BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 23RD, 1909
BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 23RD, 1909
My Dear Brother, — Yours of the 7th inst. with paper by W. M——— enclosed came in due time and I proceed at once to answer your enquiry as to the latter.
What I would say at the outset is, I am unable to find a single one of the eight quotations or statements given by M——— in any paper for which I am responsible, and indeed, I am certain that I have not given utterance to them as they stand in that paper.
But before dealing with it in detail, I will mention a fact
†Glanton
[p. 65] as to M——— which will enable you to judge as to the moral value of this paper, or indeed as to anything which the author may say as to the so-called American doctrines. He and J.B. met me here in the presence of several brethren and we went over the different points which were questioned and after two protracted meetings, M——— expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied with my explanations, etc., and asked my forgiveness for hard thoughts which he said he had harboured against me. The good relations thus established, were strengthened by his co-operation in the revision of the notes of the Chicago meetings (which at that time were the subject of much discussion). Mr. M——— parted with me under these conditions, and I have not seen him since, nor have I had any communication from him. Now he says, he used the compilation in America as his reason for refusing the doctrine; he never brought it before me, although at the time he was living within two blocks of my home. In other words he expressed himself as satisfied that I held nothing wrong and subsequently made the compilation which involved me (and indeed others also) in sin against Christ and yet never approached me as to it.
Had he retracted his former expressions of confidence, there would, at least, be some consistency in his course.
Now as to the statements in this paper, even if they were accurate quotations, it would be utterly unfair to present them in this way. Everyone knows that almost any writer can be made to say the very opposite of what he intended to express, by subjecting his writings to this kind of treatment. Even the Scriptures afford an example of this, e.g., the epistle to the Romans compared with the epistle of James. But, as I said, the statements are not to be found in any American production that I know of.
As to No. 1: ‘The gospel is an explanation of what is down here’.
I find in notes of meetings at Woodstock (page 18), ‘It is remarkable that the first gospel address took the form of an explanation of what was down here. I refer to Acts 2 ... and the great theme of the apostles was that these wonderful things had come to pass through the humble Nazarene, whom the Jews had crucified, but whom God had raised up and exalted to His right hand’. A similar statement from Mr. Pellatt appears in the first reading of the Chicago notes (page 1). This statement was actually revised by Mr. M——— and was [p. 66] published as he left it. It was no question of giving a definition of the gospel in either case, but of calling attention to an undeniable fact which Acts 2 presents.
No. 2. ‘Until the house of God was here in the Spirit there was nothing to preach about’.
I have remarked that there was no preaching after the Lord ascended until the Holy Spirit came and the church was formed. In connection with Christ’s presence here there was preaching, but after He left there was no power for man’s deliverance until the Holy Spirit came. This is undeniable. At meetings in Chicago three years ago it was remarked in this connection that Christ, His redemption work, His exaltation, etc., could be preached, but until the Holy Spirit came there was no power on earth to act in man’s behalf and hence no preaching until He came.
No. 3. ‘For all who have accepted the Spirit since the day of Pentecost, the believer is the source of supply’. This is not true. What has been said is, that those who have received the Holy Spirit since Pentecost have received Him as already here in the church. There has been no fresh pouring out of the Spirit.
No 4. ‘To say that spiritual blessings are in Christ to the exclusion of the church is mischievous’. This is also false as it stands. In some notes withdrawn three years ago, improperly revised, there was a remark, that to press salvation as in Christ to the exclusion of the church was mischievous.
No. 5. ‘Salvation is found in the church and nowhere else’. If you will kindly refer to ‘Notes on Hebrews’ you will see what I have said as to this point. It was a question of where salvation was found practically by the believer. It is in Christ, but realised practically in the sphere of the Spirit.
No. 6. ‘God’s intervention is in the church’. This is almost an accurate quotation, but it is only part of the sentence, the remaining part is: ‘the Spirit is here in the saints’. In the passage immediately preceding, I had been saying that divine blessings had been brought to pass by Christ and this was announced by the apostles. Then I sought to show, that the things preached were brought palpably near to man by the power of the Spirit in the church (Woodstock Notes, pages 18 and 19).
No. 7. ‘Christ is beyond the reach of anyone except in the church’. This is absolutely false as it stands. In Notes withdrawn [p. 67] drawn three years ago (referred to above) I said something as to Christ being beyond our reach literally or corporeally (contrasting His position when on earth with His present one) but that association with Him in a spiritual way could be known in the assembly. I had no thought of denying that the Lord could be reached by faith in an individual way.
No. 8. ‘The promises of God are established in the church’. This is utterly false as presented in this absolute way. The promises of God are established in Christ — they are Yea and Amen in Him. But there is a testimony to them all practically in the church. The apostle says “Unto the glory of God by us”.
It is sorrowful work to be compelled to show that one whom I have had cause to value in the past is guilty of untruthfulness, and what must we think of the cause which requires such miserable misrepresentation of others to support it.
I am thankful to say that outside a very few in this district, almost all the brethren in this country and Canada are standing firm, also the West Indies,
Affectionately yours in Christ,
James Taylor.