THE FEW & THE MANY...

 

They are small in number and soon to die out - ed.

Misses A.H. Beloved sister in Christ:

You're interesting and welcome letter requesting my views of certain scriptures has been received and though I am much fatigued in body and mind, I commence a reply. To my mind, your language indicates that you are spiritually alive to God through the merits and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. True indeed. You speak of doubts and fears and seem to mourn over your barrenness of soul and express fears that you are too vain and worldly-minded.  My dear young sister these very breathings of the soul, after holiness and this loathing of sin and folly, are some of the unmistakable signs of spiritual life within the soul. Like the sweet singer of Israel. All who are born in the Spirit often feel thirsty and pant for the living God. As the wounded hart pants for the cooling water brooks. Psalm. 93.1.

You say that we are commanded to set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth Colossians 3.2. This is truly addressed not to unregenerate, but to regenerate persons who are experimentally dead with Christ from the rudiments or privileges of a worldly nature. And whose hearts the Spirit and principles of every gospel duty precept, and command is written by the Spirit of the living God II Corinthians 3.3. There are some of the provisions of the new and everlasting covenant of grace, that God will put his laws into the mind of his people, and will write them in their hearts so that they all shall thereby know him from the least in the feeblest child to the greatest prophet or apostle Hebrews 8.10. Unless the spirit of all gospel laws and duties is first written in the heart, there is neither willpower nor inclination to observe them, and all our seeming performance of what are called gospel duties are nothing but outward show or the of the works of the flesh. These things which those who are born of the Spirit are admonished and commanded to do, are the very things which they in spirit are desirous to do. The Lord works in them to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Here is the Excellency of the gospel with inclination, power, and ability to do all that is commanded. None but Christians can love God. And why do they love him? Because he first loved them and manifested that love, and shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them I John 4.19; Romans 5.5. Men, in their natural state of sin, have not the love of God in them.

I will now try briefly to notice the scriptures you have more especially requested my comments upon.

“Enter you in the strait gate” Matthew 7.12. “Strive to enter in that straight gate for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” Luke 13.24.

It should be distinctly observed that the first text is part of that noted sermon Christ preached on the mount not to the assembled multitude, but especially to his disciples. He opened his mouth and taught them saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

The Scriptures abound with many metaphorical and figurative expressions as well as positive declarations showing us that the Kingdom of Heaven is spiritual and that the natural or unregenerate man cannot see nor enter that Kingdom. To enter in at the strait gate the corrupt workings and desires of flesh and blood can be no help to us. Not the least carnal desire or flesh you work or motive can enter in at the straight gate. Often indeed, corrupt nature becomes seemingly very pious, but it seeks self-applause or honor from men, and not the glory of God nor the God of his Saints. The strait gate through which believers in Christ enter into a knowledge of the doctrine, laws, ordinances, peace, comfort, and joys of the gospel Kingdom, is too strait or narrow to admit any works of righteousness which we have done. No, we must be stripped of everything but what the Spirit and grace of Christ shall freely put upon us, and enter through a gate in the name and by the authority of Jesus. We must be dead to the law by the body of Christ and our old man crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed and we delivered from its reigning power and dominion over us, and no longer serve in, nor render a formal service to God in the oldness of the letter, but being washed in the washing of regeneration, and molded into the spirit of all gospel privileges and duties to serve God in newness of spirit Roman 6.6; 7.6. 

God gives a new heart and puts a right spirit within his children that they may have an inclination of heart, a desire, a will, and ability to do the things commanded them. And enter in that strait gate. I know that many apply this text to the ungodly world of mankind that lies in wickedness, and tell them to enter into the heaven of eternal rest and glory by their own efforts. But the text has no such meaning. But it is rather of a practical nature and applicable to certain qualified characters who are prepared by grace to enter in the name of Jesus and walk practically in a narrow way of Christian obedience. It is for wayfaring men, and though fools in and of themselves, and so esteemed by the world, they shall not err therein. But why called a strait gate? Because it is just the opposite of that wide and broad gate and way that the world of mankind In their natural state, all go. “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 14.12. The wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction will take in every false doctrine and abomination, and many there be which go in thereat.

False teachers may and do walk at large in that broad way. They find no restraint upon throwing upon them, even when they teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The gate is wide enough to take all their greedy lusts. And carnal propensities and self-righteousness and worldly institutions along with them. They seem to think the church, or rather. What they call “the Church” needs many auxiliary societies formed by men as nurseries and helps to bring men to God. 

Now this is evidently a wide gate and a broad way and is distinguished from the straight gate and narrow way by many going in there a while, but few find the other. The narrow way in which few walk leads to life, a life of peace, of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost. Those who walk in it worship God in the Spirit and not in the flesh, rejoicing in Christ Jesus and not in themselves, and have no confidence in the flesh. Comparatively, few even of those professing godliness entered a strait gate and walked the narrow way of Christian obedience and find the life of peace, joy and comfort that is secured to the self-denying followers of Christ. We must walk by faith and not by sight of the natural understanding. And that faith must “look to Jesus, which is author and finisher. God has made us accept that in Jesus” Ephesians 1.6.

Let not your heart, my dear young sister, feel sad if you are taunted and reproached for being found among the few of our text. It is a distinguishing mark of the true followers of Christ that they are few compared with the many nominal professors who walked the broad way. Notice the words of Christ. I see them to you. Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. It is impossible with men to thrust themselves into the Kingdom of Christ though they may be very confident that they have obtained their object. “Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for but the election has obtained it and the rest were blinded” Romans 11.7. It is so yet.  election obtains for us what we cannot obtain for ourselves, and results in the redemption from all iniquity and purifying unto Christ of peculiar people, and be getting in them a principle of obedience so that they are zealous of good works. Titus 2.14. Not one fleshly lust or motive in the heart can enter the straight gate. There must be a sweet savor of Christ in everything, and we must see in Him every qualification to render our services acceptable to God. If we should make a religious profession, as doubtless many do because some earthly relative or friend is identified with the denomination and because there are many mighty, many wise men after the flesh, and many who are called the great and noble of the world there, and that is the chief motive that governs our actions, then we are walking after the flesh and shall be led into destruction, in a broad way of error.

I have sometimes talked with persons who seem to know something experimentally of the forgiveness of sins and of the truth in Jesus, and who would acknowledge that they felt impressed with the duty of baptism and being visibly connected with the Church of Christ on earth. But why do they linger, and stay without? The husband says “I think my wife has a better experience than I have and I am waiting for her If she will go to the church, I will.” The wife says the husband is the head of the family, “Wherever he goes, I will go with him, even if it should not be my religious preference.” So say parents and children.

But stop, my friends! The gate is too strait, that is too narrow for entrance. With such motives, there is no Christ in all that. If you have waited long and not been drawn by pure love to Christ and a true sense of your duty to Him. And now you go simply because your wife or husband has gone, are you not governed by the flesh? “They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh.” Is not this minding and obeying the things of the flesh? If any other person not so related to us had gone to the Church, would we have left all for Christ? “He that loves wife or children more than me is not worthy of me.” Do not join the Church simply to induce others, nor because others have, for you must sense of your own duty. Many of those who are in the broad and popular way seem very confident. They merit inheritance among the household of faith, and are bold to say, “Lord, Lord opened unto us, for thou hast taught in our streets.” But sad, awfully sad, to hear “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.”

The scriptural terms, “few and many” as designating the followers of Christ and the row votaries of Antichrist should be of some comfort and strength to the poor, despised Baptists of the primitive faith and order. They are acknowledged by friends and foes to be numerically few compared with the mighty hosts of other and popular denominations. This very term, “few” is one of the many terms used by the inspired writers to distinguish the people of God from all who are in the broad way. It is the boast and glory of some, that the old order of Baptists are few, and in a short time they hope they will all go out. Let us see how the term “many” is used in some places in the Scriptures and see whether the Primitive Baptists have any cause to regret that it does not apply to them. “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called” I Corinthians 1.26. What religious denomination bears the above scriptural marks of being the Church of God? Let our enemies themselves be their judges again. “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?” Matthew 7.22. “Many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ, and shall deceive many” Matthew 24.5. Does this fit the old order of Baptists? Why? All parties acknowledged that they are few. Therefore, not the many who are deceivers nor deceived. Again, we are not as “many which corrupt the word of God” II Corinthians 2.17. Those who are comparatively few cannot be the many who corrupt the word of God with vain philosophy after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Hence, here is another mark of the Church and followers of Christ. Let us have another text, “many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ” Philippians 3.18. In the verse proceeding the apostle says “mark them” which are of the opposite of the many. Again, “there shall be false teachers among you, and many shall follow their pernicious ways” II Peter 22. And the old order of baptism are here described. Where are the many who have followed the pernicious ways of false teachers?

These false teachers, whom the many follow, are further distinguished as having no other use or regard for those with whom they are professionally connected than to make merchandise of them. Hence their efforts for numbers and wealth. But let us hear the beloved apostle John. “Even now there are many antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time they went out from us, but they were not of us first” I John 2.18-19. Does this mark suit the old order of Baptists? Are they opposed to Christ, or do they rather, knowing else among the people have save Christ and him crucified as the ground of their hope? Dear young sister in Christ, I trust the Lord may give you a discerning and understanding heart in all spiritual things, that you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

May all saints have grace to enable them to enter into strait gate and walk in a narrow way. 

I had no thought of being so lengthy. Brother Beebe, if you think proper, give this a place in the Signs.

Affectionately yours, 

Elder William M. Mitchell

Signs of the Times

1866