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towards the restoration of reality let us rapidly glance at the covenants made with Abraham. In Genesis xii. 1-3 it reads, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." This great covenant clearly contains two promises-one confined to himself and his natural offspring in their national polity; the other including all the families of the earth, making him heir of the world. Judaism was a partial developement of the first promiseChristianity has been a partial unfolding of the second. But even now in this stage of our history, there has only been the inchoate fulfilment of either. The 13th chapter, after Lot and Abraham are separated: the Lord says to the latter, "For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it, and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee" (15-17.) It requires no proving that this is merely an explicit confirmation of the promise in the first cove nant, which strictly referred to the natural and political The 15th chap. contains the covenant of the lamp and the furnace-still referring to the natural, marking out the extent of the country. "In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (18.) The 17th chap. contains the covenant of circumcision still referring to the natural, And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession" (8.) This covenant was ratified by circumcision The former one defined the boundaries of the property-this one, by a peculiar mark and token, identified the people who were to possess the estate for ever. In the 22nd chapter, after Abraham has so sublimely revealed his childlike trust in God, the two promises of the first covenant are both ratified. "In blessing will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is by the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (17-18) We have at least three covenants before us, one of Spirit and Universality-another of flesh, limited to a peculiar people—another

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If so

of property, defining a central country which would be the principal theatre for the evolution of the purposes of God. But all the covenants and promises are jumbled hopelessly in the mind of C. as is evident by his reference to Galatians. That which Paul has before him in Galatians is the great fact that the gospel was preached to Abraham in the promise, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." Hence, this blessedness comes to the Gentile by faith in Christ Jesus; for thus we receive, not Canaan, but the promise of the Spirit, and the hope of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. But the covenants and promises which have relation to the ancient people and their defined country are just as thoroughly sealed and inviolate, as the one by which we live. Let us suppose, for the sake of illustration, that the promise of which the Apostle is treating has a reference to the earthly Canaan. what would exclusive mean? Is Christ to be there alone in his grandeur, with Palestine as a place of solitary confinement? Or if this be rather too narrow, are the spiritual seed to be located there? Shall Jerusalem and its environs be inhabited by the Christian children of faithful Abraham? As both these conclusions will be rejected, it follows that the natural seed of Abraham in the supernatural line of Isaac are the unquestionable heirs of the property. On this matter the providence of God chords with the strain of ancient prediction. We can feel in what direction the wind of life is blowing, and the open page of present reality burns with glory from on high. God has been preserving the land for the people and the people for the land, and they will meet in the ripeness of the time. One remark may perhaps help a few persons who have not been able to see their road clearly. Separate from Christ there can be no eternal possession by any race. The Hebrews are the true historical heirs, the people who actually have the title deeds of the earthly inheritance; but still we are taught that the political glory will rest on a base of spiritual renovation. A deep and all comprehending revolution in the inner man lies at the foundation of their everlasting security. They must see and feel the majesty and glory of the true Lord before they can walk in their fair country with quietness and assurance for ever.

I have often admired the comprehensive outline which the Apostle furnishes, quite in an incidental manner, Giving none offence, neither to the Jew nor to the Gentile nor to the church of God." That spiritual corporation called the church of God received both races, and was indeed composed of such materials; but races ended there. It was a mystic sea into

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which the rivers ran and were lost; but only lost that they might be found in greater glory, for they mingled in a nobler flood, and rolled onward to a destiny of more exceeding grandeur. Twenty-eight years' careful study of prophetic testimony have established in my mind the conviction that in the age of latter day glory, in the dispensation of the fulness of the times, in the kingdom of the thousand years, which follows upon the ruin of the Roman Empire the old outline shall still subsist. There will still be in existence the old elements -the Jew, the Gentile, and the church of God. But how wonderfully changed! How exalted in proportions and in radiance! We may indeed identify the country, but how transformed and glorified! The mountains are loftier and tinged with a finer glow, the plains are wider and richer in apparel, and through the land of life the rivers more magnificent sweep on rejoicing. Beginning with the highest element of the new age, the church of God: it becomes the bride, the wife of the Lamb, clothed in immortal beauty, and dwelling in a city of habitation which flings Palestine far into the shade. This is the supreme power, reigning with Christ on his throne, and dispensing his judgments or beneficence abroad.

The Jew is in his measure as much transformed as the church. The Hebrew race, Israel and Judah, all recovered-all home in country and in God, with preeminence in glory and greatness over all the races of the earth. Indeed there is the best reason for believing that this people will be in the regeneration the ministers of life and love, the instrumental forces of justice and righteousness, vessels of light and honour by means of which the King and his glori. fied Queen may pour forth the wine of the kingdom in all holy and elevating influ ences. The "Gentile," the lowest element, in his measure almost as much changed. The idolatries, the wars, the brutal ignorance, the unrighteous governments, all gone; delivered likewise from the power of the Devil, who is bound for a thousand years. With perfect freedom from infernal influences, and placed under the best government and the best teaching, there is field room for the degraded millions to be awakened, enlarged, and lifted into higher life. There is one great mistake underly. ing all that C. has written. It was indicated at first by his misconception concerning the passage in Revelations, and often crops out on the road. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." C. had a curious dream about this, which was that he must come to the Apostles to understand the Prophets-that he must find in the gospel testimony all that the Prophets made known. It is, however, quite cei tain

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that the angel had no intention of uttering such nonsense. The true meaning conveyed by the passage is clear enough. It is simply this, that all the Prophets bear testimony to Jesus. That we catch their essential spirit and their central and reigning life, when we discover that they are filled with Christ. It is in portraying him in the brightness of his character, the perfection of his working, the extent of his dominion, and the blessedness of his people, that the Prophets get kindled and inspired. As they survey from their great eminence-the mountain whither the Spirit carried them-the magnitude of his empire, and the tranquillity of nature, and the happiness of his subjects, their pencils are dipt in the living fire and the page burns while we read. They arise on strong pinions into the fields of ether, into regions of the true sublime, and we are lifted on the wings of the same inspiration. When Peter preached to the Jews, in addition to present blessings he added, "He shall send Christ Jesus, whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by his Prophets since the world began." It appears that the great Palingenesia, which is to be inaugurated when the Lord appears, has been treated by all the Prophets from the beginning. It is indeed the imperishable glory which preserves life and hope in the very heart of creation, or all things would languish and die. Have the Prophets treated such matters darkly or obscurely? Have their statements any likeness to heathen oracles or sibylline leaves? Nothing of the kind. The figures and symbols which they employ are not to darken, but to illuminate. The Orient tropical fulness, the splendour of style and coloring, are befitting both the time and place, as well as the nature of the subject. When the Apostle Peter wished to speak through the church of his time to the catholic church of Christian humanity, and especially to the church of the last days, what place did he assign to the Prophets ? After speaking of the sensible evidence which they had on the holy mountain to the fact that the glorious appearing of Christ was no cunning fable, but a sublime verity, a grounded reality, he adds, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy, wherein ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the Day Star rise in your hearts." The point I wish to be emphatic is this, while we walk in this dark place-the world in moral ruins, the wilderness with its beasts and pitfallsby what light are we to have special guidance? THE WORD OF PROPHECY IS THE LAMP. The wise man of God carries the lamp in his hand, and finds the circle of

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radiance round him sufficient for safe travelling. The more it is used the brighter it shines, and the firmer we walk onward to the city of God. It will never lose its power, till we need it no longer. The LAMP will pale ineffectual when the grand Morning Star appears when the day dawns which is cloudless and everlasting, never followed either by gloaming or midnight. From these premises something like the following is deducible-In seeking fulness of information concerning latter

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day glory, the Prophets are the principal source to which we should apply The Apostles had a specific work to accomplish of a different nature, and very rarely climb the table land of prediction. John is an exception, and it is a very interesting and profitable work to examine critically the passages in the Apocalypse which synchronize with the predictions of the elder Prophets. But space admonishes me that I must leave the conclusion of this article for another month. A.

PERHAPS Some competent brother will favor the readers of the Harbinger with his views on the necessity of attending to the following and similar admonitions:-"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Rom. xii 1.2.) "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter i 15-16.)

What is meant by the expression "a living sacrifice?' Are we really called to make sacrifices under the Christian dis pensation? How are we to avoid being "conformed to this world," while almost all our intercourse is with people of the world? How, and to what extent, are we

What are we to

to be "transformed?" understand by "revellings" and "banquetings," (Gal. v. 21, and 1 Peter iv. 3,) seeing drunkenness and excess of wine are also named separately? Is it consistent for Christians, who profess to have separated themselves, to hold what are called social parties, consisting of professed Chris. tians and persons who are not, at which music and dancing, together with the usual frivolities, are introduced; or it is necessary, at least for the sake of expediency, (see 1 Cor. vi. 12, and x. 23) to refrain from either promoting or attending such an assembly? Also, if these associations are to be encouraged as leading to kindly feelings, is it really necessary that any distinction be kept up between Christians and those who do not make any profession? and if it is necessary, how slight a line of demarcation will suffice to meet the requirement? Replies to these questions will oblige several who desire to be enlightened. W. S.

W. M"

The above is from one who grieves over some amount of disturbance in the church owing to the advocacy, by an evangelist and certain converts, of receiving money from the unconverted to aid in building a chapel. He asks whether there is New Testament example in favor of so doing. All must admit that there is not, while on the other hand the preachers of the word are alluded to as "taking nothing from the Gentiles." Still we cannot say that the law demands that if one who is not in the kingdom seeks to promote the building of a chapel his contribution must be refused. Of this, however, we feel pretty certain, that application to such, even by way of

a broad hint, that it would be acceptable, is mean and discreditable to the church, and that without such application very little will ever come from that quarter. Then, most certainly, to accept such help when good brethren would be grieved and hurt in conscience thereby would amount to a sad mistake. Better have a united chur h than a new chapel, and if the house cannot be built without help from the world, and if getting the little that could be thus ob tained, will promote disunion and disturb the peace and harmony of the church, refuse every shilling rather than accept questionable aid with such results. Birmingham a chapel has been recently erected and another is to follow, but some kindly people have been given to understand that they must give themselves to the Lord and his church before we accept their contributions to his cause.

ED.

În

Harbinger, June 1, '65.

BIRMINGHAM.

At the end of last month, before leaving for Lancashire, I immersed three, during the present month Brother T. Johnson has buried by baptism six, and since my return one other has gone down into the water, giving, with three from the Baptists and three restored, an increase of sixteen since the notice last month. D. K. May 23, 1865.

CAMDEN TOWN.

Since last report (March) six have been immersed into Jesus our Lord. Three of of these came from Tetsworth, Oxon, with our zealous Sister Sherwood, who has taught them the way of the Lord more perfectly. They will meet on the first of the week to instruct one another as they are able, hoping soon to attract and convert others. (Tets worth is midway between London and Banbury.)

On the 14th April the church assembled to take leave of our highly esteemed Brother Roebuck, who has so long ministered as a deacon as to purchase to himself a good degree; together with Sister Roebuck, an eminently useful deaconess, who has been a succorer of many, and the loss of whose services, so cheerfully rendered, is generally lamented; also Brother Roebuck, jun. and Brother Collier, two useful Sunday school teachers, with their wives, our sisters in the Lord These six left our shores for New Zealand on the 24th April. The church took a lively interest in the departure of these brethren and sisters, and gave expression thereto in appropriate presents, affectionate addresses, and fervent prayers for their safety, comfort, and usefulness in the land of their adoption. Very interesting and affecting responses were also made by each of the three brethren. One then came forward to make "the good confession" and to be "buried in baptism." An instructive address on the initiatory ordinance was given by Brother Exley, and the meeting concluded at a late hour, with individual benediction on the voyagers. In a few days we expect formally to take leave of our esteemed Brother and and Sister Hicks, who are also bound for Auckland, New Zealand, and who, we doubt not, will render eminent service to the brethren there, or wherever they may be located.

BRIGHTON.

W. D. H.

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Part of the last month we have devoted to preaching the word of life in St. Helens, Earlstown, Golbourne, Wigan, Liverpool, &c. At St. Helens, in addition to dis. coursing some six times in the chapel, we delivered in the Town Hall two lectures These lectures were given in discharge of on Baptism and one on the State Church. a debt due to Dr. Carr and his friends.

The meetings were large and Churchmen they can assail truth with noise, abuse, and and Church-women gave evidence that buffoonery in sufficient quantity to manilittle more than profession. It is generally fest that Christianity with them is but thought that the St. Helens Churchmen better served by letting us alone. Telling have now found that their purpose will be extracts from the lectures were published in the local papers. On the Lord's day brother writes-" On Sunday the bath was two were immersed and, since leaving, a again in use, when an itinerant preacher of the revival class submitted to the Lord."

LEICESTER.

D. K.

A communication from J. Leavesly reports an interesting meeting in connection with laying the foundation stone of the chapel in which the Leicester church hope, 'ere long, to proclaim the glorious gospel. A numerous company gathered on the ground, when, after singing, prayer, and reading of Holy Scriptures, R. Mumby, of Nottingham, made known the contents of a bottle to be placed under the stone-i.e. the Leicester Guardian, Harbinger, and other periodicals and documents. After laying the stone he delivered an address upon "What we believe, and why ?" The proceedings of the day, including the tea arrangements, were highly satisfactory.

WEDNESBURY.

G. S. Dowling, of Birmingham, reports the results of his laboring four successive Lord's days in Wednesbury. Good and attentive hearing inside and outside, conversation with anxious enquirers. Tuo made the good confession in order to immersion. It is also satisfactory to know that the seed is bringing forth fruit beyond our own border. A party of "Revivalists" to whom we have had some access have

Since our last report in March Harbinger we have added eight by baptism, and the daughter of one of the oldest sisters in the church has also been immersed into the glorious name, but has united with the brethren at Golborne, as has also another sister who came here to be baptized. We have also received one formerly baptized, who bids fair to be useful among us, and we have received back five to our fellow. ship.

In April we were privileged with a visit from our Bro. Thompson, and his sisterwife, and were cheered and instructed thereby; and we had also four addresses from Bro. Parris, whose plain, convincing manner and earnestness had great effect on the brethren and on those without. It was after one of his addresses that one of the baptisms took place and on the Lord's day morning following the wife of the brother then immersed was also buried with Christ in baptism. Last Thursday night, though very unfavourable weather prevailed, a goodly company listened with attention to a powerful address from Bro. King, and to the brethren, we know, good

has resulted.

May 15th, 1865.

WREXHAM.

R. H.

Our gathering in King's-street chapel is somewhat increased, hearers are more numerous, fourteen of those that left some years back are restored, several Baptists regularly attend to the ordinances with us, the Lord's day school is increasing, and we are now in want of help from some able brethren to preach the word. Can you aid in obtaining such? J. D. H.

WOLVERHAMPTON.

The truth is progressing here. On the 30th we received six into the church, four of whom Bro. King had immersed and two who had previously been baptized. A few days after I baptized one, and others are to be immersed by Bro. King next Lord's day. The spirit of enquiry is not at all abating. Several are likely soon to be

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come obedient. We have good meetings— the members generally rejoice in their position. Most of them are persons of middle age, thoughtful and intelligent. Having taken their stand, they are anxious that others be made partakers of like precious faith. W. TURNER. May 23.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

The war with the natives continues, but it is far from us. The money spent upon them by Missionary Societies is in a great measure thrown away, as the partizan zeal of the different sects has repelled them. During the last four months we have added six by baptism. We are building a chapel with money entirely given by the brethren. We could not consent to obtain help from those out of the church.

W. RATTRAY.

BALLARATT, MOUNT CLEAR.

An exceedingly interesting meeting was held at the above place on the occasion of the opening of a newly erected building for the worship of God and the proclamation of the gospel. For some few weeks prior to its erection the efforts of the brethren in proclaiming the glad tidings had been discontinued in consequence of the term for which they had leased their former building having run out, and being unable to renew it through the unwillingness of the denominations to lend it for such a purpose; they were, therefore, driven to one of two alternatives, either to discontinue the preaching or to make an effort for its continuance by providing the necessary accomodation. The church then took immediate steps towards the accomplishment of their object-the needed sum was promptly raised, partly by subscrip tion and partly by loan, and was then followed up by several of the brethren offerthe result of which is that the building ing to assist in its erection by free labor,

was commenced and carried on towards

completion so far as to render it available for the end designed in a very short time. The building thus erected is of wood, and provided with comfortable sitting room for sat down to the well-provided tables, and one hundred persons-about that number partook of an excellent tea provided by the sisters of the church. After tea the business proper of the meeting commenced, Bro. Anderson, of the church at Mount Clear, was voted to the chair, and he then called upon Brethren Neesh, Long, Wright, Martin, and Picton, of the Ballaratt church, to address the meeting. The subjects treated by the several speakers were various and brief. The members of the church

were congratulated upon what they had