his own will he begat us by the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures." We are enjoined to lay aside all self-devised wandering of intellect, and "receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls:" "but be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownselves."

It is only through the agency of the Spirit that we can comprehend the value of the Law and the testimony, or to be purified so as to obey the Truth; being "born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever." It is those who are not taught by the Spirit of Truth, and who are unstable in not abiding by its decision, who wrest the Scriptures to self-destruction. Paul speaks of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, and the enlightening of the eyes of the understanding, as effects proceeding from the study of the Word. He declares that they are not of the many teachers who corrupt the Word of God: "not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully." He enjoins those who are taught by the Word to communicate to those who are teachers in all good things. The beloved apostle, who penned his Epistle after having in vision seen the ultimate events that would try the faith and principles of those who should live in the time immediately preceding the coming of the Messiah, speaks with indignant earnestness of the erroneous sentiment which shall prevail, that grace has lowered the requirements of God, and that our obedience to his Law is superseded by the obedience of Christ, &c. "He that saith he knoweth Him and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth (that is the light of the law and the testimony) is not in him: but whoso keepeth His word, in him truly is the love of God perfected:

hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Christ ought so to walk even as He also walked." "If ye know that He is righteousness, ye know also that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him. Whoso abideth in Him transgresseth not. Whosoever transgresseth (under grace) hath not perceived, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you; he that committeth transgression is of the devil. For the devil was a transgressor from the beginning. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoso is born of God doth not commit transgression; for His seed (the Word) remaineth in him. In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the devil."

The testimony of another apostle is, "Unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; for as many as have transgressed without law, shall perish without law; and as many as have transgressed in the law, shall be judged by the law for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." And to this effect spake our Lord to His disciples concerning those who ministered the Law from Moses' seat. "Be ye not like unto them, for they say and do not;" "for except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of God." Our Lord came to bear witness to the Truth which they had made void. "Let us then be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might; put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against

principalities, against the rulers of this world's darkness, against wicked spirits in high places; wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand."

Paul speaks in the spirit of prophesy of the "perilous times when men shall turn away from sound truth,” and condemn and persecute those who contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. The disciple of Christ in contending against the Spirit of Antichrist in the Roman empire (and ultimately against personal Antichrist in the Asiatic platform where he shall be overcome and destroyed), must have his loins girt about with Truth, and his breast shielded with the breast-plate of righteousness; He must wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word; and take the helmet of salvation, having his feet shod with the Gospel of peace."

The Claims of our Lord and Saviour were to be tried by the WRITTEN WORD.

The LORD introduces the promise of Christ as a prophet or teacher sent forth from God to Israel in this manner: "Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God; for those nations which thou`shalt supplant, hearkened unto observers of times, and to dreamers; but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not permitted thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise thee up a Prophet from the midst of thy brethren like unto thee; unto him shall ye hearken." "And I will put MY WORDS in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I command Him; and it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hear my words which he shall speak in My Name, I will require it of him.”

THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my word, hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day," "for I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak ;" and " I know that his commandment is life everlasting; whatever I speak, therefore, as the Father said unto me so I speak." “I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word; and have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them, and have surely known that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." "Sanetify them through thy truth; Thy Word is Truth." Here is a prayer for those who were not of the world, who were elect unto obedience through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Thus preferring his claims, our Lord said:" Which of you convicteth me of sin?" (sin being any want of comformity to, or transgression of the law of God). And “If I speak the Truth, why do ye not believe?" but notwithstanding such was the ascendancy acquired by the light-hating Pharisees over the the minds of those, who but for them would have entered the Kingdom, that there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him. Some who tried His claims by the unerring standard, said he is a good man; while others who found in the light of his words and deeds a reproof to

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those who led public opinion, said: "Nay, but He deceiveth the people." When men are long accustomed to a system established on the principle of moral darkness, the light let in upon it is considered an evil to be dreaded, and guarded against. They act upon the inversion of the righteous Law of God. When the will of God is done by His sons or daughters, it becomes to them a reproach and cause of persecution. "Blessed are they that suffer for righteousness sake, their's is the kingdom of heaven." Persons who suffer for the set of opinions which they conscientiously hold, do not suffer for righteousness sake, they do not suffer for "keeping the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus." Again, they that suffer for the manifestation of gifts, do not suffer for righteousness sake. It is only "the remnant of the woman's seed," who "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," even " the Law and the testimony," who suffer for bearing witness to the truth. Had Daniel suffered for a creed out of Scripture, however conscientiously held, this would not have had power to shut the mouths of the lions. But it was concerning the Law of his God that Daniel gave offence to the idolaters of Babylon. And had the companions of Daniel suffered for aught but righteousness sake, which forbade the worship of idols, or of other than the God of Truth, the burning fiery furnace would not have been to them a sanctuary, where one, like unto the Son of God, became their companion.

THE POWER OF THE LAW AND THE TESTIMONY.

Jeremiah was sanctified from his birth, and ordained a prophet unto the nations, as Christ sanctified himself that he might purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.