at least, against the duty of attempting to discover their Messiah in those ancient figures? The affirmative is most manifest. We are assured that "the rock which followed them, was Christ." They had no express information relative to this, nor to any other type of Christ. But they were "shut up to the faith," to find here their Redeemer, or perish. Nor had they one-eighth part of the facilities which we now enjoy, relative to the construing of such figurative prophecies.

The condemnation of those who would not investigate that figurative preaching of Christ, was, their want of faith! "To them was the gospel preached, as well as unto us; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." The believers of that day "searched what, and what manner of time," that preaching of the Saviour to come, did signify. And the person who trifled then with this duty, was the infidel, on his way to perdition! Such an one, probably, quieted his conscience thus:-The construction given to these figurative things, which they say allude to the Messiah to come, appears but fanciful, visionary, and uncertain! Different men may have their different views of them; and one has as good a right to his opinion as another. All cannot be right! and I will believe none of them! We have plain scriptural rules of morality enough; and to those I will attend; and I will leave such figurative predictions for those who delight in them. 1 have no such delight; for to me they are uncertain, calculated to perplex, and are of no solid benefit! Precisely would this have been, as too many have conversed concerning the study of the Revelation.

4. This neglect is to set our own wisdom above the word of God, and against it, as is manifest. Let another class of men select the doctrinal parts of the Bible for proscription, as being too deep and difficult to be understood. Some of the doctrines are not less deep and difficult than are the prophecies; and they are far from being less displeasing to the carnal mind which is enmity against God! Let one, then, deny the doctrine of the Trinity, and the divinity of Christ, be

cause it is dark and mysterious; let another class of men deny the most displeasing parts of the duties of religion; another, the terrors of an eternal hell! These things, and much of our holy religion, are deep; and, to the wicked among men, they seem mysterious. And where will this course of expunging deep and displeasing things from the Bible end, but in gross infidelity? But Christ says, "I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, (that) if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And, if any man shall take away from the words of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book." When I have heard people openly discourage all critical attention to the Revelation, and felicitate themselves that they never spent their time in thus attending to it; I have thought this passage may well make them tremble!

It is a remark of Bishop Newton, that "they who censure, or dissuade from the study of the Revelation, do it, for most part, because they have not themselves studied it; and because they imagine difficulties to be greater than they are. I lately saw the following remark in a religious periodical :- "The wisest commentators have scarcely effected more than to puzzle themselves, and bewilder their readers, when they have attempted to interpret the prophecies before they are fulfilled. The times, and the seasons, the Father hath put in his own power!"

Was the writer of this clause aware how directly this sentiment is pointed against Jesus Christ himself? He says, concerning deep prophecies, "Let him that readeth understand." "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand." How then can a minister of Christ dare thus to seal the sayings of prophecy, while their events are at hand, or are future; and seal them, because they are future? Christ says again, "Blessed is he that readeth the words of this prophecy, and keepeth those things that are written therein." Again: "Ye hypocrites, how is it that ye cannot discern the signs of the times?" If the prophecies are not to be studied till fulfilled, they are never to be studied; for, in C

that case, it never could be known when they are fulfilled. The argument of this writer, drawn from the words of Christ to the Jews, is plausible, but is wholly fallacious. Secret things, it is true, the Father has reserved in his own power; and those it is not for man to know. This was the case with the point concerning which the disciples inquired, and this remark of Christ was made: "Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" God had revealed no such event as the restoring of a temporal kingdom to Israel! And our Saviour kindly turned them off with the above reply; knowing that a few days, and his pouring out of his spirit upon them, would cure them of this their mistake! But did the Saviour mean by this remark to inform us (as this writer takes for granted) that the Father has revealed nothing to man relative to the times and seasons of the great events which are in fact to take place between the present time and the end of the world? If this is a fact, then our writer's remark is correct; not otherwise. But this is not a fact. God has revealed various of those great events; and has expressly informed of the time of them; and more, he has commanded man to study, and understand those things. Which, then, shall we obey; our heavenly Father, or the man who will not study the prophecies? Is there not something here that looks like arrogance and impiety;publicly, and indiscriminately, to blame all who attempt to understand the prophecies? This has been abundantly done; and it gives no small degree of pain to see good men uniting in it. Let this writer consider that notwithstanding what our Lord thus said to his erring disciples on that occasion, the Father had revealed to man "the times and seasons" of many things; such as the return of Israel from Egypt; as well as the time of the flood, 120 years. And the latter took place, we are informed, the same day" as predicted. God predicted the time of the coming of the Messiah; and the time of the return of the Jews from Babylon. And God has as expressly predicted the times of some of the great future events; and has done it over, and over, and over! as the destruction of Antichrist, at the close of the noted 1260 years. He has given by Daniel, numbers additional to this, as 30 and 43; at the close of which, he says, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh!" And God has told us of another

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express number, 666; and given express direction to have it counted and understood! What can be the views of a man who shall then wish to bring all due attention to these directions of Heaven into disrepute? and mistakingly plead the words of Christ himself, too, to sanction it? Let such a man take his own liberty; and to his Master he stands or falls. But let him give to others the liberty he himself takes, without publicly censuring them! Daniel previously understood by book, we are informed, the time of the restoration of the Jews from Babylon, as well as the certainty of the event. And he hence set himself to intercede with God for its accomplishment; and it took place in answer to his intercession. Would not such an employment, excited by such pious attention to the prophecies, be more discreet for us, than to unite in the clamour against such an employment, and against those who attempt to investigate this part of our holy Bible?

5. The prophecies were kindly given of God to warn his people of interesting events, while they were still future; that they may be prepared either to escape, or to endure the trials predicted; and may, by their prayers, and talents, aid the accomplishment of good to the church. Daniel, it has been shown, did thus! And thus it should be now, in relation to the fulfilment of prophecy. Some have said, the prophecies were given only that the divinity of the Bible may be evinced after their fulfilment. Was this the only or chief end of the ancient predictions of the coming of Christ in the flesh? that after he had come, man might know the Bible to be the word of God? Is this the only end of the predictions of the final judgment; of heaven; and of hell? no more is it the only (or the chief) end of the prophecies in the Revelation, of the great events of the last days. Their design is, that God's people should "not be in darkness, that that day should overtake them as a thief." But that they may be prepared to obey Christ, when he says, (between the sixth and seventh vials,) "Behold, I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments; lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Much does Christ give the command, at that day, watch, watch, watch! "Come, my people, enter into thy chambers!"-All of which implies a knowledge of the signs of the times, and of the

events then coming upon the world. It is said of the ungodly of that period, "none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Of the former it is said, "Thy judgments are far above out of his sight." Of the latter, "When ye see all these things, then know that it is near even at the doors." In the numerous scriptures of this tenor, is fully implied the duty and blessedness of a good knowledge of the Revelation in its predictions and warnings.

6. Events of modern date have much facilitated the exposition of this book. They have furnished a clew to some of the most interesting predictions in it, which were never before furnished. In addition now to the learned labours of past celebrated authors; we have facts, in modern, and in passing events, which prove a rich help to the exposition of this book. Should these facilities be overlooked, we should be most inexcusable; and should appropriate to ourselves the censure of Christ,-" Ye hypocrites; ye can discern the face of the sky! how is it that ye cannot discern the signs of the times?"

How is such neglect consistent with the duty of the Christian watchman? Is he not set to give warning of the approach of danger, as well as to comfort the people of God with the promises of good? To do this, the preacher must declare the whole counsel of God, and "diminish not a word." People feel that they have a right to inquire, "Watchman, what of the night?"--and that he ought to be able to give them some correct reply. It is given in divine command, relative to the approach of the battle of that great day of God, Joel ii. 1; "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land (earth) tremble for the day of the Lord, for it is nigh at hand."

7. The prophecies in the Revelation open a rich field of devout contemplation, and of the improvement of the succession of events of the Christian era, which are there predicted as of signal interest to the church. The line of those events, of protection to the church,--and of wrath upon her enemies,-God saw fit kindly to foretell, for the rich benefit of his children, to warn them of their dangers, and to assure them of his protecting goodness. And shall such divine kindness be unheeded! What ingratitude and folly!