IMPRESSIONS FROM J.B.CATTERALL’S MINISTRY
(The page numbers refer to “Memorials of J. B. Catterall’s Ministry”) One thing that marks the love of Christ, beloved, is its intensely plain speaking, and that touches us in many ways, but in whatever way it may touch our spirits, it always has the great end in view of its own satisfaction, and connected with that, the satisfaction of the Father’s heart. (p.1)
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The institution of the Supper, the service of feet-washing, the service and care of the Lord immediately on His resurrection in regard of Mary Magdalene particularly, : and the dealings of the Lord with Peter at the close of His pathway here, are the plain speaking of the love of Christ that will not endure remoteness. I know of nothing that one becomes so accustomed to with all one’s knowledge of the truth, as the tendency to live in heart at a distance from the Lord. To know the things that are His pleasure and interest, to know the things that are changelessly dear to Himself, and yet, as to our personal links with Him, to be remote, could never satisfy His heart. (p.3)
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Everything that makes much of Christ washes the saints’ feet. Peace and comfort flow from it. (p.16)
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There are many things I may have reached by discipline that I might have reached by feet-washing, but it is the fidelity of the love of Christ that has brought me there in the end. (p.17)
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The person whose heart is where Christ is, is not necessarily an unpractical sort of person.
You will find far more help in your difficulties from a man whose heart is in heaven, for the reason that he brings in the light of God’s presence on them and not the accumulated knowledge of man. (p.19)
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There are powers you can depend upon beyond everything here. You may say, You do not know my situation; where I am employed there are difficulties arising, and men are making up their minds that if I do not join their organisations, they will carry things to the bitter end.
God has an angel for that. God has an angel for every situation. (p54)
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If we were asked by the Lord Himself what we wanted most in the assembly, what should we say? Some might say, I should like to preach; others might like to teach; some, perhaps, would like to be wise; while others might desire to be available to the saints in whatever service opened to them. The greatest thing open to us in the assembly of God’s people is to be like Christ. (p.45)
Our business is to keep near the Lord, to be in our minds and spirits free with Him that He may use us, but not to seek the Lord’s interference to justify our position ecclesiastically. In what we have from God, be it ever so much, if we are not following the Lord in it, what is it worth? (p.49)
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You say, I will not leave the testimony! But you will leave the testimony, if you leave the Lord. There is not a heart among us that can be trusted as to what might transpire tomorrow, if tomorrow find us out of communion with the Lord. (p.51)
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You give God thanks for the saints; you give Him thanks for the parents who loved Christ before it became yours to love Him, but you have to learn that the light of Christ in your own soul is the tie that binds you personally to Him. There is no room for natural heredity in the things of God. (p.53)
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He who thinks to follow Christ must see to it that he is not easily turned aside by a word, by a threat, or by an attraction; such a one must keep his face in one direction only. I remember, as a boy in Scotland, watching a ploughing match, and in ploughing matches they do not usually set the furrow where all the ground is seen; they contrive in setting the men, to plough that they shall finish their furrow perhaps over the hill, so that the end is not seen at the commencement. The man who ploughed the most straight furrow was the man who kept his eye upon one thing, and one thing only. He fixed his own mark and never watched what his neighbours were doing, and you do the same. The greatest power that can be found amongst us in following Christ is to be attached to Him with undivided affection. I do not get in your way, nor you in mine, if we are both following the Lord. (p.57)
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Let us not be satisfied with correctness and clearness of ministry without our links with the Lord being maintained in the freshness, and purity, in which the Lord Himself would keep them. (p.190)
Published by F. C. Mutton, 22 Christchurch Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4QY, England Printed by C. Ellis, Billericay, Essex, England