SEPARATION AND RESTORATION

SEPARATION AND RESTORATION

I am rejoiced that you have of yourself seen the inconsistency of your act at ————. One has sometimes to learn that the fire burns by putting one’s fingers into it! And the children of brethren are liable to this; in fact, they need it. They properly take their place as saints — their true place — in company with their parents; but when they find other saints, meeting in other ways, they are either exercised and practically assured that they themselves are in the right path, or they are indifferent; so that it would be no trial to them to leave the path they are in for another path. Spiritually they are much on a par. Those converted amongst us, unless the Lord has specially exercised them, have no clear idea or sense why they should be separate from the systems around, and thus the new converts enfeeble the testimony as to our church position. I do not say it ought to be so, I am stating a fact. I think this fact betrays a deficiency in the gospel that is preached by brethren, that is, the Person of Christ is not sufficiently kept before the soul. If Christ were really the Centre, the true ground would be known from the start.

Where restoration is genuine you are stronger in that point than in any other. The power of grace is so deepened in the soul that ever after you are stronger there than at the points where you have not yielded. A broken bone when knit again is stronger in the broken place. Doubtless after his restoration Peter was stronger as to confessing the Lord than in anything else; so that though one is positionally lowered by one’s declension, one is morally higher when through grace one is fully restored. It will be a great cheer to me to find you brighter than ever. The Lord uses those whom He restores.

^[p. 226] If you would be perfectly happy you must live entirely for Christ here. Delight thyself in the Lord.