INTRODUCTION |
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The articles by Mr. S. M. Anglin, Mr. H. C. Anstey and Mr. E. H. Chater, are from A Voice to the Faithful 1895-96, edited by Mr. J. B. Stoney.
Mr. Anglin wrote a helpful booklet – What Baptism Is, and Who Should Be Baptised – which now appears on the Doctrine: Baptism page.
Mr. Herbert C. Anstey lived in Kingston-on-Thames.
Mr. Edward H. Chater (1845-1915) – of Ealing – is well known for his many fine hymns, there being thirteen in the 1973 Re-Selection.
EHC was one of the signers of the Statement of Facts as to Events in Ealing, June 30, 1890, which now appears as an appendix to The Champney Letter.
Spiritual Means has been chosen as the title article of this page because of its peculiar bearing on our own day.
G.A.R.
S. M. ANGLIN |
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Attention has recently been called to the solemn instruction furnished us by the inspired record of Gideon's ephod.
I do not purpose, however, to go over what has previously been brought before us in the paper referred to,
His history bears witness to the goodness and sovereign compassion of God towards His people, who, on their part, were constantly dishonouring Him, and bringing trouble and chastening on themselves.
1. First, his own heart and feelings are in harmony with the thoughts of God about His people.
"If the Lord be with us", was Gideon's response.
He is here in the Spirit of Moses and of Paul; indeed, we may say in that of the blessed Lord Himself;
2. The second characteristic of a true servant now shines out; that is, the sense of his own weakness and incompetency.
It is true, that along with this – which in itself is the precious fruit of the working of the Spirit of Go – there may be that which is merely natural backwardness, and which affords a ready shelter for unbelief.
I need not stay to dwell, in connection with this, upon the way that Gideon's army had to be reduced from 32,000 to 300 men. It all bears witness to the same truth.
I only seek now that we may have before us the instructive lesson of the way Gideon went on from victory to victory while simply keeping God before Him, and acting in dependence upon Him;
But let us briefly notice the moral victories of this man of God before the enemy succeeded in thus sadly ensnaring him.
The temper and spirit in which Gideon meets the chidings of the men of Ephraim is very fine.
But another subtle snare is presented to him. He bore the slighting and the chiding of his brethren in a becoming spirit, but will he be proof against their proposal to honour him?
and again, "I have set Jehovah always before me".
But though Gideon refuses their proposal it evidently in a measure affects his spirit.
What a tale it tells of the vanity of our poor hearts! What an impressive lesson of the need of constantly abiding in dependence upon God, of walking in faith before Him.
These are some of the important truths illustrated in the history of Gideon, and which
S.M.A.
It must be evident to any one who through grace, has been led to apprehend what the true character and calling of the church really are, that
In contrast to all this, however, it is also true that the Lord has of late been seeking by His Spirit, in a very distinct way, to waken up all who have "an ear to hear" to the truth and reality of what the church is in His eyes, according to His own thoughts and feelings about it –
Brief as this parable is it has wrapped up in it, so to speak, that which was the brightest design in all the counsels of God,
But what draws me to it more especially at this time is this wondrous fact – that the church is the chief joy of His heart, as revealed by Him in the expression "for joy thereof".
It is very affecting that the Lord should have expressed the feelings of His heart about the church in view of giving up all that was His, and all that was due to Him here, by the words He uses "for joy thereof".
Is there, however, no joy for us also in this treasure? Is it not a deep joy to enter into His thoughts and feelings about His own, and to see what they are to Him?
First, in the blessedness of communion with Him, to know what He finds in the church, and that He has His joy in her affection for Him; even as He said to His disciples – alluding to His joy in going to the Father –
But again there is the joy of knowing that we are collectively that treasure, that we are and shall be a source of delight to Jesus;
wonderful as it is to contemplate it;
But sure I am that He would have our hearts entering into all this more and more;
Until that blessed moment His word to each heart that in bridal affection knows Him now as the One who "for joy thereof went and sold all that He had", is, "surely, I come quickly".
But "the pearl" as well as "the treasure" – for both are similitudes of the same thing – is here now, and we cannot too deeply be exercised as to the fact that
S.M.A.
It is now very generally admitted that the more correct rendering of 1 Corinthians 2: 13 is
It is clear that before anyone can be a communicator of
spiritual things, he must first be a recipient of them.
How different from this is that which the Lord Himself expresses, as touching the class of persons to whom the Father – by the Holy Ghost – is pleased to reveal these things: as we read in Matthew 11: 25:
The apostle, writing by the Spirit, would set the hearts of these Corinthian believers – who were so ambitious of human glory and wisdom – a-longing
But inasmuch as these things and this wisdom are only ministered by the Spirit of God – who alone could know the things of God, verse 11 – therefore two things were indispensable for their reception and enjoyment:
What we have already considered is in some sense a necessary preliminary to what is expressed in the verse we have now before us, which relates to the communication of "these things",
The gospel reveals them, or, I would rather say, the gospel contains them, taking it in the fullest sense and meaning of that term.
The sense of how divine and spiritual all in connection with the gospel is, of how it is connected with the accomplishment of the most wonderful purposes and counsels of the heart and mind of the blessed God,
The Holy Ghost is the only power for any true light and blessing in the soul of any one. He is jealous of His mission into the world, and what suits it.
There may be a good beginning, and yet the elements that hinder growth and sap the soul of its spiritual nourishment be afterwards brought in through other agencies, as in the case of the Corinthians themselves;
Much more might be added as to the practical results of "spiritual means" or the reverse,
Let us the ever bear in mind that it is only by the Holy Ghost we can rightly receive or understand one single bit of divine truth,
S.M.A.
FOR THE JOY THEREOF
SPIRITUAL MEANS
H. C. ANSTEY |
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Some have said, 'No! for times have changed'. And in reading the above words from 2 Timothy 1, we must notice the immensity of the change which has taken place since they were penned.
The change I think cannot be denied, but can we therefore avoid the present application of these words and of this exhortation,
What was Paul's gospel? I think the true answer to this question will show that
Paul's gospel not only declared the eternal removal from the eye of God of all the "offences" by the death of Christ – see the first part of Romans, to chapter 5: 11.
This was Paul's gospel and it was well known to Timothy.
Has the "offence" – the scandal – of the cross ceased? It would appear that it has, if we may judge by the popularity of the gospel in some places in so-called Christian England,
But it has been truly said, "the present judgment of God is resting on man", God having accepted another Man – a second – is it not clear that He must reject the first?
It is when we not only "know" the doctrine which Paul taught, but when we preach it, and live – manner of life – as though we knew it,
It is when in our preaching – do the work of an evangelist – we bring in another Man, in whom is all God's delight, that we shall understand a little not only of afflictions,
How little do some of us know of such a life in this world! Partaker of "the afflictions of the gospel!"
If times have changed, and they have, man is in no wise changed, nor has the truth of God changed the gospel, which we have been considering.
H.C.A.
When this question was asked – 2 Kings 4 – , God was practically displaced in Israel, which He had chosen for His dwelling,
There is a picture of God's house presented to us in the 1st Epistle to Timothy which is very different from what we find is the state in the second.
and in it Timothy is to know how to "behave himself". In the second epistle, the only mention that we find of this house, is where we read of "a great house", in which there are many vessels, "some to honour and some to dishonour",
Moreover, the brightest thing had failed when this second epistle was written, a proof of what had taken place since the writing of the first.
Timothy had been left in this favoured assembly to see that some who desired it taught "no other doctrine", 1 Tim. 1: 3.
But not only this faithful servant had stood firm among the seething mass of decline and corruption – God was faithful. 2 Tim. 2: 13.
I turn then to 2 Timothy 1: 6-7 and I read,
May we bow our heads before Him, and seek grace to rightly estimate the privileges and favour of "Timothy" days.
In the first of these verses, Timothy is reminded of the peculiar "gift", communicated to him through the apostle. This was personal and individual.
The question, "What hast thou in the house?" shows that God has resources there which He can use.
He gives no hint that He will ever be dislodged.
Now what was a true parallel to this in the days of the Second Epistle to Timothy – days only perhaps then dawning – but now, fully upon us?
What is available in this day of misery?
This is her reply, "Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil". Oil in scripture is a figure of the Spirit of God. Leviticus 8: 14, etc.
testifies to the same in Timothy days.
and the supply only stopped when "there was not a vessel more".
Now says the Spirit by the prophet, "Go sell the oil, pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest". First notice that the resource is in "the house" and she is to get alone therein, "with her sons", to find empty vessels, and to "shut the door".
May the Lord exercise us as to the magnitude of our resources – Himself – and lead us to the becoming actions in separation from vessels to dishonour, so that we may profit by these resources.
H.C.A.
I think that it is important to remember two things are connected with death.
Death closed for Him the day of His humiliation and opened to Him the day of His glory,
The significance and importance of this fact is shown, I think, in that God has taken care that the death of Christ in "the Lord's Supper" should be presented afresh and continually before us.
Thus death closes and it opens. It has opened to Christ and to us, all the scene into which He has gone,
Now we are left a moment upon earth – just as the Lord was upon earth during the forty days after His resurrection – to have His portion
But as with Him, the death came first, so also with us, the closing of the door comes first.
declared it for Him, and we also must die to live.
If we turn back to types that have foreshadowed the death of Christ, we have a remarkable one in the Red Sea.
And blessed truth, the door is open in front. What has Christ entered upon now as Man?
If we still use the type – for Canaan is not heaven – I see that the old corn of the land is there, there, too, I learn that I do not "lack anything in it".
I find then that "the Lord's death" is not only the way out, deliverance, but it is also the way into the knowledge of all God's purposes in Christ.
It is from this point of vantage which God has given to Christ in answer to the world's rejection of Him and which grace has made ours, that we can say "old things have passed away, all things have become new".
If we are not in the solemn apprehension of the one, it is little wonder that we cannot be in the joyful truth of the other.
"an opened door" – Revelation 3: 8, New [Darby] Translation. May the Lord instruct our hearts more fully as to these things, that the affections may go out to Him.
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink of this cup, ye do
show the Lord's death till He come".
H.C.A.
It has been remarked that the privileges of saints to-day cannot be enjoyed "by faith" but only "by the Spirit".
First of all, I think that we must be clear that the Spirit is given now, and on "the principle of faith", and n –
The apostle asks the Galatians, "Have ye received the Spirit on the principle of works of law, or of the report of faith?" – New [Darby] Translation.
Faith gives light, but I think it will be admitted that it is quite possible to stop short of the enjoyment of what the light enables us to see.
Many read Ephesians 2: 5-6, and kindred passages, which speak of our privileges as saints in this day, with – it seems to me – a good deal of complacency.
It is worthy of note that the list of the "fruit of the Spirit", which we find in Galatians as what we enjoy and display in the world, refers to what is true in us, and not to what is true of us.
What was seen in Old Testament saints, and its effect in them, comes before us in Hebrews 11, but is nothing more to be known to day than they knew?
I conclude with one remark, Is it not noteworthy that
H.C.A.
TELL ME, WHAT HAST THOU IN THE HOUSE?
A Question For All Who Are Of It Today
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THE LORD'S DEATH – 1 Corinthians 11: 26
FAITH GIVES LIGHT,
But The Spirit Conducts Me Into Privilege
E. H. CHATER |
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True, practical Christianity depends on an answer in the affirmative. God has changed His man; are we in the truth of it?
Every Christian still bears the image of the first man, having proceeded according to the flesh from him, who was originally formed in the image and likeness of God;
Quickened by Christ, we have already passed from death unto life. We can never go back to Adam.
The world around us is morally dead, under judgment, lying in the wicked one; and man, apart from grace, is hopelessly lost.
Christ in resurrection is the beginning – Col. 1: 18. It does not say, 'the new beginning'.
On the mount of transfiguration, at the close of the scene, Moses and Elias, the law and the prophets, disappear, and Jesus only is seen.
Let us then raise our thoughts above all that is visible and bow to the revelation of God, in relation to the second Man, glorified in His presence. God is occupied about Him.
Truth must be learnt, and learnt in order, or it will never be properly and spiritually learnt at all.
The way to Christ and to the whole range of heavenly blessing is through death.
We are introduced into a new sphere of privilege and blessing. We are where God tells out His heart to us, and gives us to share His joy and delight in Christ.
God has changed His man; are we in the truth of it?
E.H.C.