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The Remnant – Past and Present
Ministry by C. H. Mackintosh
– Part Three

 
The Remnant – Past and Present
Author's Preface
1. Hezekiah
2. Josiah
3. Daniel
4. Nehemiah
5. Malachi
6. Luke
  7. Jude
  8. Thyatira
  9. Sardis
10. Philadelphia
11. Laodicea
RESTORATION
  - Genesis 35 and John 21: 1-19
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THE  REMNANT  –  PAST  AND  PRESENT
Author's Preface
C. H. Mackintosh
See also: Ministry: J. Taylor 2: The Remnant that is Left.

C. H. Mackintosh, 1820-96

It is at once interesting, instructive, and encouraging to trace through Scripture the history of what is called "The Remnant".

Now in tracing the history of the remnant in Old Testament times we find that the lower down we go in the nation's history, the richer the display of divine grace;

Hezekiah

In 2 Chronicles 30 we have a refreshing and encouraging record of a Passover kept in the reign of Hezekiah, when the visible unity of the nation was broken up; and failure and ruin had come in.

Here we see divine grace meeting, as it ever does, those who truly confess their failure and weakness.

Now we may rest assured that all this was most grateful to the heart of Jehovah, God of Israel.

Josiah

We shall now pass on to the reign of the pious and devoted king Josiah, when the nation was on the very eve of dissolution.

What a very remarkable testimony! In Hezekiah's Passover we are carried back to the brilliant reign of Solomon;

All this is full of encouragement and comfort for every true lover of Christ. Many might have thought it very presumptuous of Josiah to pursue such a course at such a moment and under such circumstances;

Here we have the moral basis of Josiah's remarkable career; and most assuredly there was nothing savouring of presumption therein.

Daniel

But we must pass on from the interesting history of Josiah, and present some further illustrations of our theme.

But, blessed forever be the God of all grace, He never leaves Himself without a witness; and hence, during the long and dreary period of Babylonish captivity, we find some most striking and beautiful proofs of the statement that

The opening chapters of the book of Daniel furnish some magnificent results of individual faith and devotedness. Look, for example, at Daniel 2: 46.

But where did Daniel get the power to reveal the king's secret? Verses 17 and 18 supply the lovely answer:

Can aught be finer than this? What an encouragement to the Lord's beloved people in darkest days to hold fast Christ's Word, and not deny His precious name!

They did not say, 'We must go with the times; we must do as others do; there is no need to make ourselves singular; we must outwardly conform to the public worship, the religion of the state, and hold our own private opinions all the same; we are not called to withstand the faith of the nation; being in Babylon, we must conform to Babylon's religion'.

Thank God, Daniel and his beloved companions did not adopt this contemptible, time-serving policy.

All this is full of the most precious teaching for all the Lord's people at the present moment.

But, on the other hand, we are not to draw a plea from the ruin of the church for laxity as to truth, or sluggishness in our personal walk. We are in great danger of this.

Nehemiah

But we must pursue our subject, and ask the reader to turn to Nehemiah 8.

We shall quote a few verses of this lovely Scripture:

This is very striking. Here we find a feeble remnant gathered round the Word of God, holding a reading-meeting, and getting to understand the truth and feel its power on the heart and conscience.

Was this presumption? Nay, it was simple obedience to the Word of God. It was written in the Book – written for them; they acted upon it.

Malachi

We shall now turn, for a moment, to the last page of Old Testament Scripture – the prophecy of Malachi.

Yet, even in the midst of this terrible scene, we have a most touching and exquisite illustration of our thesis.

How lovely is all this! What a contrast to the general condition of things! We may range through the entire history of the nation, and find nothing like this. Where do we read of

Nothing can be more lovely. Would there were more of it in our midst!

Would that there were more of this amongst us! We long for it, and our one earnest desire in writing this paper is to promote it.

Luke

I am anxious to present two or three illustrations drawn from the precious pages of the New Testament.

Jude

We shall now pass on to the Epistle of Jude. Here we find apostate Christendom in all its appalling forms of wickedness, just as in Malachi we had apostate Judaism.

It is to this remnant that the inspired apostle addresses his solemn and weighty Epistle. It is not to any special assembly, but

We repeat, and would emphasise the expression, 'to every true-hearted child of God'.

And now let us turn for a few moments to the precious words of exhortation addressed to the Christian remnant. May the Spirit clothe them with power to our souls!

The Lord be praised for this unspeakable favour! No human language can set forth the importance of having a divinely settled authority for our path.

The Reformation was the result of a blessed work of the Spirit of God

Let us see how all this comes out in Jude's address to the remnant.

This is the Christian remnant, just as in Malachi 3 we have the Jewish remnant. Nothing can be more lovely. It is the position in which all true Christians should be found.

Such then is the position, the condition, the practice of the true Christian remnant; and we may rest assured that, where these things are realized and carried out,

Thyatira

Look for a moment at the address to the fourth of the seven churches, as given in the second chapter of Revelation.

In the address to this assembly we find a marked change, indicated by three plain facts – namely: first, a remnant is for the first time addressed: secondly, the Lord's coming is for the first time introduced; and, thirdly, the hearing ear is no longer looked for in the assembly at large, but in the overcomer.

Here then we have a deeply interesting view of the Christian remnant.

Sardis

But what of Sardis? Is this the church restored? Nothing of the kind.

Philadelphia

In the last two assemblies we have the contrast continued, enlarged, and enforced.

Now all this is most grateful to the heart of Christ. It is not a question of great service rendered, mighty works performed, anything striking or splendid in the eyes of men.

Let us harken to our adorable Lord as He pours out His loving heart to this dear Philadelphian company – this true Christian remnant.

The Lord Christ most graciously pledges Himself to keep His beloved assembly from the terrible hour of trial that is coming upon this whole scene.

But we must quote the remainder of this most exquisite address, so full of comfort and consolation.

There are points of similarity and points of contrast in the Jewish and Christian remnants which we cannot go into just now, inasmuch as our object in referring to both is to illustrate our special theme,

One point marks the distinction between the two remnants in the clearest way. It is this:

Laodicea

And now a word, in conclusion, as to Laodicea. Nothing can be more vivid or striking than the contrast between it and Philadelphia in every respect.

How awfully solemn to find the professing Church in such a condition! And to think how soon we pass from the attractions of Philadelphia – so grateful to the heart of Christ, so refreshing to His spirit – to the withering atmosphere of Laodicea, where there is not a single redeeming feature!

Yet even here, in the face of this most deplorable condition of things, the infinite grace and changeless love of the heart of Christ shine out in all their undimmed lustre.

In the church of Sardis the remnant is spoken of as "a few names"; in Laodicea there is an "if" as to one; but even if there be a single hearing ear, if there be one to open the door,

And now, beloved Christian reader, in taking leave of you, I would earnestly and affectionately entreat you to join in petition to our ever-gracious God to stir up the hearts of His beloved people all over the world to seek

P.S. – I feel I must not let this paper go forth without adding a word on the immense importance of keeping up a full, clear, earnest gospel testimony.

Faith says, 'No; we must never give up. God's gospel must be preached to every creature under heaven. And even though men reject it, God is glorified and His heart is refreshed by the precious message of His love being told out in the ears of perishing sinners'.

In speaking of the work of an evangelist, we must not confine it to public halls and rooms, which, of course, demand a distinct gift from the Head of the Church.

We want more of this earnest, beautiful, personal work in private. It is refreshing to the heart of God.

May the gracious Lord stir up the hearts of all His beloved people to a more lively interest in the blessed work of evangelization, at home and abroad, in public and in private!

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RESTORATION
Notes on Genesis 35 and John 21: 1-19

A convincing exposition of the oft-debated but clear scriptural principle -
"God, in His dealings with us, always keeps us up to the original terms." GAR

The words "Arise, go up to Bethel" contain a great practical truth to which we desire to call the reader's attention.

It has been well remarked by some one that "God, in His dealings with us, always keeps us up to the original terms."

At the same time, we must take care not to carry that feeling to such an extent as would lead us to throw overboard aught that is calculated to act in a divine way upon the heart and conscience of the believer. We really want practical truth.

We are called to "suffer the word of exhortation" — to listen to wholesome words — to apply our hearts diligently to everything tending to promote practical godliness and personal holiness.

Yes, we frequently find that the loud and vehement outcry against everything that looks like legality proceeds from those who, though they profess the doctrines of grace, do not realize their sanctifying influence;

But the pious reader may want to know what is meant by the expression quoted above, namely,

And can we not praise Him for this? Assuredly we can.

By the lake of Gennesaret, Peter set out to follow Jesus. What then?

Now we see the same thing precisely in the history of the patriarch Jacob. Let us just turn to it for a moment.

"And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Here, then, we have the blessed statement of what the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob undertook to do for Jacob and for his seed — a statement crowned by these memorable words,

Let us now harken to Jacob.

Thus much as to Bethel and the terms entered into there. God pledged Himself to Jacob; and though Heaven and earth should pass away, that pledge must be maintained in all its integrity.

And what of Jacob? Why, he dedicated himself to God, and vowed that the spot where he had enjoyed such a revelation and darkened to such exceeding great and precious promises, should be God's house.

God had not forgotten the original terms, neither would He let His servant forget them.

How amazing that the High and Mighty One, who inhabiteth eternity, should so value the love and remembrance of a poor worm of the earth! Yet so it is, and we ought to bear it more in mind.

But then we ought to remember that He looks for the loving devotion of our hearts to Him; and if we, in the freshness and ardour of other days, set out to follow Christ, give up all for Him, can we suppose for a moment that He could coldly and indifferently forego His claim upon our heart's affections?

Yes, His banner ever floats, bearing its own inscription upon it to win back our vagrant hearts, and remind us of the original terms. He says to us, in one way or another, as He said to Jacob,

What is all this but calling His people back to the old point from which they had declined?

Is the reader conscious of anything like this? If so, would it not be a peculiar mercy if at this very moment he were called back to the old terms? Doubtless.

This is the secret spring of all true service. If Christ has not the love of your heart, He does not want the labour of your hands.

But we must return to Jacob, and see further how our subject is illustrated in his fruitful history.

All this was most deplorable; but it does not appear to have once occurred to Jacob that he was in a wrong place. The defilement and confusion of Shechem failed to open his eyes to the fact that he was not up to the old terms.

However, in Jacob's case we see the divine principle again and again illustrated.

Note this. We have here a most exquisite feature in the divine method of dealing with souls.

Instead of saying to Jacob, "Why have you settled down in Shechem?" He simply says,

This was, assuredly, getting back to the original terms. It was the restoring of a soul and a leading in the paths of righteousness.

"EL-beth-EL" Precious title, which had God for its Alpha and its Omega!

Christian reader, pause here, we want to ask you a question.

You will never be happy, you will never be right, until you yield a full response to this blessed and soul-stirring call. O yield it now, we beseech you.

John 21: 1-19

A careful study of these verses will enable us to trace in them three distinct kinds of restoration, namely, restoration of conscience, restoration of heart, and restoration of position.

1. The first of these, restoration of conscience, is of all-importance. It would be utterly impossible to overestimate the value of a sound, clear, uncondemning conscience.

It is very obvious that Peter possessed it in the touching scene "at the sea of Tiberias." And yet he had fallen — shamefully, grievously fallen. He had denied his Lord with an oath; but he was restored.

The risen Saviour is seen in these closing chapters of John's Gospel watching over His poor, feeble, erring disciples — hovering about their path — presenting Himself in various ways before them

So also when, under the guidance of the ever forward Peter, they had gone forth to spend a night in fruitless toil, Jesus had His eye upon them.

But let us note particularly the evidences of a thoroughly restored conscience as exhibited by Simon Peter.

In place of saying to John or to the others, "You know how shamefully I have fallen; and although I have since then seen the Lord, and heard Him speak peace to my soul, yet I think it more becoming in one that has so fallen to keep back; do you therefore go first and meet the blessed One, and I shall follow after."

Now, here was a perfectly restored conscience — a conscience basking in the sunlight of unchanging love; and is not this the true, original terms for every Christian?

Should these lines be scanned by one who has backslidden, or fallen, we would press upon him most earnestly the importance of immediate return to Jesus.

Beloved reader, have you fallen? Have you erred? Have you backslidden? Have you lost the sweet sense of divine favour, the happy consciousness of acceptance with God?p>

You have sinned, you have failed, you have turned aside; and now, it may be, you are afraid or ashamed to turn your eyes toward the One whom you have grieved, or dishonoured.

But you have only to fix your gaze upon the blood, the advocacy, the heart of Jesus, to get a triumphant answer to all the enemy's terrible suggestions, and to all the infidel reasonings of your own heart.

2. But the heart has to be restored as well as the conscience. Let this not be forgotten.

Now, these roots must be reached, exposed, and judged, ere the heart is in a right condition in the sight of God.

All this is deeply practical, and most solemn. It finds its illustration in Peter as well as in Abraham.

But there must be the deeper work of reaching the root of things in the heart.

This root had to be exposed, and therefore, "When they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?"

Christian reader, our object is entirely practical. Let us therefore exhort one another to judge our roots, whatever they may be.

3. We shall close with a brief reference to restoration as bearing upon the soul's position, or path.

Here, then, we have in two words the path of the servant of Christ — "Follow Me."

If we want to follow Jesus, we must keep the eye continually upon Him; we must mark His footprints and tread therein.

There is immense danger of following in the wake of others, of doing certain things because others do them, or doing things as others do them. All this has to be carefully guarded against. It will be sure to come to nothing.

It is easier to be busy than to be quiet. When Peter was "young," he went whither he would; but when he got "old," he went whither he would not.

"Follow Me!" Precious words! May they be engraved on our hearts! Then shall we be steady in our course and effective in our service.

Would it were more thus with all the Lord's servants! Would that we all knew more distinctly, and carried out more decidedly, the Master's will respecting us!

Thus it is in this our day. God has varied workmen in His house and in His vineyard; and the original terms of service are that the Holy Spirit divideth to every one as He will.

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