necessity visible to men. The disciples were 'witnesses' to Christ now for all the earth. Their fervent waiting in supplications for the promise of the Father; their baptism on the Day of Pentecost with the Holy Ghost and fire; their preaching in every language; their baptizing of the multitudes converted; the mighty works wrought by them in the name of the Lord; their fellowship daily in the temple, and in breaking of bread from house to house, visibly manifested the society of believers in Jesus Christ. Then the Lord added to the' visible Church daily such as should be saved.'

Persecution brought the Church more prominently into view. Men saw Stephen stoned, and heard him 'calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' They observed Saul of Tarsus when he made havoc of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison.' The persecuted were well known as followers of the Crucified.

The company of the called all profess to believe on and to serve the Lord. They are united, an organised body by His authority. Called out of the world, they share, as one body, the same privileges and duties. The ordinances and government of that Church present its visibility for a convincing testimony to the world. Assembling for the solemn worship of God, services of praise, prayer, reading, exposition, are visibly engaged in. The elements of water, bread, and wine, and the actions in communion, show forth much concerning the Lord and His relation to believers. The grand essentials are the same, where one table and one house of prayer are impossible. In these spiritual ordinances, the union. and communion of the whole company of believers may be fully realised. GOVERNMENT IS ALSO VISIBLE. The exercise of obedience and of rule is a visible testimony to the world of the existence of the Church. Instruction as to these visible duties is given to Timothy. He is taught how to behave in the house of God, the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth' (1 Tim. iii. 15).

Professed subjection to Christ is the grand outward test of membership. The Church consists of all those throughout the

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world that profess the true religion, together with their children.' Various metaphors are used in Scripture to describe the Church. It is a vineyard, the house of the Lord, the flock of God, a city walled and defended, the kingdom of God and of heaven. These discover its mixed condition.

It is a field, where some seed is lost, scorched, choked, while some is productive. There tares are sown by the enemy as well as wheat by the husbandman. Detected, these tares are left to grow together with the wheat till reapingtime. Not only a grain of small seed becoming a great tree, leaven pervading many measures of meal, hid treasure carefully possessed, a pearl purchased by the loss of all else,-the Church is a net containing fish of every kind, both good and bad. The parables of Christ teach plainly that there will ever be mere professors, as well as true believers in the Church. His intention evidently is, not to bestow supernatural means to distinguish the outward from the genuine. In the little congregation over which He Himself presided, a Judas had a place, who, betraying his master, destroyed himself and went to his own place. In the congregations presided over by inspired apostles there were such characters as Ananias and Sapphira, Simon Magus, Demas, Diotrephes. In the Church of God at Corinth some required to be cut off and delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh. Paul had to pray for the Galatians, 'I would they were even cut off which trouble you.' He who walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks had to write to one of them, 'I will spue thee out of My mouth.' How, then, can it be expected that there will be any Church on earth entirely free from mere professors ? Whatever society is organised with a professed subjection to Christ, for the maintenance of divine ordinances, the ingathering and edifying of souls, that society thus holding forth the word of life must be allowed the title of a true Church of Christ.

Visibility as to external organisation is not an essential property, such that without it the Church would cease to be. Its absence may not disprove the existence of the Church. Outward fellowship may be wanting in whole or in part, and yet the Church exist. The promise of Christ secures that the

Church will not cease till the final consummation. The gates of hell shall never prevail against the kingdom of heaven. The seat of the Church may be changed. Judgment to one locality may be for a blessing to another. The candlestick may be removed, but the candle is not extinguished. There will always be some on earth chosen to salvation; but no Scripture warrant leads to the expectation that a fully organised Church will always be visible in every age. As in the past, so in the future. The tide of the river of grace has ebbed and risen alternately in every age. When the earth was filled with violence, and it repented the Lord that He had made man,’ in that flood of wrath grace seemed well-nigh obliterated from the earth. Nevertheless it rose securely above the surging flood. When idolatry pervaded earth's millions, where could the grace of God be discerned? Yes; one man was called out of Ur of the Chaldees; then, in his family and nation, the living waters flowed. When Ahab reigned, and the Lord's servants were slain, who can trace it now? Was Elijah, faithful and valiant, only left? Nay; seven thousand never bowed to Baal. Few looked for redemption in Israel when the long-promised Messiah appeared. After His message had been delivered by Himself and His servants, the first gathering after His departure numbered only one hundred and twenty. But, as predicted, the Holy Spirit came. It was a rushing mighty wind. In one hour, three thousand were found believing and rejoicing. Speedily the gospel won its way. became a prevailing power in the earth. In a parching season, when the heavens were as brass and the earth as iron, the stream of grace was almost hid from human eye. Nevertheless it flowed. Then, as heaven opened its windows, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up, see how it swelled and heaved with millions of the ransomed of the Lord! This has ever been its history. Shall it not prove good in time to come? Yes; in God's good time, all nations shall be made to flow toward the mountain of Jehovah's house. Mighty cataracts of anxious and earnest souls shall pour over every opposing obstacle into the bosom of the Saviour, and find themselves absorbed in the ocean of eternal love. So shall it

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surely be; for God saith still of Zion, 'Behold, I will extend peace to her as a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream;' 'Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted in the earth.'

These considerations fully warrant this—

II. PRINCIPLE. THE VISIBLE CHURCH IS THE ORGANISED SOCIETY OF THOSE PROFESSEDLY BELIEVING IN, AND BEARING TESTIMONY UNTO, CHRIST.

QUESTIONS.

1. Mention another important fact regarding this world, and another province of the kingdom of Christ.

2. Run over some visible characteristics of the Church in Old Testament times;

3. Also during the life of Christ, and after His ascension.

4. State some of the features presented by the Church to the world.

5. What characteristic of the Church was prominent in the parables of Christ? amongst His own disciples ? and in the Apostolic Church?

6. How do you reconcile the occasional absence of outward organisation with the perpetuity of the Church on earth?

7. Give some illustrations and promises respecting God's dealings with His Church, and state our duty. 8. Mention the second principle deduced.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM.

"THE law of the Lord is perfect.' Christ being the sole Monarch, the inhabitants of His kingdom are subject solely to His will. That will is known by whatever He has commanded. The Bible is thus the sole statute-book of the kingdom. It embodies all necessary laws.

Is there one sure and perfect guide that may hush the mental storm to rest, and secure for me the haven of eternal peace? This is the question of every earnest spirit, anxiously looking within and onward to futurity. No question is of greater importance.

The Statute-book of the King supplies the want. To be perfectly adapted to my necessity, the guide (à priori) must acknowledge and reflect this anarchy within. It must also reveal some plan by which the honour of the King may be successfully maintained, while all-subduing mercy is bestowed upon the rebel. That guide must further prove itself sure and perfect. It must (à posteriori) root out the evil, and plant grace instead. My tormenting fears must be banished. My soul must be filled with joyful hope. The Bible alone will stand these tests.

The light of nature is the voice of God; but that is not a sufficient, because not a perfect rule. For, first, we are not now upright as when man came forth from the hand of the Creator. Experience testifies that we have fallen. We have still the gift of reasonable faculties; but reason looks through a glass darkly at celestial objects. Ply the oar of reason to the utmost. Whither are you conducted? Into the vestibule of Deity it may be; but there to feel that the vast ocean of truth, eternal and immutable, lies beyond. And secondly, the fact remains that God has given a written revelation of His will. This revelation is attested by evidence most complete. That evidence, externally, internally, experimentally, is most minute and forcible. To deny that revelation in the face of that evidence, outrages our convictions, ay, our constitution.

Reason has here an important duty to perform. It has to judge of the validity of the evidence by which this revelation is attested. But there its office as a standard is at an end. For what is a revelation from God? Is it not the disclosure of truths (a) beyond the reach of man, and which (6) the Infinitely Wise deems necessary for man's highest good? Reason is called on to say whether this revelation is proved to be from God. That done, reason is no longer a standard. It must give place to faith. Entering upon the study of that revelation, reason is not wholly laid aside. It must still hear, discriminate, decide;