A few examples of the use of the number seven in the Bible, and its division into three and four, and into four and three-and sometimes an eight added-brought together, will present to the sober mind, a bright evidence of God's voice in His word, plain enough to confound the infidel.

1. After God has covenanted three times with Abram – Abram silent – the divine sovereignty of grace – (Gen. 12:i; 12:7; and 13:14) a group of four more covenants, begins with "after these things" (Gen. xv, xvii, xviii and 21:12), in which man responds in faith or in doubt each time-the whole seven suggesting "by grace (3) through faith (4). Then after the seventh we have again the- "after these things" (22:i) and then follows the eighth and final covenant when Isaac is received in a figure from the dead;-who could have arranged this but God ?

2. Joseph communicates with his brethren three times in the land-(twice about his dreams and a third time when put in the pit,) and four times they come to him long afterwards in Egypt, and the eighth and last time when Jacob has passed away (Gen. 1. 15)-new creation blessing for Israel, through a rejected Saviour when natural hope through descent has perished.

3. In Lev. 23:, seven "set times" are proclaimed. The Sabbath,-the Passover, etc., First-fruits, and Pentecost. Then a long interval until the seventh month, when there are three more mentioned- trumpets, day of atonement, and tabernacles; the latter three the recall, the repentance and establishment of Israel. If we apply this latter "three" individually, it tells of the work in us, whereas the first four speak rather of the work for its. We might have thought the " three " and the "four" would have been reversed, but there are depths to be sounded in Scripture.

As to the first four we have:

1st. The Sabbath-God's rest that remains to be reached in eternity.

2nd. The Passover and feast of unleavened bread as the way to reach this rest, that is redemption and a holy walk.

3rd. First-fruits, Christ risen, and-

4th. Pentecost, the offering of the Church; these two joined to one another, as the former two by the dividing words "and Jehovah spake unto Moses." Then, as above, the latter three referring to Israel in the future.

4. In Sam. xvi, seven sons of Jesse pass before Samuel, before David appears-the eighth, type of the risen Christ,-as Israel's and the world's hope. The first three sons are named, the latter four are not.

5. Passing over the occasion when the devil takes the Lord up into a mountain;-the Lord in His path of service is seven times in the mount before the cross in Matthew's Gospel, and an eighth time when risen from the dead. The latter three times before the cross He is on the Mount of Olives.
6. In Matt. xiii, we know how the first four parables show the world-wide aspect of the Kingdom of heaven (of Christendom), and then how after they go into the house the Lord unfolds to them the latter three-God's estimate of what is good in the Kingdom.

7. In the 3d chapter of Acts, Peter presents the Lord to us in seven characters; as the Servant (J. N. D.'s translation) ver. 13, as in Mark; the Holy and Just one, ver. 14, as in Luke and Matthew; the Prince or Author of Life, ver. 15, as in John.

This one so manifested in the world, in this fourfold way, they had "denied " and "killed." But the decree of God had declared that He would suffer; the prophets spoke of Him, Peter tells us, as the Christ, ver. 18, as a Prophet ver. 22, and as Abraham's "Seed" ver. 25-thus in three characters, as announced in Divine purpose of old, and in four as manifested among men.

8. In i Cor. 3:22, we have as a brother has noticed a remarkable seven, and an eight. " For all things are yours, whether (1st) Paul who plants; or (2nd) Apollos who seconds (waters); or (3rd) Peter, a stone, (the temple suggested) a beautiful suggestion under the Divine number, like Leviticus. So far we have persons. Now follows a group of four things, or (4th,) the world; or (5) life (plainly responsibility and God with us); or (6) death-the well-known number of evil and its terrible work-but victory through grace; or (7) "things present," and a good seven, completeness-and now we have an eight, "or (8) things to come."

How in a single verse we have thus the wondrous exact numerical structure that pervades the Bible, and stamps it as the handiwork of none but God, a "three" and "four" added, and at "eight" each word or phrase having its meaning according to the number of its place with unerring exactness, and filling our hearts with Divine blessing, – "open thy mouth and I will fill it," How the humble can repose in God while the men of this world are groping in thick darkness. Note "the world" under its number four!

9. In 2 Pet. 1:5. the seven things to be added to faith, or to be had in our faith, are plainly four and three. Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, four things in us. Then we have added three things as to our attitude, towards God and towards men- godliness, brotherly love, and love, clearly a four plus three again.

10. In Hebrews the blood of Christ is spoken of just seven times, 1st. (Chap. 9:12.) "By His own blood has entered in once for all into the (holy of) holies, having found an eternal redemption."

2nd. Ver. 14, " how much rather shall the blood of Christ-who by the eternal Spirit offered Himself spotless to God-purify your conscience from dead works to worship the living God," like Israel in Egypt, in Exodus – set free from fruitless toil of bondage to the world-the conscience purified "from dead works to worship the living God." This is redemption enjoyed.

3rd. In 10:19, we have "boldness by the blood of Jesus to enter into the holiest," truly, a thirds as Leviticus-the divine number-access to God.

4th. Ver. 29. "Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing." Man tested and found wanting, the world's estimate of the Son of God, and the world's judgment.

5th. Chap. 12:24, "We are come . . . to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh." Here we have plainly the meaning of five-God with us, and we having to answer to Him.

6th. Chap. 13:12. " Wherefore Jesus also that He might sanctify the people with His own blood- suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto Him without the camp, hearing his reproach." Truly, we have here victory-over awful manifestation of evil.

The world is ever the same. Let us not be deceived. May we expect and rejoice in the reproach of Christ, and dread the world's favor.

7th. Chap. 13:20. "Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus-that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen."

"The blood of the eternal covenant" and God making His people "perfect in every good work" -God who wrought this perfect work, working in us what is well pleasing in His sight, making us perfect to do His will through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen!-this is perfection. May it be our joy to yield ourselves to Him, who works in us so mightily, with fear and trembling.

May these few examples of God's handiwork in His word, lead out our hearts in joyful worship, and may we search the Word and explore our possessions Gen. 13:14-18, Prov. 2:45. E. S. L.