that wonderful gas in chemistry, which, in its uncombined condition, gives to light a transcendant brilliancy which, not only in the animal, but in almost every species of organized matter, is essential to its perfection, however it may be hidden by the admixture of more noxious elements. As the taper sparkles with intense coruscations when plunged into a vessel filled with this vital gas; so has the light of God's one revelation of his will shone forth in all its pure brilliancy when illustrated by that vital principle-the principle of "faith, which worketh obedience by love."

To" the elders, who obtained a good report under the Old Testament, it was "the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." Under the gospel, that substance and that evidence are realized so that hope has attained, as it were, to fruition; and faith to certainty. Hence this principle ought to operate with more intense energy than in times of old; and thus, it is held forth by St. Paul and St. Peter as the vital essence of the Christian profession.

Such are the principal topics, which are proposed to be set forth in the following pages and, in support of them, we rely on the only unquestionable illustration of which they are capable,—a comparison of spiritual things with spiritual.

2, 3.

GEN. xii. "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall "all" families of the earth be blessed."

SECTION II.

Fulfilment.

"Ye men of Israel!" "ye are the children" "of the covenant, which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.'"

"Unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." (Acts iii. 12, 25, 26.)

They, which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham."

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law"-" that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit, through faith.”

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one-and to thy seed, which is Christ." (Gal. iii. 9-16.)

"Lo! in the midst of the throne and of the four

B.C. "Thou shalt be a blessing; and I will 1921. bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee."

beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain."

"And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him, that sat upon the throne."

"And when he had taken the book

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they

sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Rev. v. 6—9.)

B.C. "And Balaam said to Balak, how shall I 1452. curse whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied? Behold, I have received commandment to bless and He hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it." (Num. xxiv. 8—20.)