THOUGH YE BE ESTABLISHED.
“I will not be
negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them,
and be established in the present truth.”-2 Peter 1:12.
WHAT things are here
referred to? Assuredly the necessity of giving all diligence to add to our
faith virtue [fortitude]; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge,
temperance [self-control]; and to temperance, patience; and to patience,
godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness,
charity [love]:... For if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an
entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.-Verses 5-11.
To be established in the truth signifies that we have carefully studied
and thoroughly proved it by “the law and the testimony” (Isa. 8:20), and that
as a consequence we are convinced of its verity, so that our faith is steadfast
and immovable: we know whom we have believed; we have tasted and seen that the
Lord is good; we have partaken of the sweets of fellowship with him; we have
partaken of his spirit of meekness, faith and godliness to such an extent as to
be led into a joyful realization of the fulness of his grace as manifested in
the wonderful divine plan of the ages; and we have been permitted to see, not
only the various features of that plan, but also the necessity and
reasonableness of all its various measures in order to the full accomplishment
of its glorious outcome in the fulness of the appointed times. This is what it
is to be “established in the present truth.” It is indeed a most blessed
condition, bringing with it such peace and joy as the world can neither give
nor take away.
But though we be thus established in the present truth, we need to bear in
mind that our election to the high position to which we are called is not yet made
sure. The race for the prize of our high calling is still before us, and
we are yet in the enemy’s country, surrounded by many subtle and powerful foes,
so that if we would be successful we must “fight the good fight of faith,”
remembering, too, that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but [God’s
Truth is] mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds” of error and
superstition and of inbred sin; and remembering, also, that “we wrestle not
with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.”-2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:12.
It is in view of these facts-of the warfare before us, of the subtlety of
our temptations and of the weakness of the flesh-that the faithful Apostle
Peter urges all diligence in the cultivation of the Christian graces and a
continual calling to remembrance of the precious truths we have learned, that
we may be strengthened thereby to make our calling and election sure. Faith is
a good thing; but faith without virtuous works is dead; and to hold the truth
in unrighteousness is worse than never to have received it. The truth is given
to us for its sanctifying effect upon our hearts and lives. Therefore let it
have free course and be glorified. Let its precious fruits appear more and
more from day to day. Add to your faith virtue-true excellence of character,
such excellence of character as will mark you as separate from the world and
its spirit. In all such the world will see those moral qualities which they
must approve, however they may oppose our faith. Add sterling honesty, truth
and fair dealing in all business relations; moral integrity, in all social
relations; manifestly clean hands and a pure heart, and a bridled tongue that
works no ill to a neighbor. All of these the world has a right to expect from
those who call themselves Christians; and all of these are indispensable
features of that virtuous character which must be added to our faith. The
clean hands will not dabble in anything that is not virtuous: they will have
nothing to do with unrighteous schemes or projects in business. The pure heart
will not devise evil things, or harbor evil thoughts, or plot mischief. And the
bridled tongue will not be given to evil speaking, but will hold its peace when
it cannot speak well and wisely. But the promptings of virtue go further than
merely these negative features which refuse to do anything which would work ill
to a neighbor; they incite not only to passive, but also to active, goodness-in
benevolent charity which seeks to alleviate suffering, to sympathize with
sorrow, to comfort those in distress and to elevate and bless others -to assist
“all men as we have opportunity.”
To such a virtuous character we are counseled to add knowledge-the
knowledge of God’s character, that we may the more thoroughly imitate it, and
of his truth, that we may more fully conform to its teachings: and to
knowledge, temperance-moderation, self-restraint, in all things. “Let your
moderation be known unto all men.” We are not to be hasty and hot-tempered, or
rash and thoughtless. But we should strive to be evenly balanced, thoughtful
and considerate: our whole manner should be characterized by that carefulness
which would indicate that we are ever mindful of the Lord’s pleasure, of our
responsibility to him as his representatives, and of our influence upon our
fellow-men, to see that it always is for good, never for evil.
“And to temperance, patience.” “Let patience have her perfect work, that
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Yes, this grace smooths the
way for every other, because all must be acquired under the process of patient
and continuous self-discipline. Not a step of progress
can be gained without the exercise of this grace of patience; and not one of
the graces more beautifully adorns the Christian character, or wins the
approval of the world’s conscience, or glorifies the God of all grace whose
truth inspires it. It is long-suffering meekness earnestly striving to stem
the tide of human imperfection and weakness, and endeavoring with pains-taking
care to regain the divine likeness. It is slow to wrath and plenteous in
mercy; it is quick to perceive the paths of truth and righteousness, and prompt
to walk in them: it is mindful of its own imperfections and sympathetic with
the imperfections and shortcomings of others.
“And to patience, godliness”-a careful study and imitation of the
divine character as presented in the divine Word.
“And to godliness, brotherly kindness”-an exercise and manifestation of
the principles of the divine character toward our fellow-men.
“And to brotherly kindness, charity”-love. Kindness may be manifested
where but little love exists toward the subject of such kindness; but we cannot
long persevere in such acts of kindness before a sympathetic interest is
awakened; and by and by that interest, continually exercised, deepens into
love. And even though the subject may be unlovely in character, the love of
sympathy for the fallen and degraded grows, until it becomes tender and
solicitous and akin to that of a parent for an erring son.
Peter indeed describes a most amiable character, but who can consider it
without feeling that to attain it will be a life-work. It cannot be
accomplished in a day, nor a year, but the whole life must be devoted to it;
and day by day, if we are faithful, we should realize a measure of growth in
grace and of development of Christian character. It is not proper that we know
the truth, and are contented to hold it in unrighteousness. We must see to it
that the truth is having its legitimate and designed effect upon the
character. And if the truth is thus received into good and honest
hearts, we have the assurance of the Apostle that we shall never fall, and that
in due time we shall be received into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Hence we see the necessity of ever keeping the instructions and precepts
of the Lord fresh in our minds, and of drinking deep into its inspiring spirit,
although we are already established in the faith. To be established in the
faith is one thing, but to be established in Christian character and in all the
graces of the spirit is quite another.
A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.
Feeling as we do the necessity of a deeper work of grace, both in our own
hearts and in the hearts of all of the dear household of faith, the thought has
occurred to us that more special effort in this particular direction on the
part of us all would probably be of great benefit. We do not know through what
discipline of faith and patience we may yet be called to pass in the
approaching dark night of which we are forewarned, but “sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof,” and also, thank God, sufficient unto the day is the grace
thereof, if we earnestly lay hold of it and patiently continue in it. As each
day brings its trials, so, if we have been rightly exercised by the trials,
each day should bring its victories-thus leaving us strengthened and more
firmly established in character, as well as in faith.
With the end in view of specially promoting the growth of Christian
character, our suggestion, which has already been made and adopted by the
congregation in Allegheny and many other places, is that wherever a few of the
consecrated can arrange to meet together, it would be well to appoint a midweek
meeting for this special purpose. Such a meeting should be devoted to worship,
prayer and praise, and to brotherly exhortation, conference and counsel, but
not to Bible study or controversy. All discussions of doctrinal matters should
be eliminated from such a meeting, and such subjects as would elicit
controversy avoided, leaving such matters for another meeting, at an
appropriate hour on the Lord’s day, when all meet together; the object being,
not to ignore doctrine, nor to discourage Bible-study; but, while meeting this
necessity at the one meeting (on the Lord’s day), to devote the other (the
mid-week meeting) to the other equal necessity, without distraction.
Our arrangement here in Allegheny and Pittsburgh is as follows: As our
congregation is much scattered, we have them parceled into as many neighborhood
gatherings as is necessary for the accommodation of all desiring to attend; and
a leader is appointed for each meeting, discretion being observed as to
capability. They should be brethren established in the faith-sound in
doctrine, faithful and pious. These meetings are held on Wednesday evenings at
the residence of some member of each little group. The meeting is opened with a
hymn and prayer, the reading, by the leader, of Sunday afternoon’s text; then each
one is asked to give his or her personal experience as to progress in the
narrow way-as to how he or she is growing in grace and striving to overcome the
world, the flesh and the devil. Here they may humbly tell of their victories,
or speak of their trials, or ask for Christian counsel and sympathy in hard
places, speaking more freely in such little gatherings than would be possible
or proper in larger assemblies. Here they can hear each other’s petitions for
each other, and Christian love and sympathy flow the more freely from heart to
heart.
The object kept in mind at these meetings is a fresh, living, weekly and
daily experience with the Lord and in his service, and not merely a stale
experience of the remote past. A clear past experience is good, but a clear
present experience is better;- much more vitally important. Doctrine is
ignored at these meetings except as the word doctrine applies to all Scripture
teachings, including hope, trust, obedience, godliness, prayer, etc. Too many,
we find, have been contenting themselves with knowing the truth, without
making special efforts to live it, daily and hourly. As honesty of heart and
faith in the Redeemer’s finished work and consecration to his service are
necessary to a full entrance into the “holy,” where the deeper features of the
divine plan can be discerned and fully appreciated, so these qualities must
remain, must abide, or the light will become darkness-you will be cast out of
the light into the outer darkness in which the world and the nominal church
grope after the phosphorescent glimmerings of error-Spiritism, Christian
Science, Theosophy and Universalism.
The leader of such a meeting should study to adapt his counsel, correction
or encouragement to the special needs of each of the little group over which he
is placed, and his reverent piety and personal interest in each should inspire
the confidence of all. We believe that such mid-week meetings prove
steppingstones to higher attainments in the divine life, and that thus all may
be greatly blessed and profited; and the whole body will be able the more
effectually to minister to one another in spiritual things. On the middle
Wednesday evening of each month the prayer feature is given more attention and
an opportunity granted for all to address the throne of grace two or three in
immediate succession. At a quarterly Sunday evening general meeting of the
same character, we hear of the spiritual progress of the various little groups
both from the leaders and the various attendants, and quarterly the leaders are
transferred to other groups.
May the blessing of the Lord go with the suggestion, and may the outcome
be a strengthening of the bond of Christian love and mutual sympathy and
fellowship everywhere.