the apostles' doctrine: thus Peter used the first key, in opening the kingdom of heaven to the Jews, in the preaching of the gospel to them. It was also reserved to him, to be the first to preach the gospel to the Gentiles; and thus, according to his high and heavenly commission, made use of the second key to unlock and open the kingdom of heaven to the uncircumcision, the heathen or gentile world, in contradistinction to the nation of the Jews. For this purpose Peter has a vision (Acts x. 11), in order to remove his Jewish prejudices against the gentiles, for when he was come to Cornelius, who was not a Jew, he said (verse 28), "You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.' Peter then preached to Cornelius, his kinsmen, and near friends, whom he had called together, the same gospel that he had preached to the Jews; and "while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." It was thus that Peter used the keys to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile and if it was said by Christ, in the Revelation by John to the church in Philadelphia, " Write these things, saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and

shutteth and no man openeth;" so likewise of his servant the apostle, when he with the keys (or power) opened the kingdom of heaven, first to the Jews and secondly to the Gentiles, no man would shut this door of gospel truth, the very gates of hell should not prevail against it.

If this should be the true interpretation of this passage, it would seem that the kingdom of heaven, or the door of the gospel once opened by Peter to all nations, no man could afterwards shut it; it is nowhere said that Peter kept on unlocking and locking up again the gate or door of the kingdom. One cannot help remembering what the Lord said of himself in a parable (John x. 9), " I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This looks like a door that always stands open after it was once opened, never to be shut again, and being set wide open by him who had the key of David," he that openeth and no man shutteth:" there would be no further use for the key. Such also appears to be the meaning of Paul (Heb. x. 19), "Having therefore, brethren, boldness (or liberty) to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated (or new made) for us, through the vail, that is to say his flesh, &c.; let us draw near with a true heart, &c." This appears to be a further illustration of the subject; to draw near, to enter into, by a way, a new made way, is very similar to the opening of a door or a gate to the heavenly Jerusalem, which is also figuraratively set forth by a city with twelve gates, " And the gates of it (the city) shall not be shut at all by

day, for there shall be no night there," Rev. xxi. 10, 12, 25. If there was to be no night, and the gates should not be shut at all by day, it is quite evident they never should be shut at all; and then, if never shut, there could be no use for the keys; the power was to open the kingdom and exhibit its glory under the new covenant to every believer; universal, to all nations, to all kingdoms, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, that they might come and stand before the throne. This may be the truth of scripture, at any rate scripture can only be properly explained by scripture; and if we closely examine the passage (Matt. xvi. 19), there seems something express and personal to Peter, "I will give unto THEE the keys of the kingdom of heaven." This power did not extend to, or was not given to the other disciples or apostles, the keys were only for Peter to possess and use: and if the interpretation which I have mentioned for consideration be correct, there was no necessity for any one else besides Peter to have them: but still, if there be apostolical succession, some party must have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and Peter must have a successor.

Trusting, Mr. Editor, to your indulgence for a continuation of this subject next week,

I am, &c.

ΑΜΕΝ.

LETTER V.

MR. EDITOR,

I am not ignorant of the almost endless controversies about the KEYS, and of the unwillingness of the opposers of the Church of Rome to yield anything like supremacy to St. Peter. I am not entirely unacquainted with the fiery disputes of the clergy of all sects respecting the meaning of our Lord in that celebrated passage-" and I say also unto THEE, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it: and I will give unto THEE the keys of the kingdom of heaven," Matt. xvi. 18. I do not intend entering the lists with the champions on either side; nor will I attempt to wrest a passage of scripture from its true, simple reading and meaning because such passage might powerfully oppose my views if taken strictly and literally. It is the men who have to uphold some favourite or powerful sect

of religion, and who find passages of scripture militating against their system, that move heaven and earth in their natural wisdom, philosophy, and false glosses, to avert the force of the powerful weapon of God the "Sword of the Spirit"-the word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Alpha and Omega.

I have not to do with these disputes of opposite and contending parties—with the opinions of men who are all too much interested to think, or write, or expound the scriptures without prejudice or partiality. I have to do with the Bible. And part of my plan is, according to my proposal in former letters, to examine into the character, power, and authority of the apostles and then endeavour to find THEIR SUCCESSORS if they are to be discovered on the earth. I do earnestly entreat all parties to bear with me, while in search after truth I seek for it as for hid treasure in the rich, prolific mine of that revelation which God as given to man as his guide, his only guide into the truth as it is in Jesus.

In my last letter I stated that to Peter alone were the keys entrusted: and I ventured to explain in what manner he used them, and that in this he was distinguished from the rest of the apostles. He had the pre-eminence: for the keys are emblematical of government and power (Isaiah xxii. 22). Paul was not one of the twelve, but was miraculously called by the Lord, who said of him," He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel," Acts ix. 15. Therefore at the church of Antioch as they ministered and fasted, "the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and