is a mistake. True, it was given to Peter only in the first instance, as we have seen; and no doubt greater power was exercised during the days of the apostles than has been since; but not greater authority. The Church has the same authority now as then, as to discipline in the assembly, though it lacks the power. The word of the Lord remains unchanged. Cnly an apostle, we believe, could speak as Paul does in 1 Corinthians v. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." This was spiritual power in an individual, not the judgment of the Church. The same apostle, in reference to the same case, says to the assembly, “Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." The act of putting away was the act, not merely of the apostle, but of the whole assembly. In this case, and in this way, the excommunicated person's sins were retained, though evidently a converted man. In the second epistle chapter ii. we find him fully restored. His repentance is accepted by the assembly-his sins are remitted. The overflowing of the apostle's heart on this occasion, and his exhortations to

* Delivering to Satan is an act of power-putting out a wicked person a duty attached to the faithfulness of the assembly. No doubt, exclusion from the assembly of God is a very serious thing and leaves us exposed to sorrow and just trouble of heart, and that from the enemy: but direct delivery to Satan is an act of positive power. It was done in Job's case for his good. It was done by Paul in 1 Corinthians v. though acting in the gathered assembly, and for the destruction of the flesh. And again,

without reference to the assembly, in 1 Timothy i. as to Hymenæus and Alexander, that they might learn not to blaspheme. All discipline is for the correction of the individual, though to maintain withal the holiness of the house of God, and clear the consciences of the saints themselves. J.N.D.-Present Testimony, Vol. i. p. 392, New Series.

the Church, are valuable lessons for all who have to do with church government, and are intended to remove that cold suspicion with which an erring brother is too often received back to the privileges of the assembly. "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment [or censure] which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you, that ye would confirm your love toward him." Here we have a case in point, illustrative of the government of the assembly according to the will of Christ. "Whatsoever thou shalt

bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

"ONE THING I DO."

MORN, noon, and night,
Through days o'ercast and bright,
My purpose still is one :
I have one end in view,
Only one thing I do,

Until my object's won.

Behind my back I fling,
As an unvalued thing,

My former self and ways;
And, reaching forward far,
I seek the things that are
Beyond time's lagging days.

The day declineth fast,
Almost its hours are past,

Its lustre waneth now;

That other heavenly day,

With its enduring ray,

Shall soon light up my brow.

Oh! may I follow still,

Faith's pilgrimage fulfil,

With steps both sure and fleet!

The longed-for goal I see,

Jesus waits there for me,

Haste, haste, my weary feet!

CORRESPONDENCE.

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18. "M. F.," Loudwater. Your question involves the very foundations of Christianity. We give you, in reply, one brief but comprehensive statement of holy scripture. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Again, "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." (See Rom. vi., vii.; Gal. iii.) If we are to be taught by scripture alone, then we learn that the believer is dead to the law." He died in Christ. So the New Testament teaches us in manifold places. Now, what has the law to say to a dead man? or what has a dead man to say to the law? Is the law binding upon a dead man? The idea is absurd. "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."

True it is-blessedly true, that a Christian, walking in the Spirit, fulfils the practical righteousness of the law. (Rom. viii. 4.) But if you put a Christian under the law, you put him under the curse, for the apostle declares that as many as are on that ground, not merely as many as have not kept the law, are under the curse. In short, the entire teaching of Romans and Galatians is flatly opposed to the notion of putting Christians under the law whether for justification or as a rule of life. So far from its being the ground of justification, it is the ground of condemnation; and so far from its being a rule of life, it is a rule of death. (See Rom. vii. 10; 2 Cor. iii.)

Does any one in his right mind need to be told that a Christian is not to steal or commit murder? Surely not. But let us remember that christian morals rest on a christian, and not on a legal, basis. The law was given to man in the old creation, to test him and prove him, and cause the offence to abound. The Christian, on the other hand, is not in the old creation, but in the new. (2 Cor. v. 17.) He is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. (Rom. viii. 9.)

Are these things mere figures of speech? or are they divine statements concerning the very foundations of Christianity? Let us look well to it, dear friend; let us see where we are. A person who, in his actual experience, is under the law, must be a stranger to the peace and liberty of the gospel; and, moreover, must be wholly ignorant of the true character of Christianity. If we trace the history

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and the writings of the great apostle of the Gentiles, we shall find that there was nothing that so grieved and pained him—nothing he so strongly denounced-as the attempt to put Christians under the law in any shape or form, or for any object whatsoever. When he speaks of himself as being under the law to Christ" (1 Cor. ix. 21), any competent person may see that the word is, "under rule or authority to Christ," and has nothing to do with being under the law of Moses, which the apostle everywhere denounces in the most unmeasured terms. The law-teachers get no quarter whatever from Paul. This is as clear as anything can be. Hence, if we are going to submit to scripture, the law question is easily settled. But if any man refuses to submit to that authority, we do not see that there is much use in talking to him.

19. “F.,” Blackheath. Procure a copy of "Lectures on the Second Coming and Kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." By W. Kelly. Published by Broom, Paternoster Row.

We feel constrained to give the following extract of a letter from a dear friend in Wiltshire, in reference to the blessed work of Sunday school teaching. We give it simply for the encouragement of all who are engaged in that service. Our brother writes as follows, "I have no doubt but that you will be glad to hear a little of the way we are getting on with our Sunday school, about which you so kindly gave us a little advice when you were here. We commenced it on the 6th of December, with about 35 or 36, and we have had four or five added to our number since. Both teachers and scholars, so far, seem quite in earnest; and we have gone on very happily together in the work. You will rejoice to hear that the Lord has most graciously given us the seal of His blessing. Two little boys, of about twelve or thirteen years of age, have been converted; one of them a very clear decided case. He has gone on very nicely ever since, and is now desiring to come to the Lord's table. Several of the other scholars are also manifesting concern; and we trust the Lord has given us an earnest of the blessing He intends to pour out." May the foregoing cheer the hearts of Sunday school teachers; and may it stir up many of our dear young friends to enter, as earnest workers, upon a deeply interesting but sadly neglected field of labour. We specially note these words: "We have gone on very happily together." This is an essential point. There must be cordial and prayerful fellowship among the teachers, if any good is to

be done; and nothing so tends to promote this as the fact that each teacher really has at heart the one grand object, namely, the glory of Christ in the salvation of the dear children. When this is the case, the earnest worker is not hindered and harassed by that miserable spirit of crotchety hair-splitting as to the mode of doing things, which is the death blow to all real usefulness. May God bless this Wiltshire Sunday school, and all other Sunday schools throughout the world!

20. "M.," Montrose. 2 Timothy ii. 21, "If a man purge himself from these," refers, unquestionably, to the dishonourable vessels of the previous verse. This is the bounden duty of every one who desires to be a vessel sanctified and meet for the Master's use.

21. "E. S.," Kent. We can only say, the Lord be praised for the help ministered to you through our little serial. It was very kind of you to write.

22. "A Simple One," Oxford. We are at a loss to see your difficulty as to Philippians ii. 6, 7. Assuredly our blessed Lord was a real servant in every sense of the word. He was as really a servant (dovλos), as He was really God over all blessed for ever. He was very God and very Man -the veriest and only perfect servant that ever trod this earth. The more simple you are, the more clearly you will see this.

23. "A Tempted and Suffering One." You have our fullest sympathy. We have met many of God's dear children in precisely your condition. Indeed they have, in stating their exercises, used your very words. "This," you will say, "is poor comfort for me." And yet it may not be so. We know a very dear saint of God who was under exercise for years, and the only thing that gave him the smallest comfort was the eighty-eighth Psalm. And why? Because there was not a single bit of comfort in it. Yet it was written by a saint of God; and therefore he might be a saint, though he was thoroughly miserable. We write not thus, dear friend, to lead you to be content in your present dark and unhappy condition. Far from it. We beseech you to look off from your feelings, your experiences, your evidences, yea, and your very faith itself, and rest in Christ and His finished work. God is satisfied with Christ on your behalf. Is He not enough to satisfy you? Do you want to add something of your own to Christ? This is really the question. May God bless you!

24. "J. V.," Hereford. We did receive a letter containing a query as to whether a Christian could consistently