always wished intelligent men to judge for themselves in the light of that Word which is the rule of judgment for us all. To prevent misunderstanding, however, regarding ourselves, we may repeat, what we have said more than once, that, to us, the Apocalypse is entirely future. It is "the revelation of JESUS CHRIST," and when it begins to be fulfilled HE" comes quickly." We may be wrong, but our readers know that we do not conceal con viction; and we are sure that if they suspected us of that we should lose their confidence, which it has been our rich privilege to enjoy for many years. We add, what must have struck others, that, apart from the question of interpretation, there are beautiful and ingenious things on practical piety in Mr. Starkey's pamphlet, which no one can read without feeling the necessity of personal watchfulness and heartsearching. NOTICES. "F. D." writes: "Thank the LORD, the RAINBOW lives on! I have taken it from the beginning, and feel that I have grown, mentally, with its growth. I look for its appearance monthly with growing gladness." "C. L. T." It is manifestly wrong to speak of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as "Jews." Judah was the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The descendants of Judah are "Jews." Strictly speaking, the name is appropriate only to the subjects of the kingdom of the two tribes after the separation of the ten tribes, B.C. 975. And it is equally wrong to call the descendants of the ten tribes Jews. It is important to be exact in these matters. "W. BROWN."-Prejudice shuts out many persons from light and truth that would have made them glad. It is an adversary against which all should watch who wish to grow in Christian wisdom, and to cultivate Christian charity. It is a murderer of character; for it has often wickedly blackened the reputation of holy and noble men. "A. T."-The words are William Cowper's, in "Truth": "Oh how unlike the complex works of man, No clustering ornaments to clog the pile ; Inscribed above the portal, from afar, Stand the soul-quickening words-BELIEVE AND LIVE." "Louis."-Speak out, gently but firmly, the truth that is in you! Open, ingenuous men secure respect. Time-servers who are always glancing at the steeple to see how the wind blows before they open their lips, are never held in honour. "Will it pay?" is a shameful question when Heaven's truth is involved! Sooner or later, Truth always "pays" her soldiers nobly, though for a time their faith and courage may be severely tested. This is the way she makes her heroes. (2 Tim. ii. 3.) "P. OWEN."-To pray for the "extension of the Redeemer's kingdom" is usual in prayer meetings. It would, of course, indicate a better knowledge of Scripture to pray that it might come; for that which has as yet no existence cannot be extended. But people have been so long taught that the Church is the kingdom that we cannot expect clearer vision until they are better instructed. "J. G." writes: "I hope you will be encouraged and sustained in your great work, in which you have so long nobly and honourably contended for the truth." We hope so too, if it be the MASTER'S will; and we thank Him that, with all its difficulties, that work has not been in vain. Many, very many, have been delivered from an oppressive falsehood, and are rejoicing in the light and love of Divine truth. A dark superstition has been driven from perplexed Christian hearts by the bright beams of inspiration, and God, in consequence, is lovingly praised. This result is worth labouring for. In such a result, we and our fellowworkers are richly repaid, far more than repaid. Let us work heartily a little longer. In due time we shall reap if we faint not. "Nature's Praise." New Sacred Song. Words by the Rev. WILLIAM LEASK, D.D. Music by HOWARD LEASK. Sung by Miss COYTE TURNER. CREATION sings its Maker's praise At dawn, at noon, at night: The rustling leaf, the fragrant flower, The dew, the stream, the fruitful shower, A splendid temple, filled with song, When glorious music shall prolong His fame on land and sea. We wait, in hope, the morning star And joy fill every clime. Copies may be obtained, post free, from Mr. Howard Leask, 34, Sandringham Road, West Hackney; or, Messrs. Metzler and Co., 37, Great Marlborough Street, W. Price 2s. nett. THE RAINBOW: Magazine of Christian Literature, with Special Reference to the JULY, 1881. THE ULTIMATE REASON. THAT is a grand revelation which tells us that "the good pleasure of His will" is God's rule of action. In purposing, and executing, this is His sublime LAW. That He is a law to Himself is manifest, for He takes no counsel with His creatures, and yet He acts through the ages with unceasing energy. There was an ideal universe in "the mind of the Lord" before the first of the ages began, and towards its realisation as an accomplished fact all things tend with infallible certainty. It must be so. "The immutability of His counsel" must be accepted as absolute. The idea of change in God would instantly destroy confidence in Him. We could not rest upon a promise if the Promiser were not known to be faithful. But with "the Father of the lights of heaven there is no variableness or shadow of turning." We see things in the world continually which appear to contradict the doctrine of a divinely majestic movement, unchecked and uninterrupted, towards a glorious issue. But we are taken up by phenomena, troubled by appearances, as if these in any way affected "the eternal purpose of God which He hath purposed in Himself." As the often-changing winds that blow and the ever-changing clouds that float over the earth do not affect its stability as the immovable centre of God's operations, so the thunders of war and the political and polemical storms that rend nations and churches asunder, are unable to touch the settled purpose of the Most High, or to check the invisible force by which it is carried on. What is there to prevent the final accomplishment of the eternal purpose? Contingency? The idea conveyed by this word is surely inadmissible in the case of Omniscience. He who sees the end from the beginning, and every possibility that may spring into active opposition to His will between the beginning and the end, cannot be taken by surprise. The unforeseen is common to men: it is wholly illogical in relation to God. And if He foresaw the hostility of rebellious princes to a king whom He intended to place in un T bounded authority at a time known only to Himself, the resources of His wisdom could easily find the way to render that hostility useless, without interfering with the free agency which is the basis of responsibility. Hence in relation to this great matter He instructed one of His prophets to say: "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." But let us quote the Psalm, so grand in its assurance of the unalterable decree, and so forcible in its challenge to the kings of the earth :"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him" (Psa. ii.). True, we see not yet all things put under man, as the eighth Psalm prophesies; but an Apostle refers to it, and finds the assurance of fulfilment in the loving Saviour, the true Man, the Second Adam. Let us first read the prophecy of dominion, and then the key to its meaning. 1. THE PROPHECY : "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained: What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the Son of Man, that Thou visitest Him? For Thou hast made Him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned Him with glory and honour. Thou madest Him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how ex cellent is Thy name in all the earth!" (Psa. viii.). 2. THE KEY:— "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will? For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the Son of Man, that Thou visitest Him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. ii. 1-9). Nothing can prevent the accomplishment of God's glorious will. "The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought; He maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations" (Psa. xxxiii. 10, 11). "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isa. xlvi. 10). Here we rest with a deeply grateful Amen! THE INTERMEDIATE STATE. Phil. i. 23. (Continued from page 218.) SUPPOSE we may take Justin Martyr, a learned and devout father of the second century, as well qualified to give us a true opinion of the general sentiment of his time upon this question. He speaks thus in his dialogue with the Jew Trypho: "If you have fallen in with some who are called Christians, but who do not admit this truth, and venture to blaspheme the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; who say there is no resurrection of the dead, and that their souls, when they die, are taken to heaven; do not imagine that they are Christians" (Justin Martyr. Dialogue with Trypho, chap. lxxx. Ante-Nicene Christian Library. Edited by Rev. A. Roberts, D.D.). This testimony of Justin Martyr is very well worth consideration. It tells us that in his time the idea that the souls of the departed were in heaven, where Christ was, was not held by any one who deserved the name of Christian: that if it were held by |
