The reader should always turn to the Bible and read the passages referred to.

QUES. 9.-Please inform us as to the following :Is the same fig tree spoken of in Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:13, 14, and Luke 13:6-9 ? Why should the Lord curse that tree since it says, " the time of figs was not yet ? " A minister said they are all parables ; and another said it was not possible, in the nature of things, that Christ should curse a fig tree. Please answer in Help and Food, to which I am a subscriber. J. M.

ANS.-Matthew and Mark refer to the same occurrence, as the previous verses show. It was during the six days prior to the Lord's crucifixion at the passover (John 12:1). Fruit, on the fig tree, appears before the leaves ; and if there be no fruit when the leaves develop, it must remain barren for that year. The early variety of fig ripen about June, but, says Dr. Thomson, " It is not at all impossible that there be ripe fruit at Easter in the sheltered ravines of Olivet. If there was no fruit on the leafy tree it might justly be condemned as barren :hence the lesson it was made to teach-that those who put forth only leaves of empty profession, are nigh unto cursing" (Schaff's Bible Dictionary). It is said also that unripe figs of the late variety, hang through the winter, and ripen about passover time.

But Luke 13:6-9 is " a parable," or picture, of what the Lord had been doing in the three years of His ministry in Israel. He still was to continue it for a short period ; then, if still unfruitful, the tree was to be cut down. Israel did reject Christ, and the nation was cut off from their land, and their relation with God broken off, until it shall turn in repentance to Him whom they pierced (Zech. 12:10; Jno. 19:37; Rev. 1:7).

The ministers' sayings which you quote are (1) from ignorance of Scripture, and (2) from unbelief. Beware of both.

QUES. 10.-Dear sir and brother :You have given us much help through Help and Food, so I wish to ask as to the following :The Second Coming of Christ will be, as I understand, the closing of the day of grace, with judgments poured down upon " them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." Now the question rises in my mind, Is it right for me to pray for the coming of the Lord, with such terrible results to these poor souls ? Or should I leave it to God to deal with them according to His great mercy, as our Saviour said, " No man can come to Me except the Father draw him "? J. C.

ANS.-Throughout our Lord's ministry, to the very end, we see Him seeking the lost. He weeps over murderous Jerusalem ready to crucify Him (Luke 19:41). And He was the embodiment of that eternal love in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit toward man. The three parables of Luke 15 proclaim this-the Son pursues after the lost sheep ; the Holy Spirit, in a figure, sweeps the house of this world to recover the lost silver, and the Father runs to meet the returning prodigal-the Three are One in their purpose of grace and love.

If one asks, Why then are not all men saved ? we answer, The mystery of man's will in opposition to God's, and the sovereignty of God in grace, are like two parallel lines, both true and distinct, but which cannot be joined. God's grace and goodness always surpasses his people's faith. When Abraham pleaded for Sodom because of the righteous supposed to be there, God granted every request. It was Abraham that stopped, not Jehovah; then Abraham utters this grand truth which has been the refuge to how many tempted souls, " Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right ? " (Gen. 18:25). And why should we not from our inmost heart say with the Spirit and the Bride, " Even so, come, Lord Jesus ! " when we know the world of unbelievers will be no better, but increase in guilt till our Lord come ? (2 Tim. 3:13). It should make us earnest indeed in praying for and seeking the salvation of souls. It should make Christian parents eager to bring up their children according to the Lord's ways, and not after the world, that they may justly count on the Lord for their salvation. In view of this, how can Christian parents be indifferent to the associations of their children with the world and its ways-like Lot, seek a place in Sodom, to their destruction (Gen. 19:14). Oh, that Christian parents did take this to heart in these days of Satanic sophistries and trickeries, in defiance of God and His word.

QUES. 11.-Dear Mr. Editor :(a) What is meant by " greater works " in John 14:12 ?-" He that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than these shall he do ; because I go unto my Father."

b. Sometimes, even while reading the Word, an impious thought, which seemingly only an infidel would entertain, darts through a Christian's mind. He does not want it ; yet it is there. Is it of Satan? What can one do ?

100:A friend interested in the book of Job says, " If no sin can enter heaven, why is Satan allowed there ?" Please explain.

d. Also, why not Easter ? C. A.

ANS.-(a) "Greater works than these" could hardly apply to the power over creation and nature manifested by the Lord here on earth-as stilling the tempest by His word, feeding multitudes with a few loaves, or raising one dead with his flesh in decay (John 11:39). But note that the subject of these chapters (12:20-16), and the great object of the Lord's coming, was to bring man back to God and fellowship with Him. Based upon the work of the Cross, and Christ glorified in heaven, the Spirit was to come and bear witness to Christ with and by the disciples ; " The Lord working with them" from the glory, as Mark 16:20 says. Hence it was works in spiritual power, bringing men back to God-" because I go to the Father," says the Lord. So, beginning with five thousand conversions at Pentecost, the triumphs of the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ spread out far and wide beyond the confines of Jerusalem and Galilee, to the utmost parts of the earth.

ANS.-(b) Yes, of Satan, surely ; and he knows, and we also, how our evil nature allies itself to him, the tempter. " What can one do ? "-Do as our Lord did when, through Peter, Satan sought to turn Him away from obedience unto death :" Get thee behind Me, Satan" (Matt. 16:23). That is using the " sword of the Spirit" against him. (See Eph. 6:16,17.)

ANS.-(c) God's time has not come to cast Satan out of the heavens-the places where he has been since the time of his creation (Ezek. 28:12-16; Job 1:6), but remain there, he shall not (Rev. 12:7, 8). With the eternal God " a thousand years are as one day," and " His ways are past finding out." Col. 1:20 shows that the atonement by Jesus Christ reaches to " things in heaven;" and God's holiness shall be maintained everywhere.

ANS.- (d) We read of no such custom with the apostles or the churches in apostolic days. If any keep it really as " unto the Lord," let him do so. See Horn. 14:5,6.