without meaning to those who reject this precious doctrine, for surely it requires no metaphysical reasoning to prove, that the saints do not inherit the earth now! Sir Isaac Newton says, 'there is scarce a prophecy in the Old Testament concerning Christ which doth not in something or other relate to his second coming.' Isaiah launches out in all the majesty of his lofty strain on the dignity and glory of Zion's King, and looking forward to his appearing, calls upon the widowed, the desolate Zion, to awake and arise. 66 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem. Arise! shine, for thy light is come"- -a light which shall never again suffer an eclipse, but continue to shed unsullied and undiminished brightness over all the countless number of the redeemed! The exact time when this BRIGHT LIGHT—this daystar-yea, this SUN of righteousness shall arise, we know not; but if we prayerfully study the prophetic Word, as well as the signs of the times, we shall be delivered from much of that criminal indifference which is everywhere now so palpably manifest. And why should we not study the prophetic word? "All scripture is given by inspiration of God," says Paul, and in his defence before Agrippa, he boldly asks, "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?" It was therefore not wrong in the apostle's time to study the prophetic word, for it was touching the resurrection of the dead, an event then, as well as now, future, or unfulfilled, of which he was accused (Acts xxvi.), and yet he not only proposes the question, but answers it," I know that thou believest." Would that the same answer could be given with regard to this professedly Christian country, and that we were all, from the monarch to the meanest peasant, deeply impressed with the literal truth, as well as the grandeur

of the prophets, but, alas! there is, as St. Peter tells us, a willing ignorance on this subject; and, what is still more to be deplored, some boast of this very ignorance as a proof of humility, in not wishing to pry into the secrets of the Most High! but if this is right, why was St. John so particularly told not to seal or make private the sublime prophecy of the Revelation? and at the commencement of the vision, a blessing was pronounced on those who should read, and hear the prophecy, and keep, or study those things which are written therein. Rev. i. 3; xxii. 10.

The fact is, we are so blinded by custom, that the mind seems bewildered in contemplating a state of things so totally different from all our preconceived notions : hence the difficulty of realizing those mighty wonders which are spoken of in connexion with the revelation of our King, even Jesus. Even the disciples themselves, before the departure of their Master, and consequent outpouring of the Spirit, had very confused ideas of both advents; it was therefore expedient for them in every sense of the word that Christ should "go away." They had been in such close and intimate intercourse with his humanity. They had seen him so completely one with themselves, wearied as they were-hungering as they did-sharing their poverty, and partaking of their sorrows, that it was more than difficult for them to pierce the veil, which concealed his divinity, and moreover to look forward to a time when their lowly Master should appear as King! But when the Redeemer had withdrawn himself from them, their minds were at liberty to follow their invisible guide; and accordingly, we soon find they form more correct ideas as to the efficacy of his first advent, and the nature of his second. We see this beautifully exemplified in Peter's first serJANUARY, 1846.

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mon, recorded in Acts iii. 20, of which he tells his audience, that the heavens had received Jesus until the times of restitution of all things. And if we examine and compare the following passages, we shall find that this restitution of all things or, in other words, the coming of Christ in his day, is dwelt on by all the New Testament writers, as well as the Old; indeed, it is the one bright spot on which, in the eternity before us, the eye is taught to rest-Luke xii. 36 ; 1 Cor. xv. 49–53 ; Phil. iii. 20, 21; Col. iii. 4; Heb. ix. 28; 1 Thess. i. 9, 10; iv. 14-17; 2 Thess. iii. 5; 1 John iii. 5: with many, many others which we have not space or time to cite, most of which speak of an advent more glorious than can possibly be conceived of by those who are still shrouded with humanity. But beyond our comprehension as it may be, do not let us reject its reality. He will come, verifying all the sublime and majestic descriptions of him as recorded in both Testaments! He will come, and the earth shall tremble, and the mountains shake! He will come, and the graves shall be burst open, and the thundering voice be heard. Awake, ye dead, and come to judgment !" He will come, and while the saints, quietly sleeping in their graves, shall be raised, the wicked found on the earth shall be destroyed! Awful destruction! He will come, and the saints shall be put in possession of the kingdom prepared for them from before the foundation of the world. (Matt. xxv. 34.) He will come, and added to his many crowns receive yet one-the crown of all the earth! He will come, and the joyful acclamation shall resound from earth and from heaven,-" Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

This is the coming which the Jews looked for first, and so were disappointed. Oh, that as a nation we may

learn wisdom from them, and prepare to meet him! None can be prepared to share his throne who have not been cleansed in his blood. Profession will not do we must have the "earnest" (as St. Paul calls the Spirit) of our future greatness and bliss in our hearts now. And are these things so? How is it then that time is wasted, mercies slighted, invitations rejected?

How is it that all the tinsel and glare of this life attracts our attention, and excites our desires, and sometimes, alas! our envy, while the hope set before us in the gospel of crowns of glory, sceptres of royalty, robes of state, and thrones of dominion, fall on the heart without producing any emotion? Earth worms indeed we must be, of the earth earthy, loving earth, content with earth, while all the glories of eternity are courting our attention! O Lord, how long shall even thy children grasp at toys, forgetful of the substance? How long shall they toil and labour to load themselves with thick clay to the neglect of that true wealth which Christ has purchased for them, and which is reserved in heaven till the day of His revelation. Had our rich inheritance been left in our own possession, there is too much reason to fear that Esau-like we should have despised it, and for some mess of pottage-some fancied good-have sold our birth-right! Happy for us that during our time of training, it is beyond our reach, when the day of possession actually arrives, our senses will be better exercised to discern good and evil. There will be no danger then of squandering our patrimony, or forfeiting our inheritance,-all probability of failure will be done away,-every trace of imperfection be removed, and even our worst enemy now be at an impassable distance. Ought we not then to long for this full redemption; and instead of being startled by the sen

tence-" Our years are numbered," should we not rejoice, knowing that every day and years' delay was keeping us from our CHIEF GOOD, our true glory?

As the greatness to which we are to be exalted is so vast, we need some substantial pledge to encourage our hope and confirm our faith; in pity to our weakness, God has given the Spirit to assure us thereof. (See 2 Cor. i. 22; v. 5. Eph. iv. 30. Rom. viii. 23.) We know that in earthly transactions parties making large purchases lay down a part of the money as a pledge for the remainder, or give a bond as security for the whole, -so Christ having made the purchase for us, gives his Spirit as the earnest that all will eventually be ours;

and a blessed earnest it is to those who have received it. The possessor of this sweet boon may be in poverty now, but it speaks to him of riches: he may be loaded with contempt now, but it assures him of honours which the breath of calumny cannot taint: he may be subject to pain and suffering now, but it tells him of ease and comfort anon. He may dread death, and yet be daily expecting his approach now; but oh, with more than seraph sweetness does this dear pledge sing to him of life, and light, and joy, and peace in his Redeemer's kingdom! Happy saint! Never mind the worn and tattered state of thy earthly covering: the Spirit tells thee "that when the earthly house of thy tabernacle shall be dissolved, those shall have a building with God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Should this then be the year of your dismissal, faint not at the swellings of Jordan. Your High Priest will go before you, and conduct you safely to the other side, where in all the eagerness of fond and tender love he will welcome you to his presence to rest yet a little while till the number of his elect be complete, and then