AUGUST 9TH, 1936
AUGUST 9TH, 1936
Mr. N. F. Abernethie.
My Dear Brother, — I was glad to receive your letter, appreciating its tone and interest in the truth.
As regards 2 Corinthians, I alluded to this epistle because I thought it calculated to help towards warmth amongst the saints. It affords a quantity of sticks together to be laid on a fire (Acts 28) in view of the cold. I thought it well to mention it in view of the chilly feeling I had at Ealing. There had been improvement at Corinth. God having used the first epistle, and the apostle accredits the saints there with all possible, but there was much more to be desired.
The new covenant is, of course, the heart of the epistle, followed, as it is, by reconciliation: new creation also touched on. The truth presented in this order, as it is in the epistle, is peculiarly calculated to touch us, moving us towards God and [p. 42] towards each other in love. Constraining love is mentioned; also that we which live should not henceforth live to ourselves but to Him who died for us and rose again.
The apostle says much of himself, as if to call attention to christianity worked out.
This is an important way of leading saints to apprehend the truth — as it is seen concretely. Paul would have avoided this, but the Corinthians’ state had “compelled” him — he sacrificed in this way to help them. And, of course, one who criticises others should exemplify what would correct, and I would not overlook this in what I wrote, but chapter 6 of the epistle bears heavily on what causes coldness among the saints — worldliness, including affiliation with the world — alliances with worldly people, which I hear has taken place lately in Ealing. Then another thing that makes for coldness and neutrality to the truth is local differences. Hardly any meeting is free of this, but some are characterised by it, which was the case at Corinth.
We are just arriving at Perth, Western Australia after a rough voyage.
With love in Christ to you and all yours and to the brethren,
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.