In the Volume entitled Dispensational Truth we were not able to do more than take a wide view of the general

trend of Scripture. We observed the working out of a purpose, and saw that it was carried forward to a conclusion

under a series of dispensations, and were enabled to see that `the Jew, Gentile, and Church of God' indicated

dispensational distinctions which are of first importance to observe.

The present Volume deals mainly with the Church of God, and with that set of Scriptures which is bounded by

the history of the Acts of the Apostles. The epistles of Paul which were written during or after his imprisonment

belong to a dispensation which was not instituted until the ministry of the Acts period had come to a close. Their

study demands separate treatment, and the present Volume will be useful largely in clearing the way for their

examination, and in showing the foundation upon which they are built.

In a former Volume we were content to speak of the `generally accepted order of the epistles of Paul', but in this

Volume the chronology both of the Acts and the Epistles will form a subject for enquiry. The first part of this

Volume will be taken up with matters which are mainly chronological, geographical, and critical. We can fully

sympathize with those who, having tasted the blessings which were promised before the age times, will not feel very

interested in the dates of the Acts; and who, having realized that their citizenship is in heaven, will have lost interest

in the townships and colonies of the earth. Yet the highest pinnacle of blessedness revealed in the epistles of the

mystery is founded upon historic facts which were enacted in geographical places by real persons, whose names and

titles, lives and deaths, occur in the annals of secular Roman history.

What heart-moving doctrines arise out of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus! Yet we must keep prominently

before us that the resurrection is not a beautiful, soul-stirring theory, but a fact of history as unsentimental and as

unalterable as `1066, William the Conqueror'. Doctrines deduced from facts may change, but the facts themselves

remain unaltered. The doctrines that arise out of them are only possible and practicable because the transaction is a

fact of history. Notice the way in which the apostle establishes the fact of the resurrection of the Lord before he

proceeds to deal with its effects. Having cited a whole series of witnesses he follows with a statement to the effect

that if Christ be not risen from the dead :

1.

Then is our preaching vain;

2.

Your faith is vain;

3.

We are found false witnesses of God;

4.

Ye are yet in your sins;

5.

They which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Not only do we need to realize the foundation upon which our faith rests (to say nothing of the finer

dispensational sub-divisions which are our more immediate concern), but also to remember that we are facing days

when the truth of God will be rejected, undermined, and explained away, so that from all standpoints a thorough

examination of the basis of our position seems desirable. We therefore turn our attention to the Acts of the Apostles,

considering its authorship and object, the chronology of the various events of the book, and the chronological order

of the epistles.

The important question of the dating of the epistles cannot be approached without reference to geography; in

fact, the accepted dating of one epistle is the result of meagre geographical evidence which made a late date at the

time a necessity. We speak of the epistle to the Galatians, which will be dealt with in its place. The dispensational

changes indicated by the narrative are connected with various nations and countries, all of which demand careful

When these preliminary studies have been undertaken we shall be in a position to consider more closely the

epistles of the period, and their doctrine, practice, and dispensation will be grasped the better for our having given

time and attention to these less interesting opening studies.