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But when such efforts have been blessed-if we continue to lecture or sermonize the saints, who have been taught, with us, to hold the Head, is it not, surely, to hold one thing in theory and another in practice?

Oh, how subtle Satan is! there is no end to his snares! What more natural thought than that those who have been used of the Lord to our conversion from sin, or to un-bandage our eyes to the errors and the evils of men's systems of religionwhat more natural thought than that they should, of course, be needful to our furtherance in grace! Beloved, our growth in grace is (primarily) our affair, for which we are each responsible. My brother cannot do it for me.

"Beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. ii. 5-8.)

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But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude i. 19-20.)

We have thus intimated the conviction that the practice of lecturing or discoursing to the saints is practically ignoring the headship of the Lord Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Spirit's blessings must be restrained where the Lord Jesus is dishonoured, and Satan will have special opportunities of working mischiefs. Some of those mischiefs are

1. The natural abilities of leaders are more liable to work unchecked, and plausible, but unscriptural views will (more probably) be adopted.

2. As the lecturer, or teacher, is generally more or less reverenced by the church, there will be a tendency to receive what is said by him, without proving Where the ability is great and the reverence strong, it will come to be mere natural ability addressing natural ability.

it.

Now, natural ability is sure to go wrong when handling the things of God. Satan is more than a match for all the intellect in the world.

What has been the consequence? Heaps of error, traditions in abundance. These have not been introduced by the church, but by the so-called gifted teachers and leaders in the church.

Oh, that we would cease from man! Oh, that dear ones would understand that "natural gift" and

"spiritual guidance" are two very different things! The former, Satan can get at, and clothe himself before it as an angel of light; the latter is from the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will bless us with His sweet unfoldings in proportion as we hold the Head, present in the midst of two or three gathered together in His name, and are lowly before Him.

Is it not time that we had "no confidence in the flesh ?" That is, confidence in natural ability, when possessed by ourselves or others.

Let our confidence be in God-The Comforter, the Holy Ghost.

We point to the abounding disorder all around, and lay it all to the charge of the accepted teachers of the saints. The world has had no share in it; they taunt you for it. The sheep, (poor simple ones!) who look up to you, have not done it. And God is "not the author of confusion, but of order." Then, who's to blame?

Unwit

You, and you alone-found, in the pride of intellect, the ready tools of the Arch-Intellect-Satan. tingly, your hands are soiled in the Impostor's service! Oh, fie, shame!

You love the sheep, you love the Master-do you? and affect to regret the disorder which you, as one of a class, have done?

Then, teach the saints, by example and precept, that you are no teacher-that the Comforter the Holy Ghost, is the only Teacher of the saints, through and by the Written Word.

Have you been blessed in your soul with an unfolding of the Word?

Have it to yourself, till you can bring it out without endangering the prerogatives of the Lord the Spirit. For when the time of the lecture or discourse arrives-How do you know that you will be in the Spirit?

How do you know the truth the saints most need? How do you know that the Spirit, who divides unto every man severally as He will," would not rather use another member of the body?

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Man-Ministry has dreadfully de-creased the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as well as the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ (as was shown us in our last.)

IV. BOOKS.

It may be said-" Why do you, conductors of "PRECIOUS TRUTH, issue expositions of the Word? "If there is danger of the saints accepting what is "spoken without proving it, is there not a similar "danger of their accepting what is written, without "proving it, and of regarding you (and other "writers) as teachers, as well as the Spirit ? "

We have, indeed, been exercised on that point. If all believers were this day walking by faith in the Lord's presence and the teaching of the Indwelling Spirit, it would be a mighty advantage if all written expositions were suppressed to-morrow.

But what about those who are not? who are still in the meshes of man's traditions? who, instead of knowing that "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty," (2 Cor. iii.) need to be taught, like the Hebrew saints, which be the first principles of

the oracles of God"? The very same reasons which render it our duty to exhort and entreat mistaught believers to be reconciled to God's thoughts when we meet with them in private life, make it also our duty to address such through this medium, finding it in our possession, in God's providence. We thus stand on much the same ground as the lecturer addressing a miscellaneous audience-a very different thing to a brother in fellowship regularly lecturing or discoursing to the saints. What is this latter? Why it is Coming into the Lord's presence

and standing with back upon him!

If the Lord Jesus says "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I",-how dare any one to take the headship of the meeting? A writer and a reader do not come together in the name of Christ. Besides, an article can be 'proved' sentence by sentence-can be taken up and laid down a dozen times. But you cannot stop a so-called "teacher." Again, the affections are not so likely to warp the judgment of a 'reader' as of a 'hearer,' -if the writer keeps anonymous.* *

Does the dear reader walk by faith in the Lord's presence and the ministry of the Holy Ghost, our ABIDING TEACHER, bless the Lord, by whatever means it was brought about?-Human-ministry can do no more. "Hold fast that thou hast, that none take thy crown." This JOURNAL is not for you, but for those who remain where you and we were but a short time ago, it may be-following man, but "we have returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls." At His feet we may well desire to listen to Him only; we may well care to read nothing but the Word of God. To us, beloved, "that which is perfect

is come.' 19

Oh, that there were none of man's rubbish to hinder poor believers from apprehending the truth in all its fulness! then, this and similar journals would not at all be needed. But you may well be concerned about them, and if you cannot get at them personally, distribute our journal, with prayer. And the Lord bless you, and us.

IV. A SUGGESTION AND AN EXPOSITION.

Finally, beloved, let us read the Epistle of the Lord Jesus Christ to Pergamos. What did the Lord detect in that church?

That church had in it those who held evil doctrines, and the members of the assembly were allowing the evil to remain undealt with, and not using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, against it. And what was the evil?-False Teaching. There

On the subject of writing anonymously, we may well learn another lesson from the precious 1st epistle of John. While the "Gifts" are in the Church, the Holy Ghost recog. nises them by name; the Church receives their writings in their name. But man-ministry coming to a close, the Holy Ghost suppresses the name of the last writer, and the epistle of John addressed to the whole church goes forth anonymously. We judge, by the Spirit, that it was uttered through Johnand that is all. Surely, this ought to settle the duty of our writing anonymously, if we think it our duty to write at all. The use of Initials will soon cease to be anonymous, and glory will accrue to MAN for what GOD may have given !

were those who held "the doctrine of Balaam " (the expediency of alliance with the world), and those who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes-which, I am impressed, means the doctrine of clergy and laity. Nicolaitanes seems to be made up of Nico, "to overcome," and laos, "the people." These latter words occur in the following

"When a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome [nico] him." (Luke xi. 22.)

"Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John xvi.) "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans xii. 21.)

"A peculiar people (laos). . which were not a people (laos), but are now the people (laos) of God." (1 Pet. i.)

Who have been the " overcomers " in the church? by whom have the people of God been "overcome"? Has it not been by the clergy? Then, Is "the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes" that doctrine which teaches the brethren to look up to man? which brings the saints into subserviency and spiritual prostration "" ordained." to the so-called "gifted," "taught,"

And where does this thought about there being other teachers in the Church beside the Holy Ghostwhere has it led so many of us who are otherwise deeply taught? Most of our readers know that we could mention the initials of several brethren who receive from thousands at this present time a deference due only to the Apostles of the Lord! The thought of the need of man-teachers is a specious form of the clergy-and-laity doctrine; that is,

"the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing," says the Lord Jesus Christ, "I hate." He hates that which causes so much positive dishonour to the Comforter, the Holy Ghost.' And shall not we hate it, too? tlety of Satan-this popular doctrine (we care not Yes; and to encourage us to overcome this subwhat terms you use-clergy, ministry, leading brethren, and the like)-the Lord of all says

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Are you spiritual? The Holy Spirit says to you: "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

"Will I give."

Then it is the Holy Spirit who gives to eat. He it is who, in the absence of the Lord Jesus Christ, gives to eat. Let us trust Him. He will daily, while we (the family of God) are tarrying down here in the wilderness,

Gather manna FOR us and Give To us. He knows where the manna is; that is to say, the portion of the Word of God that is suited for us

It is "hidden" to us and to others-not to Him.

What is the white stone, with the name on it knowa only to ourselves? Is it not the conviction in our own bosoms of the love of Christ to us each persenally? So that with Paul, we each can say of the Lord Jesus

"Who loved ME, and gave Himself for ME." To Him with the Father be praise continually for the gift of "the Comforter, the Holy Ghost."

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"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ and make the members of an harlot ?" (1 Cor. vi.)

"Which is [now] his body." (Eph. i.)

"That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel." "Edifying of the body." "Increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love." (iii. and iv.)

"He is the saviour of the body [nourisher and cherisher of the church. Just as a man cherishes his own flesh].. even so the Lord the church; for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." (v.)

But the emblem used in the Word to set forth

the Body.

This meets the difficulty which many of us have had in holding together the two "mysteries."* And some have endeavoured to show that the Church is

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the relationship of the Church to Christ, when glorithe work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:fied together, is "The Bride, the Lamb's Wife." Not till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto A Perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. That we, henceforth, be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Some have interpreted the phrase "unto a perfect man"-in the above scripture, to mean

Unto the Church glorified with Christ,

arguing that the Church is to look for Gifts till then. For ourselves, we have several difficulties in receiving this interpretation, which we desire, in much love, to humbly submit to our brethren.

1st. The language used by the Holy Ghost is not THE perfect man, but "a perfect man." We understand it as having, not a future, but a present meaning. Paul, writing to the Ephesian saints, says the Gifts were given-"Till we [Paul and them] all," individually, come unto. A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the full stature (morally and spiritually) of Christ," "walking even as He walked." (1 John ii.) Paul adds-"That we be no more CHILDREN," ," so that some, with himself, had already arrived at the perfectness to which he alludes, and when ALL had, then the Gifts would be no more needful, believers simply speaking the truth to each other in love." 2nd difficulty. As scripture must interpret scripture, what other scripture speaks of the Church hereafter with Christ as a glorified Man? Is it not rather the

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Lamb and the BRIDE?

3. But, (perhaps says a brother,)-Does not the Scripture reveal the mystery of the Church being the Body, as well as the Bride, and may not this mystery of the Head and the One Body be referred to in the above expression-"to a perfect man"?

We think not. First, because we cannot find that the emblem of Head and Members or Body is ever used with reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Church as glorified together.

This latter emblem is only used when reference is made to the Divine union and co-action of Christ and believers NOW-DOWN HERE-teaching, as this precious emblem does, the duty of subjection, the fact of dependence, the blessedness of vital union and of being the objects of ceaseless care.

But let the beloved reader prove whether this emblem is used in a temporary, earthward sense only.

not the Bride, but the Body, and that saved Israel is

the Bride.

We regard the emblem, therefore, of Head and Members as expressing present, NOT future, union and action through us (believers) on earth. Indeed, it is a higher emblem of the more wonderful union of Christ and believers under THIS dispensation as compared with the union which existed under the Old. Then, it was Vine and Branches: now, it is that and something more.

emblem, He was still on earth; the Root and Stem When the Lord Jesus gave his disciples the Vine the Lord is withdrawn; and the more appropriate were still in the earth. But now, in bodily presence, We are called to abide, not in the Vine Visible, but emblem is, not the Vine below, but the Head above.

in the Head Invisible.

All the members enumerated in the 1st Corinthians sable to the VITALITY of the Body-ear, eye, smell, express action and ACTION only; none are indispenfoot, hand. The mouth, for instance, as receiving food, is indispensable to the vitality of the body. To speak of a reputed spiritually gifted brother as a "mouth" (as has been done in our hearing) is simply

untenable.

For suppose a so-called "teacher's the members fare without a mouth? But let those ministrations are not possessed, then, how would testify to the grace of Christ who, in faithfulness to Him, have had to walk apart.

setting forth an earthly aspect only,
We press this figure of the "Body," therefore, as

"Our life is hid with Christ in God."

The Church is not manifested apart from Christ. The true and only Church is not seen and known. The Church is now like Eve, before her separate existence; she was IN the Man, and was taken out of the Man. Of us it is written, "we ARE members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."

"But, when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we appear WITH Him in glory."

"So shall we be for ever WITH the Lord."

As a visible fact no longer in Him, but as the Church the Woman, one-for ever one- -WITH Him.

The word "mystery," as used in the Scriptures, does not mean something hid, but something that was hid but now revealed.

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He will, indeed (our dear and blessed Lord), remain things which work together" for that special good, the HEAD, but in the same sense that(see Rom. viii.); or, as in Eph. iv., (which we are looking at,) he is "a perfect man, unto the measure

"THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN IS THE MAN."

But now, while believers are down here, Christ is of the stature of the fulness of Christ." the Head of the Church, "which is His body."

4. Thus we feel difficulty in harmonising OTHER Scriptures with the interpretation that the phrase "A PERFECT MAN," means the glorified assembly of God in union with the Lord Christ. But a special difficulty arises out of the PASSAGE

ITSELF.

It is this. James uses the same phrase, and he TWICE uses it with regard to practical walk: and he gives it most clearly the simple meaning which we say it has in the above passage in the Ephesians. Now, why should the phrase when used by Paul mean something very different?

"Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (i. 4.)

"If any man offend not in word, the same is A PERFECT MAN, and able also to bridle the whole body." (James iii.)

In the original, the phrase is the same-TELEIOS ANDROS. We must press this fact upon the beloved reader; the Spirit of TRUTH speaks to us by both. But further, teleios we cannot find ever used with reference to the Church glorified, but always to

MORAL PERFECTNESS.

The Lord Jesus thus uses it twice

"Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

"If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell that thou hast,'" &c. (Matt.)

Paul uses it in this sense a number of times

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect." (1 Cor. ii. 6.) "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Col.) Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I follow," &c.

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"Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect." (Phil. iii.) "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age(teleios, perfect)." (Heb. v.)

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Thus we see that "a perfect man," templated as possible now, down here. We find the word sometimes applied to principles, facts, and things: but never to glorification, thus"Perfect will of God." "When that which is perfect is come." "Perfect law of liberty." "Perfect love."

One of the most important places where this word is used is 1 Cor. xiv. This passage conclusively settles its simple application to moral perfection down here:

"Brethren, by not children in understanding; how beit, in malice be ye children [or rather, babes]; but in understanding be men (teleios, that is to say, perfect.)" ́

James's "perfect man" is simply a self-controlled man, able to bridle his tongue-more especially in the assembly, occurring, as it does, directly after the exhortation, "Be not many masters" or teachers, as the word in the original is rendered in Acts xiii. 1; 1 Tim. ii. 7; 2 Tim. i. 11.

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Paul's "perfect man is one who has "put on the Lord Jesus Christ,' -one who is being conformed to the image of God's dear Son" by the "all * James wrote before "that which is perfect had come."

The Lord Jesus was indeed "perfect." Now HE IS OUR STANDARD. To the JEW it was said-" Be ye perfect, (teleios), even as your Father in heaven is perfect." But to us who believe in Jesus it is said—

"He that saith he abideth in Him OUGHT HIMSELF SO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED." (1 John ii.)

To this perfectness, the Gifts, as the Lord has shown us, were given to bring up believers from heathenism and Judaism.

"Be ye followers [or imitators] of me, even as I am of Christ." "Warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily." (Col. i.)

Paul does not say, "present to Christ," but "present perfect in Christ Jesus"-perfect as followers of Christ-in all the moral perfectness of Jesus Christ. It does not mean that Paul might present believers "perfect" in the glory. The Lord Jesus will present the Church unto himself; (Eph. v. 27.) Paul strove that he might then present-at that time

every man as apprehending the faith in its unity, of God, and practically conformed to Him. Think of or entirety, and as possessing a knowledge of the Son the newly-converted Philippian jailer and the proud Jew but recently going about to establish his own righteousness, brought to believe in Jesus-and having no New Testament! They needed "Gifts," indeed, to bring them to the understanding of the mystery of Christ and the Church, and to the knowledge of the Son of God, and to conformity to the

Man Christ Jesus.

This is the simple meaning of the above passage in the Ephesians. This perfectness of believers was the AIM and OBJECT of the Gifts, Christ being their

STANDARD.

But now that "that which is perfect is come," we are each responsible to know all the mind and will of God, having the Scriptures in our hands and the Holy Ghost to unfold them. Spiritual Gifts, being no longer needed, have "vanished away."

We are each responsible, not only to know the truth, but to "speak the truth in love," so that we all may be "knit together in love," and "grow up into Christ in all things."

The Apostle John, who, writing last of all, regards the Church as having no further need of Gifts, also takes it for granted that believers "walk even as Christ walked," "who hath left us an example that we should follow his steps," and who, at all times, spake the truth, and oh, with what love!

We conclude with passages from the 1st Epistle of John, and humbly exhort our brethren to seek to be frequently led of the Spirit into this valuable, lastwritten, and very precious epistle:

"Every man that hath this hopo in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure."

"Whosoever abideth in HIM sinneth not." "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

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This Scripture is specially suitable as the basis of an exhortation to an attendance at meetings at the times appointed. For our own souls' sake, it is better to be a little earlier than the time for coming together, in order to engage in silent prayer and communion with the Lord. And, let it be remembered, that for the assembly's sake, every member is bound to take every care to be in the Spirit on coming together, in order to be really helpers, and not hinderers, one of another.

Is it needful to give up anything, in order to be in good time? Then let our willingness to give up be quickened by remembering what we have received

"A kingdom which cannot be moved."

Then we may well desire to "have [hold fast] grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." Now, coming late is neither "acceptable" to God nor man. Neither is it "reverent;" acting so with respect to an earthly personage would be felt to be very ir-reverent.

Then we see that we are to serve God, not only "acceptably and with reverence," but with "godly fear." And that because "Our God is a consuming fire."

Though we have come to Mount Sion (not Mount Sinai), yet, as regards the flesh in us, God is ever the same-a consuming fire! If anything of the flesh is upon us, the presence of God will be felt to have a burning effect-burning off from us all that is of the flesh.

Now, indolence is of the flesh, and if it be allowed in us, we must feel the consequences. But if we be going on with that which is according to God-then there is nothing about us that is consumable. Happy are we, then, when our hearts condemn us not.

But let us not judge one another in regard to this matter : the Lord knows all unavoidable hindrances.

It is blessed to think of Jesus in this respect. As He was wont," He went early to the temple." Let us hold fast grace, beloved, to "walk as dear children unto all well-pleasing."

II.-GIVING.

2. How UNACCEPTABLE, also, is the practice of sending, or taking round a box, after the breaking of bread, to every member of the church! The thought which leads to this practice is, doubtless, this-" Everyone in fellowship ought to give something; so let us afford every member an opportunity of so doing."

Very true; but if the box for the church's offerings be placed at the door, so that all who come in and out must see it, the needful opportunity will be given.

But passing a box round a meeting says more than-" You ought to give.' It says, practically, "We expect you to give." And everyone feels that if he did not give those who sit next would know it. Thus, an element of constraint is introduced. The consequence is-The freeness of giving-that beautiful thing-is sadly marred. Giving is a fruit unto God; but how we mar the delicate bloom on the fruit by our rude dealing with it-don't we?

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as a duty is pressed at the By this practice, "giving" expense of freedom. Where this is the case, payments resemble taxes more than freewill offerings, and the church is made a place for the payment of taxes-POLL-taxes; that is, something per head!

The principle is true-That we ought to give according to Our ability. But who can tell the "ability," or pecuniary means, of his neighbour? There may be no "ability," at the time, where we little think it. Suppose the Lord has recently -it may be on the way to the meeting-made a special call on our means. In such a case-and many others--a certain eeling of shame may press a gift-no, (we should rather say,) = Tax, or Tribute.

Brethren, Let Cæsar take tribute, and Cæsar only. But some may say-Oh, if we left it wholly to consciences we should not get enough to meet our liabilities." Ah, is that it? You take such heavy expenses upon you that you cannot walk by faith in regard to meeting them! Oh, let us commit our affairs to the Lord, and He will meet the assembly's needs in His own way. "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Then, let us "walk by faith, NOT by sight" in this matter, and "serve God acceptably."

BOOKS RECEIVED.

"A SECOND WORD of WARNING to the recent Converts in Ireland on the peculiar doctrines of Mr DARBY and Mr NEWTON. Paul, Paternoster-row. 4d."-With this pamphlet we have

received a letter from the author. Neither of the conductors of PRECIOUS TRUTH has any personal acquaintance with, or experience of, the "Brethren's" troubles, and we feel that the late Editor dealt sufficiently with the subject.

Our own souls, we may say, have been refreshed by certain of our brother's remarks on the inconceivable magnitude of the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross-remarks which we may be led to transfer to our columns.

"THE RIVER OF LIFE."-A series of papers utterly mystic, based on fanciful interpretations of Old Testament Scripturemost grievous.

"LIGHT IN THE DARK VALLEY." S. W. Partridge. 2d.-A truthful tract, eloquent; rather too eloquent. The power of truth is weakened when we attempt to assist it by a stream of rhetoric. The attention is apt to be caught by our beauty, rather than its force.

We regret the writer does not seem to be quite clear that the Christian's "living hope" is the "appearing of the great God, our Saviour Jesus Christ." He who is waiting for the Lord from Heaven is indeed delivered from the bondage of the fear of death.

"ELECTION AND EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT."—On this latter subject we think we shall do well to simply hold in its natural meaning the text-"Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels......These shall go away into everlasting [AIONIOS] punishment, but the righteous into life eternal [AIONIOS]."

"The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks." We" are but a feeble folk," and take shelter in the rocks and fortresses of God's Word, which endureth for

ever.

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"IS IT HONEST TO ABIDE A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ?" Macintosh. 1s.-A laborious attempt of a true partisan of the English Establishment to justify its liturgies and practices. We require Scripture for everything; this writer gives us logic. Take, for instance, the following

"The Bible is truth; the Articles accord with the Bible; therefore, the Articles are truth."

"The Articles are truth; the Prayer-book accords with the Articles; therefore, the Prayer-book is truth."

By this logic, the Bible, the Articles, and the Prayer-book are proved of equal weight and value as standards of truth! Are they?

May the writer learn with us that "That which is perfect is

come."

"SIGNS OF OUR TIMES."-First article very good. We do not fall in with the interpretation put forth in this pamphlet, that the sixth vial is now being poured forth. And think this pamphlet is one of a class whose tendency is to work up a morbid wistfulness concerning dates-an excitement that may result in a disastrous re-action..

ERROR.--In our last, page 242, col.1, ten lines from bottom, for "past disappearing," read "fast disappearing."

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