The close of the first year of this periodical in its enlarged form seems a fitting occasion for a few words as to the past and future. The interest shown during the past year in connection with this periodical, and more especially with the Bible Students Class and Bible Queries, has shown us, beyond our hopes, how many Christians there are who are thirsting for a deeper and fuller knowledge of the word. It is indeed encouraging to find so many in these closing days referring all their thoughts and opinions to the unerring standard of the word, and especially so when the rejection of it on the part of others becomes daily more avowed and open. Our earnest desire is still further to help all such students in their study of the word, but we increasingly feel that the best help we can give is in leading our readers to the fountainhead. We are indeed conscious of how little we have succeeded in this, but we do trust that some have been stirred up to an increased study of the Bible. During the forthcoming year (should the Lord tarry) we propose adding some fresh features to the magazine. We hope to give a series of connected Notes on Scripture, commencing in January with the book of Genesis. The Bible Conversations, will, we trust, prove very helpful and interesting to our readers. The Bible Student’s Class will, we trust, be reinforced by fresh members, and their labors will, we doubt not, if carefully and perseveringly carried out be of great value not only to themselves but to our readers. With a view to increasing the practice of daily private Bible Study, and adding to its interest we have issued a small book designed to lie with the Bible in the bedroom and to receive each day all thoughts or queries that may rise in reading the daily portion. Full directions as to its use are given with it, and with a hope of encouraging perseverance an offer is made by the Editor to correct all private notes thus regularly made, if forwarded to him at the close of every three months. Such an offer of course is only made to those young in the truth who would feel helped by such aid. We trust each of our readers will not only procure but make daily use of this book, for simple as the plan may appear, we are convinced if faithfully carried out it will greatly conduce to the interest and regularity of Bible reading. As to what shall be read we leave that to the choice of each one. For the benefit of any however who have no settled plan, a course of Scripture reading already used by a large number of “Young Believers” daily, is provided in the note book. In conclusion, we again ask the earnest prayers of our Christian friends that God will use this magazine greatly for His glory, and guide those who conduct it to make it fulfill better the object they have at heart.
We would also ask our friends to use every effort to make it known to all Christians who love their Bibles.
A correspondent, J. W., writes objecting in unmeasured language to the answer to Q. 337, which speaks of “putting on Christ as a profession, &c.” and he proceeds to make the extraordinary statement that professing is pretending, and says in so many words without any qualification “Profession is hypocrisy.” We should not call our readers’ attention to such remarks were it not to point out the not uncommon error our correspondent has made of treating all profession as necessarily false. Profession on the contrary is always assumed to be true unless proved false. Indeed, we presume that J. W. himself “professes” to be a Christian, and is not therefore a hypocrite. In the word of God also in such passages as 1 Timothy 6:1212Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12); Hebrews 3:1; 4:14; 10:231Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)
14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23), profession is something we are to hold fast and of which the Lord is High Priest. We trust our readers will guard against this error of only using “profession” in a bad sense.
As we find that we shall not be able to read through more than Romans 1 in the January Bible Conversation, the February portion will be from Romans 2-3:20. All papers on this Scripture to be sent to B. C., Editor of B S., 27, Paternoster Square, E. C. by the 25th instant. We hope to receive a good selection of plain and pointed remarks with references original and selected. Some papers to hand are rather of the nature of diffuse commentaries on the whole Chapter. We trust all who take an interest in this class will join in prayer that it may be used to the spread of the truth.