Elijah the Tishbite. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. VMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
Elijah the Tishbite. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. V
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
We cannot but feel that, were the assembly's discipline carried out in
this spirit, we should see very different results. How different is
this from the formal reading out of a notice in the course, or at the
close, of an ordinary meeting--a notice often unheard by many. It is
an entirely different thing, and it would be attended with very
different results, both as to the assembly and the person put away.
There would be a much more profound sense, on all hands, of the
gravity and solemnity of the assembly's discipline. And oh, what
urgent need there is of this in all our assemblies! We are sadly prone
to be light and trifling.
We would repeat, and emphasize the statement, that the putting away of
a person from the Lord's table, as well as the reception, must be the
act of the whole assembly. No one has any right to tell another to
remain away from the table. If I know of any brother who is living in
sin, I should seek to exercise his conscience in a pastoral way. I
should warn him, and seek to lead him to self-judgment. If he
persists, I should bring his case before those who really care for the
honor of Christ and the purity of His assembly. Then, if there be no
hope, and no possible ground for demur, the assembly should be called
together to act, and the occasion might be used for setting before the
consciences of all the solemnity of the ground occupied by the
assembly, and the holiness that becometh the house of the Lord
forever.
We cannot too strongly protest against the idea of the whole assembly
being called to discuss cases of discipline. We may well say, "Doth
not even nature itself teach" the unseemliness of bringing the details
of a case of immorality, for example, before a promiscuous assembly?
It is contrary to God, and contrary to nature.
* * * * *
And now, in conclusion, one word as to the object of the assembly's
discipline. The inspired apostle tells us, in Cor. v., that it is
salvation--"that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
Jesus." This is very precious. It is worthy of the God of all grace.
The man is delivered to Satan for the destruction of that odious thing
which has caused his humiliating fall, _that his spirit may be saved
in the day of the Lord Jesus_.
Let us never forget this. We should ever be on the lookout for this
precious result when any one has to be put away. We should wait much
on the Lord to own the action of the assembly in this way. We should
not put away evil-doers in order to get rid of a disgrace or a trouble
to us, but to maintain the holiness of the Lord's house, and for the
ultimate salvation of those put away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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