TWO PARTS IN OUR CHRISTIAN HISTORY

^[p. 14] TWO PARTS IN OUR CHRISTIAN HISTORY

There are two parts in our Christian history. The first is apprehending by faith the full gain of the work of Christ. This is what He is for us, and ever continues, and it captivates the heart more and more. The other is our relation to Him. This is twofold. You are a living stone, and a member of His body — different privileges, both belonging to the one person. If you are truly a living stone, owning Christ’s supremacy over God’s house, you are practically part of the house now on the earth, otherwise you are not in function — a very serious delinquency.

Timothy was bound to find those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. I think you will agree with me that a living stone is out of course if it be not in function, for it must ever be a constituent part of Christ’s assembly, and certainly you cannot exercise your membership on the earth if you are not in the house character. The “wise woman” is not apart from the house.

I am not referring to any of your recent troubles in connection with the assembly. I merely address you as one who desires to be for Christ where His treasure is. No one can do anything rightly for Christ here who does not begin from the assembly. See Romans 12: 4, and Ephesians 4. Take the earthly walk of the Christian in Romans, or the heavenly in Ephesians, in both you must start from the same centre. It is only in conscious union with Christ that you could understand Christ’s interests. The wife only understands the husband’s interests. I can tell you from the word of God what you are called to; but I cannot tell you how to do it. I can feel that you are in a difficulty, but “by my God have I leaped over a wall” (Psalm 18: 29).

I heartily desire that you “might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Colossians 1: 10). I. like to think of you as you were in 1867. The blessed God always remembers our brightest day. See Jeremiah 2: 2.