Q. 12.-"Is not the first book of the New Testament entirely Jewish, the book of the Kingdom and not of the Church, which is future? Matt. 16:18. Do not even the parables of the thirteenth chapter apply to the Jews during the time of the tribulation, rather than to the present Church period?

Ans.-Unquestionably, Matthew is the Jewish Gospel and is closely linked with the Old Testament prophets. The Church, too, as in all the Gospels, is future, formed, as we well know, at Pentecost, by the descent of the Holy Ghost; but it would be a great mistake to think that the present period was entirely ignored in the prophetic outlook of that Gospel. The parables of the Kingdom, unquestionably many of them at least, have distinct reference to the present time, notably that of the sower, the mustard seed, the leaven and the pearl of great price. We must not forget that there is a Kingdom aspect of divine truth as well as a Church aspect. We cannot close our eyes to the fact that God holds all profession of allegiance to Himself, responsible. This if false could not be in the Church, which, as the body of Christ, is composed only of true believers. Neither is it in the world, for profession puts one in a different place. The parables in Matt. 13:show how clearly all applies to the Kingdom, that sphere of things where God's authority is outwardly acknowledged by a vast multitude, a part of whom also truly are His. Unquestionably, too, much in Matthew goes on to the resumption of God's ways with His earthly people in the latter days, but we believe it would be a great mistake to eliminate the present period from that Gospel. Much erroneous teaching would follow this; notably that, which we fear is beginning to make inroads already, the denial of water baptism as applicable to the present period. Let us be careful not to allow the entering wedge of any error. God's truth is self-consistent and perfect in its place. To ignore the Kingdom is both to degrade the Church from its high and heavenly place, and to lower the sense of responsibility to God on the part of all who profess the name of Christ.