BROOKLYN, N.Y., OCTOBER 14TH, 1935
[p. 14] BROOKLYN, N.Y., OCTOBER 14TH, 1935
Beloved Brother, — Your letter of August 17th reached me in Vancouver and as a large proportion of my time since has been spent in travelling in the West, I have been hindered in correspondence. This will account for the somewhat long delay of my reply.
Your letter is of deep interest to me, having looked over it carefully. The subject treated is the greatest possible, and requires careful and prayerful thought.
I believe the Lord helped us during the recent months as to John 20: 17. What is said of the Father, as for instance John 5: 22, “For neither does the Father judge any one, but has given all judgment to the Son”, shows plainly the relationship into which God has entered under this appellation is more limited than God in the Absolute sense. All divine attributes and prerogatives must refer unlimitedly to God as such. The term “Father” at the same time conveys the most blessed feature of God, for it implies family relationships and enjoyments, but manifestly in taking it God had in mind to become more intelligible to His creatures, for the relationship was already known as set in the human family from the outset.
What you say as to Hebrews is therefore correct, although the teaching in the main is not on the same level as Ephesians. Whilst we have the thought of the Father and the Son in Hebrews 2 the saints are scarcely brought into this relationship, and therefore there is not the same power contemplated to enter into divine thoughts as Ephesians presents, hence in Ephesians the power of apprehension (chapter 3) is by the Spirit of the Father. Besides this, Ephesians presents our place in the divine counsels both as individuals and as the assembly.
What I wish to convey is, that while Hebrews has the full thought as regards service in mind, our relationship with God as Father, as in sonship presented in Ephesians, greatly enhances the truth presented in this epistle, and this of itself shows the end in view in the relationship of Father and Son which God has entered into. These blessed relationships afford more power to us as creatures to enter into the knowledge of God, and to respond fully to Him. Hence it is “glory to God in the assembly”.
There can be no doubt that as we are subject and dependent [p. 15] on the Holy Spirit, these thoughts shall become enlarged in us and clarified, but, as I said, I am assured the Lord has helped, giving an inkling that we did not have, of what is in the divine mind to be reached by us as having part in the assembly.
The dear brethren in London are much on my heart I need not say, and in my prayers. I heard from P.L. of your first reading in Park Street, and I trust there will be steady help throughout the present series of meetings. At our monthly reading we are looking at the ‘Wars of the Lord’ and were helped of Him in considering Exodus 15 at the first one.
I found in the West a great deal of interest in China, but the brethren are all clear as to what was involved and quite in accord with the London letter. The brethren at Vancouver have since written very forcefully endorsing what had already been written by London and New York to Shanghai.
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.