For the Signs of the Times. FRAGMENTS. (1839) (Allen)

“Gather up the fragments.”

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE:—The conclusion of the sixth volume of the “Signs” admonishes me to break the long silence that has prevailed between us, entirely for the want of time on my part, and I presume the same on yours; nevertheless I congratulate you, my brother, on the commencement of a new year which is crowned with Jehovah’s goodness; and especially on the commencement of the seventh volume, amidst a torrent of opposition; not only from the avowed enemies of Christ, but more especially from those who profess to be his followers and disciples; you have been enabled to stem that torrent, and outride the boisterous waves of malignity and calumny. How sweet and precious the thought to the believer in Christ, that although his foes are many and mighty, from without and within, from the world professing and the world profane, that his Jesus is the same—the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is a truth which cannot be denied that spiritual wickedness is in high places. I have no allusion here to the high powers and authorities that have for so many centuries supported the pope, and bowed to his blasphemously assumed authority; no, my reference is to professing Zion, where many have crept and thrust themselves in for the sake of the fleece, taking good heed to the fat. To what a vast host is the reproof of Ezekiel applicable (I mean in the professedly gospel ministry) who take the pastoral care of a flock, with a view of feeding themselves; and hence the important question, “Should not the shepherds feed the flock?” Most assuredly they should, and that with the finest of the wheat; but instead of this, a false zeal and base presumption, urged by Satanic influence, is all they had to take with them into the sheep-fold, and being only wolves in sheep’s clothing, they aim while in the sheep-fold to feed themselves, to the great neglect of the poor sheep and lambs of the flock. But hear it, ye shepherds and wool-gatherers, for it is the great Shepherd of the sheep that speaketh, and he that will judge between cattle and cattle; Woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you (or yourselves) with the wool; ye kill them that are fed, (by an exposure to extreme want of gospel food, and so to apparent death), but ye feed not the flock. See Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3. These crafty men remind me of those Gibeonites who worked wily (or craftily) and made as if they had been ambassadors; just like our velvet-lipped parsons when they get their commission or license from men, go forth taking good heed to carry their hot bread and new wine; but alas! When tried by the unerring standard, it is found wanting; it is dry, and what is worse, it stinks with mould. Oh! How odious in the eyes and ears of a regenerate child of God, who knows both from his own experience and from the word of God that salvation is all of grace! I say how odious is that frothy, empty prattle which is generally called gospel, and which consists in the bread of deceit and the flimsy woolsey garment of their doings, their virtues and their industry; and, as Newton has expressed it,

“If sinners prove rather to light,
(A little they own they may fail)
They propose to make up full weight,
By venturing his name in the scale.”

For the further account of the inhabitants of Gibeon, their subtlety and craft, I refer the reader to the book of Joshua ix. throughout, and while reading, he will no doubt learn how important it is to try the ministry under which he sits by the infallible word of the Lord; and before he partakes of their victuals, ask counsel and direction from him who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. Ask (saith the precious Jesus), and ye shall receive. Let Zion be stimulated to shake herself from the dust of fashion, pride and corruption into which she has been wallowing; for it is her Head and Lord which speaketh by his Spirit in the word unto her, “Awake, awake, put on thy strength O Zion;” and as she hath no strength of her own, all her strength must come from her dearest Lord, and this she is willing to admit when in her right mind, the language of the church individually and collectively is, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.” Isa. xlv. 24. Yea, in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. See Isa. xxvi. 4.—And he, knowing that she is weakness itself, is graciously pleased to say to her, Strength shall be equal to thy day, which thousands of regenerated souls can testify. O poor David was right when he said, “The Lord will give strength to his people,” and that is not all, but “He will bless his people with peace.” Psalms xxix. 9. O Zion, thrice happy Zion! thou art, and thou shalt be notwithstanding all thy unworthiness and all thy enemies) The Lord’s in that day when he makes up his jewels. See Mal. iii. 17.

Having I had trespassed beyond my expectation, I proceed (not with a desire to infringe on the pages of the Signs) to express a hearty welcome of the first No. of the seventh volume, and the precious thought now enters my mind “Truly God is good unto Israel.” Psa. lxxiii. 1. Even a moment’s reflection confirms the fact. When I consider how many have been the enemies against the despised “Signs of the Times,” together with its Editor and all who have tolerated the doctrine which it publishes. I feel lost in wonder that a seventh volume is commenced! Surely the dogs without the city will bark, and even bite, unless sovereign grace prevents. It is astonishing how the “Signs” has found its way to the diversified directions among the heirs of grace, of which I have received ample testimony. Old subscribers are by no means weary in the continuance of the paper (I mean where they are honest enough to pay what is due thereon, and which will not, of course, apply to those who cheerfully pay when it is due), and in short, I have suffered nothing to be an obstacle in promoting the prosperity of the paper and its free circulation. Nevertheless, I shall at all times feel pleased to find that the paper (in its various communications) breathe forth the pure spirit of the gospel of Christ; then will all strife and vain jangling cease; then will words to no profit be few indeed; and love, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost be abundant indeed. That an earnest contention for the faith is at all times and under all circumstances indispensably necessary must be admitted by every regenerate child of God; but that a silent contempt of the low, base, mean, lying, and sacrilegious assertions of some Baptist Editors would be most profitable to Zion, I have long been satisfied. Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth, is the divine injunction. See Isa. xlv. 9.

I perceive, and that with some degree of reluctance, that there remains a disposition to still agitate the all-important doctrine of “Justification.” I say reluctance, inasmuch as it is evident that some brethren who doubtless thought their views on the great subject (for great it is) correct, and perhaps scriptural, have, in their communications, indulged too freely in the use of words which have little or no meaning in them, and where they have been intermixed with clamor and dictation, their thoughts have been rendered unprofitable. On all subjects which relate to the Church of Christ, it is the happy privilege of each regenerated soul into whose hands God hath been pleased to put his inestimable, invaluable, and precious word, to compare not only the writings but the sayings of men therewith. The Holy Ghost, who leadeth the Church into all truth, holds up the word as a banner, and with this inscription, “To the law and to the testimony.”—If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. See Isa. viii. 20. This beautiful banner is the property of the Church, given to her by her glorious Head and Lord, and which is to be displayed because of the truth. See Psa. lx. 4. The first communication, which seemingly called for my remarks on the subject of Justification, was written by my very highly esteemed Brother Samuel Trott, and published in the 25th No. of Vol. vi., and which communication (free I am to admit) I thought wore an unscriptural aspect; I thought so for some considerable time, and I fully expected to have seen a rejoinder from Brother Hezekiah West (having received some slight intimation to that effect) instead of which the subject has been reiterated by one and another up to this time, and in several instances not very profitably. I am not going, my brother, to make any remarks with a view to either dictate or correct in the matter under consideration, but would simply beg to say that I do not think Brother Trott penned his “Thoughts” sufficiently plain on the subject to be understood by the many unlearned in the Lord’s family, for not many wise or learned are called.

It is the common and long indulged idea that the Church of Christ was eternally justified. I thought so for years, and concluded such a thought was based on the word of God, and I have no doubt but thousands of precious souls entertain the same ideas on the same momentous subject up to this time; and on reading the following in Bro. Trott’s communication, I concluded that either he or I was greatly in the dark, (vol. v. p. 193) “If the sentence of justification in behalf of the Church of Christ was actually passed in eternity, I cannot conceive how Christ, only 1800 years ago, was raised for our justification. We needed not to be twice justified.” He supports his ideas by Heb. x. 14. At this I greatly staggered, but in perusing the subject I discovered the following: “Should any say that they do not view the sentence of justification as actually passed in eternity, but only existing in purpose to meet the predetermined event of the elect’s being created in a fallible head, and being left to fall into sin, &c. I would remark that I believe in the pre-existence of such a purpose as strongly as any of my brethren do; and not only that such purpose existed in the divine mind, but also that God made sure and full provision in Christ, as the surety of the better testament, to meet all the demands of law and justice that should stand against the elect, as they were to be related in time to the earthly head Adam.” I have quoted rather long from Brother T. to carry out his meaning and to do him justice. Now then, wherein is the difference that has existed between us? Does it consist in a disagreement that the Church was chosen in Christ and blessed with all spiritual blessings in him before the world began, and that according to the good pleasure of his will? (Eph. i. 3, 4, 5.) I throw not. I understand my brother to believe these things as strongly as any of his brethren, and perhaps more, but wherein is it? I think only in words, and would simply ask, When the Church was blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ before the world began, was she actually redeemed? O no; is the reply of every child of God, that was done when he died on Calvary’s summit. Then the redemption of the Church, in time, was according to the purpose of God in eternity. I think all will respond in the affirmative; and even so, justification was only in purpose, seeing that Christ had not assumed human nature, and consequently had not died for our sins or rose for our justification.

Henceforth, I shall make no more mention of the term “Eternal Justification,” which I consider greatly calculated to confound the glorious subject of the purpose of Jehovah to justify and the actual justification which springs alone from the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Bro. Trott has my warmest thanks for his “Thoughts.” May he prove to the Church of Christ a faithful Nehemiah in casting out all the household stuff that accumulates so fast in the house of the Lord.

I would gladly lengthen my remarks, but I have no room. I therefore, for the present, conclude, desiring to remain,

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,
SAMUEL ALLEN.