BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 24TH, 1917

BROOKLYN, N.Y., JANUARY 24TH, 1917

Mr. C. A. Coates.

Beloved Brother, — Lately I heard that you had a fall and were poorly, but no particulars. I trust you have recovered by this time.

It was a cheer to get your letter in December. Since then I have been to Indianapolis and Chicago and Detroit. We had a very good season in Indianapolis. We had four readings in the early chapters of 1 Kings. The principal thought at the outset was to see how the responsible element (David), having been reduced to great weakness, was resuscitated, and how the prophetic ministry, etc., was used to bring about the establishment of the true king to the confusion and overthrow of the ^[p. 132] false one — antichrist. The Lord helped us. Our brother Mr. George Ware was with us and contributed, also our brother Mr. Gill. Mr. Ware has gone to the West Indies.

I had a long letter from J.S.G. lately. It distressed me very much. He speaks of responsibility fulfilled in measures and yet attacks this very thing in others with all his might. In this respect the confusion is pitiable. It is indeed very humbling as in a brother one has loved and valued. He says the first ‘word’ to the church in responsibility was ‘thou art fallen’, as if the Acts and epistles did not regard the church in responsibility. He tries to make capital out of the word ‘in’ in Romans 8: 4 — that the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us, not by us. There is really nothing in his point — for fulfilment must be in the sense of by. Love is the fulfilling of the law (chapter 13), and this is in the sense of by. “Done away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3: 14) is similar in the sense of in, and, of course, this involves what Christ did. I have answered his letter at length, and I trust the Lord will use what I have sought to put before our brother. As a matter of fact, the character of the dispensation is involved in what he has said, and I have a strong suspicion that the enemy is endeavouring to bolster up the recent public assumption that Christianity is a failure — of course dear J. S. Giles does not mean this, although his words imply it.

I also had a letter this month from J. Henderson and one from Miss Elwood — both of a kind with J. S. Giles’. They seem to be of one mind, possibly they confer a good deal. To me it is all most sad; but I am assured the Lord will come in for them and for us all. It would be especially distressing if dear J.H. and Miss E. came under a cloud in any permanent way.

Affectionately yours in Christ,

James Taylor.