them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Rom. 8: 28). We are told that, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10: 17). "To the Church of God, which is at Corinth," Paul writes, "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gespel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the Scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (I Cor. 1: 17). To the church in Rome Paul writes, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1: 15). God at creation made all things by His word. He spake and it was done. He said,

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"Let there be light, and there was light" (Gen. 1: 3). Ever since the word of God gives life and light to men, "the entrance of Thy word giveth light" (Ps. 119: 130). "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4: 6). "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord" (Eph. 5: 8). The word of God from the beginning was Christ. "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1: 1-14). He is the Word of God to give life and light to men. And therefore Paul preached Christ; and Christians are to be witnesses for Christ; Timothy was charged, "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). Child of God! born again, made alive, created anew, by the Word of God; that word is committed to you; that you may grow thereby, and by means of it save others. Use that word; for God says, comparing it to the rain that watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isa. 55: 11).

FAITH AND GOOD WORKS.

GOD'S way of salvation differs from that of every other religion in the world, including those of the lapsed churches. God's plan is Salvation by faith. All other religions look to their good works for salvation. The children of God are told to do good works not in order to be saved, but because they are saved. Cain's offering of his own productions was rejected by God. Abel's offering which we are told was by faith, was accepted. Sacrifices for sin were required by God as a part of every act of worship. For sins of commission, of omission, of ignorance, of presumption; sin-offerings daily, on the Sabbath Day, and even when presenting thank offerings and national thanksgivings. All these sacrifices represented the Lord Jesus Christ, "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13: 8). The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1: 29). "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5: 8). The Lamb now on the throne, as described in Revelations, as "a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain" (Rev. 5: 6). In the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews we have a list of the patriarchs and worthies in the Old Testament, commended for their faith. In all these cases their good works

from

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are spoken of as the result of their faith. Elsewhere we are told, "If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4: 2). "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). The same motive for doing good works is in the Old Testament as in the New. In the Old, God continually reminds his people, that because he had delivered them Egypt, they should love, and obey Him. introduction of the Ten Commandments begins with, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me. Thou shalt not &c., &c." (Exod. 20: 2). The children of Israel are constantly reminded of this deliverance as an incentive to obedience and good works (Exod. 13: 3, 9, 14, 16; Deut. 6: 21; Levit. 19: 36; Num. 15:40, 41; Ps. 81: 10; Deut. 5: 15; Josh. 24: 5 &c). They are also told that the Lord had redeemed them out of the house of bondage and led them forth and guided them in His strength unto His holy habitation (Exod. 15: 13; Deut. 7:8; 15: 15; 9: 26; 24 18; &c., &c). The same reasons, in almost the same words, are used in the New Testament calling upon the children of God to love Him, and do good works; not in order to save themselves, but because God through the Lord Jesus Christ has saved them.

"That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for the just shall live by faith." "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." "That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3: 11, 13, 14). "Be ye holy; for I am holy." "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1 Pet. 1: 16, 18). "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. In whom we have redemption through His blood even the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1: 13). "Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess. 1: 10). "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. 6: 20). "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15: 58). "Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also." "For ye