as to their little ones4 ,this was a grievous sin1 and it has been recorded for our admonition4 ,how constantly does the heart of the ,christian parent reason1 in reference to the mode of dealing with children1 instead of simply taking ,god's ground about them4 ,it may be said1 ,we cannot make ,christians of our children4 ,this is not the question4 ,we are not called to make any thing of them4 ,this is ,god's work1 and ,his only2 but if ,he says1 ,bring your little ones with you1 shall we refuse8 ,i would not make a formalist of my child1 and ,i could not make him a real ,christian2 but if ,god1 in infinite grace1 says to me1 ,i look upon your house as part of yourself1 and1 in blessing you1 ,i bless it1 shall ,i1 in gross unbelief of heart1 refuse this blessing1 lest ,i should minister to formalism1 or because ,i cannot impart reality8 ,god forbid4 ,yea1 rather1 let me rejoice1 with deep unfeigned joy1 that ,god has blessed me with a blessing so divinely rich and full that it extends not only to me1 but also to all who belong to me2 and1 seeing that grace has given me the blessing1 let faith take it up and appropriate it4#aa #aa ,very many content themselves with the assurance that at some time or other their children will be converted4 ,but this is not taking ,god's ground with them now4 ,if we have the assurance that they are within the range of ,god's purpose1 why do we not act upon that assurance8 ,if we are waiting to see certain evidences of conversion in them before we act as ,scripture directs1 it is plain that we are looking at something besides ,god's promise4 ,this is not faith4 ,the ,christian parent is privileged to look upon his child now as one to be trained for the ,lord4 ,he is bound to take this ground1 in faith1 and train him thus1 looking to ,god1 in the fullest assurance1 for the result4 ,if ,i wait to see fruits1 this is not faith4 ,besides1 the question arises1 ,what are my children now8 ,they may be going about like idle1 willful vagrants1 bringing sad dishonor on the name and truth of ,christ1 and yet all the while ,i satisfy myself by saying1 ,i know they will be converted yet4 ,this will never do4 ,my children should be now a testimony for ,god2 and they can only be this by my taking ,god's ground with them1 and going on with ,him about them4 ,but let us remember that the way to prove our entrance into the blessing is by fulfilling the responsibility4 ,to say that ,i am counting upon ,god to bring my children to ,canaan1 and yet all the while educating them for ,egypt1 is a deadly delusion4 ,my conduct proves my profession to be a lie1 and ,i am not to wonder if1 in the righteous dealings of ,god1 ,i am allowed to be filled with the fruit of my own doings4 ,conduct will ever prove the reality of our convictions2 and in this1 as in every thing else1 that word of the ,lord is most solemnly true1 ,if any man will do ,his will1 he shall know of the doctrine4 ,we often want to know the doctrine before we do the will1 and the consequence is1 we are left in the most profound ignorance4 ,now1 to do the will of ,god in reference to our children1 is to treat them as ,he does1 by regarding them as part of ourselves1 and training them accordingly4 ,it is not merely by hoping they may ultimately prove to be the children of ,god1 but by regarding them as those who are already brought into a place of privilege1 and dealing with them upon this ground in reference to every thing4 ,according to the thoughts and actings of many parents1 it would seem as though they regarded their children in the light of heathens1 who had no present interest in ,christ1 or relationship to ,god at all4 ,this is1 assuredly1 falling grievously short of the divine mark4 ,nor is this a question1 as it is too often made1 of infant or adult baptism4 ,no2 it is simply and entirely a question of faith in the power and extent of that peculiarly gracious word4 ,thou and thy house--a word the force and beauty of which we shall see more and more fully as we proceed4 ,throughout the book of ,deuteronomy1 the children of ,israel are again and again instructed to set the commandments1 the statutes1 the judgments1 and precepts of the law before their little ones2 and these same little ones are contemplated as inquiring into the nature and object of various ordinances and institutions4 ,the reader can easily run through the various passages4 ,i now pass on to that truly memorable resolution of ,joshua1 ,choose you this day whom ye will serve 4 4 4 4 but as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 7,josh4 xxiv4 #ae47 ,observe1 ,me and my house4 ,he felt it was not sufficient that he himself should be personally pure from all contact with the defilements and abominations of idolatry2 he had also to look well to the moral character and practical condition of his house4 ,though ,joshua were not to worship idols1 yet if his children did so1 would he be guiltless8 ,certainly not4 ,moreover1 the testimony of the truth would have been as effectually marred by the idolatry of ,joshua's house as by the idolatry of ,joshua himself2 and judgment would have been executed accordingly4 ,it is well to see this distinctly4 ,the opening of the first book of ,samuel affords most solemn demonstration of the truth of this--,and the ,lord said to ,samuel1 ',behold1 ,i will do a thing in ,israel1 at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle4 ,in that day ,i will perform against ,eli all things which ,i have spoken concerning his house3 when ,i begin1 ,i will also make an end4 ,for ,i have told him that ,i will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth2 ,,because ,,his ,,sons ,,made ,,themselves ,,vile ,,and ,,he ,,restrained ,,them ,,not4' 7#a ,sam4 iii4 #aa-ac47 ,here we see that no matter what the personal character of the servant of ,god may be1 yet if he fail in the due regulation of his house1 ,god will not hold him guiltless4 ,eli should have restrained his sons4 ,it was his privilege1 as it is ours1 to be able to count upon the specific power of ,god in the subjugation of every element in his house which was calculated to mar the testimony2 but he did not do this1 and hence his terrible end was that he broke his neck about the house of ,god1 because he had not broken his heart about his own house4 ,had he waited upon ,god about his willful sons--had he acted faithfully--had he discharged the holy responsibilities devolving upon him1 the house of ,god would never have been desecrated1 and the ark of ,god would not have been taken4 ,in a word1 had he treated his house as part of himself1 and made it what it ought to be1 he would not have called down upon himself the heavy judgment of ,him whose principle it is never to separate the words1 ,thou and thy house4 ,but how many parents have since trodden in ,eli's footsteps6 ,through an utterly false idea in reference to the entire basis and character of parental relationship1 they have allowed their children1 from infancy to boyhood1 and from boyhood to manhood1 in the unrestrained indulgence of the will4 ,not having faith to take divine ground1 they have failed in moral power to take even the human ground of making their children respect and obey them1 and the issue has presented to view the most fearful picture of lawless extravagance and wild confusion4 ,the highest object for the servant of ,god to set before him in the management of his house is the testimony therein afforded to the honor of ,him to whose house he himself belongs4 ,this is really the proper ground of action4 ,i must not seek to have my children in order because it would be an annoyance and inconvenience to me to have them otherwise1 but because the honor of ,god is concerned in the godly order of the households of all those who form constituent parts of ,his house4 ,here1 however1 it may be objected that up to this point we have been breathing only the atmosphere of ,old-,testament scripture1 and that the principles and proofs have been only thence deduced2 now1 on the contrary1 ,god's principle of action is grace according to election1 and this leads to the calling out of a man1 irrespective of all domestic ties and relationships1 so that you may find a godly1 devoted1 heavenly-minded saint at the head of a most ungodly1 irregular1 worldly family4 ,i maintain1 in opposition to this1 that the principles of ,god's moral government are eternal1 and therefore1 whether developed in one age or another1 they must be the same4 ,he cannot at one time teach that a man and his house are one1 and commend him for ruling it properly1 and at another time teach that they are not one1 but permit him to rule his house as he pleases4 ,this is impossible4 ,god's approval or disapproval of things flows out of what ,he is in ,himself2 and in this matter in particular1 inasmuch as ,god rules ,his own house according to what ,he is ,himself1 ,he commands ,his servants to rule their houses upon the same principle4 ,has the dispensation of grace1 or of ,christianity1 come in to upset this lovely moral order8 ,god forbid6 ,nay1 it has rather1 if possible1 added new traits of beauty thereto4 ,was the house of a ,jew looked at as part of himself1 and shall the house of a ,christian be different8 ,truly not4 ,it would be a sad abuse1 and an anomalous application of that heavenly word1 grace1 to apply it to the misrule and demoralization that prevail in the houses of numberless ,christians of the present day4 ,is it grace to allow the will to ride rampant8 ,is it grace to have all the passions1 tempers1 whims1 and appetites of a corrupt nature indulged8 ,alas6 call it not grace1 lest our souls should lose the real meaning of the word1 and begin to imagine it to be what we have called it4 ,call it by its proper names--a monstrous abuse--a denial of ,god1 not only as the ,ruler of ,his own house1 but as the moral ,administrator of the universe--a flagrant contradiction of all the precepts of inspiration on this deeply important subject4 ,but let us turn to the ,new ,testament and see if we cannot find in its sacred pages ample proof of our thesis4 ,does the ,holy ,ghost1 in this grand section of ,his book1 exclude a man's house from the privileges and responsibilities attached thereto in the ,old ,testament8 ,we shall see very plainly that ,he does no such thing4 ,let us have the proofs4 ,in ,christ's commission to ,his apostles1 we find these words3 ,and into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter1 inquire who in it is worthy2 and there abide till ye go thence4 ,and when ye come into a house1 salute it4 ,and if the house not merely the master be worthy1 let your peace come upon it2 but if it be not worthy1 let your peace return to you again4 7,matt4 x4 #aa-ac47 ,again1 ,and ,jesus said unto ,zacchus1 ',this day is salvation come to this house1 forasmuch as he also is a son of ,abraham4 ,for the ,son of ,man is come to seek and to save that which was lost4' 7,luke xix4 #i1 #aj47 ,so in the case of ,cornelius--,send men to ,joppa1 and call for ,simon1 whose surname is ,peter2 who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved4 7,acts xi4 #ac1 #ad47 ,so also to the jailer at ,philippi--,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved and thy house4 7,acts xvi4 #ca47 ,then we have the practical result--,and when he had brought them into his house1 he set meat before them1 and rejoiced1 believing in ,god with all his house4 7,ver4 #cd47 ,in the same chapter1 ,lydia says1 ,if ye have judged me to be faithful to the ,lord1 come into my house and abide4 7,ver4 #ae47 ,the ,lord give mercy unto the house of ,onesiphorus4 ,why8 was it because of its actings toward him8 ,no2 but because he oft refreshed me1 and was not ashamed of my chain4 7#b ,tim4 i4 #af47 ,a bishop must be one that ruleth well his own house1 having his children in subjection with all gravity4 ,for if a man know not how to rule his own house1 how shall he take care of the ,church of ,god8 ,now1 under the term house1 three things are included1 viz41 the house itself1 the children1 and the servants4 ,all these1 whether taken together or separately1 should bear the distinct stamp of ,god4 ,the house of a man of ,god should be ruled for ,god1 in ,his name and for ,his glory4 ,the head of a ,christian household is the representative of ,god4 ,whether as a father or as a master1 he is to his household an expression of the power of ,god2 and he is bound to walk in the intelligent recognition and practical development of this fact4 ,it is on this principle he is to provide for and govern the whole4 ,hence1 if any provide not for his own house1 he hath denied the faith1 and is worse than an infidel4 ,by neglecting the sphere over which ,god has set him1 he proves his ignorance of and unlikeness to the ,one whom he is called to represent4 ,this is plain enough4 ,if ,i want to know how ,i am to provide for and rule my house1 ,i have only carefully to study the way in which ,god provides for and rules ,his house4 ,this is the true way to learn4 ,nor is it here a question as to the actual conversion of the constituent parts of the household4 ,not at all4 ,what ,i desire to press upon all ,christian heads of houses is1 that the whole affair1 from one end to the other1 should distinctly wear the stamp of ,god's presence and ,god's authority1--that there should be a clear acknowledgment of ,god on the part of every member4 ,that every thing should be so conducted as to elicit the confession1 ,god is here2 and all this1 not that the head of the house may be praised for his moral influence and judicious management1 but simply that ,god may be glorified4 ,this is not too much to aim at2 yea1 we should never rest satisfied with any thing less4 ,a ,christian's house should be but a miniature representation of the house of ,god1 not so much in the actual condition of individual members as in the moral order and godly arrangement of the whole4 ,some may shake their heads and say1 ,this is all very fine1 but where will you get it8 ,i only ask1 ,does the ,word of ,god teach a ,christian man so to rule his house8 ,if so1 woe be to me if ,i refuse or fail to do so4 ,that there has been the most grievous failure in the management of our houses every honest conscience must admit1 but nothing can be more shameful than for a man calmly and deliberately to sit down satisfied with a disordered condition of his house because he cannot attain to the standard which ,god has set before him4 ,all ,i have to do is to follow the line which ,scripture has laid down1 and the blessing must assuredly follow1 for ,god cannot deny ,himself4 ,but if ,i1 in unbelief of heart1 say ,i cannot reach the blessing1 of course ,i never shall4 ,every field of blessing or privilege which ,god opens before us demands an energy of faith to enter4 ,like ,canaan of old to the children of ,israel2 there it lay1 but they had to go thither1 for the word was1 ,every place that thy foot shall tread upon4 ,thus it is ever4 ,faith takes possession of what ,god gives4 ,we should aim at every thing which tends to glorify ,him who has made us all we are or ever shall be4 ,but what can be more dishonoring to ,god than to see the house of ,his servant the very reverse of what ,he would have it8 ,and yet were we to judge from what constantly meets our view1 it would seem as if many ,christians thought that their houses had nothing whatever to do with their testimony4 ,most humbling it is to meet with some who1 so far as they are personally concerned1 seem nice ,christians1 but who entirely fail in the management of their houses4 ,they speak of separation from the world1 but their houses present the most distressingly worldly appearance2 they speak of the world being crucified to them and of their being crucified to the world1 and yet the world is stamped on the very face of their whole establishment4 ,every thing seems designed to minister to the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,magnificent pier-glasses to reflect the flesh2 sumptuous carpets1 sofas1 and loungers for the ease of the flesh2 glittering chandeliers for the pride and vanity of the flesh4 ,but it may be said1 ,it is taking low ground to descend to such particulars4 ,i reply1 ,the daughters of ,zion might just as well have passed the same comment upon the following solemn appeal3 ,in that day the ,lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet1 and their cauls1 and their round tires like the moon1 the chains and the bracelets and the mufflers1 the bonnets and the ornaments of the legs and the headbands and the tablets and the earrings1 the rings and nose-jewels1 the changeable suits of apparel and the mantles and the wimples and the crisping-pins1 the glasses and the fine linen and the hoods and the vails4 7,isa4 iii4 #ah-bc47 ,this was descending to very minute particulars4 ,the same might be said of the following passage from ,amos3 ,woe to them that are at ease in ,zion 444 that lie upon beds of ivory1 and stretch themselves upon their couches1 and eat the lambs out of the flock1 and the calves out of the midst of the stall2 that chant to the sound of the viol1 and invent to themselves instruments of music1 like ,david4 7,chap4 vi4 #a-e47 ,the ,spirit of ,god can descend to particulars when the particulars are there to be descended to4 ,but it may be further objected1 ,we must furnish our houses according to our rank in life4 ,wherever this objection is urged1 it reveals very fully the real ground of the objector's soul4 ,that ground is the world1 unquestionably4 ,our rank in life6--what does this really mean1 as applied to those who profess to be dead8 ,to talk of our rank in life is to deny the very foundations of ,christianity4 ,if we have rank in life1 then it follows that we must be alive as men in the flesh--men according to nature1 and then the law has its full force against us1 for the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth4 ,hence this rank in life becomes a serious matter4 ,but1 let me ask1 how did we get rank in life8 or1 in what life is it8 ,if it be in this life1 then we are liars whenever we talk of being crucified with ,christ--dead with ,christ--buried with ,christ--risen with ,christ--outside the camp with ,christ--not in the flesh--not of the world which fadeth away4 ,all these are so many splendid lies to those possessing1 or pretending to1 a rank in this life4 ,this is the real truth of the matter2 and we must allow the truth to reach and act upon our consciences1 that it may influence our lives4 ,what1 then1 is the only life in which we have a rank8 ,the resurrection-life of ,christ4 ,redeeming love has given us a rank in this life1 and truly we know that worldly furniture1 costly array1 ridiculous parade and retinue1 have nothing to do with rank in this life4 ,ah1 no2 the circumstances which comport with rank in heavenly life are1 holiness of character1 purity of life1 spiritual power1 profound humility1 separation from every thing which directly savors of the flesh and the world4 ,to furnish our persons and our houses with these things would be furnishing them according to our rank in life4 ,but in point of fact1 this objection does really bring out the true principle at the heart's core4 ,it has already been remarked that the house reveals the moral condition of the man1 and this objection confirms that statement4 ,people who talk1 or even think1 of rank in life have1 in their hearts1 turned back again into ,egypt4 ,and what does ,god say will be the end of such8 ,i will carry you away beyond ,babylon4 ,yes1 it is greatly to be feared that the great millstone of ,revelation xviii4 presents but too true a picture of the end of much of the sickly1 spurious1 hollow ,christianity of the present day4 ,it may1 however1 be further urged that ,christianity affords no warrant for filthy and irregular houses4 ,this is most true4 ,i know few things more distressing and dishonoring than to see the house of a ,christian characterized by filth and confusion4 ,such things could never exist in connection with a really spiritual or even a well-adjusted mind4 ,you may set it down that there must be something radically wrong wherever such things exist4 ,here1 in an especial manner1 the house of ,god presents itself before us as a blessed model4 ,over the door of that house may be seen inscribed this wholesome motto3 ,let all things be done decently and in order2 and all who love ,god and ,his house will desire to carry out this precept at home4 ,the next point suggested by the expression1 ,thou and thy house1 is the management of our children4 ,this is a sore and deeply humbling point to many of us1 inasmuch as it discloses a fearful amount of failure4 ,the condition of the children tends1 more than any thing1 to bring out the condition of the parent4 ,the real measure of my surrender of the world1 and my subjugation of nature1 will constantly be shown in my thoughts about and treatment of my children4 ,i profess to have given up the world1 so far as ,i am personally concerned2 but then ,i have children4 ,have ,i given up the world for them as well8 ,some may say1 ,how can ,i8 ,they are in nature1 and must have the world4 ,here again the true moral condition of the heart is revealed4 ,the world is really not given up1 and my children are made an excuse for grasping again what ,i professed to have given up1 but my heart retained all the while4 ,are my children part of myself1 or are they not8 ,part of myself1 assuredly4 ,well1 then1 if ,i profess to have relinquished the world for myself and yet am seeking it for them1 what is it but the wretched anomaly of a man half in ,egypt and half in ,canaan8 ,we know where such an one is wholly and in reality4 ,he is wholly and really in ,egypt4 ,yes1 my brethren1 here is where we have to judge ourselves4 ,our children tell a tale4 ,the music-master and the dancing-master are surely not the agents which the ,spirit of ,god would select to help our children along1 nor do they1 by any means1 comport with that high-toned ,nazariteship to which we are called4 ,these things prove that ,christ is not the chosen and amply sufficient portion of our souls4 ,what is sufficient for me is sufficient for those who are part of me4 ,and shall ,i be so base as to train my children for the devil and the world8 ,shall ,i minister to and pamper that in them which ,i profess to mortify in myself8 ,it is a grievous mistake1 and we shall find it so4 ,if my children are in ,egypt1 ,i am there myself4 ,if my children savor of ,babylon1 ,i savor of it myself4 ,if my children belong to a corrupt worldly religious system1 ,i belong to it myself1 in principle4 ,thou and thy house are one2 ,god has made them one2 and what ,he has joined together1 let no man put asunder4 ,this is a solemn and searching truth1 in the light of which we may clearly see the evil of urging our children along a path upon which we profess to have forever turned our backs1 as believing firmly that it terminates in hell fire4 ,we profess to count the world's literature1 its honors1 its riches1 its distinctions1 its pleasures1 all dung and dross1 yet these very things1 which we have declared to be only hindrances to us in our ,christian course1 and which1 as such1 we have professed to cast aside1 we are diligently setting before our children as things perfectly essential to their progress4 ,in so doing1 we entirely forget that things which act as clogs to us cannot possibly act as helps to our children4#ab ,it were infinitely better to throw off the mask1 and declare plainly that we have not given up the world at all2 and nothing ever made this thoroughly manifest but our children4 ,the ,lord1 ,i believe1 in righteous judgment1 is taking up the families of brethren1 to show in them the actual condition of the testimony amongst us4 ,in many cases it is well known that the children of ,christians are the wildest and most ungodly in the neighborhood4 ,should this be so8 ,would ,god accept a testimony at the hand of those who have it so8 ,would it be thus if we were walking faithfully before ,god as to our houses8 ,these inquiries must be answered in the negative4 ,if only ,i get the principle of ,thou and thy house firmly fixed in my conscience1 and intelligently wrought into my mind1 ,i shall see it to be my place to count upon ,god1 and cry to ,him1 just as much for the testimony of my house as for my own testimony4 ,in reality1 ,i cannot separate them4 ,i may attempt it1 but it is vain4 ,how often has one felt a pang at hearing such words as these3 ,such an one is a very dear1 godly1 devoted brother2 but1 oh6 he has the boldest and wildest children in the neighborhood1 and his house is a sad mess of misrule and confusion4 ,i ask1 what is the testimony of such an one worth in the judgment of ,god8 ,little indeed4 ,saved he may be2 but is salvation all we want8 ,is there no testimony to be given8 and if there is1 what is it8 and where is it to be seen8 ,is it confined to the benches of a meeting-room1 or is it to be seen in the midst of a man's house8 ,the heart can answer4 #ab ,the ,christian parent may ask1 ,what am ,i to teach my child8 ,the answer is simple4 ,teach him only such things as will prove useful to him as a servant of ,christ4 ,do not teach him aught which you know would prove a positive source of defilement or weakness to him should he remain here4 ,we are seldom at a loss to know what kind of food to give our children4 ,we are tolerably well aware of what would prove nourishing and what would prove the reverse4 ,now1 were the instincts of the new nature as true and as energetic in us as those of the old1 we should1 ,i am persuaded1 be at as little loss to decide in reference to what we should teach our children4 ,in this1 as in every thing else1 it may be said1 ,if thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be full of light4 ,if we have a deep sense of ,christ's glory1 and a sincere desire to promote it1 we shall not be left in perplexity2 but if our body is not full of light1 we may be assured our eye is not single4 ,but it may be urged1 ,our children will crave a little worldly enjoyment1 and we must indulge them4 ,we cannot put old heads upon young shoulders4 ,i reply1 ,our own hearts often crave a little of the world likewise4 ,shall we indulge their craving8 ,no2 but judge it4 ,exactly so4 ,do the same in reference to your children's craving4 ,if ,i find my children going out after the world1 ,i should immediately judge and chasten myself before ,god1 crying to ,him to enable me to put it down1 so that the testimony may not suffer4 ,but ,i cannot but believe that if the parent's heart is1 from its centre to its circumference1 purged of the world1 its principles1 and its lusts1 it will exert a mighty influence upon his whole house4 ,this is what makes this entire question one of such vast magnitude and practical weight4 ,is my house a just criterion by which to judge of my real condition8 ,i believe the whole teaching of ,scripture is in favor of an affirmative4 ,this makes the matter peculiarly solemn4 ,how am ,i walking before my family8 ,is my whole course and character so unequivocal that all can see that my one supreme object is ,christ1 and that ,i would just as soon1 if ,i could1 unlock the portals of hell1 and let my children in1 as educate them for the world1 or seek the world for them8 ,this ,i feel to be a startling inquiry2 yet it is one which we are bound to follow up to the uttermost4 ,what has called into existence1 in many cases1 that awful profanity1 that disposition to scoff at sacred things1 that utter distaste for the ,scriptures1 and for meetings where the ,scriptures are brought forward1 that skeptical and infidel spirit so sadly apparent in the children of ,christian professors8 ,will any one undertake to say that the parents have nothing to do with this1 in the judgment of ,god8 ,may not much of this be justly traced to the sad incongruity between the professed principles and the actual practices of the parents8 ,i believe it may4 ,children are shrewd observers4 ,they very soon begin to discover what their parents are really at4 ,they will gather this1 too1 much more speedily and accurately from their doings than from their prayings or their sayings2 and although the parents may teach that the world and its ways are bad1 and though they may pray that their children may know the ,lord1 yet inasmuch as they are educating them for the world1 and seeking most industriously to push them on in it1 grasping at and getting in by every opening1 and congratulating themselves when they have succeeded in settling them there1 it necessarily follows that the children begin to say in their hearts1 ,the world is a good place after all1 for my parents thank ,god on getting me a berth in it1 and look upon it as a most marked opening of ,providence4 ,all that peculiar talk of theirs1 therefore1 about being dead to the world1 and being risen with ,christ--the world's being under judgment1 and their being strangers and pilgrims therein--all this must be rank nonsense1 or else ,christians1 so called1 must be rank deceivers4 ,will any one say that such reasoning as this has not passed through the mind of many a professor's child8 ,i cannot doubt it4 ,the grace of ,god1 no doubt1 is sovereign1 and often triumphs over all our errors and failures2 but oh6 let us think of the testimony1 and let us see that our houses are really ordered for ,god and not for ,satan4#ac #ac ,i would1 however1 desire to remind the children of ,christian parents that they are solemnly responsible to hearken to ,god's holy word1 quite irrespective of the conduct of their parents4 ,god's truth is not affected by the actings of men2 and wherever one has heard the testimony of ,god's love1 in the death and resurrection of ,christ1 he is responsible for the use he makes thereof1 even though he should not have seen its sacred influence and power exemplified in the life of his parents4 ,i would press these facts upon the serious attention of all children of ,christian parents4 ,but it will be said1 ,how are our children to get on8 must they not earn their bread8 ,unquestionably4 ,god formed us for work4 ,the very fact of my having a pair of hands proves that ,i am not to be idle4 ,but ,i need not push my son back into that world which ,i have left1 in order to give him employment4 ,the ,most ,high ,god1 the ,possessor of heaven and earth1 had one ,son1 ,his only begotten1 the ,heir of all things1 by whom also ,he made the worlds2 ,he did not take up any of the learned professions1 but was known as the carpenter4 ,has this no voice for us8 ,christ has gone up on high and taken ,his seat at ,god's right hand4 ,as thus risen1 ,he is our ,head1 ,representative1 and ,model2 but ,he has left us an example that we should follow ,his steps4 ,are we following ,his steps in seeking to push our children on in that very world which crucified ,him8 ,surely not3 we are adopting the very opposite course1 and the end will be accordingly4 ,be not deceived2 ,god is not mocked2 for whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap4 ,as we sow1 in reference to our children1 so shall we also reap4 ,if we sow to the flesh and the world1 we cannot expect to reap otherwise4 ,but ,i would not1 by any means1 be understood to teach that a ,christian parent ought to place his child below the level on which the ,lord has placed himself4 ,i do not believe he would be warranted in so doing4 ,if my calling be a godly one1 it may suit my child as well as it suits myself4 ,all cannot be carpenters1 it is true2 yet one feels that1 in an age of progress like the present1 where onward and upward in the world seems to be the great motto1 there is a deep moral for the heart in the fact that the ,son of ,god--the ,creator and ,sustainer of the universe--was only known amongst men as the carpenter4 ,it assuredly teaches that ,christians should not be found seeking great things for their children4 ,however1 it is not merely in reference to the object set forth in our children's education that we have failed1 and so marred the testimony2 but also in the matter of keeping them in general subjection to parental authority4 ,on this point there has been great deficiency amongst ,christian parents4 ,the spirit of the present age is that of insubordination4 ,disobedient to parents forms a trait in the apostasy of the last days2 and we have specially helped on its development by an entirely false application of the principle of grace1 as also by not seeing that there is involved in the parental relationship a principle of power exercised in righteousness1 without which our houses must prove to be scenes of lawlessness and wild confusion4 ,it is no grace to pamper an unsanctified will4 ,we mourn over our own lack of a broken will1 and yet we are strengthening the will in our children4 ,it is always1 to my mind1 a manifest proof of the weakness of parental authority1 as well as of ignorance of the way in which the servant of ,god should rule his house1 to hear a parent say to a child1 ,will you do so and so8 ,this question1 simple as it seems1 tends directly to create or minister to the very thing which you ought to put down1 by every means in your power1 and that is1 the exercise of the child's will4 ,instead1 therefore1 of asking the child1 ,will you do8 just tell him what he is to do1 and let there not be in his mind the idea of calling in question your authority4 ,the parent's will should be supreme with a child1 because the parent stands in the place of ,god4 ,all power belongs to ,god1 and ,he has invested ,his servant with power1 both as a father and a master4 ,if1 therefore1 the child or the servant resist this power1 it is resistance of ,god4#ad #ad ,and ye fathers1 provoke not your children to wrath2 but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 7,eph4 vi4 #d47 ,there is great danger of provoking our children to wrath by inordinate strictness and arbitrary treatment4 ,we may constantly find ourselves seeking to mould and fashion our children according to our own tastes and peculiarities1 rather than to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 ,this is a very great mistake1 and will surely issue in failure and confusion4 ,we shall gain nothing1 in the way of testimony for ,christ1 by moulding and fashioning nature into the most exquisite shapes4 ,moreover1 it does not require faith to train and cultivate nature2 but it does require it to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 ,some1 however1 may say that the apostle1 in the above passage1 is speaking of converted children4 ,to this ,i reply1 that there is nothing about conversion in the passage4 ,it is not said1 ,bring up your converted children1 etc4 ,were it thus1 it would settle the whole question4 ,but it is simply said1 your children1 which surely must mean all our children4 ,now1 if ,i am to bring up all my children in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord1 when am ,i to commence8 ,am ,i to wait till they grow up to be almost men and women8 or am ,i to begin where all right minded people begin their work1 namely1 at the beginning8 ,am ,i to allow them to run on in nature's folly and wildness1 during the most important part of their career1 without ever seeking to bring their consciences into the presence of ,god1 as to their solemn responsibilities8 ,am ,i to suffer them to spend in utter thoughtlessness that period of life in which the elements of their future character are imparted8 ,this would be the most refined cruelty4 ,what should we say to a gardener who would allow the branches of his fruit-trees to assume all sorts of crooked and fantastic shapes ere he thought of commencing a proper system of training8 ,we should doubtless pronounce him a fool and a madman4 ,and yet such an one is wise in comparison with a parent who suspends the nurture and admonition of the ,lord until his children have made manifest progress in the nurture and admonition of the enemy4 ,but1 it may be said1 we must wait for evidences of conversion4 ,to this ,i reply1 that faith never waits for evidences1 but acts on ,god's word1 and the evidences are sure to follow4 ,it is always a manifest proof of infidelity to wait for signs when ,god gives a command4 ,if ,israel had waited for a sign when ,god said1 ,go forward1 it would have been plain disobedience2 and if the man with the withered hand had waited for some evidence of strength when ,christ commanded him to stretch forth his hand1 he might have carried his withered hand to the grave with him4 ,so is it with parents4 ,if they wait for signs and evidences before they obey ,god's word in ,ephesians vi4 #d1 they are certainly not walking by faith1 but by sight4 ,besides1 if we are to begin at the beginning to train our children1 we must evidently begin before they are capable of giving what we might regard as evidences of conversion4 ,in this1 as in every thing else1 our place is to obey1 and leave results with ,god4 ,the moral condition of the soul may be tested by the command2 but where there is the disposition to obey1 the power to do so will surely accompany the command1 and the fruits of obedience will follow in due season1 if we faint not4 ,let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor1 that the name of ,god and ,his doctrine be not blasphemed4 ,observe1 it is ,god and ,his doctrine4 ,why8 ,because it is a question of power4 ,the name of ,christ and ,his doctrine would put the master and servant on a level1 as members of one body4 ,in ,christ ,jesus there is no distinction2 but when ,i go abroad in the world1 ,i encounter ,god's moral government1 which makes one a master and another a servant2 and any infringement upon that government will meet with certain judgment4 ,now1 it is of immense importance to have a clear understanding of the doctrine of ,god's moral government4 ,it would settle many a difficulty1 and solve many a question4 ,this government is carried on with a righteous decision1 which is peculiarly solemnizing4 ,if we look through ,scripture in reference to this subject1 we shall find that in every instance in which there has been error or failure1 it has inevitably produced its own results4 ,adam took of the forbidden fruit1 and he was instantly thrust forth from the garden1 into a world groaning beneath the curse and weight of his sin4 ,nor was he ever replaced in paradise4 ,true1 grace came in1 and gave him a promise of a ,deliverer2 moreover1 it clothed his naked shoulders4 ,nevertheless1 his sin produced its own result4 ,he made a false step1 and he never recovered it4 ,again1 ,moses1 at the waters of ,meribah1 uttered a hasty word1 and immediately a righteous ,god forbad his entrance into ,canaan4 ,in his case likewise grace came in1 and gave him something better2 for it was much better1 from the top of ,pisgah1 to inspect the plains of ,palestine in company with ,jehovah than to inhabit them in company with ,israel4 ,so also in ,david's case4 ,he committed a sin1 and the solemn denunciation was immediately issued1 ,the sword shall never depart from thy house4 ,in his case too grace abounded1 and he enjoyed a more profound sense of grace as he ascended the side of ,mount ,olivet with bare feet and covered head than he ever had enjoyed amid the splendors of a throne2 nevertheless1 his sin produced its own result4 ,he made a false step1 and he never recovered it4 ,nor is the exemplification of this principle confined merely to ,old-,testament times4 ,by no means4 ,look at the case of ,barnabas4 ,he gave utterance to the seemingly amiable desire to have the company of his nephew ,mark1 and1 from that moment1 he loses his honorable place in the records of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he is never heard of afterward1 and his place was supplied with a more wholly devoted heart4#ae ,hence ,god's moral government is a most momentous truth4 ,it is such1 that as surely as one does wrong1 he will reap the fruit of it1 no matter who he is--believer or unbeliever1 saint or sinner4 ,grace may forgive the sin1 and will1 where it is confessed and judged2 but inasmuch as the principles of ,god's moral government have been interfered with1 the offender must be made to feel his mistake4 ,he has missed a step of the wheel1 and he shall assuredly feel the consequences4 ,this is a most solemn but specially wholesome truth1 the action of which has been sadly clogged by false notions about grace4 ,god never allows ,his grace to interfere with ,his moral government4 ,he could not do so1 because it would produce confusion1 and ,god is not the author of confusion4 #ae ,it was nature in ,barnabas that led him to wish for the company of one who departed from them from ,pamphylia1 and went not with them to the work4 ,it was amiable nature1 yet it was nature1 and it triumphed1 for he took ,mark and sailed to ,cyprus1 his native country1 where1 in the freshness of his ,christian course1 he had sold his property1 in order to be a more unshackled follower of ,him who had not where to lay ,his head4 7,see ,acts iv4 #cf1 #cg47 ,this is no uncommon case4 ,many set out with a surrender of earth and nature with their respective claims4 ,the blossom on the tree of ,christian profession looks fair1 and emits a fragrant perfume2 but alas6 it is not followed by the rich and mellow fruit of autumn4 ,the influences of earth and nature gather around the soul1 and nip its beauteous blossoms1 and all ends in barrenness and disappointment4 ,this is very sad1 and is always attended with the very worst moral effect upon the testimony4 ,it is not at all a question of ceasing to be a saved person4 ,barnabas was a saved person4 ,the influences of ,mark and ,cyprus could not blot out his name from the ,lamb's book of life1 but they did most thoroughly blot out his name from the records of testimony and service here below4 ,and was not this something to be lamented8 ,is there naught to be deplored or dreaded save the loss of personal salvation8 ,most despicable is the selfishness that can think so4 ,for what purpose does the blessed ,god take so much pains and trouble in maintaining ,his people here8 ,is it that they may be saved and made meet for glory8 ,no such thing4 ,saved they are already1 by the accomplished redemption of ,christ1 and therefore meet for glory4 ,there is no middle step between justification and glory1 for whom ,he justified1 them ,he also glorified4 ,why1 therefore1 does ,god leave us here8 ,that we may be a testimony for ,christ4 ,were it not for this1 we might just as well be taken to heaven the moment of our conversion4 ,may we have grace to understand this point1 in all its fullness and practical power4 ,it is here there has been so much failure in the management of our houses4 ,we have forgotten the principle of righteous rule which ,god has set before us1 and in the exercise of which ,he has given us an example4 ,my reader must not confound the principle of ,god's government with the aspect of ,his character4#af ,these two things are distinct4 ,the former is righteousness1 the latter is grace2 but what ,i here desire to bring out is1 the fact that there is a principle of righteousness involved in the relationship of father and master1 and if this principle receive not its due place in the management of the family1 there must be confusion4 ,if ,i see a strange child doing wrong1 ,i have no divine authority to exercise righteous discipline toward him2 but the moment ,i see my own child doing so1 ,i put him under discipline4 ,why8 because ,i am his father4 ,but it may be said1 ,the parental relationship is one of love4 ,true2 it is founded in love3 ,behold1 what manner of love the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 that we should be called the sons of ,god4 ,but although the relationship is founded in love1 it is exercised in righteousness1 for the time is come when judgment must begin at the house of ,god4 ,so also1 in ,hebrews xii1 we are taught that the very fact of our being genuine sons brings us under the righteous discipline of the ,father's hand4 ,in ,john xvii1 too1 the ,church is committed to the care of the ,holy ,father1 to be kept by ,him through ,his own name4 #af ,the epistles of ,peter develop the doctrine of ,god's moral government4 ,he it is who asks the question1 ,who is he that will harm you1 if ye be followers of that which is good8 ,now1 some may find a difficulty in reconciling this inquiry with ,paul's statement1 ,all that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus shall suffer persecution4 ,it were needless to say that the two ideas are in perfect and beautiful harmony4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,himself1 who was the only perfect and unwavering follower of that which is good1 who1 from first to last1 went about doing good1 found1 in the end1 the cross1 the spear1 the borrowed grave4 ,the apostle ,paul1 who1 beyond all other men1 kept close to the ,great ,original which was set before him1 was called to drink an unusually large cup of privation and persecution4 ,and to this moment1 the more like ,christ1 and the more devoted to ,him any one is1 the more privation and persecution he will suffer4 ,were any one1 in true devotedness to ,christ and love to souls1 to take his stand publicly in some ,roman ,catholic district1 and there preach ,christ1 his life would be in imminent danger4 ,do all these facts interfere with ,peter's inquiry8 ,by no means4 ,the direct tendency of ,god's moral government is to protect from injury all who are followers of that which is good1 and to bring down punishment upon all who are the reverse2 but it never interferes with the higher path of ardent discipleship1 or deprives any one of the privilege and dignity of being as like ,christ as he will2 for unto you it is given1 on behalf of ,christ 1 not only to believe on ,him1 but also to suffer for ,him 2 having the same conflict which ye saw in me1 and now hear in me4 7,phil4 i4 #bi1 #cj47 ,here we are taught that it is an actual gift conferred upon us to be allowed to suffer for ,christ1 and this in the midst of a scene in which1 on the ground of ,god's moral government1 it can be said1 ,who is he that will harm you1 if ye be followers of that which is good8 ,to recognize and be a subject of ,god's government is one thing1 and to be a follower of a rejected and crucified ,christ is quite another4 ,even in ,peter's epistle1 which1 as we have remarked1 has as its special theme the doctrine of ,god's government1 we read1 ,but if1 doing well and suffering for it1 ye take it patiently1 this is acceptable to ,god4 ,for unto this were ye called1 because ,christ also suffered for us1 leaving us an example1 that we should follow ,his steps4 ,and again1 ,if any suffer as a ,christian from being morally like ,christ1 let him not be ashamed2 but let him glorify ,god in this matter4 ,now1 in every case in which this great truth has been lost sight of by ,christian parents1 their houses have been thrown into confusion4 ,they have not governed their children1 and as a consequence1 their children have1 in process of time1 governed them1 for there will be government somewhere2 and if those into whose hands ,god has put the reins do not hold them properly1 they will speedily fall into bad hands2 and can there be a more melancholy sight than to see parents governed by their children8 ,i believe1 in ,god's sight1 it presents a fearful moral blot1 which must bring down ,his judgment4 ,a parent who lets the reins of government drop from his hands1 or who does not hold them steadily1 has grievously failed in his high and holy position as the representative of ,god1 and the depositary of ,his power2 nor do ,i believe that any one so failing can ever thoroughly regain his place1 or be a proper witness for ,god in his day and generation4 ,a subject of grace he may be2 but then1 a subject of grace and a witness for ,god are two widely different things4 ,this will account for the sorrowful condition of many brethren4 ,they have utterly failed to govern their houses1 and hence they have lost their true position and moral influence--their energies are paralyzed1 their mouths closed1 their testimony hushed2 and if such do lift the voice in some feeble way1 the finger of scorn is instantly pointed at their families1 and this cannot but send a blush to the cheek and a pang to the conscience4 ,nor do people always take a correct view of this matter1 and trace the failure up to its legitimate source4 ,many are too ready to look upon it as a natural and necessary thing that their children are to grow up willful and worldly4 ,they say1 ,it is all very well while your children are young1 but wait till they grow older1 and you will see that you must let them go into the world4 ,now1 ,i want to know1 is it the mind of ,god that the children of ,his servants must necessarily grow up willful and worldly8 ,i never could believe any such thing4 ,well1 then1 if it be not ,his mind that they should so grow up1--if ,he has graciously opened the same path to my house as ,he has opened to myself1--if ,he has permitted me to select the same portion for my children as ,i have1 through ,his grace1 selected for myself1--if1 after all this1 my children grow up willful and worldly1 what am ,i to infer8 ,why1 that ,i have grievously sinned and failed in my parental relationship and responsibilities--that ,i have wronged my children and dishonored the ,lord4 ,shall ,i go and make a general principle of this1 and set it down that all the children of ,christians must grow up as mine have8 ,shall ,i go and discourage young parents from taking ,god's ground in reference to their dear children1 by setting before them my abominable failure1 instead of encouraging them by setting before them ,god's infallible faithfulness to all who seek ,him in the way of ,his appointment8 ,to act thus would be to follow in the steps of the old prophet of ,bethel1 who1 because he was in the midst of evil himself1 sought to drag his brother in also1 and had him slain by a lion for disobeying the word of the ,lord4 ,but the sum of the matter is this3 ,the willfulness of my children reveals the willfulness of my own heart1 and a righteous ,god is using them to chasten me1 because ,i have not chastened myself4 ,this is a peculiarly solemn view of the case1 and one that calls for deep searching of heart4 ,to save myself trouble1 ,i have let things take their course in my family1 and now my children have grown up around me to be thorns in my side1 because ,i trained them not for ,god4 ,this is the history of thousands4 ,we should ever bear in mind that our children1 as well as ourselves1 should be set for the defense and confirmation of the gospel4 ,i feel persuaded that1 could we only be led to regard our houses as a testimony for ,god1 it would produce an immense reformation in our mode of ruling them4 ,we should then seek a high tone of moral order1 not that we might be spared any trouble or vexation1 but rather that the testimony might not suffer through any confusion in our families4 ,but let us not forget1 that in order to subdue nature in our children1 we must subdue it in ourselves4 ,we can never subdue nature by nature4 ,it is only as we have crushed it in ourselves that we are in a position to crush it in our children4 ,moreover1 there must be the clearest understanding and the fullest harmony between the father and mother4 ,their voice1 their will1 their authority1 their influence1 should be essentially one--one in the strictest sense of that word4 ,being themselves no more twain1 but one flesh1 they should ever appear before their children in the beauty and power of that oneness4 ,in order to this1 they must wait much upon ,god together--they must be much in ,his presence1 opening up all their hearts1 and telling out all their need4 ,christians do frequently injure one another in this respect4 ,it sometimes happens that one partner really desires to give up the world and subdue nature to an extent for which the other is not prepared1 and this produces sad results4 ,it sometimes leads to reserve1 to shuffling1 to management and generalship1 to positive antagonism in the views and principles of husband and wife1 so that they cannot really be said to be joined in the ,lord4 ,the effect of all this upon the children as they grow up is pernicious beyond all conception2 and the influence which it exerts in deranging the entire house is quite incalculable4 ,what the father commands1 the mother remits2 what the father builds up1 the mother pulls down4 ,sometimes the father is represented as stern1 severe1 arbitrary1 and exacting4 ,the maternal influence acts outside and independent of the paternal2 sometimes1 even1 it sets it aside altogether2 so that the father's position becomes wretched in the extreme1 and the whole family presents a most demoralized and ungodly appearance4#ag ,this is terrible4 ,children never could be properly trained under such circumstances2 and as to testimony for ,christ1 the bare thought of it is monstrous4 ,wherever such a state of things prevails1 there should be the deepest sorrow of heart before the ,lord on account of it4 ,his mercy is exhaustless1 and ,his tender compassions fail not2 and surely we may hope that1 where there is true contrition and confession1 ,god will graciously come in with healing and restoration4 ,one thing is certain1 that we should not go on content to have things so2 therefore1 let the one who feels the sorrow of heart cry mightily to ,god1 day and night--cry to ,him on the ground of ,his own truth and name1 which are blasphemed by such things2 and1 be assured1 ,he will hear and answer4 #ag ,nothing can be more melancholy than to hear a mother say to a child1 ,we must not let your father know any thing about this4 ,where such a course of reserve and double dealing is adopted1 there must be something radically and awfully wrong1 and it is a moral impossibility that any thing like godly order can prevail1 or right discipline be carried out4 ,either the father must1 by inordinate severity or unwarrantable strictness1 be provoking his children to wrath1 or the mother must be pampering the child's will at the expense of the father's character and authority4 ,in either case1 there is an effectual barrier to the testimony1 and the children suffer grievous injury4 ,hence1 ,christian parents should see well to it that they always appear before their children1 and also before their servants1 in the power of that unity which flows from their being perfectly joined together in the ,lord4 ,if1 unhappily1 any shade of difference should arise in reference to the details of domestic government1 let it be made a matter of private conference1 prayer1 and self-judgment in the presence of ,god2 but never let the subjects of government see such a manifest proof of moral weakness1 for it will surely cause them to despise the government4 ,but let all be viewed in the light of testimony for ,god's ,son4 ,it is to further this we are left here4 ,we are surely not left here merely to bring up families4 ,we are left here to bring them up for ,god1 with ,god1 by ,god1 and before ,god4 ,to do all this1 we must be much in ,his presence4 ,a ,christian parent should take great care not to punish his children merely to gratify his whims and tempers4 ,he is to represent ,god in the midst of his family4 ,this1 when properly understood1 will regulate every thing4 ,he is ,god's steward1 likewise1 and in order rightly and intelligently to discharge the functions of his stewardship1 he must have frequent--yea1 unbroken--intercourse with his ,master4 ,he must be constantly betaking himself to ,his feet1 to know what he is to do1 and how he is to do it4 ,this will make every thing easy and happy4 ,it is often the desire of one's heart to get an abstract rule for this1 that1 and the other thing1 in the details of family arrangement4 ,one may ask what sort of punishments1 what sort of rewards1 what sort of amusements1 should a ,christian parent adopt4 ,actual punishment will1 ,i believe1 rarely be called for1 if the divine principle of government be carried out from the earliest date2 and as to rewards1 it would be better to put them in the light of expressions of love and approval4 ,a child must be obedient--unqualifiedly and unhesitatingly obedient--not to get a reward1 which is apt to feed emulation1 a fruit of the flesh2 but because ,god would have him so2 and then1 of course1 it is quite allowable for the parent to express his approval in the shape of some little present4 ,as to amusement1 let it always1 if possible1 assume the character of some useful occupation4 ,this is most salutary4 ,it is a bad thing to cherish the thought in the mind of a child that painted toys and gilded baubles minister pleasure4 ,with very young children1 ,i have constantly found that they derived more real1 and certainly much more simple pleasure from a piece of stick or paper made out by themselves1 than from the most expensive toy4 ,finally1 let us1 in all things1 whether punishment1 reward1 or amusement1 keep the eye on ,christ1 and earnestly seek the subjugation of the flesh in every shape and form4 ,so shall our houses be a testimony for ,god1 and all who enter them be constrained to say1 ,,god ,,is ,,here4 ,as to the management of servants in a ,christian household1 the principle is equally simple4 ,the master1 as the head of the house1 is the expression of the power of ,god1 and as such1 he must insist upon subjection and obedience4 ,it is not a question of the ,christianity of the servants1 but simply of the order which should ever be maintained in a ,christian household4 ,here1 too1 we must be on our guard against the mere indulgence of our own arbitrary temper4 ,we have to remember that we have a ,master in heaven1 who has taught us to give unto our servants that which is just and equal4 ,if only we set the ,lord before us from day to day1 and seek to exhibit ,him in all our dealings with our servants1 we shall be kept from error on every side4 ,i must now close4 ,i have not written1 the ,lord knows1 to wound anyone4 ,i feel the truth1 importance1 and deep solemnity of the points here put forward1 and also my own lack of ability to bring them out with sufficient distinctness and power4 ,however1 ,i look to ,god to make them influential2 and where ,he works1 the very weakest agency will answer ,his end4 ,to ,him ,i now commend these pages1 which have1 ,i trust1 been begun1 continued1 and ended in ,his holy presence4 ,the thought has comforted me not a little1 that at the very moment in which it was laid on my conscience to prepare this paper1 a number of beloved brethren were actually assembled for humiliation1 confession1 and prayer1 in immediate connection with the testimony of ,god's ,son in these last days4 ,i doubt not that a very leading point of confession has been failure in the government of the house2 and if these pages should be used of ,god's ,spirit to produce1 even in one conscience1 a deeper sense of this failure1 and in one heart1 a more earnest desire to meet the failure in ,god's own way1 ,i shall rejoice1 and feel ,i have not written in vain4 ,may ,god ,almighty1 in ,his great grace1 produce1 by ,his ,holy ,spirit1 in the hearts of all ,his beloved saints1 a more ardent purpose of soul to raise1 in this closing hour1 a fuller1 brighter1 more vigorous and decided testimony for ,christ1 that so1 ere the shout of the archangel and the trump of ,god are heard in the air1 there may be a people prepared to meet and welcome the heavenly ,bridegroom4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,,discipleship ,,in ,,an ,,evil ,,day ,the first three chapters of the ,book of ,daniel furnish a most seasonable and important lesson at a time like the present1 in which the disciple is in such danger of yielding to surrounding influences1 and of lowering his standard of testimony and his tone of discipleship1 in order to meet the existing condition of things4 ,at the opening of chapter i4 we have a most discouraging picture of the state of things1 in reference to the ostensible witness of ,god on the earth4 ,in the third year of the reign of ,jehoiakim1 king of ,judah1 came ,nebuchadnezzar1 king of ,babylon1 unto ,jerusalem1 and besieged it4 ,and the ,lord gave ,jehoiakim1 king of ,judah1 into his hand1 with part of the vessels of the house of ,god1 which he carried into the land of ,shinar1 to the house of his god2 and he brought the vessels into the house of his god4 7,chap4 i4 #a1 #b47 ,here then we have an aspect of things quite sufficient1 if looked at from nature's point of view1 to discourage the heart1 to damp the spirit1 and paralyse the energies4 ,jerusalem in ruins1 the temple trodden down1 the ,lord's vessels in the house of a false god1 and ,judah carried away captive4 ,surely the heart would feel disposed to say1 ,there is no use in seeking to hold up the standard of practical discipleship and personal devotedness any longer4 ,the spirit must droop1 the heart must faint1 and the hands must hang down1 when such is the condition of the people of ,god4 ,it could be nought but the greatest presumption for any of ,judah's sons to think of taking up true ,nazarite's position at such a time4 ,such would be nature's reasoning2 but such was not the language of faith4 ,blessed be ,god6 there is always a wide sphere in which the spirit of genuine devotedness can develop itself--there is always a path along which the true disciple can run1 even though he should have to run in solitude4 ,it matters not what the outward condition of things may be1 it is faith's privilege to hang as much on ,god1 to feed as much on ,christ1 and to breathe as much of the air of heaven1 as though all were in perfect order and harmony4 ,this is an unspeakable mercy to the faithful heart4 ,all who desire to walk devotedly can always find a path to walk in2 whereas1 on the contrary1 the man who draws a plea1 from outward circumstances1 for relaxing his energy1 would not be energetic1 though most favorably situated4 ,if ever there was a time in which one might be excused for taking a low ground1 it was the time of the ,babylonish captivity4 ,the entire framework of ,judaism was broken up2 the kingly power had passed out of the hand of ,david's successor1 and into the hand of ,nebuchadnezzar2 the glory had departed from ,israel2 and1 in one word1 all seemed faded and gone1 and nought remained for the exiled children of ,judah1 save to hang their harps upon the willows1 and sit down by the rivers of ,babylon1 there to weep over departed glory1 faded light1 and fallen greatness4 ,such would be the language of blind unbelief2 but1 blessed be ,god6 it is when everything appears sunk to the lowest possible point1 that then faith rises in holy triumph2 and faith1 we know1 is the only true basis of effective discipleship4 ,it asks for no props from the men and things around it2 it finds all its springs in ,god2 and hence it is that faith never shines so brightly as when all around is dark4 ,it is when nature's horizon is overcast with the blackest clouds1 that faith basks in the sunshine of the divine favor and faithfulness4 ,thus it was that ,daniel and his companions were enabled to overcome the peculiar difficulties of their time4 ,they judged that there was nothing to hinder their enjoying as elevated a ,nazariteship in ,babylon as ever had been known in ,jerusalem2 and they judged rightly4 ,their judgment was the judgment of a pure and well-founded faith4 ,it was the selfsame judgment on which the ,baraks1 the ,gideons1 the ,jephthahs1 and the ,samsons of old had acted4 ,it was the judgment to which ,jonathan gave utterance1 when he said1 ,there is no restraint with the ,lord to save by many or by few4 7#a ,sam4 xiv47 ,it was the judgment of ,david1 in the valley of ,elah1 when he called the poor trembling host of ,israel the army of the living ,god4 7#a ,sam4 xvii47 ,it was the judgment of ,elijah1 on ,mount ,carmel1 when he built an altar with twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of ,jacob4 7#a ,kings xviii47 ,it was the judgment of ,daniel himself when1 at a further stage of his history1 he opened his window and prayed toward ,jerusalem4 7,dan4 vi47 ,it was the judgment of ,paul when1 in view of the overwhelming tide of apostasy and corruption which was about to set in1 he exhorts his son ,timothy to hold fast the form of sound words4 7#b ,tim4 i4 #ac47 ,it was the judgment of ,peter when1 in prospect of the dissolution of the entire framework of creation1 he encourages believers to be diligent1 that they be found of him in peace1 without spot and blameless4 7#b ,peter iii4 #ad47 ,it was the judgment of ,john when1 amid the actual breaking up of everything ecclesiastical1 he exhorts his well-beloved ,gaius to follow not that which is evil1 but that which is good4 7#c ,john #aa47 ,and it was the judgment of ,jude when1 in the presence of the most appalling wickedness1 he encourages a beloved remnant to build themselves up in their most holy faith1 praying in the ,holy ,ghost1 to keep themselves in the love of ,god1 looking for the mercy of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ unto eternal life4 7,jude #bj1 #ba47 ,in one word1 it was the judgment of the ,holy ,ghost1 and1 therefore1 it was the judgment of faith4 ,now1 all this attaches immense value and interest to ,daniel's determination1 as expressed in the first chapter of this book4 ,but ,daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat1 nor with the wine which he drank2 therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself4 7,ver4 #h47 ,he might1 very naturally1 have said to himself1 ,there is no use in one poor feeble captive seeking to maintain a place of separation4 ,everything is broken up4 ,it is impossible to carry out the true spirit of a ,nazarite amid such hopeless ruin and degradation4 ,i may as well accommodate myself to the condition of things around me4 ,but no2 ,daniel was on higher ground than this4 ,he knew it was his privilege to live as close to ,god in the palace of ,nebuchadnezzar1 as within the gates of ,jerusalem4 ,he knew that1 let the outward condition of the people of ,god be what it might1 there was a path of purity and devotedness opened to the individual saint1 which he could pursue independently of everything4 ,and may we not say1 that the ,nazariteship of ,babylon possesses charms and attractions fully as powerful as the ,nazariteship of ,canaan8 ,unquestionably4 ,it is unspeakably precious and beautiful1 to find one of the captives in ,babylon breathing after1 and attaining unto1 so elevated a standard of separation4 ,it teaches a powerful lesson for every age4 ,it holds up to the view of believers1 under every dispensation1 a most encouraging and soul-stirring example4 ,it proves that1 amid the darkest shades1 a devoted heart can enjoy a path of cloudless sunshine4 ,but how is this8 ,because ,jesus ,christ is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever4 7,heb4 xiii47 ,dispensations change and pass away4 ,ecclesiastical institutions crumble and moulder into ashes4 ,human systems totter and fall2 but the name of ,jehovah endureth forever1 and ,his memorial unto all generations4 ,it is upon this holy elevation that faith plants its foot4 ,it rises above all vicissitude1 and enjoys sweet converse with the unchangeable and eternal ,source of all real good4 ,thus it was that1 in the days of the judges1 individual faith was manifested and achieved more glorious triumphs than ever were known in the days of ,joshua4 ,thus it was that ,elijah's altar on ,mount ,carmel was surrounded by a halo fully as bright as that which crowned the altar of ,solomon4 ,this is truly encouraging4 ,the poor heart is so apt to sink1 and be discouraged1 by looking at the failure and unfaithfulness of man1 instead of at the infallible faithfulness of ,god4 ,the foundation of ,god standeth sure1 having this seal1 ,the ,lord knoweth them that are ,his4 ,and1 ,let every one that nameth the name of ,christ depart from iniquity4 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #ai47 ,what can ever touch this enduring truth8 ,nothing6 ,and1 therefore1 nothing can touch the faith which lays hold of it1 or the superstructure of practical devotedness which is erected on the foundation of that faith4 ,and then look at the glorious results of ,daniel's devotedness and separation4 ,in the three opening chapters we observe three distinct things1 resulting from the position assumed by ,daniel and his companions1 in reference to the king's meat4 #a1 ,they were let into the secret of the king's dream4 #b1 ,they withstood the seductions of the king's image4 ,and1 #c1 ,they were brought unscathed through the king's furnace4 ,i4 ,the secret of the ,lord is with them that fear ,him4 ,this is beautifully exemplified in the case before us4 ,the magicians1 and the astrologers1 and the sorcerers1 and the ,chaldeans1 who were breathing the atmosphere of the royal presence1 were all in the dark as to the royal dream4 ,the ,chaldeans answered before the king1 and said1 ,there is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter4 ,very likely2 but there was a ,god in heaven who knew all about it2 and who1 moreover1 could unfold it to those who had faith enough1 and devotedness enough1 and self-denial enough1 to separate themselves from ,babylonish pollutions1 though involved in the ,babylonish captivity4 ,the mazes1 the labyrinths1 and the enigmas of human things are all plain to ,god2 and ,he can and does make them plain to those who walk with ,him1 in the sanctity of ,his holy presence4 ,god's ,nazarites can see farther into human affairs than the most profound philosophers of this world4 ,and how is this8 ,how can they so readily unravel the world's mysteries8 ,because they are above the world's mists4 ,they are apart from the world's defilements4 ,they are in the place of separation1 the place of dependence1 the place of communion4 ,then ,daniel went to his house1 and made the thing known to ,hananiah1 ,mishael1 and ,azariah1 his companions3 that they would desire mercies of the ,god of heaven1 concerning this secret4 7,chap4 ii4 #ag1 #ah47 ,here we have their place of strength and intelligence4 ,they had only to look up to heaven1 in order to be endowed with a clear understanding as to all the destinies of earth4 ,how real and simple is all this8 ,god is light1 and in ,him is no darkness at all2 and1 hence1 if we want light1 we can find it only in ,his presence2 and we can only know the power of ,his presence as we are practically taking the place of separation from all the moral pollutions of earth4 ,and1 observe1 a further result of ,daniel's holy separation4 ,then the king ,nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and worshipped ,daniel1 and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him4 ,here we have earth's proudest and most powerful monarch at the feet of the captive exile4 ,magnificent fruit of faithfulness6 ,precious evidence of the truth that ,god will always honor the faith that can1 in any measure1 rise to the height of ,his thoughts6 ,he will not1 ,he cannot1 dishonor the draft which confidence presents at ,his exhaustless treasury4 ,daniel1 on this memorable occasion1 realized1 in his own person1 as fully as ever it was realized1 ,god's ancient promise3 ,and all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the ,lord2 and they shall be afraid of thee4444 ,and the ,lord shall make thee the head1 and not the tail2 and thou shalt be above only1 and thou shalt not be beneath4 7,deut4 xxviii4 #aj1 #ac47 ,assuredly ,daniel was1 in the above scene1 the head1 and ,nebuchadnezzar the tail1 as looked at from the divine point of view4 ,witness1 also1 the bearing of this holy ,nazarite1 in the presence of the impious ,belshazzar4 7,dan4 v4 #ag-bi47 ,have we not1 here1 as magnificent a testimony to the destined pre-eminence of the seed of ,abraham1 as when ,joshua's victorious captains placed their feet on the necks of the kings of ,canaan 7,joshua x4 #bd72 or1 when all the earth sought to ,solomon1 to hear his wisdom1 which ,god had put in his heart8 7#a ,kings x4 #bd47 ,unquestionably2 and1 in a certain sense1 it is a more magnificent testimony4 ,it is natural to expect such a scene in the history of ,joshua1 or of ,solomon2 but to find the haughty king of ,babylon prostrate at the feet of one of his captives1 is something far beyond the utmost stretch of nature's expectation4 ,there it is1 however1 as a most striking and soul-stirring proof of the power of faith to triumph over all manner of difficulties1 and to produce the most extraordinary results4 ,faith is the same mighty principle1 whether it act on the plains of ,palestine1 on the top of ,carmel1 by the rivers of ,babylon1 or amid the ruins of the professing ,church4 ,no fetters can bind it1 no difficulties deter it1 no pressure damp it1 no changes affect it4 ,it ever rises to its proper object1 and that object is ,god ,himself1 and ,his eternal revelation4 ,dispensations may change1 ages may run their course1 the wheels of time may roll on1 and crush beneath their ponderous weight the fondest hopes of the poor human heart2 but there stands faith1 that immortal1 divine1 eternal reality1 drinking at the fountain of pure truth1 and finding all its springs in ,him1 who is the way1 the truth1 and the life4 ,by this precious faith it was that ,daniel acted1 when he purposed that he would not defile himself with the king's meat4 ,true1 he could no longer ascend to that holy and beautiful house1 where his fathers had worshipped4 ,the rude foot of a foreign foe had trodden down the holy city4 ,the fire no longer burned on the altar of the ,god of ,israel4 ,the golden candlestick no longer enlightened1 with its seven lamps1 the holy place4 ,but there was faith in ,daniel's heart1 and that faith carried him beyond every surrounding influence1 and enabled him to appropriate1 and act in the power of1 all the promises of ,god1 which are ,yea1 and ,amen in ,christ ,jesus4 ,faith is not affected by ruined temples1 fallen cities1 faded lights1 or departed glories4 ,why not8 ,because ,god is not affected by them4 ,god is always to be found2 and faith is always sure to find ,him4 ,,ii4 ,but the same faith which enabled those holy men of old to refuse the king's meat1 enabled them1 also1 to despise the king's image4 ,they had separated themselves from defilement1 in order that they might enjoy a more intense communion with the true ,god2 and they could not1 therefore1 bow down to an image of gold1 even though it were ever so high4 ,they knew that ,god was not an image4 ,they knew ,he was a reality4 ,they could only present worship to ,him1 for ,he alone was the true object thereof4 ,nor did it make any matter to them that all the world was against them4 ,they had only to live and act for ,god4 ,it might seem as if they were setting up to be wiser than their neighbors4 ,it might savor of presumption to stand against the tide of public opinion4 ,some might feel disposed to ask if truth lay only with them8 ,were all the princes1 the governors1 and captains1 the judges1 the treasurers1 the counsellors1 the sheriffs1 and all the rulers of the provinces1 sunk in darkness and error8 ,could it be possible that so many men of rank1 of intelligence1 and of learning were in the wrong1 and only a few strangers of the captivity in the right8 ,with such questions our ,nazarites had nothing to do4 ,their path lay right onward4 ,should they bow down and worship an image1 in order to avoid the appearance of condemning other people8 ,assuredly not4 ,and yet how often are those who desire to keep a conscience void of offence in the sight of ,god1 condemned for setting themselves up and judging others6 ,doubtless ,luther was condemned by many for setting himself up in opposition to the doctors1 the cardinals1 and the pope4 ,should he1 in order to avoid such condemnation1 have lived and died in error8 ,who would say so8 ,ah6 but1 some will reply1 ,luther had to deal with palpable error4 ,so thought ,luther2 but thousands of learned and eminent men thought otherwise4 ,so also in the case of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 they had to do with positive idolatry2 but the whole world differed from them4 ,what then8 ,we must obey ,god rather than man4 ,let others do as they will2 as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,if people were to remain in error and continue to do what they1 at least1 feel to be wrong1 in order to avoid the appearance of judging others1 where should we be8 ,ah6 no2 my beloved reader1 do you seek to pursue the steady1 onward1 upward path of pure and elevated discipleship4 ,and1 whether or not you thereby condemn others1 is no concern of yours4 ,,cease ,,to ,,do ,,evil4 ,this is the first thing for the true disciple to do4 ,when he has yielded obedience to this golden precept1 he may expect to learn to do well4 ,if thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be full of light4 ,when ,god speaks1 ,i am not to turn round to see how my obedience to ,his voice will affect my neighbors1 or to consider what they will think about me4 ,when the voice of the risen and glorified ,jesus fell upon the ear of the prostrate ,saul of ,tarsus1 he did not begin to enquire what the chief priests and ,pharisees would think of him were he to obey4 ,surely not4 ,immediately1 he says1 ,i conferred not with flesh and blood4 7,gal4 i4 #af47 ,whereupon1 ,o king ,agrippa1 ,i was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision4 7,acts xxvi4 #ai47 ,this is the true spirit and principle of discipleship4 ,give glory to ,god1 before ,he cause darkness1 and your feet stumble upon the dark mountains4 ,nothing can be more dangerous than to hesitate1 when divine light shines upon the path4 ,if you do not act upon the light1 when you get it1 you will1 assuredly1 be involved in thick darkness4 ,hence1 therefore1 as another has said1 ,never go before your faith1 nor lag behind your conscience4 ,,iii4 ,but1 we have said1 if our ,nazarites refused to bow before the king's image1 they had to encounter the king's rage1 and the king's furnace4 ,for all this they were1 by the grace of ,god1 prepared3 their ,nazariteship was a real thing2 they were ready to suffer the loss of all things1 and even life itself1 in defence of the true worship of the ,god of ,israel4 ,they worshipped and served their own ,god1 not merely beneath the peaceful vine and fig-tree in the land of ,canaan1 but in the very face of a burning fiery furnace4 ,they acknowledged ,jehovah1 not merely in the midst of a congregation of true worshippers1 but in the presence of an opposing world4 ,theirs was a true discipleship in an evil day4 ,they loved the ,lord2 and1 therefore1 for ,his sake1 they abstained from the king's luxuries1 they withstood the king's rage1 and they endured the king's furnace4 ,o ,nebuchadnezzar1 we are not careful to answer thee in this matter4 ,if it be so1 our ,god whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace2 and ,he will deliver us out of thine hand1 ,o king4 ,but if not1 be it known unto thee1 ,o king1 that we will not serve thy gods1 nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up4 ,this was the language of men who knew whose they were1 and where they were--of men who had calmly and deliberately counted the cost--of men to whom the ,lord was everything1 the world nothing4 ,all that the world could offer1 together with life itself1 was at stake2 but what of that8 ,they endured as seeing ,him who is invisible4 ,eternal glory lay before them2 and they were quite prepared to reach that glory by a fiery pathway4 ,god can take ,his servants to heaven by a chariot of fire1 or by a furnace of fire1 as seems good to ,him4 ,whatever be the mode of going1 it is well to get there4 ,but could not the ,lord have preserved ,his beloved servants from being cast into the furnace8 ,no doubt4 ,this would have been but a very small matter to ,him4 ,he did not1 however1 do so3 it was ,his will that the faith of ,his servants should be put to the test--should be tried in the furnace--should be passed through the most searching crucible1 in order that it might be found to praise and honor and glory4 ,is it because the refiner sets no value on the wedge of gold1 that he puts it into the furnace8 ,no2 but because he does4 ,and1 as some one has beautifully remarked1 ,his object is not merely to remove the dross1 but to brighten the metal4 ,it is very evident that had the ,lord1 by an act of power1 kept ,his servants out of the furnace1 there would have been less glory to ,him and as a consequence1 less blessing to them4 ,it was far better to have ,his presence and sympathy in the furnace1 than ,his power to keep them out of it4 ,what glory to ,him in this6 ,and what unspeakable privilege to them6 ,the ,lord went down and walked with ,his ,nazarites in the furnace into which their faithfulness had brought them4 ,they had walked with ,god in the king's palace2 and ,god walked with them in the king's furnace4 ,this was the most elevated moment in the entire career of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 ,how little had the king imagined the lofty position in which he was placing the objects of his rage and fury6 ,every eye was turned from the great image of gold1 to gaze1 in astonishment1 upon the three captives4 ,what could it mean8 ,three men bound6 ,four men loose6 ,could it be real8 ,was the furnace real8 ,alas1 the most mighty men in the king's army had proved it to be real4 ,and1 had ,nebuchadnezzar's image been cast into it1 it would have proved its reality also4 ,there was no material for the sceptic or the infidel to work upon4 ,it was a real furnace1 and a real flame1 and the three men were bound in their coats1 their hosen1 and their hats1 and their other garments4 ,all was reality4 ,but there was a deeper reality3 ,god was there4 ,this changed everything3 it changed the king's word1 changed the furnace into a place of high and holy fellowship--changed ,nebuchadnezzar's bondmen into ,god's freemen4 ,god was there6--there1 in his power1 to write contempt upon all man's opposition--there1 in ,his deep and tender sympathy with ,his tried and faithful servants--there1 in ,his matchless grace1 to set the captives free1 and to lead the hearts of ,his ,nazarites into that deep fellowship with ,himself for which they so ardently thirsted4 ,and1 my beloved reader1 is it not worth passing through a fiery furnace to enjoy a little more of the presence of ,christ1 and the sympathy of ,his loving heart8 ,are not fetters1 with ,christ1 better than jewels without ,him8 ,is not a furnace where ,he is better than a palace where ,he is not8 ,nature says1 ,no6 ,faith says1 ,yes6 ,it is well to bear in mind that this is not the day of ,christ's power2 but it is the day of ,his sympathy4 ,when passing through the deep waters of affliction1 the heart may1 at times1 feel disposed to ask1 ,why does not the ,lord display ,his power1 and deliver me8 ,the answer is1 ,this is not the day of ,his power4 ,he could avert that sickness--,he could remove that difficulty--,he could take off that pressure--,he could prevent that catastrophe--,he could preserve that beloved and fondly-cherished object from the cold grasp of death4 ,but1 instead of putting forth ,his power to deliver1 ,he allows things to run their course1 and pours ,his own sweet sympathy into the oppressed and riven heart1 in such a way as to elicit the acknowledgment that we would not1 for worlds1 have missed the trial1 because of the abundance of the consolation4 ,such1 my reader1 is the manner of our ,jesus just now4 ,by and by ,he will display ,his power2 ,he will come forth as the ,rider on the white horse2 ,he will unsheath ,his sword2 ,he will make bare ,his arm2 ,he will avenge ,his people1 and right their wrongs forever4 ,but now ,his sword is sheathed1 ,his arm covered4 ,this is the time for making known the deep love of ,his heart1 not the power of ,his arm1 nor the sharpness of ,his sword4 ,are you satisfied to have it so8 ,is ,christ's sympathy enough for your heart1 even amid the keenest sorrow and the most intense affliction8 ,the restless heart1 the impatient spirit1 the unmortified will1 would lead one to long for escape from the trial1 the difficulty1 or the pressure2 but this would never do4 ,it would involve incalculable loss4 ,we must pass from form to form in the school2 but the ,master accompanies us1 and the light of ,his countenance1 and the tender sympathy of ,his heart1 sustain us under the most severe exercises4 ,and1 then1 see what glory redounds to the name of the ,lord1 when ,his people are enabled1 by ,his grace1 to pass1 triumphantly1 through a trial6 ,read ,daniel iii4 #bf-bh1 and say where you could find richer or rarer fruits of a faithful discipleship4 ,the king and all his nobles1 who1 just before1 had been wholly engrossed with the bewitching music and the false worship1 are now occupied with the amazing fact that the fire1 which had slain the mighty men1 had taken no effect whatever upon the worshippers of the true ,god1 save to consume their fetters and let them walk free1 in company with the ,son of ,god4 ,then ,nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace1 and spake and said1 ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 ,,ye ,,servants ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,high ,,god1 come forth and come hither4 ,then ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 came forth of the midst of the fire4 ,and the princes1 governors1 and captains1 and the king's counsellors1 being gathered together1 saw these men1 upon whose bodies the fire had no power1 nor was a hair of their head singed1 neither were their coats changed1 nor the smell of fire had passed on them4 ,here1 then1 was a noble testimony--such a testimony as would never have been rendered1 had the ,lord1 by a mere act of power1 preserved ,his servants from being cast into the furnace4 ,nebuchadnezzar was furnished with a striking proof that his furnace was no more to be dreaded than his image was to be worshipped by the servants of the most high ,god4 ,in a word1 the enemy was confounded2 ,god was glorified2 and ,his dear servants brought forth unscathed from the burning fiery furnace4 ,precious fruits1 these1 of a faithful ,nazariteship6 ,and1 observe1 further1 the honor put upon our ,nazarites4 ,then ,nebuchadnezzar spake and said1 ,blessed be the ,god of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 ,their names are intimately associated with the ,god of ,israel4 ,this was a high honor4 ,they had identified themselves with the true ,god when it was a matter of life and death to do so2 and1 therefore1 the true ,god identified ,himself with them1 and led them forth into a large and wealthy place4 ,he set their feet upon a rock1 and lifted their heads up above all their enemies round about them4 ,how true it is that them that honor me ,i will honor6 ,and it is equally true that they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed4 7#a ,sam4 ii4 #cj47 ,my beloved reader1 have you found settled1 divine peace for your guilty conscience1 in the perfected atonement of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8 ,have you simply taken ,god at ,his word8 ,have you set to your seal that ,god is true8 ,if so1 you are a child of ,god2 your sins are all forgiven1 and you are accepted as righteous in ,christ2 heaven1 with all its untold glories1 is before you2 you are as sure of being in the glory as ,christ ,himself1 inasmuch as you are united to ,him4 ,thus1 everything is settled for you for time and eternity1 according to the very utmost desire of your heart4 ,your need is met1 your guilt removed1 your peace established1 your title sure4 ,you have nought to do for yourself4 ,all is divinely finished4 ,what remains8 ,just this3 ,,live ,,for ,,christ6 ,you are left here for a little while1 to occupy for ,him1 and wait for ,his appearing4 ,oh6 seek to be faithful to your blessed ,master4 ,be not discouraged by the fragmentary state of everything around you4 ,let the case of ,daniel and his honored companions encourage your heart to seek after an elevated course here below4 ,it is your privilege to enjoy as much of companionship with the blessed ,lord ,jesus1 as if you were cast amid the palmy days of apostolic testimony4 ,may the ,holy ,ghost enable the writer and the reader of these lines to drink into the spirit--walk in the footsteps--manifest the graces--and wait for the coming of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,,sin ,,in ,,the ,,flesh ,,and ,,sin ,,on ,,the ,,conscience ,it is of the utmost importance that we accurately distinguish between sin in the flesh1 and sin on the conscience4 ,if we confound these two1 our souls must necessarily be unhinged1 and our worship marred4 ,an attentive consideration of #a ,john i4 #h-aj4 will throw much light upon this subject1 the understanding of which is so essential4 ,there is no one who will be so conscious of indwelling sin1 as the man who walks in the light4 ,if we say that we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us4 ,in the verse immediately preceding1 we read1 the blood of ,jesus ,christ ,his ,son cleanseth us from all sin4 ,here the distinction between sin in us1 and sin on us1 is fully brought out and established4 ,to say that there is sin on the believer1 in the presence of ,god1 is to call in question the purging efficacy of the blood of ,jesus1 and to deny the truth of the divine record4 ,if the blood of ,jesus can perfectly purge1 then the believer's conscience is perfectly purged4 ,the word of ,god thus puts the matter2 and we must ever remember that it is from ,god ,himself we are to learn what the true condition of the believer is1 in ,his sight4 ,we are more disposed to be occupied in telling ,god what we are in ourselves1 than to allow ,him to tell us what we are in ,christ4 ,in other words1 we are more taken up with our own self-consciousness1 than with ,god's revelation of ,himself4 ,god speaks to us on the ground of what ,he is in ,himself1 and of what ,he has accomplished in ,christ4 ,such is the nature and character of ,his revelation1 of which faith takes hold1 and thus fills the soul with perfect peace4 ,god's revelation is one thing2 my consciousness is quite another4 ,but the same word which tells us we have no sin on us1 tells us1 with equal force and clearness1 that we have sin in us4 ,if we say we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us4 ,every one who has truth in him1 will know that he has sin in him1 likewise2 for truth reveals everything as it is4 ,what1 then1 are we to do8 ,it is our privilege so to walk in the power of the new nature 7that is1 the ,holy ,ghost71 that the sin which dwells in us may not manifest itself in the form of sins4 ,the ,christian's position is one of victory and liberty4 ,he is not only delivered from the guilt of sin1 but also from sin as a ruling principle in his life4 ,knowing this1 that our old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin might be destroyed1 that henceforth we should not serve sin4 ,for he that is dead is freed from sin 444 let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body1 that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof4444 ,for sin shall not have dominion over you2 for ye are not under the law1 but under grace4 7,rom4 vi4 #f-ad47 ,sin is there in all its native vileness1 but the believer is dead to it4 ,how8 ,he died in ,christ4 ,by nature he was dead in sin4 ,by grace he is dead to it4 ,what claim can anything or any one have upon a dead man8 ,none whatever4 ,christ died unto sin once1 and the believer died in ,him4 ,now if we be dead with ,christ1 we believe that we shall also live with ,him2 knowing that ,christ1 being raised from the dead1 dieth no more2 death hath no more dominion over ,him4 ,for in that ,he died1 ,he died unto sin once2 but in that ,he liveth1 ,he liveth unto ,god4 ,what is the result of this1 in reference to believers8 ,likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin1 but alive unto ,god through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,such is the believer's unalterable position before ,god1 so that it is his holy privilege to enjoy freedom from sin as a ruler over him1 though it be a dweller in him4 ,but then1 if any man sin1 what is to be done8 ,the inspired apostle furnishes a full and most blessed answer3 ,if we confess our sins1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 7#a ,john i4 #i47 ,confession is the mode in which the conscience is to be kept free4 ,the apostle does not say1 ,if we pray for pardon1 ,he is gracious and merciful to forgive us4 ,no doubt1 it is ever happy for a child to breathe the sense of need into his father's ear--to tell him of feebleness1 to confess folly1 infirmity1 and failure4 ,all this is most true2 and1 moreover1 it is equally true that our ,father is most gracious and merciful to meet ,his children in all their weakness and ignorance2 but1 while all this is true1 the ,holy ,ghost declares1 by the apostle1 that if we confess1 ,god is faithful and just to forgive4 ,confession therefore is the divine mode4 ,a ,christian1 having erred in thought1 word1 or deed1 might pray for pardon for days and months together1 and not have any assurance1 from #a ,john i4 #i1 that he was forgiven2 whereas1 the moment he truly confesses his sin before ,god1 it is a simple matter of faith to know that he is perfectly forgiven1 and perfectly cleansed4 ,there is an immense moral difference between praying for forgiveness1 and confessing our sins1 whether we look at it in reference to the character of ,god1 the sacrifice of ,christ1 or the condition of the soul4 ,it is quite possible that a person's prayer may involve the confession of his sin1 whatever it may happen to be1 and thus come to the same thing4 ,but then1 it is always well to keep close to ,scripture1 in what we think1 and say1 and do4 ,it must be evident that when the ,holy ,ghost speaks of confession1 ,he does not mean praying4 ,and it is equally evident that ,he knows there are moral elements in1 and practical results flowing out of1 confession1 which do not belong to prayer4 ,in point of fact1 one has often found that a habit of importuning ,god for the forgiveness of sins1 displayed ignorance as to the way in which ,god has revealed ,himself in the ,person and work of ,christ2 as to the relation in which the sacrifice of ,christ has set the believer2 and as to the divine mode of getting the conscience relieved from the burden1 and purified from the evil of sin4 ,god has been perfectly satisfied1 as to all the believer's sins1 in the cross of ,christ4 ,on that cross a full atonement was presented for every jot and tittle of sin1 in the believer's nature and on his conscience4 ,hence1 therefore1 ,god does not need any further propitiation4 ,he does not need aught to draw ,his heart toward the believer4 ,we do not require to supplicate ,him to be faithful and just1 when ,his faithfulness and justice have been so gloriously displayed1 vindicated1 and answered1 in the death of ,christ4 ,our sins can never come into ,god's presence1 inasmuch as ,christ1 who bore them all1 and put them away1 is there instead4 ,but if we sin1 conscience will feel it1 must feel it2 yea1 the ,holy ,ghost will make us feel it4 ,he cannot allow so much as a single light thought to pass unjudged4 ,what then8 ,has our sin made its way into the presence of ,god8 ,has it found its place in the unsullied light of the inner sanctuary8 ,god forbid6 ,the ,advocate is there--,jesus ,christ the righteous--to maintain1 in unbroken integrity1 the relationship in which we stand4 ,but though sin cannot affect ,god's thoughts in reference to us1 it can1 and does affect our thoughts in reference to ,him4 ,though it cannot make its way into ,god's presence1 it can make its way into ours1 in a most distressing and humiliating manner4 ,though it cannot hide the ,advocate from ,god's view1 it can hide ,him from ours4 ,it gathers1 like a thick dark cloud1 on our spiritual horizon1 so that our souls cannot bask in the blessed beams of our ,father's countenance4 ,it cannot affect our relationship with ,god1 but it can very seriously affect our enjoyment thereof4 ,what1 therefore1 are we to do8 ,the ,word answers1 ,if we confess our sins1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,by confession1 we get our conscience cleared2 the sweet sense of our relationship restored2 the dark cloud dispersed2 the chilling1 withering influence removed2 our thoughts of ,god set straight4 ,such is the divine method2 and we may truly say that the heart that knows what it is to have ever been in the place of confession1 will feel the divine power of the apostle's words1 ,my little children1 these things write ,i unto you1 that ye sin not4 7#a ,john ii4 #a47 ,then1 again1 there is a style of praying for forgiveness which involves a losing sight of the perfect ground of forgiveness1 which has been laid in the sacrifice of the cross4 ,if ,god forgives sins1 ,he must be faithful and just in so doing4 ,but it is quite clear that our prayers1 be they ever so sincere and earnest1 could not form the basis of ,god's faithfulness and justice in forgiving us our sins4 ,nought save the work of the cross could do this4 ,there the faithfulness and justice of ,god have had their fullest establishment1 and that1 too1 in immediate reference to our actual sins1 as well as to the root thereof1 in our nature4 ,god has already judged our sins1 in the ,person of our ,substitute1 on the tree2 and1 in the act of confession1 we judge ourselves4 ,this is essential to divine forgiveness and restoration4 ,the very smallest unconfessed1 unjudged sin1 on the conscience1 will entirely mar our communion with ,god4 ,sin in us need not do this2 but if we suffer sin to remain on us1 we cannot have fellowship with ,god4 ,he has put away our sins in such a manner as that ,he can have us in ,his presence2 and so long as we abide in ,his presence1 sin does not trouble us4 ,but if we get out of ,his presence1 and commit sin1 our communion must of necessity be suspended until1 by confession1 we have got rid of the sin4 ,all this1 ,i need hardly add1 is founded exclusively upon the perfect sacrifice and righteous advocacy of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,finally1 as to the difference between prayer and confession1 as respects the condition of the heart before ,god1 and its moral sense of the hatefulness of sin1 it cannot possibly be overestimated4 ,it is a much easier thing to ask in a general way for the forgiveness of our sins1 than to confess those sins4 ,confession involves self-judgment2 asking for forgiveness may not1 and in itself does not4 ,this alone would be sufficient to point out the difference4 ,self-judgment is one of the most valuable and healthful exercises of the ,christian life2 and therefore anything which produces it must be highly esteemed by every earnest ,christian4 ,the difference between asking for pardon1 and confessing the sin1 is continually exemplified in dealing with children4 ,if a child has done anything wrong1 he finds much less difficulty in asking his father to forgive him1 than in openly and unreservedly confessing the wrong4 ,in asking for forgiveness1 the child may have in his mind a number of things which tend to lessen the sense of the evil2 he may be secretly thinking that he was not so much to blame after all1 though1 to be sure1 it is only proper to ask his father to forgive him2 whereas1 in confessing the wrong1 there is just one thing1 and that is self-judgment4 ,further1 in asking for forgiveness1 the child may be influenced mainly by a desire to escape the consequences of his wrong2 whereas a judicious parent will seek to produce a just sense of its moral evil1 which can only exist where there is the full confession of the fault in connection with self-judgment4 ,thus it is in reference to ,god's dealing with ,his children1 when they do wrong4 ,he must have the whole thing brought out and thoroughly judged4 ,he will make us not only dread the consequences of sin1--which are unutterable1--but hate the thing itself1 because of its hatefulness in ,his sight4 ,were it possible for us1 when we commit sin1 to be forgiven merely for the asking1 our sense of sin1 and our shrinking from it1 would not be nearly so intense2 and1 as a consequence1 our estimate of the fellowship with which we are blessed would not be nearly so high4 ,the moral effect of all this upon the general tone of our spiritual constitution1 and also upon our whole character and practical career1 must be obvious to every experienced ,christian4 ,,god',s ,,way1 ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,find ,,it 7,read ,job xxviii42 ,luke xi4 #cd-cf47 ,there is a path which no fowl knoweth1 and which the vulture's eye hath not seen3 the lion's whelps have not trodden it1 nor the fierce lion passed by it4 ,what an unspeakable mercy for one who really desires to walk with ,god1 to know that there is a way for him to walk in6 ,god has prepared a pathway for ,his redeemed in which they may walk with all possible certainty1 calmness and fixedness4 ,it is the privilege of every child of ,god1 and every servant of ,christ1 to be as sure that he is in ,god's way as that his soul is saved4 ,this may seem a strong statement2 but the question is1 ,is it true8 ,if it be true1 it cannot be too strong4 ,no doubt it may1 in the judgment of some1 savor a little of self-confidence and dogmatism to assert1 in such a day as that in which we live1 and in the midst of such a scene as that through which we are passing1 that we are sure of being in ,god's path4 ,but what saith the ,scripture8 ,it declares there is a way1 and it also tells us how to find and how to walk in that way4 ,yes2 the self-same voice that tells us of ,god's salvation for our souls1 tells us also of ,god's pathway for our feet2--the very same authority that assures us that he that believeth on the ,son of ,god hath everlasting life1 assures us also that there is a way so plain that the wayfaring men though fools shall not err therein4 ,this1 we repeat1 is a signal mercy--a mercy at all times1 but especially in a day of confusion and perplexity like the present4 ,it is deeply affecting to notice the state of uncertainty in which many of ,god's dear people are found at the present moment4 ,we do not refer now to the question of salvation1 of this we have spoken largely elsewhere2 but that which we have now before us is the path of the ,christian--what he ought to do1 where he should be found1 how he ought to carry himself in the midst of the professing ,church4 ,is it not too true that multitudes of the ,lord's people are at sea as to these things8 ,are there not many who1 were they to tell out the real feelings of their hearts1 would have to own themselves in a thoroughly unsettled state--to confess that they know not what to do1 or where to go1 or what to believe8 ,now1 the question is1 ,would ,god leave ,his children1 would ,christ leave ,his servants1 in such darkness and confusion8 ,no2 my dear ,lord1 in following ,thee1 ,and not in dark uncertainty1 ,this foot obedient moves4 ,may not a child know the will of his father8 ,may not a servant know the will of his master8 ,and if this be so in our earthly relationships1 how much more fully may we count upon it in reference to our ,father and ,master in heaven4 ,when ,israel of old emerged from the ,red ,sea1 and stood upon the margin of that great and terrible wilderness which lay between them and the land of promise1 how were they to know their way8 ,the trackless sand of the desert lay all around them4 ,it was in vain to look for any footprint there4 ,it was a dreary waste in which the vulture's eye could not discern a pathway4 ,moses felt this when he said to ,hobab1 ,leave us not1 ,i pray thee2 forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness1 and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes4 7,numb4 x4 #ca47 ,how well our poor unbelieving hearts can understand this touching appeal6 ,how one craves a human guide in the midst of a scene of perplexity6 ,how fondly the heart clings to one whom we deem competent to give us guidance in moments of darkness and difficulty6 ,and yet1 we may ask1 what did ,moses want with ,hobab's eyes8 ,had not ,jehovah graciously undertaken to be their guide8 ,yes1 truly2 for we are told that on the day that the tabernacle was reared up1 the cloud covered the tabernacle1 namely1 the tent of the testimony2 and at even1 there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire1 until the morning4 ,so it was alway3 the cloud covered it by day1 and the appearance of fire by night4 ,and when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle1 then after that the children of ,israel journeyed2 and in the place where the cloud abode1 there the children of ,israel pitched their tents4 ,at the commandment of the ,lord the children of ,israel journeyed1 and at the commandment of the ,lord they pitched3 as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle1 they rested in their tents4 ,and when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days1 then the children of ,israel kept the charge of the ,lord1 and journeyed not4 ,and so it was1 when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle2 according to the commandment of the ,lord they abode in their tents1 and according to the commandment the ,lord1 and journeyed not4 ,and so it was1 when the cloud abode from even unto the morning1 and that the cloud was taken up in the morning1 then they journeyed2 whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up1 they journeyed2 or whether it were two days1 or a month1 or a year1 that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle1 remaining thereon1 the children of ,israel abode in their tents and journeyed not1 but when it was taken up they journeyed4 ,at the commandment of the ,lord they rested in their tents1 and at the commandment of the ,lord they journeyed3 they kept the charge of the ,lord at the commandment of the ,lord by the hand of ,moses 7,num4 ix4 #ae-bc74 ,here was divine guidance--a guidance1 we may surely say1 quite sufficient to render them independent of their own eyes1 of ,hobab's eyes1 and the eyes of any other mortal4 ,it is interesting to note that in the opening of the book of ,numbers1 it was arranged that the ark of the covenant was to find its place in the very bosom of the congregation2 but in chapter x4 we are told that when they departed from the mount of the ,lord three days' journey1 the ark of the covenant of the ,lord went before them1 in the three days' journey1 to search out a resting-place for them4 ,instead of ,jehovah finding a resting-place in the bosom of ,his redeemed people1 ,he becomes their traveling ,guide1 and goes before them to seek out a resting-place for them4 ,what touching grace is here6 and what faithfulness6 ,if ,moses will ask ,hobab to be their guide1 and that1 too1 in the very face of ,god's provision--even the cloud and the silver trumpet1 then will ,jehovah leave ,his place in the centre of the tribes1 and go before them to search them out a resting-place4 ,and did not ,he know the wilderness well8 ,would not ,he be better for them than ten thousand ,hobabs8 ,might they not fully trust ,him8 ,assuredly4 ,he would not lead them astray4 ,if ,his grace had redeemed them from ,egypt's bondage1 and conducted them through the ,red ,sea1 surely they might confide in the same grace to guide them across that great and terrible wilderness1 and bring them safely into the land flowing with milk and honey4 ,but it must be borne in mind that1 in order to profit by divine guidance1 there must be the abandonment of our own will1 and of all confidence in our own reasonings1 as well as all confidence in the thoughts and reasonings of others4 ,if ,i have ,jehovah as my ,guide1 ,i do not want my own eyes or the eyes of a ,hobab either4 ,god is sufficient3 ,i can trust ,him4 ,he knows all the way across the desert2 and hence1 if ,i keep my eye upon ,him1 ,i shall be guided aright4 ,but this leads us on to the second division of our subject1 namely1 ,how am ,i to find ,god's way8 ,an all-important question1 surely4 ,whither am ,i to turn to find ,god's pathway8 ,if the vulture's eye1 so keen1 so powerful1 so far-seeing1 hath not seen it1--if the young lion1 so vigorous in movement1 so majestic in mien1 hath not trodden it1--if man knoweth not the price of it1 and if it is not to be found in the land of the living1--if the depth saith1 ,it is not in me1 and the sea saith1 ,it is not with me1--if it cannot be gotten for gold or precious stones1--if the wealth of the universe cannot equal it1 and no wit of man discover it1--then whither am ,i to turn8 where shall ,i find it8 ,shall ,i turn to those great standards of orthodoxy which rule the religious thought and feeling of millions throughout the length and breadth of the professing ,church8 ,is this wondrous pathway of wisdom to be found with them8 ,do they form any exception to the great1 broad1 sweeping rule of ,job xxviii8 ,assuredly not4 ,what1 then1 am ,i to do8 ,i know there is a way4 ,god1 who cannot lie1 declares this1 and ,i believe it2 but where am ,i to find it8 ,whence1 then1 cometh wisdom8 and where is the place of understanding8 seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living1 and kept close from the fowls of the air4 ,destruction and ,death say1 ,we have heard the fame thereof with our ears4 ,does it not seem like a hopeless case for any poor ignorant mortal to search for this wondrous pathway8 ,no1 blessed be ,god1 it is by no means a hopeless case1 for ,he understandeth the way thereof1 and ,he knoweth the place thereof4 ,for ,he looketh to the ends of the earth1 and seeth under the whole heaven2 to make the weight for the winds2 and ,he weigheth the waters by measure4 ,when ,he made a decree for the rain1 and a way for the lightning of the thunder1 then did ,he see it and declare it2 ,he prepared it1 yea1 and searched it out4 ,and unto man ,he said1 ',behold1 the fear of the ,lord1 that is wisdom2 and to depart from evil is understanding4' ,here1 then1 is the divine secret of wisdom3 ,the fear of the ,lord4 ,this sets the conscience directly in the presence of ,god1 which is its only true place4 ,the object of ,satan is to keep the conscience out of this place--to bring it under the power and authority of man--to lead it into subjection to the commandments and doctrines of men--to thrust in something between the conscience and the authority of ,christ the ,lord1 it matters not what it is2 it may be a creed or a confession containing a quantity of truth1--it may be the opinion of a man or a set of men--the judgment of some favorite teacher1--anything1 in short1 to come in and usurp1 in the heart1 the place which belongs to ,god's ,word alone4 ,this is a terrible snare1 and a stumbling-block--a most serious hindrance to our progress in the ways of the ,lord4 ,god's ,word must rule me--,god's pure and simple ,word1 not man's interpretation thereof4 ,no doubt1 ,god may use a man to unfold that ,word to my soul2 but then it is not man's unfolding of ,god's ,word that rules me1 but ,god's ,word by man unfolded4 ,this is of all importance4 ,we must be exclusively taught and exclusively governed by the ,word of the living ,god4 ,nothing else will keep us straight1 or give solidity and consistency to our character and course as ,christians4 ,there is a strong tendency within and around us to be ruled by the thoughts and opinions of men--by those great standards of doctrine which men have set up4 ,those standards and opinions may have a large amount of truth in them--they may be all true so far as they go2 that is not the point in question now4 ,what we want to impress upon the ,christian reader is1 that he is not to be governed by the thoughts of his fellow-man1 but simply and solely by the ,word of ,god4 ,it is of no value to hold a truth from man2 ,i must hold it directly from ,god ,himself4 ,god may use a man to communicate ,his truth2 but unless ,i hold it as from ,god1 it has no divine power over my heart and conscience2 it does not bring me into living contact with ,god1 but actually hinders that contact by bringing in something between my soul and ,his holy authority4 ,we should greatly like to enlarge upon and enforce this great principle2 but we must forbear1 just now1 in order to unfold to the reader one or two solemn and practical points set forth in the eleventh chapter of ,luke1--points which1 if entered into1 will enable us to understand a little better how to find ,god's way4 ,we shall quote the passage at length4--,the light of the body is the eye3 therefore when thine eye is single1 thy whole body also is full of light2 but when thine eye is evil1 thy body also is full of darkness4 ,take heed1 therefore1 that the light which is in thee be not darkness4 ,if thy whole body therefore be full of light1 having no part dark1 the whole shall be full of light1 as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light4 ,here1 then1 we are furnished with the true secret of discerning ,god's way4 ,it may seem very difficult1 in the midst of the troubled sea of christendom1 to steer one's course aright4 ,so many conflicting voices fall on the ear4 ,so many opposing views solicit our attention1 men of ,god differ so in judgment1 shades of opinion are so multiplied1 that it seems impossible to reach a sound conclusion4 ,we go to one man who1 so far as we can judge1 seems to have a single eye1 and he tells us one thing2 we go to another man who also seems to have a single eye1 and he tells the very reverse4 ,what1 then1 are we to think8 ,well1 one thing is certain1 that our own eye is not single when we are running1 in uncertainty and perplexity1 from one man to another4 ,the single eye is fixed on ,christ alone1 and thus the body is filled with light4 ,the ,israelite of old had not to run hither and thither to consult with his fellow as to the right way4 ,each had the same divine guide1 namely1 the pillar of cloud by day1 and the pillar of fire by night4 ,in a word1 ,jehovah ,himself was the infallible ,guide of each member of the congregation4 ,they were not left to the guidance of the most intelligent1 sagacious1 or experienced man in the assembly2 neither were they left to follow their own way1--each was to follow the ,lord4 ,the silver trumpet announced to all alike the mind of ,god2 and no one whose ear was open and attentive was left at any loss4 ,the eye and the ear of each were to be directed to ,god alone1 and not to a fellow-mortal4 ,this was the secret of guidance in the trackless desert of old1 and this is the secret of guidance in the vast moral wilderness through which ,god's redeemed are passing now4 ,one man may say1 ,listen to me2 and another may say1 ,listen to me2 and a third may say1 ,let each one take his own way4 ,the obedient heart says1 in opposition to all1 ,i must follow my ,lord4 ,this makes all so simple4 ,it will not1 by any means1 tender to foster a spirit of haughty independence2 quite the reverse4 ,the more ,i am taught to lean on ,god alone for guidance1 the more ,i shall distrust and look off from myself2 and this1 assuredly1 is not independence4 ,true1 it will deliver me from servile following of any man1 by giving me to feel my responsibility to ,christ alone2 but this is precisely what is so much needed at the present moment4 ,the more closely we examine the elements that are abroad in the professing ,church1 the more we shall be convinced of our personal need of this entire subjection to divine authority1 which is only another name for the fear of the ,lord1 or1 a single eye4 ,there is one brief sentence1 in the opening of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 which furnishes a perfect antidote to the self-will and the servile fear of man so rife around us1 and that is1 ,we must obey ,god4 ,what an utterance6 ,we must obey4 ,this is the cure for self-will4 ,we must obey ,god4 ,this is the cure for servile subjection to the commandments and doctrines of men4 ,there must be obedience2 but obedience to what8 ,to ,god's authority1 and to that alone4 ,thus the soul is preserved from the influence of infidelity on the one hand1 and superstition on the other4 ,infidelity says1 ,do as you like4 ,superstition says1 ,do as man tells you4 ,faith says1 ,we must obey ,god4 ,here is the holy balance of the soul in the midst of the conflicting and confounding influences around us in this our day4 ,as a servant1 ,i am to obey my ,lord2 as a child1 ,i am to hearken to my ,father's commandments4 ,nor am ,i the less to do this although my fellow-servants and my brethren may not understand me4 ,i must remember that the immediate business of my soul is with ,god ,himself4-- ,he before whom the elders bow1 ,with ,him is all my business now4 ,it is my privilege to be as sure that ,i have my ,master's mind as to my path as that ,i have ,his ,word for the security of my soul4 ,if not1 where am ,i8 ,is it not my privilege to have a single eye8 ,yes1 surely4 ,and what then8 ,a body full of light4 ,now1 if my body is full of light1 can my mind be full of perplexity8 ,impossible4 ,the two things are wholly incompatible2 and hence1 when one is plunged in dark uncertainty1 it is very plain his eye is not single4 ,he may seem very sincere1 he may be very anxious to be guided aright2 but he may rest assured there is the lack of a single eye--that indispensable prerequisite to divine guidance4 ,the ,word is plain1--,if thine eye is single1 thy whole body also is full of light4 ,god will ever guide the obedient1 humble soul2 but1 on the other hand1 if we do not walk according to the light communicated1 we shall get into darkness4 ,light not acted upon becomes darkness1 and oh1 how great is that darkness6 ,nothing is more dangerous than tampering with the light which ,god gives4 ,it must1 sooner or later1 lead to the most disastrous consequences4 ,take heed1 therefore1 that the light which is in thee be not darkness4 ,hear1 ye1 and give ear3 be not proud2 for the ,lord hath spoken4 ,give glory to the ,lord your ,god1 before ,he cause darkness1 and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains1 and while ye look for light1 ,he turn it into the shadow of death1 and make it gross darkness4 7,jer4 xiii4 #ae1 #af47 ,this is deeply solemn4 ,what a contrast between a man having a single eye1 and a man not acting on the light which ,god has given him6 ,the one has his body full of light2 the other has his body full of darkness3 the one has no part dark2 the other is plunged in gross darkness3 the one is a light-bearer for others2 the other is a stumbling-block in the way4 ,we know nothing more solemn than the judicial acting of ,god1 in actually turning our light into darkness1 because we have refused to act on the light which ,he has been pleased to impart4 ,christian reader1 art thou acting up to thy light8 ,has ,god sent a ray of light into thy soul8 ,has ,he shown thee something wrong in thy ways or associations8 ,art thou persisting in any line of action which conscience tells thee is not in full accordance with thy ,master's will8 ,search and see4 ,give glory to the ,lord thy ,god4 ,act on the light4 ,do not hesitate4 ,think not of consequences4 ,obey1 we beseech thee1 the word of thy ,lord4 ,this very moment1 as thine eye scans these lines1 let the purpose of thy soul be to depart from iniquity wherever thou findest it4 ,say not1 ,whither shall ,i go8 ,what shall ,i do next8 ,there is evil everywhere4 ,it is only escaping from one evil to plunge into another4 ,say not these things2 do not argue or reason2 do not look at results2 think not of what the world or the world-church will say of thee2 rise above all these things1 and tread the path of light--that path which shineth more and more unto the perfect day of glory4 ,remember1 ,god never gives light for two steps at a time4 ,if ,he has given thee light for one step1 then1 in the fear and love of ,his ,name1 take that one step1 and thou wilt assuredly get more light--yes1 more and more4 ,but if there be the refusal to act1 the light which is in thee will become gross darkness1 thy feet will stumble on the dark mountains of error which lie on either side of the straight and narrow path of obedience2 and thou wilt become a stumbling-block in the path of others4 ,some of the most grievous stumbling-blocks that lie1 at this moment1 in the pathway of anxious inquirers are found in the persons of those who once seemed to possess the truth1 but have turned from it4 ,the light which was in them has become darkness1 and oh1 how great and how appalling is that darkness6 ,how sad it is to see those who ought to be light-bearers1 acting as a positive hindrance to young and earnest ,christians6 ,but let not young ,christians be hindered by them4 ,the way is plain4 ,the fear of the ,lord1 that is wisdom2 and to depart from evil is understanding4 ,let each one hear and obey for himself the voice of the ,lord4 ,my sheep hear ,my voice1 and ,i know them1 and they follow ,me4 ,the ,lord be praised for this precious word6 ,it puts each one in the place of direct responsibility to ,christ ,himself2 it tells us plainly what is ,god's way1 and1 just as plainly1 how to find it4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,,the ,,unequal ,,yoke ,no one who sincerely desires to attain1 in his own person1 or promote in others1 a purer and more elevated discipleship1 can possibly contemplate the ,christianity of the present day without an indescribable feeling of sadness and heaviness4 ,its tone is so excessively low1 its aspect so sickly1 and its spirit so enfeebled1 that one is1 at times1 tempted to despair of any thing like a true and faithful witness for an absent ,lord4 ,all this is the more truly deplorable when we remember the commanding motives by which it is our special privilege ever to be actuated4 ,whether we look at the ,master whom we are called to follow1 the path which we are called to tread1 the end which we are called to keep in view1 or the hopes by which we are to be animated1 we cannot but own that1 were all these entered into and realized by a more simple faith1 we should assuredly exhibit a more ardent discipleship4 ,the love of ,christ1 says the apostle1 constraineth us4 ,this is the most powerful motive of all4 ,the more the heart is filled with ,christ's love1 and the eye filled with ,his blessed person1 the more closely shall we seek to follow in ,his heavenly track4 ,his footmarks can only be discovered by a single eye2 and unless the will is broken1 the flesh mortified1 and the body kept under1 we shall utterly fail in our discipleship1 and make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience4 ,let not my reader misunderstand me4 ,it is not here1 by any means1 a question of personal salvation4 ,it is quite another thing4 ,nothing can be more basely selfish than1 having received salvation as the fruit of ,christ's agony and bloody sweat1 ,his cross and passion1 to keep at as great a distance from ,his sacred person as we can without forfeiting our personal safety4 ,this is1 even in the judgment of nature1 deemed a character of selfishness worthy of unmingled contempt2 but when exhibited by one who professes to owe his present and his everlasting all to a rejected1 crucified1 risen1 and absent1 ,master1 no language can express its moral baseness4 ,provided ,i escape hell-fire1 it makes little matter as to discipleship4 ,reader1 do you not1 in your inmost soul1 abhor this sentiment8 ,if so1 then earnestly seek to flee from it1 to the very opposite point of the compass2 and let your truthful language be1 ,provided that blessed ,master is glorified1 it makes little matter1 comparatively1 about my personal safety4 ,would to ,god that this were the sincere utterance of many hearts in this day1 when1 alas1 it may be too truly said that1 ,all seek their own1 not the things which are ,jesus ,christ's 7,phil4 ii4 #ba74 ,would that the ,holy ,ghost would raise up1 by ,his own resistless power1 and send forth1 by ,his own heavenly energy1 a band of separated and consecrated followers of the ,lamb1 each one bound1 by the cords of love1 to the horns of the altar--a company1 like ,gideon's three hundred of old1 able to confide in ,god and deny the flesh4 ,how the heart longs for this6 ,how the spirit1 bowed down at times beneath the chilling and withering influence of a cold and uninfluential profession1 earnestly breathes after a more vigorous and whole-hearted testimony for that ,one who emptied ,himself and laid aside ,his glory1 in order that we1 through ,his precious bloodshedding1 might be raised to companionship with ,him in eternal blessedness6 ,now1 amongst the numerous hindrances to this thorough consecration of heart to ,christ which ,i earnestly desire for myself and my reader1 the unequal yoke will be found to occupy a very prominent place indeed4 ,be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers3 for what partnership hath righteousness with unrighteousness or rather lawlessness--8 and what communion hath light with darkness8 ,and what concord hath ,christ with ,belial8 or what part hath a believer with an unbeliever 8 ,and what agreement hath the temple of ,god with idols8 for ye are the temple of the living ,god2 as ,god hath said1 ',i will dwell in them1 and walk in them2 and ,i will be their ,god1 and they shall be ,my people4' ',wherefore come out from among them1 and be ye separate1 saith the ,lord1 and touch not the unclean thing2 and ,i will receive you1 and will be a ,father unto you1 and ye shall be ,my sons and daughters1 saith the ,lord ,almighty4' 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ad-ah47 ,under the ,mosaic economy1 we learn the same moral principle4--,thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds3 lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown1 and the fruit of thy vineyard1 be defiled4 ,thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together4 ,thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts1 as of woolen and linen together4 7,deut4 xxii4 #i-aa2 ,lev4 xix4 #ai47 ,these scriptures will suffice to set forth the moral evil of an unequal yoke4 ,it may1 with full confidence1 be asserted that no one can be an unshackled follower of ,christ who is1 in any way1 unequally yoked4 ,he may be a saved person1 he may be a true child of ,god--a sincere believer1 but he cannot be a thorough disciple2 and not only so1 but there is a positive hindrance to the full manifestation of that which he may really be1 notwithstanding his unequal yoke4 ,come out1 444 and ,i will receive you1 444 and ye shall be my sons and daughters1 saith the ,lord ,almighty4 ,that is to say1 ,get your neck out of the unequal yoke1 and ,i will receive you1 and there shall be the full1 public1 practical manifestation of your relationship with the ,lord ,almighty4 ,the idea here is evidently different from that set forth in ,james--,of ,his own will begat ,he us1 by the word of truth4 ,and also in ,peter--,being born again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 by the ,word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth forever4 ,and again in #a ,john--,behold what manner of love the ,father hath bestowed upon us1 that we should be called the sons of ,god4 ,so also in ,john's gospel--,but as many as received ,him1 to them gave ,he power to become the sons of ,god1 even to them that believe on ,his name2 which were born1 not of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god4 ,in all these passages1 the relationship of sons is founded upon the divine counsel and the divine operation1 and is not set before us as the consequence of any acting of ours2 whereas in #b ,corinthians vi4 it is put as the result of our getting out of the unequal yoke4 ,in other words1 it is entirely a practical question4 ,thus in ,matthew v4 we read1 ,but ,i say unto you1 ',love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them which despitefully use you1 and persecute you2 in order that ye may be the sons of your ,father which is in heaven2 because ,he causeth ,his sun to rise upon the evil and the good1 and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust4 ,here too it is the practical establishment and public declaration of the relationship1 and its moral influence4 ,it becomes the sons of such a ,father to act in such a way4 ,in short1 we have the abstract position or relationship of sons founded on ,god's sovereign will and operation2 and we have the moral character consequent upon and flowing out of this relationship which affords just ground for ,god's public acknowledgment thereof4 ,god cannot fully and publicly own those who are unequally yoked together with unbelievers1 for1 were ,he to do so1 it would be an acknowledgment of the unequal yoke4 ,he cannot acknowledge darkness1 unrighteousness1 ,belial1 idols1 and an infidel4 ,how could ,he8 ,hence1 if ,i yoke myself with any of these1 ,i am morally and publicly identified with them1 and not with ,god at all4 ,i have put myself into a position which ,god cannot own1 and1 as a consequence1 ,he cannot own me2 but if ,i withdraw myself from that position--if ,i come out and be separate--if ,i take my neck out of the unequal yoke--then1 but not until then1 can ,i be publicly and fully received and owned as a son or daughter of the ,lord ,almighty4 ,this is a solemn and searching principle for all who feel that they have unhappily gotten themselves into such a yoke4 ,they are not walking as disciples1 nor are they publicly or morally on the ground of sons4 ,god cannot own them4 ,their secret relationship is not the point2 but they have put themselves thoroughly off ,god's ground4 ,they have foolishly thrust their neck into a yoke which1 inasmuch as it is not ,christ's yoke1 must be ,belial's yoke2 and until they cast off that yoke1 ,god cannot own them as ,his sons and daughters4 ,god's grace1 no doubt1 is infinite1 and can meet us in all our failure and weakness2 but if our souls aspire after a higher order of discipleship1 we must at once cast off the unequal yoke1 cost what it may2 that is1 if it can be cast off2 but if it cannot1 we must only bow our heads beneath the shame and sorrow thereof1 looking to ,god for full deliverance4 ,now1 there are four distinct phases in which the unequal yoke may be contemplated1 viz1 the domestic1 the commercial1 the religious1 and the philanthropic4 ,some may be disposed to confine #b ,corinthians vi4 #ad to the first of these2 but the apostle does not so confine it4 ,the words are1 ,be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers4 ,he does not specify the character or object of the yoke1 and therefore we are warranted in giving the passage its widest application1 by bringing its edge to bear directly upon every phase of the unequal yoke2 and we shall see the importance of so doing ere we close these remarks1 if the ,lord permit4 ,i4 ,and first1 then1 let us consider the domestic or marriage yoke4 ,what pen can portray the mental anguish1 the moral misery1 together with the ruinous consequences as to spiritual life and testimony1 flowing from a ,christian's marriage with an unconverted person8 ,i suppose nothing can be more deplorable than the condition of one who discovers1 when it is too late1 that he has linked himself for life with one who cannot have a single thought or feeling in common with him4 ,one desires to serve ,christ2 the other can only serve the devil3 one breathes after the things of ,god2 the other sighs for the things of this present world3 the one earnestly seeks to mortify the flesh1 with all its affections and desires2 the other only seeks to minister to and gratify these very things4 ,like a sheep and a goat linked together1 the sheep longs to feed on the green pasture in the field1 while1 on the other hand1 the goat craves the brambles which grow in the ditch4 ,the sad consequence is that both are starved4 ,one will not feed on the pasture1 and the other cannot feed upon the brambles1 and thus neither gets what his nature craves1 unless the goat1 by superior strength1 succeeds in forcing his unequally yoked companion to remain among the brambles1 there to languish and die4 ,the moral of this is plain enough2 and1 moreover1 it is1 alas6 of but too common occurrence4 ,the goat generally succeeds in gaining his end4 ,the worldly partner carries his or her point1 in almost every instance4 ,it will be found1 almost without exception1 that in cases of the unequal marriage-yoke1 the poor ,christian is the sufferer1 as is evidenced by the bitter fruits of a bad conscience1 a depressed heart1 a gloomy spirit1 and a desponding mind4 ,a heavy price1 surely1 to pay for the gratification of some natural affection1 or the attainment1 it may be1 of some paltry worldly advantage4 ,in fact1 a marriage of this kind is the death-knell of practical ,christianity1 and of progress in the divine life4 ,it is morally impossible that any one can be an unfettered disciple of ,christ with his neck in the marriage-yoke with an unbeliever4 ,as well might a racer in the ,olympic or ,isthman games have expected to gain the crown of victory by attaching a heavy weight or dead body to his person4 ,it is enough1 surely1 to have one dead body to sustain1 without attaching another4 ,there never was a true ,christian yet who did not find that he had abundant work to do in endeavoring to grapple with the evils of one heart1 without going to burden himself with the evils of two2 and1 without doubt1 the man who foolishly and disobediently marries an unconverted woman2 or the woman who marries an unconverted man1 is burdened with the combined evils of two hearts2 and who is sufficient for these things8 ,one can most fully count upon the grace of ,christ for the subjugation of his own evil nature3 but he certainly cannot count1 in the same way1 upon that grace in reference to the evil nature of his unequal yoke-fellow4 ,if he have yoked himself ignorantly1 the ,lord will meet him personally1 on the ground of full confession1 with entire restoration of soul1 but in the matter of his discipleship1 he will never recover it4 ,now1 in considering the terribly evil consequences of the unequal marriage-yoke1 it is mainly as bearing upon our discipleship that we are looking at them4 ,i say mainly because our entire character and experience are deeply affected thereby4 ,i very much question if any one can give a more effectual blow to his prosperity in the divine life than by assuming an unequal yoke4 ,indeed1 the very fact of so doing proves that spiritual decline has already set in1 with most alarming symptoms2 but as to his discipleship and testimony1 the lamp thereof may be regarded as all but gone out2 or if it does give an occasional faint glimmer1 it only serves to make manifest the awful gloom of his unhappy position1 and the appalling consequences of being unequally yoked together with an unbeliever4 ,thus much as to the question of the unequal yoke in its influence upon the life1 the character1 the testimony1 and the discipleship of the child of ,god4 ,i would now say a word as to its moral effect as exhibited in the domestic circle4 ,here too the consequences are truly melancholy4 ,nor could they possibly be otherwise4 ,two persons have come together in the closest and most intimate relationship1 with tastes1 habits1 feelings1 desires1 tendencies1 and objects diametrically opposite4 ,they have nothing in common2 so that in every movement they can but grate one against the other4 ,the unbeliever cannot1 in reality1 go with the believer2 and if there should1 through excessive amiability or downright hypocrisy1 be a show of acquiesence1 what is it worth in the sight of the ,lord1 who judges the true state of the heart in reference to ,himself8 ,but little indeed2 yea1 it is worse than worthless4 ,then1 again1 if the believer should unhappily go in any measure with his unequal yoke-fellow1 it can only be at the expense of his discipleship1 and the consequence is1 a condemning conscience in the sight of the ,lord2 and this1 again1 leads to heaviness of spirit1 and1 it may be1 sourness of temper in the domestic circle1 so that the grace of the gospel is by no means commended1 and the unbeliever is not attracted or won4 ,thus it is in every way most sorrowful4 ,it is dishonoring to ,god1 destructive of spiritual prosperity1 utterly subversive of discipleship and testimony1 and entirely hostile to domestic peace and blessing4 ,it produces estrangement1 coldness1 distance1 and misunderstanding3 or1 if it does not produce these1 it will doubtless lead1 on the part of the ,christian1 to a forfeiture of his discipleship and his good conscience1 both of which he may be tempted to offer as a sacrifice upon the altar of domestic peace4 ,thus1 whatever way we look at it1 an unequal yoke must lead to the most deplorable consequences4 ,then1 as to its effect upon children1 it is equally sad4 ,these are almost sure to flow in the current with the unconverted parent4 ,their children spoke half in the speech of ,ashdod1 and could not speak in the ,jews' language1 but according to the language of each people4 ,there can be no union of heart in the training of the children1--no joint and mutual confidence in reference to them4 ,one desires to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord2 the other desires to bring them up in the principles of the world1 the flesh1 and the devil3 and as all the sympathies of the children1 as they grow up1 are likely to be ranged on the side of the latter1 it is easy to see how it will end4 ,in short1 it is an unseemly1 unscriptural1 and vain effort to plow with an unequal yoke1 or to sow the ground with mingled seed2 and all must end in sorrow and confusion4#ah #ah ,there are many cases in which one finds persons united1 who though they cannot exactly be said to be unequally yoked1 are1 to say the least1 very badly matched4 ,their tempers1 tastes1 habits1 and views are totally different2 and so different1 that instead of maintaining a desirable balance 7which opposite tempers1 if properly arranged1 might do71 they keep up a perpetual jar1 to the sad derangement of the domestic circle1 and the dishonor of the ,lord's name4 ,all this might be very much obviated if ,christians would only wait upon ,god1 and make ,his glory more their object than personal interest or affection4 ,i shall1 ere turning from this branch of our subject1 offer a remark as to the reasons which generally actuate ,christians in the matter of entering into the unequal marriage-yoke4 ,we all know1 alas6 how easily the poor heart persuades itself of the rightness of any step which it desires to take1 and how the devil furnishes plausible arguments to convince us of its rightness--arguments which the moral condition of the soul causes us to regard as clear1 forcible1 and satisfactory4 ,the very fact of our thinking of such a thing1 proves our unfitness to weigh1 with a well-balanced mind and spiritually adjusted conscience1 the solemn consequences of such a step4 ,if the eye were single 7that is1 if we were governed but by one object1 namely1 the glory and honor of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ71 we should never entertain the idea of putting our necks in an unequal yoke2 and consequently we should have no difficulty or perplexity about the matter4 ,a racer1 whose eye was resting on the crown1 would not be troubled with any perplexity as to whether he ought to stop and tie a hundred-weight round his neck4 ,such a thought would never cross his mind3 and not only so1 but a thorough racer would have a distinct and almost intuitive perception of every thing which would be likely to prove a hindrance to him in running the race2 and1 of course1 with such an one1 to perceive would be to reject with decision4#ai #ai ,it is important for the ,christian to bear in mind the words of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,if thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be full of light4 ,whenever ,i am in perplexity as to my path1 ,i have reason to suspect that my eye is not single2 for1 assuredly1 perplexity is not compatible with a body full of light4 ,we frequently go to pray for guidance in matters with which1 if the eye were single and the will subject1 we would have nothing whatever to do1 and hence we should have no need to pray about them4 ,to pray about aught concerning which the ,word of ,god is plain1 marks the activity of a rebellions will4 ,as a recent writer has well remarked1 ,we sometimes seek ,god's will1 desiring to know how to act in circumstances in which it is not ,his will that we should be found at all2 if conscience were in real healthful activity1 its first effect would be to make us quit them4 ,it is our own will which sets us there1 and we should like1 nevertheless1 to enjoy the consolation of ,god's direction in a path which ourselves have chosen4 ,such is a very common case4 ,be assured that if we are near enough to ,god1 we shall have no trouble to know ,his will4444 ,however1 'if thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be full of light2' whence it is certain that if the whole body is not full of light1 the eye is not single4 ,you will say1 ,that is poor consolation4 ,i answer1 ,it is a rich consolation for those whose sole desire is to have the eye single and to walk with ,god4 ,now1 were it thus with ,christians in the matter of unscriptural marriage1 it would save them a world of sorrow and perplexity2 but it is not thus4 ,the heart gets out of communion1 and is morally incompetent to try the things that differ2 and when in this condition1 the devil gains an easy conquest1 and speedy success in his wicked effort to induce the believer to yoke himself with ,belial--with unrighteousness--with darkness--with an infidel4 ,when the soul is in full communion with ,god1 it is entirely subject to ,his ,word2 it sees things as ,he sees them1 calls them what ,he calls them1 and not what the devil or his own carnal heart would call them4 ,in this way1 the believer escapes the insnaring influence of a deception which is very frequently brought to bear upon him in this matter1 namely1 a false profession of religion on the part of the person whom he desires to marry4 ,this is a very common case4 ,it is easy to show symptoms of leaning toward the things of ,god2 and the heart is treacherous and base enough to make a profession of religion in order to gain its end2 and not only so1 but the devil1 who is transformed into an angel of light1 will lead to this false profession1 in order thereby the more effectually to entrap the feet of a child of ,god4 ,thus it comes to pass that ,christians1 in this matter1 suffer themselves to be satisfied1 or at least profess themselves satisfied1 with evidence of conversion which under any other circumstances they would regard as utterly lame and flimsy4 ,but1 alas6 experience soon opens the eyes to the reality4 ,it is speedily discovered that the profession was all a vain show1 that the heart is entirely in and of the world4 ,terrible discovery4 ,who can detail the bitter consequences of such a discovery--the anguish of heart--the bitter reproaches and cuttings of conscience--the shame and confusion--the loss of power and blessing--the forfeiture of spiritual peace and joy--the sacrifice of a life of usefulness8 ,who can describe all these things8 ,the man awakes from his delusive dream1 and opens his eyes upon the tremendous reality that he is yoked for life with ,belial6 ,yes1 this is what the ,spirit calls it4 ,it is not an inference1 or a deduction arrived at by a process of reasoning2 but a plain and positive statement of holy ,scripture1 that thus the matter stands in reference to one who1 from whatever motive1 or under the influence of whatever reasons1 or deceived by whatever false pretences1 has entered into an unequal marriage-yoke4 ,oh1 my beloved ,christian reader1 if you are in danger of entering into such a yoke1 let me earnestly1 solemnly1 and affectionately entreat of you to pause first1 and weigh the matter in the balances of the sanctuary1 ere you move forward a single hair's breadth on such a fatal path6 ,you may rest assured that you will no sooner have taken the step than your heart will be assailed by hopeless regrets1 and your life embittered by unnumbered sorrows4 ,,let ,,nothing ,,induce ,,you ,,to ,,yoke ,,yourself ,,with ,,an ,,unbeliever4 ,are your affections engaged8 ,then1 remember1 they cannot be the affections of your new man2 they are1 be assured of it1 those of the old or carnal nature1 which you are called upon to mortify and set aside4 ,wherefore you should cry to ,god for spiritual power to rise above the influence of such affections2 yea1 to sacrifice them to ,him4 ,again1 are your interests concerned8 ,then remember that they are only your interests2 and if they are promoted1 ,christ's interests are sacrificed by your yoking yourself with ,belial4 ,furthermore1 they are only your temporal1 and not your eternal interests4 ,in point of fact1 the interests of the believer and those of ,christ ought to be identical2 and it is plain that ,his interests1 ,his honor1 ,his truth1 ,his glory1 must inevitably be sacrificed if a member of ,his body is linked with ,belial4 ,this is the true way to look at the question4 ,what are a few hundreds1 or a few thousands1 to an heir of heaven8 ,god is able to give thee much more than this4 ,are you going to sacrifice the truth of ,god1 as well as your own spiritual peace1 prosperity1 and happiness1 for a paltry trifle of gold1 which must perish in the using of it8 ,ah1 no6 ,god forbid6 ,flee from it1 as a bird from the snare which it sees and knows4 ,stretch out the hand of genuine1 well-braced1 whole-hearted discipleship1 and take the knife and slay your affections and your interests on the altar of ,god1 and then1 even though there should not be an audible voice from heaven to approve your act1 you will have the invaluable testimony of an approving conscience and an ungrieved ,spirit--an ample reward1 surely1 for the most costly sacrifice which you can make4 ,may the ,spirit of ,god give power to resist ,satan's temptations4 ,it is hardly needful to remark here that in cases where conversion takes place after marriage1 the complexion of the matter is very materially altered4 ,there will then be no smitings of conscience1 for example1 and the whole thing is modified in a variety of particulars4 ,still1 there will be difficulty1 trial1 and sorrow1 unquestionably4 ,the only thing is1 that one can far more happily bring the trial and sorrow into the ,lord's presence1 when he has not deliberately and willfully plunged himself thereinto2 and1 blessed be ,god1 we know how ready ,he is to forgive1 restore1 and cleanse from all unrighteousness the soul that makes full confession of its error and failure4 ,this may comfort the heart of one who has been brought to the ,lord after marriage4 ,moreover1 to such an one the ,spirit of ,god has given specific direction and blessed encouragement in the following passage3 ,if any brother have an unbelieving wife1 and she think proper to dwell with him1 let him not put her away3 and if any woman have an unbelieving husband1 and he think proper to dwell with her1 let her not put him away 7for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife1 and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband1 else were your children unclean1 but now are they holy74444 ,for what knowest thou1 ,o wife1 if thou shalt save thy husband8 or what knowest thou1 ,o husband1 if thou shalt save thy wife8 7#a ,cor4 vii4 #ab-af47 ,,ii4 ,we shall now consider the unequal yoke in its commercial phase1 as seen in cases of partnership in business4 ,this1 though not so serious an aspect of the yoke as that which we have just been considering1 will nevertheless be found a very positive barrier to the believer's testimony4 ,when a ,christian yokes himself1 for business purposes1 with an unbeliever--whether that unbeliever be a relative or not--or when he becomes a member of a worldly firm1 he virtually surrenders his individual responsibility4 ,henceforth the acts of the firm become his acts1 and it is perfectly out of the question to think of getting a worldly firm to act on heavenly principles4 ,they would laugh at such a notion1 inasmuch as it would be an effectual barrier to the success of their commercial schemes4 ,they will feel perfectly free to adopt a number of expedients in carrying on their business which would be quite opposed to the spirit and principles of the kingdom in which he is1 and of the ,church of which he forms a part4 ,thus he will find himself constantly in a most trying position4 ,he may use his influence to ,christianize the mode of conducting affairs1 but they will compel him to do business as others do1 and he has no remedy save to mourn in secret over his anomalous and difficult position1 or else to go out at great pecuniary loss to himself and family4 ,where the eye is single1 there will be no hesitation as to which of these alternatives to adopt2 but1 alas6 the very fact of getting into such a position proves the lack of a single eye2 and the fact of being in it argues the lack of spiritual capacity to appreciate the value and power of the divine principles which would infallibly bring a man out of it4 ,a man whose eye was single could not possibly yoke himself with an unbeliever for the purpose of making money4 ,such an one could only set1 as an object before his mind1 the direct glory of ,christ2 and this object could never be gained by a positive transgression of divine principle4 ,this makes it very simple4 ,if it does not glorify ,christ for a ,christian to become a partner in a worldly firm1 it must1 without doubt1 further the designs of the devil4 ,there is no middle ground2 but that it does not glorify ,christ is manifest1 for ,his ,word says1 ,be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers4 ,such is the principle1 which cannot be infringed without damage to the testimony1 and forfeiture of spiritual blessing4 ,true1 the conscience of a ,christian who transgresses in this matter may seek relief in various ways--may have recourse to various subterfuges--may set forth various arguments to persuade itself that all is right4 ,it will be said that we can be very devoted and very spiritual1 so far as we are personally concerned1 even though we are yoked1 for business purposes1 with an unbeliever4 ,this will be found fallacious when brought to the test of the actual practice4 ,a servant of ,christ will find himself hampered in a hundred ways by his worldly partnership4 ,if in matters of service to ,christ he is not met with open hostility1 he will have to encounter the enemy's secret and constant effort to damp his ardor1 and throw cold water on all his schemes4 ,he will be laughed at and despised--he will be continually reminded of the effect which his enthusiasm and fanaticism will produce in reference to the business prospects of the firm4 ,if he uses his time1 his talents1 or his pecuniary resources in what he believes to be the ,lord's service1 he will be pronounced a fool or a madman1 and reminded that the true--the proper way for a commercial man to serve the ,lord is to attend to business1 and nothing but business2 and that it is the exclusive business of clergymen and ministers to attend to religious matters1 inasmuch as they are set apart and paid for so doing4 ,now1 although the ,christian's renewed mind may be thoroughly convinced of the fallacy of all this reasoning--although he may see that this worldly wisdom is but a flimsy1 threadbare cloak1 thrown over the heart's covetous practices--yet who can tell how far the heart may be influenced by such things8 ,we get weary of constant resistance4 ,the current becomes too strong for us1 and we gradually yield ourselves to its action1 and are carried along on its surface4 ,conscience may have some death-struggles2 but the spiritual energies are paralyzed1 and the sensibilities of the new nature are blunted1 so that there is no response to the cries of conscience1 and no effectual effort to withstand the enemy2 the worldliness of the ,christian's heart leagues itself with the opposing influences from without--the outworks are stormed1 and the citadel of the soul's affections vigorously assaulted2 and finally1 the man settles down in thorough worldliness1 exemplifying in his own person the prophet's touching lament1 ,her ,nazarites were purer than snow1 they were whiter than milk1 they were more ruddy in body than rubies1 their polishing was of sapphire3 their visage is blacker than a coal2 they are not known in the streets2 their skin cleaveth to their bones2 it is withered1 it is become like a stick4 7,lam4 iv4 #g1 #h47 ,the man who was once known as a servant of ,christ--a fellow-helper unto the kingdom of ,god--making use of his resources only to further the interests of the gospel of ,christ1 is now1 alas6 settled down upon his lees1 only known as a plodding1 keen1 bargain-making man of business1 of whom the apostle might well say1 ,demas hath forsaken me1 having loved this present age 4 ,but perhaps nothing so operates on the hearts of ,christians1 in inducing them to yoke themselves commercially with unbelievers1 as the habit of seeking to maintain the two characters of a ,christian and a man of business4 ,this is a grievous snare4 ,in point of fact1 there can be no such thing4 ,a man must be either the one or the other4 ,if ,i am a ,christian1 my ,christianity must show itself as a living reality in that in which ,i am2 and if it cannot show itself there1 ,i ought not to be there3 for if ,i continue in a sphere or position in which the life of ,christ cannot be manifested1 ,i shall speedily possess naught of ,christianity but the name without the reality--the outward form without the inward power--the shell without the kernel4 ,i should be the servant of ,christ1 not merely on ,sunday1 but from ,monday morning to ,saturday night4 ,i should not only be a servant of ,christ in the public assembly1 but also in my place of business1 whatever it may happen to be4 ,but ,i cannot be a proper servant of ,christ with my neck in the yoke with an unbeliever2 for how could the servants of two hostile masters work in the same yoke8 ,it is utterly impossible2 as well might one attempt to link the sun's meridian beams with the profound darkness of midnight4 ,it cannot be done2 and ,i do therefore most solemnly appeal to my reader's conscience1 in the presence of ,almighty ,god1 who shall judge the secrets of men's hearts by ,jesus ,christ1 as to this important matter4 ,i would say to him1 if he is thinking of getting into partnership with an unbeliever1 ,,flee ,,from ,,it6 yes1 flee from it1 though it promises you the gain of thousands4 ,you will plunge yourself into a mass of sorrow and trouble4 ,you are going to plow with one whose feelings1 instincts1 and tendencies are diametrically opposed to your own4 ,an ox and an ass are not so unlike1 in every respect1 as a believer and an unbeliever4 ,how will you ever get on8 ,he wants to make money--to profit himself--to get on in the world2 you want 7at least you ought to want7 to grow in grace and holiness--to advance the interests of ,christ and ,his gospel on the earth1 and to push onward to the everlasting kingdom of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,his object is money2 yours1 ,i trust1 is ,christ3 he lives for this world2 you1 for the world to come2 he is engrossed with the things of time2 you1 with those of eternity4 ,how1 then1 can you ever take common ground with him8 ,your principles1 your motives1 your objects1 your hopes1 are all opposed4 ,how is it possible you can get on8 ,how can you have aught in common8 ,surely1 all this needs only to be looked at with a single eye in order to be seen in its true light4 ,it is impossible that any one whose eye is filled and whose heart is occupied with ,christ1 could ever yoke himself with a worldly partner1 for any object whatsoever4 ,wherefore1 my beloved ,christian reader1 let me once more entreat you1 ere you take such a tremendous step--a step fraught with such awful consequences--so pregnant with danger to your best interests1 as well as to the testimony of ,christ1 with which you are honored--to take the whole matter1 with an honest heart1 into the sanctuary of ,god1 and weigh it in ,his sacred balance4 ,ask ,him what ,he thinks of it1 and hearken1 with a subject will and a well-adjusted conscience1 to ,his reply4 ,it is plain and powerful--yea1 as plain and as powerful as though it fell from the open heavens--,be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers4 ,but if1 unhappily1 my reader is already in the yoke1 ,i would say to him1 disentangle yourself as speedily as you can4 ,i am much mistaken if you have not already found the yoke a burdensome one4 ,to you it were superfluous to detail the sad consequences of being in such a position2 you doubtless know them all4 ,it is needless to print them on paper1 or paint them on canvas1 to one who has entered into all their reality4 ,my beloved brother in ,christ1 lose not a moment in seeking to throw off the yoke4 ,this must be done before the ,lord1 on ,his principles1 and by ,his grace4 ,it is easier to get into a wrong position than to get out of it4 ,a partnership of ten or twenty years' standing cannot be dissolved in a moment4 ,it must be done calmly1 humbly1 and prayerfully1 as in the sight of the ,lord1 and with entire reference to ,his glory4 ,i may dishonor the ,lord as much in my way of getting out of a wrong position as by getting into it at the first4 ,hence1 if ,i find myself in partnership with an unbeliever1 and my conscience tells me ,i am wrong1 let me honestly and frankly state to my partner that ,i can no longer go on with him2 and having done that1 my place is to use every exertion to wind up the affairs of the firm in an upright1 a straightforward1 and businesslike manner1 so as to give no possible occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully1 and that my good may not be evil spoken of4 ,we must avoid rashness1 headiness1 and high-mindedness1 when apparently acting for the ,lord1 and in defense of ,his holy principles4 ,if a man gets entangled in a net1 or involved in a labyrinth1 it is not by bold and violent plunging he will extricate himself4 ,no2 he must humble himself1 confess his sins before the ,lord1 and then retrace his steps1 in patient dependence upon that grace which can not only pardon him for being in a wrong position1 but lead him forth into a right one4 ,moreover1 as in the case of the marriage-yoke1 the matter is very much modified by the fact of the partnership having been entered into previous to conversion4 ,not that this would1 in the slightest degree1 justify a continuance in it4 ,by no means2 but it does away with much of the sorrow of heart and defilement of conscience connected with such a position1 and will also very materially affect the mode of escape therefrom4 ,besides1 the ,lord is glorified by1 and ,he assuredly accepts1 the moral bent of the heart and conscience in the right direction4 ,if ,i judge myself for being wrong1 and that the moral bent of my heart and conscience is to get right1 ,god will accept of that1 and surely set me right4 ,but if ,he sets me right1 ,he will not suffer me to do violence to one truth while seeking to act in obedience to another4 ,the same ,word that says ,be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers says also ,render therefore to all their dues--owe no man any thing--provide things honest in the sight of all--walk honestly toward them that are without4 ,if ,i have wronged ,god by getting into partnership with an unbeliever1 ,i must not wrong any man in my way of getting out of it4 ,profound subjection to the ,word of ,god1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 will set all to rights1 will lead us into straight paths1 and enable us to avoid all dangerous extremes4 ,,iii4 ,in glancing for a moment at the religious phase of the unequal yoke1 ,i would assure my reader that it is by no means my desire to hurt the feelings of any one by canvassing the claims of the various denominations around me4 ,such is not my purpose4 ,the subject of this paper is one of quite sufficient importance to prevent its being encumbered by the introduction of other matters4 ,moreover1 it is too definite to warrant any such introduction4 ,the unequal yoke is our theme1 and to it we must confine our attention4 ,in looking through ,scripture we find almost numberless passages setting forth the intense spirit of separation which ought ever to characterize the people of ,god4 ,whether we direct our attention to the ,old ,testament1 in which we have ,god's relationship and dealings with ,his earthly people1 ,israel1 or to the ,new ,testament1 in which we have ,his relationship and dealings with ,his heavenly people1 the ,church1 we find the same truth prominently set forth1 namely1 the entire separation of those who belong to ,god4 ,israel's position is thus stated in ,balaam's parable1 ,lo1 the people shall dwell alone1 and shall not be reckoned amongst the nations4 ,their place was outside the range of all the nations of the earth1 and they were responsible to maintain that separation4 ,throughout the entire ,pentateuch they were instructed1 warned1 and admonished as to this2 and throughout the psalms and the prophets we have a record of their failure in the maintenance of this separation1 which failure1 as we know1 has brought down upon them the heavy judgments of the hand of ,god4 ,it would swell this little paper into a volume were ,i to attempt a quotation of all the passages in which this point is put forward4 ,i take it for granted that my reader is sufficiently acquainted with his ,bible1 to render such quotations unnecessary4 ,should he not be so1 however1 a reference1 in his concordance1 to the words1 separate1 separated1 and separation will suffice to lay before him at a glance the body of ,scripture-evidence on the subject4 ,the passage just quoted from the book of ,numbers is the expression of ,god's thoughts about ,his people ,israel3 ,the people shall dwell ,,alone4 ,the same is true1 only upon a much higher ground1 in reference to ,god's heavenly people1 the ,church--the body of ,christ--composed of all true believers4 ,they too are a separated people4 ,we shall now proceed to examine the ground of this separation4 ,there is a great difference between being separate on the ground of what we are and of what ,god is4 ,the former makes a man a ,pharisee2 the latter makes him a saint4 ,if ,i say to a poor fellow-sinner1 ,stand by thyself1 ,i am holier than thou1 ,i am a detestable ,pharisee and a hypocrite2 but if ,god1 in ,his infinite condescension and perfect grace1 says to me1 ,i have brought you into relationship with ,myself in the person of ,my ,son ,jesus ,christ1 therefore be separate and holy from all evil2 come out from among them and be separate2 ,i am bound to obey1 and my obedience is the practical manifestation of my character as a saint--a character which ,i have1 not because of any thing in myself1 but simply because ,god has brought me near unto ,himself through the precious blood of ,christ4 ,it is well to be clear as to this4 ,pharisaism and divine sanctification are two very different things2 and yet they are often confounded4 ,those who contend for the maintenance of that place of separation which belongs to the people of ,god1 are constantly accused of setting themselves up above their fellow-men1 and of laying claim to a higher degree of personal sanctity than is ordinarily possessed4 ,this accusation arises from not attending to the distinction just referred to4 ,when ,god calls upon men to be separate1 it is on the ground of what ,he has done for them upon the cross1 and where ,he has set them1 in eternal association with ,himself1 in the person of ,christ4 ,but if ,i separate myself on the ground of what ,i am in myself1 it is the most senseless and vapid assumption1 which will sooner or later be made manifest4 ,god commands ,his people to be holy on the ground of what ,he is3 ,be ye holy1 for ,i am holy4 ,this is evidently a very different thing from ,stand by thyself3 ,i am holier than thou4 ,if ,god brings people into association with ,himself1 ,he has a right to prescribe what their moral character ought to be1 and they are responsible to answer thereto4 ,thus we see that the most profound humility lies at the bottom of a saint's separation4 ,there is nothing so calculated to put one in the dust as the understanding of the real nature of divine holiness4 ,it is an utterly false humility which springs from looking at ourselves--yea1 it is1 in reality1 based upon pride1 which has never yet seen to the bottom of its own perfect worthlessness4 ,some imagine that they can reach the truest and deepest humility by looking at self1 whereas it can only be reached by looking at ,christ4-- ,the more ,thy glories strike mine eye1 ,the humbler ,i shall be4 ,this is a just sentiment1 founded upon divine principle4 ,the soul that loses itself in the blaze of ,christ's moral glory is truly humble1 and none other4 ,no doubt we have a right to be humble when we think of what poor creatures we are1 but it only needs a moment's just reflection to see the fallacy of seeking to produce any practical result by looking at self4 ,it is only when we find ourselves in the presence of infinite excellency that we are really humble4 ,hence1 therefore1 a child of ,god should refuse to be yoked with an unbeliever1 whether for a domestic1 a commercial1 or a religious object1 simply because ,god tells him to be separate1 and not because of his own personal holiness4 ,the carrying out of this principle in matters of religion will necessarily involve much trial and sorrow2 it will be termed intolerance1 bigotry1 narrow-mindedness1 exclusiveness1 and such like2 but we cannot help all this4 ,provided we keep ourselves separate upon a right principle and in a right spirit1 we may safely leave all results with ,god4 ,no doubt the remnant in the days of ,ezra must have appeared excessively intolerant in refusing the co-operation of the surrounding people in building the house of ,god1 but they acted upon divine principle in the refusal4 ,now when the adversaries of ,judah and ,benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 then they came to ,zerubbabel1 and to the chief of the fathers1 and said unto them1 ',let us build with you2 for we seek your ,god as ye do2 and we do sacrifice unto ,him1 since the days of ,esar-haddon1 king of ,assur1 which brought us up hither4' ,this might seem a very attractive proposal--a proposal evidencing a very decided leaning toward the ,god of ,israel2 yet the remnant refused1 because the people1 notwithstanding their fair profession1 were1 at heart1 uncircumcised and hostile4 ,but ,zerubbabel and ,jeshua and the rest of the chief of the fathers of ,israel said unto them1 ',ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our ,god2 but we ourselves together will build unto the ,lord ,god of ,israel4 7,ezra iv4 #a-c47 ,they would not yoke themselves with the uncircumcised--they would not plow with an ox and ass--they would not sow their field with mingled seed--they kept themselves separate1 even though by so doing they exposed themselves to the charge of being a bigoted1 narrow-minded1 illiberal1 uncharitable set of people4 ,so also in ,nehemiah we read1 ,and the seed of ,israel separated themselves from all strangers1 and stood and confessed their sins1 and the iniquities of their fathers4 7,chap4 ix4 #b47 ,this was not sectarianism1 but positive obedience4 ,their separation was essential to their existence as a people4 ,they could not have enjoyed the divine presence on any other ground4 ,thus it must ever be with ,god's people on the earth4 ,they must be separate1 or else they are not only useless1 but mischievous4 ,god cannot own or accompany them if they yoke themselves with unbelievers1 upon any ground or for any object whatsoever4 ,the grand difficulty is to combine a spirit of intense separation with a spirit of grace1 gentleness1 and forbearance2 or1 as another has said1 to maintain a narrow circle with a wide heart4 ,this is really a difficulty4 ,as the strict and uncompromising maintenance of truth tends to narrow the circle around us1 we shall need the expansive power of grace to keep the heart wide1 and the affections warm4 ,if we contend for truth otherwise than in grace1 we shall only yield a one-sided and most unattractive testimony4 ,and on the other hand1 if we try to exhibit grace at the expense of truth1 it will prove1 in the end1 to be only the manifestation of a popular liberality at ,god's expense--a most worthless thing4 ,then1 as to the object for which real ,christians usually yoke themselves with those who1 even on their own confession1 and in the judgment of charity itself1 are not ,christians at all1 it will be found in the end that no really divine and heavenly object can be gained by an infringement of ,god's truth4 ,per fas aut nefas#bj can never be a divine motto4 ,the means are not sanctified by the end2 but both means and end must be according to the principles of ,god's holy ,word1 else all must eventuate in confusion and dishonor4 ,it might have appeared to ,jehoshaphat a very worthy object to recover ,ramoth ,gilead out of the hand of the enemy2 and moreover1 he might have appeared a very liberal1 gracious1 popular1 large-hearted man1 when1 in reply to ,ahab's proposal1 he said1 ,i am as thou art1 and my people as thy people2 and we will be with thee in the war4 ,it is easy to be liberal and large-hearted at the expense of divine principle2 but how did it end8 ,ahab was killed1 and ,jehoshaphat narrowly escaped with his life1 having made total shipwreck of his testimony4 #bj ,by any means4 ,thus we see that ,jehoshaphat did not even gain the object for which he unequally yoked himself with an unbeliever3 and even had he gained it1 it would have been no justification of his course4#ba ,nothing can ever warrant a believer's yoking himself with an unbeliever2 and therefore however fair1 attractive1 and plausible the ,ramoth expedition might seem in the eye of man1 it was1 in the judgment of ,god1 helping the ungodly1 and loving them that hate the ,lord4 7#b ,chron4 xix4 #b47 ,the truth of ,god strips men and things of the false colors with which the spirit of expediency would deck them1 and presents them in their proper light2 and it is an unspeakable mercy to have the clear judgment of ,god about all that is going on around us3 it imparts calmness to the spirit1 and stability to the course and character1 and saves one from that unhappy fluctuation of thought1 feeling1 and principle which so entirely unfits him for the place of a steady and consistent witness for ,christ4 ,we shall surely err if we attempt to form our judgment by the thoughts and opinions of men2 for they will always judge according to the outward appearances1 and not according to the intrinsic character and principle of things4 ,provided men can gain what they conceive to be a right object1 they care not about the mode of gaining it4 ,but the true servant of ,christ knows that he must do his ,master's work upon his ,master's principles and in his ,master's spirit4 ,it will not satisfy such an one to reach the most praiseworthy end unless he can reach it by a divinely appointed road4 ,the means and the end must both be divine4 ,i admit it1 for example1 to be a most desirable end to circulate the ,scriptures--,god's own pure1 eternal ,word2 but if ,i could not circulate them save by yoking myself with an unbeliever1 ,i should refrain1 inasmuch as ,i am not to do evil that good may come4 #ba ,the unequal yoke proved a terrible snare to the amiable heart of ,jehoshaphat4 ,he yoked himself with ,ahab for a religious object2 and notwithstanding the disastrous termination of this scheme1 we find him yoking himself with ,ahaziah for a commercial object1 which likewise ended in loss and confusion2 and lastly1 he yoked himself with ,jehoram for a military object4 7,comp4 #b ,chron4 xviii2 xx4 #cb-cg2 #b ,kings iii47 ,but1 blessed be ,god1 ,his servant can circulate ,his precious book without violating the precepts contained in that book4 ,he can1 upon his own individual responsibility1 or in fellowship with those who are really on the ,lord's side1 scatter the precious seed every where1 without leaguing himself with those whose whole course and conduct prove them to be of the world4 ,the same may be said in reference to every object of a religious nature4 ,it can and should be gained on ,god's principles1 and only thus4 ,it may be argued1 in reply1 that we are told not to judge--that we cannot read the heart--and that we are bound to hope that all who would engage in such good works as the translation of the ,bible1 the distribution of tracts1 and the aiding of missionary labors1 must be ,christians2 and that therefore it cannot be wrong to link ourselves with them4 ,to all this ,i reply that there is hardly a passage in the ,new ,testament so misunderstood and misapplied as ,matthew vii4 #a--;,judge not1 that ye be not judged4 ,in the very same chapter we read1 ,beware of the false prophets3 444 by their fruits ye shall know them4 ,now1 how are we to beware if we do not exercise judgment8 ,again1 in #a ,corinthians v4 we read1 ,for what have ,i to do to judge them also that are without8 do not ye judge them that are within8 ,but them that are without ,god judgeth4 ,therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person4 ,here we are distinctly taught that those within come within the immediate range of the ,church's judgment2 and yet according to the common interpretation of ,matthew vii4 #a we ought not to judge anybody2 that interpretation1 therefore1 must needs be unsound4 ,if people take1 even in profession1 the ground of being within1 we are commanded to judge them4 ,do not ye judge them that are within8 ,as to those without we have naught to do with them1 save to present the pure and perfect1 the rich1 illimitable1 and unfathomable grace which shines1 with unclouded effulgence1 in the death and resurrection of the ,son of ,god4 ,all this is plain enough4 ,the people of ,god are told to exercise judgment as to all who profess to be within2 they are told to beware of false prophets2 they are commanded to try the spirits3 and how can they do all this if they are not to judge at all8 ,what1 then1 does our ,lord mean1 when ,he says1 ,judge not8 ,i believe ,he means just what ,st4 ,paul1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 says1 when he commands us to judge nothing before the time1 until the ,lord come1 who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness1 and will make manifest the counsels of the heart3 and then shall every man have praise of ,god4 7#a ,cor4 iv4 #e47 ,we have nothing to do with judging motives1 but we have to judge conduct and principles2 that is to say1 the conduct and principles of all who profess to be within4 ,and1 in point of fact1 the very persons who say1 ,we must not judge1 do themselves constantly exercise judgment4 ,there is no true ,christian in whom the moral instincts of the divine nature do not virtually pronounce judgment as to character1 conduct1 and doctrine2 and these are the very points which are placed within the believer's range of judgment4 ,all1 therefore1 that ,i would press upon the ,christian reader is1 that he would exercise judgment as to those with whom he yokes himself in matters of religion4 ,if he is at this moment working in yoke or in harness with an unbeliever1 he is positively violating the command of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he may be ignorantly doing so up to this3 and if so1 the ,lord's grace is ready to pardon and restore3 but if he persist in disobedience after having been warned1 he cannot possibly expect ,god's blessing and presence with him1 no matter how valuable or important the object which he may seek to attain4 ,to obey is better than sacrifice1 and to hearken than the fat of rams4 ,,iv4 ,we have only now to consider the philanthropic phase of the unequal yoke4 ,many will say1 ,i quite admit that we ought not to mingle ourselves with positive unbelievers in the worship or service of ,god1 but then we can freely unite with such for the furtherance of objects of philanthropy--such1 for instance1 as feeding the hungry1 clothing the naked1 reclaiming the vicious1 in providing asylums for the blind and lunatic1 hospitals and infirmaries for the sick and infirm1 places of refuge for the homeless and houseless1 the fatherless and the widow2 and in short1 for the furtherance of every thing that tends to promote the amelioration of our fellow-creatures1 physically1 morally1 and intellectually4 ,this1 at first sight1 seems fair enough2 for ,i may be asked if ,i would not help a man by the roadside to get his cart out of the ditch4 ,i reply1 ,certainly2 but if ,i were asked to become a member of a mixed society for the purpose of getting carts out of ditches1 ,i should refuse--not because of my superior sanctity1 but because ,god's ,word says1 ,be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers4 ,this would be my answer1 no matter what were the object proposed by a mixed society4 ,the servant of ,christ is commanded to be ready to every good work--to do good unto all--to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction2 but then it is as the servant of ,christ1 and not as the member of a society or a committee in which there may be infidels and atheists1 and all sorts of wicked and godless men4 ,moreover1 we must remember that all ,god's philanthropy is connected with the cross of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,that is the channel through which ,god will bless--that the mighty lever by which ,he will elevate man1 physically1 morally1 and intellectually4 ,after that the kindness and philanthropy of ,god our ,saviour toward man appeared1 not by works of righteousness which we have done1 but according to ,his mercy ,he saved us1 by the washing of regeneration1 and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost2 which ,he shed on us abundantly through ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour4 7,titus iii4 #d-f47 ,this is ,god's philanthropy2 this is ,his mode of ameliorating man's condition4 ,with all who understand its worth the ,christian can readily yoke himself1 but with none other4 ,the men of the world know naught of this1 care not for it4 ,they may seek reformation1 but it is reformation without ,christ2 they may promote amelioration1 but it is amelioration without the cross4 ,they wish to advance1 but ,jesus is neither the starting-post nor the goal of their course4 ,how1 then1 can the ,christian yoke himself with them8 ,they want to work without ,christ1 the very ,one to whom he owes every thing4 ,can he be satisfied to work with them8 can he have an object in common with them8 ,if men come to me and say1 ,we want your co-operation in feeding the hungry1 in clothing the naked1 in founding hospitals and lunatic asylums1 in feeding and educating orphans1 in improving the physical condition of our fellow-mortals2 but you must remember that a leading rule of the society1 the board1 or the committee formed for such objects is1 that the name of ,christ is not to be introduced1 as it would only lead to controversy4 ,our objects being not at all religious1 but undividedly philanthropic1 the subject of religion must be studiously excluded from all our public meetings4 ,we are met as men1 for a benevolent purpose1 and therefore infidels1 atheists1 ,socinians1 ,arians1 ,romanists1 and all sorts1 can happily yoke themselves to move onward the glorious machine of philanthropy4 ,what should be my answer to such an application8 ,the fact is1 words would fail one who really loved the ,lord ,jesus1 in attempting to reply to an appeal so monstrous4 ,what6 benefit mortals by the exclusion of ,christ8 ,god forbid6 ,if ,i cannot gain the objects of pure philanthropy without setting aside that blessed ,one who lived and died1 and lives eternally for me1 then away with your philanthropy1 for it assuredly is not ,god's1 but ,satan's4 ,if it were ,god's1 the word is1 ,he shed it on us abundantly through ,jesus ,christ1 the very ,one whom your rule leaves entirely out4 ,hence your rule must be the direct dictation of ,satan1 the enemy of ,christ4 ,satan would always like to leave out the ,son of ,god2 and when he can get men to do the same1 he will allow them to be benevolent1 charitable1 and philanthropic4 ,but1 in good truth1 such benevolence and philanthropy ought to be termed malevolence and misanthropy1 for how can you more effectually exhibit ill-will and hatred toward men than by leaving out ,,the ,,only ,,one who can really bless them1 for time or for eternity8 ,but what must be the moral condition of a heart1 in reference to ,christ1 who could take his seat at a board1 or on a platform1 on the condition that that name must not be introduced8 ,it must be cold indeed2 yea1 it proves that the plans and operations of unconverted men are of sufficient importance1 in his judgment1 to lead him to throw his ,master overboard1 for the purpose of carrying them out4 ,let us not mistake matters4 ,this is the true aspect in which to view the world's philanthropy4 ,the men of this world can sell ointment for three hundred pence1 and give to the poor2 while they pronounce it waste to pour that ointment on the head of ,christ6 ,will the ,christian consent to this8 ,will he yoke himself with such8 ,will he seek to improve the world without ,christ8 ,will he join with men to deck and garnish a scene which is stained with his ,master's blood8 ,peter could say1 ,silver and gold have ,i none2 but such as ,i have give ,i thee3 in the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 rise up and walk4 ,peter would heal a cripple by the power of the name of ,jesus1 but what would he have said if asked to join a committee or society to alleviate cripples1 on the condition of leaving that name out altogether8 ,it requires no great stretch of imagination to conceive his answer4 ,his whole soul would recoil from such a thought4 ,he only healed the cripple for the purpose of exalting the name of ,jesus1 and setting forth its worth1 its excellency1 and its glory1 in the view of men3 but the very reverse is the object of the world's philanthropy2 inasmuch as it sets aside ,his blessed name entirely1 and banishes ,him from its boards1 its committees1 and its platforms4 ,may we not therefore well say1 ,shame on the ,christian who is found in a place from which his ,master is shut out8 ,oh1 let him go forth1 and1 in the energy of love to ,jesus1 and by the power of that name1 do all the good he can2 but let him not yoke himself with unbelievers1 to counteract the effects of sin by excluding the cross of ,christ4 ,god's grand object is to exalt ,his ,son--that all should honor the ,son even as they honor the ,father4 ,this should be the ,christian's object likewise2 to this end he should do good unto all2 but if he join a society or a committee in order to do good1 it is not in the name of ,jesus he acts1 but in the name of the society or committee1 without the name of ,jesus4 ,this ought to be enough for every true and loyal heart4 ,god has no other way of blessing men but through ,christ1 and no other object in blessing them but to exalt ,christ4 ,as with ,pharaoh of old1 when the hungry ,egyptians flocked to his presence1 his word was1 ,go to ,joseph2 so ,god's word to all is1 ,come to ,jesus4 ,yes1 for soul and body1 time and eternity1 we must go to ,jesus2 but the men of the world know ,him not1 and want ,him not2 what1 therefore1 has the ,christian to do with such8 ,how can he act in yoke with them8 ,he can only do so on the ground of practically denying his ,saviour's name4 ,many do not see this2 but that does not alter the case for those who do4 ,we ought to act honestly1 as in the light2 and even though the feelings and affections of the new nature were not sufficiently strong in us to lead us to shrink from ranking ourselves with the enemies of ,christ1 the conscience ought1 at least1 to bow to the commanding authority of that word1 ,,be ,,not ,,unequally ,,yoked ,,together ,,with ,,unbelievers4 ,may the ,holy ,ghost clothe ,his own ,word with heavenly power1 and make its edge sharp to pierce the conscience1 that so the saints of ,god may be delivered from every thing that hinders their running the race that is set before them4 ,time is short4 ,the ,lord ,himself will soon be here4 ,then many an unequal yoke will be broken in a moment2 many a sheep and goat shall then be eternally severed4 ,may we be enabled to purge ourselves from every unclean association and every unhallowed influence1 so that when ,jesus returns1 we may not be ashamed1 but meet ,him with a joyful heart and an approving conscience4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,,gideon ,,and ,,his ,,companions ,judges vi4-viii4 ,,part ,i4 ,in studying the history of the nation of ,israel1 we notice two distinct eras1 namely1 the era of unity1 and the era of individuality--the period in which the twelve tribes acted as one man1 and the period in the which one man was called to act for the twelve tribes4 ,we may take the ,book of ,joshua as illustrating the former2 and the ,book of ,judges as a sample of the latter4 ,the most cursory reader cannot fail to discern the difference between these two books4 ,the one is characterized by external power and glory2 the other1 by weakness and failure4 ,power is stamped on the former1 ruin on the latter4 ,in that1 ,jehovah gives the land to ,israel2 in this1 ,israel fails to take the land from ,jehovah4 ,now1 all this is expressed in the two words which may be regarded as the motto of the two books1 namely1 ,gilgal and ,bochim4 ,in the book of ,joshua we find the congregation always starting from ,gilgal to prosecute the war1 and returning thither to celebrate their victory4 ,gilgal was their centre1 because there they were circumcised2 and there the reproach of ,egypt was rolled away4 ,see ,josh4 v4 #i1 #aj4 ,but no sooner have we opened the book of ,judges than the eye rests upon the sad record1 ,the angel of the ,lord came up from ,gilgal to ,bochim1 and said1 ,i made you to go up out of ,egypt1 and have brought you unto the land which ,i sware unto your fathers2 and ,i said1 ,i will never break my covenant with you4 ,and ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land2 ye shall throw down their altars1 but ye have not obeyed my voice2 why have ye done this8 ,wherefore ,i also said1 ,i will not drive them out from before you2 but they shall be as thorns in your sides1 and their gods shall be a snare unto you4 ,and it came to pass1 when the angel of the ,lord spake these words unto all the children of ,israel1 that the people lifted up their voice1 and wept4 ,and they called the name of that place ,bochim1 that is1 weepers2 and they sacrificed there unto the ,lord 7,judges ii4 #a-e74 ,here1 then1 we have1 very remarkably1 the contrast between the two books of ,joshua and ,judges--the book of unity and the book of individuality--the book of external power and glory1 and the book of internal weakness1 failure1 and ruin4 ,alas6 alas6 the glory speedily departed4 ,israel's national greatness soon faded away4 ,the people served the ,lord all the days of ,joshua1 and all the days of the elders that outlived ,joshua1 who had seen all the great works of the ,lord1 that he did for ,israel4 ,and ,joshua the son of ,nun1 the servant of the ,lord1 died1 being an hundred and ten years old4444 ,and also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers3 and there arose another generation after them1 which knew not the ,lord1 nor yet the works which ,he had done for ,israel4 ,and the children of ,israel did evil in the sight of the ,lord1 and served ,baalim4444 ,and they forsook the ,lord1 and served ,baal and ,ashtaroth4 ,and the anger of the ,lord was hot against ,israel1 and ,he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them1 and ,he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about1 so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies4 ,whithersoever they went out1 the hand of the ,lord was against them for evil1 as the ,lord had said1 and as the ,lord had sworn unto them2 and they were greatly distressed4 ,this1 truly1 is a gloomy and humiliating record4 ,joshua's sword was sheathed4 ,those bright days in the which he had led ,israel's compact host to splendid victories over the kings of ,canaan1 were passed and gone4 ,the moral influence of ,joshua and of the elders that survived him had passed away1 and the whole nation had rushed1 with terrible avidity1 into the gross moral evils and abominable idolatries of those nations whom they ought to have driven out from before them4 ,in a word1 the ruin was complete1 so far as ,israel was concerned4 ,like ,adam1 in the garden2 and ,noah1 in the restored earth2 so ,israel1 in the land of ,canaan1 utterly failed4 ,adam ate the forbidden fruit2 ,noah got drunk2 and ,israel bowed before the altars of ,baal4 ,thus much as to man4 ,but1 thank ,god1 there is another side of the picture4 ,there is what we may call a bright and beauteous ,nevertheless2 for ,god will be ,god1 no matter what man may prove himself to be4 ,this is an unspeakable relief and consolation to the heart4 ,god abideth faithful4 ,here is faith's stronghold1 come what may4 ,god is always to be counted upon1 spite of all man's failure and shortcoming4 ,his goodness and faithfulness form the resource and the refuge of the soul amid the darkest scenes of human history4 ,this soul-sustaining truth shines out with remarkable lustre in the very passage from which we have just given such a depressing quotation4 ,nevertheless1 the ,lord raised up judges1 which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them4 ,but mark the following words1 so illustrative of the individuality of the book of ,judges3 ,and when the ,lord raised them up judges1 then the ,lord was with the judge1 and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge3 for it repented the ,lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them 7,judges ii4 #af1 #ah74 ,in these last quoted words1 we have the great root principle of the book of ,judges--the divine secret of the ministry of the ,baraks1 the ,gideons1 the ,jephthahs1 and the ,samsons1 the record of whose ministry occupies so large a portion of this most interesting section of inspiration4 ,israel had failed--sadly1 shamefully1 inexcusably failed4 ,they had forfeited all claims to the protection of ,jehovah's shield4 ,they were justly given over into the ruthless hands of the kings of ,canaan4 ,as to all this there could be no possible question4 ,nevertheless ,jehovah's heart could feel for ,his poor1 oppressed1 and groaning ,israel4 ,true1 they had proved themselves naughty and unworthy1 yet ,his ear was ever ready to catch their very earliest groan2 yea1 we are even told1 in chapter x41 that ,his soul was grieved for the misery of ,israel4 ,what touching words6 ,what tenderness6 ,what deep compassion6 ,how such a statement lets us into the profound depths of the heart of ,god6 ,the misery of ,his people moved the loving heart of ,jehovah4 ,the very faintest and earliest symptoms of brokenness and contrition1 on the part of ,israel1 met with a ready and gracious response1 on the part of ,israel's ,god4 ,it mattered not how far they had wandered1 how deeply they had sunk1 or how grievously they had sinned2 ,god was ever ready to welcome the feeblest breathings of a broken heart4 ,the springs of divine mercy and compassion are absolutely inexhaustible4 ,the ocean of ,his love is boundless and unfathomable2 and hence1 the very moment ,his people take the place of confession1 ,he enters the place of forgiveness4 ,he delights to pardon1 according to the largeness of ,his heart1 and according to the glory of ,his own ,name4 ,he finds ,his peculiar joy in blotting out transgressions1 in healing1 restoring1 and blessing1 in a manner worthy of ,himself4 ,this glorious truth shines in the history of ,israel2 it shines in the history of the ,church2 and it shines in the history of every individual believer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,but we turn to our immediate subject1 namely1 ,gideon and his companions1 as presented in that portion of the book of ,judges given at the head of this paper4 ,may the eternal ,spirit unfold and apply its precious contents to our souls6 ,chapter vi4 opens with a very sad and depressing record--a record only too characteristic of ,israel's entire history3 ,and the children of ,israel did evil in the sight of the ,lord2 and the ,lord delivered them into the hand of ,midian seven years4 ,and the hand of ,midian prevailed against ,israel2 and because of the ,midianites the children of ,israel made them the dens which are in the mountains1 and caves1 and strongholds4 ,what a humiliating picture6 ,what a contrast to the conquering host that had crossed the ,jordan and walked across the ruins of ,jericho6 ,how sad1 how humbling1 to think of ,israel crouching and hiding in the dens and caves of the mountains1 through the terror of the uncircumcised ,midianites6 ,it is well for us to consider this picture1 and receive its salutary lesson4 ,israel's power and glory consisted simply in having the presence of ,god with them4 ,without that1 they were as water spilt upon the ground1 or the autumn leaf before the blast4 ,but the divine presence could not be enjoyed in connection with allowed evil2 and therefore1 when ,israel forgot their ,lord1 and wandered away from ,him into the forbidden paths of idolatry1 ,he had to recall them to their senses by stretching out ,his governmental rod1 and causing them to feel the crushing power of one or another of the nations around4 ,now all this has a voice and a lesson for us4 ,so long as ,god's people walk with ,him in holy obedience1 they have nothing to fear4 ,they are perfectly safe from the snares and assaults of all their spiritual foes4 ,nought can1 by any means1 harm them while they abide in the shelter of ,god's own presence4 ,but1 clearly1 that presence demands and secures holiness4 ,unjudged evil cannot dwell there4 ,to live in sin and talk of security--to attempt to connect the presence of ,god with sanctioned evil--is wickedness of the deepest dye4 ,no1 it must not be6 ,god is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints2 and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about ,him4 ,thy testimonies are very sure2 holiness becometh ,thy house1 ,o ,lord1 forever4 ,if ,god's people forget these wholesome truths1 ,he knows how to recall them to their remembrance by the rod of discipline2 and1 blessed forever be ,his name1 ,he loves them too well to spare that rod1 however reluctant ,he may be to use it4 ,whom the ,lord loveth ,he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom ,he receiveth4 ,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons3 for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not8 ,but if ye be without chastisement1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards1 and not sons4 ,furthermore1 we have had fathers of our flesh1 which corrected us1 and we gave them reverence3 shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the ,father of spirits1 and live8 ,for they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure2 but ,he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of ,his holiness4 ,now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous1 but grievous2 nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby4 ,wherefore lift up the hands which hang down1 and the feeble knees 7,hebrews xii4 #f-ab74 ,these are encouraging words for the people of ,god1 at all times4 ,the discipline may be--no doubt is--painful2 but when we know a ,father's hand is in it1 and when we realize what ,his object is1 we can pass through the trial with exercised hearts1 and thus reap the peaceable fruits of righteousness4 ,on the other hand1 if we meet the discipline with an impatient spirit1 a rebellious will1 an unsubdued mind1 we only render it necessary for the pressure to be continued and augmented1 for our loving ,father will never let us alone4 ,he will have us in holy subjection to ,himself1 cost what it may4 ,he graciously takes our part against ourselves1 subdues the proud risings of our will1 and crushes all that in us which hinders our growth in holiness1 grace1 and divine knowledge4 ,oh6 what infinite grace shines in the fact that our ,god occupies ,himself with our very failure and follies1 our waywardness and wilfulness1 our sins and shortcomings1 in order to deliver us from them6 ,he knows all about us4 ,he understands and takes into account all our surroundings and all our inward tendencies1 and ,he deals with us in infinite wisdom and perfect patience1 keeping ever before ,him that one gracious object1 to make us partakers of ,his holiness1 and--wondrous thought6--to bring out in us the expression of ,his own nature and character4 ,surely1 then1 in the presence of such abounding grace and mercy1 we may well lift up the hands that hang down1 and the feeble knees4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,there is one truth which shines out with uncommon lustre in the book of ,judges1 and that is1 that ,god is ever to be counted upon1 even amid the darkest scenes of human history2 and1 moreover1 faith can always count upon ,god2 ,god never fails a trusting heart--no1 never4 ,he never has failed1 never will1 never can fail the individual soul that confides in ,him1 that takes hold of ,his precious word1 in the artless simplicity of a faith that trusts ,him in the face of man's deepest failure and shortcoming4 ,this is most consolatory and encouraging1 at all times1 and under all circumstances4 ,true it is--alas6 how true6 man fails in everthing4 ,trace him where you will2 mark him in whatever sphere of action or responsibility he occupies1 and it is the same sad tale1 over and over again1 of unfaithfulness1 failure1 and ruin4 ,let man be set up in business1 as often as he may1 with the largest capital and the fairest prospects1 and he is sure to become a bankrupt4 ,it has ever been so1 from the days of ,eden down to the present moment4 ,we may assert1 without fear of contradiction1 that there has not been one solitary exception to the dismal rule1 in the history of ,adam's fallen race4 ,we must never forget this4 ,true faith never forgets it4 ,it would be the blindest folly to attempt to ignore the fact that ruin is stamped1 in characters deep and broad1 upon the entire of man's story1 from first to last4 ,but1 in the face of all this1 ,god abideth faithful4 ,he cannot deny ,himself4 ,here is the resource and the resting-place of faith4 ,it recognizes and owns the ruin2 but it counts on ,god4 ,faith is not blind to human failure2 but it fixes its gaze on divine faithfulness4 ,it confesses the ruin of man2 but it counts on the resources of ,god4 ,now1 all this comes strikingly out in the interesting and instructive story of ,gideon4 ,he1 truly1 was made to realize1 in his own person and experience1 the fact of ,israel's fallen condition4 ,the contrast between ,joshua and ,gideon is as striking as can be1 so far as regards the question of their condition and circumstances4 ,joshua could place his foot on the necks of the kings of ,canaan4 ,gideon had to thrash his wheat in a corner to hide it from the ,midianites4 ,the day of ,joshua was marked by splendid victories2 the day of ,gideon was a day of small things4 ,but the day of small things for man is the day of great things for ,god4 ,so ,gideon found it4 ,true1 it was not permitted him to witness the sun and moon arrested in their course1 or the cities of the uncircumcised levelled with the ground4 ,his was a day of barley cakes and broken pitchers1 not of astounding miracles and brilliant achievements4 ,but ,god was with him2 and this was enough4 ,there came an angel of the ,lord1 and sat under an oak which was in ,ophrah1 that pertained unto ,joash the ,abiezrite2 and his son ,gideon threshed wheat by the winepress1 to hide it from the ,midianites4 ,and the angel of the ,lord appeared unto him1 and said unto him1 ,the ,lord is with thee1 thou mighty man of valor 7,judges vi4 #aa1 #ab74 ,what words were these to fall upon the ear of ,gideon1 cowering in the winepress1 through fear of the enemy6 ,they were words from heaven to lift his soul above the trials1 and sorrows1 and humiliations of earth--words of divine power and virtue to infuse vigor into his depressed and sorrowing heart4 ,thou mighty man of valor6 ,how hard was it for ,gideon to take such wondrous accents in6 ,how difficult to apply them to himself6 ,where was the might or where was the valor8 ,most surely not in himself or in his surroundings4 ,where then8 ,in the living ,god2 precisely where ,joshua found his might and his valor4 ,indeed there is a striking similarity in the terms in which both these eminent servants of ,god were addressed4 ,the similarity of the terms is quite as marked as is the contrast in their circumstances4 ,here are the terms to ,joshua3 ,have not ,i commanded thee8 ,be strong and of a good courage3 be not thou afraid1 neither be thou dismayed3 for the ,lord thy ,god is with thee whithersoever thou goest4 ,and the terms to ,gideon are3 ,the ,lord is with thee1 thou mighty man of valor4 ,precious words6 ,soul-stirring1 heart-strengthening accents6 ,and yet ,gideon was slow to make them his own--slow to grasp them1 in the lovely appropriating power of faith1 which so delights the heart of ,god1 and glorifies ,his name4 ,how often is it thus with us6 ,how constantly we fail to rise to the height of ,god's gracious thoughts and purposes towards us6 ,we are prone to reason about ourselves and our surroundings1 instead of believing ,god1 and resting1 in sweet tranquillity1 in ,his perfect love and faithfulness4 ,thus it was with that dear man of ,god on whose history we are dwelling4 ,the divine statement was clear1 full1 absolute1 and unconditional3 ,the ,lord is with thee4 ,there was no ground1 in these words1 for any question or doubt1 whatsoever2 and yet mark ,gideon's reply3 ,and ,gideon said unto ,him1 ,o my ,lord1 if the ,lord be with us1 why then is all this befallen us8 ,and where be all ,his miracles which our fathers told us of1 saying1 ,did not the ,lord bring us up from ,egypt8 but now the ,lord hath forsaken us1 and delivered us into the hands of the ,midianites 7verse #ac74 ,here1 as is evident1 ,gideon reasons from his surroundings4 ,hence the if--that little monosyllable of unbelief4 ,it is a familiar remark amongst us1 ,if you want to be miserable1 look within2 if you want to be distracted1 look around2 if you want to be peaceful and happy1 look up--'look off unto ,jesus4' ,this is most true4 ,so surely as we become occupied with self1 or with men and things1 the circumstances which surround us1 we must be unhinged and unhappy4 ,our only strength1 our only comfort1 our only light1 is to keep the eye of faith fixed on ,jesus1 and the heart firmly centred in ,him4 ,most certainly ,gideon's surroundings were of the gloomiest character4 ,his sensible horizon was overhung with dark and heavy clouds4 ,but there was one bright and blessed ray which shone in upon his depressed spirit--a ray emanating from the very heart of ,god1 and conveyed in that one brief but comprehensive sentence1 ,the ,lord is with thee4 ,there was no if in this--no doubt1 no reserve1 no condition4 ,it was distinct and unqualified1 and needed only one thing to make it a spring of joy1 strength1 and victory in ,gideon's soul1 and that was to mix it with faith4 ,but then if is not faith4 ,true faith never answers ,god with ifs1 for the simplest of all reasons1 that it looks only at ,god1 and there are no ifs with ,him4 ,faith reasons from ,god downwards2 not from man upwards4 ,faith has only one difficulty1 and that difficulty is embodied in the question1 ,how shall ,he not8 ,it never says1 ,how shall ,he8 ,this is the language of sheer unbelief4 ,but1 it may be asked by some1 was there not some foundation for ,gideon's if and why8 ,certainly not in ,god or in ,his word1 whatever there had been in ,israel and their actings4 ,no doubt1 if ,gideon had only cast his eye back over the pages of his national history1 he might have discovered ample reason for the sad and humiliating condition in which he found himself4 ,those blotted pages would have furnished an abundant answer to his question1 ,why then is all this befallen us8 ,but had ,israel's actings dimmed the lustre of ,jehovah's mighty miracles8 ,not in the vision of faith1 most surely4 ,god had done great and glorious things for ,his people2 and the record of those doings lay ever under the eye of faith1 in all its soul-sustaining virtue4 ,no doubt ,israel had failed--shamefully failed2 and the record of that failure lay also under the eye of faith1 and furnished a solemn answer to ,gideon's inquiry1 ,why is all this befallen us8 ,faith recognizes ,god's government as well as ,his grace1 and moreover it bows1 in solemn awe1 before each stroke of ,his governmental rod4 ,it is well to keep all this in mind4 ,we are apt to forget it4 ,god has1 at times1 to stretch forth his hand and lift the rod of authority4 ,he cannot own what is contrary to ,his ,name and ,his nature4 ,now1 ,gideon needed to remember this4 ,israel had sinned1 and this was the reason why they were under the rod1 of which the power of the ,midianites was the expression in ,gideon's day4 ,gideon1 we repeat1 was called to enter practically into the meaning of all this2 and not only so1 but to taste the reality of identification with his people in all their pressure and affliction4 ,this latter1 as we know1 was the portion and experience of every true servant of ,god in ,israel4 ,all had to pass through those deep exercises of soul consequent upon their association with the people of ,god4 ,it mattered not whether it were a judge1 a prophet1 a priest1 or a king2 all had to participate in the sorrows and trials of the nation of ,israel2 nor could any true heart--any genuine lover of ,god or ,his people--desire exemption from such deep and holy exercises4 ,this was pre-eminently true of the only perfect ,servant that ever stood upon this earth4 ,he1 though personally exempt from all the consequences of ,israel's sin and failure--though pure and spotless1 divinely holy in nature and in life--did nevertheless1 in perfect grace1 voluntarily identify ,himself with the people in all their sorrow and humiliation4 ,in all their affliction ,he was afflicted4 ,thus it was with our blessed ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and all who1 in any degree1 partook of ,his ,spirit1 had1 according to their measure1 to taste of the same cup1 though none could ever come up to ,him in this or in aught else4 ,but when we come to compare closely the angel's words to ,gideon1 with his reply1 we notice a point of deep interest1 and one which illustrates the individual character of the book of ,judges4 ,the angel says1 ,the ,lord is with thee4 ,gideon replies1 ,if the ,lord be with us4 ,this is very interesting and instructive2 moreover it is in full keeping with a passage already referred to1 in chap1 iii43 ,and when the ,lord raised them up judges1 then the ,lord was with the judge4 ,it does not say1 with the people1 but adds1 with touching grace1 and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge2 for it repented the ,lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them 7ver4 #ah74 ,there is peculiar sweetness and beauty in this4 ,if ,jehovah had to hide ,his face from ,his people1 and give them over1 for the time1 into the hand of the uncircumcised1 yet ,his loving heart was ever turned towards them1 and ever ready to mark and recognize the faintest traces of a repentant spirit4 ,who is a ,god like unto ,thee1 that pardoneth iniquity1 and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of ,his heritage8 ,he retaineth not ,his anger forever1 because ,he delighteth in mercy4 ,he will turn again1 ,he will have compassion upon us2 ,he will subdue our iniquities2 and ,thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea4 ,thou wilt perform the truth to ,jacob1 and the mercy to ,abraham1 which ,thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old 7,micah4 vii4 #ah-bj74 ,,part ,,iii4 ,nothing can be more encouraging to the heart than the mode in which the ,lord deals with the soul of ,gideon--the way in which ,he prepares him for the course of action to which ,he was calling him4 ,gideon1 like ourselves1 was full of ifs and whys1--those little words so big with unbelief4 ,the poor human heart is ever slow to take in the magnificence of divine grace2 our feeble vision is dazzled by the brilliancy of divine revelation4 ,it is only artless faith which can cause the soul to feel perfectly at home in the presence of the richest unfoldings of the goodness and loving-kindness of ,god4 ,faith never says if or why8 ,it believes what ,god says1 because ,he says it4 ,it rests1 in sweet tranquility1 upon every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god4 ,unbelief looks at circumstances and reasons from them3 faith looks at ,god1 and reasons from ,him4 ,hence the vast difference in their conclusions4 ,gideon1 judging from his surroundings1 concluded that ,jehovah had forsaken ,his people4 ,a simple faith would have led him to the very opposite conclusion2 it would have enabled him to see and know and remember that ,jehovah would ever be true to ,his promise to ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 however ,he might1 in ,his governmental dealings1 have to hide ,his face from their rebellious and sinful offspring4 ,faith always counts on ,god2 and ,god1 blessed be ,his name1 ever honors faith4 ,he first produces it in us1 and then owns it4 ,but not only does ,god graciously honor faith2 ,he rebukes our fears4 ,he rises above our unbelief1 and hushes all our silly reasonings4 ,thus1 in ,his dealings with ,his chosen servant ,gideon1 it would seem as though ,he heard not the if or the why8 ,he goes on to unfold ,his own thoughts1 to display ,his own resources1 and to fill the soul of ,his servant with a confidence and a courage which were to lift him above all the depressing influences with which he was surrounded4 ,and the ,lord looked upon him1 and said1 ,go in this thy might1 and thou shalt save ,israel out of the hand of the ,midianites3 have not ,i sent thee8 ,here we have the true secret of strength3 ,the ,lord looked upon him4 ,there was divine power in this look1 if ,gideon could only have taken it in4 ,but1 alas6 he was still full of questions4 ,and he said unto ,him1 ,o my ,lord1 wherewith shall ,i save ,israel8 ,behold1 my family is poor in ,manasseh1 and ,i am the least in my father's house4 ,thus1 unbelief turns the eye in upon self1 or out upon our surroundings4 ,it leads us to compare our visible resources with the work to which ,god is calling us4 ,jehovah had said1 ,go in this thy might4 ,what was the might8 ,in what did it consist8 ,was it great wealth1 lofty position1 or great physical power8 ,nothing of the kind4 ,jehovah looked upon him1 and said1 ,go in this thy might1 and thou shalt save ,israel4 ,this was absolute and unqualified4 ,it left no room for ,gideon's wherewith8 ,it made it very plain that the might with which he was to deliver ,israel was not in himself or in his father's house1 but in the ,god of ,israel4 ,it mattered little whether his family was rich or poor2 whether he was little or great4 ,it was ,god who was about to use him8 ,what was wealth or greatness to ,him8 ,he could use a barley cake or a broken pitcher4 ,indeed we may observe this special feature in the varied instruments taken up in the book of ,judges1 namely1 that no flesh shall glory in ,god's presence4 ,how does human glory fade away before the humiliating fact that ,israel's hosts were called forth to battle under the leadership of a woman6 ,what a stain on human pride in the fact of deliverance coming through the agency of a left-handed man6 ,but1 on the other hand1 we find that just in proportion as man's glory fades away1 the divine glory shines out4 ,the humbler the instrument1 the more we see the power of ,god4 ,what difference does it make to the ,almighty ,god whether ,his instrument be left-handed or right-handed--a man or a woman--a dwarf or a giant8 ,the instrument is nothing3 ,god is all in all4 ,true1 ,he deigns to use instruments2 but all the power is ,his1 and ,his shall be the eternal and universal praise4 ,gideon had to learn this2 and so had ,moses2 and so have we all4 ,it is an invaluable lesson4 ,we are all so prone to think of our competency for any work or service which may lie before us1 when we ought to remember that of all ,his works that are done upon the earth1 ,god is the doer of them4 ,our sufficiency is of ,him4 ,we can do nothing2 and if we could do aught1 it would be badly done4 ,the human finger can only leave a soil behind4 ,the works of men perish like their thoughts4 ,the work of ,god abideth forever4 ,let us remember these things1 that we may walk humbly and lean ever and only on the mighty arm of the living ,god4 ,thus the soul is kept in a well-balanced condition1 free from self-confidence and fleshly excitement1 on the one hand2 and from gloom and depression1 on the other4 ,if we can do nothing1 self-confidence is the height of presumption4 ,if ,god can do every thing1 despondency is the height of folly4 ,but in the case of ,gideon1 as in that of all ,god's servants1 we observe two things worthy of our deepest attention4 ,in the first place1 we have the divine commission1 as embodied in those weighty words1 ,have not ,i sent thee8 ,and in the second place1 we have the assurance of the divine presence1 as set forth in these encouraging words1 ,surely ,i will be with thee4 ,these are the two grand points for all who will serve ,god in their day and generation4 ,they must know that the path they tread has been marked out distinctly by the hand of ,god2 and1 furthermore1 they must have the sense of ,his presence with them along the path4 ,these things are absolutely essential4 ,without them we shall waver and vacillate4 ,we shall be running from one line of work to another4 ,we shall take up certain work1 go on with it for a while1 and then abandon it for something else4 ,we shall work by fits and starts2 our course will be faltering1 our light flickering3 ,unstable as water1 we shall not excel4 ,we shall never succeed at anything4 ,there will be no certainty1 no stability1 no progress4 ,these are weighty matters for all of us4 ,it is of immense importance for every servant of ,christ1 every child of ,god1 to know that he is at his divinely appointed post1 and at his divinely given work4 ,this will give fixedness of purpose1 moral elevation1 and holy independence4 ,it will preserve us from being tossed about by human thoughts and opinions--being influenced by the judgment of one or another4 ,it is our happy privilege to be so sure that we are doing the very work which the ,master has given us to do1 that the thoughts of our fellows respecting us shall have no more weight with us than the pattering of rain on the window4 ,not--be it carefully observed--that we should1 for a moment countenance1 much less cultivate1 a spirit of haughty independence4 ,far away be the thought6 ,we as ,christians1 can never1 in one sense1 be independent one of another4 ,how can we1 seeing we are members one of another8 ,we are united to one another and to our risen ,head in glory1 by the one ,spirit who is with us and in us4 ,the most intense individuality--and our individuality should be as intense as our unity is indissoluble--can never touch the precious truth of the one body and one ,spirit4 ,all this is divinely true1 and most fully and thankfully owned4 ,but1 at the same time1 we must insist upon the truth of our individuality1 and of our personal responsibility4 ,this must be maintained with all possible energy and decision4 ,each servant has to do with his ,lord1 in that particular sphere of work to which he has been called4 ,and1 moreover1 each should know his work1 and give himself to it diligently and constantly4 ,he should possess the holy certainty and authority imparted to the soul by that divine and powerful sentence1 ,have not ,i sent thee8 ,it will perhaps be said1 ,we are not all ,gideons or ,joshuas4 ,we are not all called to occupy such a prominent place or tread such a brilliant path as those illustrious servants4 ,true2 but we are called to serve2 and it is essential to every servant to know his commission1 to understand his work1 and to be fully assured in his own soul that he is doing the very work which the ,lord has given him to do1 and treading the very path which the hand of ,god has marked out for him4 ,if there be any uncertainly as to this1 we do not see how there can be any progress4 ,but there is more than this4 ,it is not enough to know that we are treading the divinely appointed path4 ,we want to realize the divine presence4 ,we want to have the precious words made good in our experience1 ,surely ,i will be with thee4 ,this completes the servant's equipment4 ,the divine commission and the divine presence are all we want2 but we must have these in order to get on4 ,with these priceless realities it matters not who we are4 ,the ,lord can use a feeble woman1 a left-handed man1 a cake of barley meal1 or a broken pitcher4 ,the instrument is nothing4 ,god is the workman4 ,unbelief may cry out1 ,o my ,lord1 wherewith shall ,i save ,israel8 ,behold my family is poor in ,manasseh1 and ,i am the least in my father's house4 ,faith can cry out in reply1 ,what of all this if ,god be for us8 ,does ,he want the rich or the noble8 ,what are riches or greatness to ,him8 ,nothing4 ,ye see your calling1 brethren1 how that not many wise men after the flesh1 not many mighty1 not many noble1 are called2 but ,god hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise2 and ,god hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty2 and base things of the world1 and things which are despised1 hath ,god chosen1 yea1 and things which are not to bring to nought things that are3 that no flesh should glory in ,his presence 7#a ,cor4 i4 #bf-bi74 ,these are wholesome words for all of us4 ,it is an unspeakable mercy for every dear servant of ,christ to be kept in the abiding sense of his own utter nothingness--to be taught to realize1 in some measure1 the depth1 fulness1 and power of that one brief but most comprehensive statement1 ,apart from ,me ye can do nothing4 ,there is not a single branch in all the vine1 however imposing or wide-spreading it may seem to be1 which1 if separated from the parent stem by the thickness of a gold leaf1 can produce the very smallest atom of fruit4 ,there must be the abiding realization of our vital union with ,christ1--the practical1 living1 abiding in ,him1 by faith1 day by day1 in order to bring forth any fruit that ,god can accept4 ,it is as we abide in ,christ that the living sap circulates freely through us1 and gives forth the healthy bud1 the green leaf1 and the seasonable fruit4 ,here lies the grand secret of power4 ,it is abiding in the living ,vine4 ,blessed is the man that trusteth in the ,lord1 and whose hope the ,lord is2 for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters1 and that spreadeth out her roots by the river2 and shall not see when heat cometh1 but her leaf shall be green2 and shall not be careful in the year of drought1 neither shall cease from yielding fruit 7,jer4 xvii4 #g1 #h74 ,all this is intensely personal4 ,we must each1 for himself and herself1 cling by faith to ,christ4 ,it is of the very first importance for ,christians to bear in mind that ,christianity is a thoroughly individual thing4 ,we are individual in our repentance1 in our faith1 in our salvation1 in our communion1 in our service1 and in our reward4 ,look at the addresses to the seven churches in ,rev4 ii41 iii4 ,hearken to those pointed words1 ,he that hath an ear1--,to him that overcometh4 ,what do they mean8 ,do they not set forth1 in the most distinct and forcible manner1 that blessed individuality of which we speak8 ,unquestionably4 ,but do they touch unity8 ,not in the smallest degree4 ,they leave its sacred domain wholly untouched4 ,there is one body and one ,spirit4 ,this must ever hold good1 spite of all the ruin and failure of the professing ,church4 ,nevertheless1 the writings of ,john are pre-eminently individual4#bb ,from the opening lines of his ,gospel to the closing sentence of his ,apocalypse1 we trace this feature4 ,he shows us the ,philips1 the ,simons1 the ,andrews1 and the ,nathanaels coming1 in their individuality1 to ,jesus4 ,he tells us of a ,jewish ruler here1 and a ,samaritan sinner there1 who were drawn by the ,father to ,jesus4 ,he tells us of the good ,shepherd who calleth ,his sheep by name4 ,he tells us of the branches clinging to the living ,vine4 ,thus it is in ,john's ,gospel2 and when we turn to his ,epistles1 we find the same principle running through them all4 ,he writes to an elect lady1 and to his beloved ,gaius2 and if he once speaks of the ,church1 it is but to weep over its departed glory1 and to raise amid its ruins that warning note for individual ears1 ,look to yourselves4 ,and as to the ,revelation1 it ends as it begins1 with a solemn appeal to him that heareth4 #bb ,eternal life and its manifestations--first in our ,lord1 and then in the children of ,god--being the general line of truth in ,john's ,gospel and epistles1 is individual and personal4 ,in ,paul's epistles the unity of the saints as baptized by one ,spirit into one body1 with what flows from it1 is brought out4 ,,ed4 ,,part ,,iv4 ,the more closely we study the narrative of the ,lord's dealings with ,gideon1 the more we must be struck with the marvelous way in which ,he prepares him for his after course4 ,like all ,god's servants1 in all ages1 ,gideon had to undergo a course of secret training and discipline1 ere he was fit to appear in public4 ,the space of time occupied in this training may vary1 as may also the character of the discipline2 but of this we may rest assured that all who will be used of ,god in public must be taught of ,god in private4 ,it is a fatal mistake for any one to rush into prominence without proper equipment1 and that equipment can only be attained in the secret of the divine presence4 ,it is in profound and hallowed retirement with ,god that vessels are filled1 and instruments fitted for ,his work4 ,let us never forget this4 ,moses had to spend forty years at the back side of the desert ere he was fit to enter upon his public career4 ,david had to feed his father's flock1 ere he was called to rule the nation of ,israel4 ,he slew a lion and a bear in secret1 ere he was called to slay ,goliath in public4 ,the great apostle of the ,gentiles spent three years in ,arabia1 notwithstanding his very remarkable conversion and call4 ,the apostles spent three years and a half in companionship with their ,master1 and then had to tarry until they were endued with power from on high4 ,thus it has been with all those who have ever been called to occupy a prominent place in the ,lord's work2 and even the blessed ,master ,himself--though surely needing no training or discipline1 inasmuch as ,he was ever perfect1--to set us an example1 spent thirty years in retirement ere ,he came forth in public4 ,all this is full of most wholesome instruction for our souls4 ,let us seek to take it in and profit by it4 ,no one can ever get on in public work without this private teaching in the school of ,christ4 ,it is this which gives depth1 solidity1 and mellowness to the character4 ,it imparts a tone of reality and a fixedness of purpose most desirable in all who engage in any department of the ,lord's work4 ,it will invariably be found that where anyone goes to work without this divine preparation1 there is shallowness and instability4 ,there may perhaps for a time be more flash and show in those superficial characters than in those who have been educated in the school of ,christ2 but it never lasts4 ,it may create a momentary sensation1 but it soon passes away like the morning cloud or the early dew4 ,nothing will stand but that which is the direct result of private communion with ,god--secret training in ,his presence--the excellent discipline of the school of ,god4 ,let us see how all this is exemplified in ,gideon's case4 ,it is very evident that this honored servant was called to pass through deep exercises of soul before ever he took a single step in public action1 yea1 before he ever unfurled the standard of testimony in his father's house4 ,he had to begin with himself1 with his own personal condition1 with his own heart4 ,those who will be used for others must begin with themselves4 ,so ,gideon found it4 ,let us pursue his history4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,gideon1 ,surely ,i will be with thee1 and thou shalt smite the ,midianites as one man4 ,and he said unto ,him1 ,if now ,i have found grace in thy sight1 then show me a sign that thou talkest with me4 ,depart not hence1 ,i pray thee1 until ,i come unto thee1 and bring forth my present1 and set it before thee4 ,and ,he said1 ,i will tarry till thou come again4 ,and ,gideon went in and made ready a kid1 and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour2 the flesh he put in a basket1 and he put the broth in a pot1 and brought it out unto ,him under the oak1 and presented it4 ,and the angel of ,god said unto him1 ,take the flesh and the unleavened cakes2 and lay them upon this rock1 and pour out the broth4 ,and he did so4 ,then the angel of the ,lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand1 and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes2 and there rose up fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes4 ,then the angel of the ,lord departed out of his sight4 ,and when ,gideon perceived that he was an angel of the ,lord1 ,gideon said1 ,alas1 ,o ,lord ,god6 for because ,i have seen an angel of the ,lord face to face4 ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,peace be unto thee2 fear not3 thou shalt not die 7,judges vi4 #af-bc74 ,here we reach a profoundly interesting stage of ,gideon's preparatory course4 ,he is called to enter practically and experimentally into the great and universal law for the servants of ,god1 namely1 ,when ,i am weak1 then ,i am strong4 ,this is a most precious law1 and one which forms an indispensable element in the education of all ,christ's servants4 ,let no one imagine that he can ever be used in the ,lord's work1 or ever make progress in the divine life1 without some measure of real entrance into this invaluable principle4 ,we hold it to be absolutely essential in forming the character of the true servant of ,christ4 ,where it is not known1 where it has not been felt1 where it has not been to some extent realized1 there is sure to be unsubduedness1 unbrokenness1 self-occupation1 in some form or another4 ,there will be more or less of self-confidence1 and various points and angles turning up here and there1 and acting as a sad hindrance to all that is good1 useful1 and holy4 ,on the other hand1 when one has learnt that great family motto quoted above--when one has learnt1 in the divine presence to say1 ,when ,i am weak1 then ,i am strong1--when nature has been weighed in the balance of the sanctuary1 there you will always find a measure of brokenness1 softness1 and tenderness of spirit2 and not only so1 but also largeness of heart1 and readiness for every good work1 and that lovely elasticity of mind which enables one to rise above all those petty1 selfish considerations1 which so sadly hinder the work of ,god4 ,in short1 the heart must first be broken1 then made whole2 and1 being made whole1 be undividedly given to ,christ and to ,his blessed service4 ,it is impossible to run the eye along the brilliant array of ,christ's workmen1 and not see the truth of this4 ,moses1 ,joshua1 ,david1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,ezekiel1 and ,daniel1 in ,old ,testament times2 and ,peter1 ,paul1 and ,john1 in those of the ,new1 all stand before us as vivid illustrations of the value of broken material4 ,all those beloved and honored servants had to be broken in order to be made whole--to be emptied in order to be filled--to learn that1 of themselves1 they could do nothing1 in order to be ready1 in ,christ's strength1 for anything and everything4 ,such is the law of the household--the law of the vineyard--the law of the kingdom4 ,so ,gideon found it in his day4 ,his alas6 was followed by ,jehovah's ,peace2 fear not1 and then he was ready to begin4 ,he had been brought face to face with the angel of ,god1 and there he learnt not only that his family was poor in ,manasseh1 and he the least in his father's house1 but that in himself he was perfectly powerless1 and that all his springs must be found in the living ,god4 ,priceless lesson this1 for the son of ,joash1 and for us all6--a lesson not to be learnt in the schools and colleges of this world1 but only in the deep and holy retirement of the sanctuary of ,god4 ,and now let us see what was ,gideon's first act after his fears were hushed1 and his soul filled with divine peace4 ,his very first act was to build an altar4 ,then ,gideon built an altar there unto the ,lord1 and called it ,jehovah-shalom3 unto this day it is yet in ,ophrah of the ,abi-ezrites4 ,he takes the happy place of a worshiper1 and his worship is characterized by the revelation of the divine character4 ,he calls his altar by that precious title1 ,the ,lord send peace4 ,he had gone through many and deep exercises of soul--exercises which none can know save those who are called out into a prominent place amongst ,god's people4 ,he felt the ruin and the weakness of all around him4 ,he felt the fallen and humiliating condition of his beloved people4 ,he felt his own littleness1 yea1 his own emptiness1 and nothingness4 ,how could he come forward8 ,how could he smite the ,midianites8 ,how could he save ,israel8 ,who was sufficient for these things8 ,it is all very well for those persons who live an easy1 irresponsible kind of life2 who know not the toils1 the cares1 and anxieties connected with the public service of ,christ and the testimony for ,his name in an evil day4 ,these know nothing of ,gideon's painful exercises of soul2 nothing of the pressure upon his spirit as he looked forth from beneath the shade of his father's oak-tree1 and contemplated the dangers and responsibilities of the battle-field4 ,they can enter but feebly into the meaning of those words of one high up in the school of ,christ1 ,we had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves1 but in ,god who raiseth the dead4 ,these are weighty words for all ,christ's servants2 but we must be ,his servants in reality1 in order to enter into their deep significance4 ,if we are content to live a life of indolence and ease1 a life of self-seeking and self-pleasing1 it is impossible for us to understand such words1 or indeed to enter into any of those intense exercises of soul through which ,christ's true-hearted servants and faithful witnesses1 in all ages1 have been called to pass4 ,we invariably find that all those who have been most used of ,god in public have gone through deep waters in secret4 ,it is as the sentence of death is written practically upon self1 that the power of resurrection-life in ,christ shines out4 ,thus ,paul could say to the ,corinthians1 ,death worketh in us2 but life in you4 ,marvelous words6 ,words which let us into the profound depths of the apostle's ministry4 ,what a ministry must that have been which was carried on upon such a principle as this6 ,what power6 what energy6 ,death working in the poor earthen vessel1 but streams of life1 heavenly grace1 and spiritual power flowing into those to whom he ministered4 ,this1 reader1 we may depend upon it1 is the true secret of all effective ministry4 ,it is an easy matter to talk about ministry2 to set up to be ministers of ,christ2 but oh1 how has the professing ,church departed from the divine reality of ministry6 ,alas6 the heart sinks at the bare thought of it4 ,where are the ,pauls1 the ,gideons1 and the ,joshuas8 ,where are the deep heart-searchings and profound soul exercises which have characterized ,christ's servants in other days8 ,we are flippant and wordy1 shallow and empty1 self-sufficient and self-indulgent4 ,need we wonder at the small results8 ,how can we expect to see life working in others when we know so little about death working in us8 ,may the eternal ,spirit stir us all up1 and work in us a more powerful sense of what it is to be the true-hearted1 single-eyed1 devoted servants of ,jesus ,christ6 ,,part ,v4 ,we are now to contemplate ,gideon called forth into action4 ,he has received his commission from ,jehovah4 ,his questions have been answered1 his fears hushed1 his heart tranquilized1 and he is enabled to build an altar4 ,all this had reference to his own personal condition1 to the state of his own soul1 to the attitude of his own heart as in the sight of ,god4 ,thus it must ever be4 ,we must all begin in this way1 if we are ever to be used of ,god to act on others4 ,we must have to do with ,god in the secret of our own souls1 else we shall prove to be but sorry workmen in the sequel4 ,all who go forth in public work without this secret training1 are sure to prove flimsy and shallow4 ,self must be measured in the divine presence4 ,we must learn that nature is of no account in the ,lord's work4 ,not by might1 nor by power1 but by ,my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord of hosts 7,zech4 iv4 #f74 ,it was not until ,gideon had gone through somewhat of this holy discipline in secret that he was led out into service4 ,and let us carefully note where he had to commence4 ,it came to pass the same night1 that the ,lord said unto him1 ,take thy father's young bullock1 even the second bullock1 of seven years old--for ,jehovah knew how many bullocks ,joash had1 and the age of each--and throw down the altar of ,baal that thy father hath1 and cut down the grove that is by it4 ,and build an altar unto the ,lord thy ,god upon the top of this rock1 in the ordered place1 and take the second bullock1 and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down4 ,here we see that ,gideon had to begin at home4 ,he was called to unfurl the standard of testimony in the very bosom of his family--in the very centre of his father's house4 ,this is intensely interesting1 and deeply practical4 ,it teaches a lesson to which we should all bend our ears and apply our hearts4 ,testimony must begin at home4 ,it will never do to rush forth into public work while our private and domestic ways are anything but what they ought to be4 ,it is useless to set about throwing down the altar of ,baal in public1 while the selfsame altar remains standing at home4 ,this is of the very first importance4 ,we are all of us imperatively called upon to show piety at home4 ,nothing is more sorrowful than to meet with persons who1 abroad amongst their fellow men or their fellow ,christians1 are marked by a high tone of spirituality--a style of speaking which would lead one to suppose them far beyond the ordinary level of ,christians1 and yet when you come to close quarters with them--when you become acquainted with their private life and ways1 their actual history from day to day1 you find them very far indeed from bearing testimony for ,christ to those with whom they come in contact4 ,this is most deplorable4 ,it dishonors the ,lord ,jesus1 grieves the ,spirit1 stumbles and repulses young believers1 gives occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully1 and to our brethren to speak doubtfully of us4 ,surely these things ought not to be4 ,there ought to be a testimony yielded at home4 ,those who see most of us should see most of ,christ in us4 ,those who know us best ought best to know that we are ,christ's4 ,but alas6 how often is it otherwise6 ,how often the home circle is just the place where the lovely traits of ,christian character are least exhibited6 ,the wife or the husband1 the parent or the child1 the brother or the sister1 the master or the servant1 the fellow-servant or some other companion in daily life1 is just the one in whose sight we least display the beauteous fruits of divine life4 ,it is in private life that all our weak points come out--our oddities and peculiarities1 our silly tendencies and sinful tempers3 instead of which it ought to be in that very sphere that the grace of ,jesus is most faithfully manifested4 ,christian reader1 let us not turn away from the word of reproof1 of admonition1 or exhortation4 ,it may not be pleasant2 but1 we may rest assured1 it is salutary4 ,it may not be agreeable to the flesh2 but it is wholesome to the soul4 ,we are called1 like ,gideon1 to begin at home1 if we would prove helpful to our brethren1 or act effectively against the common foe4 ,no doubt there are difficulties involved in this home testimony4 ,it is often very hard1 for example1 for a child to bear witness against the worldliness of a parent1 or of the whole family2 but where there is humility of mind and simple dependence upon ,god1 ,he maintains and carries us through marvelously4 ,one thing is certain1 there is nothing like decision4 ,the first blow is half the battle1 yea1 the whole battle is often gained by a single blow1 when that blow is dealt in full communion with the mind of ,christ4 ,on the other hand1 where there is weakness and vacillation--playing fast and loose with the truth of ,god1 trifling with divine principles and one's own conscience1 a looking at consequences and a weighing of probable results--there the enemy is sure to have the upper hand1 and the testimony altogether fails4 ,god acts with those who act for ,him4 ,this is the grand secret of their success2 but where the eye is not single1 there is no real progress1 no divine result4 ,here is where so many of us signally fail4 ,we are not whole hearted1 not decided1 not thoroughly out-and-out for ,christ4 ,hence there is no result for ,god1 no action on others4 ,we have no idea of what may be accomplished by a single devoted heart1 one earnest and energetic soul4 ,such an one may be used to raise up a standard round which thousands will flock who might never have had the courage or energy to unfurl the standard themselves4 ,look at ,gideon4 ,see how he wrought for ,god1 and how ,god wrought with him4 ,then ,gideon took ten men of his servants1 and did as the ,lord had said unto him2 and so it was1 because he feared his father's household1 and the men of the city1 that he could not do it by day1 that he did it by night4 ,and when the men of the city rose early in the morning1 behold1 the altar of ,baal was cast down1 and the grove was cut down that was by it1 and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built4 ,and they said one to another1 ,who hath done this thing8 ,and when they inquired and asked1 they said1 ,gideon the son of ,joash hath done this thing4 ,then the men of the city said unto ,joash1 ,bring out thy son that he may die2 because he hath cast down the altar of ,baal1 and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it4 ,this is what we may call striking at the very root of the matter4 ,the worship of ,baal is completely overturned4 ,this was no trifle4 ,we have little idea of what it cost the son of ,joash to do this thing2 but by the grace of ,god he did it4 ,true1 it may have been with fear and trembling1 still he did it4 ,he dealt one vigorous blow at the entire system of ,baal1 and it crumbled into dust beneath his feet4 ,no half measures would have availed4 ,it would have been of no possible use to pick a stone here and there out of the idol's altar2 the whole fabric had to be overturned from its very foundation1 and the idol itself degraded in the very presence of its deluded worshipers4 ,a bold decisive stroke was needed1 and that stroke was given by the hand of ,gideon the son of ,joash1 ,god's mighty man of valor4 ,there is nothing1 we repeat1 like plain decision--bold1 uncompromising faithfulness for ,christ1 cost what it may4 ,had ,gideon been less decided1 had his line of action been less thorough1 his father ,joash would not have been so perfectly won over4 ,it needed just such a method of dealing with ,baal to convince a rational person that the worship of such a god was a sham and a falsehood4 ,and ,joash said unto all that stood against him1 ,will ye plead for ,baal8 will ye save him8 he that will plead for him1 let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning3 if he be a god1 let him plead for himself1 because one hath cast down his altar4 ,therefore on that day he called him ,jerubbaal1 saying1 ,let ,baal plead against him1 because he hath thrown down his altar4 ,this was very simple reasoning1 ,if he be a god1 let him plead for himself4 ,gideon's decided course had brought matters to a point4 ,baal was either a reality or a most complete delusion4 ,if the former1 let him plead for himself4 ,if the latter1 who would think of pleading for him8 ,nothing could be simpler4 ,gideon's action was a complete success4 ,the worship of ,baal was overturned2 and the worship of ,jehovah ,elohim set up instead4 ,thus we see that the divine work in the soul of ,gideon is making very rapid but very real progress4 ,he is conducted from strength to strength4 ,how little idea had he1 when first the divine voice fell on his ear1 that1 in so short a time1 he would take so bold a step4 ,if any one had said to him then1 ,in a few hours you will overturn the worship of ,baal in the very midst of your father's house1 he would not have believed it4 ,but the ,lord led him along1 step by step1 gently yet firmly2 and as the heavenly light broke in upon his soul1 his confidence and courage grew4 ,thus it is the ,lord ever deals with ,his servants4 ,he does not expect them to run before they have learnt to walk2 but where the heart is true1 and the purpose honest and firm1 ,he graciously supplies the needed strength1 moment by moment4 ,he causes mountains of difficulty to remove1 rolls away many a dark and heavy cloud1 fortifies the heart1 and girds up the loins of the mind1 so that the very feeblest are armed with giant strength1 and the coward heart filled with wonder1 love1 and praise at the triumph of divine grace4 ,having broken down ,baal's altar1 ,gideon is now led to encounter ,midian's hosts4 ,then all the ,midianites and the ,amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together1 and went over1 and pitched in the valley of ,jezreel4 ,but the ,spirit of the ,lord came upon ,gideon1 and he blew a trumpet1 and ,abi-ezer was gathered after him4 ,and he sent messengers throughout all ,manasseh1 who also was gathered after him2 and he sent messengers unto ,asher1 and unto ,zebulun1 and unto ,naphtali2 and they came up to meet them4 ,in short there was a thorough awakening4 ,the tide of spiritual energy rose majestically1 and bore hundreds and thousands upon its bosom4 ,the work which had begun in ,gideon's heart was extending itself far and wide1 throughout the length and breadth of the land4 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord was displaying ,his mighty energy1 and multitudes were stirred up to gather round the standard which the hand of faith had unfurled4 ,but just at this point1 it would seem that ,gideon's faith needed fresh confirmation4 ,it may be his spirit was overawed when he saw the mighty host of the uncircumcised mustering before him2 and then1 for a moment1 his courage failed1 and his heart craved a fresh sign from the ,lord4 ,and ,gideon said unto ,god1 ,if ,thou wilt save ,israel by my hand1 as ,thou hast said--alas6 the poor heart can place its unbelieving if right in front of the word of ,god who cannot lie--behold1 ,i will put a fleece of wool in the floor2 and if the dew be on the fleece only1 and if it be dry upon all the earth beside1 then shall ,i know that ,thou wilt save ,israel by mine hand1 as ,thou hast said4 ,how marvelous6 ,and yet we need not marvel if we know aught of our own hearts4 ,anything for the poor human heart but the naked word of the living ,god4 ,a sign1 a token1 something that the eye can see4 ,the word of ,god is not enough for unbelieving nature4 ,but oh6 the matchless grace of ,god6 ,his unupbraiding love6 ,his tender considerateness6 ,he graciously meets the weakness of ,his poor servant1 for ,it was so3 for he rose up early on the morrow1 and thrust the fleece together1 and wringed the dew out of the fleece1 a bowl full of water4 ,what condescending grace6 ,instead of severely rebuking ,gideon's unbelieving if1 ,he graciously confirms his wavering faith by superabounding evidence4 ,and yet all this sufficed not4 ,gideon seeks still further confirmation4 ,and he said unto ,god1 ,let not thine anger be hot against me1 and ,i will speak but this once4 ,let me prove1 ,i pray ,thee1 but this once with the fleece2 let it now be dry only upon the fleece1 and upon all the ground let there be dew4 ,and ,god did so that night3 for it was dry upon the fleece only1 and there was dew upon all the ground4 ,such is the abounding grace and patience of the ,god with whom we have to do4 ,forever adored be ,his holy ,name6 ,who would not trust ,him1 and love ,him1 and serve ,him8 ,,part ,,vi4 ,we shall now ask the reader to open his ,bible at the seventh chapter of the book of ,judges4 ,here ,gideon's companions are brought before us2 and their history1 as well as that of their leader1 is full of interest and profit for us4 ,they had to be trained and tested as well as he4 ,let us ponder the narrative4 ,then ,jerubbaal1 who is ,gideon1 and all the people that were with him1 rose up early and pitched beside the well of ,harod3 so that the host of the ,midianites were on the north side of them1 by the hill of ,moreh1 in the valley4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,gideon1 ,the people that are with thee are too many for ,me to give the ,midianites into their hands1 lest ,israel vaunt themselves against ,me1 saying1 ,mine own hand hath saved me4 ,the clear and soul-stirring blast of ,gideon's trumpet had drawn around him a very large and imposing company2 but this company had to be tested4 ,it is one thing to be moved by the zeal and energy of some earnest servant of ,christ1 and it is quite another thing to possess those moral qualities which alone can fit a man to be an earnest servant himself4 ,there is a vast difference between following in the wake of some devoted man of ,god1 and walking with ,god ourselves--being propped up and led on by the faith and energy of another1 and leaning upon ,god in the power of individual faith for ourselves4 ,this is a serious consideration for all of us4 ,there is always great danger of our being mere imitators of other people's faith2 of copying their example without their spiritual power2 of adopting their peculiar line of things without their personal communion4 ,all this must be carefully guarded against4 ,we specially warn the young ,christian reader against it4 ,let us be simple1 and humble1 and real4 ,we may be very small1 our sphere very narrow1 our path very retired2 but it does not matter in the least1 provided we are precisely what grace has made us1 and occupying the sphere in which our blessed ,master has set us1 and treading the path which ,he has opened before us4 ,it is by no means absolutely necessary that we should be great1 or prominent1 or showy1 or noisy in the world2 but it is absolutely necessary that we should be real and humble1 obedient and dependent4 ,thus our ,god can use us1 without fear of our vaunting ourselves2 and then1 too1 we are safe1 peaceful1 and happy4 ,there is nothing more delightful to the true ,christian1 the genuine servant of ,christ1 than to find himself in that quiet1 humble1 shady path where self is lost sight of1 and the precious light of ,god's countenance enjoyed--where the thoughts of men are of small account1 and the sweet approval of ,christ is everything to the soul4 ,flesh cannot be trusted4 ,it will turn the very service of ,christ into an occasion of self-exaltation4 ,it will use the very name of ,him who made ,himself nothing in order to make itself something4 ,it will build up its own reputation by seeming to further the cause of ,him who made ,himself of none4 ,such is flesh6 ,such are we in ourselves6 ,silly1 self-exalting creatures1 ever ready to vaunt ourselves1 while professing to be nothing in ourselves1 and to deserve nothing but the flames of an everlasting hell4 ,need we marvel at the testing and proving of ,gideon's companions8 ,all must be tested and proved4 ,the service of ,christ is a very solemn and a very holy thing2 and all who take part therein must be self-judged1 self-distrusting1 and self-emptied2 and not only so1 but they must lean1 with unshaken confidence1 upon the living ,god4 ,these are the grand qualities that go to make up the character of the true servant of ,christ1 and they are strikingly illustrated on the page of inspiration which now lies open before us4 ,let us proceed with the narrative4 ,the people that are with thee are too many for ,me to give the ,midianites into their hands4444 ,now1 therefore1 go to1 proclaim in the ears of the people1 saying1 ,whosoever is fearful and afraid1 let him return and depart early from mount ,gilead4 ,and there returned of the people twenty and two thousand2 and there remained ten thousand4 ,here the first grand test is applied to ,gideon's host--a test designed to bring out the measure of the heart's simple confidence in ,jehovah4 ,a coward heart will not do for the day of battle2 a doubting spirit will not stand in conflict4 ,the same principle is set forth in ,deuteronomy xx4 #h3 ,and the officers shall speak further unto the people1 and they shall say1 ,what man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted8 let him go and return unto his house1 lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart4 ,faint-heartedness is terribly contagious4 ,it spreads rapidly4 ,it withers the arm that should bear the shield1 and paralyses the hand that should wield the sword4 ,the only cure for this malady is simple confidence in ,god1 a firm grasp of ,his faithfulness1 a child-like trust in ,his word1 true personal acquaintance with ,himself4 ,we must know ,god for ourselves1 in such a way that ,his word is everything to us1 and that we can walk alone with ,him1 and stand alone with ,him in the darkest hour4 ,reader1 is it thus with thee8 ,hast thou this blessed confidence in ,god--this solid hold of ,his word8 ,hast thou1 deep down in thy heart1 such an experimental knowledge of ,god and ,his ,christ as shall sustain thee even though thou hadst not the support or sympathy of another believer under the sun8 ,art thou prepared to walk alone in the world8 ,these are weighty questions1 and we feel the need of pressing them upon the ,church of ,god at the present moment4 ,there is a wide diffusion of the precious truth of ,god1 and numbers are getting hold of it4 ,like the blast of ,gideon's trumpet1 so the clear testimony which has widely gone forth of late years has attracted many2 and while we quite feel that there is real ground for thankfulness in this1 we also feel that there is ground for very serious reflection indeed4 ,truth is a most precious thing1 if it be truthfully found and truthfully held3 but let us remember that in exact proportion to the preciousness of the truth of ,god so is the moral danger of trafficking therein without a self-judged heart and an exercised conscience4 ,what we really need is faith--unfeigned1 earnest1 simple faith1 which connects the soul1 in living power1 with ,god1 and enables us to overcome all the difficulties and discouragements of the way4 ,of this faith there can be no imitation4 ,we must either possess it in reality or not at all4 ,a sham faith will speedily come to the ground4 ,the man who attempts to walk by faith1 if he have it not1 must speedily totter and fall4 ,we cannot face the hosts of ,midian unless we have full confidence in the living ,god4 ,whosoever is fearful and afraid1 let him return4 ,thus it must ever be4 ,none can go to battle save those who are braced up by a faith that grasps the unseen realities of eternity1 and endures as seeing ,him who is invisible4 ,may this faith be ours1 in larger measure1 beloved reader4 ,it is full of instruction for the heart to notice the effect of the first test upon the host of ,gideon4 ,it thinned his ranks amazingly4 ,there returned of the people twenty and two thousand1 and there remained ten thousand4 ,this was a serious reduction4 ,but it is far better to have ten thousand that can trust ,god than ten thousand times ten thousand who cannot4 ,of what use are numbers1 if they be not energized by a living faith8 ,none whatever4 ,it is comparatively easy to flock around a standard raised by a vigorous hand2 but it is a totally different thing to stand1 in personal energy1 in the actual battle4 ,nought but genuine faith can do this2 and hence when the searching question is put1 ,who can trust ,god8 the showy ranks of profession are speedily thinned4 ,but there was yet another test for ,gideon's companions4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,gideon1 ,the people are yet too many2 bring them down unto the water1 and ,i will try them for thee there3 and it shall be1 that of whom ,i say unto thee1 ,this shall go with thee1 the same shall go with thee2 and of whomsoever ,i say unto thee1 ,this shall not go with thee1 the same shall not go4 ,so he brought down the people unto the water3 and the ,lord said unto ,gideon1 ,every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue1 as a dog lappeth1 him shalt thou set by himself2 likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink4 ,and the number of them that lapped1 putting their hand to their mouth1 were three hundred men3 but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,gideon1 ,by the three hundred men that lapped will ,i save you1 and deliver the ,midianites into thine hand3 and let all the other people go every man unto his place 7vii4 #d-g74 ,here then we have another great moral quality which must characterize those who will act for ,god and ,his people1 in an evil day4 ,they must not only have confidence in ,god1 but they must also be prepared to surrender self4 ,this is a universal law in the service of ,christ4 ,if we want to swim in ,god's current1 we must sink self2 and we can only sink self in proportion as we trust ,christ4 ,it is not1 need we say1 a question of salvation2 it is a question of service4 ,it is not a question of being a child of ,god1 but of being a proper servant of ,christ4 ,the thirty-one thousand seven hundred that were dismissed from ,gideon's army1 were just as much ,israelites as the three hundred that remained2 but they were not fitted for the moment of conflict3 they were not the right men for the crisis4 ,and why8 ,was it that they were not circumcised8 ,nay4 ,what then8 ,they could not trust ,god and surrender self4 ,they were full of fear when they ought to have been full of faith4 ,they made refreshment and comfort their object instead of conflict4 ,here1 reader1 lay the true secret of their moral unfitness4 ,god cannot trust those who do not trust ,him and sink self4 ,this is pre-eminently solemn and practical4 ,we live in a day of easy profession and self-indulgence4 ,knowledge can1 now-a-days1 be picked up at very small cost4 ,scraps of truth can be gathered1 second hand1 in all directions4 ,truth which cost some of ,god's dear servants years of deep soul-ploughing and heart-searching exercise1 is now in free circulation and can be intellectually seized and flippantly professed1 by many who know not what soul-ploughing or heart-exercise means4 ,but let us never forget--yea1 let us constantly remember--that the life of faith is a reality2 service is a reality2 testimony for ,christ1 a reality4 ,and further let us bear in mind that if we want to stand for ,christ in an evil day--if we would be men for the crisis1 genuine servants1 true witnesses--then verily we must learn the true meaning of those two qualities1 namely1 confidence in ,god1 and self-surrender4 ,,part ,,vii4 ,there is something peculiarly striking in the fact that out of the many thousands of ,israel1 in the days of ,gideon1 there were only three hundred men who were really fit for conflict with the ,midianites2 only this small band fit for the occasion4 ,this truly is a suggestive and admonitory fact4 ,there were hundreds of thousands of true ,israelites--truly circumcised sons of ,abraham--members of the congregation of the ,lord1 who were by no means up to the mark1 when it was a question of war to the knife with ,midian--a question of genuine confidence in ,god and self-surrender4 ,we are safe in saying that the men who were morally fitted for the grand crisis in the day of battle were not one in a thousand4 ,how solemn6 ,not one in a thousand who could trust ,god and deny self4 ,christian reader1 is not this something worthy of deep and serious thought8 ,does it not1 very naturally1 suggest the inquiry as to whether it is otherwise at this moment8 ,is it not painfully evident that we live in a day in the which little is known of the blessed secret of confidence in ,god1 and still less of the exercise of self-surrender8 ,in point of fact1 these things can never be rightly separated4 ,if we attempt to divorce self-surrender from confidence in ,god1 it will land us in the deep and dark delusions of monasticism1 asceticism1 or ritualism4 ,it will issue in nature trying to subdue nature4 ,this1 we need hardly say1 is the direct opposite of ,christianity4 ,this latter starts with the glorious fact that the old self has been condemned and set aside by the cross of ,christ1 and therefore it can be practically surrendered1 every day1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is the meaning of those fine words in ,colossians iii41 ,ye are dead1 and your life is hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,he does not say1 ,ye ought to be dead4 ,no2 but ye are dead4 ,what then8 ,mortify your members which are on the earth4 ,so also in the profound and precious teaching in ,romans vi41 ,how shall we that are dead to sin1 live any longer therein8 ,know ye not1 that so many of us as were baptized unto ,jesus ,christ were baptized unto ,his death8 ,what then8 ,likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin1 but alive unto ,god through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,here then lies the secret of all true self-surrender4 ,if this be not understood and practically entered into1 it will simply be self in one form trying to subdue self in another4 ,this is a fatal delusion4 ,it is a snare of the devil into which earnest souls are in imminent danger of falling1 who sigh after holiness of life1 but do not know the power of accomplished redemption1 and the indwelling of the ,holy ,ghost--are not built upon the solid foundation of ,christianity4 ,we specially warn the reader against this insidious error4 ,it distinctly savors of monasticism or asceticism4 ,it clothes itself in the garb of pietism and sanctimoniousness1 and is peculiarly attractive to a certain class of ardent spirits who long for victory over the lusts1 passions1 and tendencies of nature2 but1 not knowing how to attain it1 are turning their back upon ,christ and ,his cross1 and betaking themselves to the resources of a spurious religion4 ,it is against this most mischievous and delusive system that the apostle warns us1 in ,colossians ii41 ,let no man1 he says1 beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels1 intruding into those things which he hath not seen1 vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind1 and not holding the head1 from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered1 and knit together1 increaseth with the increase of ,god4 ,wherefore if ye be dead with ,christ from the rudiments of the world1 why1 as though living in the world1 are ye subject to ordinances--such as1 touch not2 taste not2 handle not2 which all are to perish with the using--after the commandments and doctrines of men8 ,which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship1 and humility1 and neglecting of the body2 not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh 7,colossians ii4 #ah-bc74 ,we deem it needful to say thus much lest any of our readers should at all mistake us on the subject of self-surrender4 ,we desire it to be distinctly understood that the only possible ground of self-surrender is the knowledge of accomplished redemption1 and our union with ,christ through the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is the essential basis of all ,christian conduct4 ,in short1 a known salvation is the basis2 the ,holy ,ghost indwelling1 the power2 and the word of ,god1 the directory of all true self-surrender4 ,but what did ,gideon and his companions know of these things8 ,nothing1 as ,christians now know them4 ,but they had confidence in ,god1 and further1 they did not make their own refreshment or comfort their object1 but simply took it up by the way as a means to an end4 ,herein they teach a fine lesson even to those whose privilege it is to walk in the full light of ,new ,testament ,christianity4 ,if they1 in the dim twilight in which they lived1 could trust ,god1 and surrender self for the moment1 even in measure1 then what shall we say for ourselves who1 with all our light and privileges1 are so ready to doubt ,god and seek our own things8 ,is it not painfully evident that1 in this our day of light and privilege1 there is but little moral preparedness for the path of service and conflict which we are called to tread8 ,alas6 alas6 we cannot deny it4 ,there is a deplorable lack of genuine trust in the living ,god1 and of the true spirit of self-surrender4 ,here1 we may rest assured1 is the deep secret of the whole matter4 ,god is not practically known and habitually trusted2 self is exalted and indulged4 ,hence our unfitness for the warfare1 our failure in the day of battle4 ,it is one thing to be saved1 and quite another thing to be a soldier2 and we cannot shake off the painful conviction that1 in this day of widely extended profession1 the proportion of workmen and warriors would not be found a whit greater than it was in the days of ,gideon and his companions4 ,the fact is1 we want men of faith1 men whose hearts are fixed and their eyes single2 men so absorbed with ,christ and ,his cause that they have no time for aught beside4 ,we greatly fear that1 if the double test which was applied to ,israel in the days of ,gideon1 were to be applied now to those who stand on the very highest platform of profession1 the practical result would not differ very materially4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we shall only touch on two more leading points1 and then leave our readers to meditate closely upon the whole subject for themselves4 ,the close of ,judges vii4 shews us ,gideon and his companions completely victorious4 ,the cake of barley bread1 and the broken pitchers1 proved a match for all the power of the ,midianites1 although they lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude1 and their camels were without number1 as the sand by the sea-side for multitude4 ,god was with those represented by the cake of barley bread and broken pitchers1 as ,he will ever be with those who are prepared to take the low place2 prepared to be nothing1 but to make ,him their all in all2 prepared to trust ,him and to sink self4 ,this1 let it never be forgotten1 is the great root principle in all service and in all conflict4 ,without it1 we can never succeed2 with it1 we can never fail4 ,it matters not what the difficulties1 or what the numbers and power of our enemies1 all must give way before the presence of the living ,god2 and that presence will ever accompany those who trust ,him and sink self4 ,nor is this all4 ,not only is firm trust in ,god and self-surrender the secret of victory over external enemies2 it is also the secret of overcoming1 disarming1 and melting down proud and jealous brethren1 though these latter are often far more difficult to deal with than open enemies4 ,thus no sooner had ,gideon reached the point of victory over the uncircumcised1 than he was called to encounter the petty and contemptible jealousy of his brethren1 ,and the men of ,ephraim said unto him1 ,why hast thou served us thus1 that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight the ,midianites8 ,and they did chide with him sharply 7chapter viii4 #a74 ,all this was most uncalled for and unworthy4 ,had they not heard the sound of the trumpet calling ,israel to the battle field8 ,had they not heard that the standard was unfurled8 ,why had they not rushed to the battle at the first8 ,it was an easy matter to come in at the close and reap the spoil1 and then find fault with the one who had been ,god's real instrument on the occasion4 ,however1 we shall not dwell upon the unlovely conduct of the men of ,ephraim2 but turn1 for a moment1 to the exquisite way in which ,gideon was enabled to meet them4 ,and he said unto them1 ,what have ,i done now in comparison of you8444 ,god hath delivered into your hands the princes of ,midian1 ,oreb1 and ,zeeb2 and what was ,i able to do in comparison of you8 ,then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that4 ,here1 ,christian reader1 is the true way to vanquish jealous and envious brethren4 ,the cake of barley bread and the broken pitcher can vanquish jealous ,ephraimites as well as hostile ,midianites4 ,a self-hiding spirit is the grand secret of victory over envy and jealousy1 in all their odious forms4 ,it is difficult1 if not impossible1 to quarrel with a man who is down in the dust1 in true self-abasement4 ,what have ,i done now in comparison of you8 ,this is the language of one who had learnt something of the real meaning of self-surrender2 and we may safely assert that such language must ever disarm the envy and jealousy of the self-occupied and self-sufficient4 ,may we know more of the truth of this6 ,we must now look at the closing scene of ,gideon's remarkable history--a scene full of admonition for every servant of ,christ4 ,from it we learn that it is easier to gain a victory than to make a good use of it2 easier to reach a position than to occupy it aright4 ,we shall quote the passage4 ,then the men of ,israel said unto ,gideon1 ,rule thou over us1 both thou1 and thy son1 and thy son's son also3 for thou hast delivered us from the hand of ,midian4 ,and ,gideon said unto them1 ,i will not rule over you1 neither shall my son rule over you3 the ,lord shall rule over you4 ,so far1 this was very fine4 ,it was in full keeping with the self-surrender of ,gideon's previous course4 ,every true servant of ,christ will ever seek to connect souls with his ,master1 and not with himself4 ,gideon would not indeed displace ,jehovah as the ruler of ,israel4 ,but1 alas6 his great victory fills his mind1 and he will make a perpetual glory of it by an ephod 7a priestly garment7 of gold2 and this1 simply because his self-surrender was not complete4 ,there has been but ,one whose self-surrender was1 and that ,one must1 in all things1 have the pre-eminence4 ,and ,gideon said unto them1 ,i would desire a request of you1 that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey4 7,for they had golden earrings1 because they were ,ishmaelites47 ,and they answered1 ,we will willingly give them4 ,and they spread a garment1 and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey4444 ,and ,gideon made an ephod thereof1 and put it in his city1 even in ,ophrah3 and all ,israel went thither a whoring after it3 which thing became a snare unto ,gideon1 and to his house 7chapter viii4 #bb-bg74 ,such is man1 even the best of men1 when left to himself4 ,here we see the very man who had led his brethren on to victory over ,midian1 now leading them into dark and abominable idolatry4 ,the earrings of the ,ishmaelites did what their swords could not do2 and the love-tokens of the men of ,israel proved far more dangerous than the sharp chidings of the men of ,ephraim4 ,the latter drew out a lovely spirit of self-emptiness3 the former proved a snare to ,gideon and to the whole house of ,israel4 ,reader1 let us remember all this4 ,if ,gideon had refused the earrings as well as the throne1 it would have been well for him and for his brethren2 but the devil laid a snare for him into which he fell and carried all his brethren with him4 ,may we all take warning from ,gideon's fall1 and draw encouragement from ,gideon's victories4 ,may we remember that it is one thing to gain a victory1 and another to make good use of it2 it is easier to reach a position than to occupy it aright4 ,may ,god grant to the reader and writer of these lines1 more simple confidence in ,himself1 and more of the true spirit of self-surrender6 ,may such be the result of our meditations upon ,gideon and his companions4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,my ,beloved 7,cant4 #e3i47 ,oh what is thy ,beloved8--they oft inquire of me2 ,and what in my ,beloved so passing fair ,i see4 ,is it the heavenly splendor in which ,he shines above-- ,his riches and dominions1 that won my heart's best love8 ,oh no6 'tis not ,his glories2--,he's worthy of them all4 ',tis not the throne and sceptre1 before which angels fall6 ,i view with heart exulting each crown ,his head adorns2 ,but1 oh1 ,he looks most lovely1 wearing ,his crown of thorns4 ,i'm glad to see ,his raiment1 than snow more spotless white1 ,refulgent with its brightness1 more dazzling than the light2 ,but more surpassing lovely ,his form appears to me1 ,when stripp'd1 and scourged1 and bleeding1 ,he hung upon the tree4 ,with warmest adoration ,i see ,him on the throne1 ,and join the loud hosannas that ,his high virtues own2 ,but1 oh1 most blessed ,jesus1 ,i must confess to ,thee1 ,more than the throne of glory ,i love that sacred tree4 ,i joy to see the diadems upon ,thy royal brow1 ,the state1 and power1 and majesty in which ,thou sittest now2 ,but 'tis ,thyself1 ,lord ,jesus1 makes heaven seem heaven to me-- ,thyself1 as first ,i knew ,thee1 uplifted on the tree4 ,though higher than the highest1 most mighty ,king ,thou art1 ,thy grace1 and not ,thy greatness1 first touched my rebel heart4 ,thy sword1 it might have slain me2 ,thine arrows drunk my blood2 ,but 'twas ,thy cross subdued me1 and won my heart to ,god4 ,thy sceptre rules creation2 ,thy wounded hand rules me3 ,all bow before ,thy footstool2 ,i but the nail-prints see4 ,aloud they sound ,thy titles1 ,thou ,lord of lords most high2 ,one thrilling thought absorbs me--this ,lord for me did die4 ,oh1 this is my ,beloved6 there's none so fair as ,he3 ,the chief among ten thousand1 ,he's all in all to me4 ,my heart1 it breaks with longing to dwell with ,him above1 ,who wooed me first1 and won me by ,his sweet dying love4 ,j4 ,g4 ,,deck ,,eternal ,,punishment ,we have received a communication on the deeply solemn subject of eternal punishment1 from a person whose initials are ,c4 ,d4 ,s41 and who would seem to be the exponent of the feelings of a very numerous class4 ,our correspondent does not1 by any means1 write as an objector1 or a caviler1 but as an honest inquirer2 and we are not sorry to be called upon to bear a clear and decided testimony on a point of such grave moment4 ,he asks us to let him know what the ,holy ,ghost has taught us on the subject1 and we cheerfully comply4 ,we believe the ,word of ,god most clearly and fully teaches the eternity of punishment4 ,the word which is rendered everlasting1 or eternal1 occurs about seventy times in the ,new ,testament4 ,we shall give some examples4 ,to be cast into everlasting fire4 7,matt4 xviii4 #h47 ,that ,i may have eternal life4 7,matt4 xix4 #af47 ,these shall go away into everlasting punishment4 7,matt4 xxv4 #df47 ,and in the same verse1 ,the righteous unto life eternal4 ,is in danger of eternal damnation4 7,mark iii4 #bi47 ,they may receive you into everlasting habitations4 7,luke xvi4 #i47 ,in the world to come1 life everlasting4 7,luke xviii4 #cj47 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life4 7,jno4 iii4 #ae1 #af1 #cf2 v4 #bd47 ,the commandment of the everlasting ,god4 7,rom4 xvi4 #bf47 ,an exceeding and eternal weight of glory4 7#b ,cor4 iv4 #ag47 ,the things which are not seen are eternal4 7v4 #ah47 ,a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4 7,chap4 v4 #a47 ,they shall be punished with everlasting destruction4 7#b ,thess4 i4 #i47 ,hath given us everlasting consolation4 7,chap4 ii4 #af47 ,in ,christ ,jesus with eternal glory4 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #aj47 ,the author of eternal salvation4 7,heb4 v4 #i47 ,having obtained eternal redemption4 7,chap4 ix4 #ab47 ,who through the eternal ,spirit offered ,himself without spot to ,god4 7v4 #ad47 ,the promise of eternal inheritance4 7v4 #ae47 ,called us unto ,his eternal glory4 7#a ,pet4 v4 #aj47 ,into the everlasting kingdom of our ,lord and ,saviour4 7#b ,pet4 i4 #aa47 ,this is the true ,god and eternal life4 7#a ,jno4 v4 #bj47 ,suffering the vengeance of eternal fire4 7,jude #g47 ,now1 we are aware that the opposers of the doctrine of eternal punishment endeavor to prove that the word everlasting does not mean everlasting in the ,greek2 and this is one reason why we have quoted such a number of passages in which the ,greek word 7aionios7 occurs1 and in which the ,holy ,ghost applies it in such a variety of ways4 ,the word which is applied to the punishment of the wicked is also applied to the life which believers possess1 to the salvation and redemption in which they rejoice1 to the glory to which they look forward1 to those mansions in which they hope to dwell1 and to the inheritance which they expect to enjoy4 ,moreover1 it is applied to ,god1 and to the ,spirit4 ,if1 therefore1 it be maintained that the word everlasting does not mean everlasting when applied to the punishment of the wicked1 what security have we that it means everlasting when applied to the life1 blessedness1 and glory of the redeemed8 ,what warrant has any one1 be he ever so learned1 to single out seven instances from the seventy in which the ,greek word is used1 and say that in those seven it does not mean everlasting1 but that in all the rest it does8 ,they have none whatever4 ,men may reason as they will about divine benevolence and goodness--about its being inconsistent with the mercy of ,god to permit such a thing as eternal punishment--as to the strange want of proportion between a few years of sin and an endless eternity of punishment2 a single line of holy ,scripture is amply sufficient1 in our judgment1 to sweep away ten thousand such reasonings1 even though supported by the learned dogma that everlasting does not mean everlasting in the ,greek4 ,where their worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched4 7,mark ix4 #df47 ,solemn statement6 ,let men beware of trifling with it1 or reasoning about it4 ,let them believe it1 and flee from the wrath to come--flee now to ,jesus1 who died on ,calvary's cursed tree to deliver us from everlasting burnings4 ,but not only is the eternity of punishment clearly laid down in ,scripture--as clearly as the eternity of ,god ,himself1 or of any thing pertaining to ,him2 we believe it also flows as a necessary truth from other truths which are generally received without a single question4 ,take1 for instance1 the immortality of the soul4 ,did the fall of man touch this question8 ,we believe not4 ,man was made the possessor of an immortal spirit1 by the breath of the ,almighty2 and we have no authority whatsoever to say that his fall made any difference as to this4 ,immortal he was1 as to his soul1 immortal he is1 and immortal he must be4 ,yes1 he must live forever somewhere4 ,tremendous thought6 ,many do not like it4 ,they would fain be able to say1 ,let us eat and drink1 for to-morrow we die4 ,they would like to pass away as the beasts that perish2 and this very desire1 we doubt not1 has been1 in many cases1 the parent of the notion that punishment is non-eternal4 ,the wish is father to the thought4 ,but1 ah6 man must face that dreadful reality1 ,,eternity4 ,saved or unsaved1 there is no escaping that4 ,he must either deny the immortality of the soul1 or admit the eternity of punishment4 ,again1 take the doctrine of the atonement4 ,if any thing less than eternal punishment be due to sin1 what need was there of an infinite sacrifice to give deliverance from that punishment8 ,could nothing less than the peerless1 priceless1 divine sacrifice of the ,son of ,god deliver any one from hell fire1 and that fire not be eternal8 ,did ,jesus shed ,his precious blood to deliver us from the consequences of our guilt1 and those consequences be only temporary8 ,we can never admit any such proposition4 ,grant us the truth of an infinite sacrifice1 and we argue from thence the truth of eternal punishment4 ,we attach no weight whatever to the argument drawn from the lack of proportion between a few years of sin and an eternity of woe4 ,we do not believe that this is the true way to measure the matter4 ,the cross is the only measure by which to reach a true result2 and we believe the deniers of eternal punishment offer dishonor to the cross by lowering it into a means of deliverance from a doom which is not eternal in its duration4 ,and now1 one word as to the idea of its being incompatible with the character of ,god to allow such a thing as eternal punishment4 ,many seem to attach great weight to this4 ,they appear to think that eternal misery could never comport with divine mercy and goodness4 ,but those who urge this plea seem to forget that there is another side of the question1 which must be looked at if we would reach a sound conclusion on the point4 ,what about divine justice1 holiness1 and truth8 ,are these things not to be taken into account8 ,can we base an argument on some of the divine attributes and leave others out8 ,surely not4 ,we must look at them all4 ,the cross of ,christ has harmonized them all1 in the view of all created intelligences4 ,in that cross1 ,god has set forth ,his perfect love to the sinner2 but ,he also has set forth ,his perfect hatred of sin4 ,now1 if a man deliberately rejects that only way of escape--that perfect remedy--that divine provision1 what is to be done8 ,god cannot let sin into ,his presence4 ,he is of purer eyes than to behold evil1 and cannot look on iniquity4 ,will the deniers of eternal punishment tell us what is to be done8 ,how is this question to be settled8 ,they say1 by annihilation1--that is1 by man's perishing like a beast4 ,ah1 this will never do6 ,the ,lord ,god breathed into his nostrils the breath of life1 and man became a living soul4 7,gen4 ii4 #g47 ,was this ever revoked8 ,is there a shadow of foundation in the entire book of ,god for the theory of annihilation8 ,if there is1 let it be produced4 ,we look upon it as a most miserable subterfuge--a pitiable attempt to get rid of the awful thought of eternity4 ,but it will not do4 ,let man but cast his eye on the page of inspiration1 and there he sees that tremendous word1 ,,eternity6 ,,eternity6 ,,eternity6 ,let him but lend his ear to the voice that issues from the depth of his moral being1 and he will hear the same soul-subduing word1 ,eternity6 ,eternity6 ,eternity6 ,he cannot get rid of it2 he cannot shake it off4 ,he is shut up to the stern fact that he must live forever4 ,well1 then1 what about his sin8 ,that cannot get into ,god's presence4 ,god and sin can never be together4 ,this is a fixed principle4 ,god is good1 no doubt1 and the proof of ,his goodness is the gift of ,his ,son4 ,but then ,he is holy2 and between holiness and sin there must be an eternal separation2 so that we are forced to the same solemn conclusion1 namely1 that all who die in their sins--all who die in the rejection of ,god's infinite provision for the forgiveness of sins1 will have to endure the consequences of those sins in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone throughout the countless ages of eternity4#bc #bc ,has the reader ever pondered ,jno4 iii4 #cf8 ,there is marvelous power in it4 ,it completely demolishes two special heresies of the day1 namely1 universalism and annihilationism4 ,it tells the universalist that he that believeth not the ,son shall not see life1 and it tells the annihilationist that the wrath of ,god abideth on the unbeliever4 ,if he shall not see life1 he cannot be restored2 and if the wrath of ,god abideth on him1 he cannot be annihilated4 ,we will not argue the matter further in this paper2 but we would most earnestly beseech the unconverted reader to pause and seriously consider this most momentous question4 ,let him not be deceived by vain words2 let him not hearken to a false criticism1 which would fain persuade him that eternal does not mean eternal in the ,greek2 for1 oh1 most assuredly1 it does mean eternal1 whether in ,hebrew1 ,greek1 ,latin1 or ,english4 ,eternal can never mean temporal1 or temporal eternal1 in any language under heaven4 ,and furthermore1 let him not hearken to a false sentimentality1 which would fain persuade him that ,god is too kind to consign any of ,his creatures to hell fire4 ,god was so kind as to give ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him might not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,but ,god is too holy to let sin into heaven2 and hence1 instead of feeding himself with the vain hope 7if hope it can be called17 of annihilation1 let him build upon the sure ,word of ,god1 which tells him of full1 free1 and everlasting salvation through the blood of the ,lamb4 ,our ,god has no pleasure in the death of a sinner4 ,his long-suffering is salvation1 not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance4 ,there is no reason why the reader should perish4 ,god waits to be gracious4 ,mercy's door stands wide open1 and the sword of judgment is in the scabbard4 ,but the moment is rapidly approaching when all shall be changed1 and then all who die in their sins will prove1 by bitter experience1 that1 notwithstanding all the arguments founded upon a false criticism and a false sentimentality1 the punishment of sin is and must be eternal4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,and ,i say unto you ,my friends1 ,be not afraid of them that kill the body1 and after that have no more that they can do4 ,but ,i will forewarn you whom ye shall fear3 ,fear ,him which after ,he hath killed hath power to cast into hell2--yea1 ,i say unto you1 ,fear ,him4 7,luke xii4 #d1 #e47 ,,papers ,,on ,,the ,,lord',s ,,coming ,by ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,author of ,notes on ,genesis1 ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 ,numbers1 and ,deuteronomy4 ,,contents ,,page ,,introductory #e ,,the ,,fact ,,itself #ac ,,the ,,double ,,bearing ,,of ,,the ,,fact #bc ,,the ,,coming ,,and ,,the ,,day #cb ,,the ,,two ,,resurrections #di ,,the ,,judgment #ef ,,the ,,jewish ,,remnant #fd ,,christendom #gc ,,the ,,ten ,,virgins #ha ,,the ,,talents #ij ,,concluding ,,remarks #ih ,,papers ,,on ,,the ,,lord',s ,,coming ,,introductory ,the attentive reader of the ,new ,testament will find in its pages three solemn and weighty facts presented to his view2 namely1 first1 ,that the ,son of ,god has come into this world and gone away2 secondly1 ,that the ,holy ,ghost has come down to this earth1 and is here still2 and1 thirdly1 ,that the ,lord ,jesus is coming again4 ,these are the three great subjects unfolded in the ,new ,testament ,scriptures2 and we shall find that each of them has a double bearing3 it has a bearing upon the world and a bearing upon the church2 upon the world1 as a whole1 and upon each unconverted man1 woman and child in particular2 upon the church1 as a whole1 and upon each individual member thereof1 in particular4 ,it is impossible for any one to avoid the bearing of these three grand facts upon his own personal condition and future destiny4 ,and1 be it noted1 we are not speaking of doctrines--though1 no doubt1 there are doctrines--but of facts--facts presented in the simplest possible manner by the various inspired writers employed to set them forth4 ,there is no attempt at garnishing or setting off4 ,the facts speak for themselves2 they are recorded and left to produce their own powerful effect upon the soul4 ,i4 ,and1 first of all1 let us look at the fact that the ,son of ,god has been in this world of ours4 ,god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten ,son4 ,the ,son of ,god has come4 ,he came in perfect love1 as the very expression of the heart and mind1 the nature and character of ,god4 ,he was the brightness of ,god's glory1 and the express image of ,his person1 and yet a lowly1 humble1 gracious1 social man2 one who was to be seen1 from day to day1 about the streets2 going from house to house2 kind and affable to all2 easily approached by the very poorest2 taking up little children in ,his arms1 in the most tender1 gentle1 winning way2 drying the widow's tears2 soothing the stricken and sorrowing heart2 feeding the hungry1 healing the sick2 cleansing the poor leper2 meeting every form of human need and misery2 at the bidding of all who stood in need of succor and sympathy4 ,he went about doing good4 ,he was the unwearied servant of man's necessities4 ,he never thought of ,himself1 or sought ,his own interest in any one thing4 ,he lived for others4 ,it was ,his meat and ,his drink to do the will of ,god1 and gladden the sad and weary hearts of the sons and daughters of men4 ,his loving heart was ever flowing out in streams of blessing to all who felt the pressure of this sin-stricken1 sorrowful world4 ,here1 then1 we have a marvellous fact before our eyes4 ,this world has been visited--this world has been trodden by that blessed ,one of whom we have spoken--the ,son of ,god--the ,creator and ,sustainer of the universe--the lowly1 self-emptied and loving1 gracious ,son of ,man--,jesus of ,nazareth--,god over all blessed for ever1 and yet a spotless1 holy1 absolutely perfect man4 ,he came in love to men--came into this world as the expression of perfect love to those who had sinned against ,god1 and deserved nothing but eternal perdition because of their sins4 ,he came not to crush1 but to heal--not to judge1 but to save and to bless4 ,what has become of this blessed ,one8 ,how has the world treated ,him8 ,it has cast ,him out6 ,it would not have ,him6 ,it preferred a robber and a murderer to this holy1 gracious1 perfect ,man4 ,the world got its choice4 ,jesus and a robber were placed before the world1 and the question was put1 ,which will you have8 ,what was the answer8 ,not this man1 but ,barabbas4 ,the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask ,barabbas and destroy ,jesus4 ,the governor answered and said unto them1 ,whether of the twain will ye that ,i release unto you8 ,they said1 ,barabbas 7,matt4 xxvii4 #bj1 #ba74 ,the religious leaders and guides of the people--the men who ought to have led them in the right way--persuaded the poor ignorant multitude to reject the ,son of ,god1 and accept a robber and a murderer instead6 ,reader1 remember1 you are in a world that has been guilty of this terrible act4 ,and not only so1 but1 unless you have truly repented and believed on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 you are part and parcel of that world1 and you lie under the full guilt of that act4 ,this is most solemn4 ,the whole world stands charged with the deliberate rejection and murder of the ,son of ,god4 ,we have the testimony of no less than four inspired witnesses to this fact4 ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and ,john all bear record that the whole world--the ,jew and the ,gentile--kings and governors1 priests and people--all classes1 sects and parties1 agreed to crucify the ,son of ,god--all agreed to murder the only perfect man that ever appeared on this earth--the perfect expression of ,god--,god over all blessed for ever4 ,we must either pronounce the four evangelists to be false witnesses1 or admit that the world as a whole1 and each constituent part thereof1 is stained with the awful crime of crucifying the ,lord of glory4 ,this is the true standard by which to measure the world1 and by which to measure the condition of every unconverted man1 woman and child in the world4 ,if ,i want to know what the world is ,i have only to reflect that the world is that which stands charged before ,god with the deliberate murder of ,his ,son4 ,tremendous fact6 ,a fact which stamps the world1 in the most solemn manner1 and places it before us in characters of appalling blackness4 ,god has a controversy with this world4 ,he has a question to settle with it--an awful question--the mere mention of which should make men's ears to tingle and their hearts to quake4 ,a righteous ,god has to avenge the death of ,his ,son4 ,it is not merely that the world accepted a vile robber and murdered an innocent man2 this1 in itself1 would have been a dreadful act4 ,but no2 that innocent man was none other than the ,son of ,god1 the beloved of the ,father's heart4 ,what a thought6 ,the world will have to account to ,god for the death of ,his ,son--for having nailed ,him to a cross between two thieves6 ,what a reckoning it will be6 ,how red will be the day of vengeance6 ,how awfully crushing the moment in the which ,god will draw the sword of judgment to avenge the death of ,his ,son6 ,how utterly vain the notion that the world is improving6 ,improving6--though stained with the blood of ,jesus4 ,improving6--though under the judgment of ,god for that act4 ,improving6--though having to account to a righteous ,god for its treatment of the beloved of ,his soul1 sent in love to bless and save4 ,what blind fatuity6 ,what wild folly6 ,ah1 no6 reader1 improvement there can be none till the besom of destruction and the sword of judgment have done their terrible work in avenging the murder--the deliberately planned and determinedly executed murder of the blessed ,son of ,god4 ,we cannot conceive any delusion more fatally false than to imagine that the world can ever be improved while it lies beneath the awful curse of the death of ,jesus4 ,that world which preferred ,barabbas to ,christ can know no improvement4 ,there is naught before it save the overwhelming judgment of ,god4 ,thus much as to the weighty fact of the absence of ,jesus1 in its bearing upon the present condition and future destiny of the world4 ,but this fact has another bearing4 ,it bears upon the church of ,god as a whole1 and upon the individual believer4 ,if the world has cast ,christ out1 the heavens have received ,him4 ,if man has rejected ,him1 ,god has exalted ,him4 ,if man has crucified ,him1 ,god has crowned ,him4 ,we must carefully distinguish these two things4 ,the death of ,christ1 viewed as the act of the world--the act of man--involves naught but unmitigated wrath and judgment4 ,on the other hand1 the death of ,christ1 viewed as the act of ,god1 involves naught but full and everlasting blessedness to all who repent and believe4 ,a passage or two from the divine word will prove this4 ,let us turn for a moment to ,psalm lxix41 which so vividly presents our blessed and adorable ,lord suffering from the hand of man1 and appealing to ,god for vengeance4 ,hear me1 ,o ,lord2 for thy loving kindness is good3 turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies4 ,and hide not thy face from thy servant2 for ,i am in trouble3 hear me speedily3 draw nigh unto my soul1 and redeem it3 deliver me1 because of mine enemies4 ,thou hast known my reproach1 and my shame1 and my dishonor3 mine adversaries are all before thee4 ,reproach hath broken my heart1 and ,i am full of heaviness3 and ,i looked for some to take pity1 but there was none2 and for comforters1 but ,i found none4 ,they gave me also gall for my meat1 and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink4 ,let their table become a snare before them3 and that which should have been for their welfare1 let it become a trap4 ,let their eyes be darkened1 that they see not2 and make their loins continually to shake4 ,pour out thine indignation upon them1 and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them1 etc4 7verses #af-bh74 ,all this is deeply and impressively solemn4 ,every word of this appeal will have its answer4 ,not a syllable of it shall fall to the ground4 ,god will assuredly avenge the death of ,his ,son4 ,he will reckon with the world--with men for the treatment which ,his only begotten ,son has received at their hands4 ,we deem it right to press this home upon the heart and conscience of the reader4 ,how awful the thought of ,christ making intercession against people6 ,how appalling to hear ,him calling upon ,god for vengeance upon ,his enemies6 ,how terrible will be the divine response to the cry of the injured ,son6 ,but let us look at the other side of the picture4 ,turn to ,psalm xxii41 which presents the blessed ,one suffering under the hand of ,god4 ,here the result is wholly different4 ,instead of judgment and vengeance1 it is universal and everlasting blessedness and glory4 ,i will declare thy name unto my brethren2 in the midst of the congregation will ,i praise thee4 ,ye that fear the ,lord1 praise him2 all ye the seed of ,jacob1 glorify him2 and fear him1 all ye the seed of ,israel4444 ,my praise shall be of thee in the great congregation2 ,i will pay my vows before them that fear him4 ,the meek shall eat and be satisfied2 they shall praise the ,lord that seek him2 your heart shall live for ever4 ,all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the ,lord2 and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee4 ,for the kingdom is the ,lord's2 and he is the governor among the nations4444 ,a seed shall serve him2 it shall be accounted to the ,lord for a generation4 ,they shall come1 and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born1 that he hath done this 7verses #bb-ca74 ,these two quotations present1 with great distinctness1 the two aspects of the death of ,christ4 ,he died1 as a martyr1 for righteousness1 under the hand of man4 ,for this1 man will have to account to ,god4 ,but ,he died1 as a victim1 for sin1 under the hand of ,god4 ,this is the foundation of all blessing to those that believe in ,his name4 ,his martyr-sufferings bring down wrath and judgment upon a godless world3 ,his atoning sufferings open up the everlasting well-springs of life and salvation to the church1 to ,israel1 and to the whole creation4 ,the death of ,jesus consummates the world's guilt2 but secures the church's acceptance4 ,the world is stained1 and the church purged1 by the blood of the cross4 ,such is the double bearing of the first of our three great ,new ,testament facts4 ,jesus has come and gone--come1 because ,god loved the world--gone1 because the world hated ,god4 ,if ,god were to ask the question--and ,he will ask it--,what have you done with my ,son8 ,what is the answer8 ,we hated ,him1 cast ,him out1 and crucified ,him4 ,we preferred a robber to ,him4 ,but1 blessed for ever be the ,god of all grace1 the ,christian1 the true believer1 can look up to heaven and say1 ,my absent ,lord is there1 and there for me4 ,he is gone from this wretched world1 and ,his absence makes the entire scene around me a moral wilderness--a desolate waste4 ,he is not here4 ,this stamps the world with a character unmistakable in the judgment of every loyal heart4 ,the world would not have ,jesus4 ,this is enough4 ,we need not marvel at any tale of horror now4 ,police reports1 grand jury calendars1 the statistics of our cities and towns need not surprise us4 ,the world that could reject the divine personification of all human goodness1 and accept a robber and a murderer instead1 has proved its moral turpitude to a degree not to be exceeded4 ,do we wonder when we discover the hollowness and heartlessness of the world8 ,are we surprised when we find out that it is not to be trusted8 ,if so1 it is plain we have not interpreted aright the absence of our beloved ,lord4 ,what does the cross of ,christ prove8 ,that ,god is love8 ,no doubt4 ,that ,christ gave ,his precious life to save us from the flames of an everlasting hell8 ,blessedly true1 all praise to ,his peerless name6 ,but what does the cross prove as regards the world8 ,that its guilt is consummated1 and its judgment sealed4 ,the world1 in nailing to the cross the ,one who was perfectly good1 proved1 in the most unanswerable manner1 that it was perfectly bad4 ,if ,i had not come and spoken unto them1 they had not had sin3 but now they have no cloak for their sin4 ,he that hateth me hateth my ,father also4 ,if ,i had not done among them the works which none other man did1 they had not had sin2 but now have they both seen and hated both me and my ,father4 ,but this cometh to pass1 that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law1 ,they hated me without a cause 7,john xv4 #bb-bf74 ,,ii4 ,but we must now glance for a moment at our second weighty fact4 ,god the ,holy ,ghost has come down to this earth4 ,it is now over eighteen long centuries since the blessed ,spirit descended from heaven2 and ,he has been here ever since4 ,this is a stupendous fact4 ,there is a divine ,person on this earth2 and ,his presence--like the absence of ,jesus--has a double bearing3 it has a bearing upon the world1 and a bearing upon the church--upon the world as a whole1 and upon every man1 woman and child therein2 upon the church as a whole1 and upon every individual member thereof in particular4 ,as regards the world1 this august witness descended from heaven to convict it of the terrible crime of rejecting and crucifying the ,son of ,god4 ,as regards the church1 ,he came as the blessed ,comforter1 to take the place of the absent ,jesus1 and comfort by ,his presence and ministry the hearts of ,his people4 ,thus1 to the world1 the ,holy ,ghost is a powerful ,convicter2 to the church he is a precious ,comforter4 ,a passage or two of holy ,scripture will establish these points in the heart and mind of the pious reader who bows in lowly reverence to the authority of the divine word4 ,let us turn to chapter xvi4 of ,john's ,gospel4 ,but now ,i go my way to him that sent me2 and none of you asketh me1 ,whither goest thou8 ,but because ,i have said these things unto you1 sorrow hath filled your heart4 ,nevertheless ,i tell you the truth2 it is expedient for you that ,i go away3 for if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i depart1 ,i will send him unto you4 ,and when he is come1 he will convict 77 the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment4 ,of sin1 because they believe not on me2 of righteousness1 because ,i go to my ,father1 and ye see me no more2 of judgment1 because the prince of this world is judged 7verses #e-aa74 ,again in ,john xiv4 we read1 ,if ye love me1 keep my commandments4 ,and ,i will pray the ,father1 and he shall give you another ,comforter1 that he may abide with you for ever2 even the ,spirit of truth2 whom the world cannot receive1 because it seeth him not1 neither knoweth him3 but ye know him2 for he dwelleth with you1 and shall be in you 7verses #ae-ai74 ,these quotations prove the double bearing of the presence of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,we cannot attempt to dwell upon this subject in this brief introduction2 but we trust the reader may be led to study it for himself1 in the light of holy ,scripture2 and we are persuaded that the more he thus studies it1 the more deeply he will feel its interest and immense practical importance4 ,alas6 that it should be so little understood2 that ,christians should so little see what is involved in the personal presence of the eternal ,spirit1 ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 on this earth--its solemn consequences as regards the world1 and its precious results as regards the assembly as a whole1 and each individual member in particular4 ,oh6 that ,god's people everywhere may be led into a deeper understanding of these things2 that they may consider what is due to that divine ,person who dwells in them and with them2 that they may have a jealous care not to grieve ,him in their private walk1 or quench ,him in their public assemblies6 ,we shall1 if ,god permit1 enter1 in our next paper1 upon the third fact1 which is the immediate subject of the series of papers which we propose to write1 namely3 ,the coming of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,may ,god the ,spirit open this most glorious subject in living power and freshness to our souls1 so that we may1 in truth and reality1 be waiting for ,god's ,son from heaven4 ,,the ,,fact ,,itself ,in approaching this most glorious subject1 we feel that we cannot do better than to lay before the reader the distinct testimony of holy ,scripture to the broad fact itself1 that our ,lord ,jesus ,christ will come again--that ,he will leave the place which ,he now occupies on ,his ,father's throne1 and come in the clouds of heaven1 to receive ,his people to ,himself2 to execute judgment upon the wicked2 and set up ,his own everlasting and universal kingdom4 ,this fact is as clearly and fully set forth in the ,new ,testament as either of the other two facts to which we have already referred4 ,it is as true that the ,son of ,god is coming from heaven1 as that ,he is gone to heaven1 or that the ,holy ,ghost is still on this earth4 ,if we admit one fact1 we must admit all3 and if we deny one1 we must deny all2 inasmuch as all rest upon precisely the same authority4 ,they stand or fall together4 ,is it true that the ,son of ,god was refused1 cast out1 crucified8 ,is it true that ,he has gone away into heaven8 ,is it true that ,he is now seated at the right hand of ,god1 crowned with glory and honor8 ,is it true that ,god the ,holy ,ghost came down to this earth1 fifty days after the resurrection of our ,lord2 and that ,he is still here8 ,are these things true8 ,as true as ,scripture can make them4 ,then just as true is it that our blessed ,lord will come again1 and set up ,his kingdom upon this earth--that ,he will literally1 and actually1 and personally come from heaven1 take to ,himself ,his great power and reign from pole to pole1 and from the river to the ends of the earth4 ,it may perhaps seem strange to some of our readers that we should deem it needful to undertake the proof of such a plain truth as this2 but be it remembered that we are writing on this subject as though it were perfectly new to the reader2 as if he had never heard of such a thing as the ,lord's second coming2 or as if1 having heard of it1 he still calls it in question4 ,this must be our apology for handling this precious theme in so elementary a manner4 ,now for our proofs4 ,when our adorable ,lord was about to take leave of ,his disciples1 ,he sought1 in ,his infinite grace1 to comfort their sorrowing hearts by words of sweetest tenderness4 ,let not your heart be troubled2 ye believe in ,god1 believe also in me4 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions2 if it were not so ,i would have told you4 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,and if ,i go and prepare a place for you1 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself2 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also 7,john xiv4 #a-c74 ,here we may have something most definite4 ,indeed it is as definite as it is cheering and consolatory4 ,i will come again4 ,he does not say1 ,i will send for you4 ,still less does ,he say1 ,you will come to me when you die4 ,he says nothing of the kind4 ,to send an angel1 or a legion of angels1 would not be the same thing as coming ,himself4 ,no doubt it would be very gracious of ,him1 and very glorious for us1 if a multitude of the heavenly host were sent1 with horses of fire and chariots of fire1 to convey us triumphantly to heaven4 ,but it would not be the fulfilment of ,his own sweet promise4 ,and most surely ,he will do what ,he promised to do4 ,he will not say one thing and do another4 ,he cannot lie or alter ,his word4 ,and not only this1 but it would not satisfy the love of ,his heart to send an angel or a host of angels to fetch us4 ,he will come ,himself4 ,what touching grace shines in all this6 ,if ,i am expecting a very dear and valued friend by train1 ,i shall not be satisfied with sending a servant or an empty cab to meet him2 ,i shall go myself4 ,this is precisely what our loving ,lord means to do4 ,he is gone to heaven2 and ,his entrance there prepares and defines ,his people's place4 ,amid the many mansions of the ,father's house1 there would be no place for us if our ,jesus had not gone before2 and then1 lest there should be in the heart any feeling of strangeness at the thought of our entrance into that place1 ,he says1 with such sweetness1 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself1 that where ,i am there ye may be also4 ,nothing short of this can fulfil the gracious promise of our ,lord1 or satisfy the love of ,his heart4 ,and be it carefully noted that this promise has no reference whatever to the death of the individual believer4 ,who can imagine that1 when our ,lord said1 ,i will come again1 ,he really meant that we should go to ,him through death8 ,how can we presume to take such liberties with the plain and precious words of our ,lord8 ,surely if ,he meant to speak of our going to ,him1 through death1 ,he could and would have said so4 ,but ,he has not said so1 because ,he did not mean so2 nor is it possible that ,he could say one thing and mean another4 ,his coming for us1 and our going to ,him1 are totally different things2 and being different ideas1 they would have been clothed in different language4 ,thus1 for example1 in the case of the penitent thief on the cross1 our ,lord does not speak of coming to fetch him2 but ,he says1 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise4 ,we really must remember that ,scripture is as divinely definite as it is divinely inspired1 and hence it never could and it never does confound two things so totally different as the ,lord's coming and the ,christian's falling asleep4 ,it may be well1 at this point1 to remark that there are but four passages in the entire ,new ,testament in which allusion is made to the subject of the ,christian passing through the article of death4 ,the first is that passage in ,luke xxiii4 already referred to3 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise4 ,the second occurs in ,acts vii41 ,lord ,jesus1 receive my spirit4 ,the third is that most familiar and lovely utterance in #b ,corinthians v41 ,absent from the body1 present with the ,lord4 ,the fourth occurs in that charming first of ,philippians1 ,having a desire to depart1 and to be with ,christ2 which is far better4 ,these most precious passages make up the sum of ,scripture testimony on the interesting question of the disembodied state4 ,there is a passage in ,revelation xiv4 often misapplied to this subject3 ,blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord from henceforth3 ,yea1 saith the ,spirit1 that they may rest from their labors2 and their works do follow them4 ,but this has no application to ,christians now1 though no doubt all such who die in the ,lord are blessed1 and their works do follow them4 ,the reference1 however1 is to a time yet future1 when the church shall have left this scene altogether1 and other witnesses make their appearance4 ,in a word1 ,revelation xiv4 #ac bears upon apocalyptic times1 and must be so viewed if we would avoid confusion4 ,we must now resume our subject1 and proceed with our proofs1 and in so doing we shall ask the reader to turn to the first chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,the blessed ,lord had just gone up from this earth1 in the presence of ,his holy apostles4 ,and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up1 behold1 two men stood by him in white apparel2 which also said1 ,ye men of ,galilee1 why stand ye gazing up into heaven8 ,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven 7verses #aj1 #aa74 ,this is intensely interesting1 and furnishes a most striking proof of our present thesis4 ,indeed it is impossible to avoid its force4 ,alas6 that any should seek or desire to avoid it6 ,from the manner in which the angelic witnesses speak to the men of ,galilee it would seem like tautology2 but1 as we well know1 there is--there can be--no such thing in the volume of ,god4 ,it is1 therefore1 lovely fulness1 divine completeness1 that we see in this testimony4 ,from it we learn that the self-same ,jesus who left this earth1 and ascended into heaven1 in the presence of a number of witnesses1 shall so come in like manner as they had seen ,him go into heaven4 ,how did ,he go8 ,he went up personally1 literally1 actually1 the very same person who had just been conversing familiarly with them--whom they had seen with their eyes1 heard with their ears1 handled with their hands--who had eaten in their presence1 and showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs4 ,well then1 ,he shall so come in like manner4 ,he who with hands uplifted1 ,went from this earth below1 ,shall come again all gifted1 ,his blessing to bestow4 ,and here we may ask--though it be rather anticipating what may come before us in a future paper--,who saw the blessed ,lord as ,he went up8 ,did the world8 ,nay2 not one unconverted1 unbelieving person ever laid his eyes upon our precious ,lord from the moment that ,he was laid in the tomb4 ,the last sight the world got of ,jesus was as ,he hung on the cross1 a spectacle to angels1 men1 and devils4 ,the next sight they will get of ,him will be when1 like the lightning flash1 ,he shall come forth to execute judgment1 and tread1 in terrible vengeance1 the winepress of the wrath of ,almighty ,god4 ,tremendous thought6 ,none1 therefore1 but ,his own saw the ascending ,saviour1 as none but they had seen ,him from the moment of ,his resurrection4 ,he showed ,himself1 blessed be ,his holy name6 to those who were dear to ,his heart4 ,he assured and comforted1 strengthened and encouraged their souls by these many infallible proofs of which the inspired narrator speaks to us4 ,he led them to the very confines of the unseen world1 just so far as men could go while still in the body2 and there ,he allowed them to see ,him ascending into heaven2 and while they gazed upon this glorious sight ,he sent the precious testimony home to their very hearts4 ,this same ,jesus--no other1 no stranger1 but the same loving1 sympathizing1 gracious1 unchanging friend--whom ye have seen go into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven4 ,is it possible for testimony to be more distinct or satisfactory8 ,could proof be more clear or conclusive8 ,how can any counter argument stand for a moment1 or any objection be raised8 ,either those two men in white apparel were false witnesses1 or our ,jesus shall come again in the exact manner in which ,he went away4 ,there is no middle ground between those two conclusions4 ,we read in ,scripture that1 in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established2 and therefore in the mouth of two heavenly messengers--two heralds from the region of light and truth1 we have the word established that our ,lord ,jesus ,christ shall come again in actual bodily form1 to be seen by ,his own first of all1 apart from all others1 in the holy intimacy and profound retirement which characterized ,his departure from this world4 ,all this1 blessed be ,god1 is wrapped up in the two little words as and so4 ,we cannot attempt1 in a brief paper like the present1 to adduce all the proofs which are to be found in the pages of the ,new ,testament4 ,we have given one from the ,gospels and one from the ,acts1 and we shall now ask the reader to turn with us to the ,epistles4 ,let us take1 for example1 the ,first ,epistle to the ,thessalonians4 ,we select this epistle because it is acknowledged to have been the earliest of ,paul's writings2 and further1 because it was written to a company of very young converts4 ,this latter point is valuable1 inasmuch as we sometimes hear it stated that the truth of the ,lord's coming is not suitable to bring before the minds of young believers4 ,that the ,apostle ,paul did not think it unsuitable is evident from the fact that of all the epistles which he wrote not one contains so much about the ,lord's coming as that which he penned for the newly converted ,thessalonians4 ,the fact is1 when a soul is converted and brought into the full light and liberty of the gospel of ,christ1 it becomes divinely natural for such a one to look for the ,lord's coming4 ,that most precious truth is an integral part of the gospel4 ,the first coming and the second coming are most blessedly bound up together by the divine link of the personal presence of the ,holy ,ghost in the church4 ,on the other hand1 where the soul is not established in grace2 where peace and liberty are not enjoyed2 where a defective gospel has been received1 there it will be found that the hope of the ,lord's coming will not be cherished1 for the simple reason that the soul is1 of necessity1 occupied with the question of its own state and prospects4 ,if ,i am not certain of my salvation--if ,i do not know that ,i have eternal life--that ,i am a child of ,god--,i cannot be looking out for the ,lord's return4 ,it is only when we know what ,jesus has done for us at ,his first coming that we can with bright and holy intelligence look out for ,his second coming4 ,but let us turn to our epistle4 ,take the following sentences from the first chapter3 ,for our gospel came not unto you in word only1 but also in power1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 and in much assurance4444 ,so that ye were ensamples to all that believe in ,macedonia and ,achaia4 ,for from you sounded out the word of the ,lord1 not only in ,macedonia and ,achaia1 but also in every place your faith to ,god-ward is spread abroad2 so that we need not to speak anything4 ,for they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you1 and how ye turned to ,god from idols to serve the living and true ,god2 and to wait for his ,son from heaven1 whom he raised from the dead1 even ,jesus1 which delivered us from the wrath to come 7verses #e-aj74 ,here we have a fine illustration of the effect of a full clear gospel1 received in simple earnest faith4 ,they turned from idols1 to serve the living and true ,god1 and to wait for ,his ,son4 ,they were actually converted to the blessed hope of the ,lord's coming4 ,it was an integral part of the gospel which ,paul preached2 and an integral part of their faith4 ,was it a reality to turn from idols8 ,doubtless4 ,was it a reality to serve the living ,god8 ,unquestionably4 ,well then it was just as real1 just as positive1 just as simple1 their waiting for ,god's ,son from heaven4 ,if we question the reality of one1 we must question the reality of all1 inasmuch as all are bound up together and form a beauteous cluster of practical ,christian truth4 ,if you had asked a ,thessalonian ,christian what he was waiting for1 what would have been his reply8 ,would he have said1 ,i am waiting for the world to improve by means of the gospel which ,i myself have received8 or1 ,i am waiting for the moment of my death when ,i shall go to be with ,jesus8 ,no4 ,his reply would have been simply this1 ,i am waiting for the ,son of ,god from heaven4 ,this1 and nothing else1 is the proper hope of the ,christian1 the proper hope of the church4 ,to wait for the improvement of the world is not ,christian hope at all4 ,you might as well wait for the improvement of the flesh1 for there is just as much hope of the one as the other4 ,and as to the article of death--though no doubt it may intervene--it is never once presented as the true and proper hope of the ,christian4 ,it may1 with the fullest confidence1 be asserted that there is not so much as a single passage in the entire ,new ,testament in which death is spoken of as the hope of the believer2 whereas1 on the other hand1 the hope of the ,lord's coming is bound up1 in the most intimate manner1 with all the concerns and associations and relationships of life1 as we may see in the epistle before us4 ,thus1 if the apostle would refer to the interesting question of his own personal connection with the beloved saints at ,thessalonica1 he says1 ,for what is our hope1 or joy1 or crown of rejoicing8 ,are not even ye in the presence of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ at his coming8 ,for ye are our glory and joy4 ,again1 if he thinks of their progress in holiness and love1 he adds1 ,and the ,lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another1 and toward all men1 even as we do toward you2 to the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before ,god1 even our ,father1 at the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ with all his saints 7chap4 iii4 #ab1 #ac74 ,finally1 if the apostle would seek to comfort the hearts of his brethren in reference to those who had fallen asleep1 how does he do it8 ,does he tell them that they should soon follow them8 ,nay2 this would have been in full keeping with ,old ,testament times1 as ,david says of his departed child1 ,i shall go to him1 but he shall not return to me 7#b ,sam4 xii4 #bc74 ,but it is not thus that the ,holy ,ghost instructs us in #a ,thessalonians--quite the reverse4 ,i would not1 he says1 have you to be ignorant1 brethren1 concerning them which are asleep1 that ye sorrow not1 even as others which have no hope4 ,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 ,for this we say unto you by the word of the ,lord1 that not they which shall be1 but we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the ,lord shall not prevent come before or take precedence of them which are asleep4 ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first4 ,then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord4 ,wherefore comfort one another with these words 7chap4 iv4 #ac-ah74 ,it is impossible for any proof to be more simple1 direct1 and conclusive than this4 ,the ,thessalonian ,christians1 as we have already remarked1 were converted to the hope of the ,lord's return4 ,they were taught to look out for it daily4 ,it was as much a part of their ,christianity to believe that ,he would come1 as to believe that ,he had come and gone4 ,hence it came to pass that when some of their number were called to pass through death1 they were taken aback2 they had not anticipated this2 and they feared lest the departed should miss the joy of that blissful and longed-for moment of the ,lord's return4 ,the apostle therefore writes to correct their mistake2 and1 in so doing1 he pours a fresh flood of light upon the whole subject1 and assures them that the dead in ,christ--which includes all who had or shall have fallen asleep2 in short1 those of ,old ,testament times as well as those of the ,new--should rise first1 that is1 before the living are changed1 and all shall ascend together to meet their descending ,lord4 ,we shall have occasion to refer to this remarkable passage again1 when handling other branches of this glorious subject4 ,we merely quote it here as one of the almost innumerable proofs of the fact that our ,lord will come again1 personally1 really1 and actually2 and that ,his personal coming is the true and proper hope of the church of ,god collectively1 and of the believer individually4 ,we shall close this paper by reminding the ,christian reader that he can never sit down to the table of his ,lord without being reminded of this glorious hope1 so long as those words shine on the page of inspiration1 ,for as often as ye eat this bread1 and drink this cup1 ye do show the ,lord's death till--when8 ,till ye die8 ,nay2 but--till he come 7#a ,cor4 xi4 #bf74 ,how precious is this6 ,the table of the ,lord stands between those two marvellous epochs1 the cross and the advent--the death and the glory4 ,the believer can look up from the table and see the beams of the glory gilding the horizon4 ,it is our privilege1 as we gather1 on each ,lord's day1 round the ,lord's table1 to show forth the ,lord's death1 to be able to say1 ,this may be the last occasion of celebrating this precious feast2 ere another ,lord's day dawn upon us1 ,he ,himself may come4 ,again we say1 ,how precious is this6 ,,the ,,double ,,bearing ,,of ,,the ,,fact ,having1 as we trust1 fully established1 in our last paper1 the fact of the ,lord's coming1 we have now to place before the reader the double bearing of that fact--its bearing upon the ,lord's people1 and its bearing upon the world4 ,the former is presented1 in the ,new ,testament1 as the coming of ,christ to receive ,his people to ,himself2 the latter is spoken of as ,the day of the ,lord--a term of frequent use also in ,old ,testament ,scriptures4 ,these things are never confounded in ,scripture1 as we shall see when we come to look at the various passages4 ,christians do confound them1 and hence it is that we often find that blessed hope overcast with heavy clouds1 and associated in the mind with circumstances of terror1 wrath1 and judgment1 which have nothing whatever to do with the coming of ,christ for ,his people1 but are intimately bound up with ,the day of the ,lord4 ,let the ,christian reader1 then1 have it settled in his heart1 on the clear authority of holy ,scripture1 that the grand and specific hope for him ever to cherish is the coming of ,christ for ,his people4 ,this hope may be realized this very night4 ,there is nothing whatever to wait for--no events to transpire amongst the nations--nothing to occur in the history of ,israel--nothing in ,god's government of the world--nothing1 in short1 in any shape or form whatsoever1 to intervene between the heart of the true believer and his heavenly hope4 ,christ may come for ,his people to-night4 ,there is actually nothing to hinder4 ,no one can tell when ,he will come2 but we can joyfully say that1 at any moment1 ,he may come4 ,and1 blessed be ,his name1 when ,he does come for us1 it will not be with the accompanying circumstances of terror1 wrath1 and judgment4 ,it will not be with blackness and darkness and tempest4 ,these things will accompany the day of the ,lord1 as the ,apostle ,peter plainly tells the ,jews in his first great sermon1 on the day of ,pentecost1 in which he quotes the following words from the solemn prophecy of ,joel1 ,and ,i will show wonders in heaven above1 and signs in the earth beneath2 blood and fire and vapor of smoke3 the sun shall be turned into darkness1 and the moon into blood1 before--what8 the coming of the ,lord for ,his people8 ,nay2 but before that great and notable day of the ,lord come4 ,when our ,lord shall come to receive ,his people to ,himself no eye shall see ,him1 no ear shall hear ,his voice1 save ,his own redeemed and beloved people4 ,let us remember the words of the angelic witnesses in the first of ,acts4 ,who saw the blessed ,one ascending into the heavens8 ,none but ,his own4 ,well1 ,he shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven4 ,as was the going1 so shall be the coming1 if we are to bow to ,scripture4 ,to confound the day of the ,lord with ,his coming for ,his church is to overlook the plainest teachings of ,scripture1 and to rob the believer of his own true and proper hope4 ,and here perhaps we cannot do better than to call the attention of the reader to a very important and interesting passage in the second ,epistle of ,peter3 ,for we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 but were eye-witnesses of his majesty4 ,for he received from ,god the ,father honor and glory1 when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,and this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount4 ,we have also the word of prophecy more sure or confirmed1 whereunto ye do well that ye take heed1 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day-star arise in your hearts 7chap4 i4 #af-ai74 ,this passage demands the reader's most attentive consideration4 ,it sets forth1 in the clearest possible manner1 the distinction between the word of prophecy and the proper hope of the ,christian1 namely1 the morning star4 ,we must remember that the great subject of prophecy is ,god's government of the world in connection with the seed of ,abraham4 ,when the ,most ,high divided to the nations their inheritance1 when he separated the sons of ,adam1 he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of ,israel4 ,for the ,lord's portion is his people2 ,jacob is the lot of his inheritance 7,deut4 xxxii4 #h1 #i74 ,here then is the scope and theme of prophecy--,israel and the nations4 ,a child can understand this4 ,if we range through the prophets1 from the opening of ,isaiah to the close of ,malachi1 we shall not find so much as a single line about the church of ,god--its position1 its portion1 or its prospects4 ,no doubt the word of prophecy is deeply interesting1 and most profitable for the ,christian to study2 but it will be all this just in proportion as he understands its proper scope and object1 and sees how it stands in contrast with his own special hope4 ,we may fearlessly assert that it is as utterly impossible for any one to study the ,old ,testament prophecies aright who does not clearly see the true place of the church4 ,we cannot attempt to enter upon the subject of the church in this brief paper4 ,it has been repeatedly referred to and unfolded elsewhere1 and we can now merely ask the reader to weigh and examine the statement which we here deliberately make1 namely1 that there is not so much as a single syllable about the church of ,god1 the body of ,christ1 from cover to cover of the ,old ,testament4 ,types1 shadows1 illustrations1 there are which1 now that we have the full-orbed light of the ,new ,testament1 we can see1 understand1 and appreciate4 ,but it was not possible for any ,old ,testament believer to see the great mystery of ,christ and the church1 inasmuch as it was not revealed4 ,the inspired apostle expressly tells us that it was hid1 not in the ,old ,testament ,scriptures1 but in ,god1 as we read in ,ephesians iii41 ,and to make all men see what is the fellowship or rather the administration of the mystery1 which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in ,god1 who created all things by ,jesus ,christ 7verse #i74 ,so also in ,colossians we read1 ,even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations1 but now is made manifest to his saints 7chap4 i4 #bf74 ,these two passages establish the truth of our statement beyond all question1 for those who are willing to be governed absolutely by the authority of holy ,scripture2 they teach us that the great mystery--,christ and the church--is not to be found in the ,old ,testament4 ,where have we in the ,old ,testament a word about ,jews and ,gentiles forming one body1 and being united by the ,holy ,ghost to a living head in heaven8 ,how could such a thing possibly be1 so long as the middle wall of partition stood as an insuperable barrier between the circumcised and the uncircumcised8 ,if one were asked to name a special feature of the old economy he would at once reply1 ,the rigid separation of ,jew and ,gentile4 ,on the other hand1 if he were asked to name a special feature of the church1 or ,christianity1 he would as readily reply1 ,the intimate union of ,jew and ,gentile in one body4 ,in short1 the two conditions stand in vivid contrast1 and it was wholly impossible that both could hold good at the same time4 ,so long as the middle wall of partition stood1 the truth of the church could not be revealed2 but the death of ,christ having thrown down that wall1 the ,holy ,ghost descended from heaven to form the one body1 and link it1 by ,his presence and indwelling1 to the risen and glorified ,head in the heavens4 ,such is the great mystery of ,christ and the church1 for which there could be no less a basis than accomplished redemption4 ,now we entreat the reader to examine this matter for himself4 ,let him search the ,scriptures to see if these things be indeed true4 ,this is the only way to get at the truth4 ,we must lay aside all our own thoughts and reasonings1 our prejudices and predilections1 and come1 like a little child1 to the holy ,scriptures4 ,in this way we shall learn the mind of ,god on this most precious and interesting subject4 ,we shall find that the church of ,god1 the body of ,christ1 did not exist1 as a fact1 until after the resurrection and ascension of ,christ1 and the consequent descent of the ,holy ,ghost on the day of ,pentecost4 ,and further1 we shall find that the full and glorious doctrine of the church was not brought out until the days of the ,apostle ,paul 7compare ,rom4 xvi4 #be1 #bf2 ,eph4 i4-iii42 ,col4 i4 #be-bi74 ,finally1 we shall see that the actual and unmistakable boundary lines of the church's earthly history are ,pentecost 7,acts ii47 and the rapture or taking up of the saints 7#a ,thess4 iv4 #ac-ag74 ,thus we reach a position from which we can get a view of the church's proper hope2 and that hope is1 most assuredly1 the bright and morning star4 ,of this hope the ,old ,testament prophets utter not a syllable4 ,they speak largely and clearly of ,the day of the ,lord--a day of judgment upon the world and its ways 7see ,isaiah ii4 #ab-bb and parallel ,scriptures74 ,but the day of the ,lord1 with all its attendant circumstances of wrath1 judgment1 and terror1 must never be confounded with ,his coming for ,his people4 ,when our blessed ,lord comes for ,his people there will be nothing to terrify4 ,he will come in all the sweetness and tenderness of ,his love to receive ,his loved and redeemed people to ,himself4 ,he will come to finish up the precious story of ,his grace4 ,to them that look for ,him shall ,he appear 77 the second time1 without that is1 apart from all question of sin1 unto salvation 7,heb4 ix74#bd ,he will come as a bridegroom to receive the bride2 and when ,he thus comes none but ,his own shall hear ,his voice or see ,his face4 ,if ,he were to come this very night for ,his people--and ,he may1 for aught we know--if the voice of the archangel and the trump of ,god were to be heard to-night1 then all the dead in ,christ--all who have been laid to sleep by ,jesus--all the saints of ,god1 both those of old ,testament and ,new ,testament times1 who lie sleeping in our cemeteries and graveyards1 or in the ocean's depths--all these would rise from their temporary sleep4 ,all the living saints would be changed in a moment1 and all would be caught up to meet their descending ,lord1 and return with ,him to the ,father's house 7,john xiv4 #c2 #a ,thess4 iv4 #af1 #ag2 #a ,cor4 xv4 #ea1 #eb74 #bd ,the clause ,them that look for him refers to all believers4 ,it does not mean1 as some suppose1 those only who hold the truth of the ,lord's second coming4 ,this would make our place with ,christ at ,his coming dependent upon knowledge1 instead of upon our union with ,him by the presence and power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,spirit of ,god1 in the above passage1 most graciously takes for granted that all ,god's people are looking1 in some way or another1 for the precious ,saviour2 and verily so they are4 ,they may not see eye to eye as to all the details4 ,they may not all enjoy equal clearness of view or depth and fulness of apprehension2 but1 most surely1 they would all be glad at any moment to see the ,one who loved them and gave ,himself for them4 ,this is what is meant by the rapture or catching up of the saints1 and has nothing to do directly with ,israel or the nations4 ,it is the distinct and only proper hope of the church2 and there is not so much as a single hint of it in the entire ,old ,testament4 ,if any one asserts that there is1 let him produce it4 ,if there be such a thing1 nothing is easier than to furnish it4 ,we solemnly and deliberately declare there is no such thing4 ,for all that respects the church--its standing1 its calling1 its portion1 its prospects--we must turn to the pages of the ,new ,testament1 and1 of those pages1 mainly the ,epistles of ,paul4 ,to confound the word of prophecy with the hope of the church is to damage the truth of ,god1 and mislead the souls of ,his people4 ,that the enemy has succeeded in doing all this1 throughout the length and breadth of the professing church1 is1 alas6 too true4 ,and hence it is that so very few ,christians have really ,scriptural thoughts about the coming of their ,lord4 ,they are looking into prophecy for the church's hope--they confound the ,sun of righteousness with the ,morning ,star--they mix up the coming of ,christ for ,his people1 and ,his coming with them--they make ,his coming or state of presence to be identical with ,his appearing or manifestation4 ,all this is a most serious mistake1 against which we desire to warn our readers4 ,when ,christ comes with ,his people1 every eye shall see him4 ,when ,he is manifested1 ,his people will be manifested also4 ,when ,christ our life shall appear or be manifested1 then shall ye also appear with him in glory 7,col4 iii4 #d74 ,when ,christ comes to execute judgment1 ,his saints come with ,him4 ,behold1 the ,lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints1 to execute judgment upon all 7,jude #ad1 #ae74 ,so also in ,revelation xix41 the rider on the white horse is followed by the armies in heaven upon white horses1 clothed in fine linen1 white and clean4 ,these armies are not angels1 but saints2 for we do not read of angels being clothed in white linen1 which is expressly declared1 in this very chapter1 to be the righteousness of saints 7verse #h74 ,now1 it is most evident that1 if the saints accompany their ,lord when ,he comes in judgment1 they must be with ,him previously4 ,the fact of their going to ,him is not presented in the book of ,revelation1 unless it be involved--as we doubt not it is--in the catching up of the man child1 in chapter xii4 ,the man child is1 most surely1 ,christ2 and inasmuch as ,christ and ,his people are indissolubly joined in one1 they are most completely identified with ,him1 blessed for ever be ,his holy and precious name6 ,but1 clearly1 it does not at all lie within the scope of the book of ,revelation to give us the coming of ,christ for ,his people1 or their being caught up to meet ,him in the air1 or their return to the ,father's house4 ,for these blessed events or facts1 we must look elsewhere1 as1 for example1 in ,john xiv4 #c2 #a ,corinthians xv4 #bc1 #ea1 #eb2 #a ,thessalonians iv4 #ad-ag4 ,let the reader ponder these three passages4 ,let him drink into his very soul their clear and precious teaching4 ,there is nothing difficult about them1 no obscurity1 no mist or vagueness whatever4 ,a babe in ,christ can understand them4 ,they set forth1 in the clearest and simplest possible manner1 the true ,christian hope1 which--we repeat it emphatically1 and urge it upon the reader as the direct and positive teaching of holy ,scripture--is the coming of ,christ to receive ,his people1 all ,his people1 to ,himself1 to take them back with ,him to ,his ,father's house1 there to remain with ,him1 while ,god deals governmentally with ,israel and the nations1 and prepares the way1 by ,his judicial actings1 for bringing in the ,first-begotten into the world4 ,now1 if it be asked1 ,why have we not the coming of ,christ for ,his people in the book of ,revelation8 ,because that book is pre-eminently a book of judgment--a governmental1 judicial book1 at least from chapter i4-xx4 ,hence even the church is presented as under judgment4 ,we do not see the church in chapters ii4 and iii4 as the body or the bride of ,christ2 but as a responsible witness on the earth1 whose condition is being carefully examined and rigidly judged by ,him who walks amongst the candlesticks4 ,it would not1 therefore1 comport with the character or object of this book to introduce1 directly1 the rapture of the saints4 ,it shows us the church on the earth1 in the place of responsibility4 ,this it gives us1 in chapters ii4 and iii41 under the head of the things that are4 ,but from that to chapter xix4 there is not a single syllable about the church on earth4 ,the plain fact is1 the church will not be on earth during that solemn period4 ,she will be with her ,head and ,lord1 in the divine retirement of the ,father's house4 ,the redeemed are seen in heaven1 under the title of the twenty-four crowned elders1 in chapters iv41 v4 ,there1 blessed be ,god1 they will be1 while the seals are being opened1 the trumpets sounded1 and the vials poured out4 ,to think of the church as being on the earth1 from ,revelation vi4-xviii4--to place her amid the apocalyptic judgments--to pass her through the great tribulation--to subject her to the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world1 to try them that dwell upon the earth--would be to falsify her position1 to rob her of her chartered privileges1 and to contradict the clear and positive promise of her ,lord4#be #be ,we shall have occasion1 in a future paper1 to show that1 after the church has been removed to heaven1 the ,spirit of ,god will act both among the ,jews1 and also among the ,gentiles4 ,see ,revelation vii4 ,no1 no1 beloved ,christian reader2 let no man deceive you1 by any means4 ,the church is seen on earth in ,revelation ii41 iii4 ,she is seen in heaven1 together with the ,old ,testament saints1 in chapters iv41 v4 ,we are not told1 in the ,revelation1 how she gets there2 but we see her there1 in high communion and holy worship2 and then1 in chapter xix41 the rider on the white horse comes forth1 with ,his saints1 to execute judgment upon the beast and the false prophet--to put down every enemy and every evil1 and to reign over the whole earth for the blissful period of a thousand years4 ,such is the plain teaching of the ,new ,testament1 to which we earnestly invite the attention of our readers4 ,and let no one suppose that our object is to find an easy path for ,christians in thus teaching1 as we do most emphatically1 that the church will not be in the great tribulation--will not come into the hour of temptation4 ,nothing of the kind4 ,the fact is1 the true and normal condition of the church1 and therefore of the individual ,christian1 in this world1 is tribulation4 ,so says our ,lord3 ,in the world ye shall have tribulation4 ,and again1 ,we glory in tribulation4 ,it cannot1 therefore1 be a question of avoiding that which is our appointed portion in this world1 if only we are true to ,christ4 ,but the fact is1 that the entire truth of the church's position and prospect is involved in this question1 and this is our reason for urging it so upon the prayerful attention of our readers4 ,the great object of the enemy is to drag down the church of ,god to an earthly level--to set ,christians entirely astray as to their divinely appointed hope--to lead them to confound things which ,god has made to differ1 to occupy them with earthly things--to cause them to so mix up the coming of ,christ for ,his people with ,his appearing in judgment upon the world1 that they may not be able to cultivate those bridal affections and heavenly aspirations which become them as members of the body of ,christ4 ,he would fain have them looking out for various earthly events to come between them and their own proper hope1 in order that they may not be--as ,god would have them--ever on the very tip-toe of expectation1 looking out1 with ardent desire1 for the appearing of the bright and morning ,star4 ,well doth the enemy know what he is about2 and surely we ought not to be ignorant of his devices1 but rather give ourselves to the study of the word of ,god1 and thus learn1 as we most surely shall1 the double bearing of the glorious fact of the ,lord's coming4 ,,the ,,coming ,,and ,,the ,,day4 ,we must now ask the reader to turn with us for a little to the two epistles to the ,thessalonians4 ,as we have already remarked1 these ,christians were converted to the blessed hope of the ,lord's return4 ,they were taught to look for ,him day by day4 ,it was not merely the doctrine of the advent received and held in the mind1 but a divine ,person constantly expected by hearts that had learnt to love ,him and long for ,his coming4 ,but1 as we can easily imagine1 the ,thessalonian ,christians were ignorant of many things connected with this blessed hope4 ,the apostle had been taken from them for a short time1 in presence1 not in heart4 ,he had not been allowed to remain long enough amongst them to instruct them in the details of the subject of their hope4 ,they knew that ,jesus was to return--that self-same blessed ,one who had graciously delivered them from the wrath to come4 ,but as to any distinction between ,his coming for ,his people and coming with them--between ,his state of presence and ,his appearing--,his coming and ,his day1 they were1 at first1 wholly ignorant4 ,hence1 as might be expected1 they fell into various errors and mistakes4 ,it is wonderful how speedily the human mind wanders away into the wildest and grossest confusion and error4 ,we need to be guarded on all sides by the pure1 solid1 all-adjusting truth of ,god4 ,we must have our souls evenly balanced by divine revelation1 else we are sure to plunge into all manner of false and foolish notions4 ,thus some of the ,thessalonians conceived the idea of giving up their honest callings4 ,they ceased to labor with their hands1 and went about idle4 ,this was a great mistake4 ,even though we were perfectly certain that our ,lord would come this very night1 it would be no reason why we should not1 most diligently and faithfully1 attend to our daily round of duty1 and do all that devolved upon us in that particular sphere in which ,his good hand has placed us4 ,so far from this1 the very fact of expecting the blessed ,master would strengthen our desire to have everything done as it ought to be up to the very moment of ,his return1 so that not so much as a single righteous claim should be left neglected4 ,in point of fact1 the hope of the ,lord's speedy return1 when held in power in the soul1 is most sanctifying1 purifying1 and adjusting in its influence upon ,christian life1 conduct1 and character4 ,we know1 alas6 that even this most glorious truth may be held in the region of the understanding1 and flippantly professed with the lips1 while the heart and the life1 the course1 conduct1 and character1 remain wholly unaffected by it4 ,but we are expressly taught by the inspired ,apostle ,john1 that every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself1 even as he is pure 7#a ,john iii4 #c74 ,and1 most surely1 this purifying embraces all that which goes to make up our whole practical life1 from day to day4 ,but there was another grave mistake into which those dear ,thessalonians fell1 and out of which the blessed apostle1 like a true and faithful pastor1 sought to recover them4 ,they imagined that their departed ,christian friends would not have part in the joy of the ,lord's return4 ,they feared that they would fail to participate in that blissful and longed-for moment4 ,now while it is quite true that this very mistake proves how vividly these ,christians realized their blessed hope1 still it was a mistake1 and needed to be corrected4 ,but let us carefully note the correction3 ,i would not have you to be ignorant1 brethren1 concerning them which are asleep1 that ye sorrow not1 even as others which have no hope4 ,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus or are laid to sleep by ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 ,mark this4 ,he does not seek to comfort these sorrowing friends by the assurance that they should1 ere long1 follow the departed4 ,quite the reverse4 ,he assures them that ,jesus would bring the departed back with ,him4 ,this is plain and distinct1 and founded upon the great fact that ,jesus died for us and rose again4 ,but the apostle does not stop here1 but goes on to pour a flood of fresh light upon the understanding of ,his dear children in the faith4 ,for this we say unto you by the word of the ,lord1 that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the ,lord1 shall not prevent or precede them which are asleep4 ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first that is1 before the living are changed4 ,then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord4 ,wherefore comfort one another with these words4 ,here1 then1 we have presented to us what is commonly spoken of amongst us as the rapture of the saints--a most glorious1 soul-stirring1 and enrapturing theme surely--the brightest hope of the church of ,god1 and of the individual believer4 ,the ,lord ,himself shall descend from heaven with a summons designed only for the ears and the hearts of ,his own4 ,not one uncircumcised ear shall hear--not one unrenewed heart be moved by1 that heavenly voice1 that divine trumpet call4 ,the dead in ,christ1 including1 as we believe1 the ,old ,testament saints1 as well as those of the ,new1 who shall have departed in the faith of ,christ--all those shall hear the blessed sound1 and come forth from their sleeping places4 ,all the living saints shall hear it1 and be changed in a moment4 ,and oh6 what a change6 ,the poor crumbling tabernacle of clay exchanged for a glorified body1 like unto the body of ,jesus4 ,look at yonder bent and withered frame--that body racked with pain1 and worn out with years of acute suffering4 ,it is the body of a saint4 ,how humiliating to see it like that6 ,yes2 but wait a little4 ,let but the trumpet sound1 and in one moment that poor crushed and withered frame shall be changed1 and made like to the glorified body of the descending ,lord4 ,and there1 in yonder lunatic asylum1 is a poor lunatic4 ,he has been there for years4 ,he is a saint of ,god4 ,how mysterious6 ,true2 we cannot fathom the mystery2 it lies beyond our present narrow range4 ,but so it is2 that poor lunatic is a saint of ,god1 an heir of glory4 ,he too shall hear the voice of the archangel and the trump of ,god1 and leave his lunacy behind him for ever1 while he mounts into the heavens1 in his glorified body1 to meet his descending ,lord4 ,oh6 reader1 what a brilliant moment6 ,how many sick chambers and beds of languishing shall be vacant then6 ,what marvellous changes shall then take place6 ,how the heart bounds at the thought1 and longs to sing1 in full chorus1 that lovely hymn1 ,christ1 the ,lord1 will come again1 ,none shall wait for ,him in vain2 ,i shall then ,his glory see3 ,christ will come and call for me4 ,then1 when the archangel's voice ,calls the sleeping saints to rise1 ,rising millions shall proclaim ,blessings on the ,saviour's name4 ',this is our redeeming ,god6' ,ransomed hosts will shout aloud3 ,praise1 eternal praise1 be given4 ,to the ,lord of earth and heaven6 ,amen and amen6 ,how glorious the thought of those rising millions6 ,how truly delightful to be amongst them6 ,how precious the hope of seeing that blessed ,one who loveth us and who gave ,himself for us6 ,such is the hope of the ,christian1 a hope concerning which there is not a single line from cover to cover of the ,old ,testament4 ,the word of prophecy is of all importance4 ,we do well to take heed to it4 ,it is an unspeakable mercy for those who find themselves in a dark place to have a bright lamp to cast its light athwart the gloom4 ,but let the ,christian bear in mind that what he wants is to have the day star arising in his heart2 in other words1 to have his whole heart governed by the hope of seeing ,jesus as the bright and morning ,star4 ,when the heart is thus filled and ruled by the proper ,christian hope1 then the eye can intelligently scan the prophetic chart3 it can take in the whole field of prophecy as our ,god has graciously opened it before us1 and find interest and profit in every page and in every line4 ,but1 on the other hand1 we may rest assured that the man who looks into prophecy in order to find the church or its hope there has his face turned the wrong way4 ,he will find the ,jew there1 and ,gentile there1 but not the church of ,god4 ,we earnestly trust that not one of our readers will fail to lay hold of this fact--a fact1 we may safely say1 of the very deepest moment4 ,but it will perhaps be asked1 ,of what use1 then1 is prophecy8 ,if indeed it be true that we cannot find aught about the church on the prophetic page1 of what possible use can it be to ,christians8 ,why should we be told to take heed to it if it does not immediately concern us8 ,we reply1 ,is nothing of any value to us save what immediately concerns ourselves8 ,shall we take no interest in anything unless we ourselves form the immediate subject thereof8 ,is it nothing to us to have the counsels and purposes and plans of ,god laid open before us8 ,do we lightly esteem the high favor of having the thoughts of ,god communicated to us in ,his holy word of prophecy8 ,surely it was not thus that ,abraham treated the divine communications made to him in ,genesis xviii43 ,shall ,i hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i do8 ,and what was that thing8 ,did it immediately concern ,abraham8 ,not at all4 ,it concerned ,sodom and the neighboring cities1 and ,abraham had no stake in them4 ,but did that prevent his interest in the divine communication4 ,did it hinder his appreciation of the mark of special favor in his being made the honored and trusted depository of the thoughts of ,god8 ,surely not4 ,we may safely assert that the faithful patriarch highly esteemed the privilege conferred upon him4 ,and so should we4 ,we should study prophecy with all the interest arising from the fact that therein we have unfolded to us1 with divine precision1 what ,god is about to do on this earth with ,israel and with the nations4 ,prophecy is ,god's history of the future2 and just in proportion as we love ,him shall we delight to study ,his history2 not indeed1 as some have said1 that we may know its truth by its fulfilment1 but that we may possess all that absolute1 that divine certainty as to the future which ,god's word is capable of imparting4 ,nothing can be more absurd1 in the judgment of faith1 than to suppose that we must wait until the accomplishment of a prophecy to know that it is true4 ,what an insult offered--unwittingly1 no doubt--to the peerless revelation of our ,god4 ,but we must now turn1 for a moment1 to the solemn subject of ,the ,day of the ,lord4 ,this is a term of frequent occurrence in ,old ,testament ,scriptures4 ,we cannot attempt to quote all the passages2 but we shall refer to one or two1 and then the reader can follow up the subject for himself4 ,in ,isaiah ii4 we read1 ,for the day of the ,lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty1 and upon every one that is lifted up1 and he shall be brought low4444 ,and the loftiness of man shall be bowed down1 and the haughtiness of men shall be made low3 and the ,lord alone shall be exalted in that day4 ,and the idols he shall utterly abolish4 ,and they shall go into the holes of the rocks1 and into the caves of the earth1 for fear of the ,lord1 and for the glory of his majesty1 when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth4 ,so also in ,joel ii4 ,blow ye the trumpet in ,zion1 and sound an alarm in my holy mountain3 let all the inhabitants of the land tremble2 for the day of the ,lord cometh1 for it is nigh at hand4 ,a day of darkness and of gloominess1 a day of clouds and of thick darkness1 as the morning spread upon the mountains2 a great people and a strong2 there has not been ever the like1 neither shall be any more after it1 even to the years of many generations2 444 the earth shall quake before them2 the heavens shall tremble2 the sun and the moon shall be dark1 and the stars shall withdraw their shining2 444 for the day of the ,lord is great and very terrible2 and who can abide it8 ,from these and similar passages1 we learn that the day of the ,lord stands associated with the deeply solemn thought of judgment upon the world--upon apostate ,israel--upon man and his ways--upon all that which the human heart prizes and longs after4 ,in short1 the day of the ,lord stands in striking contrast with man's day4 ,man has the upper hand now1 the ,lord will have the upper hand then4 ,now1 while it is perfectly true that all the ,lord's people can rejoice in the prospect of that day1 which1 though it will open in judgment upon the world1 shall1 nevertheless1 be marked by the universal reign of righteousness2 yet we must remember that the peculiar hope of the ,christian is not the day with its awful accompaniments of judgment1 wrath1 and terror2 but the coming or presence of ,jesus1 with its precious accompaniments of peace and joy1 love and glory4 ,the church shall have met her ,lord1 and returned with ,him to the ,father's house1 before that terrible day bursts upon the world4 ,it will be her blissful portion to taste the ineffable communion of that heavenly home1 for an indefinite period previous to the opening of the day of the ,lord4 ,her eyes shall be gladdened by the sight of the bright and morning ,star1 long before even the ,sun of righteousness shall arise1 in healing virtue1 upon the pious portion of the nation of ,israel--the ,god-fearing remnant of the seed of ,abraham4 ,we are intensely anxious that the ,christian reader should thoroughly enter into this grand and important distinction4 ,we feel persuaded that it will have an immense effect upon all his thoughts and views and hopes of the future4 ,it will enable him to see1 without a single intervening cloud1 his true prospect as a ,christian4 ,it will deliver him from all mist1 vagueness1 and confusion2 and further1 it will divest his mind of all that feeling of dread with which so many even of the ,lord's dear people contemplate the future4 ,it will teach him to look for the ,saviour--the blessed ,bridegroom--the everlasting ,lover of his soul1 and not for judgments and terror1 eclipses and earthquakes1 convulsions and revolutions1 it will keep his spirit tranquil and happy1 in the sure and certain hope of being with ,jesus1 ere that great and terrible day of the ,lord come4 ,see how the faithful apostle labored to lead his dear ,thessalonian converts into the clear understanding of the difference of the coming and the day4 ,but of the times and the seasons1 brethren1 ye have no need that ,i write unto you4 ,for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the ,lord so cometh as a thief in the night4 ,for when they not ye shall say1 ,peace and safety2 then sudden destruction cometh upon them1 as travail upon a woman with child2 and they shall not escape4 ,but ye1 brethren1 are not in darkness1 that that day should overtake you as a thief4 ,ye are all the children of light1 and the children of the day2 we are not of the night1 nor of darkness--,the ,lord be praised6--,therefore let us not sleep1 as do others2 but let us watch and be sober4 ,for they that sleep1 sleep in the night2 and they that are drunken1 are drunken in the night4 ,but let us1 who are of the day1 be sober1 putting on the breastplate of faith and love1 and for an helmet1 the hope of salvation4 ,for ,god hath not appointed us to wrath1 but to obtain salvation by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who died for us1 that1 whether we wake or sleep that is1 are dead or alive we should live together with him4 ,wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another1 even as also ye do 7#a ,thessalonians v4 #a-aa74 ,here we have the distinction set forth with unmistakable clearness4 ,the ,lord ,himself shall come for us as the ,bridegroom4 ,the day of the ,lord shall come upon the world as a thief4 ,is it possible for contrast to be more striking8 ,how can any one confound these two things8 ,they are as distinct as any two things can be4 ,a bridegroom and a thief are surely two different things2 and just as different are the coming of the ,lord for ,his waiting people and the coming of ,his day upon a slumbering or intoxicated world4 ,some perhaps may find a difficulty in the fact that the church in ,sardis is addressed in such solemn words as these1 ,if therefore thou shalt not watch1 ,i will come on thee as a thief1 and thou shalt not know what hour ,i will come upon thee 7,rev4 iii4 #c74 ,the difficulty will vanish when we reflect that1 in the case of ,sardis1 the professing body is looked upon as having a mere name to live while dead4 ,it has sunk to the level of the world1 and can only see things from the world's standpoint4 ,the church has failed utterly2 it has fallen from its high and holy position2 it is under judgment2 it cannot therefore be cheered by the church's proper hope2 but is threatened by the world's terrible doom4 ,we do not see the church here as the body or bride of ,christ1 but as the responsible witness for ,god on the earth--the golden candlestick which ought to have held forth the divine light of testimony in this dark world1 in the absence of her ,lord4 ,but alas6 the professing church has sunk lower and become darker than even the world itself4 ,hence the solemn threatening4 ,the exception confirms the rule4 ,we shall proceed with this subject as presented in #b ,thessalonians4 ,it is a fact full of the richest comfort and consolation to the heart of a true believer1 that our ,god1 in ,his marvellous grace1 ever makes the eater to yield meat1 and the strong1 sweetness4 ,he brings light out of darkness1 life out of death1 and causes the bright beams of ,his glory to shine amid the most disastrous ruin caused by the enemy's hand4 ,the truth of this is illustrated on every page of the inspired volume1 and it should fill our hearts with peace and our mouths with praise4 ,hence it is that the varied doctrinal errors and practical evils1 into which the early ,christians were permitted to fall1 have been overruled of ,god1 and used for the instruction1 guidance1 and solid profit of the church to the close of her earthly history4 ,thus1 for example1 the error of the ,thessalonian ,christians in reference to their departed brethren was made the occasion of pouring such a flood of divine light upon the ,lord's coming1 and upon the rapture of the saints1 that it is impossible for any simple mind that bows to ,scripture ever to fall into a similar mistake4 ,they looked for the ,lord to come1 and in that they were right4 ,they expected ,him to set up ,his kingdom on the earth1 and in that they were right1 as to the broad fact4 ,but they made a great mistake in leaving out the heavenly side of this glorious hope4 ,their intelligence was defective--their faith lacking4 ,they did not see the two parts--the double bearing of the advent of ,christ--,his descent into the air to receive ,his people to ,himself1 and ,his appearing in glory to set up ,his kingdom in manifested power4 ,hence they feared that their departed brethren would necessarily be absent from the sphere of blessing--the circle of glory4 ,this mistake is divinely corrected1 as we have seen1 in the first epistle1 chapter iv4 ,the heavenly side of the hope--the ,christian's proper portion--is placed before the heart as the true corrective for the error in reference to the sleeping saints4 ,christ will gather all 7and not merely part of7 ,his people to ,himself2 and if there is to be any advantage--a shade of difference in the matter--it will be on the side of those very people about whom they were mourning4 ,the dead in ,christ shall rise first4 ,but from the ,second ,epistle to the ,thessalonians we learn that those dear young converts had been led into another grave error--an error1 not as to the dead1 but as to the living--a mistake1 not respecting the coming1 but respecting the day of the ,lord4 ,in the one case they feared that the dead would not participate in thy blissful triumph of the coming2 and in the other case they feared that the living were actually1 at the very moment1 involved in the terrors of the day4 ,such is the mistake with which the inspired apostle deals in his second letter to the ,thessalonian believers2 and nothing can exceed the tenderness and delicacy1 and yet withal the wisdom and faithfulness of his dealing4 ,the ,christians at ,thessalonica were passing through intense persecution and tribulation2 and it is very evident that the enemy1 by means of false teachers1 sought to upset their minds1 by leading them to think that the great and terrible day of the ,lord had actually arrived1 and that the troubles through which they were passing were the accompaniments of that day4 ,if this were so the entire teaching of the apostle was proved false2 for if there was one truth that shone forth more brightly and prominently in his teaching than another1 it was the association and identification of believers with ,christ--an association so intimate1 an identification so close1 that it was impossible for ,christ to appear in glory without ,his people4 ,when ,christ1 who is our life1 shall appear1 then shall ye also appear with him in glory4 ,but ,he must appear in order to introduce the day4 ,furthermore1 when the day of the ,lord does actually arrive it will not be to trouble ,his people1 but1 on the contrary1 to trouble their persecutors4 ,of this the apostle reminds them1 in the most simple1 forcible manner1 in his very opening lines3 ,we are bound to thank ,god always for you1 brethren1 as it is meet1 because that your faith groweth exceedingly1 and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth1 so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of ,god for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure3 which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of ,god1 that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of ,god1 for which ye also suffer3 seeing it is a righteous thing with ,god to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you2 and to you who are troubled rest with us1 when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire1 taking vengeance on them that know not ,god ,gentiles1 and that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ ,jews 7chapter i4 #c-h74 ,thus1 not only was the ,christian position involved in this matter1 but the very glory of ,god--,his actual righteousness4 ,if1 indeed1 the day of the ,lord brought tribulation to ,christians1 then was there no truth in the doctrine--the grand prominent doctrine of ,paul's teaching--that ,christ and ,his people are one2 and moreover it would impugn the righteousness of ,god4 ,in short1 then1 if ,christians were in tribulation1 it was morally impossible that the day of the ,lord could have set in1 for when that day comes1 it will be rest for believers1 as their public recompense1 in the kingdom--not merely in the ,father's house2 which is not the point here4 ,the tables will be completely turned4 ,the church will be in rest1 the church's troublers in tribulation4 ,during man's day1 the church is called to tribulation2 but in the day of the ,lord all will be reversed4 ,let the reader note this carefully4 ,it is not the question of ,christians suffering tribulation4 ,they are actually called to it in this world1 so long as wickedness has the upper hand4 ,christ suffered1 and so must they4 ,but the point we want to fasten upon the mind and heart of the ,christian is1 that when ,christ comes to set up ,his kingdom1 it is utterly impossible that ,his people can be in trouble4 ,thus the entire teaching of the enemy1 by which he sought to upset the ,thessalonian believers1 was proved to be utterly fallacious4 ,the apostle sweeps away the very foundation of the whole fabric by the simple statement of the precious truth of ,god4 ,this is the divine way of delivering people from false notions and vain fears4 ,give them the truth1 and error must flee before it4 ,let in the sunshine of ,god's eternal word1 and all the mists and clouds of false doctrine must be rolled away4 ,but let us1 for a moment1 examine the further teaching of our apostle1 in this remarkable writing4 ,in so doing1 we shall see how thoroughly he establishes the distinction between the coming and the day--a distinction which the reader will do well to ponder4 ,now we beseech you1 brethren1 by or on the ground of the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and our gathering together unto him1 that ye be not soon shaken in mind1 or be troubled1 neither by spirit1 nor by word1 nor by letter1 as from us1 as that the day of the ,lord is present4#bf #bf ,we have no pretensions whatever to scholarship2 we are merely gleaners in the deeply interesting field of criticism in which others have reaped a golden harvest4 ,we do not mean to occupy our readers with arguments in defence of readings given in the text2 but we feel that there is no use in giving them what we consider to be erroneous4 ,we believe there is no doubt whatever that the true reading of #b ,thessalonians ii4 is as we have given it above1 as that the day of the ,lord is present4 ,the word can only be thus rendered4 ,it occurs in ,romans viii4 #ch1 where it is translated things present4 ,so also in #a ,corinthians iii4 #bb1 things present2 chapter vii4 #be1 present distress2 ,galatians i4 #d1 present evil world2 ,hebrews ix4 #i1 time then present4 ,now1 apart altogether from the question of various readings1 a moment's reflection will suffice to show the simple minded ,christian that the apostle could not possibly mean to teach the ,thessalonians that the day of the ,lord was not1 even then1 at hand4 ,scripture can never contradict itself4 ,no one sentence of divine revelation can possibly collide with another4 ,but if the reading given in our excellent ,authorized ,version were correct1 it would stand in direct opposition to ,romans xiii4 #ab1 where we are plainly and expressly told that the day is at hand4 ,what day8 ,the day of the ,lord1 most surely1 which is always the term used in connection with our individual responsibility in walk and service4 ,this1 we may remark in passing1 is a point of much interest and practical value4 ,if the reader will take the trouble to examine the various passages in which the day is spoken of1 he will find that they have reference1 more or less1 to the question of work1 service or responsibility4 ,for instance1 ,that ye may be blameless not at the coming1 but in the day of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ 7#a ,cor4 i4 #h74 ,again1 ,every man's work shall be made manifest1 for the day shall declare it 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #ac74 ,without offence till the day of ,christ 7,phil4 i4 #aj74 ,henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness1 which the ,lord1 the righteous judge1 shall give me at that day 7#b ,timothy iv4 #h74 ,from all these passages1 and many more which might be adduced1 we learn that the day of the ,lord will be the grand time for reckoning with the workers2 for the divine appraisal of service2 for the settling of all questions of personal responsibility2 for the distribution of rewards--the ten cities and the five cities4 ,thus1 wherever we turn1 in whatever way we look at the subject1 we are more and more confirmed in the truth of the clear distinction between our ,lord's coming1 or state of presence1 and ,his appearing1 or day4 ,the former is ever held up before the heart as the bright and blessed hope of the believer1 which may be realized at any moment4 ,the latter is pressed rather upon the conscience1 in deep solemnity1 as bearing upon the entire practical career of those who are set in this world to work and witness for an absent ,lord4 ,scripture never confounds these things1 however much we may do it2 nor is there a single sentence from cover to cover of the holy volume which teaches that believers are not always to be looking out for the coming of the ,lord1 and eager to bear in mind that the day is at hand4 ,it is only that evil servant--referred to in our ,lord's discourse in ,matthew xxiv4--that says in his heart1 ,my ,lord delayeth his coming2 and there we see the terrible results which must ever flow from the harboring of such a thought in the heart4 ,we shall now return for a moment to #b ,thessalonians ii4--a passage of ,scripture which has given rise to much discussion amongst prophetic expositors1 and presented considerable difficulty to the students of prophecy4 ,it is very evident that the false teachers had been seeking to disturb the minds of the ,thessalonians by leading them to think that they were1 even then1 surrounded by the terrors of the day of the ,lord4 ,not so1 says the apostle2 that cannot be4 ,before ever that day opens we must all be gathered to meet the ,lord in the air4 ,he beseeches them1 on the ground 77 of the ,lord's coming and our gathering together unto ,him1 not to be troubled about the day4 ,he had already opened to them the heavenly side of the ,lord's coming4 ,he had taught them that they1 as ,christians1 belonged to the day2 that their home and their portion and their hope were all in that very region from which the day was to shine out4 ,it was wholly impossible1 therefore1 that the day of the ,lord could involve any terror or trouble to those who were actually1 through grace1 the sons of the day4 ,but1 further1 even in looking at the subject from the earthly side of it1 the false teachers were all wrong4 ,let no man deceive you by any means3 for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first1 and that man of sin be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshipped2 so that he1 as ,god1 sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 ,remember ye not that when ,i was with you ,i told you these things4 ,and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time4 ,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work3 only he who now letteth will let1 until he be taken out of the way4 ,and then shall that wicked be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming or the appearing of his presence4 ,even him whose coming is after the working of ,satan1 with all power and signs and lying wonders1 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish2 because they received not the love of the truth1 that they might be saved 7verses #c-aj74 ,here1 then1 we are taught that ere the day of the ,lord arrives1 the lawless one1 the man of sin1 the son of perdition1 must be revealed4 ,the mystery of iniquity must rise to a head4 ,man shall set himself up in open opposition to ,god1 nay1 shall even assume to himself the name and the worship of ,god4 ,all this has to be developed on the earth before that great and terrible day of the ,lord shall burst in judgment upon the scene4 ,for the present there is a barrier1 a hindrance to the manifestation of this awful personage4 ,we are not told here what this barrier or hindrance is4 ,god may vary it at different times4#bg ,but we learn1 most distinctly1 from the book of ,revelation that ere the mystery of iniquity culminates in the person of the man of sin1 the church shall have been removed from this scene altogether4 ,it is impossible to read1 with an enlightened eye1 ,revelation iv41 v4 and not see that the church shall be in the very innermost circle of heavenly glory ere a single seal is opened1 a single trumpet sounded1 a single vial poured out4 ,we do not believe that any one can understand the book of the ,apocalypse who does not see this4 #bg ,some have considered that the hinderer or hindrance was the ,roman empire2 others that it is the ,holy ,ghost in the church4 ,to this latter we have inclined for many years1 though it may be there is a measure of truth in the former4 ,this1 at least1 we know from other parts of ,scripture1 that ere the lawless one appears on the scene1 the church will have been safely and blessedly housed in her own eternal home above--her prepared place4 ,how precious the thought of this6 ,we may have occasion to go more freely into this profoundly interesting point by-and-by4 ,we can only now entreat the reader to study the subject for himself4 ,let him ponder ,revelation iv41 v41 and ask ,god to interpret their precious contents to his soul4 ,in this way we feel persuaded that he will learn that the twenty-four crowned elders set forth the heavenly saints1 who shall be gathered round the ,lamb1 in glory1 before a single line of the prophetic portion of the book is fulfilled4 ,and here we must close this paper2 but ere doing so we should like to put a very plain question to the reader--a question which can only be answered rightly in the immediate presence of ,god4 ,it is this1 ,what is it thou art looking for8 ,what is thy hope8 ,art thou looking forward to certain events which are to transpire on this earth1 such as the revival of the ,roman empire1 the development of the ten kingdoms2 the gathering back of the ,jews to their own land of ,palestine2 the rebuilding of ,jerusalem2 the appearance of ,antichrist2 the great tribulation2 and finally1 the appalling judgments which shall1 most surely1 usher in the day of the ,lord8 ,say1 beloved friend1 are these the things which fill the vision of thy soul8 ,is it for these thou art looking and waiting8 ,if so1 be assured of it thou art not governed by the church's proper hope4 ,it is quite true that all these things which we have named shall come to pass in their appointed time2 but not one of them should be allowed to come between thee and thy proper hope4 ,they all stand on the prophetic page3 they are all recorded in ,god's history of the future2 but they were never intended to cast a shadow athwart the ,christian's bright and blessed hope4 ,that hope stands forth in glorious relief from the background of prophecy4 ,what is it8 ,yes1 we again say1 what is it8 ,it is the appearing of the bright and morning ,star--the coming of the ,lord ,jesus1 the blessed ,bridegroom of the church4 ,this1 and naught else1 is the true and proper hope of the church of ,god4 ,i will give him the morning star 7,rev4 ii4 #bc74 ,behold the bridegroom cometh 7,matt4 xxv474 ,when1 we may ask1 does the morning star appear in the natural world8 ,just before the dawning of the day4 ,who sees it8 ,the one who has been watching during the dark and dreary hours of the night4 ,how plain1 how practical1 how telling the application8 ,the church is supposed to be watching--to be lovingly wakeful--to be looking out--to be putting forth that inquiry of the intensely longing heart1 ,why tarry the wheels of his chariot8 ,alas6 the church has failed in this4 ,but that is no reason why the individual believer should not be in the full present power of the blessed hope4 ,let him that heareth say1 ,come4 ,this is deeply personal4 ,oh6 that the writer and the reader of these lines may realize habitually the purifying1 sanctifying1 elevating power of this heavenly hope6 ,may we understand and exhibit the practical power of those words of the apostle ,john1 ,every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself1 even as he is pure4 ,,the ,,two ,,resurrections ,it may be that some of our readers will feel startled by the title of this paper4 ,accustomed1 from their earliest days1 to look at this great question through the medium of ,christendom's standards of doctrine and confessions of faith1 the idea of two resurrections has never once entered their minds4 ,nevertheless ,scripture does speak1 in the most distinct and unequivocal terms1 of a resurrection of life1 and a resurrection of judgment--two resurrections1 distinct in character1 and distinct in time4 ,and not only so1 but it informs us that there will be at least a thousand years between the two4 ,if men teach otherwise--if they build up systems of divinity1 and set forth creeds and confessions of faith contrary to the direct and positive teaching of holy ,scripture1 they must settle that with their ,lord1 as must all who commit themselves to their guidance4 ,but remember1 reader1 it is your bounden duty and ours to hearken only to the authority of the word of ,god1 and to bow down1 in unqualified submission1 to its holy teaching4 ,let us1 then1 reverently inquire1 what saith the ,scripture on the subject indicated at the head of this article8 ,may ,god the ,spirit guide and instruct6 ,we shall first quote that remarkable passage in chapter v4 of ,john's ,gospel3 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into judgment2 but is passed from death unto life4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 the hour is coming1 and now is1 when the dead shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god2 and they that hear shall live4 ,for as the ,father hath life in himself2 so hath he given to the ,son to have life in himself2 and hath given him authority to execute judgment also1 because he is the ,son of man4 ,marvel not at this2 for the hour is coming1 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice1 and shall come forth2 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of judgment4#bh #bh ,the ,english reader should be informed that1 in the entire passage1 ,john v4 #bb-bf1 the words judgment1 condemnation1 damnation1 are all expressed by the same word in the original1 and that word is simply judgment1 1 the process1 not the result4 ,it is much to be deplored that our ,authorized ,version should not have so rendered the word throughout4 ,it would have made the teaching of the passage so very much clearer4 ,it is with extreme reluctance that we ever venture to touch our unrivalled ,english ,bible1 but it is1 at times1 absolutely necessary for the truth's sake1 and for the sake of our readers4 ,as to the rendering of verse #bd1 it really comes to the same thing whether we say condemnation or judgment1 inasmuch as if there be judgment at all1 its issue must be condemnation4 ,but why not be accurate8 ,here1 then1 we have1 indicated in the most unmistakable terms1 the two resurrections4 ,true1 they are not distinguished as to time1 in this passage2 but they are as to character4 ,we have a life resurrection2 and a judgment resurrection1 and nothing can be more distinct than these4 ,there is no possible ground here on which to build the theory of a promiscuous resurrection4 ,the resurrection of believers will be eclectic2 it will be on the same principle1 and partake of the same character as the resurrection of our blessed and adorable ,lord2 it will be a resurrection from among the dead4 ,it will be an act of divine power1 founded upon accomplished redemption1 whereby ,god will interpose on behalf of ,his sleeping saints1 and raise them up from among the dead1 leaving the rest of the dead in their graves for a thousand years 7,revelation xx4 #e74 ,there is an interesting passage in ,mark ix4 which throws great light on this subject4 ,the opening verses contain the record of the transfiguration2 and then we read1 ,as they came down from the mountain1 he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen1 till the ,son of man were risen from the dead4 ,and they kept that saying with themselves1 questioning one with another what the rising from 1 from among the dead should mean4 ,the disciples felt that there was something special1 something entirely beyond the ordinary orthodox idea of the resurrection of the dead1 and verily so there was1 though they understood it not then4 ,it lay beyond their range of vision at that moment4 ,but let us turn to ,philippians iii41 and hearken to the breathings of one who thoroughly entered into and appreciated this grand ,christian doctrine1 and fondly cherished this glorious and heavenly hope4 ,that ,i may know him1 and the power of his resurrection1 and the fellowship of his sufferings1 being made conformable unto his death3 if by any means ,i might attain unto the resurrection from among the dead 7verses #aj1 #aa74 ,a moment's just reflection will suffice to convince the reader that the apostle is not speaking here of the great broad truth of the resurrection of the dead1 inasmuch as every one must rise again4 ,but there was something specific before the heart of this dear servant of ,christ1 namely1 a resurrection from among the dead--an eclectic resurrection--a resurrection formed on the model of ,christ's resurrection4 ,it was for this he longed continually4 ,this was the bright and blessed hope that shone upon his soul and cheered him amid the sorrows and trials1 the toils and the difficulties1 the buffetings and the conflicts of his extraordinary career4 ,but1 it may be asked1 ,does the apostle always use this distinguishing little word 77 when speaking of resurrection8 ,not always4 ,turn1 for example1 to ,acts xxiv4 #ae3 ,and have hope toward ,god1 which they themselves also allow1 that there shall be a resurrection of the dead1 both of the just and unjust4 ,here1 there is no word to indicate the ,christian or heavenly side of the subject1 for the simplest possible reason that the apostle was speaking to those who were utterly incapable of entering into the ,christian's proper hope--far more incapable than even the disciples in ,mark ix4 ,how could he possibly unbosom himself in the presence of such men as ,tertullus1 ,ananias1 and ,felix8 ,how could he speak to them of his own specific and fondly cherished hope8 ,no2 he could only take his stand on the great broad truth of resurrection1 common to all orthodox ,jews4 ,had he spoken of a resurrection from among the dead1 he could not have added the words1 which they themselves also allow1 for they did not allow anything of the kind4 ,but oh6 what a contrast between this precious servant of ,christ1 defending himself from his accusers1 in ,acts xxiv41 and unbosoming himself to his beloved brethren1 in ,philippians iii46 ,to the latter he can speak of the true ,christian hope in the full-orbed light which the glory of ,christ pours upon it4 ,he can give utterance to the inmost thoughts1 feelings1 and aspirations of that great1 large1 loving heart1 with its earnest throbbings after the life-resurrection in the which he shall be satisfied as he wakes up in the likeness of his blessed ,lord4 ,but we must return1 for a moment1 to our first quotation1 from ,john v4 ,it may perhaps present a difficulty to some of our readers in laying hold of the truth of the ,christian's hope of resurrection1 that our ,lord makes use of the word hour in speaking of the two classes4 ,how1 it is argued1 can there be a thousand years between the two resurrections1 when our ,lord expressly tells us that all shall occur within the limits of an hour8 ,to this question we have a double reply4 ,in the first place1 we find our ,lord making use of the self-same word1 hour1 at verse #be1 where ,he is speaking of the great and glorious work of quickening dead souls4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,the hour is coming1 and now is1 when the dead shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god2 and they that hear shall live4 ,now1 here we have a work which has been going on for nearly nineteen long centuries4 ,during all that time1 here spoken of as an hour1 the voice of ,jesus1 the ,son of ,god1 has been heard calling precious souls from death to life4 ,if1 therefore1 in the very same discourse1 our ,lord used the word hour when speaking of a period which has already extended to well-nigh two thousand years1 what difficulty can there be in applying the word to a period of one thousand years8 ,surely1 none whatever1 as we judge4 ,but even if any little difficulty yet remained it must be thoroughly met by the direct testimony of the ,holy ,ghost in ,revelation xx41 where we read1 ,but the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished4 ,this is the first resurrection4 ,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection3 on such the second death hath no power1 but they shall be priests of ,god1 and of ,christ1 and shall reign with him a thousand years 7verses #e1 #f74 ,this settles the question absolutely and forever1 for all those who are willing to be taught exclusively by holy ,scripture1 as every true ,christian ought to be4 ,there will be two resurrections1 the first and the second3 and there will be a thousand years between the two4 ,to the former belong all the ,old ,testament saints--referred to in ,hebrews xii4 under the title of the spirits of just men made perfect--then the church of the firstborn ones--and finally all those who shall be put to death during the great tribulation1 and throughout the entire period between the rapture of the saints and the appearing of ,christ in judgment upon the beast and his armies1 in ,revelation xix4 ,to the latter1 on the other hand1 belong all those who shall have died in their sins1 from the days of ,cain1 in ,genesis iv41 down to the last apostate from millennial glory1 in ,revelation xx4 ,how solemn is all this6 ,how real6 ,how soul-subduing6 ,if our ,lord were to come to-night what a scene would be enacted in all our cemeteries and graveyards6 ,what tongue1 what pen can portray--what heart can conceive--the grand realities of such a moment8 ,there are thousands of tombs in which lie mingled the ashes of the dead in ,christ and the ashes of the dead out of ,christ4 ,in many a family vault may be found the ashes of both4 ,well1 then1 when the voice of the archangel is heard all the sleeping saints shall rise from their graves1 leaving behind them those who have died in their sins1 to remain in the darkness and silence of the tomb for a thousand years4 ,yes1 reader1 such is the direct and simple testimony of the word of ,god4 ,true1 it does not enter into any curious details4 ,it does not furnish any food for a morbid imagination or idle curiosity4 ,but it sets forth the solemn and weighty fact of a first and second resurrection--a resurrection of life and everlasting glory1 and a resurrection of judgment and everlasting misery4 ,there is1 positively1 no such thing in ,scripture as a promiscuous resurrection--a common rising of all at the same time4 ,we must abandon this idea altogether1 like many others which we have received to hold1 in which we have been trained from our earliest days1 which have grown with our growth and strengthened with our strength1 until they have become actually ingrained as a part of our very mental1 moral1 and religious constitution1 so that to part with them is like the sundering of limb from limb1 or rending the flesh from our bones4 ,nevertheless it must be done if we really desire to grow in the knowledge of divine revelation4 ,there is no greater hindrance to our getting into the thoughts of ,god than having our minds filled with our own thoughts1 or the thoughts of men4 ,thus1 for example1 in reference to the subject of this paper1 almost all of us have1 at one time1 held the opinion that all will rise together1 both believers and unbelievers1 and all stand together to be judged4 ,whereas1 when we come to ,scripture1 like a little child1 nothing can be simpler1 nothing clearer1 nothing more explicit than its teaching as to this question4 ,revelation xx4 #e teaches us that there will be an interval of a thousand years between the resurrection of the saints and the resurrection of the wicked4 ,it is of no use to speak of a resurrection of spirits4 ,indeed it is a manifest piece of absurdity2 for inasmuch as spirits cannot die they cannot be raised from the dead4 ,equally absurd is it to speak of a resurrection of principles4 ,there is no such thing in ,scripture4 ,the language is as plain as plainness itself4 ,the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished4 ,this is the first resurrection4 ,why should any one seek to set aside the plain force of such a passage8 ,why not bow to it8 ,why not get rid1 at once1 of all our old and fondly cherished notions1 and receive with meekness the engrafted word8 ,reader1 does it not seem plain to thee that if ,scripture speaks of a first resurrection1 then it must follow that all will not rise together8 ,why should it be said1 ,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection1 if all are to rise at the same time8 ,in fact it seems to us impossible for any unprejudiced mind to study the ,new ,testament and yet hold to the theory of a promiscuous resurrection4 ,it is due to the glory of ,christ1 the ,head1 that ,his members should have a specific resurrection--a resurrection like ,his own--a resurrection from among the dead4 ,and verily1 so they shall4 ,behold ,i show you a mystery3 we shall not all sleep1 but we shall all be changed1 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 at the last trump3 for the trumpet shall sound1 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed4 ,for this corruptible must put on incorruption1 and this mortal must put on immortality4 ,so when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption1 and this mortal shall have put on immortality1 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written1 ,death is swallowed up in victory4 ,o1 death1 where is thy sting8 ,o1 grave1 where is thy victory8 ,the sting of death is sin2 and the strength of sin is the law4 ,but thanks be to ,god which giveth us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,therefore1 my beloved brethren1 be ye steadfast1 unmovable1 always abounding in the work of the ,lord1 forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the ,lord 7#a ,corinthians xv474 ,,the ,,judgment ,there is something peculiarly painful in the thought of having so frequently to come in collision with the generally received opinions of the professing church4 ,it looks presumptuous to contradict1 on so many subjects1 all the great standards and creeds of ,christendom4 ,but what is one to do8 ,were it indeed a mere question of human opinion it might seem a piece of bold and unwarrantable temerity for any one individual to set himself in direct opposition to the established faith of the whole professing church--a faith which has held sway for centuries over the minds of millions4 ,but we would ever impress upon our readers the fact that it is not at all a question of human opinion or of a difference of judgment amongst even the very best of men4 ,it is entirely a question as to the teaching and authority of holy ,scripture4 ,there have been1 and there are1 and there will be1 schools of doctrine1 varieties of opinion1 and shades of thought2 but it is the obvious duty of every child of ,god and every servant of ,christ to bow down in holy reverence1 and hearken to the voice of ,god in ,scripture4 ,if it be merely a matter of human authority1 it must simply go for what it is worth2 but1 on the other hand1 if it be a matter of divine authority1 then all discussion is closed1 and our place--the place of all--is to bow and believe4 ,thus1 in our last paper we were led to see that there is no such thing in ,scripture as a general resurrection--a common rising of all at the same time4 ,we trust our readers have1 like the ,bereans of old1 searched the ,scriptures as to this1 and that they are now prepared to accompany us in our examination of the word of ,god as to the subject of the judgment4 ,the great question at the outset is this1 ,does ,scripture teach the doctrine of a general judgment8 ,christendom holds it2 but does ,scripture teach it8 ,let us see4 ,in the first place1 as to the ,christian individually1 and the church of ,god1 collectively1 the ,new ,testament sets forth the precious truth that there is no judgment at all4 ,so far as the believer is concerned judgment is past and gone4 ,the heavy cloud of judgment has burst upon the head of our divine ,sin-bearer4 ,he has exhausted1 on our behalf1 the cup of wrath and judgment1 and planted us on the new ground of resurrection1 to which judgment can never1 by any possibility1 apply4 ,it is just as impossible that a member of the body of ,christ can come into judgment as that the divine ,head ,himself can do so4 ,this seems a very strong statement to make2 but is it true8 ,if so1 its strength is part of its moral value and glory4 ,for what1 let us ask1 was ,jesus judged on the cross8 ,for ,his people4 ,he was made sin for us4 ,he represented us there4 ,he stood in our stead4 ,he bore all that was due to us4 ,our entire condition1 with all its belongings1 was dealt with in the death of ,christ2 and so dealt with that it is utterly impossible that any question can ever be raised4 ,has ,god any question to settle with ,christ1 the ,head8 ,clearly not4 ,well1 then1 neither has ,he any question to settle with the members4 ,every question is divinely and definitively settled1 and1 in proof of the settlement1 the ,head is crowned with glory and honor1 and seated at the right hand of the ,majesty in the heavens4 ,hence1 to suppose that ,christians are to come to judgment1 at any time1 or on any ground1 or for any object whatsoever1 is to deny the very foundation truth of ,christianity1 and to contradict the plain words of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who has expressly declared1 in reference to all who believe in ,him1 that they shall not come into judgment 7,john v4 #bd74 ,in point of fact1 the idea of ,christians being arraigned at the bar of judgment to try the question of their title and fitness for heaven is as absurd as it is unscriptural4 ,for example1 how can we think of ,paul or the penitent thief standing to be judged as to their title to heaven after having been there already for nearly two thousand years8 ,but thus it must be if there be any truth in the theory of a general judgment4 ,if the great question of our title to heaven has to be settled at the day of judgment1 then clearly it was not settled on the cross2 and if it was not settled on the cross1 then most surely we shall be damned2 for if we are to be judged at all it must be according to our works1 and the only possible issue of such a judgment is the lake of fire4 ,if1 however1 it be maintained that ,christians shall only stand in the judgment in order to make it manifest that they are clear through the death of ,christ1 then would the day of judgment be turned into a mere formality1 the bare thought of which is most revolting to every pious and well regulated mind4 ,but1 in truth1 there is no need of reasoning on the point4 ,one sentence of holy ,scripture is better far than ten thousand of man's most cogent arguments4 ,our ,lord ,christ hath declared1 in the clearest and most emphatic terms1 that believers shall not come into judgment4 ,this is enough4 ,the believer was judged over eighteen hundred years ago in the ,person of his ,head2 and to bring him into judgment again would be to ignore completely the cross of ,christ in its atoning efficacy2 and most assuredly ,god will not1 cannot allow this4 ,the very feeblest believer may say1 in thankfulness and triumph1 ,so far as ,i am concerned1 all that had to be judged is judged already4 ,every question that had to be settled is settled4 ,judgment is past and gone forever4 ,i know my work must be tried1 my service appraised2 but as to myself1 my person1 my standing1 my title1 all is divinely settled4 ,the ,man who answered for me on the tree is now crowned on the throne2 and the crown which ,he wears is the proof that there remains no judgment for me4 ,i am waiting for a life resurrection4 ,this1 and nothing short of this1 is the proper language of the ,christian4 ,it is simply due to the work of the cross that the believer should thus feel and thus express himself4 ,for such a one to be looking forward to the day of judgment for a settlement of the question of his eternal destiny is to dishonor his ,lord and deny the efficacy of ,his atoning sacrifice4 ,it may sound like humility and savor of piety to hover in doubt4 ,but we may rest assured that all who harbor doubts1 all who live in a state of uncertainty1 all who are looking forward to the day of judgment for a final settlement of their affairs1 all such are more occupied with themselves than with ,christ4 ,they have not yet understood the application of the cross to their sins and to their nature4 ,they are doubting the word of ,god and the work of ,christ1 and this is not ,christianity4 ,there is--there can be--no judgment for those who1 sheltered by the cross1 have planted a firm foot on the new and everlasting ground of resurrection4 ,for such all judgment is over forever1 and nothing remains but a prospect of cloudless glory and everlasting blessedness in the presence of ,god and of the ,lamb4 ,however1 it is not at all improbable that all this while the mind of the reader has been recurring to ,matthew xxv4 #ca-df as a ,scripture which directly establishes the theory of a general judgment2 and we feel it to be our sacred duty to turn with him for a moment to that very solemn and important passage2 at the same time reminding him of the fact that no one ,scripture can possibly clash with another1 and hence if we read1 in ,john v4 #bd1 that believers shall not come into judgment1 we cannot read in ,matthew xxv4 that they shall4 ,this is a fixed and invulnerable principle--a general rule to which there is1 and can be1 no exception4 ,nevertheless1 let us turn to ,matthew xxv4 ,when the ,son of man shall come in his glory1 and all the holy angels with him1 then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory4 ,and before him shall be gathered all nations2 and he shall separate them one from another1 as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats4 ,now1 it is most necessary to pay strict attention to the precise terms made use of in this ,scripture4 ,we must avoid all looseness of thought1 all that haste1 carelessness1 and inaccuracy which have caused such serious damage to the teaching of this weighty ,scripture1 and thrown so many of the ,lord's people into the utmost confusion respecting it4 ,and1 first of all1 let us see who are the parties arraigned4 ,before him shall be gathered all nations4 ,this is very definite4 ,it is the living nations4 ,it is not a question of individuals1 but of nations--all the ,gentiles4 ,israel is not here1 for we read in ,numbers xxiii4 #i1 that the people shall dwell alone1 and shall not be reckoned among the nations4 ,if ,israel were to be included in this scene of judgment1 then would ,matthew xxv4 stand in palpable contradiction to ,numbers xxiii41 which is wholly out of the question4 ,israel is never reckoned amongst the ,gentiles1 on any ground or for any object whatever4 ,looked at from a divine point of view1 ,israel stands alone4 ,they may1 because of their sins1 and under the governmental dealings of ,god1 be scattered among the nations2 but ,god's word declares that they shall not be reckoned among them2 and this should suffice for us4 ,if then it be true that ,israel is not included in the judgment of ,matthew xxv4 then1 without proceeding one step further1 the idea of its being a general judgment must be abandoned4 ,it cannot be general1 if all are not included2 but ,israel is never included under the term ,gentiles4 ,scripture speaks of three distinct classes1 namely1 ,the ,jew1 and the ,gentile1 and the church of ,god1 and these three are never confounded4 ,but1 further1 we have to remark that the church of ,god is not included in the judgment of ,matthew xxv4 ,nor is this statement based merely upon the fact which has been already gone into of the church's necessary exemption from judgment2 but also upon the grand truth that the church is taken from among the nations1 as ,peter declared in the council at ,jerusalem4 ,god did visit the ,gentiles to take out of them a people for his name4 ,if then the church be taken out of the nations1 it cannot be reckoned among them2 and thus we have additional evidence against the theory of a general judgment in ,matthew xxv4 ,the ,jew is not there2 the church is not there2 and therefore the idea of a general judgment must be abandoned as something wholly untenable4 ,who then are included in this judgment8 ,the passage itself supplies the answer to any simple mind4 ,it says1 ,before him shall be gathered all nations4 ,this is distinct and definite4 ,it is not a judgment of individuals1 but of nations1 as such4 ,and further1 we may add that not one of those here indicated shall have passed through the article of death4 ,in this it stands in vivid contrast with the scene in ,revelation xx4 #aa-ae1 in the which there will not be one who has not died4 ,in short1 in ,matthew xxv41 we have the judgment of the quick2 and in ,revelation xx4 the judgment of the dead4 ,both these are referred to in #b ,timothy iv41 ,i charge thee before ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom4 ,our ,lord ,christ shall judge the living nations at ,his appearing2 and ,he shall judge the dead1 small and great1 at the close of ,his millennial reign4 ,but let us glance1 for a moment1 at the mode in which the parties are arranged in the judgment1 in ,matthew xxv43 ,he shall set the sheep on his right hand1 but the goats on the left4 ,now1 the almost universal belief of the professing church is that the sheep represent all the people of ,god1 from the beginning to the end of time2 and that the goats1 on the other hand1 set forth all the wicked1 from first to last4 ,but1 if this be so1 what are we to make of the third party referred to here1 under the title of these my brethren8 ,the ,king addresses both the sheep and the goats in respect to this third class4 ,indeed the very ground of judgment is the treatment of the ,king's brethren4 ,it would involve a manifest absurdity to say that the sheep were themselves the parties referred to4 ,if that were so the language would be wholly different1 and in place of saying1 ,inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren we should hear the ,king saying1 ,inasmuch as ye have done it to one another1 or1 amongst yourselves4 ,we would beg the reader's special attention to this point4 ,we consider that were there no other argument and no other ,scripture on the subject1 this one point would prove fatal to the theory of a general judgment4 ,it is impossible not to see three parties in the scene1 namely1 the sheep1 and the goats1 and these my brethren2 and if there are three parties it cannot possibly be a general judgment1 inasmuch as these my brethren are not included either in the sheep or the goats4 ,no1 dear reader1 it is not a general judgment at all1 but a very partial and specific one4 ,it is a judgment of living nations1 previous to the opening of the millennial kingdom4 ,scripture teaches us that after the church has left the earth a testimony will go forth to the nations2 the gospel of the kingdom shall be borne1 by ,jewish messengers1 far and wide1 over the earth1 into those regions which are wrapped in heathen darkness4 ,these nations which shall receive the messengers and treat them kindly will be found on the ,king's right hand4 ,those1 on the contrary1 who shall reject them and treat them unkindly will be found on ,his left4 ,these my brethren are ,jews--the brethren of the ,messiah4 ,the treatment of the ,jews is the ground on which the nations will be judged by-and-by2 and this is another argument against a general judgment4 ,we know full well that all those who have lived and died in the rejection of the gospel of ,christ will have something more to answer for than unkindness to the ,king's brethren4 ,and1 on the other hand1 those who shall surround the ,lamb in heavenly glory will do so on a very different title from aught that their works can furnish4 ,in short1 there is not a single feature in the scene1 not a single fact in the history1 not a single point in the narrative which does not make against the notion of a general judgment4 ,and not only so1 but the more we study ,scripture1 the more we know of the ways of ,god2 the more we know of ,his nature1 ,his character1 ,his purposes1 ,his counsels1 ,his thoughts2 the more we know of ,christ1 ,his person1 ,his work1 ,his glory2 the more we know of the church1 its standing before ,god in ,christ1 its completeness1 its perfect acceptance in ,christ2 the more closely we study ,scripture2 the more profoundly we meditate therein--the more thoroughly convinced we must be that there can be no such thing as a general judgment4 ,who that knows aught of ,god could suppose that ,he would justify ,his people to-day and arraign them in judgment to-morrow--that ,he would blot out their transgressions to-day and judge them according to their works to-morrow8 ,who that knows aught of our adorable ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ could suppose that ,he would ever arraign ,his church1 ,his body1 ,his bride1 before the judgment seat in company with all those who have died in their sins8 ,could it be possible that ,he would enter into judgment with ,his people for sins and iniquities of which ,he has said1 ,i will remember no more6 ,but enough4 ,we fondly trust that the reader is now most fully persuaded in his own mind that there is1 and can be1 no such thing as a promiscuous resurrection--no such thing as a general judgment4 ,we cannot now enter upon the judgment in ,rev4 xx4 #aa-ae further than to say that it is a post-millennial scene1 and that it includes all the wicked dead1 from the days of ,cain down to the last apostate from millennial glory4 ,there will not be one there who has not passed through the article of death--not one there whose name has been set down in life's fair book--not one there who shall not be judged according to his own very deeds--not one there who shall not pass from the dread realities of the great white throne into the everlasting horrors and ineffable torments of the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone4 ,how awful6 ,how terrible6 ,how perfectly dreadful6 ,o6 reader1 what sayest thou to these things8 ,art thou a true believer in ,jesus8 ,art thou washed in ,his precious blood8 ,art thou sheltered in ,him from coming judgment8 ,if not1 let me entreat thee now1 with all tenderness and earnestness1 to flee1 this very hour1 from the wrath to come6 ,flee to ,jesus1 who now waits to receive thee to ,his loving bosom1 and to present you to ,god in the full value of ,his atoning work1 and in the full credit of ,his peerless name4 ,,the ,,jewish ,,remnant ,we must ask the reader to open his ,bible and read ,matt4 xxiv4 #a-dd4 ,it forms a part of one of the most profound and comprehensive discourses that ever fell on human ears--a discourse which takes in1 in its marvellous sweep1 the destiny of the ,jewish remnant2 the history of ,christendom2 and the judgment of the nations4 ,at the last-named subject we have already glanced4 ,it remains for us now to consider the subject of the remnant of ,israel1 and the history of professing ,christianity1 whether genuine or spurious4 ,and1 first1 let us look at the ,jewish remnant4 ,in order to understand ,matt4 xxiv4 #a-dd1 it will be needful for us to place ourselves at the standpoint of those whom our ,lord was addressing at the moment4 ,if we attempt to import into this discourse the light which shines in the ,epistle to the ,ephesians1 we shall only involve our minds in confusion1 and miss the solemn teaching of the passage which now lies open before us4 ,we shall find nothing about the church of ,god1 the body of ,christ1 here4 ,the teaching of our ,lord is divinely perfect1 and hence we cannot1 for a moment1 imagine anything premature therein4 ,but it would be premature to have introduced a subject which1 as yet1 was hid in ,god4 ,the great truth of the church could not be unfolded until ,christ1 being cut off as the ,messiah1 had taken ,his place at the right hand of ,god1 and sent down the ,holy ,ghost1 to form by ,his presence the one body1 composed of ,jew and ,gentile4 ,of this we hear nothing in ,matt4 xxiv4 ,we are entirely on ,jewish ground1 surrounded by ,jewish circumstances and influences4 ,the scenery and the allusions are all purely ,jewish4 ,to attempt to apply the passage to the church would be to miss completely our ,lord's object1 and to falsify the real position of the church of ,god4 ,the more closely we examine the ,scripture1 the more clearly we shall see that the persons addressed occupy a ,jewish standpoint1 and are on ,jewish ground1 whether we think of those very persons whom our ,lord was then addressing1 or those who shall occupy the self-same ground at the close1 when the church shall have left the scene altogether4 ,let us examine the passage4 ,at the close of ,matt1 xxiii41 our ,lord sums up ,his appeal to the leaders of the ,jewish nation with the following words of awful solemnity3 ,fill ye up then the measure of your fathers4 ,ye serpents1 ye generation of vipers6 how can ye escape the damnation of hell8 ,wherefore1 behold1 ,i send unto you prophets1 and wise men1 and scribes3 and some of them ye shall kill and crucify2 and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues1 and persecute them from city to city4 ,that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth1 from the blood of righteous ,abel unto the blood of ,zecharias1 son of ,barachias1 whom ye slew between the temple and the altar4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,all these things shall come upon this generation4 ,o ,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 thou that killest the prophets1 and stonest them which are sent unto thee1 how often would ,i have gathered thy children together1 even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings1 and ye would not6 ,behold1 your house is left unto you desolate4 ,for ,i say unto you1 ,ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say1 ,blessed is he that cometh in the name of the ,lord 7verses #cb-ci74 ,thus closes ,messiah's testimony to the apostate nation of ,israel4 ,every effort that love1 even divine love1 could put forth had been tried1 and tried in vain4 ,prophets had been sent1 and stoned2 messenger after messenger had gone and pleaded1 and reasoned1 and warned1 and entreated2 but to no purpose4 ,their mighty words had fallen upon deaf ears and hardened hearts4 ,the only return made to all these messengers was shameful handling1 stoning1 and death4 ,at length1 the ,son ,himself was sent1 and sent with this touching utterance3 ,it may be they will reverence my ,son1 when they see him4 ,did they8 ,alas6 no4 ,when they saw ,him1 there was no beauty that they should desire ,him4 ,the daughter of ,zion had no heart for her ,king4 ,the vineyard was under the control of wicked husbandmen who wanted to keep it for themselves4 ,the husbandmen said among themselves1 ,this is the heir1 come1 let us kill him1 that the inheritance may be ours4 ,thus much as to the moral condition of ,israel1 in view of which our ,lord spoke those unusually awful words quoted above2 and1 then1 ,he went out and departed from the temple4 ,how reluctant he was to do this we know2 for1 blessed be ,his name1 whenever ,he leaves a place of mercy1 or enters a place of judgment1 ,he moves with a slow and measured pace4 ,witness the departure of the glory1 in the opening chapters of ,ezekiel4 ,then the glory of the ,lord departed from off the threshold of the house1 and stood over the cherubims4 ,and the cherubims lifted up their wings1 and mounted up from the earth in my sight2 when they went out1 the wheels also were beside them1 and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the ,lord's house2 and the glory of the ,god of ,israel was over them above 7chap4 x4 #ah1 #ai74 ,then did the cherubims lift up their wings1 and the wheels beside them2 and the glory of the ,god of ,israel was over them above4 ,and the glory of the ,lord went up from the midst of the city1 and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city 7chap4 xi4 #bb1 #bc74 ,thus1 with slow and measured pace1 did the glory of the ,god of ,israel take its departure from the house at ,jerusalem4 ,jehovah lingered near the spot1 reluctant to depart4#bi ,he had come1 with loving alacrity1 with ,his whole heart and with ,his whole soul1 to dwell in the midst of ,his people1 to find a home in the very bosom of ,his assembly2 but ,he was forced away by their sins and iniquities4 ,he would fain have remained2 but it was impossible2 and yet ,he proved1 by the very mode of ,his departure1 how unwilling ,he was to go4 #bi ,contrast with this reluctant departure ,his ready entrance into the tabernacle in ,exodus xl42 and into the temple1 #b ,chron4 vii4 #a4 ,no sooner was the habitation ready for ,him1 than down ,he came to occupy it1 and fill it with ,his glory ,he was as quick to enter as ,he was slow to depart4 ,and not only so1 but ere the book of ,ezekiel closes1 we see the glory coming back again2 and ,jehovah ,shammah stands engraved in everlasting characters upon the gates of the beloved city4 ,nothing changeth ,god's affection4 ,whom ,he loves1 and as ,he loves1 ,he loves to the end4 ,the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever4 ,nor was it otherwise with ,jehovah ,messiah1 in ,matt4 xxiii4 ,witness ,his touching words1 ,how often would ,i have gathered thy children together1 even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings1 and ye would not6 ,here lay the deep secret4 ,i would4 ,this was the heart of ,god4 ,ye would not4 ,this was the heart of ,israel4 ,he1 too1 like the glory in the days of ,ezekiel1 was forced away2 but not1 blessed be ,his name1 without dropping a word which forms the precious basis of hope as to the brighter days to come1 when the glory shall return1 and the daughter of ,zion shall welcome her ,king with joyful accents4 ,blessed is he that cometh in the name of ,jehovah4 ,but1 until that bright day dawn1 darkness1 desolation1 and ruin1 make up the sum of ,israel's history4 ,the very thing which the leaders sought1 by the rejection of ,christ1 to avert1 came upon them1 in stern and awful reality4 ,the ,romans shall come1 and take away both our place and nation ,how literally1 how solemnly this was fulfilled6 ,alas6 their place and their nation were gone already1 and the significant movement of ,jesus1 in ,matt4 xxiv4 #a1 was but the passing sentence1 and writing desolation upon the whole ,jewish system4 ,jesus went out and departed from the temple4 ,the case was hopeless4 ,all must be given up4 ,a long period of darkness and dreariness must pass over the infatuated nation--a period which shall culminate in that great tribulation which must precede the hour of final deliverance4 ,but1 as in the days of ,ezekiel1 there were those who sighed and cried over the sins and sorrows of the nation1 so in the days of ,matt4 xxiv4 there was a remnant of godly souls who attached themselves to the rejected ,messiah1 and who cherished the fond hope of redemption and restoration for ,israel4 ,very dim indeed were their perceptions1 and their thoughts full of confusion4 ,nevertheless their hearts1 as touched by divine grace1 beat true to the ,messiah1 and they were full of hope as to ,israel's future4 ,now1 it is of the utmost importance that the reader should recognize and understand the position of this remnant1 and that it is with it our ,lord is occupied in ,his marvellous discourse on the mount of ,olives4 ,to suppose for a moment that the persons here addressed were on ,christian ground would involve the abandonment of all true thoughts of what ,christianity is1 and the ignoring of a company whose existence is recognized throughout the ,psalms1 the ,prophets1 and various parts of the ,new ,testament4 ,there was1 and there always is1 a remnant according to the election of grace4 ,to quote the passages which present the history1 the sorrows1 the experiences1 and the exercises of that remnant would demand a volume1 and hence we shall not attempt it2 but we are extremely desirous that the reader should seize the thought that this godly remnant is represented by the handful of disciples which gathered round our ,lord on the mount of ,olives4 ,we feel persuaded that if this be not seen1 the true scope1 bearing1 and application of this remarkable discourse must be lost4 ,and ,jesus went out and departed from the temple2 and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple4 ,and ,jesus said unto them1 ,see ye not all these things8 ,verily ,i say unto you there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down4 ,and as he sat upon the mount of ,olives the disciples came unto him privately1 saying1 ,tell us1 when shall these things be8 and what shall be the sign of thy coming1 and of the end of the world 7or age1 78 ,the disciples were1 naturally1 occupied with earthly and ,jewish objects and expectations--the temple and its surroundings4 ,this must be borne in mind if we would understand their question and our ,lord's reply4 ,as yet they had no thought beyond the earthly side of things4 ,they looked for the setting up of the kingdom1 the glory of the ,messiah1 the accomplishment of the promises made to the fathers4 ,they had not yet fully taken in the solemn and momentous fact that the ,messiah was to be cut off and have nothing 7,dan4 ix4 #bf74 ,true1 the blessed ,master had1 from time to time1 sought to prepare their minds for that solemn event4 ,he had faithfully warned them in reference to the dark shadows that were to gather round ,his path4 ,he had told them that the ,son of ,man should be delivered to the ,gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified4 ,but they understood ,him not4 ,such sayings seemed dark1 hard1 and incomprehensible2 and their hearts still fondly clung to the hope of national restoration and blessing4 ,they longed to see the star of ,jacob in the ascendant4 ,their minds were full of expectancy as to the restoration of the kingdom to ,israel4 ,as yet they knew nothing--how could they8--of that which was to spring out of the rejection and death of the ,messiah4 ,the ,lord had no doubt spoken of building an assembly2 but as to the position and privileges of that assembly1 its calling1 its standing1 its hopes1 they knew absolutely nothing4 ,the thought of a body composed of ,jew and ,gentile1 united by the ,holy ,ghost to a living and glorified ,head in the heavens1 had never entered--how could it have entered8--their minds4 ,the middle wall of partition was still standing2 and one of their number--the very foremost amongst them--had1 long after1 to be taught1 with much difficulty1 to take in the idea of even admitting the ,gentiles into the kingdom4 ,all this1 we repeat1 must be taken into account1 if we would read aright our ,lord's reply to the inquiry as to ,his coming and the end of the age4 ,there is not a single syllable about the church1 as such1 from beginning to end of that reply4 ,up to verse #ad1 ,he passes on to the end1 giving a rapid survey of the events which should transpire amongst the nations4 ,take heed1 ,he says1 that no man deceive you4 ,for many shall come in my name saying1 ,i am ,christ2 and shall deceive many4 ,and ye shall hear of wars1 and rumors of wars3 see that ye be not troubled3 for all these things must come to pass1 but the end is not yet4 ,for nation shall rise against nation1 and kingdom against kingdom2 and there shall be famines1 and pestilences1 and earthquakes1 in divers places4 ,all these are the beginning of sorrows4 ,then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted1 and shall kill you3 and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake4 ,and then shall many be offended1 and shall betray one another1 and shall hate one another4 ,and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many4 ,and because iniquity shall abound1 the love of many shall wax cold4 ,but he that shall endure to the end1 the same shall be saved4 ,and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations3 and then shall the end come4 ,here then we have a most comprehensive sketch of the entire period from the moment in which our ,lord was speaking1 down to the time of the end4 ,but the reader will need to bear in mind that there is an unnoticed interval--a parenthesis1 a break--in this period1 during which the great mystery of the church is unfolded4 ,this interval or break is entirely passed over in this discourse1 inasmuch as the time had not arrived for its development4 ,it was as yet hid in ,god1 and could not be unfolded until the ,messiah was finally rejected and cut off from the earth and received up into glory4 ,the entire of this discourse would have its full and perfect accomplishment1 although such a thing as the church had never been heard of4 ,for1 let it never be forgotten1 the church forms no part of the ways of ,god with ,israel and the earth4 ,and as to the allusion1 in verse #ad1 to the preaching of the gospel1 we are not to suppose that it is at all the same thing as ,the glorious gospel of the grace of ,god1 as preached by ,paul4 ,it is styled1 ,this gospel of the kingdom2 and1 moreover1 it is to be preached1 not for the purpose of gathering the church1 but as a witness to all nations4 ,we must not confound things which ,god1 in ,his infinite wisdom1 has made to differ4 ,the church must not be confounded with the kingdom3 nor yet the gospel of the grace of ,god with the gospel of the kingdom4 ,the two things are perfectly distinct2 and1 if we confound them1 we shall understand neither the one nor the other4 ,and1 further1 we would desire to press upon the reader the absolute necessity of seeing the break1 parenthesis1 or unnoticed interval in which the great mystery of the church is inserted4 ,if this be not clearly seen1 ,matt4 xxiv4 cannot be understood4 ,but we must proceed with our ,lord's discourse4 ,at verse #ae1 ,he seems to call ,his hearers back a little1 as it were1 to something very specific--something with which a ,jewish believer would be familiar from the fact of ,daniel's allusion to it4 ,when ye1 therefore1 shall see the abomination of desolation1 spoken of by ,daniel the prophet1 stand in the holy place 7whoso readeth let him understand73 then let them which be in ,judea flee into the mountains4 ,let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house3 neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes4444 ,but pray ye that your flight be not in the winter1 neither on the ,sabbath day4 ,for then shall be great tribulation1 such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time1 no1 nor ever shall be4 ,all this is most definite4 ,the quotation from ,daniel xii4 fixes the application beyond all question4 ,it proves that the reference is not to the siege of ,jerusalem1 under ,titus2 for we read in ,daniel xii4 that1 ,at that time thy people shall be delivered2 and1 most clearly1 they were not delivered in the days of ,titus4 ,no2 the reference is to the time of the end4 ,the scene is laid at ,jerusalem4 ,the persons addressed and contemplated are ,jewish believers--the pious remnant of ,israel1 in the great tribulation1 after the church has left the scene4 ,how can any imagine that the persons here instructed are viewed as on church ground8 ,what force would there be to such in the allusion to the winter or the ,sabbath day8 ,then1 again1 ,if any man shall say unto you1 ,lo1 here is ,christ1 or there1 believe it not4444 ,if they shall say unto you1 ,behold he is in the desert1 go not forth3 ,behold he is in the secret chambers1 believe it not4 ,what possible application could such words have to persons who are instructed to wait for ,god's ,son from heaven1 and who know that ere ,he returns to this earth they shall have met ,him in the clouds and returned with ,him to the ,father's house8 ,could any ,christian1 instructed in his proper hope1 be deceived by persons saying that ,christ is here or there1 in the desert or in the secret chambers8 ,impossible4 ,such a one is looking out for the ,bridegroom to come from heaven2 and he knows that it is wholly out of the question that ,christ can appear on this earth without bringing all ,his people with ,him4 ,thus1 the simple truth settles everything2 and all we want is to be simple in taking it in4 ,the simplest ,christian knows full well that his ,lord will not appear to him like a flash of lightning1 but as the bright and morning ,star1 and hence he understands that ,matt4 xxiv4 cannot apply to the church1 though most surely the church can study it with interest and profit1 as it can all the other prophetic ,scriptures2 and1 we may add1 the interest will be all the more intense1 and the profit all the deeper1 in proportion as we see the true application of such ,scriptures4 ,limited space forbids our entering as fully as we could wish into the remaining portion of this marvellous discourse2 but the more closely each sentence is examined1 the more fully each circumstance is weighed1 the more clearly we must see that the persons addressed are not on proper ,christian ground4 ,the entire scene is earthly and ,jewish1 not heavenly and ,christian4 ,there is ample instruction supplied for those who shall find themselves1 by-and-by1 in the position here contemplated2 and nothing can be clearer than that the entire paragraph1 from verse #ae-db1 refers to the period which shall elapse between the rapture of the saints and the appearing of the ,son of ,man4 ,some may perhaps feel a difficulty in understanding verse #cd3 ,this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled4 ,but we must remember that the word generation is constantly used in ,scripture in a moral sense4 ,it is not to be confined to a certain number of persons actually living at the time1 but takes in the race4 ,in the passage before us it simply applies to the ,jewish race2 but the wording is such as to leave the question of time entirely open1 so that the heart might ever be kept in readiness for the ,lord's coming4 ,there is nothing in ,scripture to interfere with the constant expectation of that grand event4 ,on the contrary1 every parable1 every figure1 every allusion is so worded as to warrant each one to look for the ,lord's return in his own lifetime1 and yet to leave margin for the elongation of the time according to the long-suffering grace of a ,saviour ,god4 ,,christendom ,what varied thoughts and feelings are awakened in the soul by the very sound of the word ,christendom6 ,it is a terrible word4 ,it brings before us1 at once1 that vast mass of baptized profession which calls itself the church of ,god1 but is not2 which calls itself ,christianity1 but is not4 ,christendom is dark and a dreadful anomaly4 ,it is neither one thing nor the other4 ,it is not the ,jew or the ,gentile1 or the church of ,god4 ,it is a corrupt mysterious mixture1 a spiritual malformation1 the masterpiece of ,satan1 the corrupter of the truth of ,god1 and the destroyer of the souls of men1 a trap1 a snare1 a stumbling-block1 the darkest moral blot in the universe of ,god4 ,it is the corruption of the very best thing1 and therefore the very worst of corruptions4 ,it is that thing which ,satan has made of professing ,christianity4 ,it is worse1 by far1 than ,judaism2 worse by far than all the darkest forms of ,paganism1 because it has higher light and richer privileges1 makes the very highest profession1 and occupies the very loftiest platform4 ,finally1 it is that awful apostasy for which is reserved the very heaviest judgments or ,god--the most bitter dregs in the cup of ,his righteous wrath4 ,true it is1 blessed be ,god1 there are a few names even in ,chistendom who1 through grace1 have not denied their garments4 ,there are some brilliant embers amid the smouldering ashes--precious stones amid the terrible dbris4 ,but as to the mass of ,christian profession to which the term ,christendom applies1 nothing can be more appalling1 whether we think of its present condition or its future destiny4 ,we doubt if ,christians generally have anything like an adequate sense of the true character and inevitable doom of that which surrounds them4 ,if they had it would solemnize their minds1 and cause them to feel the urgent need of standing apart1 in holy separation1 from ,christendom's ways1 and distinct testimony against its spirit and principles4 ,but let us turn again to our ,lord's profound discourse on the mount of ,olives1 in which1 as we have already observed1 ,he deals with the subject of the ,christian profession4 ,this ,he does in three distinct parables1 namely1 the household servant2 the ten virgins2 and the talents4 ,in each and all we have the two things noticed above1 the genuine and the spurious2 the true and the false2 the bright and the dark2 that which is of ,christ1 and that which is of ,satan2 that which belongs to heaven and that which emanates from hell4 ,we shall glance at the three parables which embody1 in their brief compass1 a vast mine of most solemn and practical instruction4 ,turn to ,matt4 xxiv4 #de-dg4 ,who1 then1 is a faithful and wise servant1 whom his lord hath made ruler over his household1 to give them meat in due season8 ,blessed is that servant1 whom his lord1 when he cometh shall find so doing4 ,verily ,i say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods4 ,here1 then1 we have at once the source and object of all ministry in the house of ,god4 ,whom his lord hath made ruler4 ,this is the source4 ,to give them meat in due season4 ,this is the object4 ,these things are of the very highest possible moment1 and they are worthy of the reader's most profound thought4 ,all ministry in the house of ,god1 whether in old or ,new ,testament times1 is of divine appointment4 ,there is no such thing recognized in ,scripture as human authority in appointing to the ministry4 ,neither is there such a thing as a self-constituted ministry4 ,none but ,god can make or appoint a minister of any sort or description4 ,thus1 in ,old ,testament times1 ,jehovah appointed ,aaron and his sons to the priesthood2 and if a stranger presumed to meddle with the functions of the holy office1 he was to be put to death4 ,even the king himself dared not touch the priestly censer1 for we are told of ,uzziah1 king of ,judah1 that1 ,when he was strong1 his heart was lifted up to his destruction2 for he transgressed against the ,lord his ,god1 and went into the temple of the ,lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense4 ,and ,azariah the priest went in after him1 and with him fourscore priests of the ,lord1 that were valiant men4 ,and they withstood ,uzziah the king1 and said unto him1 ,it appertaineth not unto thee1 ,uzziah1 to burn incense unto the ,lord1 but to the priests the sons of ,aaron1 that are consecrated to burn incense2 go out of the sanctuary3 for thou hast trespassed3 neither shall it be for thine honor from the ,lord ,god4444 ,and ,uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death 7#b ,chron4 xxvi474 ,such was the solemn result--the awful consequence of man's daring intrusion upon that which was wholly of divine appointment4 ,has this no voice for ,christendom8 ,assuredly it has4 ,it sounds a warning note in our ears4 ,it tells the professing church1 in accents not to be mistaken1 to beware of human intrusion upon a domain which belongs only to ,god4 ,every high priest taken from among men is ordained for not by men in things pertaining to ,god1 that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins4444 ,and no man taketh this honor unto himself1 but he that is called not of men but of ,god1 as was ,aaron4 ,nor was this principle of divine appointment confined to the high and holy office of the tabernacle4 ,no man dare put his hand to the most insignificant part of that sacred structure unless by ,jehovah's direct authority4 ,the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 ,see ,i have called by name ,bezaleel the son of ,uri1 the son of ,hur1 of the tribe of ,judah4 ,nor could ,bezaleel choose his companions in labor1 or appoint whom he would to the work1 any more than he could choose or appoint himself4 ,no2 this1 too1 was divine4 ,and ,i1 says ,jehovah1 behold ,i have given with him ,aholiab4 ,thus ,aholiab1 as well as ,bezaleel1 held his commission immediately from ,jehovah ,himself1 the only true source of all ministerial authority4 ,nor was it otherwise in the case of the prophetic office and ministry4 ,god alone could make1 and fit1 and send a prophet4 ,alas6 there were those of whom ,jehovah had to say1 ,i have not sent them1 yet they ran4 ,they were unhallowed intruders upon the domain of prophecy1 just as there were upon the office of the priesthood2 but all such brought down upon themselves the judgment of ,god4 ,and1 may we not ask1 ,is this great principle changed now8 ,has ministry been shifted from its ancient base8 ,has the living stream been diverted from its divine source8 ,is it true that this more precious and glorious institution has been shorn of its lofty dignities8 ,can it be possible that1 under the times of the ,new ,testament1 ministry has been cast down from its divine excellency8 ,has it become a mere human appointment8 ,can man appoint his fellow1 or appoint himself to any one branch of ministry in the house of ,god8 ,what answer is to be returned to these questions8 ,no doubtful one1 thank ,god2 but a distinct and emphatic ,no6 ,ministry was1 is1 and ever shall be1 divine2 divine in its source2 divine in its nature2 divine in its every feature and principle4 ,there are diversities of gifts1 but the same ,spirit4 ,and there are differences of administrations1 but the same ,lord4 ,and there are diversities of operations1 but it is the same ,god which worketh all in all 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #d-f74 ,but now hath ,god set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him4 ,and ,god hath set some in the church2 first1 apostles2 secondarily prophets2 thirdly1 teachers2 after that1 miracles2 then gifts of healing1 helps1 governments1 diversities of tongues 7verses #ah1 #bh74 ,but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of ,christ4 ,wherefore he saith1 when he ascended up on high1 he led captivity captive1 and gave gifts unto men4444 ,and he gave some1 apostles2 and some1 prophets2 and some1 evangelists2 and some1 pastors and teachers2 for the perfecting of the saints1 for the work of the ministry1 for the edifying of the body of ,christ2 till we all come in the unity of the faith1 and of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god1 unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ 7,eph4 iv4 #g-ac74 ,here lies the grand source of all ministry in the church of ,god1 from first to last--from the foundation laid in grace1 to the topstone1 in glory4 ,it is divine and heavenly1 not human or earthly4 ,it is not of man or by man1 but of ,jesus ,christ1 and ,god the ,father who raised ,him from the dead1 and in the power of the ,holy ,ghost 7see ,gal4 i474 ,there is no such thing recognized in ,scripture as human authority in any one branch of ministry in the church4 ,if it be a question of gift1 it is emphatically stated to be the gift of ,christ4 ,if it be a question of assigned position1 we are1 with equal clearness and emphasis1 told that ,god hath set the members4 ,if it be a question of local charge1 whether elder or deacon1 it was entirely of divine appointment1 by apostolic hands or apostolic delegates4 ,all this is so clear1 so distinct1 so palpable1 on the very surface of ,scripture1 that it is only necessary to say1 ,how readest thou8 ,and the more we penetrate beneath the surface--the more we are conducted by the ,eternal ,spirit into the profound and precious depths of inspiration--the more thoroughly convinced we shall be that ministry1 in its every department and every branch1 is divine in its source1 nature1 and principles4 ,the truth of this shines out in full-orbed brightness1 in the ,epistles2 but we have the germ of it in the words of our ,lord in ,matt4 xxv4 #de1 ,whom his lord hath made ruler over his household4 ,the household belongs to the ,lord1 and ,he alone can appoint the servants1 and this ,he does according to ,his own sovereign will4 ,equally plain is the object of ministry1 as stated in this parable1 and elaborated in the ,epistles4 ,to give them meat in due season4 ,for the edifying of the body of ,christ--that the church may receive edifying4 ,it is this that lies near the loving heart of ,jesus4 ,he would have ,his household perfected--,his church edified--,his body nourished and cherished4 ,for this end1 ,he bestows gifts1 and maintains them in the church1 and will maintain them until they shall be no longer needed4 ,but alas6 alas6 there is a dark side of the picture4 ,for this we must be prepared since we have the picture of ,christendom before us4 ,if there is a faithful1 wise1 and blessed servant1 there is also an evil servant who says in his heart1 ,my lord delayeth his coming4 ,mark this4 ,it is in the heart of the wicked servant that the thought originates as to the delay of the coming4 ,and what is the result8 ,he shall begin to smite his fellow servants1 and to eat and drink with the drunken4 ,how awfully this has been exemplified in the history of ,christendom1 we need not say4 ,instead of true ministry flowing from the risen and glorified ,head in the heavens1 and promoting the edification of the body1 the blessing of souls1 and the prosperity of the household1 we have a false clerical authority1 arbitrary rule1 a lording it over ,god's heritage1 a grasping after this world's wealth and power1 fleshly ease1 self-indulgence1 and personal aggrandizement1 priestly domination in its nameless and numberless forms and practical consequences4 ,the reader will do well to apply his heart to the understanding of these things4 ,he will need to seize1 with clearness and power1 the distinction between clericalism and ministry4 ,the one is a thoroughly human assumption2 the other1 a purely divine institution4 ,the former has its source in man's evil heart2 the latter has its source in a risen and exulted ,saviour1 who1 being raised from the dead1 received gifts for men1 and sheds them forth upon ,his church1 according to ,his own will4 ,that is a positive scourge and curse2 this1 a divine blessing to men4 ,in fine1 this in its root-principle1 flows from heaven and leads back thither2 that in its root-principle flows from hell and leads thither again4 ,all this is most solemn1 and it should exert a mighty influence upon our souls4 ,there is a day coming when the ,lord ,christ will deal1 in summary justice1 with that which man has dared to set up in ,his house4 ,we speak not of individuals--though surely it is a most serious and terrible thing for any one to put his hand unto1 or have aught to do with1 that on which such awful judgment is about to be executed--but we speak of a positive system--a great principle which runs1 in a deep and dark current1 through the length and breadth of the professing church--we speak of clericalism and priestcraft1 in all its forms and in all its ramifications4 ,against this dreadful thing we solemnly warn our readers4 ,no human language can possibly depict the evil of it1 nor can human language adequately set forth the deep blessedness of all true ministry in the church of ,god4 ,the ,lord ,jesus not only bestows ministerial gifts1 but1 in ,his marvellous grace1 ,he will abundantly reward the faithful and diligent exercise of those gifts4 ,but as to that which man has set up1 we read its destiny in those burning words1 ,the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him1 and in an hour that he is not aware of1 and shall cut him asunder1 and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites2 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ,may the gracious ,lord deliver ,his servants and ,his people from all participation in this great wickedness which is perpetrated in the very bosom of that which calls itself the church of ,god4 ,and1 on the other hand1 may ,he lead them to understand1 to appreciate1 and to exercise that true1 that precious1 that divine ministry which emanates from ,himself1 and is designed1 in ,his infinite love1 for the true blessing and growth of that church which is so dear to ,his heart4 ,we are in danger1 very great danger1 while seeking 7as we most surely should7 to keep clear of the evil of clericalism--of rushing into the opposite extreme of despising ministry4 ,this must be carefully guarded against4 ,we have ever to bear in mind that ministry in the church is of ,god4 ,its source is divine4 ,its nature is heavenly and spiritual4 ,its object is the calling out1 the building up of the church of ,god4 ,our ,lord ,christ imparts the varied gifts1 evangelists1 pastors1 and teachers4 ,he holds the great reservoir of spiritual gifts4 ,he has never given it up1 and ,he never will4 ,spite of all that ,satan has wrought in the professing church2 spite of all the actings of that evil servant2 spite of all man's daring assumption of authority which in no wise belongs to him2 spite of all these things1 our risen and glorified ,lord hath the seven stars4 ,he possesses all ministerial gift1 power1 and authority4 ,it is ,he alone who can make any one a minister4 ,unless ,he impart a gift there can be no true ministry4 ,there may be hollow assumption--guilty usurpation--empty affectation--worthless talking2 but not one atom of true1 loving1 divine ministry can there be unless where our sovereign ,lord is pleased to bestow the gift4 ,and even where ,he does bestow the gift that gift must be stirred up1 and diligently cultivated1 else the profiting will not appear unto all4 ,the gift must be exercised in the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 else it will not promote the divinely appointed end4 ,but we are rather anticipating what is yet to come before us in the parable of the talents1 so we shall close here by simply reminding the reader that the weighty subject on which we have been dwelling has direct reference to the coming of our ,lord1 inasmuch as all true ministry is carried on in view of that great and glorious event4 ,and not only so1 but the counterfeit1 the corrupt1 the evil thing will be judicially dealt with when the ,lord ,christ shall appear in ,his glory4 ,,the ,,ten ,,virgins ,we now approach that solemn section of our ,lord's discourse in which ,he presents the kingdom of heaven under the similitude of ,ten ,virgins4 ,the instruction contained in this most weighty and interesting parable is of wider application than that of the servant to which we have already referred1 inasmuch as it takes in the whole range of ,christian profession1 and is not confined to ministry either within the house or outside4 ,it bears directly and pointedly upon ,christian profession1 whether true or false4 ,then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins1 which took their lamps1 and went forth to meet the bridegroom4 ,some have considered that this parable refers to the ,jewish remnant2 but it does not seem that this idea is borne out1 either by the context in which this parable occurs or by the terms in which it is couched4 ,as to the entire context1 the more closely we examine it the more clearly we shall see that the ,jewish portion of the discourse ends with chapter xxiv4 #dd4 ,this is so distinct as not to admit of a question4 ,equally distinct is the ,christian portion1 extending1 as we have seen1 from chapter xxiv4 #de to chapter xxv4 #cj2 while from xxv4 #ca to the end1 we have the ,gentiles4 ,thus the order and fulness of this marvellous discourse must strike any thoughtful reader4 ,it presents the ,jew1 the ,christian1 and the ,gentile1 each on his own distinct ground1 and according to his own distinctive principles4 ,there is no merging of one thing in another1 no confounding of things that differ4 ,in a word1 the order1 the fulness1 and the comprehensiveness of this profound discourse are divine1 and fill the soul with wonder1 love1 and praise4 ,we rise from the study of it1 as a whole1 with those words of the apostle upon our lips1 ,o1 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 how unsearchable are his judgments1 and his ways past finding out4 ,and then1 when we examine the precise terms made use of by our ,lord in the parable of the ten virgins we must see that it applies not to ,jews but to ,christian professors--it applies to us--it utters a voice1 and teaches a solemn lesson to the writer and the reader of these lines4 ,let us apply our hearts thereto4 ,then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins1 which took their lamps1 and went forth to meet the bridegroom4 ,primitive ,christianity was especially characterized by the fact here indicated1 namely1 a going forth to meet a returning and an expected bridegroom4 ,the early ,christians were led to detach themselves from present things1 and go forth1 in the spirit of their minds1 and in the affections of their hearts1 to meet the ,saviour whom they loved1 and for whom they waited4 ,it was not1 of course1 a question of going forth from one place to another2 it was not local1 but moral1 and spiritual4 ,it was the outgoing of the heart after a beloved ,saviour whose return was eagerly looked for day by day4 ,it is impossible to read the epistles to the various churches and not see that the hope of the ,lord's sure and speedy return governed the hearts of the ,lord's dear people in early days4 ,they waited for the ,son from heaven4 ,they knew ,he was to come and take them away1 to be with ,himself forever2 and the knowledge and power of this hope had the effect of detaching their hearts from present things4 ,their bright1 heavenly hope caused them to sit loose to the things of earth4 ,they looked for the ,saviour4 ,they believed that ,he might come at any moment1 and hence the concerns of this life were just to be taken up and attended to for the moment--properly1 thoroughly attended to1 no doubt--but only1 as it were1 on the very tip-toe of expectation4 ,all this is conveyed to our hearts1 briefly but clearly1 by the expression1 ,they went forth to meet the bridegroom4 ,this could not be intelligently applied to the ,jewish remnant1 inasmuch as they will not go forth to meet their ,messiah1 but1 on the contrary1 they will remain in their position and amid their circumstances until ,he come and plant ,his foot on the mount of ,olives4 ,they will not look for the ,lord to come and take them away from this earth to be with ,him in heaven2 but ,he will come to bring deliverance to them in their own land1 and make them happy there under ,his own peaceful and blessed reign during the millennial age4 ,but the call to ,christians was to go forth4 ,they are supposed to be always on the move2 not settling down on the earth1 but going out in earnest and holy aspirations after that heavenly glory to which they are called1 and after the heavenly ,bridegroom to whom they are espoused1 and for whose speedy advent they are taught to wait4 ,such is the true1 the divine1 the normal idea of the ,christian's attitude and state4 ,and this lovely idea was marvellously realized and practically carried out by the primitive ,christians4 ,but alas6 alas6 we are reminded of the fact that we have to do with the spurious as well as the true in ,christendom4 ,there are tares as well as wheat in the kingdom of heaven2 and thus we read of these ten virgins1 that five of them were wise1 and five were foolish4 ,there are the true and the false1 the genuine and the counterfeit1 the real and the hollow1 in professing ,christianity4 ,yes1 and this is to continue unto the time of the end1 until the ,bridegroom come4 ,the tares are not converted into wheat1 nor are the foolish virgins converted into wise ones4 ,no1 never4 ,the tares will be burnt and the foolish virgins shut out4 ,so far from a gradual improvement by the means now in operation--the preaching of the gospel and the various beneficent agencies which are brought to bear upon the world--we find1 from all the parables1 and from the teaching of the entire ,new ,testament1 that the kingdom of heaven presents a most deplorable admixture of evil2 a corrupting process2 a grievous tampering with the work of ,god1 on the part of the enemy2 a positive progress of evil in principle1 in profession1 and in practice4 ,and all this goes on to the end4 ,there are foolish virgins found when the ,bridegroom appears4 ,whence come they if all are to be converted before the ,lord comes8 ,if all are to be brought to the knowledge of the ,lord by the means now in operation1 then how comes it to pass that when the ,bridegroom comes1 there are quite as many foolish as wise8 ,but it will perhaps be said that this is but a parable1 a figure4 ,granted2 but a figure of what8 ,not surely of a whole world converted4 ,to assert this would be to offer a grievous insult to the holy volume1 and to treat our ,lord's solemn teaching in a manner in which we would not dare to treat the teaching of a fellow mortal4 ,no1 reader1 the parable of the ten virgins teaches1 beyond all question1 that when the ,bridegroom comes1 there will be foolish virgins on the scene1 and1 clearly1 if there are foolish virgins1 all cannot have been previously converted4 ,a child can understand this4 ,we cannot see how it is possible1 in the face of even this one parable1 to maintain the theory of a world converted before the coming of the ,bridegroom4 ,but let us look a little closely at these foolish virgins4 ,their history is full of admonition for all ,christian professors4 ,it is very brief1 but awfully comprehensive4 ,they that were foolish took their lamps1 and took no oil with them4 ,there is the outward profession1 but no inward reality--no spiritual life--no unction--no vital link with the source of eternal life--no union with ,christ4 ,there is nothing but the lamp of profession1 and the dry wick of a nominal1 notional1 head belief4 ,this is peculiarly solemn4 ,it bears down with tremendous weight upon that vast mass of baptized profession which surrounds us1 at the present moment1 in which there is so much of outward semblance1 but so little of inward reality4 ,all profess to be ,christians4 ,the lamp of profession may be seen in every hand2 but ah6 how few have the oil in their vessels1 the spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus1 the ,holy ,ghost dwelling in their hearts4 ,without this1 all is utterly worthless and vain4 ,there may be the vary highest profession2 there may be a most orthodox creed2 one may be baptized2 he may receive the ,lord's supper2 be a regularly enrolled and duly recognized member of a ,christian community2 be a ,sunday-school teacher2 an ordained minister of religion2 one may be all this1 and not have one spark of divine life1 not one ray of heavenly light1 not one link with the ,christ of ,god4 ,now there is something peculiarly awful in the thought of having just enough religion to deceive the heart1 deaden the conscience1 and ruin the soul--just enough religion to give a name to live while dead--enough to leave one without ,christ1 without ,god1 and without hope in the world--enough to prop the soul up with a false confidence1 and fill it with a false peace1 until the ,bridegroom come1 and then the eyes are opened when it is too late4 ,thus it is with the foolish virgins4 ,they seem to be very like the wise ones4 ,an ordinary observer might not be able to see any difference1 for the time being4 ,they all set out together4 ,all have lamps4 ,and1 moreover1 all turn aside to slumber and sleep1 the wise as well as the foolish4 ,all rouse up at the midnight cry1 and trim their lamps4 ,thus far there is no apparent difference4 ,the foolish virgins light their lamps--the lamp of profession lighted up with the dry wick of a lifeless1 notional1 nominal faith2 alas6 alas6 a worthless--worse than worthless--thing1 a fatal soul-destroying delusion4 ,but here the grand distinction--the broad line of demarcation--comes out with awful1 yea1 with appalling clearness4 ,the foolish said unto the wise1 ,give us of your oil2 for our lamps are going out 7see margin74 ,this proves that their lamps had been lighted2 for had they not been lighted1 they could not go out4 ,but it was only a false1 flickering1 transient light4 ,it was not fed from a divine source4 ,it was the light of mere lip profession1 fed by a head belief1 lasting just long enough to deceive themselves and others1 and going out at the very moment when they most needed it1 leaving them in the dreadful darkness of eternal night4 ,our lamps are going out4 ,terrible discovery6 ,the ,bridegroom is at hand1 and our lamps are going out4 ,our hollow profession is being made manifest by the light of ,his coming4 ,we thought we were all right4 ,we professed the same faith1 had the same shaped lamp1 the same kind of wick2 but alas6 we now find to our unspeakable horror1 that we have been deceiving ourselves1 that we lack the one thing needful1 the spirit of life in ,christ1 the unction from the ,holy ,one1 the living link with the ,bridegroom4 ,whatever shall we do8 ,o ye wise virgins1 take pity upon us1 and share with us your oil4 ,do1 do1 for mercy's sake1 give us a little1 even one drop of that all-essential thing1 that we may not perish forever4 ,ah6 it is all utterly vain4 ,no one can give of his oil to another4 ,each has just enough for himself4 ,moreover1 it can only be had from ,god ,himself4 ,a man can give light1 but he cannot give oil4 ,this latter is the gift of ,god alone4 ,the wise answered1 saying1 ,not so2 lest there be not enough for us and you3 but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves4 ,and while they went to buy1 the ,bridegroom came2 and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage2 and the door was shut4 ,it is of no use looking to ,christian friends to help us or prop us up4 ,no use in flying hither and thither for some one to lean upon--some holy man1 or some eminent teacher--no use building upon our church1 or our creed1 or our sacraments4 ,we want oil4 ,we cannot do without it4 ,where are we to get it8 ,not from man1 not from the church1 not from the saints1 not from the fathers4 ,we must get it from ,god2 and ,he1 blessed be ,his name1 gives freely4 ,the gift of ,god is eternal life1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,but1 mark1 it is an individual thing4 ,each must have it for himself4 ,no man can believe1 or get life for another4 ,each must have to do with ,god for himself4 ,the link which connects the soul with ,christ is intensely individual4 ,there is no such thing as second-hand faith4 ,a man may teach us religion1 or theology1 or the letter of ,scripture2 but he cannot give us oil2 he cannot give us faith2 he cannot give us life4 ,it is the gift of ,god4 ,precious little word1 gift4 ,it is like ,god4 ,it is free as ,god's air2 free as ,his sunlight2 free as ,his refreshing dew-drops4 ,but1 we repeat1 and with solemn emphasis1 each one must get it for himself1 and have it in himself4 ,none can by any means redeem his brother1 nor give to ,god a ransom for him3 that he should still live forever and not see corruption4 ,for the redemption of their soul is precious1 and it ceaseth forever 7,psalm xlix4 #g-i74 ,reader1 what sayest thou to these solemn realities8 ,art thou a wise or a foolish virgin8 ,hast thou gotten life in a risen and glorified ,saviour4 ,art thou a mere professor of religion1 content with the mere ordinary dead routine of church-going1 having just sufficient religion to make thee respectable on earth1 but not enough to link thee with heaven8 ,we earnestly beseech thee to think seriously of these things4 ,think of them now4 ,think how unspeakably dreadful it will be to find thy lamp of profession going out and leaving thee in obscure darkness--darkness that may be felt--the outer darkness of an everlasting night4 ,how terrible to find the door shut behind that brilliant train which shall go in to the marriage2 but shut in thy face6 ,how agonizing the cry1 ,lord1 ,lord1 open unto us6 ,how withering1 how crushing the response1 ,i know you not4 ,o1 beloved friend1 do give these weighty matters a place in thy heart now1 while yet the door is open1 and while yet the day of grace is lengthened out in ,god's marvellous long suffering4 ,the moment is rapidly approaching in the which the door of mercy shall be closed against thee forever1 when all hope shall be gone1 and thy precious soul be plunged in black and eternal despair4 ,may ,god's spirit rouse thee from thy fatal slumber1 and give thee no rest until thou findest it in the finished work of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and at ,his blessed feet in adoration and worship4 ,we must now draw this paper to a close2 but1 ere doing so1 we shall just for a moment glance at the wise virgins4 ,the great distinguishing feature which1 according to the teaching of this parable1 marks them off from the foolish virgins is that when starting at the first they took oil in their vessels with their lamps4 ,in other words1 what distinguishes true believers from mere professors is that the former have in their hearts the grace of ,god's ,holy ,spirit2 they have gotten the spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus2 and the ,holy ,ghost dwelling in them as the seal1 the earnest1 the unction1 and the witness4 ,this grand and glorious fact characterizes now all true believers in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ--a stupendous1 wondrous fact1 most surely--an immense and ineffable privilege1 which should ever bow our souls in holy adoration before our ,god and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 whose accomplished redemption has procured for us this great blessing4 ,but how sad to think that1 notwithstanding this high and holy privilege1 we should have to read1 as in the words of our parable1 ,they all slumbered and slept6 ,all alike1 wise as well as foolish1 fell asleep4 ,the ,bridegroom tarried1 and all1 without exception1 lost the freshness1 fervor1 and power of the hope of ,his coming1 and fell fast asleep4 ,such is the statement of our parable1 and such is the solemn fact of the history4 ,the whole professing body fell asleep4 ,that blessed hope which shone so brightly on the horizon of the early ,christians1 very speedily waned and faded away2 and as we scan the page of church history for eighteen centuries1 from the ,apostolic ,fathers to the opening of the current century1 we look in vain for any intelligent reference to the church's specific hope--the personal return of the blessed ,bridegroom4 ,in fact1 that hope was virtually lost to the church2 nay1 more1 it became almost a heresy to teach it4 ,and even now1 in these last days1 there are hundreds of thousands of professed ministers of ,christ who dare not preach or teach the coming of the ,lord as it is taught in ,scripture4 ,true it is1 blessed be ,god1 we notice a mighty change within the last half century4 ,there has been a great awakening4 ,god is1 by ,his ,holy ,spirit1 recalling ,his people to long-forgotten truths1 and amongst the rest1 to the glorious truth of the coming of the ,bridegroom4 ,many are now seeing that the reason why the ,bridegroom tarried was simply because ,god was long-suffering to usward1 not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance4 ,precious reason6 ,but they are also seeing that1 spite of this long-suffering1 our ,lord is at hand4 ,christ is coming4 ,the midnight cry has gone forth1 ,behold1 the ,bridegroom cometh2 go ye out to meet him4 ,may millions of voices re-echo the soul-stirring cry until it passes in its mighty moral power1 from pole to pole1 and from the river to the ends of the earth1 rousing the whole church to wait1 as one man1 for the glorious appearing of the blessed ,bridegroom of our hearts4 ,brethren beloved in the ,lord1 awake6 awake6 ,let every soul be roused4 ,let us shake off the sloth and the slumber of worldly ease and self-indulgence--let us rise above the withering influence of religious formality and dull routine--let us fling aside the dogmas of false theology1 and go forth1 in the spirit of our minds and in the affections of our hearts1 to meet our returning ,bridegroom4 ,may ,his own solemn words come with fresh power to our souls1 ,watch therefore1 for ye know neither the day nor the hour4 ,may the language of our hearts and our lives be1 ,even so1 come1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,the dark stream of evil is flowing apace3 ,awake1 and be doing1 ye children of grace1 ,let's seek with compassion the souls that are lost1 ,well knowing the price their redemption has cost4 ,while singing with rapture the ,saviour's great love1 ,and waiting for ,him to translate us above-- ,it may be to-morrow1 or even to-night-- ,let our loins be well girded1 and lamps burning bright4 ,,the ,,talents ,it only remains for us now to consider that portion of our ,lord's discourse in which ,he again takes up the deeply solemn subject of ministerial responsibility during the time of ,his absence4 ,that this stands closely connected with the hope of ,his coming is evident from the fact that having summed up the parable of the ten virgins with these most weighty words1 ,watch therefore1 for ye know neither the day nor the hour1 ,he goes on to say1 ,for as a man travelling into a far country1 who called his servants1 and delivered unto them his goods4 ,there is a material difference between the parable of the talents and that of the servant in chapter xxiv4 #de-ea4 ,in the latter1 we have ministry inside the house4 ,in the former1 on the other hand1 we have ministry abroad in the world4 ,but in each we find the grand foundation of all ministry1 namely1 the gift and authority of ,christ4 ,he called ,his own servants1 and delivered unto them ,his goods4 ,the servants are ,his1 and the goods are ,his4 ,no one but the ,lord ,christ can put a man into the ministry1 as none but ,he can impart spiritual gift4 ,it is utterly impossible for any one to be a minister of ,christ unless ,he calls him and fits him for the work4 ,this is so plain as not to admit of a single question4 ,a man may be a minister of religion2 he may preach the doctrines of the gospel1 and teach theology2 but a minister of ,christ he cannot possibly be unless ,christ calls him to1 and gifts him for1 the work4 ,if it be a question of ministry inside the house1 it is whom his lord hath made ruler over his house4 ,and if it be a question of ministry abroad in the world1 we are told that ,he called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods4 ,this great root-principle of ministry is powerfully embodied in these words of one of the greatest ministers that ever lived1 when he says1 ,i thank ,christ ,jesus our ,lord1 who hath enabled me1 for that he counted me faithful1 putting me into the ministry 7#a ,tim4 i4 #ab74 ,thus it must be in every case1 whatever be the measure1 the character1 or the sphere of ministry4 ,the ,lord ,christ alone can put any one into the ministry1 and enable him to fulfil it4 ,if it be not this1 it will be either a man putting himself into the ministry1 or his fellow man doing it1 both of which are alike opposed to the mind of ,god1 and to all the principles of the true ministry as taught in the word4 ,if we are to be guided by ,scripture1 we must see that all ministry in or out of the house must be by divine appointment and divine ability4 ,if it be not thus1 it is worse than worthless4 ,a man may set himself up as a minister1 or he may be set up by his fellows2 but it is all utterly vain4 ,it is not from heaven--it is not of ,god--it is not by ,jesus ,christ2 and1 in the sequel1 it will be made manifest and judged as a most horrible and daring usurpation4 ,it is of the very last importance that the ,christian reader should thoroughly seize this grand principle of ministry4 ,it is as simple as it is solemn4 ,and1 moreover1 that it rests on a basis truly divine cannot be questioned by any one who bows down--as every ,christian ought--with unqualified and absolute submission1 to the authority of the divine word4 ,let the reader take his ,bible1 and read carefully every line therein which bears upon the subject of ministry4 ,if he turns to the parable of the house-steward1 he will read1 ,whom his lord hath made ruler4 ,he does not make himself ruler2 neither is he appointed by his fellows4 ,the appointment is divine4 ,so1 also1 in the parable of the talents1 the master calls his own servants1 and delivers unto them his goods4 ,the call and the equipment are divine4 ,we have another aspect of the same truth in ,luke xix4 ,a certain nobleman went into a far country1 to receive for himself a kingdom1 and to return4 ,and he called his ten servants1 and delivered them ten pounds1 and said unto them1 ,occupy till ,i come4 ,the difference between ,luke and ,matthew appears to be this3 in the former1 human responsibility2 in the latter1 divine sovereignty is prominent4 ,but in both the great root-principle is distinctly maintained and unanswerably established1 namely1 that all ministry is by divine appointment4 ,the same truth meets us in the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,when one was to be appointed to fill the place of ,judas1 the appeal is made to ,jehovah1 ,thou1 ,lord1 which knowest the hearts of all1 show whether of these two thou hast chosen2 that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship4 ,and even where it is a question of local charge1 as of deacons1 in chapter vi41 or of elders1 in chapter xiv41 it is by direct apostolic appointment4 ,in other words1 it is divine4 ,a man could not even appoint himself to a deaconship1 much less to an eldership4 ,in the case of the former1 inasmuch as the deacons were to take charge of the people's property1 these latter were1 in the grace and lovely moral order of the ,spirit1 permitted to select men in whom they could confide2 but the appointment was divine1 whether of deacons or elders4 ,thus1 whether it be a question of gift or of local charge1 all rests on a purely divine basis4 ,this is the all-important point4 ,again1 if we turn to the ,epistles1 the same great truth shines in full and undimmed lustre before us4 ,thus1 at the opening of ,romans xii41 we read1 ,for ,i say1 through the grace given unto me1 to every man that is among you1 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think2 but to think soberly1 according as ,god hath dealt to every man the measure of faith4 ,for as we have many members in one body1 and all members have not the same office2 so we being many1 are one body in ,christ1 and every one members one of another4 ,having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given us1 etc4 ,in #a ,cor4 xii4 we read1 ,but now hath ,god set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him 7verse #ah74 ,and again1 ,god hath set some in the church1 first1 apostles1 etc4 7verse #bh74 ,so also in ,ephesians iv41 ,but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of ,christ4 ,all these ,scriptures1 and many more that might be quoted1 go to establish the truth which we are intensely anxious to impress upon our readers1 namely1 that ministry in all its departments1 is divine--is of ,god--is from heaven--is by ,jesus ,christ4 ,there is positively no such thing in the ,new ,testament as human authority to minister in the church of ,god4 ,turn where we may1 throughout its sacred pages1 and we find only the same blessed doctrine as is contained in that one brief sentence in our parable1 ,he called his own servants1 and delivered unto them his goods4 ,the whole ,new ,testament doctrine of ministry is embodied here2 and we earnestly entreat the ,christian reader to let this doctrine take full possession of his soul1 and exert its full sway over his conduct1 course and character4#cj #cj ,we do not1 by any means1 restrict the application of the talents to direct1 specific1 spiritual gifts4 ,we believe the parable takes in the wide range of ,christian service3 just as the parable of the ten virgins takes in the wide range of ,christian profession4 ,but it may perhaps be asked1 ,is there no adaptation of the vessel to the ministerial gift deposited therein8 ,unquestionably there is2 and this very adaptation is distinctly presented in the words of our parable1 ,unto one he gave five talents1 to another two1 and to another one2 to every man according to his several ability4 ,this is a point of deepest interest1 and it must never be lost sight of4 ,the ,lord knows what use ,he means to make of a man4 ,he knows the character of gift which ,he purposes to deposit in the vessel1 and ,he shapes the vessel and moulds the man accordingly4 ,we cannot doubt that ,paul was a vessel specially formed of ,god for the place he was afterwards to fill1 and the work he had to do4 ,and so in every case4 ,if ,god designs a man to be a public speaker1 ,he gives him lungs1 ,he gives him a voice1 ,he gives him a physical constitution adapted to the work which ,he designs him to do4 ,the gift is from ,god2 but there is always the most distinct reference to the ability of the man4 ,if this be lost sight of1 our apprehension of the true character of ministry will be very defective indeed4 ,we must never forget the two things1 namely1 the divine gift1 and the human vessel in which the gift is deposited4 ,there is the sovereignty of ,god1 and the responsibility of man4 ,how perfect and how beautiful are all the ways of ,god6 ,but alas6 alas6 man mars everything1 and the touch of the human finger only dims the lustre of divine workmanship4 ,still1 let us never forget that ministry is divine in its source1 its nature1 its power1 and its object4 ,if the reader rises from this paper convinced in heart and soul of this grand truth1 we have so far gained our object in penning it4 ,but it is not improbable the question may be asked1 ,what has all this subject of ministry to do with the ,lord's coming8 ,much every way4 ,does not our blessed ,lord introduce the subject again and again1 in ,his discourse on the mount of ,olives8 ,and is not this entire discourse a reply to the question of the disciples1 ,what shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the age8 ,is not ,his coming the great prominent point of the discourse as a whole1 and of each section of it in particular8 ,unquestionably4 ,and what1 we may ask1 is the next prominent theme8 ,is it not ministry8 ,look at the parable of the servant made ruler over the household4 ,how is he to serve8 ,in view of his ,lord's return4 ,the ministry links itself on1 as it were1 to the departing and the return of the ,master4 ,it stands between1 and is to be characterized by1 these two grand events4 ,and what is it that leads to failure in the ministry8 ,losing sight of the ,lord's return4 ,the evil servant says in his heart1 ,my ,lord delayeth ,his coming1 and1 as a consequence1 he begins to smite his fellow servants1 and to eat and drink with the drunken4 ,so also in the parable of the talents4 ,the solemn and soul-stirring word is ,occupy till ,i come4 ,in short1 we learn that ministry1 whether in the house of ,god or abroad in the world1 is to be carried on in full view of the ,lord's return4 ,after a long time the lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them4 ,all the servants are to keep continually before their minds the solemn fact that there is a reckoning time coming4 ,this will regulate their thoughts and feelings in reference to every branch of their ministry4 ,hearken to the following weighty words in which one servant seeks to animate another1 ,i charge thee therefore before ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom3 preach the word2 be instant in season1 out of season2 reprove1 rebuke1 exhort1 with all long-suffering and doctrine4 ,for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine2 but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers1 having itching ears4 ,and they shall turn away their ears from the truth1 and shall be turned unto fables4 ,but watch thou in all things1 endure afflictions1 do the work of an evangelist1 make full proof of thy ministry4 ,for ,i am now ready to be offered1 and the time of my departure is at hand4 ,i have fought a good fight4 ,i have finished my course1 ,i have kept the faith4 ,henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness1 which the ,lord1 the righteous judge1 shall give me at that day2 and not to me only1 but unto all them also that love his appearing 7#b ,tim4 iv4 #a-h74 ,does not this touching and weighty passage show how intimately the subject of ministry stands connected with the ,lord's coming8 ,the blessed apostle--the most devoted1 gifted1 and effective workman that ever wrought in the vineyard of ,christ--the most skillful steward that ever handled the mysteries of ,god--the wise master builder--the great minister of the church and preacher of the gospel--the incomparable servant--this rare and precious vessel carried on his work1 fulfilled his ministry1 and discharged his holy responsibilities in full view of that day4 ,he looked forward1 and is still looking1 to that solemn and glorious occasion when the ,righteous ,judge shall place on his brow the crown of righteousness4 ,and he adds1 with such affecting sweetness1 not to me only1 but unto all them also that love his appearing4 ,this is peculiarly touching4 ,there will be a crown of righteousness in that day1 not merely for the gifted1 laborious1 and devoted ,paul1 but for every one that loves the appearing of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,no doubt ,paul shall have gems in his crown of peculiar lustre2 but1 lest any one should think that the crown of righteousness was only for ,paul1 he adds these lovely words1 unto all them also that love his appearing4 ,the ,lord be praised for such words6 ,may they have the effect of stirring up our hearts1 not only to love the appearing of our ,lord1 but also to serve with more intense and whole-hearted devotedness in view of that glorious day6 ,that the two things are very closely connected we may see in the sequel of the parable of the talents4 ,we can do little more than quote the words of our ,lord4 ,when the servants had received the talents1 we read1 ,then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same1 and made them other five talents4 ,and likewise he that had received two1 he also gained other two4 ,but he that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his lord's money4 ,after a long time the lord of those servants cometh1 and reckoneth with them4 ,and so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents1 saying1 ,lord1 thou deliveredst unto me five talents2 behold ,i have gained besides them five talents more4 ,his lord said unto him1 ,well done1 good and faithful servant3 thou hast been faithful over a few things1 ,i will make thee ruler over many things3 enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,he also that had received two talents came and said1 ,lord1 thou deliveredst unto me two talents2 behold1 ,i have gained two other talents beside them4 ,his lord said unto him1 ,well done1 good and faithful servant3 thou hast been faithful over a few things2 ,i will make thee ruler over many things3 enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,it is interesting and instructive to note the difference between the parable of the talents as given in ,matthew1 and the parable of the ten servants1 in ,luke xix4 ,in the former1 it is a question of divine sovereignty2 in the latter1 of human responsibility4 ,in that1 each receives a like sum2 in this1 one receives five1 another two1 according to the master's will4 ,then1 when the day of reckoning comes1 we find in ,luke a definite reward according to the work2 whereas in ,matthew1 the word is1 ,i will make thee ruler over many things2 enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,they are not told what they are to have1 or how many things they are to rule over4 ,the master is sovereign both in ,his gifts and rewards2 and the crowning point of all is1 ,enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,this1 to a heart that loves the ,lord1 is beyond everything4 ,true1 there will be the ten cities and the five cities4 ,there will be ample1 distinct1 and definite reward for responsibility discharged1 service rendered1 and work done4 ,all will be rewarded4 ,but above and beyond all1 shines this precious word1 ,enter thou into the joy of thy lord4 ,no reward can possibly come up to this4 ,the sense of the love that breathes in these words will lead each one to cast his crown of righteousness at the feet of his ,lord4 ,the very crown which the righteous ,judge shall give1 we shall willingly cast at the feet of a loving ,saviour and ,lord4 ,one smile from ,him will touch the heart far more deeply and powerfully than the brightest crown that could be placed on the brow4 ,but one word ere we close4 ,who would not work8 ,who hid his lord's money8 ,who proved to be a wicked and slothful servant8 ,the man who did not know his master's heart--his master's character--his master's love4 ,then he which had received the one talent1 came and said1 ,lord1 ,i know thee1 8 that thou art an hard man1 reaping where thou hast not sown1 and gathering where thou hast not strewed2 and ,i was afraid1 and went and hid thy talent in the earth3 lo1 there thou hast that is thine4 ,his ,lord answered and said unto him1 ,thou wicked and slothful servant1 thou knewest that ,i reap where ,i sowed not1 and gather where ,i have not strewed4 ,thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers1 and then at my coming1 ,i should have received mine own with usury4 ,take therefore the talent from him1 and give it unto him which hath ten talents4 ,for unto every one that hath shall be given1 and he shall have abundance2 but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath4 ,and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness3 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ,how awfully solemn6 ,how striking the contrast between the two servants6 ,one knows1 and loves1 and trusts1 and serves his ,lord4 ,the other belies1 fears1 distrusts1 and does nothing4 ,the one enters into the joy of his lord1 the other is cast out into outer darkness1 into the place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth4 ,how solemn6 ,how soul-subduing is all this6 ,and when does it all come out8 ,when the ,master returns6 ,,note4--,we may add1 in connection with the foregoing remarks1 on ministry1 that every ,christian has his and her own specific place and work to do4 ,all are solemnly responsible to the ,lord to know their place and fill it1 to know their work and do it4 ,this is a plain practical truth1 and most fully confirmed by the principle upon which we have been insisting1 namely1 that all ministry and all work must be received from the ,master's hand1 carried on under ,his eye1 and in full view of ,his coming4 ,these things must never be forgotten4 ,,concluding ,,remarks ,we must now draw this series of papers to a close2 and it is with a strong feeling of reluctance that we do so4 ,the theme is intensely interesting1 deeply practical1 and abundantly fruitful4 ,moreover1 it is very suggestive1 and opens up an extensive field of vision for the spiritual mind to range through with an interest that never flags1 because the subject is inexhaustible4 ,however1 we must1 for the present at least1 close our meditations on this most marvellous line of truth2 but ere doing so1 we are anxious to call the reader's attention1 as briefly as possible1 to one or two things which have been barely hinted at in the progress of these papers4 ,we should not think of recalling them were it not that we deem them not only interesting1 but of real practical value in helping to a clearer understanding of many branches of the great subject which has been engaging our attention4 ,and first1 then1 the reader who has travelled in company with us through the various branches of our subject will remember a cursory reference to what we ventured to call an unnoticed interval--break--or parenthesis in the dealings of ,god with ,israel and with the earth4 ,this is a point of the deepest interest2 and we hope to be able to show the reader that it is not some curious question1 a dark mysterious subject1 or a favorite notion of some special school of prophetic interpretation4 ,quite the contrary4 ,we consider it to be a point which throws a flood of light on very many branches of our general subject4 ,such we have found it for ourselves1 and as such we desire to present it to our readers4 ,indeed we strongly question if any one can rightly understand prophecy or his own true position and bearings1 who does not see the unnoticed interval or break above referred to4 ,but let us turn directly to the word1 and open at chapter ix4 of the book of ,daniel4 ,the opening verses of this remarkable section show us the beloved servant of ,god in profound exercise of soul in reference to the sad condition of his much loved people ,israel--a condition into which1 through the ,spirit of ,christ1 he most thoroughly enters4 ,though not having himself personally participated in these actings which had brought ruin upon the nation1 yet he identifies himself1 most completely1 with the people1 and makes their sins his own in confession and self-judgment before his ,god4 ,we cannot attempt to quote from ,daniel's remarkable prayer and confession on this occasion2 but the subject which immediately concerns us now is introduced in verse #bj4 ,and while ,i was speaking1 and praying1 and confessing my sin and the sin of my people ,israel1 and presenting my supplication before the ,lord my ,god for the holy mountain of my ,god2 yea1 while ,i was speaking in prayer1 even the man ,gabriel1 whom ,i had seen in the vision at the beginning1 being caused to fly swiftly1 touched me about the time of the evening oblation4 ,and he informed me and talked with me1 and said4 ,o ,daniel1 ,i am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding4 ,at the beginning of thy supplications the commandments came forth1 and ,i am come to show thee2 for thou art greatly beloved3 therefore understand the matter1 and consider the vision4 ,seventy weeks are determined or portioned out upon thy people1 and upon thy holy city1 to finish the transgression1 and to make an end of sins1 and to make reconciliation for iniquity1 and to bring in everlasting righteousness1 and to seal up the vision and prophecy1 and to anoint the ,most ,holy4 ,now we cannot1 in our limited space1 enter upon any elaborate argument to prove that the seventy weeks1 in the above quotation1 mean really four hundred and ninety years4 ,we assume this to be the fact4 ,we believe that ,gabriel was commissioned to instruct the beloved prophet1 and to inform him of the fact that1 from the going forth of the decree to rebuild ,jerusalem1 a period of four hundred and ninety years was to elapse1 and that then ,israel would be brought into blessing4 ,this is as simple and definite as anything can be4 ,we may assert1 with all possible confidence1 that it is not so certain that the sun shall rise1 at the appointed moment1 to-morrow morning1 as that at the close of the period above named by the angelic messenger1 ,daniel's people shall be brought into blessing4 ,it is as sure as the throne of ,god4 ,nothing can hinder4 ,not all the powers of earth and hell combined shall be allowed to stand in the way of the full and perfect accomplishment of the word of ,god by the mouth of ,gabriel4 ,when the last sand of the four hundred and ninetieth year shall have run out of the glass1 ,israel shall enter upon the possession of all their destined pre-eminence and glory4 ,it is impossible to read ,daniel ix4 #bd1 and not see this4 ,but1 it may be1 the reader feels disposed to ask--and ask1 too1 with astonishment1 ,have not the four hundred and ninety years expired long ago8 ,we reply1 ,certainly not4 ,had they done so1 ,israel would be now in their own land1 under the blessed reign of their own loved ,messiah4 ,scripture cannot be broken2 nor can we play fast and loose with its statements1 as though they might mean anything or everything1 or nothing at all4 ,the word is precise4 ,seventy weeks are portioned out upon thy people4 ,neither more nor less than seventy weeks4 ,if this be taken to mean literal weeks1 the passage has no sense or meaning whatever4 ,it would be an insult to our readers to occupy time in combating such an absurdity as this4 ,but if1 as we are most thoroughly persuaded1 ,gabriel meant seventy weeks of years1 then have we a period most distinct and definite before us--a period extending from the moment in which ,cyrus issued his decree to restore ,jerusalem1 to the moment of ,israel's restoration4 ,still1 however1 the reader may feel led to ask1 ,how can these things be8 ,it is very much more than four hundred and ninety years1 four times told1 since the king of ,persia issued his decree1 and yet there is no sign of ,israel's restoration4 ,there must surely be some other mode of interpreting the seventy weeks4 ,we can only repeat our statement1 that the four hundred and ninety years are not out yet4 ,there has been a break--a parenthesis--a long unnoticed interval4 ,let the reader look closely at ,daniel ix4 #be1 #bf2 ,know therefore and understand1 that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build ,jerusalem1 unto the ,messiah the ,prince1 shall be seven weeks #di years and threescore and two weeks #dcd years2 the street shall be built again1 and the wall1 even in troublous times2 or1 as the margin reads it1 in strait of times1 that is1 the street and the wall of ,jerusalem were built in the shorter of the two periods named1 or in forty-nine years4 ,and after threescore and two weeks #dcd years from the rebuilding of ,jerusalem1 shall ,messiah be cut off1 and have nothing 7see margin74 ,here then we reach the marked1 memorable1 and solemn epoch4 ,the ,messiah1 instead of being received1 is cut off4 ,in place of ascending the throne of ,david1 ,he goes to the cross4 ,instead of entering upon the possession of all the promises1 ,he has nothing4 ,his only portion--so far as ,israel and the earth were concerned--was the cross1 the vinegar1 the spear1 the borrowed grave4 ,messiah was rejected1 cut off1 and had nothing4 ,what then8 ,god signified ,his sense of this act1 by suspending for a time ,his dispensational dealings with ,israel4 ,the course of time is interrupted4 ,there is a great gap4 ,four hundred and eighty-three years are fulfilled2 seven yet remain--a cancelled week1 and all the time since the death of the ,messiah has been an unnoticed interval--a break or parenthesis1 during which ,christ has been hidden in the heavens1 and the ,holy ,ghost has been working on earth in forming the body of ,christ1 the church1 the heavenly bride4 ,when the last member shall have been incorporated into this body1 the ,lord ,himself shall come and receive ,his people to ,himself1 to conduct them back to the ,father's house1 there to be with ,him in the ineffable communion of that blessed home1 while ,god will1 by ,his governmental dealings1 prepare ,israel and the earth for the introduction of the ,first-begotten into the world4 ,now as to this interval and all that was to occur therein1 ,gabriel maintains a profound reserve4 ,whether he understood aught of it is not the question4 ,it is clear he was not commissioned to speak of it1 inasmuch as the time was not come for so doing4 ,he passes1 with marvellous and mysterious abruptness1 over ages and generations--steps from headland to headland of the prophetic chart1 and dismisses in a short sentence or two1 a lengthened period of nearly two thousand years4 ,the siege of ,jerusalem by the ,romans is thus briefly noticed1 ,the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary4 ,then1 a period which has already lasted for eighteen centuries is thus disposed of1 ,and the end thereof shall be with a flood1 and unto the end of the war desolations are determined4 ,then1 with intense rapidity1 we are conducted on to the time of the end1 when the last of the seventy weeks1 the last seven of the four hundred and ninety years1 shall be accomplished4 ,and he the ,prince shall confirm the covenant with many of the ,jews for one week seven years2 and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease1 and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate1 even until the consummation1 and that determined shall be poured upon the desolator 7margin74 ,here then we reach the end of the four hundred and ninety years which were determined or portioned out upon ,daniel's people4 ,to attempt to interpret this period without seeing the break and the long unnoticed interval1 must of necessity plunge the mind in utter confusion4 ,it cannot possibly be done4 ,numberless theories have been started2 endless calculations and speculations have been attempted2 but in vain4 ,the four hundred and ninety years are not accomplished yet2 nor will they have their accomplishment until the church has left this scene altogether1 and gone to be with her ,lord in her bright heavenly home4 ,revelation iv41 v4 show us the place which the heavenly saints shall occupy during the last of ,daniel's seventy weeks2 while from chapter vi4-xviii4 we have the various actings of ,god in government1 preparing ,israel and the earth for the bringing in of the first-begotten in the world4#ca #ca ,it is1 we are aware1 a question among the expositors1 whether the events detailed in ,revelation vi4-xviii4 will occupy a whole week or only a half4 ,we do not here attempt to offer an opinion4 ,some consider that the public ministry of ,john the ,baptist and that of our ,lord occupied a week1 or seven years1 and that in consequence of ,israel's rejection of both1 the week is cancelled1 and remains yet to be fulfilled4 ,it is an interesting question2 but it in no wise affects the great principles which have been before us1 or the interpretation of the book of ,revelation4 ,we may add that the expressions forty and two months--twelve hundred and sixty days--time1 times1 and the dividing of time indicate the period of half a week1 or three years and a half4 ,we are very anxious to make these matters clear to the reader4 ,it has greatly helped us in the understanding of prophecy1 and cleared away many difficulties4 ,we feel thoroughly persuaded that no one can understand the book of ,daniel1 or indeed the general scope of prophecy1 who does not see that the last of the seventy weeks remains to be fulfilled4 ,not one jot or tittle of ,god's word can ever pass away1 and seeing ,he has declared that seventy weeks were portioned out upon ,daniel's people1 and that at the close of that period they should be brought into blessing1 it is plain that this period is not yet expired4 ,but unless we see the break1 and the dropping of time1 consequent upon the rejection of the ,messiah1 we cannot possibly make out the fulfilment of ,daniel's seventy weeks1 or four hundred and ninety years4 ,another important fact for the reader to seize is this1 the church forms no part of the ways of ,god with ,israel and the earth4 ,the church does not belong to time1 but to eternity4 ,she is not earthly1 but heavenly4 ,she is called into existence during an unnoticed interval--a break or parenthesis consequent upon the cutting off of the ,messiah4 ,to speak after the manner of men1 if ,israel had received the ,messiah1 then the seventy weeks or four hundred and ninety years would have been fulfilled2 but ,israel rejected her ,king1 and ,god has retired to ,his place until they acknowledge their iniquity4 ,he has suspended ,his public dealings with ,israel and the earth1 though most surely controlling all things by ,his providence1 and keeping ,his eye upon the seed of ,abraham1 ever beloved for the fathers' sake4 ,meanwhile ,he is calling out from ,jews and ,gentiles that body called the church1 to be the companion of ,his ,son in heavenly glory--to be thoroughly identified with ,him in ,his present rejection from this earth1 and to wait in holy patience for ,his glorious advent4 ,all this marks off the ,christian's position in the most definite manner possible4 ,his portion and his prospects1 too1 are thus defined with equal clearness4 ,it is vain to look into the prophetic page in order to find the church's position1 her calling1 or her hope4 ,they are not there4 ,it is entirely out of place for the ,christian to be occupied with dates and historic events1 as though he were in anywise involved therein4 ,no doubt1 all these things have their proper place and their value1 and their interest1 as connected with ,god's dealings with ,israel and with the earth4 ,but the ,christian must never lose sight of the fact that he belongs to heaven1 that he is inseparably linked with an earth-rejected1 heaven-accepted ,christ--that his life is hid with ,christ in ,god--that it is his holy privilege to be looking out1 daily and hourly1 for the coming of his ,lord4 ,there is nothing to hinder the realization of that blissful hope at any moment4 ,there is but one thing that causes the delay1 and that is1 the long-suffering of our ,lord1 not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance--precious words these for a lost and guilty world6 ,the salvation is ready to be revealed2 and ,god is ready to judge4 ,there is nothing now to wait for but the gathering in of the last elect one1 and then--oh6 most blessed thought--our own dear and loving ,saviour will come and receive us to ,himself to be with ,him where ,he is1 and to go no more out forever4 ,then when the church has gone to be with her ,lord in the heavenly home1 ,god will resume ,his public actings with ,israel4 ,they will be brought into great tribulation1 during the week already referred to4 ,but at the close of that period of unexampled pressure and trial1 their long-rejected ,messiah will appear for their relief and deliverance4 ,he will come forth as the rider on the white horse1 accompanied by the heavenly saints4 ,he will execute summary judgment upon ,his enemies1 and take to ,himself ,his great power and reign4 ,the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our ,lord and of ,his ,christ4 ,satan shall be bound for a thousand years2 and the whole universe shall repose beneath the blissful and benignant rule of the ,prince of peace4 ,finally1 at the close of the thousand years1 ,satan shall be loosed1 and permitted to make one more desperate effort--an effort issuing in his eternal defeat and consignment to the lake of fire1 there to be tormented with the beast and the false prophet throughout the everlasting ages4 ,then follows the resurrection and judgment of the wicked dead1 and their consignment to the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone--tremendous and appalling thought6 ,no heart can conceive--no tongue can tell--the horrors of that lake of fire4 ,but hardly is there a moment to dwell upon the dark and awful picture1 ere the unutterable glories of the new heavens and the new earth burst upon the vision of the soul2 the holy city is seen descending from heaven1 and these seraphic sounds fall upon the ear1 ,behold1 the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they shall be his people1 and ,god himself shall be with them1 and be their ,god4 ,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain2 for the former things are passed away4 ,and he that sat upon the throne1 said1 ,behold ,i make all things new4 ,o beloved ,christian reader1 what scenes are before us6 ,what grand realities6 ,what brilliant moral glories6 ,may we live in the light and power of these things6 ,may we cherish that blessed hope of seeing the ,one who loved us and gave ,himself for us--who would not enjoy ,his glory alone1 but endured the wrath of ,god in order that ,he might link us with ,himself1 and share with us all ,his love and glory for ever4 ,oh6 to live for ,christ and wait for ,his appearing6 ,high in the ,father's house above ,my mansion is prepared2 ,there is the home1 the rest ,i love1 ,and there my bright reward4 ,with ,him ,i love1 in spotless white1 ,in glory ,i shall shine2 ,his blissful presence my delight1 ,his love and glory mine4 ,all taint of sin shall be removed1 ,all evil done away2 ,and ,i shall dwell with ,god's ,beloved1 ,through ,god's eternal day4 ,a ,,few ,,thoughts ,,on ,,the ,,difference ,,between ,,holding ,,pre-,,millennial ,,doctrine ,,and ,,waiting ,,for ,,the ,,son ,rev4 i4 #e-g ,in a day like the present1 when knowledge on every question is so widely diffused1 it is most needful to press upon the conscience of the ,christian reader the vast distinction between merely holding the doctrine of the ,lord's second coming and actually waiting for ,his appearing 7#a ,thess4 i4 #aj74 ,many1 alas6 hold and1 it may be1 eloquently preach1 the doctrine of a second advent who really do not know the ,person whose advent they profess to believe and preach4 ,this evil must be faithfully pointed out and dealt with4 ,the present is an age of knowledge--of religious knowledge2 but oh6 my reader1 knowledge is not life1 knowledge is not power--knowledge will not deliver from sin1 or ,satan1 from the world1 from death1 from hell4 ,knowledge1 ,i mean1 short of the knowledge of ,god in ,christ4 ,one may know a great deal of ,scripture1 a great deal of prophecy1 a great deal of doctrine1 and1 all the while1 be dead in trespasses and sins4 ,there is1 however1 one kind of knowledge which necessarily involves eternal life1 and that is the knowledge of ,god1 as ,he is revealed in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is life eternal1 to know thee the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom thou hast sent 7,john xvii4 #c74 ,now1 it is impossible to be living in the daily and hourly expectation of the coming of the ,son of ,man1 if the ,son of ,man be not experimentally known4 ,i may take up the prophetic record1 and by mere study1 and the exercise of my intellectual faculties1 discover the doctrine of the ,lord's second coming1 and yet be totally ignorant of ,christ1 and living a life of entire alienation of heart from ,him4 ,how often has this been the case6 ,how many have astonished us with their vast fund of prophetic knowledge--a fund acquired1 it may be1 by years of laborious research1 and yet1 in the end1 proved themselves to have been displaying unhallowed light--light not acquired by prayerful waiting upon ,god6 ,surely the thought of this should deeply affect our hearts and solemnize our minds1 and lead us to inquire whether or not we know the blessed ,person who1 again and again1 announces ,himself as about to come quickly2 else1 if we know ,him not1 we may find ourselves of the number of those addressed by the prophet in the following startling words3--,woe unto you that desire the day of the ,lord6 to what end is it for you8 ,the day of the ,lord is darkness1 and not light4 ,as if a man did flee from a lion1 and a bear met him2 or went into the house1 and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him4 ,shall not the day of the ,lord be darkness and not light8 even very dark and no brightness in it8 7,amos v4 #ah-bj74 ,the second chapter of ,matthew furnishes us with a very striking illustration of the difference between mere prophetic knowledge and the knowledge of ,christ--between the exercise of the intellect on the letter of ,scripture1 and the drawings of the ,father to the ,person of ,christ4 ,the wise men1 manifestly led by the finger of ,god1 were in true and earnest search of ,christ1 and they found ,him4 ,as to ,scriptural knowledge1 they could not1 for a moment1 have competed with the chief priests and scribes2 yet what did the ,scriptural knowledge of the latter do for them8 ,why1 it rendered them efficient instruments for ,herod1 who called them together for the purpose of making use of their ,biblical knowledge in his deadly opposition to ,god's ,anointed4 ,they were able to give him chapter and verse1 as we say4 ,but1 my reader1 while they were assisting ,herod by their knowledge1 the wise men were1 by the drawings of the ,father1 making their way to ,jesus4 ,blessed contrast6 ,how much happier to be a worshipper at the feet of ,jesus1 though with slender knowledge1 than to be a learned scribe1 with a heart cold1 dead1 and distant from that blessed ,one6 ,how much better to have the heart full of lively affection for ,christ than to have the intellect stored with the most accurate knowledge of the letter of ,scripture6 ,what is the melancholy characteristic of the present time8 ,a wide diffusion of ,scriptural knowledge with little love for ,christ1 and little devotedness to ,his work2 abundant readiness to quote ,scripture1 like the scribes and chief priests1 but little purpose of heart1 like the wise men1 to open the treasures and present to ,christ the willing offerings of a heart filled by the sense of what ,he is4 ,what we want is personal devotedness1 and not the mere empty display of knowledge4 ,it is not that we would undervalue ,scriptural knowledge2 ,god forbid1 if that knowledge be found in connection with genuine discipleship4 ,but if it be not1 ,i ask1 of what value is it8 ,none whatever4 ,the most extensive range of knowledge1 if ,christ be not its centre1 will avail just nothing2 yea1 it will1 in all probability1 render us more efficient instruments in ,satan's hand for the furthering of his purposes of hostility to ,christ4 ,an ignorant man can do but little mischief2 but a learned man1 without ,christ1 can do a great deal4 ,the verses which stand at the head of this paper present to us the divine basis on which to found all ,scriptural knowledge1 more especially prophetic knowledge4 ,before any one can utter his hearty amen to the announcement1 ,behold he cometh with clouds1 he must1 without any question1 be able to join in the blessed burst of praise1 ,to him that loved us1 and washed us from our sins in his own blood4 ,the believer knows the ,one who is coming1 because ,he has loved him1 and washed him from his sins4 ,the believer expects the everlasting ,lover of his soul4 ,the meek and lowly ,one who served1 suffered1 and was emptied down here1 will speedily come in the clouds of heaven1 with power and great glory1 and all who know ,him will welcome ,him with glad hosannahs--they will be able to say1 ,this is the ,lord1 we have waited for him1 we will rejoice and be glad in his salvation4 ,but1 alas6 there are1 it is to be feared1 very many who hold and argue about the ,lord's coming who are not waiting for ,him at all1 who are living for themselves in the world1 and mind earthly things4 ,how terrible to be found talking about the ,lord's coming1 and yet1 when ,he does come1 to be left behind6 ,oh6 my beloved reader1 think of this2 and if you are really conscious that you know not the ,lord1 then let me entreat of you to behold ,him shedding ,his precious blood to wash you from your sins1 and learn to confide in ,him1 to lean upon ,him1 to rejoice in ,him1 and ,,in ,,him ,,alone4 ,but if you can look up to heaven1 and say1 ,thank ,god1 ,i do know ,him1 and ,i am waiting for ,him1 then let me remind you of what the apostle ,john says1 as to the practical result of this blessed hope4 ,every man that hath this hope in him1 purifieth himself1 even as he is pure4 ,yes1 this must ever be the result of waiting for the ,son from heaven2 but not at all so of the mere prophetic doctrine4 ,many of the most impure1 profane and ungodly characters1 that have made their appearance in the world1 have held1 in theory1 the second advent of ,christ2 but they were not waiting for the ,son1 and therefore they did not1 and could not purify themselves4 ,it is impossible that any one can be waiting for ,christ's appearing1 and not make efforts after increased holiness1 separation1 and devotedness of heart3 ,behold1 ,i come quickly2 blessed is he that watcheth4 ,those who know the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and love ,his appearing1 will daily seek to shake off everything contrary to their ,master's mind2 they will seek to become more and more conformed to ,him in all things4 ,men may hold the doctrine of the ,lord's coming1 and yet grasp the world and the things thereof with great eagerness2 but the true-hearted servant will ever keep his eye steadily fixed on his ,master's return1 remembering ,his blessed words1 ,i will come again and receive you unto myself1 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also 7,john xiv4 #c74 ,what a day will that be when the ,saviour appears6 ,how welcome to those who have shared in ,his cross6 ,a crown incorruptible then will be theirs-- ,a rich compensation for suffering and loss4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4