not less extraordinary. They are replaced by slaves brought from their original country. The system of oppression is methodical. Every thing the traveller sees or hears reminds him he is in the country of slavery and tyranny."* "A more unjust and absurd constitution cannot be devised than that which condemns the natives of a country to perpetual servitude, under the arbitrary dominion of strangers and slaves. Yet such has been the state of Egypt above five hundred years. The most illustrious sultans of the Baharite and Borgite dynasties were themselves promoted from the Tartar and Circassian bands; and the four-and-twenty beys, or military chiefs, have ever been succeeded, not by their sons, but by their servants." These are the words of Volney and Gibbon: and what did the ancient prophets foretell? "I will lay the land waste and all that is therein by the hand of strangers. I the Lord have spoken it. And there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt. The sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.' The prophecy adds, "They shall be a base kingdom-it shall be the basest of kingdoms." After the lapse of two thousand and four hundred years from the date of this prophecy, a scoffer at religion, but an eyewitness of the facts, thus describes the selfsame spot: "In Egypt there is no middle class, neither nobility, clergy, merchants, landholders. A universal air of misery, manifest in all the traveller meets, points out to him the rapacity of oppression and the distrust attendant upon slavery. The profound ignorance of the inhabitants equally prevents them from perceiving the causes of their evils, or applying the necessary remedies. Ignorance, diffused through every class, extends its effects to every species of moral and physical knowledge. Nothing is talked of but intestine troubles, the public misery, pecuniary extortions, bastinadoes, and murders. Justice herself puts to death without formality." Other travellers describe the most execrable vices as common, and represent the moral character of the people as corrupted to the core. As a token of the desolation of the country, mud-walled cottages are now the only habitations where the ruins of temples and palaces abound. Egypt is surrounded by the dominions of the Turks and of the Arabs; and the prophecy is literally true which marked it in the midst of desolation: "They shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted." The systematic oppression, extortion, and plunder which have so long prevailed, and the price paid for his authority and power by every Turkish pasha, have rendered the country desolate of that whereof it was full, and still show, both how it has been wasted by the hands of strangers, and how it has been sold into the hand of the wicked. Can any words be more free from ambiguity, or could any events be more wonderful in their nature, or more unlikely or impossible to have been foreseen by man, than these prophecies concerning Egypt? The long line of its kings commenced with the first ages of the world, and, while it was yet unbroken, its final termination was revealed. The very attempt once made by infidels to show, from the recorded number of its monarchs and the duration of their reign, that Egypt was a kingdom previous to the Mosaic era of the deluge, places the wonderful nature of these Volney's Travels, vol. i. page 74. 103, 110, 198 Gibbon's History, vol. vi. page 109, 110. Dublin ed. 1789. THE SPIRIT AND BODY OF CHRIST. 235 predictions respecting it in the most striking view. And the previous experience of two thousand years, during which period Egypt had never been without a prince of its own, seemed to preclude the possibility of those predicted events which the experience of the last two thousand years has amply verified. Though it often tyrannized over Judea and the neighboring nations, the Jewish prophets foretold that its own sceptre would depart away; and that that country of kings (for the number of its contemporary as well as successive monarchs may warrant the appellation) would never have a prince of its own: and that it would be laid waste by the hands of strangers. They foretold that it should be a base kingdom-the basest of kingdoms-that it should be desolate itself and surrounded by desolation---and that it should never exalt itself any more among the nations. They described its ignominious subjection and unparalleled baseness, notwithstanding that its past and present degeneracy bears not a more remote resemblance to the former greatness and pride of its power, than the frailty of its mudwalled fabrics now bears to the stability of its imperishable pyramids. Such prophecies, accomplished in such a manner, prove, without a comment, that they must be the revelation of the Omniscient Ruler of the universe.* THE SPIRIT AND BODY OF CHRIST. A new and forcible illustration of the Operation of the Holy Spirit. THAT the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, is plain from many places in the New Testament. He is said to be "Lord or the Spirit," implying that the Spirit is under his dominion; and of the Holy Spirit it said, "Where the Spirit or the Lord is, there is liberty." The Holy Spirit was to be sent in the name of Jesus; and it was necessary after the spirit came to have faith in Jesus, to reform towards him, and to be baptized in his name, in order to receive the Holy Spirit. That the church is the body of Christ, is also equally plain. "For his body's sake, which is the church-we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another-the Egypt has, indeed, lately risen, under its present spirited but despotic pasha, to a degree of political importance and power unknown to it for many past centuries. Yet this fact, instead of militating against the truth of prophecy, may, possibly at no distant period, serve to illustrate another prediction, which implies that, however base and degraded it might continue to be throughout many generations, it would, notwithstanding, have strength sufficient to be looked to for aid or protection, even at the time of the restoration of the Jews to Judea, who will seek "to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and trust in the shadow of Egypt." Other prophecies respecting it await their fulfilment. Yet, whatever its present apparent strength may be. it is still but "the shadow of Egypt." Isaiah xxx. 2 xxxi. 1 The whole earth shall yet rejoice; and Egypt shall not be for ever BASE. The Lord shall smite Egypt; he shall smite and heal it; and they shall return to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shaft Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land," &c Isaiah xix. 19-25. bread [loaf] which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread [loaf] and one body -the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the Saviour of the body-we are mem. bers of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones-ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular-gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body-he is the head of his body, the church,” &c. It is as equally plain, then, that Christ is the head of the church, as that it is his body, or the Holy Spirit his Spirit. But as there is a consistency preserved in all the figures used in the Bible, Christ is never spoken of as a head, only in reference to the church as a body. The figure is drawu from the human constitution or body, and is a remarkably appropriate and striking one. It is in the head of man, in his brain, that his spirit or mind sits enthroned, and from which it animates his body. This is the most appropriate place for it in his whole physical constitution, as it is here that the nervous system has its origin or beginning, by which impressions are conveyed to and from the brain, and which branches out from it into the whole body. Here the mind sits, and directs by means of the nerves and muscles, the motions and movements of all the body. But it is not by merely thinking that the mind can perform any thing. Although it may conceive a superstructure, or a piece of work of any kind, yet the simple act of conception will not cause the one to rise, or the other to be performed. This is the office of the members of the body, animated and directed by the Spirit, and kept in life and motion. The figure is in excellent keeping. Christ, the head of his body the church, has the Spirit, and with him is its source or origin. It is from him as the head, that his body the church is animated, directed, and kept alive and in operation by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit thus operates through the church as a body and members, collectively and individually. Hence the important. office of the church in the conversion of the world!-and in keeping itself pure and sound and vigorous!-To be animated by the Spirit we must become united to the body, and with it to the Head. Separate a finger, or hand, or arm, from the body, and it dies, withers, and decays. Separate a member from the body of Christ, and spiritual life is extinguished, and spiritual death. ensues! When a member becomes diseased it must be healed if possible; but if found to be incurable, must be amputated, or the rest of the body will suffer or die. PARIS, Ten. Feb. 26th, 1838. JNO, R. HOWARD. News from the Churches. BOONE COUNTY, Mo., February 16, 1833. On the second 'Lord's day in October last, and Saturday before, I met several teaching brethren in Rockport. We had an interesting meeting; and on Lord's day, organized or planted a church of Christ upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, of thirtyfour members. This church has a great deal of intellectual and moral worth, and will, I have no doubt, live and walk as the New Testament directs; still they have no one highly gifted as a speaker, and as they are abundantly able, will contribute liberally to a worthy able teacher of Christianity. On the fourth Lord's day, brothers Wills and I, with other Elders, were in Paris. Our meeting lasted four days. Seven were added to the church-one was reclaimed-the others confessed Jesus, and were immersed forthwith. As room is precious in your paper, and details are not important, I will just observe that the additions at the meetings I have attended, at Fulton, Lebanon, Columbia, &e. since my last, and besides those at Paris, are twenty-two. We are greatly in want of able teachers in this state: there is not one-fourth as many as are needed. The brethren are now awaking to a sense of duty on this subject, and will contribute freely to aid those who labor in the good cause. Cannot you persuade some efficient proclaimers to come to the help of the Lord in this distant region? We indulge the pleasing hope that you brother Campbell, will visit us in Missouri, at no very distant day. Do not forget us; but come as soon as you can. THOMAS M ALLEN. BRUCEVILLE, Ind., March 16, 1838. Our little congregation at Bruceville, about forty five, moves on in the greatest harmony. Every first day that the weather will permit, we meet to break bread, sing, pray, and exhort one another to love and good works. Brother Trimble attends with us on the second Sunday in each month: he devotes the most of his time in proclaiming the gospek: he is a worthy and talented brother. We have had to cut the ice to bury some in baptism this winter. WM. BRUCE. MAY'S LICK, Ky, March 27, 1838. The brethren here request that I should write to you and give you an account of the progress of the gospel of our blessed Lord in this vicinity. In February last we held a meeting here for about seven days with brother R. C. Rickets as our speaker, and forty-one persons confessed the faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Saviour of sinners, and were immersed into his name. Towards the close of this meeting brother John Callerman and others commenced a meeting at Poplar Run, (in Fleming county, about eight miles to the south of this place.) which continued some five days, and twenty seven persons uade the good confession and were immersed. The congregation at Poplar Run then moved their meeting to Elizaville, some two miles off, (the Baptist brethren having an appointment at Poplar Run meeting-house,) brother Rickets proclaimed the gospel, some four or five days more, (the other brethren having left or become exhausted in body.) and thirty-four others were immersed by him, making sixty-one persons in all, at Poplar Run and Elizaville, who obeyed the gospel. We continued our meeting here the second time, some six or seven days. Brother John A. Gano and brother J. Irvine proclaimed; but brother Gano being very unwell, had to go away before the meeting was over, as also did bro. Irvine. Bro. Rickets having returned, kept up the meeting to the close. Twenty-two persons obeyed the gospel by putting on the Lord Jesus. We also received three persons from other churches, making the whole number at the two meetings at this place sixty-five persons Brother Rickets labored hard and much to the purpose by exhibiting the truth as taught in the Scriptures. He has improved much as a proclaimer, and will now rank amongst the strongest we have in Kentucky. May the good Lord preserve him many years for the benefit of the people! The brethren here are zealously engaged for the support and spread of the good cause of the restoration of the gospel of Christ. JAMES MORRIS. M'NARY COUNTY, February 17, 1838. I feel very much pleased with the brethren in this section of country. There is a congregation of about forty disciples who meet every first day, and spend three or four hours in singing, reading the Word of God, prayer, and breaking the loaf. Bro. Dunn, who is a very acceptable proclaimer of the ancient gospel, attends us once-a-month, and I think the prospect of doing goot in this country is far greater than in the cotton region about Lagrange where I last lived. WILLIAM USSERY. LEXINGTON, Ky., March 23, 1838. I have just returned from Winchester, 18 miles from this place, where I went Monday last to the assistance of brethren Raines and Moore, who had been there from the Friday or Saturday before. During the meeting forty-five precious souls were received into the kingdom of Prince Messiah and rallied around the blood-stained banner of the cross, radient with the Star of Bethlehem. Brethren J. T. Johnson and J. Smith have just closed a protracted meeting at Mount Sterling. One hundred and thirty-nine obeyed the Lord during the meeting. I expect the brethren at Mount Sterling will hereafter see the necessity of Evangelists. They had advanced so far as to learn that they were useless and troublesome articles. And while they were gaining this piece of useful information (to their purses?) they had well nigh died out. This country is ripe for the harvest-O that we had laborers to reap it down! B. F. HALL. SOMERSET COUNTY, December 21, 1838. The congregation which goes by the name of the Milford Church, about 8 miles west of Somerset, was organized in the year 1834 upon the principles of the ancient gospel, and was gathered together principally by the labors of brothers Forward and Young. It numbers at this time 23; 7 or 8 of the number formerly belonged to the Methodist church, being among the most respectable of their members here, and one of them their classleader. The mother and the mother-in-law of the abovementioned persons and the Methodist preacher made a powerful effort to prevent them from obeying the gospel.Several weeks since, upon Lord's day, brother Younkin spoke for us, and at the close of the meeting the old lady requested to be baptized, stating at the same time that she had been a praying woman for upwards of 40 years and a member of the Methodist churchbut as the Lord required her to be baptized for the remission of her sins, she was resolved to obey him. GEORGE SCOTT. THE WHEAT AND THE DARNEL. OUR Saviour's parable of the wheat and the darnel (Math. xiii.) is often misunderstood and misapplied. This is done whenever it is used to justify fellowship with one who has dishonored the Christian profession. And the chief reason of it is, that the phrase "kingdom of heaven" and the term "church," are supposed to express the same idea This, however, is an error. The compound term "kingdom" always presents at least three cardinal ideas-KING, SUBJECTS, and TERRITORY, without which we cannot conceive of the existence of a kingdom. The word church or congregation in its widest sense can give the idea. only of the subjects of the kingdom. In the attempt to explain this parable, this is to be particularly noted in the first place. |