To the Saints Gathered to the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ

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Des Moines, Iowa, December, 1890.
Beloved Brethren:
At a full meeting of the saints gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus in this place on the evening of the 21st inst., after two and a half hours’ waiting on the Lord, and quiet looking into the teaching of F. E. Raven, and the Bexhill-Greenwich correspondence, the following results were reached: A united and unanimous owning of the authority of the Lord in the action of the assembly of God at Bexhill in refusing fellowship to the assembly at Greenwich. We believe the assembly was not only competent, but, under the circumstances, bound, in faithfulness to the Lord, to judge as to the status of the assembly at Greenwich, having received therefrom a letter of commendation at a time when it was allowing in its midst teaching derogatory to the Person and glory of the Lord Jesus. The presence and power of the Lord Jesus give competency, and the character of His name, to which we are gathered, the obligation. (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20); 1 Cor. 5:44In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4); 2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19).)
While acknowledging our general low state, on account of which we had incurred the Lord’s displeasure, and on account of which we feel deeply humbled before Him, it was recognized that the teaching of F. E. Raven was the immediate cause leading to the sorrowful division which has taken place, and which we deeply deplore. This teaching was the voice of the stranger which scattered the sheep. It is not necessary that the sheep should know the meaning of this strange voice in order to flee from it; it is only necessary they should know it is not the voice of the Good Shepherd. The sheep know the Shepherd’s voice, not the voice of a stranger. Even the babes in Christ “have an unction from the Holy One,” which “is truth and is no lie,” by which they “know all things,” and they are thus protected against every “lie.” They know the truth, “and that no lie is of the truth” (John 10:4,54And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:4‑5); 1 John 2:20-2720But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20‑27)). The Holy Ghost never said that eternal life “was ever an integral part of the Person of the Eternal Son”; nor does He define it as “a sphere,” or “order of blessing,” or “a condition,” or “the purpose of God,” or “a new man,” and such like things. Even though there may be a measure of truth in some of these things, it is not the truth. Nor does the Holy Ghost ever present to us an analysis of the Person of our blessed Lord, in order to show us that some “part” of His Person is eternal life. And so the believer who heeds “the anointing” he has received turns away from all such teaching as being “a lie” and not “the truth.” The Holy Ghost sets before us Christ as “the life,” “our life,” “the eternal life which was with the Father,” the One in whom we have life, “the true God and eternal life” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6); Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4); 1 John 1:2;5:202(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (1 John 1:2)
20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)), and ever takes the attitude of glorifying Christ, filling the saints with holy reverence for His name, and rebuking the unholy curiosity that would intrude into the mystery of His Person, or the profane hand that would touch it (John 16:1414He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:14); 1 Sam. 6:1919And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. (1 Samuel 6:19); 2 Sam. 6:6,76And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:6‑7)).
We are, beloved brethren, yours affectionately in the Lord, on behalf of the assembly.
Wm. G. Paterson,
Walter Boyt,
Wm. T. Johnston,
J. C. Quiner,
A. H. Rule,
John Boyt,
E. D. Hall.
Note on an Extract of a Letter from Mr. Raven to W. White
“In resurrection (1 Cor. 15) He is revealed as last Adam and second Man, though ever such in His own Person, for the second Man is ‘out of heaven.’”
This is human reason led by the evil one. Surely the Person who became the last Adam and second Man was from all eternity, and so Scripture does say the “second Man, out of heaven.” The second Man had thus a heavenly origin, not an earthly one. But where does Scripture say, and how dare Mr. Raven say, that He was ever in His own Person the last Adam and second Man? Surely Scripture shows plainly how He became man in His birth into this world (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)), and surely it is bold and daring presumption to say that He was in His own Person the second Man and last Adam before He became man at all.
This is the true explanation of the strange connection he has made between eternal life “in essence,” and “the second Man out of heaven,” and shows distinctly the purpose of the evil one to introduce among us a false Christ, for this extract does not give us the Christ of God. Let the reader judge according to Scripture, and let him say whether he can be found identified with such an attack upon the blessed Person of the Son of God.
“But I beseech you, brethren, to consider those who create divisions and occasions of falling, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and turn away from them” (Rom. 16:1717Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)). “Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. He that abides in the doctrine, he has both the Father and the Son. If any one come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and greet him not; for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works” (2 John 9-109Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (2 John 9‑10)).