THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST IN A DIALOGUE

(Continued)

Concerned

But I would add, that here is especially meant the puffed up appearance of those that are still in their natural state, who seem to be Christians outwardly, but who are yet unconverted; and therefore they only raise up their own righteousness in doing and speaking of all the duties and truths which they defend. For man by nature is born in the Covenant of Works, and remains therein as long as he is not actually converted and passed over into the Covenant of Grace. This causes in the unconverted outward Christian an elevation of the heart more or less, and he begins to imagine that he is something great, and this is especially increased if he has some literal knowledge or if he is held in respect in the congregation. This is what the Apostle opposes. Also in the congregation at Corinth there were some who exalted themselves very much, even above the Apostles, as is very clear from that which Paul writes. It is for this reason that he says in the 18th and 19th verses of the 4th chapter of I Corinthians: “Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.” By this he means that in his coming he will examine whether their boasting really is true, and if they speak thus upon a good ground and by experience; otherwise it was only a vain bragging, being vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind, Col. 2:18. He therefore says, I Tim. 6:3, 4: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,” etc. Behold such self-exaltation in the rich young man of Matthew 19, the Pharisee of Luke 18, and in the congregation of Laodicea, Rev. 3, etc.; and in our time, in all those that oppose the teachings of Christ, to which the true church of the Reformation yet cleaves; but what is more pitiful, also in the practice of all those who are in name Reformed, but yet unconverted. It is not in vain that Jesus has warned earnestly against the leaven of the Pharisees. But let us hear what Strong Christian says about all this.

Strong Christian

What Sir Letterwise has said and what Ignorance has understood is a truth, which is sufficiently known from the epistles of Paul; but what Ignorance has said, comes much nearer to the cause itself, because these truths must be experimentally known. Thus it is in many other cases also. A man can talk about things, without knowing the power thereof by experience. For example, a doctor can understand what fever is by exercises in the medical art; he can give a description thereof and apply the remedies which are suitable for its cure, without his ever having had the fever himself and never having personally used the fit medicine for a fever. Consequently he has never personally experienced what the fever is, and has never felt the power of the remedy. From this we can easily understand that he only knows this by a contemplation of his sense and mind, and not by experience and a feeling of the thing itself. Thus it is in this case also. The Kingdom of God has its peculiar words, which a person can know, use, and of which he can give a description, without knowing them by experience or ever having had the power of them in his heart and life. For example: the effectual calling. A person may know this divine peculiar term in its meaning and be able to give a description thereof: that it is a work of grace from God, by which the elect sinner, in the presentation of the Gospel and through the Lord’s Spirit, not only is invited and convicted, but also reasonably and powerfully moved to attend earnestly to a change of his state; yea, that this internal calling is an efficacious change of the whole man. A person can defend this truth against those that press the teaching of the free will of man; he can show the difference between a common or a special calling, also called an external and an internal calling; he can teach others this truth, while he himself has never experienced this calling in his soul. He has only learned all of this in a contemplative sense from the boks, as is very evident from unconverted ministers and literalists. Literally he knows the words of the Kingdom of God, but not the power; while on the contrary, a person who has experienced a true conversion knows how this calling takes place in the heart and how it has affected him; yea, how it has convicted and persuaded him, so that he had to say: “O Lord, Thou hast deceived (persuaded) me, and I was deceived; Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed,” Jer. 20:7. And thus it is also with other words, such as faith, regeneration, justification, sanctification, sealing, etc. They are all holy peculiar words, which an unconverted pesron, as we have heard with respect to the irresistible calling, may be able to use without having experienced the power thereof. And this knowledge according to the letter can make him puffed up, 1 Cor. 8:1, but to have experienced the power thereof makes one fortunate and blessed: “For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”

Concerned

O yes, this is a truth which no one, who wants to use his reasonable sense, can contradict. And oh! I wish with my whole heart that I may experience the power of this Kingdom of God more and more, as it is experienced by the Lord’s people. It is a cause of continual concern in my soul, that others have experienced this better and differently than I have. May the merciful Lord grant unto me more of His Spirit, light, and preventing, accompanying, and following grace, that I may know more clearly the activities of my soul and that my work may be in truth, Isa. 61:8. In the meantime it shall be very profitable indeed to be led more deeply into these different parts or doctrines, in order to have a clearer understanding and knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Therefore, I now cordially invite you to come again so that our conversation about these things may be resumed at the earliest opportunity, and that we may then speak together again to our mutual instruction about these matters of such great importance, for it is so necessary to consider earnestly upon what ground we venture to go to and pass into the great eternity.

Strong Christian

I do hope that the Lord shall thereto give me a heart and a mouth to speak, and also light in those blessed truths we further wish to deal with.

Letterwise

Well, I will not withdraw myself, but will try to use my talent to the benefit of my neighbor.

Ignorance

And I hope that I may learn something good from it; I know that we cannot spend our time in any better way than to speak about these eternal and heavenly things.

Concerned

Oh, that the Lord Himself may then come into our midst as a Teacher. May Jesus be made unto us Wisdom, and manifest Himself unto our souls as He does not do unto the world? O that we might experience that grace is poured into His lips. May a blessing rest upon what has been discussed.

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