"IN SECRET HAVE I SAID NOTHING."
By T. E. Bowen
SECRET societies are multiplying. On every hand are secret chambers where men and women band themselves together, under oaths and penalties not to divulge the secrets of the order, whatever they may be. Many inducements are held out for people to join these secret organizations. By paying certain sums in dues, large sums are promised the families of deceased members. These things seem all right in viewing them from a worldly standpoint, but there is no example of Christ to follow in entering these secret chambers. He said plainly, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagog, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." Positively Jesus gave Himself to the world. He put no seclusion on any portion of that precious life. None ever found Him engaged so busily that the needy one could not come close to Him for the healing of any trouble, either of body or soul. It may be said, "But did not Christ take the twelve into a chamber alone the last night He was with them, and there commune with them?"—Yes, He thus met with His disciples. There was nothing said, however, that could be called secret. Even this precious instruction, falling from His lips on this occasion, was for the world. For Jesus had before instructed them, saying, "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Matt. 10:27. It is plain, then, that whatever Jesus told His disciples on the night of His betrayal, or at any other season of communing with them, was for the purpose that they should present it later to the world. This seclusion is selfish; therefore it is not of Christ. Why keep it secret? O, it is too good to be told! If it is of real good to one, why should it not be equally valuable to another? The principle is wrong. God's blessed Gospel, the best news ever published in this world, is freely offered to every soul, free or bond, rich or poor, learned or unlearned. All are equally rich with it, all are equally poor without it. Freely it is given, freely it is to be passed on to others in need of its blessed saving qualities. "Freely ye have received, freely give." There is no secret revealed unto the Son by the Father (since that Son gave Himself for us) that is not revealed by that Son unto His children on earth. "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you." John 15:15. "And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them." Chapter 17:22. "For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me." Verse 8. "That the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." Verse 23. This is perfect love, and therefore is Christian love. Anything short of this reveals not to the world in its fulness the love of Jesus Christ. Secret things belong unto God, but whatever He reveals is for us and our children. Let not the follower of Christ seek to retain the light and blessing God may have put into the heart for the enlightenment and help of some other soul equally precious, toiling along life's way in darkness. Go not into the secret chambers in search of Christ. He is not there. "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not." Matt. 24:26. But, dear soul, He may be found. Read this: "I will be found of you, saith the Lord." "Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me [alone in the closet], and I will harken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." Jer. 29:12-14.