The

stimulating motives of cowardly fear and selfish desire to deteriorate and degrade. If love, and adoration, and reverence to the Being called God sprang not up spontaneously, then no effort of will, though men told them it would save their souls from perdition, would force it to come. The notion of a heaven of perfect happiness to be attained by each individual Christian soul at death was self-contradictory. What sort of a heaven and perfection would that be which was consistent with the knowledge of the continued misery and guilt of others? To leave these to their fate, and be content to be wafted away to some region of unbroken felicity, where the sorrow and sins, it might be, of the bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh should no longer be obtruded upon them-was that a picture of happiness possible for perfect souls ? Did it find its nearest parallel on earth in noble natures; or must they not search for its earthly type rather among those whose affections had become ossified by self-indulgence, among the basest, meanest, and most odious of mankind? And could that which they condemned and despised here constitute the essence of future happiness of perfect souls? No! Christian love knew no individual heaven. For good or ill their spiritual fate was bound up with that of all others. learned Principal went on to maintain that it was no mere humanitarian theory or fantastic dream to hold that this world was not for ever to be the home of evil; and that working for the realisation of the great divine purpose of the emancipation of the world from evil was a far more exalted and worthy endeavour than to be perpetually thinking of and preparing for going to heaven to escape for ever from this world with its sins and sorrows. Further, the preacher replied to the objections of those who urged that while individual immortality was a practical motive, the other was not; and pointed out, also, how in the glorious result each could participate. It was those who had spent their lives in efforts for the highest good of humanity that were now raised to the highest pinnacle of moral elevation. Even Christ's blessedness consisted in His self-sacrificing death for the sanctification of mankind. They would find their salvation, therefore, not in seeking the welfare and safety here or hereafter of their own petty individual selves, but in living and acting in the spirit of the aspiration, "Thy will be done on earth." Animated by such a spirit, a man could never be unprepared or be very far from heaven. Let death come when it might or carry them whither it would, in that awful hour he, and he alone, could stand calm and fearless before the dread mystery of the future who had centred the hope and aspirations of his life on the fulfilment of the glorious prayer "Thy kingdom come; Thy will, oh God, be done on earth."

NOTES FROM THE DOMINION.

FROM printed papers sent you of late you will have seen that the

great questions which form what may justly be called "The New Reformation," are largely permeating society in this region. The case of Mr. Brookman, through the intolerance of the Baptist denomination has given rise to thought and discussion to a remarkable extent. Mr. Brookman is a man of superior acquirements as a biblical scholar, an

earnest fearer of God, and when about to be inducted by the Baptists as Pastor of one of their churches, knowing that his views concerning communion were opposed to theirs, and concerning "Life only through Christ" did not harmonise with current orthodoxy, yet they said that they could not allow a man of such transparency of character to be lost to the denomination. I may not give the exact words, but such was their testimony concerning this good man. No excellency of character, fitness or ability could, however, secure his position as the shepherd of a little flock, for he did not assent to the shibboleth of the sect. In all his teaching he desires to present to his hearers only what he believes to be the truth of God. I have been in his company a good deal of late, and find that amidst all his trials he confides his case into the hands of the Lord, and believes that "all things will work together for good." I forget whether I told you that the Baptists are now building a new Theological College in Toronto, and that the ground and building are the gift of the Hon. William McMasters to the denomination. But I lament to add that in accordance with a pernicious custom the creed of the sect has been interwoven with the Trust Deed, and that one item of belief-" the everlasting misery of the wicked"—is to be taught in that institution from generation to generation, and through its means this blasphemous libel upon the name of our Heavenly Father, is designed to be proclaimed from all the Baptists' pulpits throughout the land! The late Premier of Canada, the Hon. Alexander McKenzie, being a Baptist, was chosen by Mr. McMaster to be the recipient of the property on behalf of the denomination. He is a man who has risen from the rank of a stone-mason to the highest political dignity; but it is much to be regretted that he knows so little of the religion of the Son of God as to consent to entail upon future generations, by the fetters of a legal bond, a heathen fiction of horrors as the truth of God! Better that he had never been born than to be an instrument in proclaiming such a soul destroying dogma among the teeming population of this dominion.

Mr. McMaster is an old friend of mine, and when together many years ago in the same church, I knew his conviction to be that the Word of God was the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice; but in this case he has evidently been overruled by those with whom he is now associated.

Our Christian brother, Moncrieff, is much interested in Mr. Brookman's case; and we all hope that his remarkable case will be the means of spreading the truth more widely, and doing much good.

I received lately a parcel from Mr. Brooks containing a number of the "Rainbow "Tract, "The Dispensation of the Mystery," which I will put into circulation. I also had some tracts from our Mr. Laing, of Edinburgh, and was pleased to learn from his letter that Mr. Moncrieff is one of his most valued Christian friends.

I sent you a copy of the Telegram containing the paper read by Mr. Brookman before the "Toronto Ministerial Association." He was invited to read a paper at one of their weekly meetings, and he told them at once the subject, "Life only in Christ." Professor McLaren, of Knox's College, was there when it was read, but he had never been seen at the meeting before, and he was the only one who then replied to it. Mr. Brookman remarked that the learned Professor in his reply quoted

from the Grecian and Roman Philosophy, but entirely ignored the Divine testimony. At a subsequent meeting it was discussed, but none of the ablest members of the Association took part in it, and there was no report given by the Press of the proceedings. I hand you papers with Mr. Brookman's, and letters in another relating to it. There were about 16,000 of the Telegram containing Mr. Brookman's paper, as the Editor published an announcement on the previous day that it was to

appear.

A simple-hearted Christian-a Methodist-wrote me lately that one of the religious teachers when presented with a tract on the “ Coming of the Lord," said to him "It was of secondary moment," and another said that "any one who taught anything contrary to the 'Everlasting Hell' of Methodism was a dangerous man. Another, preaching from James v. 20, after declaring that conversion saved the soul from death, told his hearers that it did not mean literal death, because the soul was immortal! When the inconsistency was pointed out to him, "he got in a rage" at the Christian brother who pointed out the errors !

The pulpit occupied by poor Handsford some time ago is now occupied by one Dr. Wild, who came from Brooklyn, New York, U.S. He is emphatically a sensational preacher, and a man of ability, and commands large audiences. The leaders in the congregation rejoice, for the heavy debt on the building is being gradually reduced.

I have not heard how the Bible Standard Association is succeeding. It would be a matter of much regret were it to fail, as it is an important auxiliary in the good work, the publication being so very cheap. "The Investigator," published in Montreal, is the only paper I believe in Canada that upholds the doctrines we so highly value. The Editor is an intelligent and earnest Christian labourer, the pastor or co-pastor of a small church I believe.

I very seldom hear of some well-known friends of the truth, such as Mr. Dale of Birmingham, Arthur Mursell, H. Stowell Brown, and others advocating prominently those unpalatable doctrines in the eye of the orthodox. What is the reason of this? One would look naturally for their testimony through the struggling periodicals in the field of mental and moral warfare, for the honour of God and the welfare of man. I am told that Mr. Govett, who is the author of many good works, was once a writer for the RAINBOW. One work on "Eternal Misery" was given to Mr. Brookman, and from him I had a reading of it. It is truly astounding that a Christian of his acquirements should have penned such a work. It is like many others, a learned play upon the number of figurative meanings which may be devised on words, whose meaning in the ordinary or literal sense is plain to the simplest mind. It is calculated to confuse and puzzle any ordinary reader. I think Mr. Brookman has written the author, and hope that his eyes may be opened to see his error. Such a work virtually proclaims that Satan and sin are to triumph eternally over the God of holiness, whose wisdom, love, and power are infinite. The concluding paragraph of Mr. Govett's work seemed to me to be weak in the extreme. It resembles the last lines of a volume on the "Immortality of the Soul," written by a military man, which was once given me to read. It was in these words: "If man be not naturally immortal, then Christ has died in vain." The truth is the

very reverse.

Because man is mortal by reason of sin, therefore Christ

died to give him life.

It sometimes comes up in my thoughts, why is all this antagonism of mind among those that are truly the people of God? Is it to create among us a spirit of earnestness, of patience, forbearance, and love? Life we know is, while here, a training for eternity; and as in the physical world there are antagonistic forces for good, may they not also exist in the mental and moral world for the welfare of our being? May the Lord lead us to a more comprehensive knowledge of His will! JAMES LESSLIE.

I

THE MAN OF SIN AND THE MYSTIC NUMBER.

AM of opinion that all efforts at identification are more or less futile. Dr. Cumming (clarum et venerabile nomen) who not only identified persons, but fixed dates for the manifestation of the "Man of Sin," and the coming of the Messiah, has just passed away without realising anything but bitter disappointment. And, although the "signs of the times are to be carefully studied and laid to heart by the watchman, yet such identifications have done a great deal of harm, not only by preventing God's children from entering upon the earnest study of His prophetic Word, but bringing the doctrine of Christ's Pre-Millennial Advent and Reign into ridicule. The two latest efforts at identification we have seen are the Czar of Russia and Mr. Charles Bradlaugh. If seers would content themselves by calling either of those individuals a man of sin, nobody would object, unless perhaps the last named gentleman. In detecting the "Man of Sin," may we not use the same method as John the Baptist did for discovering the true Messiah, when he sent his disciples with the question, "Art Thou He that cometh, or look we for another?" The messengers in this case were told to observe what was being done by Jesus Christ, and were assured that John would at once know for certain who He was that did it. The works of salvation would infallibly point out the Saviour. So, if we are inquiring after the Man of Sin, let us but observe what he does, and we shall be sure who he is. Thus, for example, if, instead of law and order, we find insurrection; instead of God only wise, the wisdom of man deified and adored; instead of the liberty of serving God, which is the only true freedom, the liberty of disobeying him; instead of that justice and mercy, in which only man can be like God, the power of death, the delight of the devil, wantonly exercising itself in destroying men's lives; instead of laws for securing life and property, rapine and sacrilege laying everything waste; we desire to know what the true man of sin can do more. If there could be such a thing as an actual incarnation of the prince of evil, it does not appear to us that he could do more.

Whether Russia will be "the last great enemy," as is believed in some quarters, we do not know; but this we do know, that she is a present enemy. We are grieved to see the continued blindness and unbelief of God's ancient and chosen people; they have suffered terrible things in Russia recently. We think, however, that the present

Czar has not the courage necessary to prove himself the Lawless One. Perhaps the time spoken of by God in Jeremiah (xvi.) when He would send forth His "many fishers," so as to catch His people with a bait, as it were, may be past, and now it is the "hunters" that are abroad to "hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." Paul makes use of the former idea in reference to the Corinthians-"being crafty I caught you with guile " (δολω-from deAw-to catch with a bait).

On the other hand, Mr. Bradlaugh and his followers make it their boast that they are the most law-abiding of citizens. Of course it is not God's law that they pretend to keep. And we think the real Lawless One, whoever he may be, and whenever he may manifest himself, will not only break the laws of the land, but will trample on God's laws, knowing and believing them to be such. Hence Mr. Bradlaugh does not come up to the Scriptural standard.

"When the event brings its own interpretation with it, a child may see further than the most learned could before." And so many eminent names have been found to supply the mystic number. We think none of them come so near the spirit of Scripture as that suggested by Irenaeus, as early as the second century-Aareivos (a Greek appellative, meaning Latin). The name is evidently to be looked for in the Greek language. The word Lateinos has all the characteristics of the name of the Wild Beast. It contains, according to the Greek mode of computation, exactly the number 666; and it is "the number of a man," for Lateinos (or according to its modern orthography Latinos, and in the Latin tongue, Latinus) is both descriptive of each individual man who inhabits the Latin empire, and was also the name of the real or reputed founder of that empire. After the fall of the Western empire, its inhabitants were called Latins in distinction from the inhabitants of the Eastern or Græco-Roman empire, who called themselves Romans. Their church was the Latin church; their worship was in Latin; the Scriptures themselves were read in Latin; the laws, edicts, and decrees, both of the civil and ecclesiastical rulers, were in Latin. The appropriateness, therefore, of the name Aaravos to the Wild Beast who ruled over that empire is evident. It only remains for us now to count the arithmetical value of the letters forming this word :

Lamba, 30; Alpha, 1; Tau, 300; Epsilon, 5; Iota, 10; Nu, 50; Omicron, 70; Sigma, 200-Total 666 Aarεvos.

"Herein is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred, three score, and six" (Rev. xiii. 18). We by no means put these views forward as the true solution of this enigma, although backed by such authorities as Alford, Wordsworth, Bleek, Düsterdieck and De Wette. John Eward Clarke, in Adam Clarke's Commentary, rejects the above word on Philological grounds, and suggests" The Latin Kingdom," which is pretty much the same idea, and the Greek letters

* [It does not affect our correspondent's illustration when we remind him that Paul did not say this. It was one of the charges brought against him by his enemies, and he quotes it to protest against it. He took no advantage of the Corinthians. See 2 Ep. xii. 17, 18. Editor.]