|
|
|
|
|
|
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEEPFOLDS 543
more shall be revealed; and thus, if any man will do His will, he shall know the doctrine whether it be of God.1 Any man:-not the man who has most means of knowing, who has the subtlest brains, or sits under the most orthodox preacher, or has his library fullest of most orthodox books,-but the man who strives to know, who takes God at His word, and sets himself to dig up the heavenly mystery, roots and all, before sunset, and the night come, when no man can work.2 Beside such a man, God stands in more and more visible presence as he toils, and teaches him that which no preacher can teach-no earthly authority gainsay. By such a man, the preacher must himself be judged.
22. Doubt you this? There is nothing more certain nor clear throughout the Bible: the Apostles themselves appeal constantly to their flocks, and actually claim judgment from them, as deserving it, and having a right to it, rather than discouraging it. But, first notice the way in which the discovery of truth is spoken of in the Old Testament: “Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek the Lord understand all things,” Proverbs xxviii. 5. God overthroweth, not merely the transgressor or the wicked, but even “the words of the transgressor,” Proverbs xxii. 12, and “the counsel of the wicked,” Job v. 13, xxi. 16; observe again, in Proverbs xxiv. 14, “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good-so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul, when thou hast found it, there shall be a reward;” and again, “What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose;” so Job xxxii. 8, and multitudes of places more; and then, with all these places, which express the definite and personal operation of the Spirit of God on every one of His people, compare the place in Isaiah, which speaks of the contrary of this human teaching: a passage which seems as if it had been written for this very day and hour. “Because their fear towards me is taught by the precept of
1 [John vii. 17.]
2 [John ix. 4. Compare Sesame and Lilies, Preface (1871), § 7.]
|
|
|
[Version 0.04: March 2008]
