RIGHT GROUND OCCUPIED WITHOUT FAITH

^[p. 67] RIGHT GROUND OCCUPIED WITHOUT FAITH

I believe your case is no uncommon one, and I believe further it is the result of our failure. When the church began there was a very marked line between it and everything else. “The Lord added”. When the truth of the church was revived or recovered, there was not a continued and zealous care as to the state or faith of those who joined with us. Evangelists among us desired to see their converts at the table. They came in, in most cases, perfectly ignorant of the responsibility of the step they were taking, and without either faith or exercise respecting it. Are you surprised then when a question arises in which the claims of Christ in His house have to be insisted on, that these spiritual tadpoles should manifest that they have no legs, and that they could not act beyond their light and power. If Lot will come with Abram, Abram must not turn away from him. But if Lot will separate from Abram, Abram will be in increased blessing. I do not think that separation from such should begin with you; but you are to blame for having those with you who have not faith for the ground which they profess to occupy. If you resign the advantages of the world to them, as Abram did to Lot, they will soon either distance themselves from you, or they will be led through grace to see what is due to the Lord. Brethren are only reaping what they have sown, and therefore until the Lots avow false principles, and morally separate from us, we must go on with them and suffer from them like a man with a paralysed foot.

I should approve of the brothers writing a joint letter to ———— and declaring that they have no confidence in him as to service, or in his choosing or inviting preachers, and even requiring him to surrender the responsibility of the room. If he persist in receiving from ———— you would have no option but to walk out, and then he and those with him would be outside, but not in my judgment for his mere threats.