JULY, 1862

JULY, 1862

— - ^[p. 352] I send the Psalms. I dare say I may send you a paper on the Song of Solomon, its connection with the remnant. I am not disposed to take up the question on John 6: 53-58 till the way be matured as from the Lord in my mind. To raise discussions on the nature of Christ, or the union of the natures is the last thing I should desire. All of us would go wrong, and piety be eaten out.

I have no doubt C. H. M. has expressed himself unguardedly in his expressions, but the accusing him of denying the true humanity of Christ is simple unrighteousness. He is just as plain and clear as any of us on it. The poor church people glutton on what attacks brethren. I am sorry for it, but how can we help it? That is all the feeling I have about it. It is a very bad sign for them. That tract of Dr. Carson’s⁺ denies the first elements of Christianity, and they cannot find it out.

July, 1862.

— - “From the beginning⁺⁺ is Christ in flesh, the beginning of God’s ways in grace. Man, as man, was only a field for bringing this out, however real a place he had in moral responsibility for this (which assuredly he had); but as to counsel, Christ is the object. Man develops, progresses, changes. “What was from the beginning” in what God does, is perfect. This is a root-principle of Christianity, and makes the Person of Christ the foundation of all — His work displaying God’s moral nature for others, but the Person being that in which He is; and adherence is to Himself. This cannot change. The essence of Christianity is, therefore, that there is no development in it. (1 John 2: 24)

⁺See Collected Writings, Volume 10, page 49, et seq.

⁺⁺What is meant by “from the beginning”? (1 John 1) Why the change from “which we have heard, which we have seen,” etc., in verse 1, to “which we have seen and heard,” in verse 3? Why have we the further words, “which we have looked upon and our hands have handled”? And what is the point of the three “if we say” (verse 6, 8, 10)?