69. “Inquirer after Truth.” We have never read Dr. K.’s remarks on 1 Kings 17 We see no reason to depart from our excellent Authorized Version.
70. “C. J.,” London. It must be entirely a question between your own soul and the Lord. We cannot lay down a rule in such a case.
71. “J. W.,” Blackburn. We deeply sympathize with you in your very painful and trying position. We most fully enter into all you say, and thoroughly understand your case. But we must remind you that you are the head of your house, and therefore, responsible for all that goes on. Your being an invalid, and unable to work, in no wise touches this great moral principle, though it certainly does render your position more trying and difficult. You should, most assuredly, insist upon having your shop closed on the Lord’s day. Nothing should induce you to do business on that day. We trust that you will be enabled, tenderly yet firmly, to carry out what is right, in this matter. We consider it a sad dishonor to the Lord for anyone professing to be a Christian, to keep his shop open on the Lord’s day. Were we to pass such a place, we should never imagine that the proprietor was a child of God. Such is our judgment of your case, which must go for what it is worth. If you see it to be right, may the Lord give you grace to act on it!
72. “G. B. F.,” Broomholm. You must treat such persons with patience and forbearance, waiting on the Lord to enlighten them more fully as to the true path of a Christian.
73. “W. B.,” Wooler. “The camp” in Heb. 13 primarily refers to Judaism; but morally it applies to any system set up for the purpose of furnishing unconverted people with religion.
74. “E. G.,” Stockwell. Thanks for the lines. We think you have mistaken the application of John 16:2323And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (John 16:23); but this, in no wise, touches the force and value of your remarks. If we can find space, we shall be happy to insert both pieces, omitting the quotation, which applies to this day, and not to the future.
75. “E.,” Clapham. Your poem is to hand.
76. “Ε. N.,” Guernsey. We heartily thank you for your encouraging note. It was truly kind of you to write. The Lord be praised for His great goodness in using the books for your soul’s profit!
77. “Ε. B.,” a Cownion, Saint-Pons, Herault. Psalm 69:2828Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28), does not speak of “The book of life.” The entire psalm presents the sufferings of the Messiah, at the hands of men, and His intercession against them. Awful thought! They are to be blotted out of the book of the living, and not to be reckoned with the righteous. This refers to the judgment executed on the earth. They will be cut off from the place of blessing, and blotted out of the roll of the Israel of God. It has no reference whatever to the Lamb’s book of life.
Then, as to the expression in Rev. 3:55He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5). You must remember that in all these seven addresses, the church is looked at in its place of responsibility. It is under judgment. It is not the church as the body or bride of Christ. No member of the body of Christ can ever be blotted out of the book of life. Indeed the passage does not speak of the Lamb’s book of life at all. It is a question of responsibility in which there may be failure and consequent judgment. All whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life shall, most assuredly, share in His glory. For all such, blessed be God, there is and can be no judgment, inasmuch as the Lamb has borne the judgment instead. For them, death and judgment are passed forever; and nothing remains but cloudless and everlasting glory.
We need never be the least afraid to trust scripture. There can be no flaw, no defect, no discrepancy there. All is divinely perfect. If there be an apparent difficulty, it is owing to our ignorance, our lack of spirituality of mind, and singleness of eye. Let us own this, and wait on God for further light. As for all those who try to pick holes in the Bible, we can only say, “They do greatly err, not knowing the scriptures, or the power of God.” May the gracious Lord open their eyes to see their terrible sin, ere it be too late!
78. “An Inquirer,” Pitmachie. It will be well for those persons to whom you refer, to learn that we seek not theirs, but them. They should first give their own selves to the Lord, and then they will know what to do with their money. What the Lord looks for is the heart; when that is given to Him, all will come right.
79. “E. A. G.,” East Dulwich. It is a question for individual conscience. There is a very wide difference between a wine merchant and a keeper of a public house; at least so we judge; but it is not our province to lay down rules for other people’s conscience. One thing is certain, the path of a true Christian is an exceedingly narrow one.
80. “J. D.,” Dundee. We are told to be ready for every good work; to do good unto all, specially to those who are of the household of faith. We think you would have done well to help the poor. As to putting down your name, that is entirely a question of your own spiritual feeling. The blessed Master says, “When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” But then He says also, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” It is always well to have a heart for the poor. It is a cold, heartless, selfish world we are passing through; and we need to live near the exhaustless Fountain of love, so that we may prove to be streams of refreshing to all with whom we come in contact. Our precious Savior “went about doing good.” Blessed be His name! May we have grace to walk in His footsteps!