revolution is effected there. O'Connell of Ireland, as the restless humming-bird, is flitting from place to place, instilling his spirit of opposition to the British government, into the listening multitudes of the Irish. That government stands in the way of the growth of Popery. O'Connell is no fool; he well knows that Ireland alone cannot cope with the mighty power of Great Britain; and therefore we conclude that his boldness and threats are based upon the assurance of the co-operation of the Papal powers in Europe.

The Protestant world seems to be strangely infatuated, and under an illusion not easy accounted for. They seem to apprehend no danger, and therefore fear none, and will likely remain in this state till roused by the thrilling sound of danger, when too late to escape. The Papal powers, conjoined with the Mormons, and all the disaffected to Christianity and civil liberty may wave their banners over our land, and find the Protestants in hostile bands fighting one against another. "Divided we fall." O wretched state! Are we prepared for the contest? for the faggot? for the horrid inquisition? The hypocrites, and insincere of every party, unable and unwilling to bear the fiery trial, will fly from their profession, and rally under the banners of Babylon. This may be the means of uniting the scattered family of Christ, and of purging the sanctuary.

When the infuriated enemies of the real church of God shall be marshalled, and ready to strike the fatal blow, then shall appear the Son of man in the clouds, with power and great glory, for the rescue of his people, and for the destruction of his enemies. Then shall the righteous dead be raised to life and immortality, and the living saints changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Then shall commence the millennium, and Christ shall reign with his saints on earth a thousand years. B. W. STONE.

[WE have now presented our readers with a fair sample of what has been written on both sides the question respecting the second coming of the Lord. This being the case, we shall not feel ourselves in future, under any particular obligation to continue the subject in the regular form, as has been the case for the last few months; at the same time should any essays come to hand, either from brethren in this country, or from those on the other side the Atlantic, which will in any way elucidate the subject, we shall not withhold them from our readers.

With respect to the talents, learning, and piety of those who are engaged in this controversy, they cannot be better described than on p. 358 in the present number. We might mention a host of names among our own brethren, but a reference to the above must suffice.J. W.]

368

SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES.-No. VI.

"I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 6.

A BRANCH meeting of the Bible Society having been called where I was staying, I attended it. Past experience led me to look for the above text in its popular acceptation; nor was I disappointed. The speakers eloquently urged, by argument and anecdote, how all-important the Holy Scriptures, and how dark and wretched all that continue ignorant of them yet they could not close without (as it seemed to me) undoing much that they had been doing, by pressing this text as proof that the "word of the truth of the gospel," however read, taught, or proclaimed, in private or in public, could never convert souls to the faith of Christ unless God give special assistance in each case. In this I cannot doubt their sincere desire to ascribe the glory to God; unconscious, same time, that they were laying upon him the blame of every case of non-conversion. This misuse of the passage is indeed all but universal; it is deemed a saving clause for every sermon, and a sentiment for every congregation to sing, as though true as the gospel itself. For example:— "Till God diffuse his graces down,

Like showers of heavenly rain;
In vain Apollos sows the ground,
And Paul may plant in vain."

Thus the words are taken to mean that in the converting of sinners, although Paul plant the seed of the word, and Apollos follow up the work by watering with the same word, there can be no increase in the number of believers unless God either add a power to his word or give a will to the sinner, or both.

Regarding this as not a mere matter of opinion, but as the benumbing principle of sectarianism, which more than any other, hinders the spread of the gospel, I may be allowed to ascertain and set forth the apostle's metaphor in the above words, and to point out what was done by Paul, what by Apollos, and what was given by the Lord.

In ascertaining the metaphor, we remark first, In the things of this world we should consider it proof of a want of common sense for any one to speak of sowing seed and watering with seed; and as Paul the apostle was a man of good sense we have no right to saddle upon him the absurdity of saying one sowed the word and another watered with the same word. Second. Sowing and planting cannot be spoken

of as the same work, they are distinct and different operations; seed is sown, trees are planted; we may not then make the apostle ignorantly talk of "planting the seed of the word," as most of his expounders do. Third. Having thus found that the apostle speaks not of seed but of plants, and not of sowing but of planting, we inquire what, principally, did the Jews and Greeks plant? and the answer from many parts of scripture would be, they "planted vineyards." Thus we ascertain the metaphor, viz. :-Paul planted a vineyard of God at the city of Corinth. Labourers in vineyards were called husbandmen; their work was to plant, to water, to prune, to gather, &c. Paul and Apollos were labourers, the church was God's husbandry or vineyard.

Paul planted. From Acts xviii. we learn that in the synagogue at Corinth, Paul reasoned with, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks, that the very Messiah, even Jesus of Nazareth, had lived and died to redeem and save sinners. The Jews opposed; he shook his raiment, went to the Greeks and preached" Messiah crucified" unto them. The happy result is plainly told. Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were immersed." They thus received forgiveness of sins and became plants of the Lord. They were thus convinced and converted by hearing Paul's gospel, embracing it, and obeying it. By the Holy Spirit's testimony concerning Jesus he opened their eyes and turned them from darkness to light, and from Satan to God. They thus became new creatures, the purchased of Christ, the vines of the Lord and now the apostle did with them as he did "every where, in every congregation." He formed them into a church of the Lord, set them in order, appointed elders and deacons, taught them to attend to the appointments of Christ's house; collected them together on the first day of the week; directed them to continue in the teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers; and with many tears entreated them to love as brethren, to avoid every appearance of evil, and ever follow what is good. Thus as one labourer employed by God, he planted the disciples in God's vineyard at Corinth.

Apollos watered. Here the question occurs did he help to convert these Corinthians before they were formed into a church? Certainly he did not. The fact is, they had been a congregation of the Lord two or three years before Apollos knew the gospel of Christ. We thus ascertain that the words "Apollos watered," do not mean he assisted to

convert them as sinners; but he confirmed, strengthened, edified, and comforted them as saints. "He helped them much who had believed through grace."-Acts xviii. 27. We here notice how this passage is abused, when Apollos' watering is applied to conversion! Apollos watered the vineyard which Paul had long before planted: being eloquent and mighty in the Old Testament scriptures he drew abundantly from those wells of salvation, and poured a sweetly refreshing stream of "living waters " upon the Lord's plants there, by opening, illustrating, and applying to them the ancient promises, prophecies, types, and bright examples; strengthening their faith, elevating their hope, expanding their love, increasing their desire to please, and causing their hearts to overflow with gratitude and praise. Doubtless the delighting doctrines concerning the faithfulness and love of their Redeemer, displayed in his obedience unto the death, the bright prospects he opened beyond the limits of life, and his ever-living care and intercession for his people; dropped as rain, and distilled as dew upon their warm hearts, rendering them like a watered garden of invigorated plants, ready to strike fresh root downward and bear fruit upward. Thus as second labourer, Apollos greatly refreshed this wellplanted church. Paul and Apollos were servants by whom they believed. By Paul they at first believed; by Apollos their faith grew and increased exceedingly.

God gave the increase. Gave not merely the growth but the grapes. The increase of a vineyard is the fruit, as the increase of the field is the corn. (Lev. xix. 25; Deut. xiv. 28; Ezek. xxxiv. 27.) It is for the fruit that all the skill and pains are bestowed; for without fruit a vineyard is valueless. Man can plant and water but cannot make grapes come. In the natural world the giver of every good does this by means of air, light, heat, and a thousand other means and influences; so also does the same kind Father bless his church and people" with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus:" he freely gives to them all things that pertain to life and godliness, nor does he withold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. His vineyard is his peculiar care; he keeps it night and day, and may well say "what could have been done for my vineyard that I have not done?" The object of all this goodness is, that his beloved people, growing in grace, and increasing with the increase of God, may produce the good grapes of the gospel; the peaceable fruits of righteousness which are by

Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. He does not bestow these heavenly blessings upon sinners to convert them into saints, but he bestows them upon his saints, and it is because they are sons that he sends the spirit of his son into their hearts; and the grapes thereby produced, namely "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (fidelity), meekness, temperance." These are the heavenly clusters well pleasing to God, which, as Lord of the vineyard, he seeks, and for which he bestows every needful blessing upon his confiding and obedient children. He listens to their prayers, he grants their petitions, (made in the name of his dear Son, and according to his will,) causing them to abound in love to one another and to all, and making them perfect in every good work to do his will, working in them that which is well pleasing in his sight. Thus indeed it is God who works in his people to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is not Paul, nor Apollos; but it is God who gives this increase.

Let our proclaimers then, be Pauls; setting side and shoulder together to win sinners to the Lord, and plant them in his vineyard. Let our pastors, teachers, and exhorters, be Apolloses, in confirming, instructing, and comforting his saints; and let all the redeemed open their mouths wide in prayers of faith for promised blessings, and their God and Father will assuredly fill them. J. DAVIES.

THE STRENGTH OF WEAKNESS.

GOD created man in his own image, and as a necessary consequence he delighted in him-his crowning work, the admiration of angels!

Satan, envious at the sight of innocence, and the pure happiness of paradise, determined to mar the perfection of creation; in short, not only to deface, but destroy that which was beloved by Omnipotence. He partially succeeded in his malignant intention: the Most High knew it and what agency did he bring to bear against the triumph of the spoiler?

Was "Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, caused to fly swiftly," and gather his host for the battle; to collect the thunders of wrath, and bid accumulated lightnings strike powerless the great foe ? No. Such a judgment would have left no voice behind it, and the Eternal had resolved to "make a show of him openly; therefore his destruction must be by such a medium as will admit of this.