JULY 22ND, 1891

JULY 22ND, 1891

I was encouraged at . The brothers there were very hearty. There are some who will not have what for God has been effectuated in Jesus — the bringing to an end of the old man, and the bringing in of the new. I suppose one must make up one’s mind for conflict till the end.

As regards what you say as to John, I believe we. have there what is essentially heavenly, i.e., what is out of heaven, and what is out of heaven is heavenly and cannot change its character. It does not bring before us the exaltation of man in virtue of redemption,

^[p. 59] as does Paul, but the moral excellence of what has come forth from heaven — the living bread and the Father’s love. Hence eternal life is to know the Father and Jesus Christ His sent One (not exactly His glorified One), and into all this heavenly grace which has come out of heaven we enter while we are here; but it does not lose its heavenly character; and by Christ’s death we are free from the system in which flesh has its life. I think that to enter into and enjoy what is essentially heavenly, as having come thence, is greater privilege than to enter into the divine counsels which have their place in Christ in glory, which is more Paul’s line. If a concordance were consulted I take it heaven would be more often found in John than in Paul, only with the former it is more what comes thence, but without changing its character, and with the latter, what goes there. This may be rough, but I think it gives the idea.