Correspondence With the Late Arthur Belsham, on Taking His Place in Testimony, at the Lord's Table

In taking our readers into confidence, by opening private letters before them, it may be well to give a word of explanation. It will easily be seen that at the time of writing, on both sides, there could not possibly have been any thought of these letters ever being seen by other eyes. But the deep spirit of inquiry, on the part of the beloved brother, so lately called away to the Lord, it is believed, is shared by many in various places, and he may prove to be the exponent of their thoughts and longings. And the answers given, though in the midst of incessant labor with the intention of meeting as best could be done, the need of the inquirer, yet have been used of God in helping one into the line of His will for Him, and may be used still further by infinite grace that asks not for great instrumentalities to carry out His precious purposes.
There are some portions of the correspondence that bear very intimately and tenderly on personal matters; but it is felt that these so serve to exhibit the progress, and even maturity, of apprehension of the mind of the Lord, on the part of the brother, that none can he left out without loss. His growth was very rapid, because conscience from the first question till the last expression of triumph, seemed to be in the presence of God. Everything was weighed there.. What made God happy was the prevailing thought. And surely in a day of looseness as to God's will, this is of immense value.
The Lord was pleased to use for a second time, as far as known, a series of papers on " God's Unity and Man's Union," published last year in this magazine, in bringing out the latent desire, and starting, the inquiry with which the series begins. During the course of these letters sorrow came to both breasts with its lessons and its blessings, and finally joy in the presence of the Lord to him who began them, thus making what seemed only a correspondence to become a history.
In thinking of that which is " far better," having so soon come to him, the knowledge of how feeble and meager these answers are to what he found at once "with Christ" in person, is accompanied with the confidence that the same word to which he was subject here, is found true there, and that the body for which, finding himself a member here, he gave up all affiliations of men, is that of which he is still a member, and is to be forever-the church of God, the body of Christ.
It will be understood that the publication of these letters is not made to give credit to man, but rather to tell to others how God's grace and God's word will lead to God's ground, to that in which He takes delight. And He will doubtless so use it, taking it to those who need a word in this matter, for He knows all about it.