Tag: JND

J N Darby – Lettre No. 101

Toronto, septembre 1867

A M. P.

Bien cher frère,

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

Je vous remercie de cœur de votre sollicitude à mon égard. Je suis beaucoup mieux, grâce à Dieu ; ma tête est encore éprouvée, seulement la moindre fatigue de cerveau me donne des maux de tête. J’avais trop travaillé, et peu soigné mon corps ; puis une attaque inflammatoire m’a trouvé sans force ; pendant deux jours, je pensais que je pourrais succomber, mais Dieu en a décidé autrement dans ses desseins de grâce ; une fois la fièvre passée, j’ai dû me nourrir mieux que je ne l’avais fait. J’ai pu prendre part à la conférence de Guelph qui a été bénie plus qu’à l’ordinaire ; même nous avons eu passablement de nouveaux venus de l’est des Etats-Unis ; quelques-uns affranchis quant à leur position ; un ou deux seulement quant à leur âme…

Les Indiens vont bien ; le nombre des frères a augmenté, deux ou trois s’occupent de l’œuvre au milieu de leurs compatriotes. La langue est un obstacle, mais on voit clairement que l’œuvre est de Dieu, car il y a eu peut-être plus de progrès parmi eux qu’autre part, sans que nous puissions parler leur langue et sans qu’ils aient une Bible qui vaille quelque chose ; ils ont une traduction, mais si mauvaise qu’on ne s’en sert pas. 26 d’entre eux rompent maintenant le pain. L’œuvre est intéressante à New-York et à Boston, mais exerce la patience. Toutefois, un assez grand nombre d’âmes ont trouvé la paix, et la vérité se répand…En plus d’un endroit on commence à se réunir, c’est en partie le fruit de la conférence de Guelph dont l’influence, comme je l’ai dit a été fort bénie pour les âmes.

Ainsi la vérité se répand dans les Etats-Unis, mais la puissance de rassemblement est encore petite parmi les Américains-nés. Les soi-disant églises sont un grand obstacle ; on y tient ; il ne s’agit pas de chrétiens ; la plupart des membres ne le sont pas, et ceux qui le sont vont au théâtre et à tout le reste, comme règle générale ; seulement une personne qui ne fait pas partie d’une église est censée être ouvertement incrédule, ou vouloir vivre sans frein en dehors de la partie respectable de la société. Mais Dieu est au-dessus de tout cela, et déjà l’on s’aperçoit que nous voulons quelque chose de bien plus décidé que leur marche, et non pas une vie déréglée. Dieu agit, et il faut s’attendre à lui. Je crois que le témoignage est planté et s’enracine. Les frères ont pris des mesures pour avoir des dépôts de traités et de livres…

En général, grâces à Dieu, j’ai de bonnes nouvelles de France, de Suisse, d’Angleterre, d’Irlande, de l’Ecosse aussi qui avait été jusqu’ici très fermée. Les frères vont bien, leur nombre augmente rapidement ; je crains un peu en Irlande l’influence d’une quantité de jeunes demoiselles (quelques-unes cependant bien dévouées) et de jeunes messieurs encore en relation avec des familles mondaines. Au reste, la bénédiction est évidente, ainsi que les besoins de beaucoup d’âmes. Pour toutes les difficultés, le Seigneur suffit, que ferions-nous sans cela ? – La Parole m’est toujours plus précieuse, – la vérité.

J’espère que la venue du Seigneur garde toute sa puissance dans votre cœur, – que vous l’attendez. Saluez tous les frères.

Votre bien affectionné.

J N Darby – Lettre No. 93

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

Angleterre, 1861

A M. P.

Bien-aimé frère,

J’ai été heureux de recevoir votre lettre. Il m’est très précieux d’avoir des nouvelles de nos chers amis de France, maintenant que je suis très occupé en Angleterre, où l’œuvre s’étend beaucoup ; aussi ne faut-il pas vous étonner que je ne réponde pas toujours ou tout de suite, ou penser que ce soit faute de bonne volonté. De 5 heures du matin à 11 heures du soir, je suis incessamment occupé ; seulement, je me demande quelquefois si j’ai bien fait d’entreprendre autant de travail de cabinet, mais il nourrit, je l’espère du moins, les travaux d’autres frères, plus jeunes et qui ont plus de courage, et je suis heureux de prendre la seconde place, car c’est ainsi que j’estime réellement mon travail actuel. L’après-midi, de 2 à 9 heures, je fais des visites et je tiens des réunions ; mais, étant si absorbé par le travail, je suis d’autant plus content de recevoir des nouvelles des frères. Dieu m’a accordé cette grâce, et je l’en bénis ; j’ai eu ces temps-ci des nouvelles du Midi, moins de la Suisse. Vous pouvez bien penser combien je rends grâces à Dieu de la bénédiction qui se réalise dans l’entourage de nos chers amis de P., et je n’en doute pas, dans leurs cœurs aussi j’espérais toujours que votre cher frère pourrait être un jour utile. Puisse-t-il se tenir très près du Seigneur et lire beaucoup la Parole pour lui-même ; je dis “pour lui-même”, non pour son travail, car c’est la vraie manière de la lire. “Si quelqu’un a soif, qu’il vienne à moi et qu’il boive dit le Seigneur, et de son ventre couleront des fleuves d’eau vive”. On boit pour soi, on a soif pour soi ; c’est ainsi que les fleuves coulent de nous pour les autres : – on vient à Jésus pour cela ; ainsi tout ce qui est “moi”, est jugé foncièrement dans le cœur, et la grâce agit, et cela au fur et à mesure. Sans doute, en se jugeant d’emblée, on marche de cette manière ; mais ce jugement se renouvelle pour les détails. On ne peut bien travailler, si l’on n’est pas dans la communion du Seigneur. Il faut aussi pour cela l’amour des âmes, car, à la suite de l’intérêt qu’on leur porte, on connaît leurs besoins et de quelle manière la Parole s’y adapte. Ainsi le travail se fait avec sérieux, avec humilité, dans un esprit de service, avec le sentiment qu’on a à faire, non seulement avec des pensées mais avec des âmes, ce qui est une différence essentielle. Nous avons à chercher dans notre travail, le sentiment que nous agissons envers les âmes, de la part de Dieu, dans un vrai esprit de service. C’est en cela que les visites sont profitables à notre ministère ; nous pouvons nous y entretenir avec les âmes, soit publiquement, soit en allant de maison en maison, et nous voyons ainsi comment la Parole s’applique à leurs besoins, et ce qu’elles ne comprennent pas. Quelle que soit l’élévation d’une vérité, une âme ne reçoit rien que ce qui s’applique à son état actuel. Quand Jean-Baptiste a parlé de l’Agneau de Dieu, les disciples disent : “nous avons trouvé le Messie.” Quand le Seigneur a parlé d’une fontaine d’eau jaillissant en vie éternelle, la femme dit “Voyez un homme qui m’a dit tout ce que j’ai fait. Celui-ci n’est-il point le Christ ?”

Pour en revenir aux visites, l’amour de Christ y opère, et se fait aussi sentir à nous ; pour ma part, je trouve qu’elles me font toujours du bien. Je ne crois pas qu’un homme exerce un ministère utile et béni, sans visiter les âmes. Il peut faire de très beaux discours remplis de vérités, mais le lien avec les âmes lui manquera. Dieu, sans doute, peut suppléer à tout ce qui manque, mais on ne peut s’attendre à une bénédiction sentie dans un tel ministère. Il faut que les jeunes médecins visitent les hôpitaux, assistent à la clinique, pour être de vrais médecins. Au reste, cela nous fait du bien à nous-mêmes, cela exerce et nourrit la charité, et Dieu y prend plaisir. Je bénis Dieu quand je le vois susciter des ouvriers. Il nous en a donné un certain nombre, plus d’évangélistes, bénis dans leur ministère, que de pasteurs. Toutefois il y a quelques-uns de ces derniers.

Vous aurez vu, par ma lettre à F., qu’il y a une bénédiction réelle dans ce pays-ci. Il y avait au début quelque excitation, mais qui s’est beaucoup calmée. Deux ouvriers sont réellement bénis, quoiqu’ils comptent trop précipitamment les conversions. L’un d’entre eux, converti dans le réveil, l’année passée, et qui en a les allures, mais réellement dévoué, croit avoir eu depuis un mois 120 conversions; je ne le pense pas, mais je crois qu’il y en a. En tout cas, les dégradés, les malheureux, les catholiques romains, l’écoutent avec attention. Il n’a pas plus de 18 ans. Le cas est exceptionnel ; mais voilà le genre : il tonne et parle cependant avec un vrai amour pour les âmes, seulement je suis convaincu que l’excitation de la chair accompagne son ministère. Je lui écris pour l’en avertir, tout en prenant garde – moi qui suis si froid – de ne pas le décourager ou le refroidir.

Dans quel labyrinthe, humainement parlant, ou plutôt au milieu de quel mélange on se trouve ici-bas. Quelle consolation de savoir que Dieu voit tout comme au travers d’un verre transparent, et que sa grâce parfaite s’occupe de tout ; mais quel motif aussi pour être humble et pour s’anéantir. Je puis dire, grâce à Dieu, que j’ai une entière confiance en lui et que je jouis beaucoup du sentiment de sa parfaite grâce et de sa fidélité, – de la conscience, tout faible que je suis, qu’il est avec moi. Quelle grâce que celle-là ! Mais j’aimerais être plus directement et plus constamment occupé des âmes. Je continue à prêcher, et il y a beaucoup d’assistants.

J’ai de bonnes nouvelles de Montbéliard ; à B., il y a un certain nombre de conversions et beaucoup d’opprobre. On a cherché à y établir une réunion morave ; au moins une dizaine d’entre eux se sont joints aux frères ; les réunions du voisinage sont bénies et se recrutent…

La Parole vous est-elle toujours très précieuse et en éprouvez-vous la puissance quand vous la lisez ? Je vois, plus distinctement que jamais, la puissance pratique de l’Esprit dans la vie chrétienne, et, dans la Parole, la distinction nette entre la vie du dernier Adam et celle du premier. – Ce n’est pas une chose nouvelle, mais elle est plus distincte et plus profonde dans mon cœur, comme aussi la nouvelle position dans laquelle le chrétien se trouve, sans mettre de côté la responsabilité des hommes et l’action de l’Esprit vis-à-vis de cette responsabilité. – Quel tableau nous trouvons au chap.7 des Actes quant à la manifestation extérieure de ces choses : d’un côté, l’homme qui résiste au Saint-Esprit ; de l’autre, l’homme qui en est rempli…

Saluez avec affection les frères,

 

J N Darby – Lettre No. 95

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

Dublin, 1861
A M. P.
Bien-aimé frère,
…J’en viens à vos questions :
1° Je crois qu’il est très fâcheux qu’un frère fasse part de ses pensées, en public, sur des questions ou des choses où il ne connaît pas la pensée de l’assemblée. Au reste, en général, à moins que cela ne soit nécessaire pour avertir, les questions ne devraient pas être amenées devant le public.
2° Ensuite, la question de réception est souvent mal posée. Nous ne sommes pas un corps volontairement associé, mais dans la mesure où nous pouvons l’être, un rassemblement des membres du corps de Christ, un rassemblement des siens, opéré par le Saint-Esprit. Nous ne recevons pas des personnes au milieu de nous pour prendre la cène avec nous ; Christ a dû les recevoir, nous les reconnaissons, étant responsables de garder la sainteté de la table du Seigneur et la vérité de Dieu. Les reconnaître, c’est une affaire de confiance, et qui dépend du témoignage que nous avons de leur vie. Il ne s’agit plus de délibération pour les recevoir, une fois que leur christianisme est constaté, sans en excepter la sainteté et la vérité; car l’Esprit qui conduit les enfants de Dieu est l’Esprit de vérité et l’Esprit Saint. Ils ont droit, dans ce cas, à la table. Reste encore la discipline. En des cas douteux, il est très à désirer que la conscience de toute l’assemblée soit au clair et ainsi au large; mais si l’homme est chrétien, connu comme tel, ou assez connu de quelque personne grave, pour que le témoignage de celle-ci soit une garantie du christianisme de celui qui désire prendre la cène, à mon avis il ne faut pas autre chose. Seulement, il est bon de le nommer devant l’assemblée, et en tout cas de le mentionner à quelques membres graves de la réunion, si l’on n’a pas de temps pour en parler davantage. C’est donc une affaire de témoignage suffisant, car il s’agit de maintenir un esprit de confiance entre tous. Si celui qui présente une âme nouvelle est un chrétien jeune ou léger, il vaudrait mieux que son témoignage fût appuyé par quelques chrétiens qui eussent plus de discernement. On devrait se réjouir de voir arriver de nouvelles âmes, mais on devrait veiller en même temps à ce que la vérité et la sainteté fussent sauvegardées.
3° Il me semble que, si quelqu’un qui ne rompt pas le pain parle dans l’assemblée où l’on rompt le pain, c’est un très grave désordre. Un homme qui se sépare à tort de l’assemblée de Dieu, n’est pas dans le cas de l’instruire quand elle est réunie. Cela n’empêche pas, personnellement en dehors de la réunion. Je reconnais ainsi son don comme membre du corps, mais lui renie cette position si, quand le corps est réuni, dans la mesure où cela peut se réaliser, il ne veut pas y prendre place.
Je ne trouve aucune difficulté en 1 Tim.1 v.13. Premièrement, ce passage n’affaiblit pas une foule de déclarations, voire même de préceptes, relatifs à l’exercice des dons, qui font de cet exercice un devoir pour celui qui possède le don. Ensuite, Timothée n’était nullement un ministre local, ce qu’on appelle un ministre établi ; il accompagnait l’apôtre, ou le remplaçait en des services exigeant quelqu’un qui fût pénétré de l’esprit de l’apôtre, et pleinement informé de ses voies. La prophétie, paraît-il, avait désigné Timothée (1 Tim.1 v.18) ; Paul lui avait imposé les mains (2 Tim.1 v.6) ; ensuite, le corps des anciens lui avait imposé les siennes, pour le recommander à la grâce de Dieu ; l’apôtre lui rappelle, comme motif, toutes ces choses, la prophétie par laquelle Dieu l’avait désigné, et la sanction des anciens qui, en ayant eu connaissance, l’ont ainsi recommandé à Dieu. Ainsi Paul lui-même avait été désigné par la prophétie, et ceux qui étaient les prophètes à Antioche lui avaient imposé les mains, afin de le recommander à la grâce de Dieu pour l’œuvre à laquelle il avait été appelé : telle est l’expression de la parole. Mais Timothée n’a jamais été un ministre établi sur un troupeau. Je crois pour ma part qu’il peut y avoir (et il y en a) des personnes consacrées à l’œuvre et qui exercent leur ministère régulièrement s’appliquant constamment à l’œuvre. Si quelqu’un était désigné par la prophétie pour cette tâche, je ne ferais aucune objection à l’imposition des mains des anciens, s’il y en a. Il est probable, si l’Esprit agissait de la sorte, que les anciens ne tarderaient pas à se retrouver. Je ne ferais même aucune difficulté à ce que, dans la pratique, les frères anciens le fissent – abstraction faite du clergé et de l’établissement des ministres qui est l’œuvre de l’ennemi. Je ne vois rien qui empêcherait de recommander un ouvrier à la grâce de Dieu, en lui imposant les mains en vue d’une œuvre particulière à laquelle il serait appelé. Cela pourrait se répéter chaque fois qu’il devrait entreprendre une œuvre nouvelle ; mais on en a fait une consécration pour arrêter la libre action du Saint-Esprit. Dès lors, c’est une abomination et de la rébellion contre Dieu.
Je ne suis nullement d’accord avec le Messager au sujet de 2 Cor.5 v.3, mais c’est une affaire d’interprétation, de sorte que cela ne me trouble pas. D’après ce que vous dites, l’auteur n’a pas compris le passage ; voilà tout. La force du passage est pour moi très claire. Le mot xxxx (mot en grec dans le texte) met en relief une condition, et le mot xxx y ajoute de la force : nous jouirons de ce dont nous avons parlé – pourvu que, bien entendu, nous supposions que, dans ce cas même où nous sommes revêtus [du corps], nous ne soyons pas trouvés nus [à l’égard du Christ], car dans ce dernier cas, ce serait tout autre chose que la gloire.
Dans ce pays, l’œuvre du Seigneur se poursuit d’une manière remarquable. A Dublin, le nombre des frères a beaucoup augmenté ; il y a un certain nombre d’aimables jeunes hommes, vivants et heureux, quelques-uns louent des chambres pour prêcher dans les mauvais quartiers de la ville (il y a 300’000 habitants), et il y a des conversions continuelles. Avant-hier soir, cinq auditeurs, sur une vingtaine, ont reçu la paix. Je tiens des réunions, souvent deux fois par jour ; une quantité de personnes, des messieurs et des dames aussi, sont profondément attentives ; des gens nobles et riches se convertissent à la campagne, et quittent souvent le nationalisme. Il y a un mouvement remarquable de l’Esprit de Dieu. Cela se fait en dehors des frères; mais partout les principes sur lesquels les frères ont insisté se reproduisent, et pour les grandes réunions où les âmes se convertissent, tout a été organisé sous sa forme actuelle par des frères, au moins par des personnes imbues de leurs principes, un peu trop relâchées pour être admises parmi nous, mais qui suivent en quelque mesure les mêmes principes tout en allant partout. Les livres des frères aussi sont lus. On s’aperçoit bien qu’il y a moins de ce qui est sûr et solide ; mais l’énergie de la vérité pénètre néanmoins et se fait jour.
Que Dieu nous garde près de lui, cher frère, heureux que Christ soit prêché partout, et fermes dans les principes et dans la marche que Christ enseigne, la parole de la patience. Il faut savoir être petit, et il en vaut la peine ; mais lui est toujours grand.
Saluez D. et tous les frères.
Votre tout affectionné.

J N Darby – French Letter No. 95 – Extract – Christian Assembly Order

It seems to me that, if somebody who does not break the bread speaks in the assembly where the bread is broken, it is a very serious disorder. A man who separates himself wrongfully from the assembly of God is not in the position to instruct it as to its being reunited. That does not hindering his doing so outside of the meeting. I recognise what he has as a member of the body, but this position is disavowed to him if, when the body is reunited, as far as it can be reunited, he does not want to take his place in it.

Dublin 1861

To Mr P
Beloved brother

…

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

It seems to me that, if somebody who does not break the bread speaks in the assembly where the bread is broken, it is a very serious disorder. A man who separates himself wrongfully from the assembly of God is not in the position to instruct it as to its being reunited. That does not hindering his doing so outside of the meeting. I recognise what he has as a member of the body, but this position is disavowed to him if, when the body is reunited, as far as it can be reunited, he does not want to take his place in it.

I find no difficulty in 1 Tim 1:13. Firstly this passage does not weaken a load of statements, and even of principles relative to the exercise of gift, more it makes the exercise of the gift a duty to the one who has it. Then, in no way was Timothy a local minister, what you would call an established minister: he accompanied the apostle and succeeded him in the necessary services being someone who was imbued with the spirit of the apostle and fully informed as to his ways. Prophecy, it would appear, had predesignated Timothy (See 1 Tim 1:18) . Paul had placed his hands on him (2 Tim 1:6) , afterwards the body of the elders had put their own hands on him, to commend him to God. The apostle reminds him, with reason, both of these things: prophecy by which God had designated him, and the sanction of the elders, who knowing him, commended him to God. Paul himself was predesignated according to prophecy, and those who were at Antioch laid their hands on him, to commend him to the grace of God for the work for which he had been called: that is the expression in the word . But Timothy was never an established minister over a flock. I believer for my part that there can be (and there are) persons consecrated to the work and who exercise their ministry constantly applying themselves to the work. If someone were designated by prophecy for this task, I would have no objection to the laying on of hands by the elders, if there are any. It is probable that if the Spirit acted in this way that the elders would soon be found. I do not have any difficulty about that which in practice the older brothers do – disregarded by the clergy who establish ministers, which is the work of the enemy. I see nothing which hinders the commending of a labourer to the grace of God in laying on of hands with a view to the particular work to which he has been called. This could be repeated each time he had to undertake a new work; but if one has made a consecration to impede the free action of the Holy Spirit, then it is an abomination and a rebellion against God.

I do not agree at all with the Messager about 2 Cor 5:3, but that is a matter of interpretation, so that does not trouble me. According to what you say, the author did not understand the passage; that’s all. The force of the passage is very clear to me. The word xxxx(Greek word in text) puts a condition into relief, and the word xxx adds strength to it – we enjoy what we have spoken about, provided that, of course we suppose that in the state itself in which we are reclothed (the body) we are not found naked (as regards Christ), for otherwise that would be something other than glory.

In this country the work of the Lord pursues a remarkable course. In Dublin the number of brethren has increased a lot, there are a number of nice young men, lively and happy, some of them renting rooms in the bad parts of the city (There are 300,000 inhabitants) and there are continual conversions. The evening before last, five listeners out of about twenty received peace. I often have two meetings a day: quite a number of people – ladies and gentlemen -are very attentive. In the country some of the nobility and well-to-do have been converted and often have left the Church of Ireland. It is a remarkable movement of the Spirit of God. This is outside of the brethren, but everywhere the principles that the brethren have upheld are being reproduced, and in large gatherings where souls are being converted, things are being organised in the actual way the brethren do it, at least by persons who are embued with their principles – maybe a bit loose to be admitted amongst us, but they follow in some way the same principles whilst going anywhere. They read the brethren’s books. One perceives at lest that there is that which is sure and solid, but the energy of the truth is nonetheless penetrating and it is as light as day.

May God keep us close to Himself dear brother, happy that Christ is preached everywhere, and firm in the principles and walk in the way that Christ teaches. We must know what it is to be small – it is worth it – but He is always great.

Greet D and all the brethren

Yours most affectionately

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.

J N Darby – French Letter No. 95 – Extract – Receiving into Christian Fellowship

The question of reception is often badly stated. We are not a body by voluntary association, but in the measure that we can be, we come together as members of the body of Christ, a gathering of His own, the work of the Holy Spirit. We do not receive persons amongst us to take the supper with us; Christ must have received them:

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

Dublin 1861

To Mr P
Beloved brother

…

Then, the question of reception is often badly stated. We are not a body by voluntary association, but in the measure that we can be, we come together as members of the body of Christ, a gathering of His own, the work of the Holy Spirit. We do not receive persons amongst us to take the supper with us; Christ must have received them: we recognise them, being responsible to guard the holiness of the Lord’s table and the truth of God. To recognise them, it is a matter of confidence, and it depends on the witness that we have of their lives. It is not a matter of deliberation as to whether to receive them or not, once their Christianity has been established, not excluding holiness and truth, for the Spirit who leads the children of God is the Spirit of Truth and the Holy Spirit. They have a right, in this case, to the table. Discipline still remains.

In dubious cases, it is good to desire that the conscience of the whole assembly be clear about it; but if the person is a Christian, and is known as such, or known well enough that by the testimony of a serious person who can guarantee the Christianity of the person who wishes to take the supper, in my opinion nothing else is needed. Only it is good to name the person before the assembly, and in any case to mention it to several responsible members of the meeting if there is not a better opportunity of speaking about it. It is a matter of sufficient testimony, since it is a matter of maintaining a spirit of confidence amongst all. If the one who introduces a soul is a young or shallow Christian, it would be better that his testimony was supported by a few Christians with more discernment. We should rejoice to see new souls coming, but at the same time we need to see that the truth and holiness is safeguarded.

Continued …

 

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.

J N Darby – French Letter No. 93 – A Christian Workman and Christian Workmen

For 5am to 11pm I am busy all the time; only sometimes I wonder if I should do so much desk work, but at least I believe it feeds other younger brothers in their work; they have more courage and I am happy to take a back-seat place – really, I consider this to be my present work

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

England 1861

To Mr P
Beloved brother

I was pleased to receive your letter. I greatly value having news of our dear friends in France. Now I am very busy in England where the work is expanding a lot. So you should not be surprised if I do not reply immediately, or think that such a fault was deliberate. For 5am to 11pm I am busy all the time; only sometimes I wonder if I should do so much desk work, but at least I believe it feeds other younger brothers in their work; they have more courage and I am happy to take a back-seat place – really, I consider this to be my present work. In the afternoons, between 2pm and 9pm I visit people and have meetings, but being so absorbed in my work, I am all the more glad to receive news about the brethren. God has granted me this favour and I am blessed by it. I have news from the South of France, but less from Switzerland.

You can imagine how much I thank God for the blessing resulting from the tour of our dear friends from P and I do not doubt that they do so in their hearts too, and I still trust that your dear brother will one day be used. May he keep very near the Lord, and read the Word for himself – I say ‘for himself’ not for his work, because this is the true way to read. The Lord says, “ If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” One drinks for oneself; one is thirsty oneself : that is how rivers of living water flow for others. One goes to Jesus for that – and all that is included in the ‘I’ is judged fundamentally in the heart, and grace acts bit by bit. Doubtlessly in judging oneself from the outset, one continues to walk in this way, but such judgment is constantly renewed in detail. One cannot work well if one is not in communion with the Lord. One must also have love for souls, for consequent on their interest one must carry them: one knows their needs and in which way the Word applies to them. Also the work must be undertaken with seriousness, with humility, in a spirit of service, with a feeling that one is dealing not just with the intellect but with the souls, which is an essential difference. We have to find in our work the feeling that we are working on souls on God’s behalf in a true spirit of service. It is in this that visits are profitable for our ministry, we can grapple with souls, be it publicly or in going house to house, and we see how the word applies to peoples’ needs, even if they do not understand it. Whatever the level of the truth it might be, the soul does not receive anything unless it applies to his or her current state. When John the Baptist spoke of the Lamb of God, his disciples said that they had “ seen the Messias ; when the Lord spoke of “ a fountain of water, springing up into eternal life”, the woman said “ Come, see a man who told me all things I had ever done: is not he the Christ?”

Coming back to the visits, the love of Christ is working there, and we feel it. For my part, I find that they always do good; I do not believe that a man can exercise a useful and blessed ministry without visiting souls. He might be able to give a very beautiful lecture, full of truths, but his link with souls will be lacking. God, without doubt, can supply anything that is lacking, but one cannot expect to feel a blessing from such a ministry. Young doctors must visit hospitals and attend clinics in order to be true doctors. At least it does us good, exercising and nourishing charity, and God takes pleasure in that. I bless God when I see labourers coming to life. He has given us a certain number of them, more evangelists, blessed in their ministry, than shepherds. Nevertheless there are some of the latter.

You will have seen my letter to F. for there is a real blessing in this country. At first there was a lot of excitement, but now things have calmed down a lot. Two labourers have been really blessed, although they count conversions rather precipitately. One of them, converted in the revival last year, who is moving at a great pace, but really devoted, believes he had 120 conversions in one month; I don’t think that can be right, but I believe there are some. In all events the run-down, the miserable, the Roman Catholics listen to him with attention. He is no more than 18 years old. This case is exceptional, but this is the sort of thing that there is – he thunders and speaks nonetheless with a true love for souls, only I am convinced that some excitement of the flesh accompanies his ministry. I have written to F to warn him while being careful – I who am so cold – not to discourage or let the young man get cold.

What a maze, humanly speaking, or rather amongst such a mix-up we find ourselves in down here. What a consolation it is to know that God sees through it all like a transparent glass, and that His perfect grace deals with it all, but that gives us a reason to be humble and go out of sight. I can say, thank God, that I have total confidence in Him, and I greatly enjoy the sense of His perfect grace and faithfulness, conscious, weak though I am, of what is in me. What grace that is! But I should like to be more directly and consistently occupied with souls. I continue to preach, and there are many present. I have good news of Montbeliard: at B. there has been several conversions, and also much opposition. They tried to establish a Moravian meeting there and about ten of them joined the brethren. The meetings in the vicinity are blessed and are added to…

The Word is always so precious to you, and tests you by its power when you read it, is it not? I see, more distinctly than ever, the practical power of the Spirit in the Christian way, and in the Word, a clear distinction between the life of the last Adam and that of the first. That is nothing new, but it is deeper and clearer in my heart, as also the new position in which the Christian is, without leaving aside man’s responsibility and the action of the Spirit in relation to that responsibility. What a picture we see in Acts 7, as to the exterior view of things: on one side man resisting, and on the other filled with the Holy Spirit…

Greet the brethren with affection

 

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.

J N Darby – Echo of Songs in the Night – To live of Thee – Blest Source of Deepest Joy!

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

TO live of Thee – blest source of deepest joy!
To hear e’en now by faith Thy voice of love-
Thou living spring of bliss without alloy,
Bright inlet to the light of heaven above!

Come, fill my soul! Thy light is ever pure,
And brings from heaven what Thou alone canst give,
Yea, brings Thyself, the revelation sure
Of heaven’s eternal bliss; in Thee we live.

I hail Thee, Lord! Of Thee my song shall speak –
Poor and unworthy strains, yet still of Thee;
Yes, fill my soul! ’tis this my heart doth seek –
To dwell in love, and God my dwelling be.

Thou’st made the Father known; Him have we seen
In Thy blest Person – infinite delight!
Yes, it suffices: though we here but glean
Some foretaste of His love, till all be light.

O, dwell with me; let no distracting thought
Intrude to hide from me that heavenly light.
Be Thou my strength! Let not what Thou hast brought
Be chased by idle nature’s poor delight.

Father, Thou lov’st me. Favour, all divine,
Rests on my soul, a cloudless favour! There
Thy face shines on me, as it still doth shine
On Thy blest Son! His image I shall bear!

But now, e’en now, Thy love can fill my soul –
That love that soars beyond all creature thought –
In spirit bring where endless praises roll,
And fill my longing heart till there I’m brought.

Thee will I hail, O Lord, in whose blest face
God’s glory shines unveiled! Thee will I praise,
Whose love has brought me nigh in righteous grace,
And soon wilt come, eternal songs to raise!

And oh! how deep the peace, when, nature gone,
Thy Spirit fills the soul, strengthened with might,
With love divine; and God as Love is known!
Lord, keep my soul, and guide my steps aright.

Praise be for ever His who giveth songs by night!

John Nelson Darby,

Wriiten 1879
Parts of the above are in Hymns for the Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – Nos 73, 137 and 254

and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – Nos 314 and 431
Meter 10.10.10.10

If we Fail

f anyone sin, we have an advocate

John writes in his epistle, ‘If anyone sin, we have an advocate’ (1 John 2:1), not ‘If anyone repents and goes to Him’. Jesus washed the His disciples’ feet, they did not ask Him to do it.

The righteousGods graceness of God has placed us before Him in the light. We should now walk in the light, even though we are weak, are tempted and too often stumble. We should maintain communion with God, glorifying Him. Once we were in darkness; now with the Lord we are in the light.

As High Priest, He bears our judgment in our favour according to God’s light and perfections. As the objects of the Father’s love, we are accepted in Christ, because of the Father’s affection for Jesus, and of Jesus’ rights over the Father’s heart.

The Lord obtained the Holy Spirit for us, for us to enjoy the place where we He has placed us. If we fail our relationships with the Lord and the Holy Spirit are disturbed – but they are unchanged. The Holy Spirit is grieved, but the God’s grace towards us, and our righteousness before Him are unaltered. Can the Father overlook sin, and bless us as if nothing had happened? No, that would be impossible. Our failures and weaknesses bring out the grace that purifies us and establishes us. We get to know ourselves more deeply as we become more divested of self. We become calmer, humbler and with more holiness, knowing God better. His grace is sufficient for us.

That is how the Priesthood of Christ operates.

The above is based on part of a letter written by JND.  Click here for the original French version and the translation by our brother Brian Surtees

 

 

The Authorship of the New Testament

The New Testament history bears the proven stamp of perfect divine arrangement. My object is to draw attention to the question which is often silently dropped — Who is the author of the New Testament history? Whose will, purpose or plan is behind this history of the Lord Jesus? Is it a divine or a human one? If the purpose and moving was of the Holy Spirit, I must look for His carrying that purpose out.

Outline of Bible cover
John Nelson Darby wrote a paper, ‘Inspiration of the Scriptures’, in which he maintained that the authorship of the Holy Scriptures was God Himself. He was countering the assertion, prevalent in the churches, questioning the authorship of scripture, saying that the Bible was the chance writings of various persons, presenting things in the best way they could. Darby showed the divine plan in the gospels despite the apparent factual inconsistencies and differences in the sequence of the Lord’s miracles and other events.

 

The enemy is set against the Word of God. While most believers acknowledge the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, in much of Christendom the church is seen as having ultimate authority. In intellectual wisdom, theologians see their authority as divinely given.   Human intellect takes superior ground. This leads to rationalism.

God’s divine authority is in the Holy Scriptures. The Word of God presents divine truth from God and calls for submission. Through it, in sovereign mercy, the Christian has a renewed connection with God. Sin and flesh had separated us from God. Now we see God revealed even in that state of separation. For this God must be the author — only God can rightly reveal Himself.   Otherwise the Word cannot bear witness to the love and purpose of God.

Who was the author of the New Testament? How did it come to be written? What was its purpose? Is the existence of the New Testament an accident, in the historical accounts of four men? Or is the New Testament history the a fruit of divine intention and plan, and is the Holy Spirit its author?

In Peter, Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit was the source; the word of the Lord came to them.   The writers had individual styles, but the Lord was pleased to use them. He used their memories in the way and sequence that He pleased, producing a witness to Christ, entirely beyond the thoughts of the writer.

Many short-sighted discussions on inspiration leave aside or deny the motive power of the Spirit of God.

 

The Sequence of the Historical Accounts

Either the Holy Spirit moved the inspired writers to compose their accounts, or He did not. If not, then the existence of the various written accounts of the life of Jesus are a providential accident, and do not show God’s intentions, plans and purposes. Alternatively, God has given His Church an account of the wonderful facts of incarnation and redemption and all that accompanied these great events in a ruined world.

It is absurd to think that the gospel writers’ work was the uncertain fruit of their own research.   That would not answer to His intentions in showing us the glory of Christ and the truth as it is in Him?

If Christ is presented in various characters, why should the Holy Spirit not present facts in order to display those characters in the way it was calculated to do, employing human agents to do it?   This argument assumes that there is no purpose or plan of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The moment I believe that there is, I must expect the materials to be selected and arranged according to God’s purpose and plan. Anything else is absurd. The Holy Spirit recalled facts to the evangelists, not in an haphazard way.

Where inspiration is denied, it is easy to think that each evangelist did the best he could, putting the things out of order because he knew no better. If, on the other hand, God desired to glorify His Son Jesus, and in grace give us an adequate account of His life and sufferings, we can easily understand the Spirit of God so ordering various accounts, as to present the various aspects of His path on earth.   They consistently unfold the divine nature with true facts, variously arranged by several independent writers.

The four Gospels present Christ differently. Did this flow from the purpose and intention of God, or was it an accident? If it was from divine purpose, I must look for an ordering of the materials according to that purpose. For example, was the deliverance of the demoniac in Galilee before or after Matthew’s call? Was that relevant?

 

The Presentation of the Historical Accounts

Luke says, Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to compose an account of what is most surely believed among us, as it has been delivered to us by those who were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having accurate knowledge of all things from the origin, to write to thee with method, etc. (Luke 1:1-3). The evangelist contrasts the ground on which he wrote with that of others. Others had had known what had been delivered, but he was on more trustworthy ground. He had thorough personal knowledge of everything from the outset. Paul says of Timothy, Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, etc. (2 Tim. 3:10). It is not said Luke knew them himself, but παρηχολουθνχότι ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀχριβῶς (having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first – Luke 1:1-3). It would be hard to express personal accurate knowledge more strongly. It has nothing to do with the question of inspiration. The conclusion that Luke derived his materials from other sources is wholly unfounded.

That the selection of facts depended on human agency is still more absurd. It is held that the Holy Spirit helped the writers to recall what Jesus said. What influenced their selection? Could something much more important have been omitted? Such an irreverent thought is absurd. There were many other things (see John 21:25). What was written was sufficient.

The question arises, ‘Who was the author and mover in the history we have of the blessed Lord?’   If it was the Holy Spirit, then was He the source of this history; and had He a purpose in giving it? To suppose that the Holy Spirit left us an imperfect, wrongly arranged, inconsistent account of the Lord Jesus, is in fact the most irreverent and absurd of all theories as to inspiration

The New Testament history bears the proven stamp of perfect divine arrangement. My object is to draw attention to the question which is often silently dropped — Who is the author of the New Testament history? Whose will, purpose or plan is behind this history of the Lord Jesus? Is it a divine or a human one? If the purpose and moving was of the Holy Spirit, I must look for His carrying that purpose out.

 

A summary of a paper by J N Darby entitled, Inspiration of the Scriptures.  Click here for the full article.

 

J N Darby – Rest – There is rest for the weary soul

THERE is rest for the weary soul,
There is rest in the Saviour’s love;
There is rest in the grace that has made me whole –
That seeks out those that rove.

 

THERE is rest for the weary soul,
There is rest in the Saviour’s love;
There is rest in the grace that has made me whole –
That seeks out those that rove.

There is rest in the tender love
That has trodden our path below;
That has given us a place in the realms above,
But can all our sorrows know.

There is rest in the calming grace
That flows from those realms above;
What rest in the thought – we shall see His face,
Who has given us to know His love!

There is rest in the midst of grief,
For grief’s been the proof of love;
‘Tis sweet in that love to find relief,
When the sorrows of earth we prove.

There is rest in the Saviour’s heart
Who never turned sorrow away,
But has found, in what sin had made our part,
The place of His love’s display.

There is rest in the blessed yoke
That knows no will but His;
That learns, from His path and the words He spoke,
What that loving patience is.

Where He too has gone before,
Is the path which we have to tread;
And it leads to the rest where sorrow’s o’er –
To the place where His steps have led.

 

Mr Darby adds:

In this world of sin and misery Christ necessarily suffered “- suffered also because of righteousness, and because of His love. Morally, this feeling of sorrow is the necessary consequence of possessing a moral nature totally opposed to everything that is in the world. Love, holiness, veneration for God, love for man – everything is essential suffering here below.”
J.N.D.

Synopsis Vol 4 page 133 – Romans 8

John Nelson Darby (1800-82)

Wriiten 1879
In Hymns for the  Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – No 85 and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 169
Meter 8.8.11.8.

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