THE COMMANDMENTS. The Homiletic Review thinks that the Ten Commandments, are not adapt- ed to modern times. They, it says, are negative, "Thou shalt n o t ." Jesus put it positively, as in the Golden Rule " D o , " and such is the side we need A to affirm now. This is to miss a great ( underlying principle associated with the Law. The Law was not given to show man what he should do, but what he is. Therefore it does not command in de- tail what he must do, since he could not do it, but what he must not do, since he is prone to do it. Jesus an- ticipated the time at hand when ' ' the t, law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus would set us free from the law of sin and death. Then we can do. But this criticism against the law of the Decalogue is very far from sound, for fundamentally, essentially, it is positive, and it begins with one great all-embracing "Thou shalt," "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God." That is the great commandment, and until that is fulfilled all works are vain. We are still persuaded that the religion of Be is the true religion, and that of Do is its fruit. TIMELY TOPICS. For Young People's Meetings. f The initial message of the Lord Jesus was, " Ye must be born a g a i n" (Jno. 3:7). This is a fundamental truth, needing great emphasis. You cannot understand the first principle of Christianity until your very soul grasps I this truth. THE NECESSITY. By natural birth we have a corrupt f? nature (Eph. 4:22). There is nothing good in it (Rom. 7:18). God's picture of it (Matt. 15:19). Its works de- scribed (Gal. 5:19-21). This nature alike in all born into this world (Rom. 8:8). Flesh is ialways flesh. Self-cul- ture of this old nature is like building a Babel tower to touch heaven, God puts no new wine into old bottles. NATURE OF NEW BIRTH, Born from above (Jno. 3:3 R. V.). Born from God (Jno. 1:1-3, 6:33; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10, 4:24). A new nature (1 Pet. 1:23; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Jno. 5:10-12). This is the nature or life of God, and is eternal; a life from above is essential to fit us for dwelling with God. Our THE NEW BIRTH. February 6th.
SHARP ARROWS.
A MATTER OF OPINION. "Harvey, you are making a great mistake in not being a Christian. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is eter- nal reality." " T h a t is a matter of opinion." " I f I should tell you that Caesar and Ms deeds were real history, would you say ' a mere matter of opinion'?" "No, certainly n o t !" "Ve ry well, but the life of Jesus is affirmed by the same kind of evidence as any other historical fact. How can it be a matter of opinion?" The commonly accepted facts of his- tory are certain; yes, if there is any certainty. The footprints of great men are as evident and lasting as those of bird and beast in the granite of the primeval ages. But the footprints of Jesus are deeper and clearer than any other. Besides the ordinary records and monuments attesting the works and words of the great and influential, which the testimony of Christ shares, and they include the Gospels, the Lord's Day, the Lord's Supper, the Church, baptism, —these are monuments no cyclone or earthquake can ever destroy, we have the moral character of His witnesses, their regeneration by the facts, their sufferings and self-denials, the holy nature of the witness, the moral influ- ence on mankind, the transfiguration of character, and the personal or experi- mental test of many present-day believ- ers, and add to this the predictions and types of the Old Testament fulfilled in Christ. All this, and more, in which other historical facts do not share, show the super-excellence of the proof of the life, words, and works of Christ. If other facts are well founded, and they are, those of Christianity are more so. ON THE BACK TRACK. ' ' Perhaps it will at last be seen that criticism after its long and painful exertions must return to the occupation of positions it has deserted." Who said that? Some ultra conservative, un- willing to grant that ' ' scholarship'' has demonstrated that the old view of the Bible, the Word of God, is false? No; but one of the .princes among scholars, himself a higher critic who had given up the supernatural as a part of our Christianity.
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