Messiah, you will know the truth of my character, and acknowledge my divine mission, and thereby escape the aggravated destruction that will be the necessary consequence of rejecting me. To the same purport does the apostle speak of the rulers who promoted, and the people who solicited the crucifixion of the Son of God. "Had they known it (that is, had they attended to the prophetic marks of his character) they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory."*

In the like spirit of condescending mercy does our gracious Redeemer address himself to us of this day; "When ye see these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." We are told, in Deuteronomy, that "secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of the Law."

* The doctrine of the Millenium steers clear of two extremes. While some imagine that the description of the Messiah's kingdom is to be understood as merely the introduction of the Christian religion, painted in the lofty style and luxuriant imagery of the east; others imagine that the inconceivable joys of Heaven are thus represented in accommodation to our feeble faculties. Whereas the truth appears to be, that the introduction of the Christian religion into the world, and the marvellous work of redemption, by the death of Christ, form the primary subjects of the prophetic writings; and the train of glorious consequences to follow upon this our earth, their secondary signification. For prophesy reaches but to the gates of Heaven. "If I tell you earthly things, and you believe me not; how shall ye believe if I tell you Heavenly things ? No man can see or apprehend those things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and which hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive of."§

+ Luke, 21st ch. 28th v.

f 2d vol. Kett. p. 347.

Deut. 29th ch. 29th v.

We have a sure ground of hope, and even certainty, from "the moral attributes of God, as well as from his promises," (as he hath positively assured us by his prophet) that "the judgment shall sit; and they shall take away his (the beasts) dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end."*

The nations of Europe are very particularly interested in these great events, as being the actual theatre of such awful expectations; and they have the utmost reason to be alarmed at, and exceedingly attentive to these signs of the times for the words of Daniel will, most assuredly, be fulfilled. "A stone was cut out without hands," says he, "which smote the image upon his feet, that were of iron and clay, (the Roman government) and break them to pieces: then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, (all the kingdoms of Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome) broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." The prophet Jeremiah had previously spoken of this great event in the like prophetic language. "A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh: he will give them who are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth, even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl ye shepherds and cry! and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye

* Daniel, 7th ch. 26th v.

principals of the flock! for the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are accomplished, and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel: and the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape."*

"And it shall come to pass that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined; and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say, it is my people; and they shall say, the Lord is my God."+

"The great day of the Lord is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress; a day of wasteness and desolation; a day of darkness and gloominess; a day of clouds and thick darkness; a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities and the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung."+

But God's people are greatly encouraged in this hour of distress. "Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth, who have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger".)

Are not the events that have already appeared, and are daily appearing, calculated to rouse the friends of Zion, both Christian and Jew, to keep their garments unspotted

* Jerem. 25th ch. 31-35 v.

Zephaniah, 1st. ch. 14-17 v.

† Zach. 13th ch. 8-9 v.

§ Ibid. 2d ch. 3d v.

from the world and to stand with their loins girt, and their lamps trimmed and burning, waiting for the accomplishment of their hopes. The Jews are looking with as much anxiety for the first coming of the Messiah, as the Christian is for the second appearance of the same Messiah.— The foundation of their hope is the same. Their great Rabbi Jonathan Ben Uzziel, who composed the Chaldee Targums, or paraphrase on the prophets, and who lived a little before our Saviour, in his paraphrase on Habbakuk 3d ch. 17th and 18th verses, speaks of the four great kingdoms of the earth thus, "For the kingdom of Babylon shall not continue, nor exercise dominion over Israel; the kings of Media shall be slain; and the strong men of Greece shall not prosper: The Romans will be blotted out, nor collect tribute from Jerusalem. Therefore because of the sign, and redemption, which thou shalt accomplish for thy Christ, and the remnant of thy people, they who remain shall praise thee."*

In short, the present generation are so highly favoured with light and knowledge, that they have no excuse for the obstinate infidelity that prevails among them. Most of the old objections to Revelation are done away, by the exact fulfilment of events in these latter days, foretold in the prophetic declarations of the Scriptures. The testimony is still increasing, and the truth of prophesy is manifesting every day.-As miracles, at the first commencement of Christianity, so the precise accomplishment of prophesy in these latter ages of it, confirms its truth and certainty, beyond rational objection and doubt.

The word of unerring truth has declared, and true and faithful will all her declarations be found, "that Jesus Christ (in his mediatorial character) is Prince of the

* Prideaux Con. part 2d. book 8. answ. 27.

kings [or governments] of the earth. He has had power given to him over all flesh-All things are delivered to him by the Father-All power is given to him in Heaven and in earth. He is exalted far above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which ⚫ is to come and all things are put under his feet, and he is given to be head over all things to the Church. The kingdoms of the world, shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. All kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him. He shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath, He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads [or chiefs] over many countries. God hath said, and it shall come to pass, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is, and I will give it him,"* for he is the only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. "Be wise therefore now, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little."+

The Jews appear also peculiarly and distinguishingly interested in the present scene of things, and in the expected fates of the governments of Europe.-Their dispersion is drawing to an end. The promises to them, on the eve of fulfilment, are most glorious-" They have drank of the cup of trembling at the Lord's hand, doubly for all their iniquity." But they are now commanded to lift up their heads and rejoice. "Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.-At that time I will bring you again, even in the time that I gather you; for I will make † 2d Psalm, 10–12 v.

*Ezek. 21st ch. 27th v.

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