you

religion, it is important to bear in mind the testimony thus afforded to the great fact on which our hopes repose,—that the Lord Jesus came forth from the tomb, the Conqueror of death, and opened to His people the path to eternal life. We find the Christians at Troas coming together on the first day of the week to break bread,' and St. Paul preaching to them with earnestness and power (Acts xx. 7); and we find this Apostle writing to the Corinthians, in reference to their Christian assemblies, 'Upon the first day of the week, let each one of lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come' (1 Cor. xvi. 2). St. John, also, says in the opening of the Apocalypse, 'I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.' The period of transition to which we have referred did not last long; and before the close of the second century the Lord's day was recognised as the Christian Sabbath. Thus Irenæus writes, "On the Lord's day every one of us Christians keeps the Sabbath, meditating in the law, and rejoicing in the words of God.'

It is this character-the character of the Christian Sabbathwhich we claim for the Lord's day. We hold that the Sabbatic institution, in its essential features, is for all ages and for all mankind. We found this conviction on its primeval appointment, on the express words of our Lord, 'The Sabbath was made for man,'-and on the fact that this institution has a place in the summary of the moral law given, under the most impressive circumstances, by God Himself from Mount Sinai, and written on the two tables of stone which were placed within the ark. The setting apart of one day in seven as a day of rest and worship, as well as of family union, is an eminently benignant arrangement; and it is appalling to think of the state to which this world would be reduced if there were no Sabbath, but the wasting toil and care of ordinary life went on without intermission. And to us, as Christians, it is above all things delightful, to connect the rest and the cheerful intercourse of this holy day with the contemplation and worship of our Risen Lord, whose work of atonement is complete and finished, and

who has entered into His 'rest' as the Head and Forerunner of all His people. To share that 'rest,' and to enjoy an eternal Sabbath amidst the glories of His presence, and the ennobling associations and services of the realms of light and purity, is the hope which sustains us amidst the sorrows and conflicts of this probationary state, and as we succumb to the stroke of the last enemy. The work of life will then be accomplished; and throughout eternity we shall be with HIM who has redeemed and saved us, and who condescends to make us partakers of His victory and joy.

INDEX.

Access to God, filial, the privilege of believers, 203–205.

Adam, his relation to his descendants, 119, 122, 123; effects of his sin on
himself, 119-121; its effects on his descendants, 122–126.

Adoption, 192.

Angels, ministry of, 208, 209.

'Ante-Nicene Christian Library,' referred to, 68.

Apostles, the office of, 311-313.

Apostolical Succession, doctrine of, examined, 316–318.

Appetites, to be regulated and controlled, 271.

Atonement the, doctrine of, 160-164; extent of, 125, 126; 175, 176.
Attributes of God, 78-88.

Baptism, Christian, 293, 294; its subjects and mode, 293, 294; qualifica
tions for, in the case of adults, 294; designed to be a means of grace
294-296.

Baptism, as administered to infants, 297-300; obligations resulting
from, 300, 301.

Benevolence, a duty to our fellow-men, 258; modes of its development
258--261.

Butler, Bishop, quoted, 5.

Canon of the New Testament, 65; process of the formation of, 66-68.
Chastity, enforced, 272.

CHRIST, character and teaching of, an evidence of His claims, 35-39;
miracles of, 40-44; resurrection of, 45-50; Person of, 131-142;
offices of, 143-148; sacrificial death of, 149-159; exaltation of, as
the Mediator, 165–169; union with, 180-185; the Final Judge, 232,
233; second coming of, 235.

Christianity, an historical religion, 29, 30; prepared for, 30-34; its
credentials, 31-59; its Sacred Writings, 60-73; its doctrines, 77——
236; its moral system. 235-280; its institutions, 281–334.

Church, the Christian, 283-291; its constitution, 284--288; purposes
for which it exists, 288-290; Headship of Christ over, 169, 286.

Church-polity, forms of, 291.

Commandments, the ten, 243–245.

Conder, Rev. Eustace R., quoted, 13-15, 42, 43.

Conditions of personal salvation, 175–179.

Confession of God, open, 255.

Conjugal duties, 264, 265.

Conscience, its functions, 16, 17; its witness to the existence of God, 18;

its witness to a future life, 22, 215.

Consubstantiation, 303.

Covetousness, to be renounced, 273, 274.

Credentials of Christianity, 31-59.

Deacons, office of, 325, 326.

Death, the penalty of transgression, import of the phrase, 120, 121.

Death, conscious existence after, 215-219,

Death of Christ, sacrificial, 149--159.

Decalogue, the, 243-245.

Depravity, a result of Adam's sin, 124, 125.

Discipline in the Church, 290, 291.

Divinity of Christ, proofs of, 131-137.

Duty, standard of, 241.

Duties to God, 248-255.

Duties to our fellow-men generally, 256 -261.

Duties arising from the special relations of human society, 262-269.
Duties to ourselves, 270–275.

Ellicott, Bishop, quoted, 9-11; 13; 72, 73.

Eternity of God, 78, 79.

Eucharistic Sacrifice, doctrine of, considered, 305, 306.

Evangelists, office of, 315, 316.

Evangelistic effort, 255; 260, 261.

Faith in Christ, 177-179; 188.

Fall, the, 118-121.

Falling from grace, possibility of, 210, 211.

Father's, the, Eternal Counsel in Christ, 127–130.

Fellowship of Christ's people, 206–208.

Fidelity of God, 85.

Fidelity, a duty to our fellow-men, 257, 258.

Filial duties, 262, 263.

Future Life, suggested by man's moral nature, 22; the doctrine of, as
set forth in the Christian revelation, 215-236.

GOD, existence of, proofs of, 7-18; His claims upon us, 18, 19; His
nature and perfections, 78-88; His providential government, 104--
107; His moral government, 108-112; our duties to, 248-255.
Godliness, 249-255.

Good, highest, of man, 280.

Goodness of God, 86.

Government of God, providential, 104-107; moral, 108-112.
Grace of God to man, 87.

Hamilton, Rev. Richard Winter, quoted, 224, 225.

Headship of Christ over the Church, 169, 287.

Hippolytus, quoted, 68.

Holiness of God, 83, 84.

HOLY SPIRIT, His living power an attestation of Christianity, 51-54 ;
His Deity and Personality 100-103; His mission and work, 170—
174; the Spirit of Adoption, 192; witness of, 192, 193; His help to
believers in prayer, 204, 205.

Hope of the glory of God, 252.
Humility, enjoined, 272, 273.

Image of God, in which man was created, 114– 116.

Immutability of God, 79.

Infants, salvation of, 126, 176; baptism of, 297-301.

Inspiration, 70–72.

Institutions of Christianity, 281–334.

Intermediate State, character of the, 220-226.

Interpretation of Scripture, principles of, 72, 73.

Irenæus, quoted, 69, 70; 333.

John's, St., Gospel, testimonies to its authorship, 68-70.

Judgment, the final, 168, 169; 232-236; results of, 235, 236.

Judicial Decisions of God, principles recognised in them, 110–112

233-235.

Justice of God, 84, 85.

Justice, a duty towards our fellow-men, 256.

Justification, 182; 186-190.

Justin Martyr, quoted, 57, 68.

Kingly office of Christ, 147, 148.

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