fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the spirit." Eph. ii, 14–22.

Inasmuch as our reading and investigations are always interesting in proportion to the importance of the subject we are examining, we should endeavor to get a clear idea of the Christian institution.

Primitively, apostles and other inspired men, delivered whole discourses in regard to "the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ;" but if a minister in the nineteenth century were to select such a subject for a sermon, his auditors would be greatly surprised. Yet the kingdom of God, or church of Christ, is the burden of the New Testament. God promised in the Old Testament times, that, he would "set up a kingdom that should stand forever." John the Baptist, said: "The kingdom of heaven is

at hand." Jesus our Saviour, exhorted to "Pray, thy kingdom come," and when Peter made the confession of the leading and center truth of Christianity, that "Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God," he announced that, "On this rock"-confession-"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This new kingdom, which was not "of this world," was always mentioned as "coming," as being "at hand," till the Holy Spirit acknowledged the body at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

Previously to this day, we have no mention of persons being added to, or joining the Church-all was before preparationthe materials for the spiritual building were "made ready" by John, and by Jesus Christ and his apostles. But no sooner had the spirit descended and the three thousand added to the disciples, than "the Lord added to the church daily the saved;" or as it reads in our version, "such as should be saved." Acts ii, 47. Thus was the kingdom established amongst the Jews, and it soon spread through Samaria, and

some seven years afterward, it was set up among the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius.

We rejoice also to know that, for more than eighteen hundred years, this kingdom has stood as a city on a hill, with doors open to all who would enter the fold of God. The young reader should understand very clearly that, no one can enjoy the rich blessings of this spiritual empire, who refuses allegiance to the king. The Saviour compared the kingdom to a vineyard, and said the Master went out to hire laborers, early, at the sixth, ninth, and eleventh hour, but the condition of service in every instance was,

to "

go into the vineyard." Whoever will be the disciple of Jesus, must renounce himself, his own wisdom and plans, and all the plans of men, and take up his cross and follow him.

Christ invites the weary and heavy laden to "come to Him," to "learn of Him," and to "take His yoke" in order to have rest.

The glory of the Christian religion is its transcendent spirituality over all other religions. The Jewish institutions failed to

purify:-"There was a remembrance of sin made every year"-"It was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin," but Christ, in entering into the holy place by his own blood, has obtained "eternal redemption for us," and we now have the promise of the Father that, "Our sins and iniquities shall be remembered against us no more." In this spiritual institution, the eternal life and immortality were "brought to light," of which the world had remained profoundly ignorant for four thousand years.

It is by means of this Church, God can be honorable and honored in saving all sinners who will come to Him through the mediator, Christ Jesus. "There is no other name by which we can be saved."

Eternal honor in the future depends upon the acknowledgment of Christ's authority; and he that refuses is threatened with banishment from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power.

Of the salvation by Jesus Christ, there are no books which directly and authoritatively treat, save those in the New Testa

ment. We are happy also to know these sacred productions, constitute an infallible system or creed, and forever settle every controversy.

It may be some satisfaction for the young reader to understand, that these books were all written during the first century of the Christian era, and have afforded the only spiritual light which the world has enjoyed since the apostle John died. We are forbidden to anticipate or look for other light. Indeed, the very fact of praying for, or professing to receive additional information with regard to the spiritual world, is positive evidence that we are neither satisfied or pleased with what we have, and what God intended should be the only light in the pathway of life. With these introductory remarks and plain statements, we proceed to examine

THE DIVISIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

There are in this purest volume of earth, twenty-seven books or treatises, each of which, was written for a specified object, and from their matter, they may be divided into four classes, or chapters.