EXTRACTS

Standing and State

There is a phraseology now, such as ‘being occupied with Christ’, and expressions of that kind, which propose to give Him full prominence, but which are denied in practice. It is deemed only orthodox now to speak so, but I feel we must insist that the external should bear the marks of the internal; and that others should be able to judge of the occupation of the heart from the expression or fashion in which we appear. The truths of Scripture are received and treated too much as information. The mind sees and enjoys them as something incomparably fine and beautiful, but there is lacking the sense that every fresh ray of light is really lost or useless unless it makes its way through the pitcher; that is, unless the vessel is so controlled and coloured by it, that there is manifestly more likeness to Christ, and increasing growing up unto the measure of the stature of His fulness.

There must be standing to produce state, but if the state which is suited to the standing be not preserved. Satan’s great aim is attained—even to prove the nullity of the truth of God, and that there can be the admission and profession of standing, without anything characteristic of it. Satan cares not what truth a man holds, provided he retains the character and principles of the world, and this really does more damage than ignorance of standing. The misfortune with many is, being content with a success at their first start, and being so elated by it that they are not set on going forward.

In this day of knowledge souls readily accept the standing, and think too little of the state which must accompany the standing. To counteract this tendency there must be prayer, and beginning at home with oneself. “Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt”.

J. B. Stoney (New Series Vol. 12, pp.113, 114)

John the baptist was not shown immediately to Israel. It says that he was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel. He was brought up, as every believer’s child should be, as much as possible apart from that which ministers to the flesh. People give their children over to the world, by handing them over to be brought up in its ways. Not so with John the baptist; he was a child brought up in wilderness ways, until he was fit to be shown on God’s behalf.

You may be a good society man, accepted among unspiritual people, but you are not fit to be shown on God’s behalf.

J. Taylor (Vol. 52, p.397)

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