EXCLUSIVENESS
EXCLUSIVENESS
I shall speak of the idea of exclusiveness. We have been in reproach because of what has been termed our exclusiveness. Now I want to be exclusive of all of which Christ would be exclusive. I do not think Christ is exclusive of men. I am sure He desires to receive every man, and would save them all, but men are not willing that He should. I am not exclusive of men, but shall I tell you what Christ excludes? All that is in man. What is in man? Why, the world is in man and Christ will not tolerate it, nor will I by grace go on with it, either. I want to be exclusive of all that He excludes; lust and pride are in man’s heart, that is really the world. Now what is it that will make me exclusive? Love will do it. I know that many people think the opposite of this and that our exclusiveness is anything but love, but I am sure of my ground when I say that nothing but divine love will enable you to be exclusive of what is in man.
[p. 303] Matthew 13:44 We are to be here in the reproach of Christ, not in honour and glory, but in the eyes of Christ a treasure for which He gave all. It was not the mind of the Lord that ‘the treasure’ should come into publicity to the world. When the treasure was found He hid it. “The which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath”. Think of Christ really having joy in having found a few men on earth who were given to Him of the Father.