plausible argument, of which, perhaps, the following incident may be the best refutation.

Some few years ago we conducted a Sabbath service in the far north. In the audience there was a man whose commanding appearance and thoughtful countenance attracted our attention. The subject of the sermon was "Living Epistles of Christ," and as a matter of course Christ-likeness was commended as the duty and privilege of all Christians. After the service the distinguished stranger introduced himself, and a glance at his card revealed him as one of the most scientific writers of his generation, and an ex-President of the British Association. He invited us to visit him next day. On our entering the room he at once referred kindly to the sermon, and said,

"Well, however we may differ about articles of faith" (he was a Unitarian), "we all agree in urging the necessity of a holy life. Likeness to Christ is our common goal."

He looked surprised, and, turning quickly round, he said, "What do you mean? Can we not cultivate the graces of a godly character as well as those of your belief?"

"No," was the firm answer, "because until the question of sin is righteously settled between God and man, heaven can have no fellowship with earth, and there is no settlement of that question except on the cross of Christ.”

This is undoubtedly the position assumed at the Reformation. In receiving a sinner there can be on God's part no condonation of sin. It cannot be lightly passed by as if it were of no consequence. There must be no room for mistake as to its evil character and evil desert. And there is none when Jesus is set forth as the Substitute, bearing sin in His own body on the tree. God is thus seen to be just, even when He justifies the ungodly. Apart, however, from the sacrifice of the cross, how can righteousness deal with sin? Punishment, according to its full desert, is the only alternative left. It is vain to speak of change of character as sufficient to ensure change of treatment. For Divine law respects deeds no less than persons. Past sins have to be reckoned with even when repentance and reform have displaced rebellion. But how the penitence and purity are to be reached without the Holy Spirit, who comes only in consequence of Christ's departure, and who comes also to glorify Christ, by making Him unto us "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," is a problem not likely to be soon solved.

The difference between the old and the new theology is vital, not superficial. One affirms substitution and sin-bearing, the other denies them both. Christ finished on the cross the atonement' whereby God can righteously receive the sinner who believes, says the one: no, says the other, His sufferings have no ex

piatory worth whatever, and they have no effect until they move us to bring an adequate repentance and an adequate obedience. In fact, the new doctrine of the cross is one from which the offence has disappeared. Instead of making manifest that our curse is borne by One who consented to be made a curse in our stead, it simply supplies motive power whereby every man is fitted to become his own saviour. It does nothing for him until it sets him doing. In spite of all the apostles ever wrote, we are to be cajoled or coerced into believing that salvation is really by works, after all!

PER

PROPITIATION: GODWARD OR MANWARD? DERHAPS we may succeed better in exposing the dangerous doctrines which are being so daringly thrust upon the Churches by the writers commended in the pages of the Christian World if we adopt a conversational style, and give quotations from them in the form of answers which any one can verify. We place the actual words quoted in italics. To begin, let us take the word "propitiation," and let us ask the advocate of a new theology

"Do you believe Christ to be the propitiation for our sins?"

"That depends entirely on what meaning you give to the word. If you think of God as offended and a propitiation reconciling Him to the sinner, then there is no such propitiation.* We ourselves, or rather what is of God within us, receive propitiation."

"Then man is propitiated rather than God?” "Quite so; but I must repeat, it is the Divine in man. For it is conscience which is quieted or propitiated. Nor do we question that conscience is the creature of God, and that the just wrath of a Divinely-instructed conscience is so far the wrath of God, that is, the wrath of that which is of God within us. of that which is of God within us. In this point of view there is truth in saying that God requires propitiation so far as our conscience requires it.”†

"Then there is no propitiation heavenward, no sacrifice presented to meet the claims of the law and holiness of God?"

"Certainly not. God's righteousness demands none, for that is His conformity to benevolence or love. It is only needed for our conscience troubled and wrathful because of our sin.”‡

"Then the Divine satisfaction which you preach is really human and not Divine ?"

"I prefer rather to say it is a satisfaction of God within the breast rather than of God upon the throne of the universe.”

"But how does Christ's death on the cross satisfy conscience? Is it because it meets our penalty,

our desire with His desire, our effort with His effort to please the Father in the life of the Spirit, in truth, and love, and righteousness."*

"Your language seems devout and Christian, therefore it is likely enough to be accepted by some as Scriptural. Indeed, the more it is examined the more apparent does it become that it is not unlike what passes current as lofty spiritual teaching in many of the Churches. Yet it means nothing more nor less than the imitation of Christ with the Gospel left out. You tell us that to think like Christ, to desire like Christ, &c., is faith, but this is something to be accomplished in me, and not something to be found in Him. Faith, according to your teaching, is inward character, and not confidence in the cross. Is it not so?"

"Faith in Christ, as I apprehend it, is the highest moral activity of the spirit."

"And it is on account of this moral activity of the spirit God justifies?"

IN

N this simple conversation we have only drawn out into daylight the false doctrines which in foggy language are being preached from many pulpits. Faith in Christ is frequent on the lip, but the meaning of the phrase is totally different from the usage of Scripture. According to the Word, law brings us to Christ that we may be justified by faith; according to the modern creed, faith brings us to Christ that we may be justified by law. We are instructed to believe in order that we may fulfil the law: we prefer to follow Scripture, which brings us to Christ as the end of the law for righteousness. When He is made of God unto us righteousness-then, but not till thenHe will also be made unto us sanctification and redemption. The Divine order admits of no change.

The saddest and most alarming fact is the persistent presentation of these pernicious doctrines, to the exclusion of the Gospel of the grace of God. From the press and from the pulpit they are sounding out with greater boldness and loudness every day. The impunity with which they have been hitherto preached has encouraged a more open propagandism. Apparently the public mind is supposed to be so leavened with them that the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Newark, New Jersey, is not afraid to embody them in the plain language we have quoted, and a weekly newspaper in London, claiming to represent the CHRISTIAN WORLD, whatever that may be, is not ashamed to give them its imprimatur. The very pith and power of the Gospel are imperilled. Take away the substitution and sacrifice of Christ from Christianity and what remains? Nothing but * Whiton on Divine Satisfaction, p. 85. + Ibid. p. 86.

a system of ethics, confessedly, indeed, the best we know, but without power to cleanse the conscience or constrain the heart. For the blood of Christ car alone meet our necessity as sinners, since" withot: shedding of blood there is no remission," and the love of Christ in giving Himself for our sins can alone compel our affection. Therefore we stand by the apostolic doctrine and gladly confess, "The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who for their sakes died and rose again" (2 Cor. v. 14, 15, R.V.)

SIR,

Correspondence.

Privileged Profanity.

ΤΟ THE EDITOR OF "WORD AND WORK."

IR,-So loud is the demand for charity, so fierce the protests against bigotry, that at the present day one is almost compelled to let go unchallenged the open enemies of God, and to leave unnoticed their wanton attacks on His name, His day, and His truth.

Though influenced by no other motive, so far as I know my own heart, than jealousy for God's holy name, I know I shall draw on myself abuse-ah, and from Christian people too-as I seek to protest against the irreverence of the so-called "Salvation Army." Some six or seven years ago great men in the Church began to patronise it, and the rich to support it with their sympathy and money. Then, leading journals in the religious world both created and strengthened an ides that "the Salvationists" were doing a work which others had neglected to do among the most degraded and debased of the community. All that had been done by city missionary, Scripture reader, and Bible-woman (yes, and by regularly ordained ministers too), who had laboured, amid insult and opposition, in court, slum, and alley, was coolly ignored by the good and, rich people, who thanked God that “the Army," with its bands and banners, had come to the rescue of the lost and perishing, and readily supplied it, or rather its "General," with the required "sinews of war." But the vagaries with which it had been successful in attracting the attention of the Christian public soon lost their novelty, and it became necessary to add sensation to sensation. The dresses of the "Soldiers" became more gaudy, their street-tricks more grotesque, and the placards of the party evermore startling,till it must have appeared to some that ingenuity for supplying "the eccentric" had thoroughly exhausted itself. I remember noticing a placard at Preston. It was headed with "Blood and Fire." I knew the "blood" referred to was the most precious blood of my blessed Saviour. and I supposed the "fire" to mean the sanctifying work of God's Holy Spirit. Judge then my feelings when, on reading still further, I came to the words, "A Desperate Engagement," and learnt that this was to be "from hand to mouth," with ham, beef, &c., &c., and was told that after the "Soldiers" had destroyed their appetites with these rations, they would nert Engage to fight the devil." I was sick at heart as I turned away, for I felt that, by being placed in such connection, that blood of my Divine Master had been made as common, in the minds of many who had read the bill, as the water that ran down the gutter at my feet; and that the work of "the blessed Comforter" had been wrested and used in such a manner as to lead men, generally, to question His existence.

This profanity, however, I found nearly, if not quite, equalled, last week when I was at the Nottingham Mission. I was conducting an open-air service at the end of a little street, when I heard s tremendous uproar in the main thoroughfare just by, and there swept by us what appeared to be a party of mummers, dressed in the most fantastic fashion. Some one from among the crowd said, "The lasses are wearing crowns," and I found from a bill which I saw next morning in a shop window that "the great sensation of the evening had been a female Captain dressed up for the occasion to represent Paul in chains, as he had appeared before Agrippa; and that one of the great attractions at the hall, or "barracks," had been "the casting out of devils."

Yet this kind of thing is paraded as "the Lord's work," and is received as such by thousands of Christians. Indeed, there

senting" advanced Christianity." But I asked myself, as I saw two young fellows in scarlet jerseys dancing at the head of one of those street processions in Nottingham, and marked the dress, style, and general manner of those who, with tambourines and torches, made up the procession itself, whether the Spirit of God, who, in other days, had inculcated gravity and sobermindedness among believers, had, in any way, changed His mind? How can people who believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures believe in and support these God-dishonouring fooleries? Are the non-church-going, non-Bible-reading masses to be left with the idea that in these things is represented the religion of Jesus? If so, then it will not be long before infidelity will be prevalent all over the land; for whatever may be the seeming, or reported, effect of such doings, they naturally tend to dishonour God, to create disbelief in the personality of the Holy Ghost, and to bring into general contempt the name and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God humbles Himself to find a home in the broken and con. trite heart, but He dwells in the "high and holy place," and His name remains ever holy. Nor if the sacred cherubim veil their faces as they sing His praises, and the elders of heaven uncrown themselves, and fall on their faces at His feet as they worship Him, may mortal man successfully frame an excuse for connecting with His name and service the appearance of what makes mirth for, and forms the sport of, fools.

Pavenham Vicarage, Bedford.

SIR

Evangelization.

JOHN E. LINNELL.

TO THE EDITOR OF "WORD AND WORK.' "" IR,-Your correspondent, W. Whitton, suggests such a terrible idea, that I hope it may be fully disproved. "Those countries," he says, "that took the Gospel in the early ages (Ireland, for instance) do not light afresh." The light has never really gone out there; it burns more brightly than it did some centuries ago; and even where obscured by ignorance and superstition, it is still there. For it should never be forgotten that some Roman Catholics are sincere Christians. A thousand years ago King Alfred sent the Bishop of Sherborne to see the church in South India; and I have heard a living Bishop from thence speak of twenty thousand applicants for baptism.

Your account of the "ancient Christian tablet " in China is another instance. Where Nestorians first kindled the lamp, it has been like "smoking flax" through the centuries, but is now burning brighter and brighter.

Far be it from the Church to imagine that it is useless to carry the light back to the countries whence it came! We know that the scattered nation" must turn to its once rejected Messiah, and why should not Polycarp's lamp yet burn brightly in his church of Smyrna? The Holy Land, North Africa, and Persia must.surely recover the light, trampled nearly out by the False Prophet. M.

Ragged School Union.

TO THE EDITOR OF "WORD AND WORK. NIR,-Permit me to solicit the kind assistance of your

Senerous readers in relieving the wants and brightening

the lives of the hundred thousand poor, hungry children and adults regularly cared for day by day and week by week by the three thousand odd teachers and workers of the Ragged School Missions affiliated with the Ragged School Union. The need is widespread and urgent. It is sought to be met by soup dinners, by gifts of clothing, by carefully administered relief, as well as by the joy-giving treats, Christmas trees, toys, &c. Help is also required to provide Christmas dinners, and other seasonable joys, as well as to sustain the numerous educational, Social, benevolent, recreative, and religious agencies, which are maintained throughout the year for the temporal and lasting benefit of the poorest of our City poor.

Contributions, or gifts in kind, e.g., clothing (new and old), boots, &c., will be most thankfully acknowledged by

JOHN KIRK, Sec.

Rosslyn Mission, Hornsey Road.-Mrs. Garnet writes:-We are anxious to give gifts of food and warm clothing to as many of our aged members as funds will permit. Many are verging on eighty years of age, who have only 2s. 6d. from the parish to pay rent of room, food, firing, and clothes. We, therefore claim for them the practical sympathy of your readers, being too old to work or help themselves. We trust to be enabled to cheer their declining years at this season, and I am sure the Lord's smile will rest upon those who will help by their money, or gifts of cast-off clothing, which may be sent to the Superintendent, 62, Crayford Road, Tufnell Park, London.

1

I have had the enjoyment of daily intercourse with our beloved brother, Joseph Rabinowitz, and ample opportunity to obtain an insight into the work to which the Lord of the vineyard has so manifestly called him, and specially fitted him for. In my frequent visits to his house I found every time Jews consulting with him with deepest concern about matters relative to the organisation and development of the prospective church of believing brethren, many of whom sought private interviews with me for advice and sympathy on the all-absorbing question of that remarkable movement going on in their midst. It was, indeed, a most gratifying sight, and a great surprise to me, to find that at the Saturday's service the simple place of worship called "The Bethlehem," was filled to overflowing with Jews, who observed all through a very decorous and attentive demeanour, which is in itself a fact significant enough, in we take into consideration the natural temper and disposition of the Jew, gendered and maintained as it has been by so many baneful influences, which for centuries have been so assiduously at work both from without and within. To see a number of Jews, nurtured as they are in rabbinical fanaticism and in hatred of Christ, thus congregated and in devout attendance at a service where Christ crucified is lifted up as the power of God unto salvation, both to the Jew and to the Gentile, is evidence unmistakable of the reality of the work of God which is so marvellously taking place before our eyes. Of course, this is all as yet in its infancy, and we may expect yet greater things than these, and that in days evidently not far off, not only in this place, but in many other parts as well. The dry bones can live, if God breathes His Spirit upon them, and Jesus the Son of David will yet be hailed as the Son of God, and acknowledged by His own as their Redeemer and their King.

Bible Carriage Work in the Southern Counties.

HE colporteur who works with the Bible carriage of the extending over the past five months. He first vislted Wimbledon while the rifle meetings were in progress, and from thence went to Redhill and Reigate, where, for three weeks, he had much encouragement in selling the Scriptures and testifying to the grace of God, in open air meetings. Uckfield, Sussex, was the next station, followed by Aylsham and Eastbourne. At the latter place five weeks were spent with the large number of visitors, among whom were some who greatly helped in open air meetings and otherwise.

At Hastings, too, good work was done, notwithstanding opposition in connection with the bye-laws. The carriage was then taken to Canterbury, for the week's pleasure fair there, from Oct. 11. Here the weather was wet, but C. persevered in witnessing for the truth by voice, by books sold, and in the free distribution of Gospel books. At Ashford, Kent, he found 1,500 men employed in the railway works, with little or no effort for their spiritual welfare, but he was sustained and blessed of the Lord in Christian work among them. Maidstone was reached too late in the year for much of this necessarily outdoor effort, and the carriage was brought home by way of Bromley. Not only were the above towns visited, but also neighbouring villages, and such places as were passed through in the journey.

Space does not allow details of the interesting incidents that occurred, but a few may be mentioned. In one town a gentleman's gardener had long been under such deep conviction of sin that he meditated suicide, but was arrested by the text, "God is love," on the carriage. The ensuing conversation with C. led to the gardener's happy experience of peace with God, which was also communicated to the man's wife, through C.'s testimony. Backsliding Christians were met with, having all earthly good that heart can crave, but in a miserable state of soul, from which they were delivered by the entrance of God's Word in connection with this work. Mere professors have been awakened and converted by the same means. Over 500 Bibles have been sold at various prices; also close upon 3,000 Testaments, in addition to many books. Thousands of Gospel books have been given away. C. says that in the midst of abounding superstition and spiritual darkness he has never before witnessed more readiness to receive the truth, or more thorough appreciation of the Gospel. Surely this must stir many to increasingly support such work!

RE

A Faithful Native Pastor. EFERRING to an old and faithful native pastor of the C.M.S., lately passed to his rest, Mr. Meadows, a retired missionary, writes :

con

Viravagu Vedharayagam was nected with me for some thirty years, first as a catechist, itinerating with us, living in his own tent, and taking his full share in that preparatory work; then, as a native clergyman, superintending under me (I had rather say a coadjutor with me) a portion of the district; and, lastly, when I was forced to leave the work, taking the entire charge of the whole of the wide field of North Tinnevelly.

You could not travel with him without seeing how much he had gained the respect of the heathen and the love of his people. How well I can picture an often witnessed scene after service held in his church at Vageikulam. Persons had come from the neighbouring villages, two, five, seven miles away. When the service was over, and before they returned to their homes, he would sit in the verandah, while the people crowded round to see and speak to us. His kind words and manner were answered by the loving, confiding looks and smiles of his people, lingering as long as possible, and making excuses to linger longer.

His children, brought up many of them by us, are treading in his steps in consistent living. His wife, now sorrowing widow, was remarkable for the

TH

A Trader on the Arabs. THE following very interesting letter recently reached the Bible Society from Mr. J. L. Nicoll:

My work as a trader for the African Lakes Company, Limited, brings me in frequent and close contact with the Arab and Swahili traders of the NyassaTanganyika district, for several of whom I have the warmest regard, and who listen with deep interest to what I can tell them of our faith in Christ Jesus. One, I found, had been reading part of our Scriptures-it was a fragment containing from the Epistle to the Ephesians to the Revelation-which he had picked up, quite ignorant of what it was. When I told him it was part of the Word of our God, he said he would not give it up now-it was too good. He then earnestly asked me if I could not get more like it for him.

In many conversations with him, he has confessed his admiration for the Christian faith, and longing to understand it. I cannot do much for him in the matter of teaching; my knowledge of Swahili is limited. He knows no English, but if I had an Arabic Bible, any Swahili books--anything, indeed, which would help me in speaking with such as this Arab, I should be thankful.

Seamen in South America.

her soft light shone soothingly in her husband's home and village.

Fruit among the Orphans.

T

URNING over a little book issued by Rev. John Fordyce, "After Many Days," we find the following:-"Piaree,' or "Love," was one of the gentlest of the girls-a real young Christian. She was useful in the institution, and also as one of the girls who went as assistants to Zenanas with Miss Toogood or Miss Marr. Seven years after we left she turned ill, was sent to the hospital, and there fell asleep in Jesus.

Joy Moonie, our precious one, was the only child of Mahendra, one of Dr. Duff's early converts, over whose early death there was much sorrow, being a man of great ability and devotedness. She had real talent and was one of the assistants in Zenanas. After we left she was married to a native Christian gentleman who rose to a good position in Government service. She had sons and daughters. After her death four of them were sent to Simla and Kussowlie to schools. They are likely to take a good place in the native Christian church.

Hannah Joseph was a clever little Jewess. Her history is long and intensely interesting. She is the wife of a worthy Government clerk, and they have a large family. Such has been her zeal that she has done good work now and then in Zenanas in Calcutta and at Simla. She was for some time one of our Sunday School teachers in the Simla Union Church. She is a very useful Christian.

A younger sister of Hannah's has devoted herself to Zenana Missions, and can take rank for energy and usefulness with European ladies. We got a great surprise when Miss Joseph took her place on theplatform as one of the lady-speakers at the great Decennial Conference in Calcutta.

Missionary Society writes from Rio: I am rejoiced to be able to give a good account of the mission work lately; it has kept me very busily engaged, but I trust it will bring forth good fruit in due time. There has appeared to have been a spiritual wave passing over this harbour, and it still seems going on. The captains willingly help me by bringing their men, by attending with their fami lies, and by offering the use of their ships for "Bethel" purposes. Marked attention has been paid to the "words of life," and altogether the services have been examples of life and power, and I trust at the last day the work will stand the test and escape the fire. I find many people here whose interest is being awakened, and who, as they see the working of the Mission, recognise its value. I trust that as time goes on many may come forward and lend a helping hand, for after all the field is immense, whilst the labourers are very few. Everything points to the necessity of a floating Bethel in order that the work may be done with fullest effect. Altogether, I have much to praise God for, and I trust He may think fit to increase my usefulness, so that the Rio Seamen's Mission may not be a barren branch, but rather that it may teem with life, and be the means of bringing many souls to the Saviour.

A Significant Fact.-"At the funeral of Sundram, a celebrated native evangelist," writes Rev. W. Robinson, "a large number of Brahmini women followed with Mrs. Sundram to the burial-ground, and, at the awful risk of ceremonial defilement, showed their respect for him and their sympathy for her. I make no comment upon this, but simply say that such a fact has hitherto been unheard of in Indian Mission history."

Work in a Corner.

WE have received from a lady friend

an account of Dr. Commandi's work in Florence. Beginning with the founding of an orphanage in 1873, it has grown quietly and steadily, and now exercises considerable influence in the city. From a number of incidents given of fruit we take the following:

One who left the orphanage two years ago writes to me full of joy, that he has found the Saviour, to whom he trusts to consecrate his future life. Another, who left us about four years ago, was shaken in his belief by the conduct of one who should have been his example, and fell into incredulity. In the course of a mortal sickness the seed sown here sprang up, and his sister writes with joy of his sincere repentance and death,calling on Him who is mighty to save. Another pupil of not common intellect, but who gave few signs of spiritual life when among us, was converted to the Lord after leaving the orphanage. Some time after, he fell ill, and I had a touching letter from him, in which he thanked me warmly for all the kindness he had received here, both as regards temporal and eternal things. A lady, who was like a mother to him in his last illness, wrote to me of the les sons to be learned beside his sick-bed; even in delirium he repeated our names, and died saying, "I am going to my Father in heaven."

The Home and schools, and mission churches, are entirely supported by faith in God, who never fails to provide the needs.

Jews and the New Testament.

ПHE Bible Society, in giving some

Tillustrations of the power of the

New Testament amongst the Jews, cites the following instances:-A Jew, who had bought an entire copy of the Bible, expressed himself thus with regard to the New Testament: "Sublimer and more solemn lessons are nowhere to be met with. They are just fit to seize with power the whole of one's heart, so that it is almost impossible to withstand the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah."

"Let me feel the Book," said a blind man, putting it to his lips and kissing it. "This is God's Book. It is the truth."

"There I find my comfort," said a sick boy, lying upon his bed. "That is the source of my peace and hope."

A poor widow, when asked if she would like to read the New Testament, answered, "Read it! Who would not read such heavenly words, which are so comforting to a widow's heart?"

A Jewish teacher in ill-health fre quently confessed that it was entirely owing to his perfect belief in the Old and New Testaments that he could bear with patience and humble submission to his Lord's will the cross which He was pleased to put upon his shoulders. When the missionary saw him for the last time upon his death-bed, he said, "You know my mind; you know what has been my strength and support through life; you know what I believe, and through faith in whom I know that I shall be saved."

A poor Jew, to whom the missionary had lent a New Testament to read. grasped it, saying, "That Book, sirthat Book has brought peace to my troubled soul."