A correction.-In the answer to Q. 5, February number, let"Greek"and"Hebrew" change places, and for "Cleopas"read"Cleophas." Both"Alpheus"and "Cleophas" are probably Greek forms of the same Aramaic word, but " Alpheus " is nearer the original.
Q. 9.-"In the tenth chapter of John, what is 'the fold,' and who is ' the porter' ?"-R. H.
Ans.-A fold is the inclosure, or house, where the sheep are kept. Judaism was that fold when Christ, the true Shepherd, came. Others-false teachers, self-seekers-had come; but the sheep did not hear them; they never entered by the door-the way of God's appointment and His approval. Such were the scribes, Pharisees, and doctors of the law. The porter did not recognize them, neither did the sheep. The porter is the one in charge of the door, and would seem to be God Himself-" He that keepeth Israel." At our Lord's baptism, He said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" thus opening wide the door for Him, who entered in, and whose voice the sheep heard, and followed Him. " He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out,"-out of Judaism, into Christianity, where there is no more fold, but where the '' other sheep " (5:16) hear His voice (the Gentiles brought to Him), and there is one flock (not " fold "-see S. F.) and one Shepherd. Some have spoken of John the Baptist as the porter:such he was in some sense, because he gave utterance to God's thoughts about His Son; but it would seem that he was but the under-porter, to do the bidding of the Higher One.
Q. 10.-"Some inquiries on the Spirit.-It is said that Pentecost is the only baptism of the Spirit,-that then the Church being formed, that no after-reception of it is the same. Does not Acts 10:44, 45; 10:15, 16 show otherwise the expressions 'fell' 'poured out,' 'baptized with,' being used as to it ?
"Is it right to use the distinction 'came upon' and 'dwelt in' as distinguishing Old and New-Testament times ? Is it not rather (1) the fact of His abiding presence instead of transient visits, (2) and that He formed the one body instead of coming upon and filling individuals. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb. So the prophets-' the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,' etc."-B. G. G.
Ans.-Does not Pentecost mark the beginning of the dispensation, when the Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven ? and may not the similar expressions in Acts 10:and 11:referred to above be because Gentiles were involved for the first time. There is but one descent of the Spirit; but surely every Christian is individually baptized by the Spirit into the one body, and sealed when he believes. The work of the Holy Spirit in Old-Testament times seems to have been rather official than personal,- fitting men, even unconverted men, as Saul, for some special service or testimony. (1 Sam. 10:) Still we have too the personal work, as in David's case (Ps. 51:)-"Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me," where also the transient nature of His presence is intimated. The characteristic thought about the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (epistles) seems to be that He is sent down after the Lord entered glory,-He is the witness of a glorified Christ, uniting us to Him as Head of His Church, and so to one another as members of His body.
Will A. T. kindly send the paper referred to in his question, before an answer is attempted ?