INTRODUCTION.

"Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures" (Matt. 22: 29).

MANY, even of the children of God, think of the Lord Jesus Christ, as having left this world eighteen hundred years ago, and as being now in heaven, as our advocate; and do not realise "that all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28: 18). "Angels and authorities being made subject unto Him" (1 Pet. 3: 22). "And by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body of the Church" (Col. 1:17) And He is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head of all things to the Church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all " (Eph. 1: 20). They do not realise that the Lord Jesus Christ, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, has been ever since His ascension, and is now, with His Church; and has a living union with every individual believer in Him. He says, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18: 20). Few believe this; if more did, prayer meetings of two or three.

Christians meeting in His name, would be more appreciated. "Again, I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father that is in heaven" (Matt. 18: 19). "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14: 13). This He repeats again and again (John 15: 7, 16; John 16: 23, 26). Reader, do you believe these promises? He commanded His disciples, "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28: 19). "So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following" (Mark 16: 19). If preachers and Chris: tians trying to bring souls to Christ believed this, they would realise His presence with them; and have His Almighty power working with them, confirming the Word. After His ascension, Christ was with the Apostles according to His promise. Where the word Lord appears in the Acts of the Apostles, it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. "The Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved" (Acts 2: 47). Paul asked, "Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom

thou persecutest" (Acts 9: 4, 5; 18: 9). In the

letters to the churches, in the second and third chapters of the Revelation, we are expressly told that Jesus walks among the churches, and notices all their good works and all their errors in doctrine and practice; and, what should give us great comfort, He knows the trials and troubles of every individual member in every church; and even the poor widow's mite is noticed by Him.

The Bible from the beginning of the first chapter of Genesis, to the end of the last chapter of Revelation, is one Book; and is to be read and studied as one book; as the Word of God ; revealing God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "And. the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us' (John 1: 1, 14). The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ not only was made flesh for us, but also that He takes our sins, and gives us His righteousness. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5: 21). "Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin should live unto righteousness (1 Peter 2: 24). He took on Him our death, and gives us His everlasting life. "I give unto them eternal life" (John 10: 28). "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14: 19). He took on Him our human nature, and makes us partakers of His Divine nature. "As thou, Father,

Father,

art in Me, and I in Thee, that they, also, may be one in us" (John 17: 21).

It is not surprising that the deluded followers of the Church of Rome are ignorant of the way of salvation. Being forbidden to read the Bible, it is to them a sealed book; but it is a sad fact that many who are connected with Protestant churches, instead of studying the Scriptures, read only such parts as suit them. The consequence is they are ignorant of many of the plain teachings of the Bible; and because of their ignorance of the Bible, they have little faith; and do not possess that joy, and peace, which come through believing. Ask many professing Christians if they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? And they will without hesitation reply, Yes. Ask them, If you are called away to night, are you sure that you would go to heaven? They will hesitate, and probably reply, I hope so. Ask them, Why they are not sure? They have doubts whether they are good enough. They think it presumption and self-righteousness in those who answer such questions with, Yes, for I have Christ's word for it. They are ignorant of, or do not believe, the words of Christ regarding those who believe in Him. He hath said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3: 36). “Hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death into life" (John 5: 24). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life'