Apprehension of Truth

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*



   “*APPREHENSION OF TRUTH” - Appendix B*

*(From “George Muller of Bristol” by Dr. A. T. Pierson)*


 In 1944 while a sailor in the Canadian Navy, someone gave me a copy of
George Muller's “Answers to Prayer.” This hooked me on this most unusual man
of God, and led me to memorize his “6 Ways to Infallibly Ascertain the Will
of God” in his Preface, and “5 Ways How to Prevail in Prayer” in Appendix B.


 Later I obtained his biography noted in the heading. I suppose out of the
144 who have mentored me either in person or by book, George Muller is one
of the top 4 who have most influenced me in my life. The following thoughts
came to him when he was 24.


 “*APPREHENSION OF TRUTH”*

Some points which God began to show Mr. Muller while at Teignmouth, England
in 1829:


 *1. That the word of God alone* is our standard of judgment in spiritual
things; that it can be explained *only* by the Holy Spirit; and that in our
day, as well as in former times, *He* is the teacher of His people. The
office of the Holy Spirit I had not experimentally understood before that
time. Indeed, of the office of each of the blessed persons, in what is
commonly called the Trinity, I had no experimental apprehension. I had not
before seen from the Scriptures that the Father chose us before the
foundation of the world; that in Him that wonderful plan of our redemption
originated, and that He also appointed all the means by which it was to be
brought about. Further, that the Son, to save us, had fulfilled the law, to
satisfy its demands, and with it also the holiness of God; that He had borne
the punishment due to our sins, and had thus satisfied the justice of God.
And further, that the Holy Spirit *alone* can teach us about our state by
nature, show us the need of a Savior, enable us to believe in Christ,
explain to us the Scriptures, help us in preaching, etc.

 It was my beginning to understand this latter point in particular, which
had a great effect on me; for the Lord enabled me to put it to the test of
experience, by laying aside commentaries, and almost every other book, and
simply reading the word of God and studying it. The result of this was, that
the first evening that I shut myself into my room, to give myself to prayer
and *meditation over* the Scriptures, I learned more in a few hours than I
had done during a period of several months previously. *But the particular
difference was, that I received real strength for my soul in doing so. *I
now began to try by the test of Scriptures the things which I had learned
and seen, and found that only those principles which stood the test were
really of value.


 *2. Before this period* I had been much opposed to the doctrines of
election, particular redemption, and final persevering grace; so much so
that, a few days after my arrival at Teignmouth I called election a devilish
doctrine. I did not believe that I had brought myself to the Lord, for that
was too manifestly false; but yet I held, that I might have resisted
finally. And further, I knew nothing about the choice of God's people, and
did not believe that the child of God, when once made so, was safe for ever.
In my fleshly mind I had repeatedly said, If once I could prove that I am a
child of God for ever, I might go back into the world for a year or two, and
then return to the Lord, and at last be saved. But now I was brought to
examine these precious truths by the word of God. Being made willing to have
no glory of my own in the conversion of sinners, but to consider myself
merely as an instrument; and being made willing to receive what the
Scriptures said; I went to the Word, reading the New Testament from the
beginning, with a particular reference to these truths. To my great
astonishment I found that the passages which speak decidedly for election
and persevering grace were about four times as many as those which speak
apparently against these truths; and even those few, shortly after, when I
had examined and understood them, served to confirm me in the above
doctrines. As to the effect which my belief in these doctrines had on me, I
am constrained to state, for God's glory, that though I am still exceedingly
weak, and by no means so dead to the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, as I might and as I ought to be, yet, by the
grace of God, I have walked more closely with Him since that period.

 My life has not been so variable, and I may say that I have lived much more
for God than before. And for this I have been strengthened by the Lord, in a
great measure, through the instrumentality of these truths. For in the time
of temptation, I have been repeatedly led to say: Should I thus sin? I
should only bring misery into my soul for a time, and dishonor God; for,
being a son of God for ever, I should have to be brought back again, though
it might be in the way of severe chastisement.

Thus, I say, the electing love of God in Christ (when I have been able to
realize it) has often been the means of *producing holiness, instead of
leading me into sin.* It is only the notional apprehension of such truths,
the want of having them in the heart, while they are in the head, which is
dangerous.


 *3. Another truth*, into which, in a measure, I was led, respected the
Lord's coming. My views concerning this point, up to that time, had been
completely vague and unscriptural. I had believed what others told me,
without trying it by the Word. I thought that things were getting better and
better, and that soon the whole world would be converted. But now I found in
the Word that we have not the least Scriptural warrant to look for the
conversion of the world before the return of our Lord. I found in the
Scriptures that that which will usher in the glory of the church, and
uninterrupted joy to the saints, *is the return of the Lord Jesus*, and
that, till then, things will be more or less in confusion.

I found in the Word, that the return of Jesus, and not death, was the hope
of the apostolic Christians; and that it became me, therefore, to look for
His appearing. And this truth entered so into my heart that, though I went
into Devonshire exceedingly weak, scarcely expecting that I should return
again to London, yet I was immediately, on seeing this truth, brought off
from looking for death, and was made to look for *the return of the Lord*.
Having seen this truth, the Lord also graciously enabled me to apply it, in
some measure at least, to my own heart, and to put the solemn question to
myself - What may I do for the Lord, before He returns, as He may soon come?


 *4. In addition to these truths*, it pleased the Lord to see *a higher
standard of devotedness* than I had seen before. He led me, in a measure, to
see what is my true glory in this world, even to be despised, and to be poor
and mean with Christ. I saw then, in a measure, though I have seen it more
fully since, that it ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great,
and honored in that world where his Lord was poor, and mean, and despised.



 *NOTE:* Some may have noted in the various articles I have posted on our
Website, that I include not only writers with a Calvinistic trend such as
George Muller, but also men like John Wesley, of an Arminian stance. You may
comment - “Is this not inconsistent from a theological point of view?”

My answer to such an objection is Paul's comment in 1 Corinthians
3:3-9 - *“Nay,
even now are you yet unable; for you are yet carnal; for whereas jealousy is
among you and strife, are you not carnal, and walk you not after man's
manner? 4 For when one says, I am of Paul; and another, I, of Apollos; are
you not men? 5 What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through
whom you believed, and as the Lord gave to each. 6 I planted, Apollos
watered; but :God gave increase. 7 *

*So then neither is who plants anything nor who waters; but God who gives
increase. 8 Now who plants and who waters are one: but each shall receive
his own :reward according to his own :toil. 9 For we are God's
fellow-workers: you are God's husbandry.”*

* *And - 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 (3:18-23) - *“For all things are yours;
whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas (Peter), or world, or life, or death, or
things present, or coming; all are yours; and you are Christ's; and Christ
is God's.”*

* *On One occasion when George Whitefield was visiting America from England,
he was asked by a fellow-Calvinist, “*Do you think that John Wesley as an
Arminian, will make it to heaven?” *His reply was, *“My dear sir, when we
arrive in heaven, we will scarcely be able to see John Wesley, he will be so
close to the Throne of God!”*


 In Seminary I met some of the same spirit as the above questioner.
Our *intimacy
with Jesus* down here will weigh more heavily with God on our behalf for our
reward in heaven, not our particular theological perspectives. That is not
to say that the latter is unimportant - it is merely saying that it is
*not*highest on God's agenda! - Jim Watt



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