Believers must try the teachings of their Church by the Scriptures. The elders of the Churches are bound to take heed to the flocks over the which the Holy Ghost hath made them bishops, to keep them from being scattered or destroyed.

THE WAY OF SALVATION.

THE Bible tells us, that there is only one way of salvation. That way has been provided by God. Man never would have discovered it; and man everywhere rejects it. That way was the same before Christ came, that it is now. It is the only way in which man can go to God. In that way God's law is honored, and His justice satisfied; the sins of the believer are atoned for; and the sinner is not only justified, but is also sanctified. His natural heart is changed, he is created anew. Man is condemned to death, and "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9: 22). Christ was "made sin for us" (2 Cor. 5: 21), and "bore our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2: 24). The sacrifices offered by the patriarchs, and according to the laws of Moses, were all ordered by God, and were types of the sacrifice of Christ. "The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13: 8). The coming of Christ was announced immediately after the Fall. "The Lord God said unto the serpent, * * * And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen.

3: 15). This enmity has shown itself to the present day. "The children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil" (1 John 3: 10). "Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother, and wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 John 3: 12). Jesus told the rulers of the church in His day, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth" (John 8: 44). John the Baptist, before, had addressed them, "O generation of vipers" (Matt. 3: 7). Jesus uses the same words, Matt. 12: 34; and again, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matt. 23: 33). Believers in the Bible must bear in mind that these words were used against the rulers of the church. The seed of the serpent still bears rule in portions of the church, opposing Christ and His teachings. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain" (Heb. 11:4). Faith in the Lamb slain, which God had provided. Christ was again made known in the promise made to Abraham, "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12: 3). Jesus said, "Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad" (John 8: 56). Job said, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand up at the last upon the earth" (Job 19: 25). All the forms of

worship ordered by God, through Moses, were types of Christ. Access to God, the forgiveness of sins, and His blessing, being all obtained through the appointed sacrifices. In the Psalms we have the gospel and its effects upon believers. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity" (Psm. 32: 1). "Jehovah is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Psm. 23). "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me bless His holy name *** who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction. * * * As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us" (Psm. 103: 1, 3, 12; Psm. 91, etc., etc.). Christ is clearly revealed in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD had laid on him the iniquity of us all." The whole chapter is full of the Gospel. Christ, after his resurrection, said, "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 24: 27, 44).

Much of what is done in the cities at the present time, under the pretence of drawing men to hear the Gospel, degrades the message of God, and is insulting God. He sends His ambassadors to preach the Gospel and to beseech men to be reconciled to Him. His message is, Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This message is to be delivered to all; whether rich or poor, learned or ignorant; whether in the church or out of it. Unless they repent and believe, they will all likewise perish. The message is, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him, might be saved" (John 3: 16). When Christ was born, God sent an angel to announce that salvation, saying, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2: 10). There is only one way by which man can return to God. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14: 6). “All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom