this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in ever city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no stricker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.'

The words ordain and appointed mean the same thing. Paul had started the work in Crete and he appointed Titus to take charge of it as pastor, and requested him to make similar arrangements in other cities. Every minister should follow these extracts from the pastorate epistles. Revelationi: 20:-" The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

These stars which Jesus held in his right hand were the angels or ministers of the churches of Asia. And his messages to those churches were given to their ministers. The prosperity of a church depends very largely upon the efficiency of her minister; and no minister is efficient that is not filled with the Holy Spirit. A man may be eloquent who is destitute of the Spirit of God, as was Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sitting upon his throne, and delivered an oration unto the people. This eloquent oration so pleased those who heard it that they gave a shout, saying, "It is the voice of a God, and not of man. But it displeased God, so that "immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."

This Herod with all of his eloquence was a murderer. He had killed James and imprisoned Peter, intending to put him to death; but God delivered him by an earthquake, and an angel. This is an age of intellectual culture, and the minister often depends upon that for his success. When that is the case, it is a base counterfeit. We are not opposed to intellectual culture, neither are we opposed to eloquence, but nothing can take the place of God-the Holy Ghost filling the soul of the minister, and this always manifested by supreme love to God, so that it is a delight to obey him, and the love of fellowship with all saints, and also an intense love for the salvation of sinners. A minister without this love is a failure; possessing this grace of divine love, he is a success, for his life is an exponent of the truth which he preaches.

SECTION IV.

Blessings to the Church.

Christ has put every thing under tribute to His church, so that her severest trials prove to be her greatest blessings. Paul says, "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans viii: 36-37. Again Paul says, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen, are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II. Corinthians iv: 17-18. Again we read, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Psalm cxix: 165.

seen

In illustration of this principle we cite the case of Abraham offering up Isaac, which made him great; the three Hebrew children in "the burning fiery furnace" having "the son of God" with them; Daniel in the lions' den having the companionship of a mighty angel. The edict of Pharaoh, requiring all the male children of the Hebrews to be killed, resulted in giving Moses the highest intellectual culture, which enabled him to become God's law-giver. The cruel edict which banished John to the lonely isle of Patmos brought him into more intimate communion with God, and he was permitted to enter heaven, and he described it as no other writer has done. Paul says, "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians vi: 25-27. Christ loved the church-he loves the church as no other person has done. That he might sanctify and cleanse it-nothing is so dear to the heart of Jesus as that of having his church occupying the highest state of grace. Many say in their prayer, "Thy will be done," while they are opposed to his will being done in their sanctification.

It is supposed that the ordained ministers are to do all the preaching. This is a mistake. The word prophesy has the same meaning as the word preach. Paul said, "He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." I. Corinthians xiv: 3. The Spirit rested upon Eldad and Medad,

and they prophesied in the camp of Israel. Joshua, the son of Nun, was much disconcerted, and he ran and told Moses, saying, "My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them. "It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." Joel ii: 28.

This "afterward" was the day of Pentecost, for Peter said on that memorable day, "These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." Acts ii: 15-17.

This is positive proof that the members of the church-sons and daughters-shall prophesy in this gospel dispensation.

After the day of Pentecost the apostles remained at Jerusalem for a while, but the laity were scattered abroad. "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.' Acts viii: 4. The church at this time was in a normal condition; as a result they went everywhere preaching the word. This has been the case in all the sweeping revivals of which we have any knowledge. It was said of the early Methodists that they were all at it, and always at it. Paul was called a babbler because he was constantly preaching the gospel. The truth was in him; it burned in his heart; and out of the abundance of his heart his mouth spoke. Some laymen are the same.

There were twelve disciples at Ephesus when the Holy Spirit came on them; they spoke with tongues and prophesied. "Philip, the evangelist, had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. Evidently Philip did his duty in his family, as many evangelists do not.

We are informed of the results when all the members of the church prophesy, as follows: "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." I. Corinthians xiv: 23-25.

The general custom now is for the minister to announce the hymns, some of the members join the choir in singing; the minister delivers a discourse, pronounces the benediction, and nobody is converted.

SECTION V.

Spiritual Gifts.

And

And

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. there are differences of adminstrations, but the same Lord. there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healings by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. I. Corinthians xii: 4-11, 29-31.

In the passage above the apostle names nine distinct gifts of the Spirit, distributed to different members of the church according to his will. Each gift is for a special purpose in the church. Some persons possessed more than one of these gifts. But in verses 29 and 30 we are informed that all did not have the gift of working miracles, the gifts of healings, the gift to speak with tongues, and the gift to interpret tongues. Here are four gifts received by only a portion of the church. We will consider these first in the order given; and afterwards the other five gifts.

I. Gift of Working Miracles.

We will introduce a few examples. "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple: then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping upstood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walk

ing and praising God."

Acts iii: 1-2, 6-9.

"And they laid hands. on them, (Peter and John) and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed." Acts iv: 3, 5-8, 10, 14, 16, 22. This is a wonderful miracle; a man above forty years of age, who had never been able to stand upon his feet, instantly made whole, so that he entered into the temple, walking, and leaping,. and praising God! "And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: the same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. Acts xiv: 8-11.

This incident, and the one recorded above, which took place under the labors of Peter, fulfilled the prediction of Isaiah," Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.' Isaiah xxxv: 6. It is the man who has been lame who leaps, not the man who has always had sound limbs. "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke x: 17, 18, 19. "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things. which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city." Acts viii: 6-8. "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them." Acts xix: II, 12. These miracles