one nation, it has been sinking in the western horizon of others. Hitherto the dark ages have alternated with brighter periods. However luminous some parts of any great cycle may have been, the darkness has again shut in, as if in perfect mockery of all human hopes and labors. Shutting their eyes to the sun of prophecy, the most farsighted worldly philanthropists must forever grope "at noon day as in the night."

But oh, how different is it with all who keep their eyes steadily fixed upon the great and precious promises of the Bible. Standing as it were upon those very heights, which the ancient seers occupied, and looking down the track of time, they behold kings becoming nursing fathers, and queens nursing mothers of the church. They see every pagan temple demolished, and every heathen altar thrown down. With joyful hearts they behold the "waters issuing out from under the sanctuary eastward," and rising and spreading, till they become "waters to swim in, a river that cannot be passed over." They see all Europe turned into one great garden of the Lord-all Asia into another-all Africa into another-all America into anotherand all the islands literally becoming "the isles of the blest."

Listening with the holy prophets, we hear the rapturous call to the church, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. And the gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Then shalt thou see and flow together, and thine heart shall fear and be enlarged, because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the gentiles shall come unto thee." "Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."

We listen again, and those great voices in heaven break upon our ears, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and then we join the "four and twenty elders, and as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, ALLELUIA, FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNeth."

SERMON.

PSALM 72: 17.

"His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed."

THIS divine song has a primary reference to the kingdom of Solomon, the son of David; but was intended, at the same time, to typify the kingdom of Jesus Christ, David's more exalted Son. With this single explanatory remark, I would leave the general structure of the Psalm, and the exposition of its various parts, to your own reflections. The passage to which I particularly invite your attention, asserts the extent and duration of the reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth; and presents a glowing picture of its prosperity and happiness. In relation to its extent, it is to embrace "all nations," and in duration, it "shall be continued