BY JAMES H, BROOKES.

The following little book consists of three “Bible readings,” the first of which has been previously published, and graciously owned by the Lord in helping to awaken attention to “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” (Tit. ii. 13) It was given during the progress of the " Believers' meeting for Bible Study,” near Boston, in July, 1876, and several thousand copies of the first edition have already been put into circulation by the beloved brother who now sends forth a new and enlarged edition, containing most of the Scripture references printed in full.

To this he has added a “Reading” on the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and another on the personality, divinity, and work of the Holy Spirit, the whole being printed under the title of Present Truth, a name suggested by Charles M. Whittelsey, of Spencerport, New York, a brother beloved in the Lord. For the sake of brevity all explanatory remarks and illustrations are omitted, and only the heads of the different points to be established by Scripture are presented to the reader. There are. many, of course, who will complain of the baldness and barren ness of “style” which these omissions impart to the book; but it is comforting to know that there are at least a few who would rather have five words dictated by the Holy Ghost, than ten thousand words uttered by the most eloquent human tongue, or written by the most graceful human pen, (1 Cor. xiv. 19.)

To the young believer, who loves God's precious word, and longs to become intimately acquainted with its teachings, the following principles of interpretation, and rules of study, may be of service:

First, the Bible is a plain book addressed to plain people, and easy to be understood with the aid of the Holy Spirit, who has been given to all Christians as their abiding teacher and guide. Hence the command of Jesus to the people at large; " Search the scriptures,” (John v. 39). Hence, too, the Bereans “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so," (Acts xvii, 11). " And that from a child [a very young child] thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God (whether learned or unlearned, ordained or unordained,] may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,” (2 Tim. iii. 15-17). “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God," (1 Cor. ii. 12). “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you,” (1 John ii. 27) Besides such passages as these, let us remember that the prophets were commanded “lo speak to all the people" (Jer. xxvi. 8), and that the apostles were directed to send their epistles to " all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,” (1 Cor. i. 2); and it will be clear that every Christian is expected to study God's book, encouraged by the sweet promise, “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word,” (Isa. lxvi. 2).

Second, because the Bible is a plain book, intended for simple. minded but wise-hearted people, it is certain that it means what it says, and we have no right to suppose that the Holy Ghost designed the scripture, or the writing which he dictated, to be understood in a sense different from than that which the words used by the inspired writers imply. For example, when we read the opening verse of Isaiah, “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah, “we must take it for granted that the vision is really concerning Judah and Jerusalem, whatever profitable lessons we may gather from it for the Christian Church. If we are at liberty to imagine that it is not about Judah and Jerusalem, but believers in Christ the world over, then, as Dean Alford has well said to those who spiritualize away the statement of the word in Rev. xx, touching the two resurrections, “there is an end of all significance in language, and Scripture is wiped out as a definite testimony to anything." So when we find that in the New Testament one verse out of twenty-five sets forth the second coming of Christ, we have no authority to conclude that the Lord Jesus and the Holy Ghost by the inspired writers had in view the death of Christians, or the destruction of Jerusalem, or any event whatever except the literal, personal coming of our Saviour. We frequently hear, especially at funerals, the text quoted, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh,” (Matt. xxiv. 44), as if nothing but death were implied in His coming; but surely if He had meant death, He would have said death. If we may change the natural, obvious, historical meaning of words at our pleasure, and put upon them all manner of fanciful interpretations to suit our theories and notions, the testimonies of God's inspired book become nothing more than the ambiguous utterances of the ancient heathen oracles, and we must have some infallible church to tell us what they really teach. “The Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it” (Hab. ii. 2); and certainly it may be affirmed of the word which “is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps cxix. 105), as it is declared of the way by which the ransomed of the Lord re turn and come to Zion, “The wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein,” (Isa. xxxv. 8.)

Third, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," (2 Tim., iii, 16), and the Scripture is the writing contained in the Bible, and this writing is made up of words formed by letters of the alphabet. Hence, not only are the thoughts, but the words of Scripture are inspired, as we are told in hundreds of instances, where we learn that “the word of the Lord came to the sacred writers, and that “God said,” and “God spake.” Not only so, but all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and therefore all Scripture is worthy of devout study. " We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet., i, 19 21). There are many who will tell us we do well to avoid prophecy; but the Holy Ghost tells us we do well to take heed to it. There are many who assure us that prophecy is a dark place; but the Holy Ghost assures us that it is a light which shineth in a dark place. “It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Mat. X, 20) “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thess., ii, 13).

Fourth, All Scripture is about Christ. “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.” (John. v, 39) “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself... And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” (Luke, xxiv, 27-44). Paul reasoned with the Jews three Sabbath days out of the Old Testament Scriptures, proving that Jesus is the Christ (Acts xvii, 2, 3); Apollos mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Old Testament that Jesus is the Christ, (Acts xviii, 28); and passages referring to events that occurred long before his birth, are declared to be fulfilled by him. Compare Isa. vii, 14; Hos. xi, 1, with Matt. ii, 17, 18; the drift of all the Old Testament Prophets with Matt: ii, 23, and Acts x, 43.

Fifth, All Scripture is written for our personal instruction and profit. “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. xv, 4). The Holy Ghost, after mentioning a number of incidents in the history of the Israelites on their way to Canaan, adds, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [types]; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Cor. x, II). Whatever chapter in the Bible is read, therefore, we must keep in mind that Christ is there, and must be found, and that it has a message designed directly for ourselves.

Sixth, All Scripture must be studied in the light which the Holy Ghost throws upon the sacred page. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. ii, 14). This is as true of the natural man in a believer, as it is of the natural man in an unbeliever, for the “flesh in a Christian is no better, often meaner, than in one who makes no profession of faith in Jesus. If, therefore, the Bible is studied only with the intellect, it will never be understood, for “it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing.” (John vi, 63); and so totally ruined and helpless is human nature, “that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Cor. xii, 3).

Seventh, All Scripture must be searched upon our knees, or with earnest prayer the name of the Lord Jesus for guidance and enlightenment. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John xiv, 13). “For without me ye can do nothing.” (John xv, 5). We are in the habit of singing:

“I hear the Saviour say,
Thy strength indeed is small.”

But our strength is just nothing, and never do we know blessing and power in the study of the Scriptures until as “a broken and emptied vessel,” we enter into Apostle's experience; “He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I 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.” (2 Cor., xii, 9, 10).

May the Lord greatly increase the number of humble and diligent Bible students in these last and perilous days, giving them to see clearly that the Christ in whom they trust, is divine in the largest and truest sense; that the Holy Spirit is their abiding and all-sufficient Comforter, and Helper, and Teacher; and that they are living worthy of their high vocation, only when in response to the the sweet promise of their absent Saviour, thrice repeated in the closing chapter of God's word, “Surely I come quickly,” their hearts send forth the eager cry, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

St. Louis, August, 1877.