But if we have evidence of the existence of faith, it would be fanciful to say, believe. The Pentecostians had heard Peter preach the word, and, as evidence that they believed, they were "pricked in their heart," and cried, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" The inspired Peter answered, "Repent." The most superficial reader can see the propriety of these different directions.

But suppose we could find an example of one who had believed with all his heart, and had repented of every sin, still was not a Christian, What should we direct him to do? We have a case in point. Saul of Tarsus, believed with his whole soul, the very moment he heard the voice from Heaven, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." From this instant, for three days, he neither ate nor drank anything, and all must agree that, during these sad hours, he not only had ample opportunity to reflect on his lost condition, but did, from the depths of his soul, repent of every sin. In this condition, it would have been foolish for Ananias to say, believe, repent, or pray, for

he had believed, repented, and prayed. "What will you have me to do ?" was the inquiry. Ananias approaches him to answer the prayer, and said: "Now why tarriest thou, arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts xxii, 16. Acts xxii, 16. There is, therefore, no contradiction in these Scriptures. Hence, the reader will at once see, and feel the necessity of understanding clearly the character of the persons addressed in the different parts of the Bible.

RULE VII. The proper division of the Bible, should be constantly before the mind of the reader.

Although this rule very nearly affiliates to the sixth, there are important bearings which somewhat differ, and under this head, we can introduce matter which does not seem so appropriate under the former.

The apostle, in giving the qualifications of an "approved workman," or preacher of the gospel, places the ability to "Rightly divide the work of truth," as an indispensable pre-requisite.

The reader will easily discover that, in the elucidation of this last, and in our judg ment, most important rule for reading the Bible, we have before us a wide field for illustration.

In the first place, we beg leave to report a case, for the truth of which we are responsible. Years ago, in our travels, we spent a night at a town in a southern state, and heard the following conversation with the lady who presided at the supper table. She was asked:

"Are you a member of any church?" The lady in a feeble voice replied, “No.” "Why are you not?" "I could not get religion." "Did you try?" "Yes," was the reply, "I tried several years, and when I saw many succeed so easily, I felt that there was none for me; and I have not prayed since." "Do you read the Bible?" said the fair inquirer. "Not now," said the woman, with a sad heart. "Why do you not read?" said she. "I cannot understand the Bible; and when I saw, many years ago, that I could not understand the Scriptures, I quit reading." The next ques

tion asked was "What part of the Bible did you read, to learn how to become a Christian?" "Oh!" said the lady, "I was not particular; I found very pretty reading in Job, the Psalms, and more, I believe in Proverbs." The reader will discover that, this honest, yet deluded daughter of an old preacher, was looking up and down the Scriptures, hoping that she would, by chance, light upon some place that would show her how to "get religion." Her friends knew not how to direct her, and were, indeed, so shamefully ignorant that, they could not inform her; religion is not something which people "get," but a practice. James i, 26. She had no idea of the object of the books of the Old or New Testament, and presumed she would as likely learn how to become a Christian from the Proverbs of Solomon, the Psalms of David, or the distresses of poor, old, afflicted Job, as any part of the New Testament. Her father ought to have been able to teach her, that the Old Testament was not written for the purpose of giving information in reference to becoming the disciples of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, she ought to have known, that it was written long before Christ was born, or Christianity was revealed; and that Job, David and Solomon, all died looking for better things, but were not permitted to see the rising of the Sun of righteousness with healings in his wings.

If we are not mistaken, thousands of sincere persons read the Bible, with quite as much uncertainty as this good woman; and it is to them, so far as intelligence is concerned, a sealed book. Not many years since, she died, we are informed, as she had lived, without hope and without God.

If school teachers were to treat their pupils, as too many preachers and writers. treat their congregations and readers, it would become a matter of grave deliberation, whether the schoolmaster should not be dismissed. Suppose the teacher, in opening his school, should require each pupil to bring all the books necessary to complete his education. The pupils, or perhaps the parents, would bring the Alphabetical Primer;' the 'Speller;' the various 'Readers;' the 'Grammar;' 'Geography;' 'Arithmetic;