In the present case, however, the result is reversed. They "shall run to and fro, and shall find it”—knowledge shall be increased.

You will note, then, that as the kingdom draws near, human effort to understand is both stipulated and made obligatory, in order to success. When the church has arrived upon the very borders of the inheritance, the servant of God resolutely sets himself to go, step by step, up the mount Nebo (i. e. prophecy), and at each ascent the goodly land rises upon His view with greater breadth and distinctness.

FATHERS AND BRETHREN! We are at this moment arrived at the "time of the end." We run no risk of being charged with rashness in this assertion, for it is generally admitted by the wisest and best of God's servants. Indeed the missionary operations of the church have received much of their present vigor from the light which has been thrown upon this fact. Besides, the "signs of the times" remarkably confirm this usual interpretation of prophecy.

To us, then, the promise of the text appeals with peculiar force. This is the time. of the end-the time of promised light. We are the very men to whom it assigns a duty : "to run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord." Whatever neglect of this subject may have been tolerated in past time, our excuses for such neglect are taken away. We stand at a most critical period with regard to the approaching kingdom, and the church seeks knowledge of that kingdom at the priest's lips.

At this juncture it becomes an interesting question, whether all attainable light respecting this kingdom is enjoyed. Is the whole active Christian world agreed respecting its nature and accompaniments? If not, how far are we agreed? And what remains yet dark that study and discussion may, by God's blessing, clear up? These, brethren, it is thought, are all important questions. We see not how they can be deemed either impertinent or frivolous.

These questions derive additional interest from the fact, that the church professes at

last to be in earnest in fulfilling her great commission. The subject of missions everywhere engages attention. She prays daily,

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thy kingdom come." She is girding on her armor to go forth to the war. God, in the meantime, is shaking his hand over the nations. Surely now, if ever, the true nature, and accompaniments of Christ's coming kingdom demand our attention and settled. understanding. Questions which affect these points may not be dismissed in haste. We may not let them lapse into neglect. Every consideration which makes effort for the conversion of men desirable, makes it also desirable that every such effort should be guided by scriptural light. The subject of missions can rise to its proper importance, only when the church is made to see the hand of her Lord guiding her step by step.

Let it be supposed, then, that the church's present light concerning the kingdom is incomplete. Let it be supposed that there are important differences of view, upon the subject of her great commission, amongst those who are equally distinguished in their zeal

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for the truth and for godliness. What, under these circumstances, is her duty? Her duty seems plain. She may not shift off this subject: she must come back to some starting point where all stand together, and from this point she must, it is her bounden duty,— with her eye raised to God for light, and with the word of God in her hands, examine, and discuss, and determine the path of her feet.

Under the increasing conviction, then, brethren, that the present juncture imposes this step upon us, let me here before you repeat these questions:

Are we all agreed respecting "this gospel of the kingdom, which must be preached as a witness amongst all nations ?"

If not, how far are we agreed?

And finally, upon what points of difference is it desirable that critical skill and ministerial study should be brought to bear?

I shall first briefly state some points upon which we are all agreed. I do this to prevent misunderstanding in the outset. It is

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by no means uncommon to argue upon supposition, that a denial of these points is involved in the controversy upon those which succeed.

1. First, then, we are all agreed that there will certainly be set up a glorious kingdom upon earth, and that there will be but one such kingdom. Moreover, it is a kingdom "to come," a time when "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High." Dan. vii. 27. This is God's grand object in His dealings with us-the redemption of this ruined world. We are agreed that the "son of man"-the "second Adam"-the "man Christ Jesus," is to reign "king of kings" and Lord of lords, over the whole earth. "All nations shall serve him." Ps. lxxii. 11. That it is to be an everlasting kingdom. "His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and of his dominion there shall be no end." Dan. vii. 27: Luke i. 33.-And that it is to be a Holy kingdom: They

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