QUES. 13.-Kindly give what is the meaning of 1 Peter 4:6. ans.-If yon have the 1908 volume of help and food, turn to page 224, where the same question is answered.

QUES. 14.-It is the custom in our meeting here, and, as I have reason to believe, also elsewhere, to ask the sisters to retire, along with those not in fellowship, when any business is to be transacted, or any inquiry into a case for discipline is to take place. I would like to know if you consider such a course to be right, and in accordance with Scripture. Speaking generally, I am inclined to think it is not-for this reason, that sisters are responsible as well as brothers to be exercised regarding what concerns the fellowship of all, and should therefore know the facts of any matter as well as the brothers; else how can they judge aright? I should be pleased to have your mind on the subject.

ANS.-Extremes are never of God. We all know that Scripture everywhere puts the rule and government in the hand of man, not the woman. Extremists would therefore exclude the woman from everything which has to do with government in the house of God, as if she had not a conscience as well as the man. Others, knowing that the conscience of sisters is to be considered and respected as well as that of brothers, would thrust them into all matters of government as well as brothers. The fact is that rule and government properly belong to the elders among God's people. The less public any matter of difficulty can be made, the better it is; for there are, alas, generally some who are more ready to make evil a matter of talk than a matter of mourning and prayer. This often but makes things worse and more complicated. Investigation therefore should not be by the many, but by those who feel the weight of responsibility in the affairs of the Lord. What sad details must sometimes be listened to, which would be irrelevant before women, and even young men. When, however, things have reached a point where the consciences of all must now be concerned, then all should be there; for in any case of sin, it is the sin of all the assembly, calling upon every one to judge the wrong in humiliation.

QUES. 15.-Would you kindly explain Heb. 2:6-9? Do the words here quoted from the 8th psalm, "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him ? " apply to the Son of God, or to man as His creature?

ANS.-They apply to man as His creature in contrast with angels as His creatures too. He looks forward to the coming age, when God's purpose to put all things under man (not angels, though by creation they be a higher creature than man) shall be fulfilled. A foreshadowing of that age is seen in the place God gives to man in Gen. 1 :26-28; but it is only a foreshadowing. The real fulfilment of it is seen only in Jesus, who became Man to that end; who suffered death, and took a place lower than the angels, that He might bring others with Him into all that coming glory. The sum of it all is that man, a lower creature than the angels, is predestinated of God to occupy a place highest of all, above angels and all other creatures. And that is accomplished by the Son of God-the creator of man-Himself, in amazing grace, stooping down to become a Man, to suffer, to die, that all who are linked with Him by faith might occupy that wonderful place-a place unspeakably greater than man had in his unfallen state.