A. B. C. asks:

BIBLICAL QUERIES.

1. What were the promises made by God to Abraham (Paul says, in Heb. vi., they were confirmed to him by an oath, and that by two immutable things "we" might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to the hope set before us"); and how are they made good to him?

2. Whether the prophets of the old law make any allusion to the taking of Jerusalem and its destruction by the Romans; and whether the prophecy on Olivet (Matt. xxiv. 25; Mark xiii.; Luke xxi.) is to be considered as supplementing them, or declaring things altogether hidden from them.

3. What is the connection between John the Baptist's preaching "the kingdom of heaven" and Isa. xl. ?

4. Is the Zion God has chosen for His habitation and rest, out of which the rod of His strength is to go, the Zion Paul speaks of in Heb. xii. 22?

ANSWERS TO QUERIES.

"What nation or people is meant by the Daughter of Tyre?" (Page 556.) By comparing the following passages it will, I think, appear evident that a future and literal Tyre is meant in Ps. xlv. 12. It is generally taken for granted that Ezek. xxvi. is completely fulfilled, and that it was so to a certain extent I readily admit, but I think this is one of the prophecies which will have a double fulfilment ; for how otherwise can we account for the seeming contradiction between Ezek. xxvi. 19-21, and Acts xxi. 3? In the time of the Apostle Paul we find a ship unlading her burden at Tyre, therefore New Tyre must have been a commercial seaport several centuries after the destruction of Old Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, at which period it cannot be said that God "set glory in the land of the living." (Ezek. xxvi. 20.) And besides, Zechariah tells us that "When the eyes of man, as of ALL the tribes of Israel, shall be turned toward the Lord," Tyrus will exist, and "the Lord will cast her out." (Zech. ix. 1-5.) In Joel, also (iii. 1-8), Tyre is spoken of in connection with the last judgments on the nations for having scattered Israel and parted God's land; just as in Ps. lxxxiii. 7, we find the inhabitants of Tyre are to be confederate with Israel's enemies; and in Ezekiel, Tyrus is mentioned at great length in chapters xxvi., xxvii., xxviii., while its prince would appear to be the last Gentile head and monarch of the world-the ANTICHRIST. It seems probable that there will be again two cities called Tyre, one to be utterly and for ever destroyed, so as to fulfil Ezek. xxvi. 19-21, and xxvii. 36; the other to be "holiness to the Lord," when "the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift," and "her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing." (Isa. xxiii. 18).

.ש .ה .כ

February 1, 1865

GENTLENESS.

How have I loved thy ways, fair Gentleness!
Thy aspect all benign! How have I wooed
More of thy company! Nor have I sought
This fellowship in vain; yet have I seen
More of thy sweetness in another's smile,
Another's ways, in one short hour-so short!
Than apprehension can affirm of all

My course of life. Though I have failed, failed much,
In my alliance with thy grace, yet thou

Hast favoured me; for none can sue thee long
And miss thy softening power, thy courtesy.
But some seem moulded in thy meek contour,
As born a twin with thee; and in their growth
Maintaining equally thy mien, thy bloom,
Thy ministry. Such are most beautiful;
Beauty of soul is theirs, favour divine;
Not such as in proverbial wisdom rank
With things deceitful, vain; their influence
Extends, a deep'ning, widening flow of good,
Of genial prevalence: their power of place
Commensurate with life's enduring walk.
Then do I feel my neediness, when in
The company of such who meekly bear
The stamp of God's nobility; whose brow
Beams with a coronet of grace; whose looks
Distil an essence perfumed with the spice

Of heavenly groves; whose speech bewrayeth them
As having been with Him of Galilee.

Years do not spend thy store; age doth not sere
Thy deep attractiveness. In youth we mark

Thy supple grace; maturity brings on

The deepened charm; and mellowed age

Confirms the early fame. Thy smile averts
The threatened blow; thy suavity disarms

The dark'ning brow of frowns; and though thy way,
Traced by necessity, may give some pain,

It never grieves, as though a needless course

Had issued from an arbitrary choice.

A wrong is done; yet thou dost not stand up

With heightened glow, and cutting speech, and show
Of hasty wrath, proud gestures, and the threat

Of doing to, as thou hast been done by.

There is no fear that thou wilt be misjudged
By those who in deliberate judgment bear

The impress wisdom gives: they know that thou
Art not imposed upon; nor dost thou yield

A jot of truth, or strict propriety,

Because no lines of anger mar thy face,

Nor in thy path is there a trace of gloom,

Acerbity, or sternness of the law.

No; thou dost show how to maintain the right,
Yet not contend as one who meets a foe.

The man of strength is conquered by thy force,

Clifton.

O Gentleness. Where does thy secret lie,
That weakness should assume the place of power;
Yea, subjugate a stronger by its mode

Of exercise? In this that thou dost not protest,
Insist, complain; that all thy ways are marked
By yieldingness, where that has not the fame
Of shelving truth; and truth itself is graced
By all thy gracious courteousness.

1, 1865

W. H.

Correspondence.

[The Editor wishes it to be distinctly understood that he is not responsible for the sentiments of his correspondents. In every case, also, name and address are required, not necessarily for publication, but as a proof of good faith.]

RESETTLEMENT OF CANAAN. DEAR SIR,-In your number for December there is a paper by Major Phillips on the resettlement of the land of Canaan, and the Harbour for the World's Commerce; the boundaries of the one, and the base for the plan of the other, are deduced from Scripture. I do not doubt Major Phillips's "earnest desire after true deductions." My only question is, are the premises correct from which the deductions are drawn? I think not.

First, as to the geographical boundaries of the land, Major Phillips says, referring to Deut. xi. 24, "Now rule a line from the northern roots of Lebanon to the southern roots of Sinai in the wilderness, and will not a perpendicular thereto point out the uttermost sea to be the East Sea, the Sea of Oman? And the uttermost sea, opposite the river Euphrates, is it not the Dead Sea?

"And, therefore, as by our geographical map we presume to judge that the Euphrates, the Mediterranean, the Nile at the prolongation of the Sea of Suez, the Red Sea, and the Sea of Oman, and, of course, though not described" (italics are mine), "the Gulf of Persia (surrounding all Syria and Arabia), are proved to be the boundaries of the promised land."

Now let me ask, what is meant by turo uttermost seas in reference to Deut. xi. 24?'

66

And why is the arbitrary perpendicular" drawn at all? Also, how this "perpendicular" can point out two seas, the one east, and the other south? Let me also ask how it is "proved" that "the Sea of Oman, and, of course, though not described, the Gulf of Persia," mark out the eastern limit of the Abrahamic promise?

In the first place, "the land of Canaan" is the term used to express the possession of Israel, and a glance at the map at once raises a question as to the accuracy of the statement, for Major Phillips's boundary stretches some 1,700 miles beyond Canaan altogether, and consequently as far beyond any limit that the people have ever yet occupied, or have been promised.

In Gen. xv. 18-21 the north and south boundaries are clearly defined from the Nile to the Euphrates (agreeing with Isa. xxvii. 12), the nations alluded to embracing the area between those two limits. Exod. xxiii. 31, shows the same boundary "from the desert" (of Shur, bounded by the Nile) "to the river (Euphrates), and "from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines" (Mediterranean). Numbers xxxiv. is more clear still, but in no point of detail does it geographically differ from the above. This was emphatically called "the land of Canaan," which only was the promised land. This land of Canaan, however, west of Jordan, was only inhabited by

February 1, 1865.

nine and a half out of the twelve tribes, It will thus be seen that there is an Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh extended territory towards the north, having, on account of their very much which has not yet been possessed by cattle, been permitted to occupy the Israel, though included in the coveconquered countries of the Amorites nant, between Mount Hermon and the and Bashan, east of Jordan. (Num. Euphrates. I have no doubt but that xxxii. 28-33.) This is repeated in the vision of the land given to Moses chapter xxxiv. 14-15. embraced the same limits, and was intended to show the ultimate possession of the tribes.

will never absolutely inherit the land in perpetuity until they are established under their Messiah at His second coming.

Major Phillips says that Deut. xi. 24 gives the "full inheritance," but in his interpretation of the fulness he draws It is to be borne in mind, in looking at his eastern boundary some 1,700 miles Israel's inheritance, that the promise beyond that mentioned in the other was to Abraham and "his seed," which Scriptures, for which certainly that refer-"seed" is Christ. The nation of Israel ence gives no warrant. It states that the people were to inherit what "the soles of their feet trod upon." Had they, or did they tread on the great desert of Arabia between the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, or the plains of Shinar? If not, then the boundary by that Scripture must be the same as that of the former, the "uttermost sea" being the Red Sea; and as for "the nations mightier than they," they are those who were in the land of Canaan, whom they were to drive out in order to obtain possession. The boundary noted in Josh. xv. 1-12 gives also the same general outline.

The fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant can only be in Israel's Messiah. It is in Christ that "all things are to be gathered together in the fulness of times, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in HIM." He alone is the centre of all the counsels and purposes of God; around Him all prophecy revolves. He is the divine fulfiller of the will of God, both as a Son of Abraham, and Son of Adam; so that whether In 1 Kings iv. 21, we have the entire it be the inheritance of His heavenly area of Solomon's kingdom, "from the people, "the Church, which is His river (Euphrates) to the land of the body," or the everlasting inheritance of Philistines, and unto the border of Canaan for the children of Israel, each Egypt," the most prosperous period of shall find its manifested accomplishment Israel's history. in the Son of God and Son of man in

Now Moses was the type of the king

The above references define the boun-glory. daries of the Abrahamic land of promise, howbeit in many instances the people in the wilderness, or the Lord Jesus as fell short of it. (Judges i. 19—33.)

Let us now look at prophecy-(Ezek. xlvii. 13-20). The boundary is here clearly traced, the northern being from the upper or north-east coast of the northern border of the Mediterranean, by Hamath, skirting the northern border of Damascus; the eastern is from Hauran (east of the Sea of Galilee, and south of Damascus) Gilead, thence inclining towards the Jordan, following its course down to the East, or Salt, or Dead Sea.

presented to the Jews on earth as their king, but as He could not, on account of the condition of Israel, at that time manifestly take unto Himself His great power and reign-i.e., did not open the glorious kingdom-but was cast out, rejected and slain, so Moses could not take the people into the land, though he was permitted to see the fulness of the possession. It was reserved for Joshua, who represents Christ in resurrection, to take Israel in victoriously, first "purging out all things that offend" (Matt. xiii. 41), and then settling the people in their With Joshua ended the

The south border is from Kadesh, south of the Dead Sea, by Tamar, to the south-inheritance. east border of the Mediterranean. The history of that generation, who were west border is the Mediterranean itself.* established in the promised inheritance. In the history of the Judges, which follows that of Joshua, (who are individually types of Christ victorious in death), we commence a new generation who knew

This can all be clearly traced on the maps contained in the "Annotated Paragraph Bible," published by the Religious Tract Society.

not the Lord (chapter ii. 10), and are more particularly shown the history of the rulers of the people, rather than that of the people themselves, who stood or fell according to the character of those rulers, whether judges or kings.

February 1, 1865.

or 1,500 miles. Now this must either mean a base of 1,500 miles, or about 39 miles square base, according as the 12,000 furlongs are read to mean square or linear measurement.

Again, as the New Jerusalem does not come down to the earth till after its (earth's) purification by fire, or the appearance of the new earth (Rev. xxi. 1, 2), its position and dimensions can have no reference to the "oblation," nor the land during the millennial period. The city, temple, and buildings referred to by Ezekiel seem to be included in the oblation, and have reference to Jerusalem on earth, the present city in its renovated condition, and not the "; new city" of Revelation.

Major Phillips's interpretation of Zech. i. 16 can hardly be accepted as meaning a line of construction" for the measurement of the settlement of the tribes; rather, I think, it simply means a measuring line for the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem.

But what shall we say to "the centre of construction?" and the conversion of the "foundation stone of Zion" into a geographical point? Surely the history of that "stone" cannot have been traced, to apply it to such a purpose?

To the judges succeeded Samuel, who displays Christ in heaven during this period of rejection, and the reign of the true Saul, or the man with the evil spirit, the prince of the powers of the air; and as during Samuel's life David was anointed king, so shall the Lord Jesus be anointed king before His descent in glory (Dan. vii. 13, 14, Rev. xii. 10), to establish and reign over His people Israel. Thus shall He reign, whose right the throne of Jerusalem is, "till He hath subdued all' enemies under His feet" (1 Cor. xv. 25), when the true Solomon, the Prince of Peace, shall be gloriously manifested, and "the name of that city from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE (Jehovah Shammah). (Ezek. xlviii. 55.) I am afraid there is grave reason to question the "literal and precise developments" of Major Phillips, or the promises on which he has based his deductions. These likewise must be compared with Scripture. I will quote the substance of the Major's words. "The oblation of Ezekiel is found to be a square of 25,000 reeds, the winepress of Rev. xiv. a square of 400 furlongs, and the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, to have a square base of 400 furlongs, or 5 miles." I scarcely know why he has alluded to these measurements and places, for he might at once have assumed the "50 Roman miles," if it was merely to divide the length of Canaan into 13 equal spaces; and here at once we are met with a contradiction. The oblation of Ezek. xlviii. 20 is "25,000" reeds" (or, according to Major Phillips, 50 miles) square. Now his own map displays the oblation having a breadth of 50 iniles with a length of at least 1,700. Major Phillips says the winepress of Rev. xiv. is "a square of 400 furlongs;" the Scripture says that "blood came out of the winepress for the space of 1,600 furlongs "-meaning, I suppose, that distance from the city. Again, the

True it is that the cross on Calvary is a centre, but it is the centre of God's eternal purposes in regard to fallen man. It is the only meeting place between God and the sinner.

What Major Phillips has adduced in reference to Zech. xiv. 4 is generally correct. Great and solemn geographical changes will occur when the feet of the Son of God shall touch the Mount of Olives, in order that the beloved city of God, on which His eye rests continually, may fulfil the Psalmist's prophecy, as Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King."

I have written the above from a pure love of, and desire to bring out, the truth, and with no other motive. I remain, dear Sir, Faithfully yours, H. GOODWYN, Major-General.

[We have been compelled slightly to

Major says the New Jerusalem "has a abridge this letter, as our space is square base of 400 furlongs; " Scripture limited.-ED.] says that "it measured 12,000 furlongs,"