Zion’s Landmarks : Wilson, N. C.
87
that thou art neither cold nor hot;
I would thou wert cold or hoi.”
Here they W’cre judged by dieir
worfcs. else can men be judged
by ? These professors were in a bad
condition—bdterr he cold or hot. They
are lukewarm. Cold water will not
make one sick, nor hot water, but
lukewarm w^ater will, hence a luke
warm Christian is only' lit to be
spewed out. What is a lukewarm
and he gives a new heart.
As Samp
son carried off the doors of the gate
professor ? One that says, “I am
rich and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing, and knows
Inot. that he is wretched, and miserable)
►and poor, and blind, and naked.”
Hf they truly were hot, ^vere glowing
-with love to Jesus, they would be
^.still praising and serving him. If
[they were sensible that they were
' poor, blind, naked &c., and were
fmourning and repenting they would
fiave life enough to feel that they
^ere cold, and would be seeking for
tace and mercy. Were they not
fetched indeed ?
I As many as the Lord loves he re-
ikes. Has he any love for such
Ipeople ? Has not he cast them off
forever. Ns ; He yet comes in salva
tion : “Be zealous therefore, and re
pent.” That is these Church-mem
bers at Laodicea, and all similar ones
should lepent. A professor who
thinks there is no duty for him, no
need of repentance, watching, faith
fulness, diligence, heed to his walk
fec., exhibits the spii'it ^‘neither cold
nor hot.” “Behold I stand at the
door and knock,” &c. Behold. That
is a wonder. Does the Lord stan^
at such a door as this ? Poor pros-
j>ect for good entertainment here. In
be humble faithful Christian Christ
is already within doors. Tet he
stands at this door, and knocks.
What is this door, and whose is it ?
Does it not seem manifest from the
context that it is the way of approach
into the heart, affections &c ? Of
whom? Why of these professors
a.nd similar ones. His own people
w'ho are disobedient. Indeed, the
language declares that. Does Christ
•dwell in the heart of an unrenewed
man? The reason I ask is, thatali
that is needful here is the opening of
The door. But in a man not born
iin, a new house, a heart must be
1, which is certainly much more
\ opening a door. Exhortations
ckened souls are often ipisap-
'by false teachers, who address
to dead sinners that have no
for Jesus to dwell in.—
man has a place for Christ
5up m—shutting the door does not
troy it, nor can a door be opened
^e there is no house or dwelling
3, for a door supposes a house or
ilready existing. Exhortations
Lddressed to Christians because
fare subjects capable of being
Pessed, for they are not dead.
How is the door opened ? Why
foes not Jesus knock it down or beat
down? Does he enter a believer
like he does an unbeliever? lathe
case of an unbeliever his divine power
takes away the old heart, door and all,
>it
of the city and the two posts, so
Jesus takes away this prison house,
deore and all, by divine power, in
quickening a sinner and delivering
him out of the pit wherein there is
no water. “He binds the strong &c.,
and delivers the captive.” But here
does he come in by force ? No, he
gently knocks at the door ? How ?
One way may be in preaching, where
in the delinquent is rebuked by the
word of God, and the corrupt course
of his life or affections is exposed, and
he groans under the weight and force
of truth, and wishes to return, crying ;
“Oh! that it were with me as in
months past.” He comes back like
Naomi, and Jesus comes in, sups with
him, and he with Jesus, and the
eating is sweet. As when Naomi
ate the food of the field of Boaz her
hungry soul must have blessed the
Ivord for the ^fruit of Canaan.
It may be by some chastening,
such as drives and draws Naomi or
a Prodigal to the fathers house. In
many ways the Lord knocks.
But does he ever break down the
door ? Does he ever come in before
he is wanted ? No : His people are
willing in the day of his power.
If any man hear his voice. Ah, it
is that blessed voice of my beloved
that moves the very posts of the
doors, and melts down all the bar
riers, keys, locks, or whatever else
closes the door. Beside his beauties
earthly toys perish. “It is the voice
of my beloved that knecketh.”
Christ’s voice knocks. When one
knocks we open the more willingly if
we know a friend is knocking. When
Jesus knocks we hear his voice and
know that it is his voice saying,
“Open to me, ray sister, ray love, my
dove, my undefiled.” They that
hear this voice knocking know
and own its beauty, for the, sheep
hear his voice. Again, “my bek)ved
put his hand by the hole of the door,
and my bowels were moved for him.”
So we see that there is a ehord of
love between Jesus who knocks and
the inmate of the house, and that his
knocking awakens all these feelings
of joy, love and hope that lie slumber
ing, but then make their willing
response, and the man opens the door
of welcome.
Here is a point Christians should
much w’atch. Satan would get an
advantage by argueing, that since
the sinner is dead and can do nothing
good (for he will admit that to the
Christian,) therefore that the
Christian must just set dowm on the
stool of do-nothing and wait the
Lord’s time, and that Jesus will come
at the proper time and compel you
to do your duty. Here is one thing
we should observe, the hand, voice
and leadings of the Lord in grace and
Providence, He makes impressions
on our minds, by his word or other
wise, in harmony with his word—in
clines us to do so and so, or, if we
are lukewarm, or ciireless, rebukes
us, and we feel that ail is not well,
but fear and anxitey seize us. Re
gard these gentle warnings lest a
w'orse thing come upon thee. How
much better to hearken and obey than
to suffer.
When you open the door by hearti
ly receiving Jesus he comes in and
sups, and you sup too. AT)u eat the
pleasant fruits together. How sweet
the fellowship as Jesus reveals himself
in breaking bread and we eat to the
Lord. AVine, milk, honey and butter
to c ■: per,
strengthen.
enlighten and
confirm the saint, are the rich con
tents of these princely dishes.
In this .sc/ree the promises aie to
him that overcomes, for such Jesus
grants to set down with him in his
throne, as Christ has also set down
with hisFatheron God’s throne. Here
are two thrones, one is the throne of
Christ in the Church, or of peace,
joy and triumph in heavenly places
and the Christian that overcomes sits
down with Christ on this throne, and
reigns with him even while in the
body of flesh. But none except the
oveicoming Christian can thus .set
down with Christ. We must first
suffer with him before we can reign
with him. The body must be kept
under, selfdenied, the world forsaken,
the overcoming of fgith be realized.
The other throne is that of God the
Father in glory, whereon Christ is set
down with the Father. How blessed
then is this union. Christ in the
Christian, the Father in Christ, Christ
in God—all in God, and God in all—
perfect in qhe. He that hath an ear
let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the Churches. All that hear
give proof tliii*^chey have the ear.
All that desire Jesus, that hunger for
him—give proof that they already
have the ear. All that love Jesus
are born of God. All that love
Christians are passed from death unto
life—have already passed out of death
into love. Now let all that hear,
whether they are Church members or
not, take heed. He that hath an ear
let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the Churches, and hearing leads
to obeying, for he that obeys not
gives not the proof of hearing.
an office who could be still held in
church fellowship. Does the resto
ration of an excluded meunber to fel
lowship, who before his exclusion
held an office, invest him with his
former office? WT think not, be
cause when first received into the
Church he was not received as an
officer of the Church, but Avas choseti
to that after he became a member.
He might of course be restored to
office at the tiine of his restoration,
if the Church should so decide.
EVIDENCE—FROM AVHOM'
Should Avorldiy evidence ever bc^
taken against a Church member ?
AVe think not, on questions of expe
rience, faith, doctiine or duty. But
while people of the world are not
judges of these spiritual matters, they
are good judges of some things, such
as lying, stealing, cheating, drunk
enness, &c. WT should have a wood
POSTAGE.
I am asked Avhat is the postage on
Zion’s Landmaeks, and if I require
it from subscribers. To save the
trouble of enquii'ing and answering
these questions, I will state, that the
postage is hardly 10 cents per annum.
I do not require subscribers to pay
it. If any desire to do so it will be
accepted as a kindness, but it is not
required. My entire postage is about
$90.00 per annum.
QUESTION.
If a Church-member, holding any
office in the Church, should be re
quired to vacate his office would that
involve his exclusion from the
Church ? Not, necQ3.sariIy ; but his
exclusion from the Church would
always deprive him of his office.
One might be found unqualified for
report of them that are without in all
these things and similar ones. If
people of the world, who are regard
ed as truthful and reliable, should be
eye-Avitnesses of such gross,misconduct
in Church-members, should their
testimony be AAdiolly disregarded?
AVe do not mean to open the door
for an indiscriminate admission of the
testimony of all, but on such question.s
and matters as truthful, reliable men,
not church members, are as good
judges as Christians, it seems their
testimony should not be altogether
rejected. Churches should wait how
ever until they are satisfied that an
accused brother or sister is guilty. AVe
do not mean that worldly evidence
alone should decide the question, for
the guilty usually wiii develop their
corruption until the Church can see
it for herself. Hence we do not
mean that worldly evidence alone
should decide what Churches should
do in any case, but that it might be
such that it could not be
ed.
disregard-
The fear of the Lord is the begin
ning of wisdom and a good under
standing have all they that keep his
commandments.
This vile person often deceives by
a counterfeit experience. Being a
bond-child under the law, he calls
his legal bondage a work of special
grace ; and sometimes he will talk
about being “shook over hell,” but
can never describe salvation from it
nor his being shook out of his lies and
self-righteousness. The motion!? of
sin which are by the law, and whicli
work in his members to bring forth
fruit unto death, are called the plague
of the human heart. The perpetual
lashes that conscience gives him for
his villany, or errors against the
Lord, are termed the law in the
members warring against the law of
the mind. AVhen there is a ces.sation
for a while from the rebukes of
heaven, and the accusation of con
science, then this Able one is perfitot
in the flesh, has obtained the second
blessing, and “walks in the peaccabio
paths of Avisdom.”—Huntington.