Calendar:Aug. l&th to Sept. 15th.
DAILY BIBLE READING:………Aug. 16th, Rom. 3; Aug. 31st, 1 Cor. 2; Sept. 15th, 2 Cor. 1. MEMORY WORK:. …………………….. .John 13.
GOOD READING:-"Glories of Christ," by C. C .Crowston, from page 83 to end.
MONTHLY QUESTION:..What difference of thought is connected with the references to water in John's writings?

Our Memory Work

Having finished the first epistle of John, I have thought it would be both precious and helpful for our souls if we now studied the chapters of John's Gospel which record the closing conversations of our blessed Lord with His own just before the betrayal, and also His priestly and intercessory prayer to the Father. This takes in from chapter 13 to the end of chapter 17.

This portion is full of the Lord's desire, and provision for His people. It speaks of and unfolds the precious fellowship in which we are brought with the Father and the Son, through the eternal life communicated to us, and the Holy Spirit, to which the teaching of John's First Epistle has introduced us.

In these chapters the Lord is bringing us in association with Himself as Man, in fellowship with God the Father, so that we may have part in His peace, His joy, His love, His fruitfulness-in fact in all that marked His path, in eluding rejection from the world.

As we study this portion may the Lord give us an abundant entrance into all that He has for us in it.

Our Daily Bible Reading

We read this month two very important epistles- Romans and 1 Corinthians.

In Romans we get great unfoldings of the gospel of God. Man's need is fully stated. God's full provision is made known-in "the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." The principle of faith, upon which blessing alone is realized, is enforced by argument, example and precept. The new headship, in Christ, is made known, and certain aspects of practical deliverance, to which the knowledge of the new place in Christ should lead, and indeed does, in proportion as the truth here presented is held fast according to the reckoning of faith. Freedom, service, fruitfulness, and power, through the Spirit, with the enjoyment of His things, are the result in the believer.

Then the relation of the gospel, and God's blessed grace in His dispensational ways are set forth in chaps. 9-11. Finally, the practical ways, which become the recipients of such mercies, are set before us in chaps. 12-15.

Romans deals with much that is individual in character, while 1st Corinthians gives what is corporate. In it we find the assembly of God, the company of those called out from both Jews and Gentiles, to be in separation from the world, its spirit, its ways, its wisdom, its evil, and to be wholly for Christ, with the blessed hope of being with Him and like Him.

This epistle, then, sets before us the place, character, order, and fellowship which pertain to the assembly:that is to any company of believers gathered to Christ's name; they are to walk in the light of God's thoughts for His people, as built together for His habitation through the Spirit.

First, we have the unity of the saints, founded upon God's grace expressed toward us in Christ. Being made to us wisdom and power, our confidence and rejoicing are to be ever in Him. Yet as the Crucified One in the world, it necessarily involves that the assembly is unworldly, 1:e., separated from the world and its whole system. It is linked with God's eternal counsels; to it is given the divine revelation through the apostles and prophets of the New Testament, and the mind of Christ is to characterize it. Then, since the saints are God's building, His temple, holiness becomes them:sin must be judged, and our relations together must be such as He can approve. Fellowship with Christ our Saviour, in His humiliation and sacrifice, is expressed in the cup and the loaf which symbolize the blood and body of Christ given for us; and with one another as assembled together to announce the Lord's death until He come. Then, the Spirit of God, who dwells in God's House, exercises His ministry through the members in whom He dwells-all in the grace and power of love,-the first and chief part of the fruits He produces. Upbuilding in love,-not in outward display according to the spirit of the world-is the great object in view. All is to be done unto edification.

Finally, the foundation of our hope and destiny is founded upon resurrection, as the result of Christ's work upon the cross.

I trust our month's reading will prove of great profit to us all.

SOME HINTS IN RELATION TO THE BIBLE AND

MODERN THOUGHT

The distinctive character of the Bible comes out in several ways. First, as to the established facts of science there is an acknowledged harmony. Even granting that the Bible is not written to teach science, yet, since it is God's Book, for which we claim fullest inspiration, and therefore absolute inerrancy, we must expect to find its statements as to matters of scientific import, to be of abiding value and truth. What it says on any subject does not call for any apology from us. If God is the author of the Bible, it must have divine accuracy as coming from One who sees the universe through and through. His vision penetrates beyond the range of the greatest telescope, and nothing can be too small for His eye to discern. If there be anything referred to in Scripture which telescope, microscope, or any other means of investigation has not yet made known, it is no ground to discredit the Bible record, for neither scientific investigation, nor scriptural interpretation, can claim to have reached the ultimate.

We may safely state that the Bible, being God's Book, teaches nothing scientifically false. It does not use the so-called exact language of science, but to admit this is very different from charging it with errors in science. The astronomer with all his scientific nomenclature still speaks of sunrise and sunset, and does not expect to be condemned for it.

The Bible was written for man in language perfectly adaptable to him in every age and clime. Of no other literature, ancient or modern can this be said. Hence the abiding value of all Scripture. "The word of the Lord abides for ever" (1 Pet. 1:25). It is not a classification of scientific facts, like a museum of specimens, but a book possessed of all the variety which we see in the multiform manifestation of life, as we behold it with our eyes; it is a book full of moral and spiritual teaching, revealing God to man in a way always precious, while it also faithfully portrays man in every phase of his life and responsibility.

The Bible is marked by the individuality of those used of God to write it; yet all is in evident control, blended in perfect unity, all contributing to the one ruling mind and purpose. Yet when that which bears a relation to scientific matters is introduced, whatever may be the difference in diction and style between the Bible and Science, there neither is, nor can be, any actual difference as to facts. If otherwise, God must be thought to err! Many have been the supposed antagonisms which have been dissipated either by the more careful study of the text of the Bible, or by scientific men finding it necessary to change their dictum when their investigations have reached further.

Though often assailed the Bible remains impregnable. The conflict has really been between the errors of science and the truth of the Bible. It would be sad indeed to find the Bible agreeing with some supposed scientific fact, dressed up in the strictest scientific garb, which later is proved incorrect. This has never been the case with Scripture, but it is one of the evident marks stamped on all other ancient literature, proving its origin to be human, not divine.

Conflict between the Bible and science is mainly to be found in connection with scientific opinions (not facts) which lack confirmation. We may well accept unquestioningly the statements of the Book, no matter what the greatest of men may say. Science has changed too often for its dictum to be considered infallible.

Another important point to guard is that we must distinguish between what Scripture says, and what is recorded in the Scriptures. False statements are unerringly recorded for our instruction. The words of evil and foolish men are given, and even those of Satan. Because such things are found in the Bible does not mean that they are accredited as truth, for its Divine teachings will be found to refute them, but it is a true record.

It may prove of interest to very briefly outline some of the great differences between the Bible and ancient literature when both are considered in the light of established scientific facts. The Bible does not lose, but its preeminence is manifested by such a comparison. It has nothing to fear.