I." The promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1. 1.9; Tit. 1. 2,3.)

When was this promise given? and to whom was it given? The common thought, I suppose, has been that it was given in eternity, and to Christ; and to this I have been content in past time to adhere. It would be necessitated if the rendering of our common version were exact, "before the world began," but this is far from being so. The late revision, with an attempt to be absolutely literal, fails more signally. Its rendering is, "before eternal times"-a self-contradiction, according to our usual thoughts. The word used here is indeed the regular one for "eternal," and So far, the translation is justifiable; but there is an alternative which the sense, the context, and the doctrine of Scripture elsewhere alike require-"before the age-times," the same word being used in Scripture for "eternity" and for an "age," a period marked by some uniform dispensation of God. These ages are referred to in many parts of the Word, and are in no sense eternal, as see in the Revised Version I Cor. x, II Heb. 9:26, etc. Before these age-times, then, the promise of life was given.

But, it may be asked, did not these ages begin in fact with the beginning of the world ? and does not this bring us back to the same thought as at first? It docs, if the time of innocency be reckoned as such an "age;" and as such probably all have reckoned it. In proposing another thought, I must therefore show cause for it; but this will be better done after we have looked at the promise of which the apostle speaks. The "promise of life which" -that is, which life-" is in Christ Jesus' is, I believe, no other than the first promise to fallen man of the Seed of the woman.

A "promise" seems certainly a strange thing to speak of from the Father to the Son. And when the apostle adds, "which God, that cannot lie, promised before the age-times," is it not plain that he is speaking of some word openly given to one who, alas! might doubt Him? Does he not appeal here to some such known and recognized word by which God had pledged Himself from the beginning?

When in Timothy he speaks of this, he says, "According to His own purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the age-times," is it not also clear that he is speaking of a purpose, not merely entertained by Him, but openly avowed? What else means "given us"? And "in Christ Jesus "-does not this declare, not simply the way in which the promise had been fulfilled, but the way in which it was given? It was the promise of a personal Deliverer, the woman's Seed, who should vanquish the serpent, destroying him who had the power of death, and giving life to those who had lost it. And of this the next verse speaks:-"But is now made manifest"–a promise in some measure obscure now lighted up with its full luster,- "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Is it not the old penalty to which we are carried back, and the scene in Eden?

Christ has brought life to light:the promise, although really of this, was not fully clear as to it. This explains the possibility of doubt even as to the apostle's reference. The truth in its whole magnificence is now displayed. But always the life in Christ Jesus was God's meaning, and through all the intervening centuries there was nothing else that could fulfill the promise but the life in Him. Now it is revealed without a cloud.

The notice of these "age-times" comes out more fully thus. Their probationary character up to the cross-dwelt upon elsewhere in this volume (pp. 15-17)-explains how for so long a time the cloud rested on the revelation. Before them, the promise had been given; now they have ended, the full truth has come out. And this also seems to explain why the time of innocence-too brief indeed to be put down as an "age"-should be left out. It is the trial of fallen man of which the apostle is thinking, as it is of the blessing to fallen man the promise speaks.

One word more only. The actual mention of "life" is not in the promise. The full blessing could not yet be manifested, as we have seen. Yet it is striking that what is not plainly uttered Adam's faith takes up, and his voice utters, upon hearing it, this significant word. "Eve" means "life;" and it is before the close even of this scene in the garden that it is said (Gen. 3:20), "And Adam called his wife's name 'Eve' because she was the mother of all living." Unbelief, after listening to the sentence just pronounced, would have said, "The mother of all dying" Faith had laid hold upon the promise, however; and blessed it is to see how thereupon God clothes the fallen with the fruit of that very death which had come in through sin.

Thus, then, we have the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,-the same life by grace in believers of all times.