C. H. Mackintosh (1820-96)

INTRODUCTION

It is very interesting and indeed curious that just as Mr. F. E. Raven appears to be the least known of those used in an outstanding way in the recovery of the truth,

• and is without doubt the most misunderstood, unfairly represented and unjustly maligned of any of the teachers amongst those known as brethren,

• so Mr. C. H. Mackintosh – who despite the attacks on FER, remained in fellowship with him to the end – is one of their best known teachers,
  • whose ministry is greatly appreciated by brethren of all persuasions – and beyond.

Other pages relating to C. H. Mackintosh: History: The First 50 Years: A History Biography: F. E. Raven: His Friends: C. H. Mackintosh Ministry: C. H. Mackintosh

G.A.R.

HIS  BACKGROUND

In October, 1820, Charles Henry Mackintosh was born in Glenmalure Barracks, County Wicklow, Ireland.

• His father – a Captain in the Highlanders' Regiment – had served in Ireland during the Rebellion.

• His mother was a daughter of Lady Weldon, whose family had been long settled in Ireland.

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HIS  CONVERSION

When he was eighteen young Charles was awakened spiritually through letters from his sister after her own conversion.

• He obtained peace with God through reading J. N. Darby's 'Operations of the Spirit', and learning that it is Christ's work for us, not his work in us, that gives peace.

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HIS  SERVICE

Around 1874, he wrote

• "I had not the honour of being among the first of those who planted their feet on the blessed ground occupied by Brethren.

• I left the Establishment about the year 1839, and took my place at the table in Dublin, where dear Mr. Bellett was ministering with great acceptance.

• As a young man I, of course, walked in retirement, having no thought of coming forward in public ministry of any kind.
  • Indeed, I may say that nothing but the most solemn sense of responsibility could ever have induced me to stand up in public.

• I never could, nor can I now, understand the excessive forwardness of some young men, who seem ever ready to thrust themselves before the assembly of God's people,
  • even in the presence of gray heads and gifted vessels. To me this sort of thing has ever been supremely offensive."

He opened a school at Westport in 1844, and enthusiastically threw himself into his educational work.

• Despite this interest he was committed to Christ as the centre of his life and making Christ's work his chief concern.

• By 1853, he gave up his school fearing that it was displacing the work of the Lord as his chief interest, to which he then, with God's support, devoted his life.

When Mr. Mackintosh came under attack for the use of the expression "heavenly humanity" in regard to the Lord, JND said in a letter of July 1862:

• "I have no doubt CHM has expressed himself unguardedly in his expressions, but the accusing him of denying the true humanity of Christ is simple unrighteousness.

• The poor church people glutton on what attacks brethren. I am sorry for it, but how can we help it?

• That is all the feeling I have about it. It is a very bad sign for them."

J.N.D.

Note: Paul might well have been likewise accused for saying "the second man, out of heaven", 1 Corinthians 15: 47. GAR

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HIS  MINISTRY
See the compete list of His Writings below

For some twenty-one years, Mr. Mackintosh edited a periodical, 'Things New and Old', in which many of his own writings appeared.

• With his usual clarity and forcefulnness, he stated his reasons for beginning such a work as follows:

The preface to each volume of the 'Notes' was written by his friend Andrew Miller – author of 'Short Papers on Church History' –

See the original last chapter of Miller's 'Church History' in History: The Last Chapter.

– and The Brethren – Their Origin, Progress and Testimony – who is said to have encouraged their writing and to have largely financed their publication.

AM said of CHM's expositions that, "Man's complete ruin in sin, and God's perfect remedy in Christ, are fully, clearly, and often strikingly presented".

• Mr. Mackintosh wrote in a clear forceful style, and the story is told that Mr. J. N. Darby once said to him, 'You write to be understood, I only think on paper'.

His first tract in 1843 was on 'The Peace of God'. His last article – written in 1896, just a few months before deparing to be with Christ – was entitled 'The God of Peace'.

THE WRITINGS OF C. H. MACKINTOSH ===================================================== NOTES ON THE PENTATEUCH Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy – Complete notes on each book SHORT PAPERS [Not Listed at this time] ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Added to the Church of God Addressing the Lord Jesus All Welcome Almsgiving Angel of the Church, The As Oft as Ye Eat Attitude in Prayer and Praise Backbiting Barren Ministry Beast of Revelation Call to the Ministry, The Card Playing Chastening Children Christ's Intercession Christ or Doctrines Christ or Feelings Christ the Centre Christians and Politics Christians in Debt Church's Commencement, The Church's Place, The Church Under Responsibility, The Cleansing Word, The Clubs Confession Cup Which We Bless, The Discipline and Government Dispensational Position Divisions in the Revelation, The Do all to the Glory of God Dress, etc. Eating Unworthily Eternal Punishment Evil Thoughts Exhibitions Faith Fellowship in Almsgiving First and Second Man, The First Resurrection Foolish Virgins, The Free Salvation Friends of Jesus, The Gentiles Under Law God or Man God Our Strength Good Conscience, A Gospel, The Going to Law "Greater Works, The" Heart, Not Attitude, in Worship Heart's Treasure, The Helping Others in Evil House of Rimmon, The Infant Salvation Intoxicating Wine at the Lord's Supper Judas at the Lord's Table Judgment, The Lamb's Wife, The Lawful Business Laying up for the Future Life More Abundantly Lord's Day, The Lord's Table, The Man Christ Jesus, The Man's Weakness Ministerial Training Mode of Marrying. The Modest Apparel Nature's Strength Not Under Law Observing of Days One Fine Star On Giving Out Hymns On Taking an Oath Parish Relief Particular Resurrection, The Perfect Love, and Its Outflowings Personal Adorning Photography Power of Godliness, The Preaching Christ Restoration Saints' Rapture, The Sample Kingdom, The Satan's Power Seeking the Kingdom of God Self-judgment Simon Magus Sin and Transgression Sisters at Bible Readings So Let Him Eat Spirits in Prison Stimulants Stopping Short Sunday Schools Things Which Differ Treasures in Heaven Trying to Believe Unconverted Husband, The Under the Sun Unequal Yoke, The Union with Christ Unjust Steward, The Upright Dealing Utterance of Faith, The Walking in the Light Warning Voice, The Wedding Garment, The What Is My Motive Wine Used at the Lord's Table, The Woman's Covering Women Preaching Working and Preaching Wrath to Come, The Zipporah, a Type of the Church ARTICLES Letters to a Friend on the Present Condition of Things See an Extract: History: The First 50 Years: A History The Bible – Its Sufficiency and Supremacy Christianity – What is it? The Ministry of Christ Past, Present, and Future Words of Counsel God's Way, and how to find it MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 1: The All-sufficiency of Christ Discipleship in an evil day Forgiveness of sins: What is it? Gideon and his companions Job and His Friends Final Perseverance: What is it? The Christian: His position and his work The Christian Priesthood Regeneration: What is it? Sanctification: What is it? The Unequal Yoke • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 2: The Assembly of God Decision for Christ "Gilgal" "God for us" Thoughts on the Lord's Supper "The man of God" Prayer, in its proper place The Sabbath, the Law, and the Christian Ministry "Thou and thy house" Now and Then • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 3: Conversion: What is it? Evangelization – A word to the Evangelist Papers on the Lord's Coming Christian perfection: What is it? Pre-Millennial Doctrine or Waiting for the Son? Simon Peter – His life and its lessons • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 4: The Call of God – Abraham and Lot The Life and Times of David The Life and Times of Josiah The History of the Tribe of Levi • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 5: The Great Commission The Life and Times of Elijah Glad Tidings Ministry of Reconciliation • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 6: The Three Crosses The Christian's Mission David's Companions and Paul's Friends "The dew of Hermon" The Discipline of the Assembly Diversity and Unity Divine Titles Epaphras, The Service of Prayer Eternal Punishment v Universalism and Annihilationism God's Fulness for an Empty Vessel Grace and Government "Holy Brethren" "There is one body" Israel and the Nations Jehovah's Demand and Satan's Objections John the Baptist – only "a voice" Landmarks and Stumblingblocks Life-works Living by Faith The Living God and a Living Faith One-sided Theology Our Standard and Our Hope "Peace" Prayer and the Prayer Meeting "Publicly and from house to house" Each Member – A Help or a Hindrance: Which? "Ready" "The regions beyond" 2 Cor. 10: 16; and Saul of Tarsus "Thyself and the doctrine" The True Workman • Miscellaneous Writings - Book 7: The Three Appearings Bethany The Bible: Whence is it? Christ in the Vessel Work in its Right Place Jehoshaphat – Worldliness Jericho and Achor – Privilege and Responsibility Legality and Levity The Passover in Egypt The Remnant – Past and Present Restoration A Risen Saviour The Throne and the Altar The Two Musts OCCASIONAL PAPERS The Blind Man, and the Pharisees who said "We see" Communion with God: What is it? The True Ground of Peace Unity: What is it? And am I confessing it? Fifteenth Letter to a Friend The Church Words of Counsel God in Everything False Worship A Word on Christian Intercourse Jacob Alone With God Jesus Risen Law and grace Exemplified The Lord Our Shepherd The Love of Jesus The Prisoner of Hope Inside the Veil, Outside the Camp 'Writings' Top

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HIS  STAND

Despite appeals and pressures from many quarters – and from the Continent especially – Mr. Mackintosh remained in fellowship with Mr. F. E. Raven to the end.

• While there is no record of their personal contact, there are at least four letters of CHM's on record indicating he had no difficulty with Mr. Raven or his ministry.

In History: The Champney Letter – which details the whole controversy – Mr. H. D'Arcy Champney quotes from two of CHM's letters.

Writing at the beginning of October 1890, CHM says:

• I see no adequate ground for the charge of heresy and blasphemy on the one hand; and on the other hand I cannot discern the Spirit of Christ in the letters, papers, and actings of the seceders.

In a letter to Mr. J. A. Trench, CHM says:

• I thank God with all my heart for the judgment He has given you as to our present trouble. I fully endorse every line you have written.

• The fuss that has been made about the doctrine is to me most humiliating. Truth, that has passed current among us for fifty years, is now made a matter of dispute.

• It reminds me of two men disputing about the form of a globe – one is inside, and the other outside. The former maintains that it is concave, and the latter stoutly contends that it is convex:
  • they do not see that, in order to reach a sound conclusion, they should cease their contentions, and take in both sides.

• Mr. Raven has been, I dare say, contending for the subjective, the practical experimental side of things; but through one sidedness and obscurity he has left himself open to attack,
  • and then, alas! instead of calm, prayerful, loving conference, it has been made a miserable party affair.

As to this letter, Mr. Raven writes me: "I do not quite accept his verdict; what got me into trouble was insisting on the objective, the new sphere. Eternal life is not simply a new vitality, but a new man in a new scene". HD'AC

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Two more letters of Mr. Mackintosh are given below:

On November 29, 1890, CHM wrote from Dublin to
Mr. George Cutting, author of the well known tract 'Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment':

I feared that you would have to encounter a good deal of trial in consequence of the sad and humiliating condition of things amongst us.

• I have never known anything like it during the fifty years I have been on the ground.

• Only think of some who have walked for years in ostensible fellowship with us, now charging us with being identified with heresy, blasphemy and attacking the adorable Person of the Son of God;

• mark the bitterness of feeling, the diligent effort to gather up in all directions dirt to fling back upon their brethren; where is the Spirit of Christ in all this?

• Where the broken heart and weeping eyes at the terrible thought of our being involved in such evil?

• Alas, there is what looks much more like a malignant effort to extract heresies out of papers, which if read with an unprejudiced mind would yield profit and edification. It is all most deplorable.

He continued: As to the charge brought against Mr. Raven of heresy, blasphemy and attacking the Person of the Son of God, they are simply monstrous, there is no foundation for them.

• Some seem possessed with the idea that there is behind and underneath a regular system of doctrine subversive of Christianity. I ask such, what have we got to do with what is behind and underneath.

• We can judge what is before and above and they have utterly failed to produce adequate evidence to sustain their charge, but beloved Cutting I am persuaded that we need all this terrible sifting, else the Lord would not have allowed it to come upon us, and

• further I believe that the Lord will bring rich blessing out of it all to individual souls, indeed I see it already in many; more knitting of hearts in true brotherly love, instead of cold, formal, nominal fellowship.

• For myself I am conscious of feeling a real spring in the inner man, a more profound sense of the love of God; the preciousness of Christ and authority, majesty, fullness and loving depths of Holy Scripture, and I look for much more for myself and others through the infinite grace of Christ.

• I do trust that we may be soon done with this heart sickening, soul withering discussion and strife and be allowed to go on heart to heart in communion and worship, shoulder to shoulder in service and testimony, that is what I long for, nothing else has any charm or interest for me.

• This is what I have been seeking for in my poor way to realize and promote for the last fifty years, and by the grace of Christ shall never accept anything else.

C.H.M.

Then on April 3, 1896, not long before the Lord took him, CHM wrote from Cheltenham:

• The early part of this letter is given below in 'His Last Days'.

… As to your question about Mr. Raven, I can only say I do not believe he holds any fundamental error.

• He has repeatedly conferred with brothers who had any difficulty or question as to his doctrine and they have expressed their entire satisfaction and confidence.

• His oral ministry is highly appreciated in all quarters. As to his writings, he may have been misunderstood and misrepresented, but I believe he is ready and willing to satisfy any honest enquirer.

Finally: In conclusion, I may just say that, in looking back at all our sorrowful and humiliating splits and divisions for the last fifty years, I believe them to have been, for the most part, the sad fruit of unbroken material, somewhere.

• Had there been more self emptied dependence upon God, more tenderness, gentleness, confession and prayer; and round the fountain of Holy Scripture, in true teachableness of spirit, much of our sad and humbling divisions might have been avoided.

• But our God is above all. His "foundation standeth sure" with its double seal "The Lord knoweth them that are His; and let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity".

But I must close. Love to the brethren. The Lord bless you all.

Affectionately yours in Christ, C.H.M..

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HIS  LAST  DAYS

He resided at Cheltenham for the last four years of his life.

• When, through bodily weakness, he was no longer able to minister publicly he – as JBS also did – continued to write.

On November 6, 1896 – in his own last days, just six months before being taken by Christ – Mr. J. B. Stoney said of CHM, "He is now where love is satisfied".

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HIS  BURIAL

The Lord took CHM on November 2, 1896. Four days later a large company from many places gathered for his burial at Cheltenham Cemetery.

• He was buried by the side of his beloved wife,
  • in what is known as 'the Plymouth Brethren plot', where many brethren of both 'exclusive' and 'open' persuasions are buried.

  

• Dr. Walter T. P. Wolston, of Edinburgh, spoke on the burial of Abraham, Genesis 25: 8-10 and Hebrews 8: 10.
  • WTPW also spoke at the burial of JND in 1882, and at the burial of FER in 1903.

• Then, before dispersing, the brethren sang:

  O bright and blessèd scenes,
  Where sin can never come;
  Whose sight our longing spirit weans
  From earth, where yet we roam.

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