1. Does "house of God" mean the church? If so, what does judgment mean? Does it mean the persecution offered to Christians, or does it mean the destruction of Jerusalem? If the former, where is the proof that persecutions of wicked men mean judgments? If the latter, wherein consists the judgment against the Christian? 2. Is the verb "Is" in the original Greek? Will some one please give us information? A. B. G. Answer. "House of God" here undoubtedly means the Christian church, as is evident from the next clause "if it first begin at us," the pronoun us representing or being substituted for "house of God." 66 Judgment" is used here in a general sense, in which sense it will apply as well to the case of the righteous as to that of the wicked. The righteous were at that period judged, condemned, or punished by the unbelieving, and that too through the civil authority, the great persecutions having been ordered by the government itself, because the profession of Christianity was considered an offence against the established institutions and customs of the country, and as meriting reproach, disgrace, confiscation of goods, and death by torture. Such was the "judgment" which had begun at the "houseof God," as is manifest from what precedes, this being the very subject under consideration. Thus the brethren are exhorted to rejoice in these sufferings for righteousness' sake, and not to fear. They are informed that it is the will of God that they should thus suffer, and that it is better to suffer for well-doing than for evil doing. The example of Christ is then adduced for their encouragement, he also having suffered in the flesh, but having been rewarded for this suffering, and they are urged to "arm themselves with the same mind," and to disregard the evil-speaking of the ungodly, "who," says he, "shall give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and dead." We have thus introduced suffering on two accounts 1. for well-doing; 2. for evil-doing. We have the condemnation of the Christians as evil-doers by men in the flesh; and the threatened condemnation of the wicked by him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead. The word suffering or condemnation then is here used in its general sense, and is equally applicable to the different classes-the righteous and the wicked. 46 When the Apostle soon after comes to speak more particularly of that fiery trial through which some were to pass, he refers them to the same sources of consolation-viz., the example of Christ, the anticipated rewards of the righteous, and the future judgment of the wicked. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part, he is evil spoken of; but on your part he is glorified." ver. 14. Again, verse 16, "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on that account." For," says he," the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." That is to say, It is now the time at which judgment or punishment [in this case inflicted by men in the flesh] must begin at the church of Christ; and if it first begin with us, [the righteous,] 66 what will be the end of those who obey not the gospel, when their punishment will be inflicted by the Judge of quick and dead! "Judgment" or "punishment" may be applied equally to the sufferings of those who are really criminal, or to those who are supposed to be so. The Christians were judged and punished as criminals by the civil authority; but their persecutors would be judged and punished as criminals by the Judge of quick and dead. The punishment in the first case, being undeserved, was a persecution; in the latter, being merited, it would be a just retribution; but it is to be remembered that it is punishment in both cases. God permitted or willed that his people should suffer with Christ, that they might afterwards reign with him. Their enemies, therefore, were allowed to judge, to punish, and persecute them. These punishments seem to be contrasted with those which the disobedient are to suffer in two points of view: 1st. as to order of time or progression. "If punishment begin first with us, what shall be the end of the disobedient?" As yet the suffering was all on the side of the Christians, the unbelievers being unmolested, and the Apostle therefore might well ask: If punishment be the beginning with us, what shall the end be with them? If the divine arrangments require that the righteous should suffer now, in the commencement of the desolations and miseries which announce the approach of the end of all things, how great will be the sufferings of the ungodly in the final consummation? 2d. As to difference of character in those who suffered. He asks: "If the righteous with difficulty escape, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" If the righteous can hardly evade or escape sufferings, what shall be the certainty of punishment in the case of the ungodly and the sinner? If the righteous can hardly escape from men, how shall the ungodly escape from God? A remark of Christ when on his way to Calvary is quite similar: "If it fare thus with the green tree, how shall it fare with the dry?" If I, the innocent and righteous, the green tree, am thus consumed in this fiery trial, how shall the wicked and impenitent, the dry wood fitted for the flames, fare in the fire of the divine vengeance? This passage has no reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, as M'Knight supposes. He imagines that the escape was from this destruction: and that the sufferings referred to were those experienced by the Jewish Christians from the Romans, as being confounded with Jews and regarded only as a sect of the Jews. In this case they would have been suffering as Jews, but the Apostle expressly characterizes the sufferings of which he speaks as for the "name of Christ." 'If any man suffer as a Christian," &c. But the epistle is not even addressed to Jewish Christians, nor specially to Christians at all in Judea, as any one may see by referring to the first verse. 66 The verb "is" is not expressed, but implied in the original. ERRATUM.-Page 525, To balance £79 19 0 read £89 19 0. R. R. Etems of News. Styal, November 11th, 1847. HAVING at length broke myself loose from all the attractions and bindings of the sects, I hail myself happy to be free and unfettered by humanism, and able to take the word of the everlasting gospel of peace alone for my guide and direction. I confess it has been a great struggle and attended with many unpleasant feelings, so much so, that nothing but a real love of the truth would have induced me to have persevered; I can feel for, and sympathize with those whose eyes have been opened to the truth, but have not courage and resolution enough to free themselves from their fetters, and obey the truth as it is in Jesus. Having joined the church of Christ in the reformation, I feel particularly anxious for the spread of those principles of truth which have made me free. I very much approve of the plan of general evangelists, as recommended by the Chester meeting; but, in the mean time, much may be done by the brethren in various ways, towards the accomplishment of this desired object; one plan that I think as likely as most, is, as wide a circulation as possible of the Christian Messenger, brother Campbell's works of various kinds, the tracts and other works that are written for the purpose of directing people to the word of God. While we hear of a few who have been led in this way, it is quite reasonable for us to conclude, that, if there was a wider circulation, there would be more brought to a knowledge of the truth; I would suggest therefore, that, instead of these works being sold at only two or three places, they be sold in every town in Great Britain. Only let the brethren in each church appoint one brother as agent for the work, who would be able to exhibit it to the public, and I doubt not, but in a very short time, where only one is sold and read now, there would be at least twenty; let no one suppose that because he is not a regular bookseller, therefore it would not answer, no, the fact is to the contrary, for many persons through seeing books exhibited for sale by those who are not in the book trade, are led to notice and purchase them. I think moreover, if ever there was a period when it was the duty of the brethren to bestir themselves in this work, it must be now; as brother Campbell has been over to labour in this country, and has become notorious almost through the length and breadth of the land, and I doubt not but that great good will be the result, as I know that a spirit of inquiry after truth has been produced in many, but his visits in many places were so short, that he was able to do little more than set the people a thinking. But now, as we have not him to speak with his mouth, we have his words droping from his pen, which if only circulated, will gain access to many who would not suffer themselves to go and hear him speak, and thus the cause for which both he and we labour will be greatly extended. I will not trouble you at present with any further suggestions; should the above meet with your approval, it would be wise I think if you could state on the cover of the Messenger the terms on which you could supply agents with the different works, but this I leave to your own good judg Your's in hope of the gospel, ment. G. HENSHALL. It is evident that the majority of the brethren have no desire for the statistics of the churches to be presented to the public. Twenty-one letters only have been received-two from Wales, nine from Scotland, and ten from England. We might have added four or five more from Nottingham and the vicinity, but this would still leave us in the minority. The news from these churches is encouraging, we shall therefore furnish short extracts from most of them; but the statistics must, of necessity, be deferred till a future number. November 13th, 1847. CUPAR.-Favour and peace be with you. I am exceedingly happy to learn that the Messenger is still to be continued, only to change its name, and I hope the brethren will give it such support as will prevent your suffering any further loss in its publication; no religious publication, at present issuing from the British press, is so deserving of the support of every Christian and philanthropist as your monthly magazine, and I will do what is in my power to extend its circu lation here; several more copies will be taken monthly than have hitherto been. May the Lord bless you in this as well as your other labours you will get your reward when the Lord comes. As a congregation we are enjoying much peace. Our prospects for usefulness are favourable. The present number in fellowship is ninety-eight. A. DAWIE. November 1st, 1847. SUNDERLAND. Our evangelist brother, M'Dougle, is doing very well in the vineyard of the Lord. Yesterday, three persons from Winloton were baptized in Newcastle, and two or three are about to obey the Lord at Haydon Bridge. In these two places we expect to raise up a church. There are already about eight in the latter village. We have great hopes in this district. Brother Hill visited Beddlington last week: he gives a good account of the church there. May the Lord strengthen our hands and encourage our hearts in this work of truth and love. We have thirty members in Sunderland. J. DOUGLAS. November, 1847. KIRKALDY.-The congregation meeting in Link's Society-hall, in this place, numbers forty-one. We are living in love, unity, and peace; and by a regular attention to the institutions of the Lord, we hope to increase in knowledge and wisdom, waiting for the coming of Jesus, our King. THOMAS BROWN. November 10, 1847. STOCKPORT.-The small church assembling in Mount-street, in this town, is composed of twelve members, with little prospect of increase, at present. Trade is in such a state, and the poverty of the people so great, they seem not disposed to hearken to the word of life. JOSEPH HARRISON. November 10th, 1847. WIGAN. We hereby inform you, that our number of members composing the church here is thirty. We are living in peace and unity, and refer all correspondence to our brother, Timothy Coop, clothier. J. MERCER. November 11th, 1847. AUCHTERMUCHTY.-Approving, as we do, of having the statistics of the congregation throughout the country published, we hereby send our number, place, and address. The congregation meeting in Auchtermuchty, Fife, is forty-five. George and John Dron, elders. Though not formerly appointed to the eldership, we are by concession and age so considered. Since I came home from the meeting at Chester, I have endeavoured to obtain for the Messenger a more liberal demand in our quarter, and have also corresponded with congregations for the same end; and would fain hope, that by a little effort by all the brethren who are friendly in the various places throughout the country, such a circulation will be given to the work as to make it pay itself, and be for you a little more encouraging. All is well with us here, but the affairs of the kingdom go on heavily. We have not had any addition for some time past. J. DRON. November 13th, 1847. TREMADOC.-In accordance with your request in the last Messenger, I beg to say, that the number in the church at Critieth is thirty-five. Address either to WILLIAM JONES or to DAVID WILLIAMS. November 13th, 1847. LESLIE. Our present number of members is sixteen. day in the Town-hall, Leslie, to attend to all things commanded by our Lord and King. Address JAMES M'KENZIE. November 13th, 1847. WARDINGTON.-The church here consists of eight members, which is truly a small number, and yet we have cause to thank God and take courage. A short time ago we were only four, and the prospects are still cheering. The attendance is good, and the people listen to our feeble addresses with apparently deep interest. We hold a meeting every week at Chacomb, a village about a mile; from this. Here great attention is paid to the word of life, and we believe our labours will not be in vain in the Lord. JAMES NORTON. [NOTE. The various learned ecclesiastics of the day may frown at the feeble efforts of our brethren to convince sinners that Jesus is the Christ, afterwards baptizing them unto his name for the remission of sins, and then meeting together for public worship, a part of which is commemorating the death of the Lord! We say, they may frown; but it is the Lord's plan for effecting his purposes. "Then they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." Of what use would this be if they could not baptize and form congregations? It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God embodied in his word, institutions and people, that sinners are to be converted.-J. W.] November 13th, 1847. BANBURY.-I will just say that the church here was established on May 12th, 1839, with three members; twenty-seven have since been received, making our number thirty; three have been removed by death, one in search of employment, two have forsaken the Lord and his institutions, and four have formed themselves into a church five miles distant. Our present number is twenty. T. BREWER. November 14th, 1847. NEWBURGH.-We beg to inform you that the number of members in this place is fifteeen. Please direct to D. LAWSON. November 14th, 1847. PERTH.-In compliance with the notice in the Messenger, we have much pleasure to inform you that we at present number seventeen, one of whom was immersed a fortnight since, and another united with us last Lord's day who had been previously immersed. ROBERT ANDERSON, 36, Water Gate. P. S. The Baptists here have hired the son of the late Dr. CARSON of Tubbermore, to be their pastor; we can look for little favor from this gentleman, as we observe by the Messenger of last month, that he refused his chapel in Tubbermore, to brother Henshall, on the ground that Mr. Campbell is not a Christian? Why is he not a Christian? On account of his views of divine truth, says Mr. Carson. What are those then, who, during Mr. Campbell's late visit, exhibited a devoted and almost idolatrous admiration of the talents, and an ardent attachment to the views of our esteemed brother, and who are now to be found quietly seated under the ministrations, and enjoying the full fellowship of this same Mr. Carson? November 16th 1847. CHESTER. The number of our little flock in Chester is thirty-five; two have been added lately by baptism, and one from the Scotch Baptists. Address:-THOMAS WALKER, Chester. JOHN DAVIES, Mollington. November 17th, 1847. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.-I have just time to say that our number as a church is thirty-one, our place of meeting is "Smith's Hall, Monk Street." Communications may be addressed to THOMAS DAVIDSON, No. 32, Manor Chase. November 16th, 1847. DUMFRIES. According to your request, I now send you the number of brethren in the congregation at Dumfries; there are eighteen males and eighteen females, numbering in all thirty-six. There are only six who reside in the town, the greater number from five to eight miles, and some of us sixteen miles from each other, which is much to our disadvantage for our watching over and care for oneanother; we seldom see each other but on Lord's day, and when any one is absent we are often at a loss to know the cause for some time after; trusting however, though far from each other in presence, yet many of us are united together in heart in presenting our prayers on each other's behalf before the |