Ques. 4.-"Can the sons of God of Job 38:7 be said to be angels? At the creation, all the sou of God shouted for joy. If these are angels, we must think of Satan as being amongst them as yet unfallen ; but Jno. 8:44 tells us he was a murderer from the beginning. How can we think of him, then, as shouting for joy at creation?"

Ans.-We fully believe the passage in Job refers to angels. God is " the Father of spirits," which, while it directly is in contrast with the fathers according to the flesh, would be wide enough to include all orders of His intelligent creation. Every family in heaven and earth is created by Himself. Our correspondent must remember that "from the beginning" as applied to Satan does not necessarily mean from his creation, but from the beginning of his career as Satan. Scripture is perfectly clear that Satan was originally one of the Chiefest of God's creatures ; (See Ezek. 28:) that he was a "son of the morning," and through pride fell from the original beauty and glory which God, in His goodness, had given him. Therefore, there is nothing unlikely in Satan and all who subsequently fell with him, rejoicing with all the heavenly host in the creation of the physical universe.

Ques. 5.-"What is to be thought of the teaching now common amongst men, that Sheol is the heart of the earth, composed of two compartments in one of which (.lie spirits of the Old Testament saints were imprisoned until the death of Christ, at which time He descended into the lowest part of the earth and liberated them? Matt. 12:40, Eph. 4:8-10."

Ans.-The view referred to is thoroughly crude and unscriptural, and really dishonoring to the mercy of God. The thought that Old Testament saints were imprisoned in some place from which they were liberated by our blessed Lord, who "descended into Hades" has no warrant whatever is the word of God. The passage alluded to in Eph. 4:does not mean this. "The lower parts of the earth" unquestionably refers to the grave, into which our blessed Lord reached the lowest point of His outward humiliation, from whence He was raised up and exalted, and now fills all heaven.

The "leading captivity captive," which is also spoken of in that passage, does not refer, as it has been made to do, to the liberation of the multitude who up to that time were held in captivity ; but the triumph over Satan and sin who held in bondage the people of God. By death, He "annulled him who had the power of death .. . and delivered those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Sheol is the Old Testament expression for the Greek "Hades." Its etymology is very likely from the root meaning "to inquire." "Man giveth up the ghost and where is he?" He is no longer upon earth, no longer visible here, he has gone – whither? The Greek word "Hades," (the unseen) is equally indefinite. It is in contrast with that which is seen and present here. Neither term, therefore, refers to a district or geographical locality, but rather to that which is not here and not visible. As a matter of fact, the spirits of saints depart to be with Christ, and Lazarus was seen in Abraham's bosom after his death. It would be the grossest misrepresentation to think that Old Testament saints did not share in this blessedness.

Ques. 6.-"At Oman's threshing-floor, where the plague was stayed, why is it that David offered only the burnt- and peace-offerings, and not the sin-offering? Why should the sin-offering be omitted? When they came up out of Babylon, under Ezra, they offered both burnt and sin-offerings."
Ans.-There was undoubtedly full conviction of sin on the part of David and naturally we would think of the sin-offering being offered. On the other hand, the burnt-offering was, as we might say, that which was generic, not exactly including, but suggesting the entire scope of the sacrifices. Thus, in Lev. 1:, the burnt-offering was presented, as it should be translated, "for the offerer's acceptance," emphasizing, as it does, the infinite preciousness of the death of Christ to God in the very circumstances where our sin had brought Him-to death upon the cross. It would in that way fittingly provide for the guilty king's acceptance, and be the basis of the restoration to communion, which is typified in peace-offerings. The sin, too, of numbering the people seems to be somewhat different from an ordinary trespass.

When Israel returned from Babylon, there was actual guilt and manifold departure from God in every way, which would need to be provided for by a sin-offering. When the people were to be numbered a ransom price had to be given, and the sin of David seems to have been the ignoring of the fact that all the people needed this ransom. This is really what the burnt-offering would provide; so that in that sense we may look upon it as a tardy payment of what should have been done at the beginning, rather than at the close of the enumeration. We simply suggest these thoughts without confining the explanation within these limits.

Ques. 7.-"In reference to the coming of our Lord and the judging of the living saints at that time, is it exactly scriptural to say that 'millions will be changed and not die?' Does not Scripture suggest that, in the remnant times of the last days, not a multitude, but the opposite, is suggested? Is it not much better to adhere in this matter to the plain language of Scripture :' We who are alive and remain,' " etc., etc.?

Ans.-Of course, no one would seek for a moment, in using any figure, to speak of the number of the saints living upon earth at the coming of the Lord. Scripture does not do so, and we can safely leave it there. On the other hand, we must carefully distinguish between the remnant of those who manifest themselves as His and who are intelligently waiting for Him, and the entire mass of the redeemed who are upon earth at that time. Thank God, all the false teaching and error cannot blot out a single name from the Lamb's book of life, and "they that are Christ's at His coming" will be caught up.

As to the number of these, we may be sure that God will do that which is absolutely wise and best. While there are few who are upon the narrow road at any given place or time, in contrast with the untold millions who are on the broad road leading to destruction, yet it is a joy to know that heaven will not be a lonely place, but that a great multitude which no man can number will there pour forth eternal praises which, for volume, are compared to the sound of many waters. Thus it is a joy to believe that at the present time the " 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal" represent a large number washed in the precious blood of Christ. Of course we agree with our correspondent, that the use of any figure which would indicate an unlimited number is going beyond Scripture.