QUES. 9.-John 5:4, reads:"For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole got whatsoever disease he had."

I notice it is omitted in R. V. Please say if it is in the best MSS. Some hold it to have been an intermittent spring.

ANS.-The most ancient MSS. mostly omit the passage, but the Alexandrian, and the Vulgate retain it. The other part of the narrative also needs it as an explanation. It is without doubt, therefore, a part of the inspired Text. As to its being an intermittent spring it is the "Higher Critics" and unbelievers who wish to have it so, that they may do away with the miraculous in this as in other parts of Scripture. Its spiritual lesson is very great. It shows how law, even when tempered with grace, as was the case with Israel since the second giving of the law (compare Exod. 20:with 34:) utterly failed toward the truly impotent.

How many of us have groaned our "thirty-eight years" under the mixed law and grace kind of gospel which is well-nigh the universal gospel now preached, and found no relief till we learned the perfect grace of God come by Jesus Christ-not for men who can still do something for themselves, but for lost sinners.

QUES. 10.-Kindly explain through help and food Rom. 8:28-30 and 9:16-18.

ANS.-Both passages speak of the sovereign purpose of God-the first applied to His people individually; the second dispensationally. From out of a God-hating and Christ-rejecting world, God has from eternity determined to get a people, and He has predestinated that people "to be conformed to the image of His Son." Nor will He give them up till this is fulfilled at the coming again of our Lord. Meanwhile He makes use of "all things"-the sorrowful no less than the happy things-to produce in them, already here in this life, the moral image of His Son.

The thirtieth verse of the ninth chapter clearly explains the second passage. Hardened Israel is now set aside, and the Gentiles are in favor through pure grace, for they surely deserved nothing. Of course no individual Jew is shut out of salvation though the nation as such is cast off.

God raised up Pharaoh to the throne of Egypt to display His grace and power, for Pharaoh was of determined opposition to God. As he begged deliverance from each plague, and got it, he only grew harder and harder by it to his own destruction, but to the manifestation of God's power and determined purpose to deliver His own people out of Egypt and Pharaoh's hand.

QUES. 11.-When does Rev. 22:17 apply? The eternal state has been all brought in; does it not apply to that time?

ANS.-It is a retrospect view. All revelation is out, and the final, eternal issues brought to light. In view of this it is the final invitation of grace turning once more to man and saying, Now that you know all about what is coming, avail yourself of the water of life while yet you may. How solemn it is.

( Other Questions remain for next issue.)