DECEMBER 8TH, 1899

DECEMBER 8TH, 1899

DEAR —, — ... I trust that you and all the circle at — are keeping well, and that the dear saints are pressing on to know the things which are freely given to them of God. On God’s ^[p. 35] side everything is a gift; on our side we have to enter, by the Spirit, into what is given. John 6 is a wonderful chapter, as showing how God proposes to bring men into supreme satisfaction, in the blessed knowledge of Himself. Nothing can really be satisfaction to the spirit of a man, but the knowledge of God. And He puts this knowledge within reach of our appropriation in the Person of His beloved Son. In coming to Him, and in believing on Him, we reach true and divine satisfaction. There must be a work of grace in us — we must be drawn by the Father — in order to appreciate Him. But as born of God, and formed in divine tastes, we find the complete satisfaction of every longing in that Blessed One. Who would not covet to enter into this?

Of course this is all nothing to the natural man. It is not as in the flesh that we enter into it, but as being in spirit apart from the flesh by the appropriation of Christ’s death — by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. How good it is for our hearts to find the springs of their life altogether outside this world, and in that Person who is now risen and glorified at God’s right hand! ...

Yours affectionately in the Lord,

December 8th, 1899.