MARCH 29TH, 1901

MARCH 29TH, 1901

MY DEAR —, — Many thanks for each of your letters, and also for your kind ministry of help in temporal things which reached me this morning. While recognising the source from which all grace flows, I trust I am not ungrateful towards the channels through which it flows in such practical manifestations, and I thank you for this expression of your care and love in the Lord.

I can understand your having a little difficulty about Christ being the Head of every man, as this is an aspect of His headship which has not been made very prominent until recent years, though it is perfectly clear in Scripture and also in J.N.D.’s writings. It is not a question of how any individual stands in relation to Christ, but of how Christ stands in relation to all men on God’s part. Adam could not be head for man ^[p. 41] according to God because by him came sin and death. But Christ has established righteousness and annulled death, and this gives Him morally the first place, for no one else could accomplish either. Hence repentance and remission of sins can be preached in His Name world-wide. As soon as a man begins to look at things from a right standpoint he finds himself in a state of sin, and with death upon him. But he learns through the gospel that there is a blessed Man who has taken up the question of sin and entered into death for the glory of God and for the blessing of man. There is a Head now for man from whom he can derive righteousness and every blessing of God. He is not this for some only, but for all. He is the Head of every man. He has the first place in relation to every creature under heaven. Men may not choose to acknowledge this — they may despise, neglect, or reject Him — but He has this place in relation to all inasmuch as He died for all.

To write on the Revelation is quite beyond my depth. It is a part of Scripture I have not looked at much for many years. I just know enough of it to be sensible of my deep ignorance. I mean as to detail; of course the main outlines are pretty plain. And I question whether the Spirit of God would occupy us much with prophetic details at the present moment. It is rather the trimming of the lamps, and the going forth to meet the Bridegroom, that has importance at this time....

Mother joins me in much love to you in the Lord. Yours affectionately in Him,

March 29th, 1901.