A LETTER.

My Dear Brother:

In a previous letter, " How God is Leading His People," I dwelt upon the fact that we can be sure God is leading His saints, if we have hearts to follow, so long as He leaves us in this world. I tried to point out a few of the indications of the way in which we might expect Him to lead:We would be brought to a humbling sense of our own failure, which would remove from our minds all high thoughts of pretension; while, on the other hand, there would be no sacrifice of the principles of God's order for His Church.

I would like to add a few words, seeking to follow up the same subject a little further. The passage quoted is from the well-known scene of Elijah on mount Carmel. The issue whether Jehovah or Baal was the true God had been raised. The answer was to be given by fire. The priests of Baal were given the first opportunity, and all during the day they cried in vain to their god. The deliberateness and dignity with which Elijah acted was in marked contrast to the frantic efforts of the idolaters.

I do not dwell upon the details here, though they are very interesting. The altar with its twelve stones speaks surely of an Israel united in the mind of God, although outwardly divided. The burnt-offering as clearly suggests the true bond of union-the worship and service of the one Jehovah on the ground of an accepted sacrifice. The prophet is not content with having the prescribed number of stones in the altar, nor with providing the material of the sacrifice:there must be greater care now taken to guard against the presence of strange fire than in the case of the priests of Baal. The four barrels of water thrice poured upon the sacrifice and altar, until the surrounding trench was filled, effectually removed all suspicion of a lurking fire not of divine kindling. Whatever now comes must come from heaven.

We too, in some sense, are in a similar position. If, through the mercy of God, extremes of idolatry have been avoided, there has been at least a divided people. The rent, we would all agree, has been caused, in one form or another, by a departure from God or a failure to walk closely with Himself. We are sure that He would be turning our hearts back again to Himself, and that this would result in their being turned one to another. It should always be more of a concern with us that He has His true place, than that we should at once see the immediate effects of this in the healing of our breaches. The action of the prophet in pouring water suggests something similar in whatever we may attempt in connection with a resumption of fellowship between those who have been separated. There should be great caution, a care that the fires of nature are quenched, and that whatever is done shall be of God, and not a human expedient.

Let us first see what the pouring on of water is not, and then seek to gather, in a simple way, some indications of what may answer to it.

First. It is not mere prejudice. We are naturally disposed to self-vindication, with prejudice against what has been done by others contrary to our thought. We may so entrench ourselves behind this prejudice that it amounts to closing our eyes to any real examination of the points at issue. Our wills may also be involved, so that nothing can be done. Where this is the case, of course abundance of water is poured upon any proposal to examine the causes of our trouble, and to ascertain the divine remedy. I need not dwell longer upon this, save to suggest that we should recognize our proneness to fall into it. Prejudice easily asserts itself, and it is hard to divest our minds of it.

Second. It is not indifference. Often the state is rather one of indifference than positive prejudice. For one reason and another, the minds of the saints refuse to be stirred. They apparently are so satisfied with their present position and attainments that conscience is not easily aroused. If anything, this condition is almost worse than prejudice. It is impossible to stir an inert mass into any kind of action so long as this indifference remains. The causes here we may have little difficulty in ascertaining:worldliness, pride, or selfishness, have crept in. There is a low spiritual condition ; for surely, if we were quick to discern the Lord's interest, it would awaken a concern in our own hearts. Where this is the case the voice of human leaders easily takes the place of that of the Good Shepherd, and ecclesiastical pronouncements are substituted for the authority of the word of God. May He awaken His beloved people from the lethargy of self-satisfaction, and keep us from mistaking indifference for "going on quietly," or "waiting upon God." Many a movement of the Spirit of God has been in this way quietly shelved-" laid upon the table," and dismissed from the mind and conscience of the saints.

Third. It is not opposition. There may be an entire absence of indifference, but prejudice may have awakened into an activity that opposes everything. This activity however, is not necessarily a scriptural pouring on of water. It must be tested ; otherwise we should be at the mercy of all forms of opposition to the leading of the Spirit of God. Stephen, in going over the history of the nation, points out that at every critical stage, when God was leading them into fuller blessing, there were those who resisted the Holy Ghost. This opposition frequently culminated in acts of violence and persecution, reaching its climax in the rejection and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. It would never have done for the prophets to cease their call to repentance because it was met by opposition; and had our Lord thus acted, He would have returned where He was before and left us to our fate.

But I need not further dwell upon the negative side, as mere negation will never lead us into the truth. It will suffice us to have the dangers pointed out, in order that we may avoid them.

What, then, for us, answers to the pouring on the water?

First. Without desiring to be in the least fanciful, we naturally remember that water in Scripture is a symbol of the word of God-"washing of water by the Word"; and our passage at least illustrates the application of the word of God to the question in hand. Where a proposed line of action is contemplated, let "four barrels" be filled with water. The " four," to those who have been accustomed to the symbolism of numbers in Scripture, speaks of testing, as we find in its multiple, the forty years in the wilderness, the forty days of our Lord's temptation, etc. Here then we have a hint:Let all be tested by the word of God; not merely once, but thrice-the number of completeness, divine fulness. We should never shrink from divinely-applied tests. We should always lay bare our plans to the action of that holy Word which will detect and quench all fires of mere nature. How often pride of numbers, sentiment, a spirit of shame at division, and even affection one for another, may kindle a movement toward reunion which will not stand the test of the word of God. Let us then welcome this pouring of the water upon our plans. We may be sure that whatever else the Scriptures quench, they will never put out the fire which the Spirit of God has kindled.

Pursuing this a little further, I think we will all admit that the first pouring of the water would come from having the word of Christ dwelling in us richly. This will effectually guard us from being deceived or giving rein to mere fancy and sentiment. But besides the general indwelling of the entire Word, there is the application of special Scripture to the case in point. If a doctrinal question has arisen, let it be tested by the word of God upon that subject. If a question of ecclesiastical action is raised, the Scriptures will decide as to this. If undue prominence has been given to one or another feature of action, the word of God will also detect this.

We cannot emphasize too strongly the necessity of being ever open to this holy action of the Scriptures. Here we will find neither indifference, nor prejudice, nor opposition, to that which is of Him.

A beautiful illustration of this is found in the fifteenth chapter of Acts. The Spirit of God had evidently been leading out, through Paul and Barnabas, to a world-wide proclamation of the gospel and an emancipation of the Church from the trammels of Judaism. It had been met by the prejudice of pharisaic opposition in those who declared that the Gentile converts must be put under law. Indifference would have ignored the opposition, and the Church would have gradually drifted into Gentile and Jewish branches until a division had been consummated. Prejudice would have put a yoke of bondage upon the Gentile converts which " neither we nor our fathers were able to bear," and would have quenched the ardor of their first love; while opposition would have hindered that work of the Spirit which was going on in so marked a way. Neither of these is allowed, but all come together at Jerusalem, where naturally prejudice would have been greatest. Here the whole question is opened up, and full opportunity given for its discussion. The opposition has no cause to complain that it did not have a hearing. Finally, the test of Scripture is applied by James, and a conclusion reached in the fear of God, with apostolic authority as well- "It seemed good to the Holy ghost and to us." The result is great joy to the Gentile saints and a further step in the deliverance of the entire Church from Judaism.

Second. Next to the application of the word of God comes prayer. These are so closely related that they can never be truly separated. " The word of God and prayer " is the scriptural order. The Word shows us our need, our failure, as well as the mind of God. Prayer brings us to the Lord's feet with confession and supplication. It is thus alone that we can expect to be guided. A prayerless movement, we may be sure, is one in which lurks some strange fire. Let us beware of any spirit of self-sufficiency which shall not make us feel the absolute necessity of prayer. Indeed, one of the surest indications that God is stirring among His people is the presence of prayer. When a burden is laid upon the hearts of saints individually in various places, and this burden finds expression in united prayer, we may be sure that the Spirit of God is at work.

How important it is that the most specious arguments, the brightest prospects, the most carefully laid plans, should all be put before God again and &gain, that He may show us His mind, guard us from our natural desires, and work His own will.

Failing in this, we are like Joshua and the princes of Israel when they fell before the wiles of the Gibeonites. To have asked counsel of the Lord would have prevented (end missing) …
********************************PAGES 55-56 MISSING****************************