His Life and Liberty; His Path and Glory.
By H. Forbes Witherby.
Bible Truth Publishers
59 Industrial Rd., P.O. Box 649, Addison, IL 60101, USA.
Originally published by Alfred Holness, London.
"Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-3.
Introductory (this file)Introductory Note.
An endeavor has been made in this book to set out, in a simple way, some of the leading truths relative to ETERNAL LIFE.
In its pages "babes" and "young men" are addressed. "Fathers" are not only well versed in the truths touched on, but are well able to detect weakness in attempts to expound such weighty matters. However, it is invariably the case, that such as know most of divine doctrine and, still further, of Christ Himself, are the most generous critics of every honest endeavor to help the simple-hearted.
A practical end has been before the writer while stringing these chapters together — he has sought to beckon on, encourage, and strengthen some, at least, among the feebler of the children of God. And if by the means of these pages Christ shall be known to the soul of but one child of God as the Life, and further, as the Strength for holy living, the book will not be issued in vain. As Christ is rightly known to the soul, so is spiritual advance truly made. "Christ is our life; he who has the Son, has life;" and the child of God who is most consciously acquainted with the Father and the Son, lives out the most faithfully and lays hold the most firmly of that which is really life.
The christian may well stand amazed at the divine grace which has given him, guilty and undone by nature, forgiveness of sins and peace with God; and he may wonder, even more, at God's taking him into His own blessed favor in His beloved Son in glory! Yet beyond forgiveness, peace, and acceptance in Christ, the life of the Son of God is his; Gods dwells in him, and he in God. He is brought into no less a relationship with God than that of child, he is made partaker of the divine nature, and is given by God of His Spirit; and in glory — spirit, soul, and body being made like Christ as He is — he will be manifested with the Son of God.
Infidelity finds its answer in the joy, the dignity, the glory of the children of God. The world will yet see that the Father has sent the Son to this world, and has taken out from it a family for Himself, the members of which He loves even as He loves the Son. (John 17:23.)
This volume seeks to indicate what the eternal life is which the child of God possesses; to point out what the freedom of that life is — where its liberty is found; to direct the steps of the possessor of eternal life and liberty in Christ to the only path where true happiness can be known; and lastly, to address the hopes of the child of God to the glory awaiting him, and to stir up his energies by its prospects.
Such as live most in spirit in the pure atmosphere of this future are the least affected by the changing temperature of these present times. There is an evenness about them which speaks of heaven. There is no more forcible influence for detaching a child of God from present things than prospects of glory with Christ. "Christ in you, the hope of glory," is a mighty force within the soul, stirring up for eternity and for God.
May the utterance of these pages lead the reader to a more diligent search into the Holy Scriptures, and, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, may he be brought to a just apprehension of the truths of God relating to ETERNAL LIFE.