Ques. 18.-Please explain the difference between what is commonly called standing and state. Does our place in the holiest depend upon our state, or is it connected with the common standing of all believers? My impression is that our High Priest has gone in there permanently, and that all His members are where He is – seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Would you call that the holiest of all? I am aware that we only realize our standing there, when our state is right, but surely the standing remains perfect, notwithstanding the failure in the believer.

Ans.-Without entering into intricate distinctions, there are evidently two very clearly marked lines of truth in the word of God relating to believers, which may be very properly grouped under the words standing and state.

Standing includes all that is connected with the counsels of grace, the work of Christ and the place He now occupies, risen and glorified, for His redeemed people. Connected with it we have forgiveness, justification, acceptance, access to God in grace, and boldness in the holiest. Flowing from it we have the pledge of eternal security, and the glory of God as our home.

State suggests the practical work of the Spirit in us, bringing home these truths to our hearts and consciences, and producing in us corresponding fruits. It is intimately associated with the thought of responsibility.

It is of grave importance therefore that there should be kept a clear distinction between standing and state. Where this is not clone assurance will be lacking, or a pharisaic spirit be fostered; for who could ever be satisfied with his state? On the other hand, the perfection of our standing before God on the ground of a sacrifice which has perfected us forever, and in Christ risen, is as absolute as the work and Person of our Lord could make it.

Unquestionably there is a very close connection between the standing and state of the believer, and the failure to notice this may have resulted in the effort to confound them. Our state flows from our standing, and should be the expression, in ever increasing measure, of its perfection. We have absolutely no sympathy with that wretched abuse of the doctrines of grace which leads to antinomianism-which says, Let us continue in sin that grace may abound. But the remedy is not to merge state into standing or the reverse, but to give all emphasis to each in its place. We are thankful for our brother's question calling attention to this most important and elementary truth.

Ques. 19.-Please explain Matt. 15:21-28, especially verse 27, "Truth, Lord:yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters's table."

Ans.-The woman was a Gentile and in using the title "Son of David," she appealed to the Lord as though she were an Israelite. He tests her faith by His silence, and, when He does speak, emphasizes the position of Gentiles-"It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs." Is has been thought however that in the very form of word used for "dog," our Lord left an opening for faith. It was not the dog without owner, the common scavenger of the east, but the house-dog- so the diminutive form has been thought to suggest-inferior and dependent, but not despised. Be this as it may, the great faith of the woman takes the place the Lord gives her, and uses that as an argument for His mercy to be shown. " Truth Lord," I am a dog, but when was dog refused a crumb, and Thy mercy for me is but as that. Thus faith ever acts:it takes the place of nothingness, and finds the fulness of Christ for it.

Ques. 20.-Will there be any deaths among the saved upon earth during the millennium. See Isa. 65:20.

Ans.-It would seem not. There will be multitudes of mere professors during that period, and from among these all who despise the government of God in a public way will be cut off. There is no mention of the resurrection of any at the close of the millennium except the unsaved (Rev. 20:5, 6, 12-15).

Ques. 21.-Could you tell who the nations are, spoken of in Rev. 21:24? The old heavens and earth are passed away. Jerusalem is seen coming down from God out of heaven, and the nations walk in the light of it. Is this the time spoken of in 1 Cor. 12:28, where the Son delivers up the Kingdom to God?

Ans.-We believe that the eternal state is referred to in the first eight verses of Rev. 21:, and that the remainder of the description of the heavenly city, in that and the next chapter, takes more the form of a millennial scene. This would explain the mention of the nations alluded to. From ver. 9 to 21:5 seems plainly to be a separate and retrospective vision as to the millennial time.

Ques. 22.-Please explain Col. 2:16 to end. Who are exhorted not to touch taste or handle, and from what are they so carefully guarded?

Ans.-The expression is a sort of epitome of the law of ordinances. It was continually exhorting those under it not to touch taste or handle anything that would bring ceremonial defilement. The apostle hart just been telling the saints that they were dead, in Christ, to these ''rudiments of the world," and that none could judge them in "meat or drink, or in respect of a new moon, or of the sabbath days." This is the force of the expression alluded to. In place of the punctilio of legal ceremony, they were, as risen with Christ, to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, and to put to death their members which are upon earth (Col. 3:1, 5).