QUES. 17.-Why did God allow polygamy in Old Testament times ?

ANS.-If you mean in Ike world at large, He allowed it in the same way as any other result of the Fall-to let man learn by his evil ways that he was indeed a fallen being.

If you mean in Israel, the special sphere of His rule at that time, which we judge is in your mind, it was because Judaism, while established of God for a timely purpose, was not yet the shining of the true light, and could not therefore penetrate into all the corners of the darkness to shame out of countenance a practice so contrary to the order of God in creation. When Christ, who is the Light of the world, came, He traced things back to their original order at the beginning, as He made them, before men had spoiled them, and thus reproved the evils. Christianity (true Christianity) since Christ went back to heaven, is the light of the world, being the expression of His mind in everything, whether creation, or new creation. It alone therefore makes manifest the unnaturalness of the practice of polygamy, and gives marriage its true place.

Mark, however, that there is not a single command in the New Testament (the Book of Christianity) against polygamy. It chases evil away not by commands or prohibitions, hut as the sun chases away the darkness by the power and energy of the light which is in it. None could serve as bishops or deacons among Christians who had more than one wife (1 Tim. 3 :1-12 ; Titus 1 :5-7). This at once branded polygamy with God's displeasure, and this is enough to govern the true Christian-the man in whom dwells the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9); for the Christian is not ruled by law (not being under law, Rom. 6 :14), but by the new life which he has received, and the Spirit of Christ who dwells in him 1 Cor. 6:19).

Judaism was only for a time (Heb. 9:10), to prepare the way (Gal. 3 :25) for that which was in God's bosom for man from before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1 :4-7), and now shines out as the sun at noon-day. Every shade of sin therefore (much of which Judaism could not manifest and reprove), is now manifested and reproved by Christianity.

QUES. 18.-Were Ananias and Sapphira, of Acts 5, only professors, or were they real Christians under God's government for their evil ways ?

ANS.-We sincerely hope it was the latter, for it is far better to be under God's government in time, no matter how severe that may be, than to be forever '' in the outer darkness, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth''-the state of mere professors in eternity, as well as of outbreaking sinners.

QUES. 19.-Kindly give us as full instruction as you can concerning the blessed Trinity. Are there three distinct divine Beings to be recognized? And if so, to whom should we address our prayers and our worship ?

ANS.-Scripture, from beginning to end, tells us there are three distinct Persons in the Deity-the Father, the Son, and the Spirit -yet so absolutely one in nature, mind, purpose, way and end, that together they form the one, true, eternal God, who is, has been, and eternally shall be ; the One to whom prayer, praise and worship are addressed by all that are born of Him since the beginning. Of this, as of nearly every other doctrine, it is in the New Testament that the full, complete revelation is made; yet, the Old incidentally said enough to establish the matter for those who had not yet the New. We cannot, in our limited space, take it up in detail, but only point to a few passages.

In the first verse of Genesis the Hebrew name translated God is Elohim, the plural form of Eloah. It suggests at once a trinity in the Being who created all things. In the second verse the Spirit is named. Psalm 2 plainly declares the Son, and if there be One who is the Son, another must be the Father. Proverbs 30:4 is very plain, and so is Proverbs 8:22-36. No Old Testament believer, if instructed in it, could ignore the three Persons existing in the true God.

As to the New Testament, the doctrine of the Trinity is woven with every part of it. Christ was here, declaring Himself the Son, addressing His Father, the Spirit alighting upon Him in the form of a dove. The initial ordinance of Christianity (baptism) is "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19).

As to prayer and worship, if we address God as God, it includes, of course, the three Persons. We do not distinguish them. If, however, we do distinguish them in our address, as Scripture gives us the fullest liberty, there seems to be no passage which leads vis to address the Holy Spirit. In all the teaching of the Word, He (the Spirit), dwelling in the Christian, directs all the desires and longings of his heart to the other two Persons-the Father and the Sou ; his prayers usually, though not exclusively, are to the Father in the name of the Son. If we think of our weakness and dependence we call upon God-the Almighty One. If we think of our blessed relationship as sons, we call upon Him as our Father. If we think of our service, we call upon our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Thus the character of our address is formed by the thoughts which possess our souls at the time. In general, we may say:The child's address is to his Father, the servant's, to his Master.

But it may not be well to make sharp lines for this sacred intercom se between the believer and his God, his Father, his Saviour and Lord. It is better to have our hearts gradually, and, shall we say, unconsciously, trained by a growing familiarity with the word of God. We might learn the various seasons of the year by the scientific method of the almanac, and yet know little of their differing joys and blessings ; but living and growing among them we become formed by them. They are as natural to us as our very being. So here, definitions, though helpful in a measure, are never like what we learn in intercourse with God through His Word, and the practical walk with Him. We have seen
Christians who had only recently been set free by Christ, address Him altogether in their requests and worship. It revealed their infancy and need of growth. Then we have seen Christians, with plenty of knowledge, address God, or the. Father only-never the Son ; it revealed a puffed up mind without corresponding love in the heart. It is refreshing to hear babes, no matter how little they know, if only they are humble enough as newborn babes to "desire the sincere milk of the Word," that they may grow thereby (1 Pet. 2:2). It is edifying to hear fathers, if they have gathered knowledge in communion with God, and Christ is therefore the sum and substance of their speech and practice.

QUES. 20.-Is it right for God's people to attend theaters, shows, and the like? Is it not a violation of the word in 1 John 2 :15:" Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world ? "

ANS.-Surely so. A true Christian, (a man in whom is the Spirit of Christ), attending such places for his pleasure, knows in his conscience that he is not in the company of his Lord there- knows he is defiled in his spirit by it. The world itself knows he is not in his right place, and therefore loses confidence in his Christianity.

If we realize, as the apostle, that " He loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2 :20), it will not be hard to take His yoke upon us. Our hearts will not need the theater or the show for their enjoyment. It is really reproaching Christ for a Christian to be found in such places, for it is saying that Christ has not satisfied his heart.

QUES. 21.-In my neighborhood a minister preaches that it is when we reach heaven that we are born again. Others say it is here on earth this has to be if we are going to be saved at all. Others again preach that we have here on earth to suffer the penalty of our sins. Having already received help through your publications, I would greatly appreciate a word from you in your magazine.

ANS.-The first and last of these teachings are false. The first is Seventh-Day Adventism, which is materialistic, and knows nothing of the present work of the Spirit in those who are of faith. If spirit is only a form of material organization, as they claim, a surgeon who can dissect the body knows all that can be known of man. The new birth with them is but a change of outward form and circumstances. As there is no such change till the Lord comes and takes His people to heaven, there is no new birth till then.

The last is Universalism or Unitarianism. both of which have largely corrupted the orthodox denominations. Ignoring the division which God makes between believers and unbeliever?, they apply to all alike the discipline which the Father lays upon His children for their sins, if they judge not themselves. 1 Cor. 11 :31, 32 makes this very plain, telling us that God chastens His children here and now, that they "should not be condemned with the world " The world then is going to be condemned. Why? Because of their sins. Believers are not to be condemned with the world. Why? Because Christ was condemned on the cross for them, and they, as guilty sinners, have received Him as their Saviour. Now, being the children of God, they are expected to be "followers of God, as dear children." If they are not, they are disciplined by Him, even as we discipline our children when they do wrong-our children, mind you, not strangers.

But here seems to be the place to show that those who preach that it is here on earth we must be born again, are right. If it is His children God disciplines, how have they become His children ? By new birth; and it is as to this the Lord gives instruction to Nicodemus in John 3. False teachers, contradicting the word of our Lord (see Jno. 8 :42-44), say that all men are by creation children of God. They talk of the " fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man," and thereby overthrow not only the faith of some, hut also the governments of nations. Closing their eyes to man's condition in sin, in rebellion against God and every authority which He has set up, they cry Peace, peace, while evil is active, [and thus give it vantage ground till rulers can no more control it. God declares man's condition to be so essentially evil, that a man must be born anew before he can have any true intercourse or living relationship with Him. The new birth is an internal work, in which the person receives from God a new life (eternal life), whose nature is holy, and finds comfort and pleasure only in God's holy things. It thus destroys in its possessor the practice of sin. All over the world the children of God are one in this ; they can be recognized by the world as men who practice sin no more, but live in holiness. Indeed it is by this manifest oneness of new life and nature that the world is to be led to faith in Christ (Jno. 17:20, 21). When this life is over it is too late to be born again (Luke 16:24-26 ; Heb. 9 :27). The whole word of 'God teaches that this is ( the day of grace, that now is the day of salvation, and that if men do not, during this time of grace, appropriate the provision He has made for their salvation, they are lost forever. The Roman Catholic Purgatory, out of which there is hope after this life, and Russell's "Millennial Dawn" or '.'International Bible-Student'' Second chance after death, are contrary to all Scripture teaching-both equally efficient means of fleecing people who love to .hear pleasing lies.

QUES. 23.-Why is it that all manner of sin and blasphemy is forgiven, but the one against the Holy Spirit cannot be?

ANS.-In carefully considering the circumstances under which the Lord pronounced this sentence, in Matt. 12 :22-32, or Mark 3 :1-30, one cannot but be impressed with their solemnity. All manner of miraculous healing was done before their eyes by the Lord with the result that they plot against Him to get rid of Him. Not only were the physical results of man's fall removed by Him, but unclean spirits were cast out, proving that He is superior to the evil " principalities and powers,'' whose prince had deceived man, and his subordinates enslaved many in various ways. To cast out these demons required a power greater than that of Satan, their master. The Lord's opposers knew that perfectly well, and in their consciences they knew it was by the Spirit of God that Christ cast out the evil spirits. But their wills were made up. Light, conscience, all was silenced to satisfy their will, so they ascribe to Satan the power which in their conscience they know was of God. This is fatal. Such blasphemy cannot be forgiven; not because of any pre-eminence of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity, but because it is His work to produce conviction and light in mail's soul, which is the root of all intercourse with God ; being trampled under foot, He does not renew it. Other sins and blasphemies we might compare to the dead branches of a tree, with the tree not necessarily dead; it may grow again. Not so with the root. If that dies, it cannot grow again. These are most serious things, against which they who know and value the grace of God will watch, as the master of a ship watches against the sunken rocks, however strong and well equipped the ship may be. Hebrews 6:1-6 and 10 :19-31 are no idle words. They are there for every one to take heed. They are not given to disturb our peace with God, but to prevent trifling with evil.

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