BROOKLYN, N.Y., JUNE 12TH, 1912
BROOKLYN, N.Y., JUNE 12TH, 1912
Mr. Eardly Binney.
My Dear Brother, — You must pardon my long delay in answering yours of May 11th. I would have written from the steamer, but I did not feel so much up to writing as usual, and I had a great deal of urgent matters to attend to, and you kindly intimated that your letter was not urgent. On arrival here there were special meetings on, and this took up a great deal of my time.
Now as to the Lord’s presence at the breaking of bread, I think I fully understand your difficulty. Let me say at the outset that I quite accept that the Lord is with His people (assuming that they are seeking to follow righteousness) at all times when they are together, especially for support and protection. I always feel like nestling under the wing of His protection when gathered with His people. This involves the care which His love prompts, and which His power affords. Matthew 18 is on this line, especially as to support.
But however blessed all this is, it is not full assembly privilege. This involves that the Lord comes to us as Head, and leads us into the consciousness of our relation with Him before the Father.
I am sure a moment’s reflection will enable any thoughtful person to see that this is altogether to be distinguished from the Lord’s presence in the way of authority and protective and sustaining power in connection with our wilderness circumstances. I wish I knew more of the distinction myself, and my constant prayer is that the saints may be exercised as to the full privilege of the assembly that we may know what it is to be for Christ and so to be with Him outside of what we are in flesh and blood.
I cannot see why it is not seen to be quite inconsistent and indeed confusing to identify this with the actual breaking of bread, for the latter is a remembrance whereas the former is the presence of the One we love. I believe a good deal of the [p. 110] difficulty lies in not distinguishing between the assembly (a company composed of men and women) as seen historically down here in connection with the ways of God, and the assembly viewed as a wholly spiritual formation, in connection with God’s eternal purpose.
As to whether we remember the Lord as He is or as He was — my understanding is that we remember Him — the Person who is absent. The Lord did not ask the disciples to remember Him as He was. He said, “This do for remembrance of me”. I always think of christendom as guilty of forgetfulness of Christ.
With much love, I am,
Yours affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.