Ques. 15.-"There are some Christians whose experience seems to contradict the word of God in such a passage, for instance, as, "Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14). They fall, are restored to fellowship, afterwards fall again, are restored again; and go up and down thus. What is likely to be the cause of such a lack of stability? and may there a contributory cause in the assembly, either in its state, or in its dealing with such an one ? "

Ans.-In such cases as are referred to, it is evident the truth as to deliverance from the power of sin is not known, in power, whatever the theoretical knowledge may be. The great secret of deliverance is, first of all, to judge sin in its roofs, to judge self. Sad and shameful fruits may grow from a secret pride which prevents one from abhorring himself. Pride of intellect, of knowledge, of sufficiency in one's self,-these may seem quite harmless, and are, alas ! too common. And yet from these so-called manly virtues may grow that which is even in the world's eye disgraceful.

The true secret of self-judgment is to realize what the holy presence of God is. So long as one is not there, he cannot truly measure sin. How comforting it is to know that, in that holy presence which discloses what sin is, we find also the perfect grace which has put it away.

No doubt, too, a general state of the assembly may contribute to individual weakness. "Ye have not mourned," says the apostle. A spirit of true contrition among all the people of God is the surest way to secure individual faithfulness. The assembly in the full exercise of its functions will care for, warn, watch, and build up those who are in special need.

Then also when the proper activities are all in exercise there is less temptation to yield to what is not of God. May God revive His beloved people, making Himself and divine things such realities, that even the feeblest, kept in His presence, built up by His word, and engaged in the loving service of His house, may be delivered from every snare.

Ques. 16.-" Scripture speaks about every uncovered vessel in the tent, where a death has occurred, being defiled. What about the covered vessel ? are they unclean too ? "

Ans.-The same scripture (Numb. 19:) distinctly declares that the covered vessel is clean. When the spiritual meaning is seen, this becomes manifest. The world is a chamber of death. If we are uncovered, in a careless state, we are defiled by being in it. If, on the other hand, we are on our guard, covered by a sense of the Lord's presence, we walk through all undefiled, and our Lord's prayer is answered, "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil."

But deliberate, conscious contact with evil, or refusal to separate from it when pointed out, or indifference to the question of association with it, would show an uncovered vessel.

In like manner, failure on the part of one defiled by necessary contact with a dead body, to purify himself, would render him culpably defiled, and without doubt he was to be treated as such.
Ques. 17.-Please explain 1 Cor. 14:30:" If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace."

Ans.-The whole chapter is devoted to the meetings of the Lord's people, and the exercise of their gifts under necessary and divine restrictions. There was to be liberty to the Spirit, but none to the flesh. Such exhibitions as speaking with tongues were to be rigidly controlled, and in the exercise of prophecy or worship-all was to be done unto edifying. The prophets were to speak one by one, not two or three together, no matter what the apparent urgency might be. This will explain the verse. If one were speaking, he was to keep silence to permit another to say what had been laid upon him. Ordinarily, of course, the second speaker would wait until the first had finished, and, at any rate, would not begin until he had taken his seat. Possibly under remarkable circumstances he might intimate that he had a message to deliver. But at present we can scarcely imagine such a thing taking place, unless, indeed, to silence an unprofitable or disorderly speaker.