Communication from Bro. Cottrell.
By R. F. Cottrell
BRO. SMITH: I am much interested in the report of the discussion at Gilboa, O., in No. 3. Perhaps my interest is greater because I am somewhat familiar with the customs and questions that are among the Disciples; and not only so, but I have been personally acquainted with Eld. Moss for many years, and have attended much upon his ministry. I am not at all surprised that his manner should seem to betray "that he was arguing against his own better judgment;" for he has had opportunities to know the truth upon the question in debate. Some twenty years ago, when I was learning some Bible truth and some error from him and other Disciples, I endeavored to teach them the truth on the Sabbath question. But though they professed to be "disciples," I found there were some lessons of truth which they would not learn. Moreover, Eld. Moss discussed the Sabbath question with Eld. N. V. Hull, at Clarence, N. Y. There he might have learned the fallacy of his no-Sabbath position, had there not been a little will not in the way. I was told that he acknowledged, after the discussion, that he must change his position. But the last time I saw him, which was some four years since, on my calling his attention to some Bible proofs of the perpetuity of the ten commandments, he seemed rather irritated and said, "I whipped out your champion, Hull, and can do it again." Thus I have been forced to the conclusion, that some professed disciples are "unteachable," if not unstable, wrestling the Scriptures, I fear, to their own destruction. On the subjects of faith, repentance and baptism, the Disciples stand upon plain Bible authority; and in defending their position on these points, they make use of arguments which, if applied to the law of God, would prove its perpetuity throughout the gospel age. They preach doing as well as saying, and show the fallacy of keeping the spirit of a requirement while neglecting to obey the letter. They are in error in regard to the Holy Spirit; but do not, as some have said, teach that there is no Spirit. They differ62from others in the mode of the Spirit's operations, claiming that it operates through the written word. But I have lately seen that some of their leading men take the opposite side of the question. A writer in the Christian Banner, a Disciple paper, over the signature, T. M., has the following: "What are all holy emotions, promptings to good deeds, and our unaccountably happy seasons, but the presence of the Holy Spirit? The pulsations in all the extremities beat time with the throbbings of the heart. As the heart throws out the blood to the smallest members of the body, so Christ sends out his Spirit into the hearts of his feeblest children, the smallest members of his body; and in the ratio of our enjoyment of the Spirit, so will we feel the holy emotions that belong to the great Source of our spiritual life. "If this be abstract spiritual influence, let it be so. It is not miraculous if it be abstract, for the mere presence of the Spirit in the heart is a full explanation of all spiritual impulses in the hearts of the saints. Could the Holy Spirit dwell in the heart and yet produce no comfort? Does not the very presence of blood in our bodies produce warmth? Surely there can be no great mystery in this matter, for as it is God's Divine Nature that prompts him to do good and to feel an infinite happiness in it, so angels and good men are happy simply because they partake of the Divine Nature. The more largely we partake of the Spirit of Christ, the more we will have of his Nature, the more of comfort, and love, and of every fruit of the Spirit. But the farther we depart from the Sun of Righteousness, the less of his light and heat we will possess. Why has Mercury more light and heat than any other planet? It's nearer the sun. How appropriate the exhortation then: 'Let us draw nigh unto God.' 'Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.' Blessed reciprocity. It is a good thing to draw nigh to God to ask him for the smallest favor; for if you come into his presence at all, with reverence, the light of his countenance will shine upon you, and you will receive much more than you asked for. Solomon asked only for wisdom, and lo! how he was blessed. If you go toward the sun for more light you will get more heat too. It is thus that God blesses 'above all that we ask or think of.' Let us then often, 'praying in the Spirit,' draw nigh and make all our requests known to him. "The necessity of this comfort of the Spirit is well illustrated in the experience of every humble preacher of the gospel. Why at times is his courage all gone—not prepared to preach to-day—thinks he can do no good—wishes some other preacher would happen along—prays, but cannot feel for poor slaves of sin, and says in his heart, If the world would be just as well off, and the Lord would excuse him, he would like to steal from public life and retire to give himself up to meditation and to the instruction of his family? But see! How he casts himself upon the Lord! How he prays! How he lays hold on the throne! And lo! his heart expands, his mouth is opened, grasps firmly the sword of the Spirit, sinners bow, while his soul is made to triumph in the unwasting strength of the gospel. This truly is to be 'strengthened with all might BY THE SPIRIT in the inner man.' He can now speak of the Saviour to all whom he may meet, can go from house to house, preach on the highways, for a 'door of utterance is opened and he speaks boldly as he ought to speak.' He now feels strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. What before were burdens, such as the sinner's opposition and indifference, the coldness of the church, the invisible nature of the interests he represents, are now conveniently supported, for he can bear 'all things through Christ who strengthens him' by his Spirit. If the true man of God will, by the word of God and prayer, keep himself charged with this celestial warmth and feel when he rises to preach that death is on his left hand in the pulpit with him, and his great God upon the right, and that the congregation is in great danger of dying in their sins—this will arm him with more than human might, his eye would look a lion down, and his courage would spike every cannon in the artillery of hell. Organization is not our greatest want. What we must need is the 'all might' of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all—preachers and churches. How many of us can go from house to house with tears, preaching the glorious gospel? Paul could go weeping and gives us no doubt, the reason of it in Rom. v, 5. 'The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.' How often Jesus wept! He wept that we might weep,
And shall our cheeks be dry? Let us therefore, brethren, seek to enjoy the Spirit in our hearts and it will be what the Saviour promised, 'A well of water springing up into everlasting life.'" May the writer be led by the word and the Spirit into the present truth. R. F. C.