MAY 24TH, 1897

MAY 24TH, 1897

DEAR —, — ... I do not know about being “downright miserable”, but I think I do know a little what it is to find that death comes in on things here. We have to drink the bitter waters, nor can we look for anything else if our hearts remember that Christ has died here. If our affections are knit to Him His death changes the whole attitude of our souls as to things here. We see the only green and beauteous One ever found here cut down in death, and as we learn death as that into which He has entered the bitter waters become sweet. That is, we expect to find death on everything here — our hearts are prepared for it. It is not a disagreeable surprise. Our life is in another sphere, beyond the reach of death’s destroying hand. Here we are in measure, like the apostle, delivered unto death and prepared for it as we bear about in the body the dying of Jesus.

I am glad to be found fault with when I say what is wrong for it gives one a chance of getting right; thanks for your criticism as to “theatre-going Christians”. I cannot lay my hands on the paper in question, but so far as I remember my remarks were intended to reach the conscience of any who might profess to be Christians, and yet find happiness in what ^[p. 10] is an out and out worldly thing. I should not for my part acknowledge such a person to be a Christian at all, except in the widest sense in contrast to being a Jew, Mohammedan, etc. They are unconverted — have never turned to God from idols — are still in the broad road — and as being friends of the world are designated by James enemies of God. In saying this I do not at all presume to judge of what may lie beneath the surface. I do not doubt that there may be a measure of the Spirit’s work — a very small spark — deep down in such a soul, but such a one is not on the Lord’s side, and is travelling on the road which leads to destruction. If I see a person on the road which leads to hell I give no credence to his assertion that he is sure of heaven. The assurance of such persons is mere carnal security from which there must be a terrible awakening some day. If I know any such persons I should lose no opportunity of pressing upon them the solemn impossibility of such a course having any other end than destruction. I would seek to make them feel that, in my judgment at any rate, they were quite unconverted. I would press on them the absolute necessity of the new birth and of being partakers of the divine nature, and I would try to show them that these things are moral realities, and that one of the children of God would naturally feel that a theatre was hell to him. It is not at all a question of a mere set of ideas about things; it is a question of a complete change of moral constitution. I am perfectly convinced that a person who could enjoy the theatre would not find heaven a very attractive place. Heaven has no hold upon his soul. Why he should wish to be there at all I do not know, except that people have an idea that heaven is a place of happiness. You will think me very severe, I know, in all this, but I think Scripture would bear me out in it.

I do not make any excuse for worldliness anywhere. There are many in fellowship of whose eternal security one stands in the gravest doubt. They have picked up a kind of dogmatic Christianity, and have certain truths in their minds, but one does not see them being morally formed in any way. You can only leave such with God. “The Lord knoweth them that are his ..”.

Mother joins me in much love to you in the Lord.

Yours affectionately in Him,

May 24th, 1897.