Much has been talked about, preached, and written about "Practical Godliness," and some have gone so far as to say they want more practical godliness and less doctrine.
Now, while it may be true, and doubtless is, that some of the ministry dwell too exclusively upon one or two cardinal points of the gospel, to the neglect of other parts of it which are of the same divine authority, and equally useful to the Church of God, yet it is also true that the whole gospel, and every part of it, is embraced in the word doctrine. To insist upon the practice of godliness without the doctrine, or principle, would be similar to having only a form of godliness but denying the principle or power of it. From such a thing as this, and from those who insist upon it, we are commanded to "turn away." — 2 Tim., iii., 5. The entire gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all its blessings, purposes, and promises, is God's gift to His Church and people. It belongs to them and is for them. It abounds with rich variety and is adapted to the varied conditions, wants, and necessities of believers in Christ, under all circumstances.
The condition of Christians is not always the same. There is scarcely a day but what brings some new development of things to them with which they have not met before. And however well they may have been established in the faith of the gospel, so far as they have been instructed, and so far as they have understood it, and however well they may have been fortified in mind against any conflict, trial of faith, or affliction through which they have already passed, and with which they have become familiar by daily experience, yet there will spring up something with which they are not familiar — something requiring a deep and new line of thought upon some point which had not been sprung upon them before, causing restless days and sleepless nights, with prayerful anxiety to know and understand the truth as it is in Jesus.
And often, when their anxiety and earnest desires to understand the truth increases, a feeling sense of their darkness of mind and ignorance also increases upon them until they are greatly perplexed, and would gladly dismiss the subject of anxious thought entirely from their mind, but they cannot; it has taken deep hold upon them, and they cannot let it go, because it will not let them go. They may have wished that certain things, which have taken such hold upon them, should not have been preached or written, or that they had not seen or heard them, then they would not have been concerned about them, but now they are in a strait and know not what to do. Like the Ethiopian eunuch as he returned from Jerusalem, where he had been up to worship, the mind and heart are greatly stirred up to read the word of God, but while prayerfully reading, they, like the poor man in the chariot, are saying in their hearts, "How can I understand, except some man should guide me ?''
Now what does all this care, trouble, and prayerful anxiety to understand and know the truth mean, if the hand of God is not in it? He is dealing with his children in all those conflicts, causing them to sensibly feel their needs, and preparing them to receive the gospel teaching and instruction that he has in store for them. Here is one important use of pure gospel preaching and teaching: It expounds to some the way of God more perfectly than they had ever before known. It feeds the hungry and gives a drink to the dry and thirsty soul. Yea, it gives even "strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to him that is of a heavy heart," and says, "Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." — Proverbs xxxi., 6. Some of our brethren seem to think that it would not be healthy for the weak and feeble Christian to be fed on the strong doctrinal parts of the gospel. They say he needs only a little milk — but unfortunately for the health and growth of these little perishing ones, they often get only a little weak wine with much of human effort stirred in, so as to make a weak, unhealthy gruel, causing the poor child sometimes to turn away from the healthy, solid food of the gospel.
But the text quoted above from Proverbs says "Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to him that is of a heavy heart." Now who is weaker and more feeble as a child of grace than one who is so far gone and sunk so low as to be just ''ready to perish?" "His pulse is low and weak;" he needs something to arouse, animate, encourage, and strengthen his faith. He needs something strong to help him, a safe retreat, a sure refuge. He is ready to perish; sinking in deep mire where there is no standing. His own feeble efforts sink him lower and lower in the mire of despondency and gloom, and he feels the need for a "Sure Foundation," such as God has laid in Zion, elect and precious. Now Christ and his doctrine are the sure and never-failing foundation upon which the church is built, and upon which even the weakest and feeblest child of God may firmly stand.
The fullness and perfection of the Godhead in Christ, the eternal and never-failing purposes, promises, and decrees of God, his absolute and unlimited sovereignty as Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, his everlasting love, almighty power, and infinite wisdom, all being engaged for the eternal salvation, protection, and defense of these little ones who are ready to perish, is indeed a " strong drink " for them. But it is wholesome. It will invigorate and strengthen their faith so that they will be "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." — Eph. vi., 10. The "strong doctrine" of the gospel can never hurt the feeble child of God. But if any man "teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings," etc. — 1 Tim., vi., 3. It is seen by the above text that the words and doctrine of Jesus are good and wholesome food for Christians, and those who teach otherwise are described as ignorant, proud, and contentious.
Practical godliness does not exclude the "doctrine which is according to godliness," but it holds to it, rejoices in it, and manifests in it the daily walk and life of a believer. But wild speculative theories of men such as are not revealed, are hurtful. They do not promote unity, strength, or growth in grace, but they engender strife, contention, and envy among brethren. Let us avoid them — turn away from them and follow righteousness and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But before closing our remarks on this subject, it may be well to notice that all members and gifts in the Church of Christ have not the same office or precisely the same work. "There are diversities of gifts, but the san3 spirit." — 1 Cor., xii., 4. Now what are all the>e diversities of gifts for, if not designed to supply the many and diversified wants and necessities of the children of God? Christians are not always and at all times in precisely the same condition of mind. Nearly every day, month, or year, their surroundings, circumstances, and conflicts are changing, and they need something in the gospel adapted to their condition that will give them hope and prevent trouble. Scriptures which they have seen no meaning or force in before, now come to mind as applicable to them, and sermons that they may have heard many times, on some deep doctrinal point of the gospel, and had but little understanding of them, or felt but little interest in them, are now all full of meaning to them, and full of comfort and instruction.
Now, why all this change in our views, feelings, and understanding of these things? The word of the Lord has not changed, the gospel of Christ is the same, and these deep doctrinal points of the gospel were just as true before we were brought into a condition to need and receive them as they are now, when we understand and rejoice in them. The truth is, brethren, that in all these various conditions and necessities of the Church of God, he has provided "gifts differing according to the grace given to each one," and each is to wait on or attend to his own peculiar work. — Rom., xii., 6. These different gifts by the same one spirit are designed to supply the different conditions and necessities of the Lord's people in their pilgrimage.
It is true that many are weak and feeble in faith and understanding, but our God has provided gifts in the church to expound the scriptures to them, and thereby strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Our God being "willing to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirms it by an oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, that we might have a strong consolation." — Heb., vi., 17.
Here then is the "strong drink" of the gospel even for the feeble ones who are ready to perish. The immutable counsel and immutable oath of God are the two immutable things that give strong consolation.
Elder Mitchell
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