ON BOARD R.M.S. MAURETANIA, JUNE 18TH, 1919

ON BOARD R.M.S. MAURETANIA, JUNE 18TH, 1919

My Dear Brother, — I duly received your letter of April 14th, but being so pressed I was hindered in replying; and as I expected to cross to your side, I put off writing until I got on board ship.

As regards Mark 8, I think the imperfection of sight after the first touch is in accord with general experience. The Lord’s work was perfect as far as it went, but a second transaction was necessary so that the man should see all things clearly. New birth, for instance, is not enough; one needs the Spirit in order to be free and see clearly. Besides, although the divine work is ever perfect, the effect of it varies; the end in view is the same in each case, but in some a longer time is required to reach it. I have no doubt that the teaching in the passage in Mark is one, and that the end is that one knows Christ and has Him alone before his soul.

^[p. 178] As to Romans 5 I understand that grace reigns now — Christians have a throne of grace. The idea of a throne in Scripture is that it is absolute. But grace reigns through righteousness. The contrast is sin reigning unto death; grace reigning to eternal life. I do not understand that the contrast is between the dispensations.

I was sorry to miss you last winter, being so near to you. I hope I may see you somewhere this time, although I hardly expect to be in your parts. My wife is not along this visit.

With love in Christ, I am Affectionately in Him,

James Taylor.