EXTRACT

Another painful situation, dear brethren, is that many overlook the fact that the assembly has ears. The assembly is said to have the means of hearing. People often say they knew nothing about a certain difficulty, but why did they not know? If we are in the assembly characteristically, we shall know, for the assembly has ears for things relating to the truth that are current. It says of the work at Antioch, that the report concerning the work there “reached the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem”. That is a principle. Some lately have ridiculed this word, but the word principle is one of the best words there is as used in divine things. What I have been speaking of is a principle which belongs to the assembly characteristically—that its ears are opened to everything of God that is going on in this world. Our ears are to be opened, and if things that seriously affect the testimony are near our doors and we do not know them, we are very remiss. Sometimes we make our ignorance a virtue. We should not excuse ourselves on the ground of our ignorance. Ignorance in this sense is never a virtue. We are to know, and those who have the spirit of judgment do know—and further, as I said, they know where the gate is. If the battle is to be turned, it is to bring it to the gate. If you get it there you will get true judgment; things will be put right, for the spirit of judgment is there, and those who sit in judgment are there. They will not listen to the voice of persons moved by mere feelings about a brother. My feelings about a brother may be without foundation or worse, showing that they do not belong to the gate; we want evidence—not feelings—for the gate. Judgment there is to be on the principle of, “by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”, Matthew 12: 37. The gate is where the spirit of judgment is, facts are demanded—concrete evidence in every case. As the Lord Himself says, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil”.

J. Taylor (Vol. 43, pp.465, 466)

Edited and Published by J. Strachan, 59 Frederick Street, Dundee, DD3 9DE, Scotland Printed by Crystal Stationery, 22 Western Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9DZ, (T) (01277) 650661