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sinner in order to enter the kingdom of God, or in other words, to become a member of the church of Christ, must be born again." I do here most solemnly declare, that I never heard one of these revival preachers deal in faithfulness with this all important proposition. You may hear them say-Except a man be born again, or except a man be born of God, or except a man be born of the Holy Spirit, or except a man be born from above, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. But I never heard one such preacher make the subject sensible and understandable as the Saviour discoursed it to Nicodemus: for none of these single causes alone could account for a birth. Scripturally there must be two agents to complete a birth. Let us turn to the New Testament and away from these mistaken teachers.

John iii. 3. "Jesus said unto him (Nicodemus), verily, verily, I say to you, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?" "Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto you, unless a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Jesus is the teacher in this case. has he upon man's obedience?

But who is this Jesus? what claim

Who is Jesus? John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Art thou he that should come, or look we for another;" and while John's disciples waited a reply, He (Jesus) cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and bestowed sight on many that were blind." Besides, if you refer to the story, you will find that John's disciples had already reported to him that Jesus had cured the centurion's servant, and raised from the dead the widow's son, of Nain. And so, "Jesus answered and said to them, go and tell John what you have seen and heard; that the blind receive their sight; the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised; the poor have the gospel preached unto them, and blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.'

Such, my friends, are the credentials Jesus offers to sustain His claim to be the One who was to come. Manifestly all power was with Him to liberate the captives, bound by all the powers of evil, both moral and material.

2. What did He come for? (1 Tim. i. xiv.) "It is a faithful saying and worthy to be accepted by all, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." And when Jesus made His public appearance among men, as the heaven-given Lamb for sacrifice and the heaven-appointed leader of men, He uttered such language of humility and fidelity to heaven's will as deserve to be written on every heart of man as with a diamond point. When John hesitated to baptize one so far above him, Jesus replied: "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness," thereupon John baptized Him, testifying, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Yes, He humbled Himself even unto death, the death of the Cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name, that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow; of those who are in heaven, and those who are on earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Now, dear friends, I have sought to answer the question Who Jesus is wherefore did he come-and as to His title to claim man's

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obedience: and let me now say, that the resurrection of this Jesus is the handwriting of God, vouching for the genuineness of His life and claims. The cross exhibits to us the sin-offering; the open grave proves the offering accepted; and Jesus stands out before us "declared to be the Son of God," in all the power and force of his resurrection from the dead. Henceforth the risen Jesus must be Lord and Christ.

Did Jesus understand His exalted position? Hear his last message, left with His disciples for the world of sinners.

Matt. xxviii. 18. "And Jesus came and spake to them, saying, all authority in heaven, and on earth is given to me: go, therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' Mark xvi. xv. "And he said to them, go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be condemned."

Luke xxiv. 45. Gives us the great truths and facts that were comprised in the gospel. "Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the scriptures, and said to them, thus it is written, and thus it was necessary that Christ should suffer, and that he should rise again from the dead, and that repentance, and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of the Father upon you: but do you remain in Jerusalem till you be clothed with power from on high. And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, that as he blessed them, he was separated from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God."

Then

Let us now enquire how the Disciples understood their mission and acted out the instructions of their now ascended Lord. And this we will ascertain by picking up the thread of our story at the 2nd chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, which commences by saying, that "When the day of Pentecost was fully come," and in the city of Jerusalem, as Jesus had commanded them, "They were all with one accord in one place," and the promised Spirit came, clothing them with power, and giving them free utterance in all the languages of man, in which to make known the wonderful works of God. Peter stood forward, and the eleven witnesses stood by his side to confirm his testimony, while he recounted the mighty deeds of Jesus, His mysterious sufferings and death on Calvary's Cross, His glorious resurrection from the dead, and His ascension to God's right hand as Lord and Christ: at the same time charging his hearers with the crime of slaying the Just One. when they (the assembly) heard this they were pricked to the heart, and said to Peter and the other Apostles, brethren what shall we do.” Now comes the test of their sincerity, as it has been the test of sincerity ever since the all-important and inspired answer to their anxious enquiry. What was it think you my friends? Was it the modern answer to enquiring sinners, viz., Do nothing sinners? No the Apostles had not so learned from Christ. He had told them to disciple all the nations by teaching, or preaching the doctrines of repentance and the remission of sins in His name, and then to baptize them, in order to salvation. Let us hear then whether they had understood the Master. Peter's reply was- Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, for the promise is unto you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our

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God shall call." And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation. Now for the sequel to this all-important reply of Peter. Then they who gladly received his word were- -what? Asked to remain to an after meeting to be spoken to, or prayed for; or to pray for themselves; asking for the Holy Spirit to come and convert them? No friends, nothing of the sort. Hear oh man! Hear oh woman! Hear all who have ears to hear and minds to understand! "Then they who gladly received his word, were baptized, and on that day there were added unto them 3,000 souls." The gates of the kingdom were opened on that day of Pentecost, by Peter who had the keys, and 3,000 persons, born of water and the Spirit, passed through the gates into the kingdom, and thereafter continued attending constantly to the teaching of the Apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. Now do you understand what the Saviour meant by being born of water and the Spirit to enter into the kingdom. The message of the Spirit by the Gospel had begotten these Pentecostians to a new faith, and they then delivered up the old man to be buried with Christ in baptism, wherein they again rose with Him to walk in a new life. Thus were they born again. We have seen how the first believers that day entered the kingdom, and out enquiry shall now be Did the churches planted by the Apostles understand this matter. I will just quote one portion (Rom. vi. 1). "What shall we say ? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Know you not that as many of us, as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death; that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so also we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united to Him by the likeness of His death, we shall certainly be united to Him by the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our former man has been crucified with Him, in order that the sinful body might be deprived of its power, so that we should no longer serve sin.' In addition read at your leisure Gal. iii. 27. Ephes. v. 26. Coloss. ii. 12. From these passages you will readily see the manner in which the churches were educated upon this subject, and how they understood when and where and how they died to sin, were buried, and rose into a new life, to walk in, and with Christ. But says some objector, does water mean water in those passages that speak of baptism? And as well might I ask in reply, does faith mean faith in those passages that speak of faith? or does the Holy Spirit mean the Holy Spirit in those passages where that holy name occurs? How did the disciples and first believers understand this matter. Just one example of each. Peter at the house of Cornelius said, "Who can forbid water that these should not be baptized." The Ethiopian Eunuch said, "See here is water, what hindereth me to be baptized," and Phillip did not correct him or object Need I ask, if the River Jordan, which empties itself into the Dead Sea, and in which John baptized, was water ? If water does not mean water, then we shall need another revelation to explain the meaning of the one we have.

to water.

Time fails me to gather up all the points I have sought to bring before you as I should wish, but I trust I may say I have redeemed my promise

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so far as to bring to the consideration of my subject a dispassionate mind, and the Word of Truth; and in view of facts on the one side, and Scripture truth on the other side, I ask you to decide this question. We have no interest but in the truth, we have no objects to gain but the glory of God, the absolute authority of His Word, the salvation of sinners, and the ultimate union of God's children. In view then of all that I have brought before you, I venture to say, that this modern revival, in its doctrine and results, is largely of man, and therefore dangerous to man's eternal interests; its converts are not brought to the new birth, and thus introduced into the kingdom, but are left to be driven hither and thither upon the uncertain waves of a sectarian age.

The Lord grant you all grace to receive the simple truth in the love of it, and a willing mind to obey it. And now, by all that you hold sacred, that concerns your eternal weal or woe, I beseech you to ponder well the ground on which you hope for salvation. Let judgment occupy the throne, and not a passing fancy, or an excitement, created by novelties. Let truth, simple truth, untrammeled by tradition, and uncorrupted by any human admixture, be the object of your constant, earnest search; and let the authority of God's exalted Lord and Christ alone be binding upon your consciences and affections.

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry with you, and you perish by the way. For this (Jesus) is that prophet of whom Moses said " A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things; and the soul that will not hear that prophet, shall be cut off from among the people." SOLEMN WORDS!

THE BLESSED USES OF ADVERSITY.

IT is good for the children of God that the Apostle Paul had a "Thorn in the flesh;" otherwise it is more than likely we should not have the precious words, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' This consoling declaration has been the stay of many afflicted saints, and will continue to comfort and cheer so long as it remains true that "Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward." Paul was a man of remarkable privileges and of wonderful interposition-" Caught up to the third heaven," he seems to have stood upon the mountain top of honour and glory. A position very critical for human nature, owing to its tendency to pride and boastfulness. Though man is prostrate as the paralytic and foul as the leper, he is proud and greatly in danger of glorying in himself.

The Lord knew all about this and, lest His servant Paul should be wrecked upon this rock, it was necessary that he should be made the subject of peculiar trials as well as peculiar privileges; hence we read, "And lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelation, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me." I do know not what this thorn in the flesh was, it is sufficient for me to know that Paul had an infirmity of some kind which troubled him exceedingly, and which he ardently desired to be delivered from. He says, "For this thing I besought the Lord three

times that it might depart from me." It's design was to keep him in his right place. It was to him what ballast is to a ship, without which it cannot stand the wind and storm. So the Lord takes care always to ballast His vessels that they may ride safely over the rough sea of life, reach the haven of glory, and anchor in the harbour of eternal rest. Paul wanted to get away from this infirmity. The holy man doubtless thought it an hindrance to his work of faith, and that without it he could do more for his Master. I think we have a right so to conclude, for Paul was not a selfish man, he did not consult his own ease, he was

a man to confer with flesh and blood. But the Lord thought otherwise. What short-sighted creatures we are! What mistakes we make ! How often have the things we thought to be good for us proved just the reverse, while those things we thought against us have turned out for our good. Mary went to the sepulchre to embalm the body of Jesus, and finding the sepulchre empty she began to weep. Had she found the body there she might well have wept! Wept in the ruin of every hope! Wept in the absence of all light, both for time and eternity! For "if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain." The vacant sepulchre was cause of rejoicing instead of weeping. How often, like Mary, we weep over the things we should rejoice over, and rejoice when we should weep.

When old Jacob heard that Benjamin must go back with his sons to Egypt he exclaimed, "all these things are against me," and yet we know that those very things were for his good. Paul thought he would be the better without this infirmity of the flesh and prayed three times for the Lord to free him from it. But the Lord saw differently. No Paul, it will not be well for thee to be without it, but I will give you additional strength to bear it, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." With this gracious declaration Paul asks no more to be delivered; as soon as he knows the Lord's will about it he is content. "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak then am I strong." If Paul could take pleasure in these things he must have been a happy man, for truly he had his share of them. What a mighty power is faith in God! How it makes a man sing in sorrow, triumph in adversity, rejoice in affliction, gladly bear all infirmities for Christ's sake, and even take pleasure in them. Paul by his thorn in the flesh teaches us that the Lord afflicts his children, that these afflictions are absolutely necessary, that He gives grace and strength equal to the day of trouble. Many of the Lord's people can testify to these things, for they have proved them; the writer knows a little about them, and from the valley of adversity desires to say a few words, praying they may be to the comfort and consolation of any over whose head the billows of affliction may be breaking.

1. Adversity keeps us in our right place, there is a great deal of pride and self-conceit about us, we are prone to be "exalted above measure." Humility is a flower that does not grow in nature's barren soil. It is a transplant from another clime. We are exhorted to be "Clothed with humility," "for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble."