''Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 1:19 )

III. INTRODUCTORY.

Doctrine " means "teaching." All Scripture is profitable, among other things, for doctrine,-that is, for teaching the truths needful for the man of God to know. It is by doctrine, or teaching, that all the great realities of God, and our relations to Him,-of Christ, the Spirit, salvation, grace, glory, are made known to us. Therefore it is significant that in the "Church epistles "-those devoted to the Church order and life- we have the word " doctrine" mentioned so frequently (i and 2 Timothy and Titus). It is by doctrine (through the power of the Spirit) that the Church is built up and nourished. Where doctrine is set aside, all growth and testimony soon stops.

It is considered fashionable, in this day, to decry doctrine and uphold "practical Christianity," as it is called. These doctrines, we are told, are old-fashioned, and no longer suit those who live in this enlightened and progressive age. These thoughts, suggested by the spirit of evil, have crept like leaven into the professing church, until men fear to make known those grand, simple, and sanctifying doctrines of the Scripture, and have come down to the demands of the day for a broad creed- generalizations about the mercy of God-His universal Fatherhood and man's brotherhood-duties to one's neighbor or to the state. Or, where there is earnestness, it goes off into attacks upon some of the crying sins of the day, such as intemperance and the like. A glance at the Monday reports of sermons will show the current of the day-"the course of this world," and as one reads these reports of " stones for fish-scorpions for eggs," he is reminded of those solemn words, " The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." The effect of all this is infidelity. The precious doctrines of grace are set aside, along with the solemn doctrines of sin and future judgment. Nothing remains but man's religion, without Christ, and, we may add, " without hope in the world." Even where there is a holding to Bible-truth, and where through God's mercy souls are saved, this neglect of doctrinal preaching bears its true fruit. There is but little deep conviction of sin. Salvation is made a matter of " coming out on the Lord's side," by holding up the hand, or rising for prayers. As a consequence, vast numbers are swept into the church to swell its list; but, alas! the majority soon to fall back into the world, or, worse yet, to bring more of the world into the church. Not that we would deny for a moment that souls are saved during so-called " revival services," but they are few comparatively, and we believe this can be traced to the conspicuous lack of doctrinal preaching. And where souls are saved, how weak, how dim, is the faith and, as a result, unsteady the walk ! Years may pass, and the simple elements of the gospel remain unknown to many who we dare not doubt have trusted in Christ as their Savior. The weakening effect of this is seen in the impotence of the professing church to meet the tide of infidelity rising each year higher. On the other hand, contrast those who have been " established in the faith." No gilded lie of the enemy is believed, all is tested by the Word. Then, too, as to walk ; there is power in it-the,, power of truth and faith. To this it may be objected that doctrine does not necessarily transform. We answer, if the text at the beginning is noticed, we will see" the frame-work of all Scripture-doctrine-" in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." It is only when doctrine is made a matter of cold reason that it fails to have power. Christ the object of faith and of love-as well as their author-Christ brought before the soul a living Person, through the Spirit, by the use of doctrine, never fails to sanctify and strengthen. This answers the objection that doctrines are " dry." Doctrines, properly received, give us deeper knowledge of the fullness of God and of the unsearchable riches of Christ. No wonder, then, that in the wreck of all about him, the apostle exhorted Timothy to "hold fast the form of sound words." This has been rendered, "Have an outline of sound words" (J. N. D.'s Revised Version.)-a system of teaching under which we can group our knowledge of Scripture-truths. Nor is this having a creed. A creed is a human summary of doctrine for the acceptance of Christians upon which their reception into church-fellowship depends. An outline of doctrine is simply a presentation of Scripture-truth-to be tested by Scripture, for no purpose of testing fellowship, but for the edification of the saints. With such a purpose we would briefly examine some of the great doctrines of God's Word, looking for the Author of that Word to be our Enlightener and Guide.

(To be continued.)