yourself the unerring Word of God respecting subjects of such momentous importance, earnestly praying for the Spirit of Truth to guide you right.

The second personal coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is treated by too many as a speculation, only originating in the bewildered imaginations of those who espouse it; although the prophetic parts of the Old Testament, as well as the Gospels and the Epistles of the New, abound with passages referring to it. It is not surprising such persons should endeavour to check the study of the book of the Revelations, which treats so expressly on the subject, by asserting that it is too figurative to be understood, although it commences with a blessing on those who will peruse it, and ends with a curse on those who reject any part of it; thus making themselves wiser than God, who says, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein, for the time is at hand." (Rev. i. 3.) "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life," etc. (Rev. xxii. 19.) How explicit is the language in Rev. xx. 4-6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for

the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." And lest any of the followers of Jesus fear being excluded, because they had not suffered martyrdom, read Rev. v. 9, 10: "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation: and hast made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth;" and in Rev. xi. 18, the reward is given to "all that fear His name, both small and great.”

Reader, are you looking for the personal coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven? "for in like manner in the which He was taken up into heaven will He return " (Acts i. 11): that is, in the same glorified but material body in which He rose from the dead, will He again appear to take possession of this world which He redeemed by His precious blood at His first advent. Or do you account

the appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus ii. 13) as a fable, given unto men to lead them into error? Beware how you thus treat this great and mighty truth, this high and glorious hope of the Church, with neglect or disdain, lest while you are saying with the wise and learned of this world, or the scornful professor of religion, "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter iii. 4); and while our Lord delayeth His coming you are eating and drinking, and smiting your fellowservants, if not with actual violence, yet with the contemptuous rod of your mouth, for warning you of His approach; beware, lest He coming "suddenly," and finding you unprepared, "should cut you asunder, and appoint you your portion in outer darkness, where there is WEEPING, AND WAILING, AND GNASHING OF TEETH !"

SCRIPTURE TEXTS.

I.

Scripture Texts to warrant the Study of Unfulfilled
Prophecy.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where- 2 Pet. i. 19. unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.

Of which salvation the Prophets have inquired and 1 Peter i. searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that 10–12. should come unto you:

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the Rev. i. 3. words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

B