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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">“<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Tel:
253.874.4265 -- Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></font></b></p>
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<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></font></b></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="center">
“<font size="3"><b>APPREHENSION OF TRUTH” - Appendix B</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="center">
<font size="3"><b>(From “George Muller of Bristol” by Dr. A. T.
Pierson)</b></font></p>
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<br>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">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.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">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.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="center">
“<font size="3"><b>APPREHENSION OF TRUTH”</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3">Some points which God began to show Mr. Muller while at
Teignmouth, England in 1829:</font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><b>1. That the word of God alone</b><span style="">
is our standard of judgment in spiritual things; that it can be
explained </span><u><span style="">only</span></u><span style="">
by the Holy Spirit; and that in our day, as well as in former times,
</span><u><span style="">He</span></u><span style="">
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 </span><u><span style="">alone</span></u><span style="">
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.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><span style=""> 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 </span><u><span style="">meditation
over</span></u><span style=""> the Scriptures, I
learned more in a few hours than I had done during a period of
several months previously. </span><b><i>But the particular difference
was, that I received real strength for my soul in doing so. </i></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">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.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">2. Before this
period</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">
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.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;" align="left">
<font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style=""> 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. </span></span></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style=""> Thus,
I say, the electing love of God in Christ (when I have been able to
realize it) has often been the means of </span></span><i><b>producing
holiness, instead of leading me into sin.</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">
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.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">3.
Another truth</span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="">,
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, </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">is
the return of the Lord Jesus</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">,
and that, till then, things will be more or less in confusion.</span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> 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 </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">the
return of the Lord</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">.
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?</span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">4.
In addition to these truths</span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">,
it pleased the Lord to see </span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><span style="">a
higher standard of devotedness</span></u></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
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.</span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">NOTE:</span></b></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">
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?”</span></span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> My
answer to such an objection is Paul's comment in 1 Corinthians 3:3-9
- </span></span></span><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">“Nay,
even now are you yet unable; for you are yet carnal; for whereas
</span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">jealousy</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
is among you and </span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">strife</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">,
are you not carnal, and walk you not after man's manner? </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">4</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
For when one says, I am of Paul; and another, I, of Apollos; are you
not men? </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">5</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you
believed, and as the Lord gave to each. </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">6</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">I
planted, Apollos watered; but :God gave increase. </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">7</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></font></b></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">So
then neither is who plants anything nor who waters; but </span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">God</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
who gives increase. </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">8</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Now
who plants and who waters are one: but each shall receive his own
:reward according to his own :toil. </span></span><font style="font-size: 8pt;" size="1"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">9</span></span></font><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></font><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">For
we are God's fellow-workers: you are God's husbandry.”</span></span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">And
- 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 (3:18-23) - </span></span></span><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">“For
</span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">all </span><i>things</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
are yours</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">;
whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas (Peter), or world, or life, or
death, or </span></span><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">things
</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">present,
or coming; </span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">all </span><i>are</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
yours</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">;
and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.”</span></span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="3"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">On
One occasion when George Whitefield was visiting America from
England, he was asked by a fellow-Calvinist, “</span></span></span><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Do
you think that John Wesley as an Arminian, will make it to heaven?”
</span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="">His
reply was, </span></span></span><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">“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!”</span></span></b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">In
Seminary I met some of the same spirit as the above questioner. Our
</span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">intimacy with Jesus</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
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 </span></span><u><span style="font-style: normal;">not</span></u><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
highest on God's agenda! - Jim Watt</span></span></font></p>
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