THE author of the above publication is a well-known writer on various religious topics. Mr Mauro is a lawyer by profession, and an able, lucid writer; but his logic in the realm of theology is by no means perfect, and neither does he claim infallibility. He was for a long time a member of the sect known as the “Plymouth Brethren,” a Fundamentalist, a Pre-Millennialian, and a strong advocate of “Dispensationalism,” but he separated connection with the above associations, and what denomination or sect he has joined now we are not able to say.
The author says in his introductory remarks:—”It is mortifying to remember that I not only held and taught these novelties myself . . . and regarded with contempt those who had not received the ‘New Light.'”
However, our author acknowledges his error, and that is to his credit, and he has also done good service in exposing the pernicious teaching of the “Scofield Reference Bible.”
But as our author is a man of parts and extremes it will be wise for us not to swallow his own “new light”
* “The Gospel of the Kingdom,” by Philip Mauro. Boston, U.S.A.: Hamilton Bros., 120 Tremont Street. Price \$1.25.
without examining it in the light of the Word of God. It is obvious that he did not see as yet the difference between the Ceremonial Law (or Dispensation) and the Moral Law. He makes the Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law to be but one law! This is an error of discernment and judgment which is very common in this age. The Moral Law is considered as if dead and buried under the gospel dispensation. The Word of God does not warrant that assumption, but contrariwise it is made as plain as it can be made that the Law (that is) the Moral Law did not pass away and that it shall never pass away. Mr Mauro denies in the strongest possible language not only Pre-Millennarian theories, but also any Millennium at all. He refuses to admit any future for the Jews but the present, nor that the Gentiles should have any better day of the Gospel than what we have now. While we believe that there can be no other Gospel, nor Spirit, nor Word but what we have already, yet we are warranted to believe that Jews and Gentiles shall receive the Spirit of the Lord through the Gospel in a manner and measure never known to the Church of God before in all her history. We believe that Satan shall be bound for a thousand years, that nations shall cease to learn the art of war, and that every man shall sit under his own vine quite content with his lot in the world. We also hold firmly that Anti-Christ (or the Church of Rome) will disappear through the Gospel, idolatry, paganism, immorality, and that iniquity shall bow her head with shame.
We have sufficient evidence from the Word of God to believe all that, and we are not to be moved from our belief by Philip Mauro’s “new light.” One will find useful information in his book, and will benefit to the extent that one can see the various opinions set forth to-day about the Millennium for and against.—J. M.
The Everlasting Arms.
There are times when this text is very precious to believers: “underneath are the everlasting arms.” One of these times is, I think, when we are very sick and very feeble. The pillows have been beaten up for you, and made as soft as they can be; and the bed, which is so apt to grow hard, has been tenderly smoothed by kind fingers; yet you sink back as if you were about to die of very exhaustion. Sink back, then; be not afraid, for “underneath are the everlasting arms.”—C. H. Spurgeon, in Sermon No. 2435.
Invitation to the Free Presbyterian Church to Send Delegate to the Union of the Churches in October.
THE Clerk of Synod has received the following invitation addressed to the Free Presbyterian Church: “The Church of Scotland and the United Free Church request the honour of the presence of a Delegate from the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland at the Union of the Churches, which will be consummated at Edinburgh on Wednesday, 2nd October, 1929.—(Signed) Joseph Mitchell, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; Alex. Martin, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland.” The Clerks of the respective Assemblies, Dr J. T. Cox and Dr James Harvey, in more effusive wording, also send an invitation, promising to provide hospitality for delegates, if required, and add: “If it is not convenient for your Church to send an official delegate bearing an address of goodwill, we would welcome a letter of fraternal greeting from your Church on the occasion of this important and historic event in the history of the Scottish Church.” We do not wish to appear rude to those sending these invitations, but the remembrance of past events and honesty demand of us to say that a delegate or letter of fraternal greeting from the Free Presbyterian Church to the Uniting Churches would be an act of hypocrisy in view of our attitude to the Union. Reasons have already been given why we disapprove of this Union, and in our next issue we hope to re-state these. Besides, we cannot forget that we are in the position of the man who was turned out of house and home by his brethren, and allowed to shift for himself as best he could, while they retained full possession of all that belonged to their father—money, property, and all. After many years these brethren, without one word of regret for their unbrotherly conduct, now greatly enriched, having a mind to enter into a big business deal, invite the brother so wrongfully treated to be present with an address of goodwill, or if not, that a letter of fraternal greeting should be sent them. As Principal Rainy once said: “There must be something wrong somewhere” when such an invitation was sent to the Free Presbyterian Church.