We believe that some of our readers will welcome a further word or two upon the

deeply important subjects which have exercised our hearts and minds of late, viz., the

Lord's Supper, our present position, and future hope.

We may express the feelings of many in language like this, we have followed the line

of teaching set forth in the previous numbers of this Magazine, and have felt that there is

truth in the position therein advanced.  We see more clearly than ever the distinction

between the earthly sphere of redemptive operations--the kingdom, and the heavenly

sphere--the church of the mystery. We, moreover, feel that the Lord's Supper does

undoubtedly belong to that period when Israel was still a nation, and when kingdom

hopes were still possible of fulfillment, yet we are reluctant to give up this sacred

ordinance. May we not still continue to drink the wine, and break the bread in loving

memory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His atoning mercy? Moreover, it is certainly a fact

that in the epistles of Paul written after Acts 28: the apostle does not speak so much of

Christ's second coming as the hope of the church, but of the believer's manifestation with

Christ "in glory" (Col. 3: 4; Titus 2: 13, 14), yet all this seems so intangible, so vague,

that we seem to have let go the reality to grasp the shadow.

Let it be clearly understood that all whose thoughts are echoed in the above words

have our deepest sympathy. We would not cause a moment's pain to one believer in our

Lord if it could be avoided. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend," saith the Scripture, and

if any are wounded by the contents of either the past, present, or future issues of this little

witness, it is only because the writer would seek to point readers to the truth of the Word,

which Word is likened to a sword that pierces, a hammer that breaks, and a fire that

burns, as well as the bread and water of life, and the healing balm for our souls. In the

first place, we must not shrink back from obedience to the Word of God simply because

we do not see where it leads, or what the goal may be. If we follow the written Word we

shall of necessity be led in the way of truth, but we must also be prepared to "walk by

faith, and not by sight."

We must have the same faith that was so signally manifested in Abraham, "By faith

Abraham, when he was called to go out. . . . obeyed." Now notice the character of this

obedience of faith, "And he went out not knowing whither he went" (Heb. 11: 8).

Abraham did not go out blindly, for he knew that the Lord had spoken, "Faith cometh by

hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Some have had "ears to hear" what the Word

of the Lord has said. They have sought to act according to that Word. The result is that

the bonds of human tradition have severed. They find that "the truth has made them

free"; free to believe all that God has said, free to desire to act according to the testimony

of our Lord through Paul, His prisoner, the chosen apostle of the mystery--the

dispensation of the grace to the Gentiles. They find that many of their former friends are

left behind, that the writings of beloved teachers are of little help, that they can enter into

fellowship with the apostle who said, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and

reaching forth unto the things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of

the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 13, 14). It should be no cause for