THE GOSPEL MESSENGER—January 1891

 In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that, or whether both shall be alike good.—Eccl. xi. 6.

 DEAR BRO. RESPESS: It is not my purpose to comment upon the above text, but there is a little incident in my own experience and some suggestions growing out there­from which seems in some degree to illustrate the truth of the text that we “know not” what shall be the result of our labors, but we know that the word of the Lord saith, “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.”—Eccl. xi. 1. About forty years ago I had become greatly afflicted so that I gave up the care of the four churches I had been serving as pastor. My bodily and mental sufferings were great beyond all power to describe, and to add still more to my distress my mind became dark as to the reality of my hope in Christ, and of my call to the ministry. For two weeks in 1851 there was not a solitary promise in the Bible that I could claim with any comfort. One day my wife was at the spring washing our clothing, and the little children with her, which left me alone at the house. I was very feeble, and desired above all things that I could have one evidence from the Lord or one promise that I could lay hold of by faith as apply­ing personally to me. 

Opening the Bible, I read, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.”—Psalms cii. 17. It seemed as though the Lord had spoken to me, and gave me faith to lay hold of that blessed promise, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute.” I knew I was destitute of every comfort, and when He spake to me that he would not despise the prayer of the destitute my soul leaped for joy. Darkness of mind fled away, my hard heart was melted, and I wept for joy before the Lord.

Now, I wish to say a few words as to some of the results of this incident in my life which have occurred since that time. A few times, when suddenly called on to preach, I would feel so destitute of any fruitfulness of mind in the gospel that this text would come to my relief, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute,” and I have used it as a text on such occasions about four times in my life, with sweetness and comfort to myself and possibly to others. And now, after near forty years have past, feeling very destitute one day, I thought I would write a little upon “God’s promise to the destitute,” but after writing awhile I felt that “my heart was smitten and withered like grass,” (Psa. cii.) and all my comforts were gone. Looking over what was written, it seemed as nothing and unfit for publica­tion. It was thrown aside, but by mistake it was sent with other editorial articles and correspondence to Eld. Respess, and when the June number of the MESSENGER for 1890 come to hand I was surprised to find on page 214 that very article, contrary to my design, had found its way into the MESSENGER. I read it, but it still seemed to be a dry, formal thing; but in about fifteen days afterwards a sister who had long been in the fur­nace of trial wrote me that she had long been in great spiritual destitution, and taking up the June MESSEN­GER, the thought came forcibly to mind that I had suf­fered many things, and perhaps something had been written in that number that would help her a little. She found that very article that I did not intend to have published, and the Lord applied it with great com­fort to her. After about another month had passed away I received a letter from another sister living in Southwest Georgia, in which she says: “I want to tell you how much I appreciate the MESSENGER. It is indeed a great comfort to me. Your editorial in June number on ‘God’s Promise to the Destitute’ seems as though it was written expressly for me, for it speaks of just what I have experienced. I want you to remember me and my little family in your prayers.” After pon­dering these things in my heart for some days, and wondering what they could mean, I received another letter on yesterday from an aged sister in Texas, in which she says: “I am so glad you wrote upon the subject of the destitute, in the MESSENGER of June, 1890. It found me in a poor, destitute condition spirit­ually, and I am often thinking what am I that God should have been so merciful to me, as I know he has been? I do sympathize with you and sister Mitchell in your many afflictions.” 

Now, Bro. Respess, if the simple statement of these things should appear to partake too much of the childish whims of a weak-minded old man, you will please withhold them from the readers of the MESSENGER. I am fully conscious of the Bible truth that it is not “him that commendeth himself that is approved, but him whom God commendeth.”—Cor. And I also have good cause to say, “If I must needs glory, I will glory in the things that pertain to my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”—2 Cor. xii. How intimately and mysteriously does one thing connect with and grow out of another. We cannot see all the links in the chain of God’s eternal purposes. In view of even the limited knowledge I have had of a few things in past life, the text heading this article seemed to be somewhat illustrated by some of those occur­rences. And as gospel preaching is illustrated by sowing seed, I trust that gospel ministers will sow both morning and evening, or whether in light or darkness, and leave the result with the Lord. 

W.  M. MITCHELL 

THE GOSPEL MESSENGER—MARCH 1891

 From Elder Durand

 SOUTHAMPTON, BUCKS Co., PA., Jan. 5, 1891

DEAR BRO. RESPESS: I read with much interest and comfort the letter of Eld. Mitchell addressed to you, and published in the January number of the MESSENGER, in which he relates a special exercise of mind about forty years ago, in a time of great affliction; his recent attempt to write something about the precious promise that was then applied to him with power; his failure to write what was satisfactory to himself; his determina­tion to throw it aside; the mistake by which it was pub­lished, and the word sent to him by dear kindred in Christ that the Lord had blessed it to their comfort. It was with much surprise, but with especial comfort, that I read this language: “Now, Bro. Respess, if the simple statement of these things should appear to partake too much of the childish whims of a weak-minded old man, you will please withhold them from the readers of the MESSENGER.” Is it possible, I thought, that Bro. Mitchell has such questionings as these? Does he ever have to hesitate, finding himself at a loss to know whether he has not been prompted in some degree by the flesh? I must acknowledge I was glad to see the intimation that he was not without such trials, of which I have so many.

Since reading that letter I have meditated much upon this subject, and am impressed to write some of my thoughts. What is there that any one has to present, in writing to the people of God, which is of any real value, except what he has experienced? “The hus­bandman must first be partaker of the fruits.” “The word of the Lord” must come unto one before he can be prepared to publish it. “The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it.” One may study much upon scriptural subjects, and bring forth results that will be very interesting to “theolo­gians,” and even to the natural minds of spiritual men; but when one is in the condition of the Psalmist when he said, “My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land where no water is,” such results will be of little if any interest or value. However beautiful the thoughts and consistent the theories, they cannot satisfy the soul that is “early seeking after God.” There is no refreshing dew in them to revive the drooping plants of grace. They furnish no wine to cheer the fainting heart, nor do they provide the words of that Song which “the inhabitants of the Rock” love to sing.

“The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” What has been felt with power in the heart of one who speaks or writes, will be sure to reach the heart of those who have been in like manner exercised. Words of truth are not always words of power. The manifesta­tion of power in them depends upon by whom and to whom they are spoken. A portion of scripture may have been long familiar to us, and have been counted most beautiful; but when the Lord applies it especially to us, we find that we had never before known its real power and beauty. It is then new to us.

I said a good while ago, and still hold it true, that “a man may hear a comforting gospel sermon, and repeat it to a congregation word for word, but from his lips it will not be a comforting gospel sermon” This is one of the unsearchable mysteries of which Bro. Mitchell was speaking not long since. What has been searched out, gained by study, or gathered from others and held in memory, may be very true in the letter, but there will be no power in it to those whose souls are thirsting after God, “as the hart panteth after the water brooks.” The Lord has not left the door into the work of the ministry so loose upon its hinges that any one may enter according to his ambitious desire. Gospel ser­mons cannot be manufactured, learned or stolen by any man; neither can any of the sweet words and spiritual expressions by which fellowship is established and maintained among the people of God, and mutual comfort communicated and received by them. They must be the direct gift of God. His words can only be known as they are put into the heart and into the mouth; and when that has been done they can never depart from that one, though spoken a thousand times a day.—Jsa. lix. 21. They must have been found and eaten, and then they remain forever the joy and rejoicing of the heart.—Jer. xv. 16. Men of the world may hear and repeat them in the letter, but their power and charm cannot be heard or repeated by them. The essential spirit and virtue are beyond the reach of the natural understanding. This is “the secret of the Lord” which “is with them that fear him.”

The promise which was applied to Bro. Mitchell forty years ago, was given to me, I think, in a time of great soul trouble, some twenty years ago, as I related in a former communication in the MESSENGER, and it has been a very sweet promise to me ever since. It seemed as though the word “despise” had been placed there just for me, for I had been thinking that it would be no use for me to try to pray, because a holy God could not but despise the prayers of one so vile; Instantly these precious words dropped into my soul, “He will hear the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.” Many a time since then a text has been given to rue, and opened to my understanding as that was. Poor as my preaching has appeared to me in comparison with that of others, and heartily ashamed as I have been of my inability many a time, yet I could say it is what the Lord has been pleased to give me, and has not been learned of another; and I know the truth of it, for I have felt its powers in my own soul. It has been may the word of the Lord to me that I could preach, and when that has not been received, no one, it seems to me, can be so destitute and helpless as I. But when I have felt the power of the word there has been a feeling of inexpressible joy and praise in my heart while speak­ing it, though with a stammering tongue.

Just now another portion comes to my mind that was given me as a morsel just in time to keep me from fainting with hunger, and sinking in despair: “If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”—Rom. viii. 10. The meaning of that and the declaration that follows, was then shown to me with no uncertainty. They were words found by my soul, “and I did eat them,” and they became strength and joy to me.

And shall it be counted as self-commendation to relate any of the solemn and holy communications of the Lord to us. Shall the devil make one of the Lord’s servants, or any of his dear children, fear that it may he only a childish whim prompting them to tell to those that fear God, what He has done for them? Can the things of Jesus be shown to one who loves him without creating in his soul a desire to let the household of faith know of the wonderful, unexpected favor? The words of the Lord, through which new covenant blessings are given, cannot be received by the poor, surprised sinner with the cold and quiet self-complacency of a man of the world. They come with divine power into his soul, and make a child of him, a glad, loving child. “He shall return to the days of his youth; his flesh shall be fresher than a child’s.”—Job xxxiii. 25. The bountiful provisions of grace thus richly ministered to him in the wilderness will cause him to “sing there, as in the days of his youth.”—Hosea ii. 15. He cannot at any time experience “this day of good tidings,” without wishing to “go and tell it to the King’s household.”

I have read discussions of portions of scripture and points of doctrine sometimes with much interest, and have felt that I had been benefited by having new views presented, and some kinks and tangles taken out of the views I already had. It seems like a very good thing to have a straight, clear, untangled thread of scriptural truth in mind, running from one end of the Bible to the other. I have never felt that I had much prospect of attaining to that, but have been at times ambitious in that direction, and have wished that I could read all the good things that have ever been writ-. ten. But when I have engaged in such reading and study I have soon flagged, and have sometimes become so hungry for some word from the Lord directly to my­self that I have lost all interest in the subject before me, and have been made willing to be a. little ignorant child if I could only be privileged to feel the everlast­ing arms around me again, and “taste the good word of God.” Sometimes I have been left a good while to myself, to get smaller and weaker; and there have been times when at once I have felt at liberty to ask and re­ceive, to seek and find, to knock and have it opened to me. What I have received in that way has been all I have had lo preach. Sometimes how little and poor my stock seems; and sometimes it is too great for any words of mine to tell—too great for the world to contain.

When reading essays, discussions, treatises, how quickly the soul feels the change in the current when the stream begins to flow from some special exercise of soul in the writer. Now there is light, and life, and power in the language, and the heart of the spiritual reader beats a glad response. The dear Saviour, who spoke to him who writes, speaks through his words in some measure to him who reads, and he feels the flow of the Spirit of Truth, though the stream may be deeper than his present experience enables him to reach with a full understanding. “The words that I speak unto you.” said Jesus, “they are spirit, and they are life.”

There is a good deal of fleshly zeal, no doubt, even among the people of God, in discussing controverted points of doctrine; and there may be sometimes something fleshly in the desire to have the discussion cease. When discussion descends to personalities, and deals in ungentle expressions concerning those of different views, it is doubtful if any good can result from it, except to give additional evidence of the deceitfulness of our carnal nature. When the Lord lays a subject upon one’s mind, he will have a feeling of solemnity and meekness and love in connection with it, and so will be raised above that spirit that would inspire an overbearing, ungentle manner in presenting it. The word of the Lord given to any one of his servants will “have free course and be glorified.” Whatever point of doctrine may be involved, it will be presented in such way, by the direction of the spirit, that its solemn power will be seen and felt by the brethren.

I remember an associational meeting where there were some powerful preachers who held different views upon a certain portion of scripture, and the points of doctrine involved, and who had, at times, had some strong contention on the subject, though, of course, with the courtesy becoming their dignified profession, if not with the full manifestation of that love which “is the bond of perfectness.” A young minister who was there for the first time, and who had never taken part in such controversy, read that scripture for a text, evidently not knowing or thinking of it as a battleground. He preached the gospel, expounding the text, not as a debater, but as a gospel preacher. They listened, and smiled, and nodded at him, and at each other, and gathered about him when he was done, with loving speeches, acknowledging gladly that he had preached the truth.

When the Lord gives a word to one of his servants, there is no one to say, “You must not present that subject; it has been discussed enough.” The one that is hungry does not say, “We have had enough of that kind of meat; keep it off the table hereafter.” No one says, “We are satisfied now what the fragrance of the rose is like, and therefore you need not be continually handling it.” if the gospel meat could be put upon the table with a desire to make a, show of wealth, or the-rose of Sharon could be exhibited with a vain spirit, as may be done with natural meats and flowers, then we might say, enough of that. But it cannot be. If the Lord gives a word to any one to speak, it is something which his brethren need to hear. The loving and pru­dent editor who, with a desire to avert discord, has said, “Let us not discuss that subject any more,” is ready to acknowledge the authority of the Lord’s word, and to say, with his readers, “That kind of discussion is not, and should not be, prohibited.” Though we may not see clearly all that is presented, yet there is some­thing that commends it as according to the oracle of God, and nothing to mar the peace of any, nor to hurt the tenderest feelings. One who stands guard over some assertions of his own, determined to defend them, may be stirred up to battle, but he will be surprised and thankful to find himself alone hurt with his own blows; for one who loves the truth cannot maintain a battle against the Spirit of Truth. On whatever sub­ject one speaks or writes by the direction of the Spirit of Truth, he will still obey the exhortation, “Let broth­erly love continue.”

 Silas Durand