we still more urgently called to study what God has revealed for our use on this subject.*

Nor let us be surprized that COMPARATIVELY FEW BELIEVE THESE THINGS; but rather therein discern more clearly the reality of that scripture testimony which corresponds so closely to the present state of men's minds. Antichrist and his followers are expressly to deny that our Lord IS COMING (eрxoμevov) in the flesh. 2 John 7. The worldly part of the church is scoffingly to throw it off with the inquiry, WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING. 2 Peter iii. 4. His own ministers and servants are to say, at least in the heart, MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING, (Matt. xxiv. 48,) and even the wise virgins SLEPT till the cry was made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh. Matt. xxv. 5, 6. Can any thing more exactly describe the real but the most dangerous situation of unbelief and lethargy in which men now are on this subject, and from which it is the great duty of the faithful watchmen to rouse them. Another kind of sore temptation, Unbelief, will, however, in the hour of trial, assail even God's own servants. While they are crying day and night for deliverance, they will be tempted, from the great triumph of that wicked, then revealed, (2 Thess. ii. 8,) to doubt of the speedy return of our Lord, and of their full deliverance; when the Son of Man cometh shall he find faith on the earth. Against this temptation we are guarded and strengthened by the assurance, he will avenge them speedily. Luke xviii. 7, 8.†

Yet let me not be misunderstood as if asserting that a belief of the literal restoration of the Jews was an essential Article of faith. Many of the most excellent of the earth have conscientiously disbelieved it. To me it appears important to the completeness of Christian faith; but the real life of a Christian is far more immediately connected, with a simple dependance on Christ dying for our sins (Gal. ii. 20), and our thence having entire confidence in the love of God to our souls.

†The author must refer to the 5th and 6th Chapter of his Practical Guide to the Prophecies for the full scriptural evidence of the coming of our Lord before the Millennium.

events.

THE PAST FAILURE OF ANTICIPATIONS CONFIDENTLY GATHERED FROM PROPHECY, is, perhaps, the most serious difficulty in the way of the faith of him who is well acquainted with the precipitate expectations of former ages. It has been, with some show of reason, objected, that MEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXPECTING A CRISIS OF TERRIBLE DISASTER, and have again and again been found to be false alarmists. No doubt this is a just reason for great humility and modesty in our pre-anticipations of particular times and minuter Let us be taught this at least by such an objection. But there is another lesson to be gathered from these fore-anticipations of the last tribulation, thus common to all classes and to every age. It is not this, to throw aside all watchfulness and care for readiness, in the idea that there will be no such thing as that which the holy scriptures have plainly predicted; but this rather is the lesson taught us,-more carefully, minutely, and fully to search into the scriptural testimony concerning it. The holy scriptures give us sure and infallibly true information both as to the nature of it, and as to the times and seasons, and as to the blessed result in the universal triumph of the kingdom of Christ. Thus all those coming shadows of future events, however dark or dreadful, however alarming and surprising, beyond what our earth has ever yet witnessed, will only lead us to that calm and steady faith in the Divine Redeemer, and his control and guidance of all to a full issue of blessedness and glory, which will enable us, according to his direction, to lift up our heads in the absolute assurance that our redemption draweth nigh.

There is a worldly appearance of wisdom in being silent, which is not real wisdom. It is not the wisdom of God's children, standing alone as witnesses for his truth, but the wisdom of going with the greatest number. It is not the wisdom of that faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of

things not seen; but the wisdom of not supposing any thing likely to take place that is out of the ordinary course of sight, sense, and experience, though the scriptures have expressly revealed it. It is, in short, the burying of all lively faith in the tomb of the mere common sense of the world. We see its issues in rationalism, Neologianism, and infidelity, but many see not the commencement of the downward path.

We cannot enter into the common reasoning: suppose nothing comes of what you anticipated, either of remarkable judgments on the wicked, or remarkable blessings on the righteous, your reputation will suffer. We reply, that we had better be called foolish by the world, than be found by the Lord of all unprepared for the event itself. We reply, we have not desired the woeful day. Jer. xvii. 16. We had infinitely rather have Jeremiah's spirit of ardent desires for all good, though without any warrant and against all warrant of true prediction (Jer. xxviii. 6), than Jonah's spirit of grief that predicted judgment was not executed (Jonah iv.), at the time when he expected, but was actually delayed, and the time of grace prolonged, on the repentance of the people. But it is real selfishness and hatred, not love, to withhold painful truth. A Christian with any thing of the divine mind can have no pleasure in the death of sinners. Ezek. xxxiii. 11. Would to God, indeed, that the Gentile churches would follow Daniel's counsel to Nebuchadnezzar, Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor, if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. Dan. iv. 27. Oh that it might yet be! Let us labour for it to the last, and pray for it fervently, and neither prayers nor labours shall be fruitless of unspeakable blessings. Not merely Daniel himself, but his people also, were delivered from Babylon.

We reply farther, Let God be true, and every man a

liar. Rom. iii. 4. We will go on in watchfulness and preparation to the end, acknowledging our ignorance, but obeying all the Lord's directions, and still taking heed to the sure word of prophecy, as a light given us by God himself. If Abraham, when he went to Mount Moriah in pursuance of God's command, to offer Isaac for a burnt-offering, had been told how impossible it is this promised seed can inherit the land, he would have replied, God was able to raise him up even from the dead. Heb. xi. 19. Let us then, in the darkest seasons, obey the command of God, and be waiting for our Lord's return. Let us, following the faith of Abraham, whatever may be the difficulties, have entire confidence in the plain statements of scripture, and the omnipotent power of Him with whom all things are possible. When the first promise was given, the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head, and afterwards more fully interpreted, Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel; how unlikely its fulfilment, after the lapse of four thousand years from its first delivery in the garden of Eden! But in the fulness of time God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law,

Gal. iv. 4, 5.

that we might receive the adoption of sons. The fulfilment of this promise stands as a sign that all other promises shall be fulfilled: it is a sure pledge that not one, however long delayed, however supernatural, however opposed to all human ideas of probability, shall ultimately fail of its entire, complete and exact fulfilment. HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

(6.) THE SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE JEWS.

Having now, it is hoped, established the scriptural doctrine of a future literal restoration of Israel to their own land, did time and space permit, we might enter at large into their history when restored. We

have shewn, in the following discourses, that they will, in all probability, be in part restored in an unconverted state. The bones must come together, bone to his bone, the sinews and flesh come upon them, and the skin cover them before the breath of life is given to them. Ezek. xxxvii. 7-10. The Old Testament prophecies, as well as our Saviour's discourse (Matt. xxiv), point out the last troubles through which they will then pass, and the appearance of our Lord Christ for them, and their national conversion in Judea.* The prophets dwell at length and repeatedly on the mighty miracles attending their completed restoration, and on their future and enduring glory. Some of these particulars are detailed in the following sermons.

If servants of God, we shall take pleasure in the stones of Zion, and favour the dust thereof. What God has revealed too in his word, must be profitable for the meditation of his church. The subject is, however, too large and too vast for incidental notice. What a reality will the Lord's final, peculiar, and special mercies to Israel give to all the Psalms of David, and to such expressions as occur continually. Psalm xcviii. 3; c. 5; cxvii. 2. And what a power will they give to this kingdom of priests, to plead his

* It was a general opinion of the Fathers that Antichrist would be a Jew, and appear at Jerusalem, and sit in the temple there. I can see no scriptural evidence that the great Antichrist of the scriptures will rise up among the Jews: Our Lord shews there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, in so much that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect. Matt. xxiv. 24. This therefore was to be expected. Indeed already, to the tremendous cost and sufferings of the deceived Jews, in past days, from age to age, false Christs have deceived them; and we may expect it will be so, when again restored, till their conversion. But the great Antichrist of scripture is Popery; its last open manifestation in the avowed Antichrist casting off the mark of Christianity has yet indeed to be revealed, and the last attack of this Antichrist will be on the restored Jews in Jerusalem. His taking that city and the cruelties he perpetrates there are connected with his final overthrow. Isa. lxvi. Dan. xi. Zech. xiv. Ezek. xxxix. 40. See the Practical Guide to the Prophecies,' p. 163-181, and see Discourse on the last tribulation of the Jews.