child Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him; and at twelve years of age he was found by his parents, who had lost him, sitting among the doctors of the law, both hearing and asking them questions, in the temple. And when he was thirty years of age he was baptized by John in the river Jordan, and there the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove, accompanied with a voice from heaven, which said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.*

After he had been baptized he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and there he was tempted by the devil forty days and forty nights. And when his temptations where ended, he returned from the wilderness unto the Mount of Olives, and there delivered that excellent discourse, called "Christ's sermon in the Mount; " he then

* Matt. iii. 17,

+ Luke iv. 2.

went from village to village, and from town to town; healing the sick, restoring the blind their sight, unstopping the deaf ears, and unloosing the tongues of those that were dumb, and proclaiming to all around the Gospel of Peace.

Such was the life of Christ-a life of usefulness-a life of toil and sorrow-and a life of care and pain; all of which he endured for rebellious man, and which shewed plainly that he was the Son of God, which was to come into the world to be the propitiation for our sins. And when the time came when he was to accomplish the grand design, and depart out of this world unto his Father. He was betrayed into the hands of the Chief Priests and Captains, who took him and crucified him upon the cross between two thieves, where he endured the sneers and scoffs of the spectators, and the wrath of an offended God; and so great was his sufferings that the sun hid its glorious face and refused to

shine. The solid earth trembled from its foundations, and all nature appeared confused. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost; and the third day he rose again from the dead, and appeared to his disciples; and then ascended up into heaven, where he now lives and intercedes for sinners. So now man's redemption is complete, for Jesus was born to die and and rise again for the recovery of man from his dreadful fall. And at the end of the world this same Jesus will appear again to judge the world, but not in that low estate in which he appeared to redeem the world, for he will come attended with angels and archangels, and all the host of heaven for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.* And then shall the heavens pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and all Thess. iv. 16.

up.

the works that are therein shall be burned But before that great and notable day, the Gospel must be preached in all the nations under heaven,* which was commenced by the apostles of Jesus Christ at the command of their Master, who said unto them Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; and which is carried on by each successive minister of each denomination of Christians; and which shall be till the earth be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and then shall each nation beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation; neither shall they learn. war any more,† for brotherly love shall link each other together in friendship and harmony; and the time is not far distant when these things shall be accomplishedfor besides the infallible word of God, the signs of the times, and the various means + Micah iv. 3.

* Matt. xxiv. 14.

which Providence has brought into operation within the last fifty years, especially indicate the approaching accomplishment of all the merciful purposes of God towards mankind. Scriptural truth appears to be better understood by the Church of God, and a spirit of candour and love prevails in it, in such a degree as never characterized it since the Apostolic age. Christians of different denominations manifest a greater disposition to merge their peculiarities, uniting in the grand essentials of evangelical religion, to extend the kingdom ef their Saviour in blessing the whole family of man. For this purpose Missionary Societies have been established upon a plan to embrace the whole world. They are supported by the voluntary contributions of the several bodies of Christians, whose agents have been eminently honored of God in diffusing the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

By their means whole nations have aban