Easy Summaries of John Nelson Darby on God’s Grace, the Rapture, Dispensations, the true Church etc.
Author: Sosthenes
Once the ruler of the synagogue at Corinth
Then a co-writer of a letter by Paul - just a brother - no longer an official
Now a blogger seeking to serve the Lord by posting some words that the Lord has given His Church.
Hidden sin is always a great evil for a soul and for an assembly. It may be that a soul is really humbled, and in this case there is no profit in publishing the evil, but it is something very delicate to take on oneself the responsibility of judging whether he who has sinned has been humbled. There are indeed things which do not appear in your account. Was the young man already in fellowship when he committed this sin? I suppose from your letter that he was converted, and if this was before being in fellowship, was there a long interval between his coming among us and his fault? He was not already married: this changes the character of the sin. If the interval between the sin and his reception has been short, there is room for asking if there has been lightness with him. To humble oneself when the fact is known can be sincere because of the work of God, but the matter can hardly be avoided – what of course one would prefer – that it should go farther. If he is indeed broken and humbled, it is better for the peace of all and the glory of God that things should rest; because sin made public tends to make the mind get used to sin, which is a great evil. I hope he will no longer feel ‘at the head of the assembly’, but, without pointing it out, that he will hold himself more in reserve. Your great concern is, not to pursue him, but to be completely assured that he is humbled. It will show itself in his spirit, in his walk, and in your discussions with him. How long had he been converted when he sinned? Was he then already active in the assembly, exercising a ministry, when he continued to do it? All this says a lot about the state of his soul, and the judgment that he would have of the facts that I list would say a lot more about his present state. As the responsibility lies, when you wrote to me, on you and on X, you will do well to be clear on these points. If the affair is indeed past, and judged, there is no benefit in putting it back on the carpet; but that is the question. God does not lightly dress the wound of his people, but, in his sovereign grace, He does not remember pardoned sin any more. The interval is something, but a sin not judged is a present sin.
Salute the brethren affectionately
Yours affectionately in Christ
—-
Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
I have indeed been ill, not exactly ill, but absolutely exhausted following too much fatigue: two meetings a day, often more, and local conferences; then the effect of a very heavy fall on the flagstones in Scotland. My heart did not work, and I have had hardly any breath; I was forbidden to go upstairs. Perhaps my heart will stop completely. I have not been able to lie on my bed for weeks; and I am more than 80 years old! For four or five days, I remained stretched out all night; I also had to eat once or twice in the night; now not more than once. I have again attended the meeting twice for the breaking of bread.
Once a week, I have a large meeting of labouring brothers; and I have not missed it once. It seems to me that I am always better the next day. At last there was a moment when I knew again that it was God’s mind to raise me up. This has been useful to me. I was very restful, and could consider the thing close up with delight. The goodness and affection of the brethren has abounded towards me. At present, I am much better, my breathing is still embarrassed, but it is better.
Salute the brethren affectionately
Your affectionate brother in Christ
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2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
… Peace be with you, dear brother; keep yourself near to the Lord in the consciousness that you are nothing. This is our safety, and it is there that we find the strength and a support which never fails.
Your affectionate brother
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Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
… Our business is to follow Christ and to be nothing. Our two collaborating brothers are visiting the meetings around here every Sunday, and even during the week.
I have the idea, after having achieved a certain part of our work, of going to England. They are in peace there, but they need to be nourished and cemented. Mr X is very useful there, and encouraged; brethren are added in London. Certain people would like to blow out the fire, but it seems to me that their puff is spoiled. I find that my strength is to stay quiet.
Your affectionate brother
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Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
You must not be surprised if I have taken so long to answer your letter, not only because I have not a moment to myself, but sometimes my head can hold no more; but, thank God, our work advances, I hope. The majority of the Bible is translated, and I hope with a care which will leave only little to be desired: not that I am content – I am rarely content; there are passages which embarrass everybody, but the reader will hardly notice it.
We were all with you in your illness; I fear that you also lacked care. As for me, I can testify that our good friends in Nivernais[14] and the Dauphiné[15] that they all were, and still are, disposed to do all that they could, and all that the most brotherly hospitality could suggest; I will always remember it with much recognition and affection.
We have had a very good conference here; the brethren happy together, and I fully hope that, by grace, effects will be retained in the work which is done around us.
In la Charante[16], things go on well, with conversions among the Roman Catholics.
In la Haute-Loire also there has been blessing. In Italy it seems that the work is, although slowly, making progress.
There is in France quite a general movement in the spirits of the Catholics to hear the Word; it is a drop of water if one takes account of the number, but this has not been at all for some years.
I write these things to you because I think that you like to have some news of this country. God acts in the world. We have His Word – what grace! – We have His Spirit – what grace again! The earnest of a grace yet better, His eternal presence; holy and blameless before Him in love[17], like Christ and with Christ; what more could one desire! And it is revealed to us now; He sheds abroad His love in our hearts[18]. We have everything except the glory itself, but still in an earthen vessel; only the veil becomes thinner and thinner. Soon there will be no obstacle, but the exercises here below are the opportunity for much tender solicitude of love. He never fails.
Mr and Mrs S are very poor in health, but He makes everything work together for those who love Him[19].
Peace be to you, dear brother, and may God lead you and keep you.
In Europe, the winter has been harsh and everywhere there is distress as to temporal things. Here we have rain, storms and floods. I have suffered from lumbago and I hobble a bit, but I am always working.
Salute the brethren.
Yours ever affectionately in Jesus
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purchasing power.
[11] Rome, GA was founded in 1834 ; badly affected by the Civil War, the population would have been around 3,000 when this letter was written.
Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
I rejoice with all my heart and in every way for the blessing that God has given you in M.
I have, thank God, good news of all parts of the United States. In Rome in Georgia[11] and the surrounding country, I am advised that the word has been blessed. L works there; Lord A C[12] has visited them; there are two or three new meetings besides Rome. In Pennsylvania also, there has been blessing and the doors are widely opened.
For myself, I have been principally occupied with conferences in London, Elberfeld, Stuttgart, Zurich, Lausanne, etc, and I have found the Lord with me. And now, dear brother, rejoice altogether that we are nothing and so happy to be nothing. Oh! May He be all to our heart. Our great concern is the return to Gilgal after the victories, to the place where the heart is in order before God. Neither the wilderness, nor Gilgal, formed part of God’s counsels, but of His ways, so that on the one hand we should know ourselves, and on the others that we should be held in a state suited to His service. Yes, may we keep near to Him, forgetting the things which are behind us and stretching out to the things which are before[13], pursuing always until He comes to take us to be there where He is, and where all will be to His glory.
May God keep you and bless you. All the brethren are interested in your work.
Yours affectionately in Jesus
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[11] Rome, GA was founded in 1834 ; badly affected by the Civil War, the population would have been around 3,000 when this letter was written.
Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
I will not rush to break bread at X. As long as you are there, this can continue, but young as they are in the faith, when you are gone, the lack of experience will be felt. It is not like old Christians exercised as to their walk. I do not doubt that, if they were simple, God would keep them; He is always faithful, but His ways must be followed. Then, all the same you are there, to break bread is to enter at once into conflict, and although one must not shirk the testimony in order to avoid conflict, it would be to be unfaithful to do this, and be in danger of losing the blessing. However, it is when the seine is full that one draws it to the shore, and begins to put the good fish in vessels[8]. But God will lead you in this. The bad fish have to be left on the shore after all, one will never have the world with you if one is faithful. Only, God has His time for everything. As to the hour for the service, I do not believe that this makes any difference. At the beginning, it appears it was generally in the evening.
I am quite at ease that God has led you there where He has prepared a blessing for you and an opened door. At this time, He acts everywhere. We are in the last time. Unbelief abounds, but at the same time, God sets out His standard and works everywhere. Here in Germany, there are numerous conversions. On the borders, and even in the Russian interior, it is so too. Perhaps I will see the brethren in France. I am here for a conference, but naturally, in waiting, I take part in the work and I read the Word with those who have come before the date fixed for the meeting.
We have been occupied with the difference between the Red Sea and the Jordan, along with the epistle to the Romans and those to the Ephesians and the Colossians, and the Word has opened up marvellously, at least for me. In the epistle to the Romans, we have essentially the work of God, in response to the needs of sinful men: then all is grace. The Holy Spirit reasons in deducing everything from the grace, which results in consequences in life and justification. Man is in Christ and Christ is in man so we are dead to sin. Only, man is envisaged as still living in this world, but reckoning himself dead to sin. In Ephesians, it is all a new creation; one is not in Christ for salvation but in Him by virtue of the place where He has entered. These are the counsels of God, and the relationships in which we are found according to those counsels. We are in Christ where He is. Christ is envisaged as risen from among the dead, and we as dead in our sins, so that there is nothing more morally, and all is new creation. The responsibility of a living man is not in question here. In the Colossians, it is not us in Christ, but Christ in us. We are made fit subjectively for the inheritance, but we wait for it; we are dead and raised, we who otherwise would live in sin, circumcised by the true circumcision of the Christ, dead to the elements of this world, which is not said in the epistle to the Romans. In Colossians, the question remains, will man remain good until the end? Because he is not yet in heaven, that is to say in the position described by the epistle. In the epistle to the Romans, it is the work of God, and He who has begun it will complete it. In Colossians, it is our resurrection life down here, and it remains to know if we are truly such. The position in the epistle to the Romans is the effect of the Red Sea, deliverance by the salvation of God, salvation perfect in itself. The position in the Colossians is a somewhat like that in which Christ was found after His resurrection during the forty days; for us, death, resurrection, circumcision, with Him (chap 2: 11, 12); then the dead made living, but the consequences are not followed as far as heaven. The Holy Spirit is not found in this epistle (save chap 1: 8), but life more than in the others.
In the Ephesians, it is the Holy Spirit and the contrast between the new and old creation.
In Romans we must give ourselves to God as men alive on the earth; in Colossians, to have, as dead and raised, our affections fixed on heavenly things where Christ is found; in the Ephesians, to go out of the presence of God to manifest His character down here as love and light, as Christ has done.
Having a tired head, I only indicate the points which can give you to reflect, for all this has been quite developed here.
I think I have said to you that the wilderness does not form part of God’s counsels (Exod 3, 6, 15); but God’s ways (Deut 8). The history is given up to the end of Numbers 20, this links with what I have come to say about the three epistles.
I have good news of Béarn[9]; life takes root with the brethren.
My banker has failed and I have lost a little close to 9,000 francs[10], but that is alright; I have kept more than I thought.
[10] at that time, when both currencies used the gold standard, a pound sterling was worth about 25 French francs; the sum lost is equivalent to about £30,000 ($48,000) in 2013 purchasing power.
Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
Very dear Brother,
I bless God with all my heart that those to whom you have been a blessing are standing firm. It is a true subject of joy, especially in these times when there is so much seed that falls into the stony ground and, I fear indeed, where the seed itself does not grow well. It is a time when we have to be much before God so that he may take care of the work Himself, and act in souls so that the work should be solid. However, it is a time of blessing. The desire to hear the Word is striking, and conversions too are not lacking. Ecclesiastical institutions are shaken, and there is unrest everywhere, but the work of God develops, and the unrest makes more seek God and the truth. The shaking of everything also turns hearts more towards the coming of the Saviour, but unbelief takes the high ground. However, I have a slight feeling that there is a certain reaction in the spirit of good people, but this open unbelief invades every country.
I have examined the pretensions of its promoters; I have found them to be based on a bottomless quagmire of doubts. The two principal points are the denial of inspiration, and either annihilation or a fresh upsurge of universalism; annihilation being the game of the mind of man who does not submit to the word of God. This is reproduced in a way to capture the light and lazy minds of women, people disposed to please themselves and to take away the authority of the word of God, or even to appear amiable towards those who are formally opposed. Universalism is fundamentally a question of the estimate which we make of sin, and in consequence of redemption and what it has cost the Lord to make take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; in this way, Christianity is entirely taken away, responsibility in its true character, repentance, expiation. An animal, whatever intelligence it has, has no need of expiation; it does not have a nature which hates the Lord. Universalism, like annihilation, equally destroys Christianity and the conviction of the evil of sin in the soul. The important thing for us, dear brother, is that we should be more with the Lord as to the work; then the work goes from Him in the soul and it is for Him. Let us not be frightened by the progress of evil; He is above all, He has been there in His humiliation; He is there now that He is glorified; only He exercises our souls through the difficulties that we have to pass through. I desire much to see souls exercised before the Lord. They may not walk badly, but the soul is not exercised before Him, there is something superficial; they are always in danger, temptations even are not resisted which may arise, they do not know the Saviour very much; they do not depend much on Him in a practical way. I always say there are three men in me; Christ at bottom, otherwise I am not a Christian; then an outward walk where there is nothing to reproach me; but between these two things, what occupies me all day inwardly, that is to say where my motives are, my thoughts? Is my heart a beaten path, trodden by all the comings and goings, even by the follies of my own heart? It is there that the real state of the Christian is found. Oh! that we may occupied of Christ! May He dwell in our hearts by faith , and that, in our discussions with others, this may flow from its source. Thus also we are rooted and founded in love. Things are happy, there is communion one with another; an assembly may even suffer, but they find patience and support there; hearts refer to Christ in everything; they consider one another for provoking to love and good works .
Remember, dear brother, that there is a work of self-knowledge which is absolutely necessary for rest of soul; a work where it is not a matter of redemption, although things are often mixed in experience; but, assuming that the redemption is known, it is always necessary to know oneself, and while showing, as in the case of the thief, that the blood of Christ has made us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light , in general God leads us through the wilderness to humble us, to prove us, to make us know what there is in our hearts . If redemption is not clearly realised, this work is mixed with the thought of acceptance; if it is realised, it is a painful sounding of the heart so that all should be brought into the light. If one is always manifested to God, as one will be before the judgment seat of Christ, then the atmosphere of the soul is clear, the air serene without cloud. His loving kindness is better than life . It may be that God chastens us along the way if, when we fail, we do not judge ourselves. Sometimes, one sees a soul labouring deeply on a death bed, when Satan draws near to torment them, in making them look over their whole life in which motives have not been judged, but that is a matter of God’s ways, not of His own settled purpose (see Exod 3, 6, 15). These understand the redemption and glory as Christ and with Christ, according to His sovereign grace, at the end of the wilderness. He did not see iniquity in Jacob, nor wrong in Israel . But Moses saw nothing else. It is a question of self-judgment, being always manifested to God, walking in its presence, having the consciousness of it, this is what holds our conscience on the alert.
… Salute the brethren affectionately on my behalf
Yours affectionately in Jesus
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Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013 Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.
Je ne m’étais pas trompé sur les localités de l’Ouest. Tout y est à faire ; toutes les fausses opinions imaginables à écarter par la Parole ; mais au moins y a-t-il le désir de l’étudier.
Nous avons deux réunions par jour pour la lecture ; les Messieurs qui sont actifs dans la ville, y viennent ; il me semble qu’il y a plus d’attention et de sérieux qu’au commencement, et je crois qu’il y a bien des vérités qui pénètrent dans les esprits. La grâce est peu, ou presque pas connue, et quand on la prêche, en général c’est d’une manière qui la fausse. La difficulté gît en ceci, que les premières vérités fondamentales sont faussées : ce qui serait, en général, un point de départ, exige encore des preuves scripturaires ; tout est à rectifier. La vérité en commençant ne fait qu’embrouiller, parce qu’elle se mêle avec de fausses idées déjà reçues ; on cite un passage pour démontrer une chose ; on l’a employé à sa fantaisie, et il faut d’abord tirer cela au clair. On a, tout de même, fait du progrès sous ce rapport ; on est plus soumis à la Parole, et l’on sent qu’il y a une puissance dans la vérité qui est autre chose que des opinions.
A Springfield, trente ou quarante personnes se proposent de se réunir et de se laisser conduire par le Seigneur. J’espère bientôt y aller. D’autres difficultés s’y trouveront, mais le Seigneur suffit à tout.
Ici, nous avons dû abandonner les Ephésiens et prendre l’épître aux Romains ; on n’était pas encore bien établi sur le fondement de la vérité.
Les frères vont bien, sauf un ou deux d’entre eux, venus ici pour faire leur chemin. Le monde a pris possession de leurs cœurs ; là encore, la grâce du Seigneur suffit, mais ils feront leurs expériences.
…Il était, et je le lui ai dit, entièrement sous l’influence de cette inclination coupable, tombé de cœur, sinon de corps. Aussi, quand on en est là, c’est un état de folie et d’esclavage : on se trompe soi-même, on le sait, et on se trompe encore. Aussi rien ne m’étonne, de ce que l’on fait dans cet état. Regardez le commencement du livre des Proverbes ; voyez l’épître aux Corinthiens, et comment l’apôtre revient sur ce point. Je ne dis pas que l’âme de notre frère ne soit pas restaurée, mais je ne sais s’il a reconnu tous ses faux-fuyants, et comment il a cherché à éviter les accusations, tandis qu’il faisait le mal ; mais une fois dans le faux, avec la réputation de chrétien et de ministre, on est capable de tout. Ce n’est pas de l’hypocrisie, c’est la tromperie de la chair. C’est un état d’âme en ceux qui jugent ainsi, que je ne crois pas être le fruit de l’Esprit du Seigneur. Juger l’acte, le mal, le manque de véracité, tout naturel qu’il soit à l’état où ce pauvre ami se trouvait, c’est très bien. Mais juger le mal sévèrement comme il le mérite, est autre chose que de dire que celui qui fait le mal est un hypocrite. Je crains qu’il ne soit pas sondé comme il faut. Mais il y a peu de puissance spirituelle pour restaurer, chez les frères. Puis il y a eu chez eux une très forte réaction à la suite de la grande confiance qu’ils avaient en lui ; ils se sentaient blessés dans leur affection, leur confiance trahie. En cela, je sympathise avec eux ; mais leur jugement spirituel aurait dû s’élever au-dessus des blessures intérieures du cœur. Je les comprends ; mais le chagrin personnel, tout juste qu’il soit, ne convient pas à un juge, et dans ce cas ils sont dans la position de juges. Cependant il est temps que de pareilles choses soient sévèrement frappées… Quelle peine de cœur, quelle humiliation, quel déshonneur fait au Seigneur ! Je m’étonne de sa bonté, je le dis, non en jugeant, car si Dieu ne nous garde pas, nous sommes tous capables de faire de même ; mais que cela nous donne beaucoup à penser au danger dans lequel les ouvriers du Seigneur se trouvent, et particulièrement quand, par des lumières supérieures, ils sont mis en avant. Ma consolation, c’est que le Seigneur y manifeste son gouvernement : c’est un moyen douloureux de l’apprendre, mais la chose que l’on apprend est bien précieuse.
Pinkerton a trouvé beaucoup d’encouragement, il est maintenant en Syrie ; il y a emporté avec lui une presse pour imprimer des traités en arabe ; un indigène capable s’en occupe avec lui. J’en ai bien béni Dieu. A Jaffa aussi, il a trouvé les portes ouvertes, cela tendra de même à élargir l’horizon des frères, bien que ce soit en un certain sens, encore au-dedans du royaume.
Ici, partout où Christ est pleinement annoncé, on trouve un auditoire attentif et nombreux ; les âmes sont partout affamées. Les nationaux ont été forcés de commencer une espèce de mission dans les églises, qui a également attiré beaucoup de monde. Les flots du mal s’élèvent, mais Dieu agit évidemment : on attend davantage le Seigneur. Il faut beaucoup encourager dans le travail par ici, car on ne peut y suffire ; mais Celui qui fait tout, fera son œuvre…
