The Late Clifton Conference (1898)

Gospel Magazine 1898, 1899

The Late Clifton Conference

To The Editor Of The Gospel Magazine

Dear Sir,—I am sending you, subject to your approval, a few notes taken of some of the precious addresses upon the subject of “Faith,” which we were privileged to hear at the recent Clifton Conference. They are but few, and very imperfect, and I fear will give but a poor idea of the full and rich teaching which so characterized the meetings; and I would wish it to be understood, that it is from no lack of blessed teaching on the part of the other speakers, but inability on mine, that this limited selection has been made, for if ever one feels his utter unworthiness, nothingness, and insufficiency as “least in my Father’s house,” it is at these times when he is privileged to hear such giants in the faith. Still, I felt I could not enjoy my morsel alone, but must send a portion to them for whom nothing was prepared, and divide the spoil with those who were of necessity, in divers ways, made to tarry at home.

For myself, I can only say great has been the joy, vast has been the felt privilege, and, I trust, deep the profit from this Conference season. May the Lord bless His dear sent servants richly in their own souls; may He bless the hearers who go forth strengthened in the Lord, refreshed from this feasting time; and may He bless you, Sir, abundantly in your many labours of love in our Master’s service.

Believe me, yours very truly, 

Ruth Cowell

Redland, Bristol, October 8th, 1898

P.S.—I do hope that the perusal of these extracts, instead of deterring the beloved readers of the Gospel Magazine from purchasing, will be an incentive to their re-reading them at full length, by ordering, the official Report, published at one shilling, by W. F. MACK and Co., 52, Park Row, Bristol.

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Gracious Givings And Gatherings At The Clifton Conference

Faith In A Living Object, That Object Being The Author And Finisher Of Faith

My subject is the nature and gift of faith, and I address the house-hold of faith on their golden heritage as possessors of this precious gift of God. Both the gift and the operation of faith are the work of the Holy Spirit, which has for its object the Lord Jesus Christ. Saving faith is not faith in a God, nor even in revelation, but in the glorious God-Man. It is not mere credulity, nor is it a flitting from or fastening upon an object for salvation, save as that object is a fixed and solid reality in the incarnate Christ. Saving faith is the cleaving of a poor lost sinner to a a living Christ for salvation. There is no merit in faith, but it is a grace of the Spirit, and the whole value of it is derived from its Object. The error of the day is that a man is taught that he may have faith in a priest, in a sacrament, or some form of worship; but that faith will not save him, and his ruin will not be so much for want of precision in his aim or grasp, but in the at which he grasped. So let us, beloved, impress the importance of knowing the Object which faith, true God-implanted faith, follows, and that the whole faith is in its Object, and not in the strength of its grasp. The feeblest, the weakest, the smallest may know a saving faith in the Saviour, because it is whom, and not how, they hold and are held, whilst the strongest may perish with a false faith. So God’s children come to a right Saviour, with a true certainty of no failure.

Now, the two-fold office of faith is justifying and sanctifying. They are clearly distinct and yet inseparable, and never to be divided. By faith, which is the bond of union between sinner and Saviour, is a man justified. “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” I fear this great doctrine of justification by faith only is not preached and understood as it ought to be in the present day. It must be clearly enforced that justification is by faith only, and by none other—not by sacraments or any dispensation of man, but God alone, in Christ, must justify the sinner if he be justified at all. Thus we see that union with the Lord Jesus Christ by personal faith is the only source of justification, and that there can be none other way whereby we are brought nigh to God. Joined to the Lord Jesus by faith, a man becomes justified, because he is a part of Christ the Just One. In Christ he has fulfilled the ‘law, and becomes just as Christ is just. Oh, what a marvellous thought, this union! In Christ as just and innocent as Christ is innocent and just!

Again. This principle of faith, which is a bond of union, works within when the sinner is justified, and so he is sanctified. “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Real and influential is that unseen quality in a man. It is solid reality to the believer. He lives by faith, he is sanctified by faith, and it becomes a source and spring of life, and Christ becomes, as it were, a master passion in a believer. The man forsakes all for it. “To me to live is Christ,” says the Apostle, “and to die is gain.” How powerful, how practical it is. It takes precedence of all else, and a man will gladly leave all else for it. He is justified and sanctified by this faith. Oh, keep this office of faith prominently before you, beloved. The sanctifying power must be proclaimed as well as the justifying power. It is that which produces holiness of character, and men in ignorance run hither and thither to produce it, but there is none other way nor means, but the liberty in which Christ maketh His people free, for He ‘is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He is the end of the law for righteousness’ sake, and the office of faith is continuous and progressive, enabling a justified believer, in every department of life, to live for the glory of God; and that man who lives by faith on the Son of God will never divorce his religion from anything, but always and the life will be lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved His brethren well enough to give His life for them. It, is not easy, this life of faith! Far from it. It has to be lived in the flesh, which is weak, and in the world, which is ensnaring, in feebleness and fear, and amid contrarieties and persecutions. It requires omnipotence to make, and to uphold, and keep a Christian. All the current is against him. But what will conquer and bear us out is, “This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Oh, this wonderful life of elevation and consecration! It has its answer in the Apostle’s words, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” 

Rev. Talbot Greaves

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Faith The Distinguishing Feature Of A True Character And Experience In The Child Of God

One most emphatic signification of the child of God in the New Testament is that of a “believer.” It is a joy to our Redeemer’s heart to be trusted, and He responds to that faith. There are three or four attributes of this Divine faith within the soul upon which I would speak, addressing myself mainly to those who are seeking deeper faith, for if ever we needed it, ’tis now we need to be strong in faith” when every error abounds and men are turning aside from the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus.

Our faith rests not on the word of man, but on God. That faith concerns Salvation, Christ, and Heaven; it rests upon the naked Word of God. Then let us accept it as such; nothing can disprove it is the Word of God; then what have we better to lean upon?

When I find all that is vital and essential to my rest and hope, when actually and truly I am resting upon the valid Word of God Himself, then I find no cause to fear.

And, beloved, you do well to examine before you accept any other testimony than the bare Scripture of truth. If it be in the wisdom of men, it will bring you to nought, but if of God, it will bring you to triumph and victory in Him. There is no mystery about that which is vital to salvation. Beneath our finite apprehension lies the certainty of our God. So His children sing with joy—

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word; 

What more can He say than to you He has said, 

You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?”

Next. This faith is characterized by self-renunciation. It must rest upon nothing in ourselves. It takes us right away from ourselves, and takes us straight to Christ, and that is where the glory and preciousness come in. We read in the Prophet Habakkuk, “The just shall live by his faith.” Look at that word his. Whose faith? Literally it means, the just shall live by the faith of Him—the coming One; for see the connection of these words in Hebrews 10:37, 38, “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith.”

Now, are we justified by aor faith? Oh, no! that could never be, that could never justify us. But the justification is in Christ, on whom we rest, and our faith draws from Him that separation from the world and transformation for coming glory. How often does the devil mar our experience and keep us looking at ourselves, and cause the cry, “If I love, why am I thus?” Faith has nothing to do with circumstances, self, or men, but all to do with Christ. It is a new life in us, a living Saviour within us, from whom we incessantly derive all that is for our good and His glory.

Again. We notice that this faith is continuous. We do not begin by faith and go on by feeling. We do not stay where we began. Hence you read of Abraham’s steps of faith. Faith called him to go out of the land where he dwelt; faith caused him to sojourn in a strange land; faith took every step of the journey with him. Yes, faith continues and perseveres. It is a living grace, developing grace, growing more and more, for it is what Christ is and what He has to bestow, and nothing short of that. It is not living on the stale manna of a past experience. It is not what He has been alone, but what He is and will be to the end, that makes Him so precious to the believer. Let us remember this when around us are so many who are content with present attainments. Oh, no! God’s life is no standing still. There is no monotony in the spiritual life, but a going on, and always remembering the best is yet to come. “‘Tis better on before.”

Again. This God-given faith is practical. It is not ethereal, not sentimental, nor fanciful. It is a faith that we can carry in the workshop, in the office, in the home, or abroad, in sorrow as well as in joy. It is always ready to hand. We are justified by faith as sinners and by faith as believers, and its evidence is seen by works of faith in Christ. If you are willing to live an unholy life, as believers, if there is any backslider here, then there is no clear evidence given to those around that you are children of the King of heaven. Do not believe in such an one who, while he says he is saved, is living in sin. Salvation means holiness, conformity to Christ, a coming out of the world and taking a bold stand against the devil.

This faith, too, as well as being very practical, is very precious. Oh, is there an unbeliever here? He little knows what he is losing. Faith is precious, how precious tongue cannot tell nor heart express. This life down here is altogether different when we are in Him and He in us and over all, and know—“

His purposes shall ripen fast, 

Unfolding every hour,”

and we can rest in the darkening clouds of this restless life. Precious! yes, it makes Christ so dear. Oh, how blessed that we are already up yonder, because we are in Him! Our inheritance is to be with Him for ever. I could know nothing of it but for this precious God-given faith. lt is beyond rubies, beyond gold and silver. And what makes it so? I will tell you. Faith lays hold of every promise; faith makes every word our own; faith brings heaven near; faith bridges the gulf of those gone before; faith wipes the tear of sorrow from our eye; faith comes to us in every stage of the journey home. Precious God-given faith! God can clear our misty eyes and open the very gate of heaven, and let us hear even now the song of the redeemed, and bring heaven down to earth.

One word more on this God-given faith. God must fulfil His promise and purpose—He produced it, His Spirit works within—“Unto you it is given not only to believe, but to suffer for His name.” Ah, there is that suffering added, but, blessed be God, the faith comes first, and that works moment by moment. Oh, this Word strengthens our faith and brings communion with Himself, since He gives it. He is a tried and trusted Friend, a Friend of youth and a Friend for old age, and by experience you prove how safe it is to trust in Him.

Now, beloved, this is no sentiment, no mere idea, when we say we may walk with God and God with us. May it be our blessed portion in these dark days, when faith is abandoned, and communion so little sought after, for you and me to draw nearer to God, to believe in Him in spite of all unbelief, getting away from the cavilling questions of the day into our quiet corners, and hold it fast. Then shall we find by the faith wherein we stand all true that He has promised, and soon enter into the brightness beyond with the King for ever. 

Pastor W. Fuller Gooch

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Faith Wholly Divine

 Faith is Divine in its operations and work, and wholly Divine, having an operation essentially and peculiarly its own, independent of all human exercise, and dependent solely upon the Author and Giver of it. Faith is the fruit of the Spirit. If so, it is the Divine Spirit that alone can communicate that faith, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” A Divine gift! Then you and I cannot exercise it except under the influence of Divine power, for it is not in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. So it is perfectly clear a true, loving, Divine faith must have its exercise by Divine control, and be subject to its Divine Head in our heart and soul. It is all Divine co-operation and communication. How beautiful is this Divine grace! And unto you it is given, beloved, no power in yourselves will get it, it is a gift Divine, and you have it when you look from the human to the Divine. Moreover, this faith is a Divine direction, “according to the faith of God’s elect.” Jesus is and must be set forth as the perfect and only Object of faith.

When our Lord spake of faith in those justified, He never divorced it from His own acts. When he said, “’Thy faith hath saved thee” to that poor woman, it is as though our Lord had said, “I have communicated to you that faith, and it is the pledge and earnest of all good to come from the Author and Giver,” and she departed in peace, as knowing that the faith implanted would increase and consummate in eternal life.

This believing life has its origin, source, object, and summary of faith. Wherever we read the Scriptures of truth, there He is the centre Object; He is the Object, spring and power, the Head of His Covenant Church. They all set forth this beautiful truth. Takeaway the Head, and the body is dead. It regulates and actuates all the body. “When Christ who is our life.” “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;” and dwelling in the heart and communicating by His Divine Spirit His powers by which we live this life of faith. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” He declared. Mark, the way, not a way—the truth, not a truth—and the life, not a life. So all life and blessing must flow from the Covenant Head. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” ” Our life is hid with Christ in God.” Wherever you turn, you must find its concentration and power in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Now, there is a word here of practical importance I must enforce, and that is concerning the expression one hears on all sides of the “Higher Life.” It sounds well. You hardly meet with anyone who does not refer to the deepening of spiritual life, and it is important on Scriptural ground that we understand this aright. In one light it is represented as holiness, and though it leads to spiritual pride and pleasure, yet the result is often deep spiritual depression. Then it is associated with superstition and sacerdotalism. These are no means of deepening spiritual life. Now, when we contemplate how we attain that, or how the spiritual life is deepened, we must not stop short of the Lord Jesus Christ, and know it all consists in communion with our Living Head; for the nearer we approach the sun, the nearer the light, and the nearer we get to Him in holy and lively exercise, the deeper our life and clearer our faith. In Him alone we can have that Divine holiness, and His gift is identified as flowing from His Person direct. Now, if you and I wish to rise into the higher atmosphere of this spiritual life, we must leave the human and follow the Divine. Man must be forgotten, and Jesus alone  exalted; and when He by His grace lifts you up, whether in private or public, there is no happier moment in the experience of the child of God. And whilst there is this Divine faith which has its activity in the life below, it is also a practical faith. St. James says, “Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Hence the importance and necessity, as disciples of the Lord Jesus, that we show in our life and devotion, works and labours, and sympathy of love, the good pleasure of His will Whose we are, with faith, patience, love, and hope.

Rev. A. A. Isaacs

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The Love And The Gift Of That Love

I wish to base the few remarks I may make in regard to this life of faith upon the words of the Apostle Paul, which we find in Gal. 2:20, “I am crucified with Chist: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

The Apostle tells us of what he knew for himself, and what Christ was to him, and what his interest was in Him, and how his life in the flesh was a life of faith in His Person, in His work, in His spirit, and in His life. We see how it was necessary for the Lord Jesus to come as a Man to earth, for God could not have been crucified. He occupied our position, became responsible in our stead for all our sins, “was made sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Yes, He came for this great purpose, and thus the Apostle is speaking of Him. He loved me; yes, me (the very man who had done the worst in his day), and made me conscious of the power of that love. Oh, what wondrous love, to love such a great enemy, and take him into His heaven! Only God in Christ can love thus. You know our feeling when wrong is done us. There is hostility, coldness, yes, and loss of friendship ofttimes, through the offense. But God loves those who were thus to Him. He became incarnate for their salvation. Creation shows His goodness, His wisdom, His power, and His glory; but He has condescended to dwell, not in inanimate creation, but in your heart and mine, beloved. Oh, to know this great fact and reality—our very nature taken into union with God. “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out.” What blessedness it brings! Dwell, search, seek into these things—ponder, pause, meditate, consider them well. Do not be content with just reading them, for it is a subject to examine and search into, this wondrous theme, that God in the Person of His Son has come down to this earth of ours, and made a poor sinner’s heart His habitation. St. Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ.” A blessed truth that you and I in Him were crucified, in Him fulfilled the law, obeyed every demand of it, and now live in Him, and so are translated from the power of darkness and death of sin unto a life of righteousness in Him. Yes, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” So there is a union between Christ and the believer, in His Person and work—a union with the life of Christ. And what kind of life, we ask, did Jesus live upon earth? Not His own will nor way, but He lived the Word of God as His rule of life, and He spoke of the prophets as concerning Himself. Then, may the Word of God be your and my rule of life. Let us ask ourselves the question, “Is our life regulated by the Word of God?” He lived according to God’s will in the Word of God, and thus the Holy Spirit leads all God’s children. Oh, make much of the precious Word of God; make it the guide of your homes and of your daily life. It brings security. Other opinions will lead us astray, but in His own Word we stand upon secure ground. May He, I repeat, grant us grace to make much of the Word of God.

Rev. L. Price

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The Divine Knowledge Of Faith

The question for you and me, beloved, is to know how these things of which we have been hearing reach us, and to know whether we possess this life of faith; for persuaded I am how many there are who hear these precious truths; and yet would give worlds to know whether they really possess this life of faith. There are some preachers who seem too often to press their hearers to accept, to grasp, to take Christ. Now this, after forty years’ experience in the ministry, is to my mind a most discouraging feature. At the outset let me say, it is not in any man’s power to take Christ at all, and the sooner a man knows this, the sooner come his joy, and stability, and comfort. We who are taught of God are taught how wicked, sinful, and degraded are our hearts, and when God teaches us that, we can find rest in no other than in Him. I will say a few words on faith, and the life of faith. In the eleventh of Hebrews what this faith is is explained by Paul. He believes what God is in His Word, and what He says by His Word, and what He has done and borne, and he believes in His great work, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; that is, if they are coming with an empty hand to a full Saviour, then that soul is as safe as Christ in heaven. Then the believer is right for faith and works; and then, the machinery right; all may oppose, but the child of God is safe and nothing can snatch him, no, not even the powers of hell, hence. And thus we would comfort the children of God by telling them that if they have Christ, Christ has them, and they are bound in the bundle of life, and there they will have confidence, and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. And now, as to the life forfeited and lost in our first parents. His Word declares all have sinned. God has concluded all under sin, and we have, therefore, the sentence of death in ourselves. The moral law was not enough. No Jew was saved by the law, and no Ritualist is saved by his ceremonies. People in our day are running hither and thither, doing things on a high level, and there is a great lack of the true knowledge of sin. We need to know what we are saved from, and then we shall know the value of the salvation which rescues poor lost sinners. Sin separates from God, and all are included under it.

The law only condemned; the law gave sin its damning power. “And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” No Jew was ever saved by the law! There was no ceremonial law except to show what sin was in God’s sight, and point to what Christ should accomplish. “When the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” The life forfeited was bargained, covenanted for, from all eternity—a Divine plan, for God foreknew and permitted it, and that nothing should fail hereafter. “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power.” He gave His bond for His bride, and in the fulness of time her life was purchased by His death, and He became her Ransom. The law inflicted all on Him and He put away sin and brought in everlasting righteousness. He, the Perfect Man, met all the requirements, and before His agony could say, “O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee; but l have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me.” He drank the cup, exhausted the dregs, and filled that cup with blessing for His Church, and now He is seated in glory, and will not be satisfied till that Church be with Him for ever.

Now a few words of comfort as to this life of faith. If Christians are crying for Christ it is in virtue of life, for a dead child cannot cry. God knows they are living. They may not, but they are crying, and it is a proof of eternal life from the Prince of Life, who is the Author of this new life. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” But the devil says, “Oh, perhaps you were not given to Christ.” He is always telling lies, and that does not alter it. God says it, and if the child has a breath of life nothing can alter it. “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation.” That is the Gospel. Christ is the great Substance of all shadows, the great Antitype. He is freedom from all bondage, and no law can touch the believer. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” He is justified. Now, says the Apostle, “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” A new life is begun, new hope, new desires, new affections, a new creation, new prospects, new companions, new promises, and a new life to come in the land of glory. It is a life of peace and joy. The peace is once for ever made, and when once we know that, it never alters, for He is our Peace and He is unchangeably the same. It will doubtless be a life of conflict, oft time God’s children are plagued beyond measure in their hearts. That is not to be wondered at, since I know “in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” I am always expecting to be worse in myself, until by the power of the Holy Ghost I am perfected in Him. Often I wonder that God has anything to do with me, but that brings me to seek my God to undertake all things for me, to teach me, and give me to grow up into Him in all things. Yes, the great assaults of the enemy must come. Here is the comfort, however, for the devil nor any other enemy’s assault can harm me, for my life is hid with Christ in God, and therefore, tried as we may be, it is ours to await our answers. He never did withhold any promised “good thing” yet from His children, and He never will. But He will try them, to prove their graces; and in His own time He will bring them out of the furnace, and give them to know more and more of this joy and comfort and peace in Jesus Christ, and at last bring them into a “wealthy place.” Lastly, grace and glory are connected in and for them. “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” God’s children by grace shall be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, inasmuch as they know that their labour shall not be in vain. 

Rev. J. C. Martin

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Living Members Of The Divine Household 

My subject is the Household of Faith, and I must address myself, in the few remarks I have, to make to that household, to the inmates, those within this house of faith, speaking of the origin of this household, their Membership, Privileges, and Destiny. Now, we are sometimes confronted as to the theology, of our Prayer-book, which contains the truth that not only is there a visible Church, but, inside that organization there is a real family and household of God, a Church within a Church, and it is of them I speak. We can never get rid of that theory, for that would be getting rid of the Rock, that would be shutting the sun out of the heavens. Oh, we want to cling to these salvation truths of the Gospel, and the Thirty-nine Articles of the Prayer-book, for I believe in them we find sound and Gospel teaching in accordance with the Word of God. If you look at the 17th Article, you will find contained therein the subject of our remarks, the household of faith, alluded to: “Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) He hath constantly decreed by His counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom He hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to hononr. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God’s purpose by His Spirit working in due season; they through grace obey the calling; they be justified freely; they be made sons of God by adoption; they be made like the image of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God’s mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.” Surely this is a Scriptural statement, beloved!

Now, I am going to speak first on the origin of these members of the household of faith, and I am quite sure that everyone who belongs to it must have asked himself the question, Why am I one of these happy people? Surely it is nothing in myself—not my deserts, not my claims—that has brought me hither. This leads us to think of the original cause of it all—’tis the love of God in Christ.

“Chosen not for good in me,

Risen up from wrath to flee, 

Hidden in the Saviour’s side,

By His Spirit justified;

Teach me, Lord, on earth to show 

By my love how much I owe.”

There is no doctrine so humbling, and none that makes us so anxious; as God’s electing love in Christ. His people were chosen in Him, ere time began. Yes, we must go back to the pit whence we were digged, and the rock whence we were hewn; and if our feet are standing firm, it is because from everlasting to everlasting He loved us, and His will and purpose make us strong in Him.

The Origin. St. Peter writes: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” We must lay hold of these blessed truths. There is nothing so strong, so safe to stand by.

But we must pass on to consider the Membership of this household. How do they get into the household? The Apostle John answers us in his Gospel (1:13): “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Yes, that is it. Born of the will of God through the regenerating Spirit, there is admission; and we are confronted here by this foundation truth, that it is all sovereign grace and mercy, God’s work, God’s doing, God’s gift. He is the Founder as well as the Master of the household. Oh, to realize this admission by adoption and grace! He declares, “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you,” and therein is the Spirit’s power and application.

Now, we see not merely the origin of members, but the privileges and duties also of this household. They receive pardon for all their sins, acceptance of their persons, once “far off” now “made nigh,” made members of the mystical body of Christ. Now we can look into our Father’s face, needing no priestly intercessor, but with holy boldness cast ourselves at His feet, and live in His service. Now, beloved, “freely ye have received, freely give.” Go and bring forth the fruits of this blessed Spirit. There is a great distinction between works and fruit. Fruit comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, and our abiding in Him. Works may look like acts of faith which are not really so. “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.” It is not good works, except those works are baptized by the Spirit of God and love. But this household have a duty to perform. Did not their Lord and Master declare, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” He must be occupied when on earth with His Father’s business, and so must everyone of His members be. It will be not irksome duty, neither will they do it from the motive to court the approval of their fellow-men, but it comes out in the real fact that the child of God is incorporate in the body of Christ, as the Apostle Paul says, “Wherefore we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness “and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.'”

There is a royal expression! “Fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness!” It is the pleasure of the Father to give it to His children for their life and work. And a Christian has ofttimes to gird on his armour for battle. We must remember that He calls us to be soldiers, as well as servants: we must not shirk the soldier’s duty, nor shrink at the smell of war; for Christ is spoken of as the Captain of our salvation, and we must do battle as true soldiers, when and where compromise are raging, and go out into the battlefield assured of success in Him, who makes us more than conquerors. Oh, this wants much wisdom and grace. Yes, we must do soldier’s work as well as quiet service. We must stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ maketh His children free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. And we shall win too, for our Captain never leads His soldiers except to victory. We go forward in His strength and in the consciousness that He will share with us His glory as we have shared with Him His shame.

Now we pass on to speak of their Destiny. Oh, it is a blessed thing to be in Christ! To feel that amid our difficulties we can go and tell Him all, and though we sin and sin again, to remember He suffered for sin, and has put it all way. But we look onward to that wonderful time, when, not as a suppliant, but in Covenant relationship He claims His sovereign right. “Father, I will, that they whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory.” Oh, just think of that prospect, beloved! Ought it not to strengthen and help us! Oh! how sublime and grand that attitude of the Lord Jesus Christ standing as the representative Head of His Church, pleading, claiming, taking a prospective vision of that glorious time, and declaring, “Father, I will that they whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am.” And in the strength of that prayer, in the power of His pleading, and in the security of His love we are led on. Lastly, I pass to ask the household, Of what does this household consist? There is unity within, that which comes of the Divine principle, that which gives life, sustains, fertilizes, energizes the soul. There is that which takes away all the past of Adam’s guilt, and transforms, renews, re-creates in Christ Jesus. Well may we exclaim with the beloved Apostle, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”

That is the Coronation Day for the Master of the Household! That is the day when in reflex glory we shall share with Him His glorious sunlight! Oh, may He keep us steadfast in His truth, living upon Him, looking upward and onward to that time when all the house—righteous Abel—faithful Abraham—Moses, who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, and who turned his back on the world—Paul, who could say, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ “—and all the redeemed host, gathered in that one great multitude, to share in that great glory, for Christ’s sake. 

Rev. J. N. Worsfold

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The Committal Of Faith

Ere we bring this, our Thirty-sixth Annual Conference to a close, beloved friends, I desire to realize our indebtedness to the great Master of Assemblies. He has favoured us with much of His felt presence. He has smiled upon us and granted many tokens of His goodness. He has sent His dear faithful servants to speak to us; He has fitted His message to their lips, and we have found it good to be here, to sit at their and our Master’s feet and to hear His voice, realizing in measure the goodness of the Lord; and we confess it, that we are perfectly satisfied with the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the infallible Word of Scripture. Of the subject of Faith, the gift, work, nature, and household, we have been speaking, and I trust we shall cherish the precious truths which we have been hearing. There is one thought I would like to add in connection with the subject pertaining to the persons of this household—the partakers, of faith. God has spoken of His people by various titles in His Word, which are indicative not only of present rich, full blessing, but of greater in reserve. And I would suggest to my younger hearers how very profitable a study are these titles of the family of God in Holy Scripture. Amongst them, and closely associated with the subject which has been under our consideration (and the word is only mentioned twice in the New Testament), we find in Acts 5:14, “And believers were, the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” In our translation, then, we have this divinely conferred title of believers. In some places, His children are spoken of as sons, and daughters, kings and priests, and that mark, beloved, in reality, and not name only. They are anointed with the Holy Spirit unto an everlasting service yonder, and as believers they are spoken of as partakers of that special grace without which none can be saved. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And we notice these “believers were added unto the Church.” They did not add themselves. The process is still going on, and will go on till the last elect vessel of mercy be gathered in. There is a daily adding on earth of believers, and we are privileged as believers to bring about this adding of believers. It is the greatest of all privileges; there is no higher allotted to us than that of being witnesses to preach, to bear truthful testimony, building up the Church of God, the Church of the first-born, hastening on the blessed consummation when the top-stone shall be brought forth with shoutings of “Grace, grace unto it!”’ And my earnest prayer has been, that the Lord would be pleased to make the testimony of His faithful witnesses during these past days fruitful to the gathering in of precious souls. I am prepared, upon what He has given me to hope, to hear of the salvation of many precious souls in connection with this Conference. We know that though Paul may plant and Apollos water, God must give the increase, and if He give us to hope on the Word of His promise He thereby commits Himself to obligation. He must keep His promise, He cannot deny Himself. Some of you who were present at the Bible Reading yesterday afternoon will remember the reference made to that word “commit,” in John 2:24, “But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,” &c. The words follow the statement that “many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did, and therefore Jesus did not commit Himself unto them. On the contrary, had their faith been sincere, He would have honoured it, by entrusting Himself to them; and I take my stand upon the truth that where a gracious faith centres in and trusts Him, He keeps His promise. He will commit Himself in a holy confidence to that soul. Oh, to have His confidence! Oh, think of this, beloved! that He should commit Himself to His people, and make it the singular property and enjoyment of each grace-saved sinner thus to walk in close personal fellowship! Now, this places every child of God under a sacred and holy obligation to become a holy example and type of believers in his life and walk. That word in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity,” emphasizes my meaning. “Be thou a type of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

We have here a subject for another Conference. ‘What is it to be a type of believers? God’s ideal! in all holy conversation, charity! Oh, may the Holy Spirit call us to follow out this thought, and endeavour to see what He would have us to be in a practical sense as the living people of God. They are called in His Word “the light of the world,” and there is no other exemplification as regards this, except as they follow in the steps of Christ. Oh, may this be the practical result of our Conference, that the dear children of God may seek to thus walk and follow in His light, even as He is the Light. The Lord bless every dear brother who has spoken to us, may He bless all of us, and keep us looking up for the guiding He has promised—“I will guide thee with Mine eye.” 

Rev. James Ormiston