with power," testifies that he was an “eyewitness of his majesty, when he was with him in the holy mount ?"—and to assure her that we have also a more sure word of prophecy, to the same end, unto which she will do WELL to take heed, as unto a LIGHT that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts?" 2 Pet. i. 16-19.

3. Shall we reply with many that these views are not practical, or that they are even injurious?

Not practical! Why, then, is so large a portion of God's word occupied with the direct discussion of them? Not practical! when every prayer for the kingdom has a different aspect, as you view the subject in one way or the other!

These views injurious! Come forward, then, thou man of God, and tell us why thou didst so solemnly warn the church that the "day of the Lord would come as a thief in the night," and then add, "seeing that all these things shall be dis

solved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" Tell us-why didst thou with piercing eye stand looking longingly for "the new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness?" and then when the holy vision was clear to faith, why didst thou cry, Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless?" 2 Pet. iii. 10-14.

"come

Ah! brethren, surely the apostles felt, that if the members of a church would behind in no gift," they must stand "waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm them unto the end, that they may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. i. 7, 8.

4. Shall we defend our neglect with the reply, that the proposed views have been so often coupled with fanatical extravagance? Shall we be frightened by the stigmatizing epithets of Chiliasts, and Fifth Monarchy Men, and Millerites ?

But what important doctrine of God's word has not Satan caused to be caricatured, and that, too, by a very slight addition? A little leaven was put in. It leavened the whole lump, and made many reject the mass with loathing. Has He not tried this successfully with the doctrines of justification by faith, of baptism, of repentance towards God? Every important doctrine of Scripture is a complete arch, and upon this arch the church is called to build her hopes. Now do we not know that when the light of Scripture is so clear and strong, that the adversary cannot sweep away the whole structure at a blow, his next step is to tempt the rash hand of some fanatic to wrest away a single stone, and the whole mass falls into confusion and ridicule? I pray you, let us not be scared away from investigation by this ancient wile of the devil.

There is one lesson, which, it is thought, the experience of the church might have taught us. It is this: Truth is vindicated from her discoloring and distortions, not by concealing her image, but by faithfully por

traying her at full length. We discredit the caricature, only by producing the true likeness from the gallery of Scripture. Instead, then, of being alarmed into concealment, let the attempts of errorists rather urge us to preach the second coming of our Lord in its fulness, and our "tongues become as the pen of a ready writer, when we speak of the things which have been made touching the King." (NOTE E.)

Let us turn now to another view of the subject. Who are the men that urge these questions upon us?

Fathers and brethren! suffer me to appeal to you; I speak freely because I speak to you. Let me express my growing conviction that the church of Christ, in her missionary work, feels a pressing need of inquiring at this time and upon this subject. We are brought to a crisis. We must go forward or retreat. Every man who will take the pains to examine, feels the immense pressure of this difficulty, and this pressure is avoided only by inactivity. Against the

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generally adopted theory on the one side, there is setting in a strong tide of influence upon the other.

Look at the state of the case. Our sister church of Scotland has taken decided ground on one at least of these points. She has done more. Her general assembly has

"blessed God that His church in all its various branches has had her attention turned more earnestly to the predicted events of the latter times, and the circumstances connected with that second coming of their great head and Lord, which, whatever obscurity may hang over its details, should ever have been, and now more and more must ever be, in its grand outlines, THE

POLE-STAR OF HER HOPE.

Further -some of her best and most spiritual ministers are zealous propagators of them all. The most evangelical of the English ministry are leavened with the same doctrine. To say nothing of the glorious host that might be summoned from all past time, I see in these ranks, in our own day, such men as Duff, and McCheyne, and