H. H. Snell.
Publisher: W. H. Broom 1881.
"Having made peace through the blood of his cross." Col. 1:20.
"Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3.
Contents.
The Son of God
The Son of Man
The Gospel of God
The Resurrection of Christ
In Christ, and the flesh in us
Communion
Manna and the Old Corn
Clean and Unclean
Defilement from Contact
Security, Communion, and Confidence
The Father's Love.
The Ashes of the Red Heifer
Leprosy: Outbreak of Sin
The Cleansing of the Leper-Restoration
The Leper who was Poor Considered
Leprosy in a Garment
Leprosy in a House.
In What Name are we Gathered?
The Peace-offering or the Communion-offering
Prefatory Remarks.
It is not with the thought of publishing anything unknown before that this little volume is sent forth, but with the hope of bringing before the Christian reader what was well known in the beginning of Christianity, though now, perhaps, receiving less attention than the truth demands.
It is confessedly a time when every good thing is being diluted or adulterated; nor has the truth of God escaped the corrupting influences, so that many of the Lord's people are sad and drooping instead of giving thanks and rejoicing; and collective ruin and disorder instead of worship, and united testimony to the truth, are to be seen on every hand. It must therefore be important to inquire where the defect lies in those who are truly born of God. We believe much of it arises from a low state of soul, a superficial acquaintance with divine truth, and an erroneous idea that God's word is given only to teach sinners the way of salvation, and that there is little to be known here besides the forgiveness of sins. But as to souls who are better instructed, and where doctrine is guarded, and orthodoxy contended for, the question may be asked, Why is it there is so little liberty, joy, and devotedness? We believe the answer is found in a lack of peace and communion.
Where there is not "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," there cannot be communion and true worship. If "care" and "fear" distress the soul, there will not be the comfort of "the peace of God," which surpasseth all understanding, keeping the heart and mind. If we walk in His ways, "the God of peace" will be with us. "Joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" is also the happy privilege of every child of God; but how few speak of these things as their own happy experience. It is not merely, then, the present certainty of forgiveness of sins (blessed as it is) which the believer is entitled to know, but "peace with God," "the peace of God," the presence of "the God of peace" with us, and even "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ," by whom we have received the reconciliation, and much more.
While many a true-hearted Christian is suffering greatly in soul from lack of knowledge, others, perhaps, are too much taken up with doctrines; content, it may be, with critical accuracy and orthodoxy, rather than the power of the truth in the love of it. The consequence is that some have unconsciously become more like theological students and scholars of divinity, than devoted followers of Christ in the path of obedience and suffering for His sake. It is clear that it is not merely the knowledge of doctrines that the child of God should desire, important as it is, but he should be occupied with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all doctrine points, and in relation to whom we now stand as "members of His body," dependent on "the Head," and called to show forth His characteristics, and to bear much fruit. We may be sure that when the word of Christ dwells in us richly, there will be faith and love in activity, as well as knowledge; there will be communion as well as peace. We can understand a person being taken up with certain "views," as they are called, and holding what is true, perhaps, according to the letter of Scripture, and yet being as unspiritual and lifeless as he can well be; but we cannot understand a soul really receiving God's testimony concerning the personal glory, the finished work, and the coming again of His own Son, without being attracted to Him. Neither can we understand a person having the present possession of eternal life without its producing results, both in experience and walk. Scripture is most decisive about this; for not only does John write his first epistle in order that those who believe on the name of the Son of God may know that they have eternal life, but he further declares that "we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren;" and when this love to God's children is wanting, the person is pronounced to be destitute of vital Christianity, however loud his profession may be, and however extensive his Bible knowledge; for it is added, "He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (1 John 3:14.) This point was also of such great moment with the apostle Paul, that we find the principle on which he accredited persons as being "in Christ" was not because they professedly believed in Christ, but because he also heard of their "love to all the saints;" their "love in the Spirit." He knew how easy it was to say "I believe in Jesus," as many do now; but until he heard of love flowing out to all saints, how could he recognize them as having eternal life? We, therefore, on one occasion find him teaching that whatever a man did, or whatever he said, if love were wanting, he was only "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
Take another point. Scripture teaches that those who have remission of sins have the Holy Ghost given unto them; being children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Gal. 3:26; Gal. 4:6.) Now, we ask, is it possible that God the Holy Ghost should take up His abode in us for ever; without producing results both in experience and walk? Without this, could there be a consciousness of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts? (See Rom. 5:5.) Have we no comfort from a power within us beyond what is natural in His leading, guiding, teaching, and taking of the things of Christ, and showing them unto us? Do we know what it is to have One directing our hearts to Him who is glorified, and in whom we possess all things, whilst we are increasingly conscious of having nothing in ourselves? Can we ascribe our joy in the Lord, our hope of His coming, or even the grief, and reproof when walking contrary to the truth of God, to any power short of the Holy Ghost dwelling in us? And how could our thoughts and affections flow in the current of the thoughts and affections of the Father and His Son, but for "the communion of the Holy Ghost?" May, then, both reader and writer be filled with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost