If Thou Wilt Be Perfect . . . - Chambers, Oswald
If Thou Wilt Be Perfect . . .
Talks on Spiritual Philosophy
Oswald Chambers
Copyright © 1939 Oswald Chambers Publications Association
Introduction
Source
Lectures on biblical philosophy given at the bible training college,1 London, from January to July 1912.
Publication history
.as articles: first published as articles in the bible training course (btc) monthly journal 2 from October 1937 through October 1938.
.As a book: first published as a book in 1939. Mrs. Chambers had planned to title it spiritual philosophy but bowed to David lamberts 3 sugges- tion to use jesus words to the rich young ruler in matthew 19:21if thou wilt be perfect.
Always a voracious reader of wide-ranging taste, chambers included the writings of many philosophers in his personal study. During oswalds student days at the university of edinburgh (189596), he very likely studied metaphysics and the history of philosophy under professor andrew seth and moral philosophy under professor henry calderwood. In addition, he may well have attended dr. Alexander whytes 4 young mens classes, held every sunday evening following the service at free st. Georges church. When chambers arrived in edinburgh, dr. Whyte was dealing with the mystics, including tauler and the book, theologia germanica, which are both quoted throughout if thou wilt be perfect. In 1900, chambers was teaching philosophy at dunoon college, 5 a small theological school across the firth of clyde from glasgow, scotland. When his students, most of whom had no university training, expressed their difficulty in making sense of existing textbooks, chambers compiled and published his own outlines for the study of historical philosophy as a guide for his classes.
Of his lecture series on biblical philosophy at the bible training college in 1912, chambers said: the ethics and philosophy classes have taken a great stride in advance, and this is all the more surprising as the bible philosophy class is anything but a popular subject as commonly conceived; yet the numbers attending this class grow.
One of chambers recurring themes was the critical necessity for every christian to think. The reason why the average christian worker is only the average christian worker, Oswald told his students, is that he or she will remain grossly ignorant about what he does not see any need for. All of you have intelligence, and you must use it for god.
1. Residential school near Clapham Common in SW London, sponsored by the League of Prayer. Oswald Chambers was
Principal and main teacher; Biddy Chambers was Lady Superintendent. Known as the BTC, it closed in July 1915 because of
World War I.
2. The Bible Training Course Monthly Journal was published from 1932 to 1952 by Mrs. Chambers, with help from David
Lambert.
3. David Lambert (1871–1961): Methodist minister and friend of Oswald Chambers. Assisted Mrs. Chambers with OC
publications from 1917–61.
4. Alexander Whyte (1836–1921): Scottish minister who influenced Chambers during Oswald’s time at Edinburgh Uni-
versity, 1895–96.
5. Chambers spent 1897–1906 at Dunoon Theological College as a student, then as a tutor.
Foreword
On tauler and on theologia germanica
Two names are mentioned in this book, one is a man, tauler, and the other a volume, theologia german- ica. Quotations are made from them. Both belong to pre-reformation times. John tauler was born in strasbourg about 1300. He was a dominican monk and had already achieved honour and reputation as a preacher when a great change occurred in his spiri- tual outlook. An unknown layman, after hearing him preach, was moved to tell him that he was allowing himself to be killed by the letter, and was yet in darkness, and had not tasted the sweetness of the holy ghost. The preacher took the words in a spirit of meekness and was ready to receive helpful counsel from his unknown friend. You must, he said, take up your cross and follow our lord jesus christ and his example in utter sincerity, humility and patience, and must let go all your proud reasoning. He advised him to cease his preaching for a while and in quiet contemplation examine his life in the mirror of our lords. Tauler was nearly fifty, but he took the place of abasement and self-surrender, and for nearly two years was a seeker of gods way, praying that gods life might be brought forth in him. His former friends thought him demented. When the clear light came and he knew the time had come to bear his witness in public, he found it not easy to begin, but soon wisdom and grace from the holy spirit were bestowed in abundant measure. So began years of wonderful work for god. In those days when salvation by simple faith in Jesus christ was so largely hidden beneath ceremonial worship, he taught many that the way to god was by a new birth that brought men into a vital relation to the living god. His sermons greatly influenced luther. They have ministered to many in many countries. A volume of his sermons has been published in english under the title, the following of christ. The book, theologia germanica, belongs to the same period. Its author is unknown. That also pre- pared for the reformation, as it lays stress on the holy spirits application of christs work to the heart of a believer. God never leaves himself without a witness, and in that bedimmed period these lights were shining and have been shining ever since. John wesley complained to william law6 that when he was an earnest inquirer he had been directed to the mystic writers, and so had missed the basic truth of salvation by faith in jesus christ. We all need to know the initial experience of christ as the propitiation for our sins, and as the one who has brought to a world of sinners the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. Afterwards we may find, as wesley did, much light in such writers as the above upon how god works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, and how we can work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:1213). The quotations made by Oswald chambers are themselves of great value, and the expository words that follow are full of luminous and practical teaching for us to-day.
London David Lambert April1939
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Contents
I. The Philosophy of Perfection …………………………………………. 570
II. The Philosophy of the Fall—I ………………………………………… 574
III. The Philosophy of the Fall—II ………………………………………. 577
IV. The Philosophy of Discernment ……………………………………… 580
V. The Philosophy of Following Our Lord …………………………… 583
VI. The Philosophy of Godliness …………………………………………. 586
VII. The Philosophy of Reason ……………………………………………… 589
VIII. The Philosophy of Love ………………………………………………… 592
IX. The Philosophy of Sacrificing ………………………………………… 595
X. The Philosophy of Discipleship………………………………………. 598
XI. The Philosophy of the Perfect Life …………………………………. 601
XII. The Disciple and the Lord of Destiny ……………………………… 603
