In my next paper I purpose giving some interesting instances of conversion in connection with our work, which will shew that efforts exerted on behalf of God's ancient people are not in vain. Meanwhile, as the Barbican or East Central Mission is supported by voluntary contributions alone, and the work is much hindered by reason of lack of funds,-contributions, however small, will be gratefully acknowledged in the RAINBOW either by the Treasurer, Edward Jarvis, Esq., 10, Kingsland Green, N., or to myself, when a printed receipt together with an annual report will be forthwith forwarded.

28, Winston Road, Green Lanes, London, N.

PAUL WARSCHAWSKI.

THE

THE IMPERISHABLE WORD A MIRACLE.

From an Address before a Bible Society by J. STEWART GUMLEY. THE Bible is the evidence of God, His standing miracle and testimony; superhuman, i.e., miraculous, in its contents and preservation. Having referred briefly to the adaptability of the Bible to all times and circumstances of men, the ever-freshness of its truths, its exhortations and denunciations, its consolations and encouragements under every phase of human suffering, yearning, aspiration, struggle and ambition;-and having pointed out how each production of mere human literature was only the expression of, and suited for, the times which gave it birth, or of men out-topping their fellows by a head and shoulders; or of dreams of a parliament of men and a federation of the world; and after alluding to the earth in these latter times giving forth from her bosom-as in the case of the Moabite stone, and such like evidence-testimony to the historical accuracy of those ancient annals; and after alluding to the destruction of ancient literature, on the final overthrow of the Roman empire, beneath the flood of barbarism that swept over Europe, and to the subsequent events which brought about the "revival of letters," the speaker touched on the "Preservation of the Bible-its quantity and quality."

"And when Europe arose from her watery grave, bearing on her bosom, like some re-born isle, treasures long buried in the deep; though many a palimpsest sea-worm had long worn its way through the most precious remains of literature and science; though philosophy and the arts reappeared with features defaced and with many a mutilated limb; though of Livy, the historian, the more instructive half is irrevocably lost; of Polybius, almost the whole; though of Varro, the contemporary of Virgil-considered, by those who heard him, a bard able to strike the lyre to bolder measures, if not to more persuasive strains-not one lingering note has strayed behind him; of Menander's humour, not a shred remains; of Socrates, nought but the name, the example, and a few memorable drops of wisdom from his lips; though of numbers of authors, mentioned in terms of veneration by their contemporaries, all we can gather now consists barely of their names; though thoughts, tens of thousands of thoughts, high and glorious thoughts, noble

aspirations, bright and deep conceptions have been lost to us for ever with the names of their owners, as unknown as the skulls from whence they were once evolved, now parcel of this earth-yet, blessed be God! by a disposal of events, as marked by miraculous evidence as the preservation of the dead body of Lazarus pure and sweet in the tomb, the sacred records of redeeming love have been preserved for men.

Varro and the rest of them are gone for ever; but still is Moses extant, though upwards of three thousand years of age. Still are sketched ont for us the first beginnings of what is now; still come down to us the annals of those men whose plough first furrowed this earth, "soft from the deluge." Still, "for our learning," the dealings of God with his people remain written. Still have we recorded for our admonition, the rise and progress, the decline and fall, the favours and the warnings, the struggles and the triumphs, the virtue and the corruption, the apostasy and the punishment of the ancient people of God. Still, through those long ages has come down to us that strange mysterious book of Job,-allegory or biography, a poet's dream or a woeful reality, which celebrates the contest between piety and pietism, and the victory of the plain, home-spun, God-reliant heart, over the trite maxims of the orthodox conventional expert; a book written for the nineteenth century of grace as well as for the simple age when the shepherd watched the flocks of Jethro. Still can the royal psalmist tune his harp, and lead a myriad worshippers through the golden gates of praise and prayer; still the wisdom of Solomon is here; still he can pipe the epithalamium of Christ and His Church; and "the man about town," in our modern Babylon, "stuffing his hollowness" with "mouldy hay," can still find the "vanity and vexation" in his "vision of sin" depicted in the experiences of the ancient preacher, and from him learn that the judgment to which God shall bring every work, with every secret thing, is begun already-even in this life. Still are the mighty prophets full in view-these, the philosophers, the diplomatised teachers in the education of the world, the reliable pioneers in the progress of mankind, as halting on the successive heights of fulfilled prophecy, they point to far off and greater glories yet to be revealed. Still can Matthew tell his plain, unvarnished tale, Mark corroborate the story, and the skilful Luke collect and record the testimony of his age; still can John the beloved, in humble gratitude, illustrate the wonder of incarnate Deity; still are preserved for us the deep philosophy, the trenchant argument, the simple, sweeping eloquence of Paul; still can James stimulate to deeds worthy of our calling; still, with holy zeal, and undying fervour,-his brows almost crowned with martyrdom, --the venerable Peter can watch and warn the Church; Jude exhort; and John, again, shed forth those drops of love, sweet and bright-the love of Him who loved him, and, in sublime and mystic language-sublime since he speaks of heavenly things; mystic, since with inspired wisdom he beclouds the sunlit vision, and tempers it to suit our weak and trembling human gaze-describe the line and issue in and to which Eternal Providence doth shape events. These all-all these have been preserved for men-though Varro and the rest of them are gone for ever."

In its preservation, this book-the Bible-is a standing miracle of the providence of the now of God the ever-present, the ever-active, the

ever-overruling, the ever-interposing influence of the divine energy-the Divine Energetic One. I hold in my hand the proof of the existent energy of my Creator. I ask the Atheist to account for this book? When came it, and how? Why it be preserved intact, and how? And in accounting for its being here with us now, to explain, if he can, on any mere human grounds, how it is that a book written by iliterate shepherds and herdsmen, fishermen and taxgatherers, when the world was young, contains truths and suggests aspirations which find their echo and answer in the most advanced periods, and amongst the most cultivated people? Why is this book, and this book only, the book for all peoples and all times-why has this book, and almost this book only, been so fully, so wonderfully preserved through the long ages? Is not that wonder a sign, a miracle?'

ARMORY.

CORRESPONDENCE.

EVANGELISTIC WORK. DEAR SIR,-I was much pleased with the excellent suggestions of "J. O" on "Evangelistic Work," in the RAINBOW.

I heartily endorse his views, having experienced often great difficulty in trying to work harmoniously with those already actively engaged in this direction, and doing good work from their standpoint. I fear we have often been conscious of cowardice when by our silence on the great truths (entirely ignored by most of those we have come in contact with), we have appeared to countenance their version of the teaching on Scripture of Man's Destiny, the Immortality of the Soul, Eternal Torment, and the Second Advent. It is a delicate matter to oppose the teaching of these friends on their own platform, and would possibly do more harm than good.

I am quite of opinion that the suggestion of "J. O" is timely, and I hope it will be found to be practicable. Would a conference of those sympathizing with this object,

convened by advertisement in the RAINBOW, be a means of eliciting the views of those who could assist in the project?

I should be very glad to divide the cost incurred with your correspondent,

Yours faithfully,
THOS. WILLIAMS.

Tottenham.

DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

DEAR SIR,-Death regarded as the complete extinction of conscious being is considered by some of your correspondents as inconsistent, if not incompatible, with the doctrine of Resurrection. One of their objections is thus substantially expressed. If death be the complete destruction of conscious being, the identity of the individual is lost and cannot be recovered. God may create another man very similar, but the extinct man can never be reproduced. Strange statements these for persons believing that God made the world out of nothing. To such objection the Saviour's words to the