ETERNAL LIFE NO. 11

ETERNAL LIFE NO. 11

I return the copy of your letter. I like it very much. I have seen for some time that there was a tendency with brethren to make every movement of our Lord’s here an expression of eternal life. It is a refuge to the conscience of those who do not enjoy it in its own sphere to reduce it to the details of man’s life. But eternal life is outside the senses — an out-of-the-world condition. Surely in everything, as you rightly say, we learn and derive from our Lord to act here in the smallest details in a way and in a spirit quite new and unknown to man. The manna is the beautiful divine touch in everything — even the commonest; but it is a device of the enemy to induce me to relieve my conscience of ignorance of my birthright (communion with the Father) by substituting for it that which cannot be known but outside this scene altogether, and which is not merely my behaviour and manner of life among men. This device must be resisted, and I am glad to say that some are delivered from it. I remark that those who are seeking to advance in the world are petulant and irritated when truth is presented which they evidently are not enjoying, and in their desire for spiritual reputation they cannot afford to admit that they are not enjoying it. I do not believe that any one advancing in this world and not surrendering it can be seeking the things above.

I am very glad that you are assured that you are in the right locality. A wounded stag slinks off into a corner of the forest. This you would do, if you went into retirement in the country The Lord bless you much, and all yours.