THE WAYS OF GOD. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. GOVERNMENT, GRACE, AND GLORY. At a time like the present, so full of events crowding themselves together in the history of this present agean age which ends with consequences so deep and solemn to the world, and so full of blessing to the Christian, and the Church of God-it is a blessing from the Lord to have our minds directed towards the Prophetic Word, and to the Ways of God. It is said of the Prophetic Word, that "ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." (2 Peter i. 19.) It is desired, as briefly as is consistent with the end in view, and as the Lord may graciously afford guidance and blessing, to bring before the reader, the general scope of the great dispensational dealings of God, which it has pleased Him, in His infinite grace, to B make known to us in His Word, so as to display those dealings in the Government of the world—His Grace towards sinners-and His purposes for the Glory of His Son. Those subjects have been entered upon with the desire that some may be enabled to follow those dealings in their consecutive order as nearly as such may be followed, and thus grasp the dispensational dealings and purposes of God thus revealed. It is not pretended to give a complete view of these things, but such a general view of the whole dispensational dealings of God as may lead the mind to a closer searching after the more minute details of these dealings from the Word, and thus to a more perfect and growing apprehension of His purposes and ways. In carrying out such a desire, many truths well known of late amongst the Lord's people will be before us-needfully so that the more important parts may not be forgotten or omitted in the consecutive order of God's ways. And should it be found necessary to depart from this consecutive order, it will be with the desire but to link together the events more fully and clearly, that the mind may be enabled to pass along the chain without leaving any links behind. The purpose of these papers is to put the truth plainly and simply before the mind from Scripture,. for that "godly edifying which is in faith "—not to combat with error, however useful and necessary such |