CALENDAR:Oct. 16th to Nov. 15th, 1920.

Daily Bible Reading
Oct. 16th, Gen. 15; Oct. 31st, Gen. 30; Nov. 15th, Gen. 45
Memory Work ………………….. Colossians 1:1-20
Good Reading… C. H. M.'s Notes on Numbers, pp. 390 to 472
Monthly Question:-What incidents in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph present typical teaching concerning the Lord Jesus ?

Again we have begun to read through the Book of all books, and this month sees us well through Genesis. Let us see if we gather any fresh thoughts from its interesting narratives, which are so full of suggestive lessons and typical incidents. It has been called "the seed plot of the Bible." I hope many of us have note books to which we can refer, and so compare the thoughts we had with those which come to us as we now read again these precious pages of God's holy Word. A loose-leaf note book is excellent for this purpose, as we can slip in a new leaf in the Genesis section, with our fresh notes relating to it. Such comparison will not only test us as to any real advance made, but may help us to correct some of our previous thoughts, and so make for progress. If you kept in mind our monthly question and your answer to it, as proceeding with your daily reading, it would prove helpful. Again we might take a key-word for the life of the great men of Genesis, such as:Abraham, faith ; Isaac, obedience; Jacob, discipline; Joseph, devotedness- and group together the incidents which illustrate the key-thought.

I hope the precious teaching of Colossians will lay hold of our hearts as we memorize it. What a desirable thing it is to have heart and mind filled with the glories of Christ! And this epistle unfolds them in a peculiarly blessed way.

A Bright Young Life

Of course I could not write freely of him if he were still here. That is one of the unwritten rules we must always observe. We can exhort you, and try to teach you, and scold you in a mild kind of way; but there is much we cannot tell of you, simply because you are still with us, for our cheer and help.

But I can write of this dear boy-for he has gone home, after a few years of bright, eager service for his Lord, of joy in Him, and testimony for Him.

I remember him before it became known to me that he was saved. He would walk out in the park, and around the lake alone, as if he was still seeking for peace with God. I do not know just what portion brought peace to his soul:but I do know it was like John 5:24, or one of those precious verses which have lifted the load from so many hearts.

Then he " bloomed out." Happily at work in the Young People's meeting, and things of that kind. One day he said to me, " I want to get a lot of my friends and companions to come to our house, and for you to give them a gospel talk. That will explain where I stand." Of course, I went, and before the meeting-a large one-began, he and his father and I knelt in prayer for God's blessing. Then we went down-stairs, and standing before them all, our dear boy confessed the Lord to them, and told them that was why he wanted them to come together. Precious testimony from a young disciple of Christ!

From then onward, it was a constant life of service. He was at work in a Bank, and every day at a certain time they would see him slip down in the basement; well they knew what for-to be alone with God. Do you wonder that in his quiet way he spoke, one by one, to everybody employed in that Bank, from the President down ?

Soon he began to have his little meetings, and give out the gospel in a simple, earnest way. He was most useful, and tireless in his study of the Word, and his service for the Lord.

It seemed all too short, this earnest life of loving service. For that dread disease, typhoid, laid hold of him. He did not lose consciousness for long; and at the end it was beautiful. Pointing with his dear weak hand at one of his favorite texts on the wall, he assured his father that he knew all was well, and then fell sweetly asleep. Can you wonder that his memory is so precious to his father and all the family ? S. R.

The Question Box

A few words on the following three questions which have been before us since our July issue may be helpful to some.

Q- 22.-Is there any scripture to show we cannot talk to departed spirits ?

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus would show this. Both are departed spirits pictured for us in their respective abodes in the intermediate state. The request is denied, indicating that a departed spirit cannot come and talk to us, and hence we cannot to them. This is so absolute and impossible, that to the rich man's repeated plea Abraham's answer shows that he can only conceive of its being brought to pass (that is, "one from the dead," a departed spirit, coming to hold converse with five men living upon earth) by the resurrection of some one-" though one rose from the dead." The only way a departed spirit could do what the rich man desired would be a reincarnation, which " resurrection " implies. Further:David said as to Bathsheba's child, " Now he is dead … I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Sam. 12:23). The one exception in all Scripture, when a departed spirit visited the earth, is that of Samuel. God intervened 'in this case to the utter astonishment of the witch. The exception proves the rule.

Q. 23.-What scriptures forbid intercourse with such spirits ?-that is, departed spirits. I do not know of one scripture which forbids it, for scripture nowhere permits the thought of it being possible. But it does forbid most emphatically the abominable practice of spiritualistic communications, which those who use them falsely call, Converse with departed spirits. Many are deceived into believing that those from whom the messages come are really departed spirits- which is a lie. It is demoniacal impersonations. Look up Lev. 17:7; 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:10,11; Isa. 8:19,20; 1 Tim. 4:1-3.

Q. 24.-Is there any scripture to prove that there is no annihilation ? The parable of the rich man shows this. He died, but was not annihilated; nor was he given any hope that his anguish would end in extinction; nor would any relief be given him. Further, the Beast and the false prophet, both living men, " were cast alive into a lake of fire." Did this mean annihilation ?

No! for 1,000 years later it is said," The devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are both the beast and the false prophet; and they [two of whom were men] shall be tormented day and night for the ages of ages" (Rev. 20:10, N. Trans.). To be "tormented" they must exist; the torment and those tormented have no end. There is no annihilation, therefore. This must hold good as to the rest of the dead who are raised and judged at the Great White Throne, and cast into the same lake. Thus they go " into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." This the Lord calls " eternal punishment " (Matt. 25:41, 46, N. Trans.). The subjects of such dealing must eternally exist; annihilation cannot be the punishment meted out, which in such a case would be mercy'; but a mercy impossible to bestow upon those who have died in their sins, and have their character eternally fixed. Not only resurrection, but continuity of existence is proved by the Lord's answer to the Sadducees-God " is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto Him."

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23).

Please address all correspondence for the Young Believers' Dept., to John Bloore, care of Loizeaux Brothers, till further notice.