Foreword to the Original Printing
The
content of this little volume was mostly given as a
series of Conference messages, and the spoken form and
local setting has not been altered in printing. From time
to time God lays special stress upon matters which are
central and basic to the life and witness of the Church,
which is the Body of Christ, which matters are in danger
of being lost sight of. His method of doing this is
sometimes that of laying His hand upon some and taking
them in deep places where their only hope of life and
ministry is the revelation which He gives them there.
Thus they become entrusted with a testimony which creates
a specific ministry to, and in, and through the Body of
Christ: only a testimony, not a "movement," a
sect, an organization, although He may create or raise up
a vehicle or base for such a ministry. Personal interests
are ruled out, God sees to that, and any suggestion of a
tendency to make anything of the persons or the means
swiftly meets His arresting disfavour. By such deep ways
and at a "Great price is this freedom bought,"
but being of God and not of men there is a blessed
release from all anxiety as to the outworking of the
Divine purpose. Such is the nature of the
"Testimony" herein set forth. This revelation
through the Word is released in printed form, not as
propaganda or in the interests of any
"movement," but that - if God will so use it -
the "Eternal Purpose" may be served and that
there may be won for the Lamb that was slain some reward
of His sufferings. "That in all Things He might have
the preeminence."
T. Austin-Sparks
"Dieulefit,"
Forest Hill, London.
[From the late 1920's]
Foreword to the 1948 Edition
"The
Centrality and Universality of the Cross" was the
first book to be published in connection with
"Witness and Testimony" literature. The content
was given in a series of Conference messages, and it was
published in the spoken form. It is many years since the
first edition ran out, and there have been many requests
for a re-publication. This present edition has been
rewritten so that the redundancies of the spoken form are
eliminated.
When
this message was first published, the Lord was holding
very strongly to the particular emphasis which it
represents - the fuller meaning of the Cross. We have
never departed from that basic position, but as the years
have passed we have been led to the superstructure and
the issue of all. Thus the Church in its fuller meaning
followed in true spiritual sequence, as the House is
through the Altar. While still emphasizing the essential
and full meaning of that through which the Lord reaches
His end - namely, the Cross and the Church - we have in
the steady process of Divine leading and dealings come to
our present supreme emphasis - the Fullness of Christ,
and God's Eternal Purpose concerning His Son. This is
inclusive, but we trust that we shall abide in the way of
progress in seeing more and more of what that fullness
means. As the Cross remains basic and operative to keep
the way clear of all that spells death, even legalistic
applications of Divine things, we are sure that more than
ever we have yet seen will be shown.
We pray
that this ministry's bow may abide in strength, and that
many more will be helped by it toward that goal, the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.