a blessing to the churches. Sometimes Apollos gets in the way of Archippus; keeps in an assembly too long. It grows in numbers under his glowing ministry; and the walk of faith in the Lord is endangered. Of course, no rule can be laid down; we servants must seek to be so in communion with the Lord as to be quick to discern his will; and may it be our great desire to be nothing, that Jesus may be all in all. What did Paul long for in contemplating visiting the Church of Rome?-going as an Apostle with authority? No; but as a teacher and a brother. "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." (Rom. i. 11-12.) "That I may come unto with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed." Sometimes servants may be found in the providence of the Lord ministering to "two or three," when it would be more agreeable to their natural wishes to be serving two or three score or hundreds. But oh, it is of prime importance that the churches be kept walking in a full dependence on the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us, (not in a confidence in the flesh.) This practical confidence in Jesus, present to bless His saints, like other virtues, must be tested and proved and exercised. Sectarianism may offer insuperable difficulties to true servants getting a free intercommunion with the Lord's people; this does not alter the fact, as to what the Lord's mind is. And some may think the thought we here put forth_calculated to encourage busybodies.. Well, the Lord is our keeper. "Letters of commendation" were found needful to servants passing about. With these Apollos himself was provided. (Acts xviii. 27.) "Let no man think more highly of himself than he ought to think." The Lord give us understanding in all things; and grace to walk as the Woman-rejoicing in our dependence upon His blessed self: to whom, with the Father, be all glory now and for ever, Amen. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat :" &c. James would also well remember the Lord's teaching on another occasion— "For he shall have judgment without mercy who showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." Though left at liberty to act from love rather than law, James would have believers to understand they were not delivered from the consequences of inaction. As "Judge of all the earth," the Lord at his coming to the earth will look for and demand that species of conduct which will justify, in the face of all the earth, His bestowment of mercy upon such as will receive it. To those who will be rejected in that day, God's dealings in mercy with some, and in judgment with them, must be justified by the production of genuine fruit, and so, every mouth shall be stopped. When earth is the scene of judgment, WORKS must be produced--something that an earthly people can take cognisance of-something that can be seen. This was James's sphere of discernment, as a Jewish believer and a teacher of Jewish believers. And so he "Can faith save says, him?" But Paul's standpoint being the Church, the One Body, called out of the world, to be a heavenly people, for ever associated with the Lord Jesus Christ in His heavenly glory, to the eternal rejection of those who now hold a place and power in the heavens, that apostle regards that which justifies sinners now in the view of angels. Satan knows that God has stipulated all to faith-" to him that believeth." When faith is discerned in the heart, the holy angels rejoice and the Accuser is silenced. Blessed be God! we who have faith have also peace, because we know that our having faith justifies God in giving to us eternal life and justifies us in the view of the powers in heavenly places. But in faith there is no merit; it comes by hearing, and there is no merit in the creature believing the Creator. Thus, James, looking at justification at a judgment scene on earth, naturally insists upon the importance works, as justifying, before all, the bestowment of of mercy to some. "What profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what profit ?" (James ii.) Not to the supposed case of distress, but to the one who said he had faith, and who, having opportunity of showing it, neglected to show it, and to do that which could be produced in evidence at the Coming of the Son of Man in power and great glory. "Even so faith [of such an one] if it hath not works is dead, being alone." The whole passage was a searching word to those Jews who said they believed Jesus was the true Messiah. It may also be pressed on nominal Christians now. The only faith that God regards "worketh by love," to God and man. NOTE.-It has been feared that I jeopardise the inspiration of James's epistle in these two articles upon it. Not at all. Is not Apostolic inspiration spoken of thus in John's Gospel? "He (the Comforter, the Holy Ghost) shalt teach you. "He shall bring to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you." "He will show you things to come." "He shall take of mine, and shall show unto you." James teaches truth which he was taught by the Lord Jesus Christ; and in his epistle is no truth unfolded by the Holy Spirit subsequent to Pentecost. Now, as be truthfully and fully presented the Lord's moral teachings under the remindings of the Holy Ghost-therefore his epistle is inspired. THE RESTORATION OF THE LORD's SUPPERPURE AND SIMPLE. It may interest many readers to know that the restoration of "Breaking of Bread," according to the simplicity of the early days of the Church, was first brought about some forty years ago in Dublin. The instruments specially used by the Lord were Mr J. N. GROVES and Mr BELLETT, both of whom now sleep in Jesus, after having fulfilled a greatly honoured course down here. It was the first named of these beloved saints who suggested that Christians should again meet simply in the name of Jesus, as of old, and show forth the Lord's death in breaking of bread, till He shall come. We believe it was not until some years afterwards that Christians met in the same simple way at Plymouth, and other places in the West of England. It is therefore evident that any pretension to being the original party, or the supposed presentment of the unity of the body, as urged by Mr Darby and his followers, is utterly wanting both as to fact and spiritual reason. It may be well to state also, that Mr J. N. Groves was in his lifetime quite opposed to Mr Darby's arbitrary proceedings, and wrote most lovingly to warn the latter of that which has most sorrowfully come to pass in the erection of his system of spiritual tyranny. Respecting this, Mr Dorman justly says, "It is an immense ecclesiastical ramification, which is everywhere subject, and in all things, as to its order, doctrine, and discipline, to Mr Darby's decrees! enforced by a ubiquitous, unseen spiritual supervision, from which as there is no escape, so is there no appeal"! We will not dwell upon so sorrowful a theme. Our only object in speaking of it here, is to warn believers, that they suffer not themselves to be robbed of the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free. Far better to be weak than strong. The Lord Jesus says, "Behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it, for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." Rev. iii. 8, There is a danger of falling from the happy consciousness of the potency of the name of Jesus, and the power of his word. Many who have experienced the strength of the Lord in the time of their weakness, have, alas! resigned that happy state to become strong in their own devices. Such will soon know how great has been their loss. "Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast that none take thy crown." Rev. iii. 11. Thus saith the Lord! Dear fellow pilgrims-Wherever there are two or three of you meeting in the name of Jesus-surrender your liberty to no man, neither to any confederation of men. The Lord is faithful. Suffer him to bring you through in weakness that HE may be glorified in you. See 1 Cor. iii. 21-23. Gal. ii. 4-5. 2. Cor. xii. 10. "Christ's precious blood was shed, His body bruised for sin; Rememb'ring this, we break the bread, And, thankful, drink the wine. Lord, let us ne'er forget, Thy rich, Thy wondrous love; Our theme of joy and wonder here, Our endless song above. O may Thy love constrain Our souls to cleave to Thee! And ever in our hearts remain That word, "Remember Me." "REJOICING IN TRIBULATION." Essex, March, 1867. MY DEAR FELLOW-SUFFERER,-Since the arrival of your welcome letter, I have been hindered in giving you an account of my affliction. In my fifteenth year the God of love laid His afflicting hand upon me. At the first, I had bad legs, swollen very much and very painful, so that for some weeks I could scarcely walk across my room. I then took to my bed, and took some medicine, which pained mo from head to foot, and blisters came upon my hands and feet, some of which turned purple and some black. Those who saw me said they never saw the like. My doctor said I could not live. Then I had a very sore throat, which was burned inside with caustic. At the same time my right cheek swelled very much, with intense pain, a knot as large as a nut forming in it, which the doctor said was a cancer, and which was twice cut. Leeches and many other means were also applied, but with no benefit; it still kept swelling; my right eye was closed for a long time. My cheek was then burnt, and the whole middle dropped, so that my teeth could be seen. It was then burnt every second day for a long time, without stopping the disorder; the doctor said, "It must have its course.' I was expecting every day and hour to be my last. I languished and languished in spite of all the doctors' drugs and skill. But Jesus, the most wonderful Physician, possesses unknown power and skill. He can wound, and He can heal; He can bring low, and He can raise up, yea, from the brink of the grave. No disorder can baffle Him; He possesses all power. Now, my dear fellow-sufferer, I was kept to my bed for a year and a half, or more. Then my Divine Physician rebuked the raging of my complaint, and raised me up, so as to enable me to walk again. It was said, it could be compared to nothing but raising the dead to life; and when one of my physicians was informed of it, he would scarcely believe it; but with God all things are possible. I have had a lock-jaw for near ten years. Last June it got so bad that I could get no food through my teeth. My doctor then tried to force my mouth open, but could not. Then they drew four teeth. This was done under the influence of chloroform. My doctor said I should not get over it. But the Father's time was not yet come, for after this I got about again, but soon was to be prostrated again. I have now entirely kept my bed six years and five months. My complaint now lies most inside: I suffer much with my heart; I suppose it is palpitation. I am sometimes almost deprived of my senses by it. My gracious God has shut my mouth, he has nearly closed up my throat, he has taken one cheek: let Him do what seemeth Him good, and I will praise His holy name. I can smile at ten years' affliction, and say it is mercy and love. Sweet affliction, blessed affliction, which brought me to my blessed Saviour's feet. Now, my dear afflicted friend, it was six years the 2nd of last January since I ate a piece of solid food: the things I live upon are milk, the yolk of an egg, and a little baked flour, beaten up together and then strained through a piece of close net; nothing but suction now. Few days have rolled by out of six years without hunger, but I have rejoiced under it, counted it as nothing, and sometimes forgotten it all. I would not, if I might, change places with a creature on the earth without my Lord's command. I am no more tired of my position now than I was the first day. True I have had the thought, "What can I be spared so long for?" but these thoughts are quickly dismissed, and in come these: "Even 80, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight; Thine own purpose do I love and Thy gentle hand. I will lie still, and in affliction's furnace adore Thee for Thy matchless love and goodness, which has crowned all my life." Now, dear fellow-sufferer, the Lord has in His own love laid us on the bed of languishing, and He has taught us that which is in Himself-His love to us, and has taught us what we are in ourselves hell-deserving sinners, but made saints of God in Christ, children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, the sinatoning Lamb, who has made full atonement for our sins by His own precious life-blood shed on the cross, and now (all praise, all glory be to our risen Lord!) the one blessed channel through which flow pardon and peace and every blessing. Now, my fellow-sufferer, I heartily sympathise with you, and may the Lord greatly support you in your great suffering. May you daily bask in the sunshine of your Saviour's presence, and know much of His holy, tender sympathy; He delights to sympathise with all His suffering people who cleave to Him by faith. Though He is crowned with glory and honour, His watchful, tender care is ever over His own. How soothing and consolatory is this! and oh, what a glorious prospect have we! Soon we shall be housed in our Father's glorious man. sions, and sing for ever of redeeming love. Farewell in Jesus, till we meet around the throne of God's glory! and believe me to be, your true and affectionate fellowsufferer and sister in the bonds of our dear Redeemer's love, H. A TO CORRESPONDENTS. "ENQUIRERS," Kentish Town.-On the subject of convenient places for performing the Lord's command of Baptism. Some of the public baths are available at certain periods on Or an ordinary long bath payment of a stipulated amount. may be hired, and is quite effectual for the purpose, provided it be of sufficient capacity to admit of the entire person being immersed. There can be very little doubt that the early Christians used an ordinary bath in the house. We believe there will ever be found some simple means within reach, if believers will but ask the Lord to provide. For He never gives us a command without furnishing the means of being obedient to it. The mischief is, that many Christians like to make a parade about it, and are not satisfied with the bare efficiency of "enough water to cover the body, and that in any convenient place." ordinance of baptism, and thank you for your criticism on our S. H. S.-We very much respect your reverence for the remarks. We still think, however, that the Scriptures speak of it only as a figure. Of course the blessing of which an obedient believer is conscious results from faith; but it must be faith in Jesus Christ and His word, not faith in immersion. Look again at Col. ii. 12. You will see it is, that we are raised through faith in baptism. Baptism shows the thing in a figure. up with Christ through the faith of the operation of God, not It can do nothing more. You were raised up in Christ before you were immerse-baptism illustrated the fact. The blessing you felt afterwards was the consequence of obedience, for "In keep You having ing His commandments there is great reward." been put under water, if considered apart from the thought obedience, would not have caused you to feel blessing. We are only anxious that truth may be set forth as in the word of God. We would not weaken a single sentence that is written there. As to making application at a Baptist Chapelwe could not ourselves do that with a good conscience-for if one does not approve of their system, we certainly ought not to avail oneself of their property. Yet we do not desire to judge others in such a matter. We have known cases where Christians have gone to these denominational chapels and have said, I desire to be baptized for conscience sake; but I do not intend to join the sect called Baptists. And those ministering have unconditionally granted the request. With respect to dresses-any left-off suit of clothes will do, whether for male or female. We need not take much trouble about dressing a body for burial? The G. R., a Protestant.-You have a great deal yet to learn Church of England (so-called) nor the Catholic Church of Rome from the Bible. That book neither recognises the Protestant (so-called.) churches spoken of in Scripture are assemblies of believers in Jesus Christ. Each church is recognised by the name of the city or place where such believers were found; and sometimes the Epistles by Paul speak of the church in the house of a certain Christian. But to talk of a church of an entire kingdom, like that of England, betrays a total misapprehension of the inspired word of God. If you will think calmly of the fact that the so-called Church of England was not invented till the wicked reign of Henry the Eighth, we trust you will see how foolish it is to talk about itbeing" the House of God." Where was the House of God previous to the reign of that Monarch? If you would know what the House of God really is, you must prayerfully study the Epistles of the New Testament. We ask you to test all we say month after month, by the Scriptures, and in a short time you will no doubt begin to see, that the House of God is being buil up of living stones destined for heaven, and that it has nothing to do with political organisations, either Catholic or Protes tant. "THE COMFORTER, THE HOLY GHOST." By this gracious title does the Lord Jesus speak of the "Promise of the Father,"-the promised Spirit of Truth. Jesus, the Father's Promise to Israel, had been given; but He was about to go away, yea, it was expedient that He should go away, in order that the Comforter-the Second Promise of the Father -might come. "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you." (John xvi.) Oh, how expedient it was-for them, for us! in how many ways! True Christians possess the Spirit's Personal Divine Presence the world over. Oh, that we may value it more! that we may know-know a Divine One abiding in us! "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John xiv.) This precious assurance is confirmed to us. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God ?" (1 Cor.) "Ye have an Unction from the Holy One... The Anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you the same Anointing teacheth you of all things." (1 John ii.) 1. THE HOLY GHOST AND THE LORD JESUS. Beloved, Let us regard the Holy Ghost as the disciples regarded Jesus? 1. When dear ones had the Lord Jesus in their midst, they could say, "Lord, teach us to pray." Have we recourse to the Holy Spirit in like manner? "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what to pray for as we ought." (Rom. viii.) 2. Think, too, of the Lord Jesus, in the midst of the disciples, praying for them. Then think of the Holy Ghost, given unto us, doing the same for us. "The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." 3. Think of Jesus, among them, in all humility and patience, washing their feet, teaching them, in that way, to be willing to do anything, in love, for one another; and specially to be watchful of opportunities of "speaking the truth in love," even as He had spoken the truth in love, and had cleansed them. "Ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you." And how patient, also, the dear Lord was with them! "Are ye also yet without understanding?" (Matt. xv.) [One Halfpenny. In like manner, how wonderful is the humility and patience of the Holy Spirit with us! Jesus said"I am among you as one that serveth." Is not this exactly true of the Holy Spirit now? Gentle as a nurse; leading and teaching the saints; bearing with us; His holy movings sometimes quenched, but renewing, on our contrition, the impressions of His will and the unfoldings of His mind. Never leaving, never forsaking; ever encouraging, comforting, strengthening, upholding! We perhaps "grieve" the Spirit, as the disciples grieved Jesus, but how true of both- Having loved His own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." (John xiii.) In the visible absence of the Lord Jesus, we are, in a blessed sense, committed to the personal patient oversight of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, "By whom we are sealed until the day of redemption." 5. Then, again, if the disciples had any difficulty in apprehending the truth, they could go to Jesus, and say, Lord, what might this parable be? (Luke viii.) So, too, we have the Holy Ghost to lead us into all truth. Have we any difficulties, therefore, in our reading of the Word of God? let us not go to man, but let us wait upon the Holy Spirit given unto us. He may, indeed, bless us through one another—but let us not lean on, or look to one another. It is for us to be cast on Him, and leave it all to Him, to meet our spiritual needs, directly or indirectly, in His own gracious way, and in His own time. spirit of man that is in him? even so the things of God know. "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the eth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Cor. ii. 11, 12.) Is He not the Author of the Word, for that which we have He either directly inspired or brought to the Apostles' remembrance. Now, as the Author of the Word, He surely is best able to unfold its meaning. Just as the Lord Jesus unfolded the Old Jewish Scriptures, so we have the Holy Ghost, sent down from heaven, to unfold to us both Old and New. How wrong would it have been for the disciples, when the Lord Jesus was with them, to have taken their difficulties to a Rabbi! They never thought of doing so. But they told them to Jesus. As, for instance, "How say the scribes that Elias must first come ?" 66 Let not our enquiries be curious, as were theirs, sometimes: Lord, are there few that be saved ?" For let us remember that the special object of the presence of the Holy Ghost in us, is to take of Christ's, and show unto us. (John xvi.) He will graciously, if we are led by Him, keep our minds filled, not with unprofitable questions, but with Jesus. As the Lord Jesus honoured the Father; so now, the Holy Spirit honours the Lord Jesus-"He shall glorify me." In proportion as we honour the ministry of the Holy Spirit, shall we be blessed, indeed. "Them that honour me I will honour." Oh, that the thoughts we have hitherto received from men may be subjected to the test of the Word of God, in full dependence upon the Holy Spirit's guidance! Ah, have not some of us been afraid to do this, sometimes? How liable we are to receive pet theories, and hold to them upon human authority, because others hold them who are thought to be somewhat! As it is said of the disciples "They feared to ask him of that saying." (Luke ix.) So we sometimes go on, like them, in wilful ignorance, lest our favourite dogmas be disturbed! But let us, beloved, not be afraid to ask the Holy Spirit, to show us by the Word, "whether these things [the things that we have hitherto held, and the things that we hear] are so." He will bear us, "as on eagles' wings." He is "the Spirit of Truth,' and cannot lead us astray. Leaning on our own understanding, and following our own imagination, will lead us wrong;-then let us not do so. natural mind in our fellow-believers may lead them wrong;-then let us take heed how we hear, as the Lord has admonished us. (Luke viii.) There is no safety, except in bringing everything to the Word and the Spirit. The Thus we have considered that there was a Divine One on earth, and there is a Divine One on earth. II.—THE HOLY GHOST, THE ONLY TEACHER. "The Anointing which ye have received of Him abideth IN you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things, and is Truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." (1 John ii. 27.) In the Word of God, we have the "all things," and we are responsible to know all that is there. Just as, in regard to walk, the Scriptures assume that "we walk even as "" Jesus walked; so in regard to knowledge, it is assumed that we "know all things" (ver. 20) that are revealed. Now, in the passage last quoted, the Holy Anointing is said to teach us "of" the all things-that is, He unfolds the Word of truth. If, therefore, I have a Divine Teacher, ever present to unfold the Word, it is clear that I "need not that any man teach me. This, indeed, is what this same epistle insists on. Now, this was not said while as yet the Word of God was not completed. It is said in that which was, we may apprehend, the last written. Till that time believers did need men to teach them, and teachers were given. was shown us in our last,) let us not, beloved, call any Teacher; man our for One is our Teacher, even the Holy Spirit of Truth, and all of us are His learners. No man can teach me anything but what is in the Word of God. If, therefore, a man can bring me only what is in the Word, and if I am responsible to know what is there, how can any man be my teacher? A Teacher is someone who brings something that I do not know. But, having the complete Word, we "know all things," as that Word declares. Ah, but someone may say, "May not the Spirit on any one occasion, unfold the all things' more to one than to another ?" Granted: and let him who has so received of God "quench not the Spirit," but "speak the truth in love." But even then, such an one would speak from morning to night if the Holy Spirit given unto Man's us did not show us that it was the truth. words fall to the ground, powerless for instruction, unless the Holy Ghost deigns to use them. May dear ones, therefore, receive it clearly and hold it strongly, that the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, is-The only Teacher of the saints. Directly or indirectly, now that "that which is perfect is come," He is the only Teacher of the saints. May we continually seek to be led of Him, to perceive and hold fast, to receive and prove the truth. And thanks be to God our Father, through Jesus Christ out Lord, for "the earnest of the Spirit." III. THE HOLY GHOST AND "MAN TEACHERS." The teachings of the Spirit are, first of all, for our individual good; "the husbandman must first be partaker of the fruits." It is, however, the will of God that we should express that which we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to perceive will be to the glory of the Head, (who is present in the midst,) and to the good of souls. But in our desire to freely give that which we have freely received, care should be taken that great first principles are not lost sight of, for we may, in our desire to be useful, deny (practically) both the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Ministry of the Holy Ghost! For instance, If saints in fellowship, who should meet always in the name of Jesus, come together regularly, on certain fixed times, to hear expositions of the Word from one of their number, they do, for the time being, ignore the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and, with that, the ministry of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost. It matters not what the expositions are called -sermons, discourses, lectures-given in vestments and pulpits, or out of them. The result is the same. For the time being, man is gathered to-not the Lord. For the time being, man is looked to, by the saints, to decide the portion of truth to be brought outnot the Lord. For the time being, the Church the Woman dietates to the Lord through whom She will receive His But "that which is perfect" being come, (as favours!! |