CHARLES H. WELCH
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as Secretary for several years. There are evidences of confused ideas that need clarifying but speaking generally, it
will be seen that as early as 1908, the general lines of Dispensational Truth were perceived, and which were seen
more clearly when complete freedom was attained. We have purposely omitted names and places, as no good would
be done by their publication, and some would be unnecessarily hurtful. This letter was written when I
was not quite twenty-eight. I am now approaching my eightieth birthday and there is little I would alter, apart from
phrase and style.
`London, 1908.
Dear ......
I have been waiting for some weeks before writing to you, for I feel that this letter will contain that which
will cause a greater separation between us or, (which I cannot believe) will revolutionize the work at .... It is
not pleasant to the flesh to know that one is courting the censure of those whose regard in spiritual things has
been valued. Nevertheless I trust I have learned in heart as well as in head that knowledge brings with it a
painful yet blessed responsibility. After prayer and I must confess much hesitation I look for grace to write
you, and realize that if you do not believe the content of this letter to be true, that you will have no alternative
*
but to class me with those who go contrary to the Word of God.
In the first case I must confess that I never felt easy over your attitude towards the teaching of the
Scriptures concerning "The Body", and now looking back I can see that the publication of your conclusions
on this subject marked a turning point for me, for which you are partly responsible.
According to your view of the Word, Satan's great attack was against the manifestation of the One Body,
in other words the assembly position as recorded in the Acts and 1 Corinthians. You have had the church on
earth so much in your mind that the heavenly reality has become dim (pardon any appearance of rudeness I
*
seek grace to exercise true meekness* ) and you would in other points condemn the method of interpretation
you have adopted in this:
"Paul's conflict was related to the heavenlies, which cannot be interpreted of the assembly on earth.
Satanic power was levelled against the saints who like Paul were constrained to leave Judaizing Christians,
even though they were apostles, and who boldly proclaimed the truth of the One Body and the heavenly
calling". Here the article referred to assumes in my estimation its significant and awful position. Satan saw
that we were beginning to appreciate these blessed truths. Ephesians was being studied and he must seek at
all costs to prevent that long buried truth, the teaching that is summed up in the words "In the heavenlies in
Christ" from being proclaimed - and so you suddenly framed the proposition "A Body is something visible",
logic then compelled you to continue "No visible Body is on earth now, therefore the Body does not exist".
You faced the problem, came to the conclusion, brought the study of Ephesians to a close, and since then
your teaching and exhortation has been based upon Acts 2, etc., the typical character of the books of Ezra and
Nehemiah as applied to church conditions, and the special teaching for the present period has been allowed to
fall into the background, the apostle's great argument "See what you are in Christ, and walk accordingly" has
given place to precepts and commandments, a tendency to look within, and so Satan's object was attained.
You have of late insisted upon Matthew 5 to 7; bear with me when I draw your attention to the fact that
whereas Matthew 6 says "forgive us, as we forgive" Ephesians says "forgive because you are forgiven". My
own dear father has voiced something of this feeling. Walking to the meeting he said to me: "I sometimes
feel in the week, with its worry and distress, that I yearn to hear something of what the Lord has done for me.
I hear much of what I ought to do, but how empty it all seems".
*
This is in fact what happened and was quoted against me as aptly fitting my case.
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* The reader will perhaps sense that the stand taken as indicated by this letter cost the writer exercise of heart at
the same time.