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"Thou and thy house"
Ministry by C. H. Mackintosh
– Part One

 
Introduction
"Thou and thy house"
Two Houses
Noah       Abraham
Exodus    Numbers
Joshua      Eli
Divine Principles
New Testament
Failure
Our Meetings
The Christian at Home
Rank in Life
Management of our Children
Subjection
God's Moral Government
Management of Servants
Conclusion
Next
 





INTRODUCTION

C. H. Mackintosh (1820-96)

Mr. C. H. Mackintosh – who in spite of the attacks on FER, remained in fellowship with him to the end – is one of the best known teachers of those used in an outstanding way in the recovery of the truth.

He wrote in a clear forceful style which may surprise – and challenge – those who have only seen extracts from his ministry and have thought of it as nice and comfortable.

Thou and thy House is presented here because it is possibly the most thorough examination of the teaching as to the believer's household and its practical bearing.

G. A. R.

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"THOU  AND  THY  HOUSE"
C. H. Mackintosh

That we are to bring our children up for the Lord, is plainly the teaching of this word, "But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord". To do this rightly, we must ourselves be daily walking, before our children, in the practical exhibition of His character, and counting much on the sympathies and grace of His heart: remembering that He says to us, "Without me ye can do nothing".

It is also our duty to teach our children, in due time, some useful occupation for "necessary uses". "And let ours also learn to maintain good works (or, profess honest trades, margin), for necessary uses". Compare Ephesians 6: 4; Titus 3: 14. These are the points which do severely test our practical Christianity. If the first and all-important duty has not been faithfully discharged, before it is needful to press the second, deep trial must come in, and who can tell how long we may have to endure it, before the Lord Himself appears for our help?

May the "God of all grace" lead us all to know more fully, and value more highly, our blessed privileges, and be more faithful to our great responsibilities as His servants in connection with our families at home.     CHM


Two Houses

There are two houses which occupy a very prominent place on the page of inspiration, and these are, the house of God, and the house of God's servant.

Now, while many minds may be prepared to enter into the truth and importance of all the principles connected with God's house,


Noah

When the iniquity of the antediluvian world had risen to a head, and the end of all flesh had come before a righteous God, who was about to roll the heavy tide of judgement over the corrupted scene, these sweet words fell upon Noah's ear,



That this is a principle involving vast practical consequences, we shall, with God's blessing and grace, see, ere we close this paper; but we must first seek to establish its truth from the word of God.

The same ark that lay open to him lay open to them also. Why? Was it because they had faith? No; but because he had, and they were connected with him.


Abraham

The next passage to which I shall refer occurs in the life of Abraham.

This, to a tender conscience, cannot fail to prove a most pungent principle.

But not only does God so rule His house: He likewise loves, approves of, and treats with His marked and honoured confidence, those who do the same.

Now, the question for the Christian parent's conscience really is, 'am I counting upon God for my house, and ruling my house for God?'

And here, perhaps, my reader may feel disposed to demand fuller scripture proof than has yet been adduced, as to our warrant for counting upon God for our houses.


Exodus

We now turn to the opening chapters of the book of Exodus, where we find that one of Pharaoh's four objections to the full deliverance and separation of Israel, had specific reference to "the little ones".

The reason why they should take the little ones and all with them, was because they were going to hold a feast unto the Lord.



But what shall my child say to me, if I tell him that I am earnestly seeking Christ and heaven for him while, at the same time, I am educating him for the world?

Now, I would affectionately, yet faithfully, suggest the question, whether much of the failure in practical testimony for Christ is not justly traceable to the neglect of the principle involved in the expression, "Thou and thy house".



Numbers

In the book of Numbers "the little ones" are again introduced to our notice. 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 Egypt.



But, let us remember, that the way to prove our entrance into the blessing is by fulfilling the responsibility.

Throughout the book of Deuteronomy, the children of Israel are, again and again, instructed to set the commandments, the statutes, the judgements, and precepts of the law before their little ones;


Joshua

I now pass on to that truly memorable resolution of Joshua, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve … but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord", Joshua 24: 15. Observe, "Me and my house".


Eli

The opening of the first book of Samuel affords most solemn demonstration of the truth of this:

Here we see that, no matter what the personal character of the servant of God may be, yet, if he fail in the due regulation of his house, God will not hold him guiltless.

But, how many parents have since trodden in Eli's footsteps!


Divine Principles

Here, however it may be objected that, up to this point, we have been breathing only the atmosphere of Old Testament scripture, and that the principles and proofs have been only thence deduced; now, on the contrary,

God's approval or disapproval of things, flows out of what He is in Himself; and, in this matter, in particular, inasmuch as God rules His own house according to what He is Himself, He commands His servants to rule their houses upon the same principle.


New Testament

But let us turn to the New Testament and see if we cannot find in its sacred pages ample proof of our thesis.

In Christ's commission to His Apostles, we find these words,

In all these scriptures, we find the same great truth maintained, namely, that when God visits a man with blessings and responsibilities, He visits His house with the same.


Failure

In all these things, as well as in many others, there has been the deepest and most marked failure – failure which has grieved that Holy Spirit of God whereby we profess to be sealed, and which has brought dishonour upon that holy name by which we are called.


Our Meetings

But, if our writings are not the thing, what shall we say of our meetings – meetings for worship, meetings for prayer, meetings for general edification?

Some there are who present themselves in the assembly with their hearts big with thoughts about something they are going to do or say.

But, further, how many there are who attend Christian assemblies with unpurged consciences, unjudged hearts, and unmortified flesh!

Thus, we see, there are various causes conspiring to sap the springs of life and vigour in the public meetings, and various reasons for the generally low tone and enfeebled testimony amongst us.


The Christian at Home

Nor is it a mere church question – a mere difference of judgement as to points of truth, however important in themselves.

Now, under the term "house," three things are included, viz., the house itself, the children, and the servants.

This is plain enough. If I want to know how I am to provide for and rule my house, I have only carefully to study the way in which God provides for and rules His house. This is the true way to learn.

Some may shake their heads and say, This is all very fine, but where will you get it?


Rank in Life

But what can be more dishonouring to God than to see the house of His servant the very reverse of what He would have it?

This was descending to very minute particulars. The same might be said of the following passage from Amos:

But, let me ask, how did we get rank in life? or, in what life is it?

It may, however, be further urged that Christianity affords no warrant for filthy and irregular houses. This is most true.


The Management of our Children

The next point suggested by the expression, "Thou and thy house," is the management of our children.

This is a solemn and searching truth, in the light of which we may clearly see the evil of urging our children along a path upon which we profess to have for ever turned our backs, as believing firmly that it terminates in hell fire.



But it may be urged, Our children will crave a little worldly enjoyment, and we must indulge them. We cannot put old heads upon young shoulders.

This I feel to be a startling inquiry; yet it is one which we are bound to follow up to the uttermost.



But it will be said, How are our children to get on? must they not earn their bread? Unquestionably. God formed us for work. The very fact of my having a pair of hands proves that I am not to be idle.


Subjection

However, it is not merely in reference to the object set forth in our children's education that we have failed, and so marred the testimony; but also in the matter of keeping them in general subjection to parental authority.


Some, however, may say that the apostle in the above passage, is speaking of converted children. To this I reply, that there is nothing about conversion in the passage.

But, it may be said, We must wait for evidences of conversion.



God's Moral Government

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed".

Nor is the exemplification of this principle confined merely to Old Testament times. By no means. Look at the case of Barnabas.



It is here there has been So much failure in the management of our houses. We have forgotten the principle of righteous rule which God has set before us, and in the exercise of which He has given us an example.



But it may be said, The parental relationship is one of love. True; it is founded in love: "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of God".

Now, in every case in which this great truth has been lost sight of by Christian parents, their houses have been thrown into confusion.

Nor do people always take a correct view of this matter, and trace the failure up to its legitimate source.

But the sum of the matter is this, the wilfulness of my children reveals the wilfulness of my own heart, and a righteous God is using them to chasten me, because I have not chastened myself.



But let all be viewed in the light of testimony for God's Son. It is to further this we are left here.


Management of Servants

As to the management of servants, in a Christian household, the principle is equally simple.


Conclusion

I must now close. I have not written, the Lord knows, to wound any one.

May God Almighty, in His great grace, produce, by His Holy Spirit, in the hearts of all His beloved saints, a more ardent purpose of soul to raise, in this closing hour, a fuller, brighter, more vigorous and decided testimony for Christ,

C.H.M.

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