The Unwritten Gospel of Jesus

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books.” — Tqhn xxi. 25.

And so the Bible is not limited to our books! The greater part of the Divine Word has never come down to us, has never been put in writing! To what purpose is this waste! I can overlook such things in Nature. I have become accustomed to be told that most of her rays do not reach my eye, and that “of a thousand seeds she often brings but one to bear.” But I expected something better from the Word of God; has God not said that not one word of His should fall ineffectual! Yes, my brother; but where is there any talk about the ineffectual here! There are words of Jesus which never were written; does it follow that their influence was never transmitted! Thousands heard them; thousands wrote them in their hearts; thousands were redeemed by them; thousands that perhaps had never heard any other word of Jesus have handed down an influence received from these! Influences live when their origin is forgotten. You have perhaps lost the memory of your mother; but all the same, she started your spiritual life, and you keep the bias still. Believe me, strange as it may sound, there are thousands of Christians in the world to-day who owe their inheritance to the Lost Gospel of Jesus!

I thank SThee, O Lord, for the record that tells me of things unrecorded; it tells me I must not limit the channels of Thy revelation. Thou hast, even yet, more channels than I know. There are deeds of Thine, there are words of Thine, which were unseen by the eye. The world would not hold the books of unrecorded Christian experience. Thou hast still, with many souls, silent channels of communion — channels where no ships are seen to sail. 1 see good men around me who do not repair to Thy visible fountain. I should marvel at their goodness did I not know that Thou hast an visible fountain. Many are bathing there — bathing unconsciously. I have seen them come up refreshed, shining. I have said, Who are these clothed in white raiment, and whence come they? — I have not observed them at the ordinary waters.” And Thine angel has answered me, saying, “These are they who have been taught the things not written in the books. They found a barrier in their mind which blocked their way to the common fountain. They could not get near it; yet their hearts were thirsting for the waters. And the Lord has given them drink by a secret way — a way which they themselves know not — by the spray which is ever sparking from the ocean of His love. Therefore it is that their faces shine so bright, that their eyes wear so unlikely a gleam. They are the children of the Unwritten GospeL You have not met them at the fountain; yet they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.”