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VI.

struction, has charmed to fleep? that we DISC. should" lift up our heads, and look up, to "fee our redemption drawing nigh?” For draw nigh it will, and it does, whether we confider it, or not. Every evening takes a day from the world's duration. The portion of the wicked is fo much lefs, and the time of their punishment so much approached; the fufferings of the patient fo much diminished, and their hopes of deliverance fo much increased. Nay, every clock that ftrikes bids us recollect, that the promife of Chrift has then received an additional force: "Behold, I come quickly, " and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work fhall be." The precife day and hour knoweth no man. Though probably, as it was at his first Advent, fo likewife will it be at his fecond. The faithful fervants, who are watching for the return of their Lord, and "looking for redemption in Jerufalem," will be able, by the books of the Scriptures, and the figns of the times, to tell when the day is approaching, But what avails

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DISC. avails a curious difquifition upon the exact VI. period of the world's diffolution? What is

likely to be the fate of those malefactors, who, instead of preparing for their trial, fpend the fmall portion of time allotted them, in difputing with each other concerning the hour in which the trumpet shall sound, and the judge make his entry? In this, above all other cafes, " bleffed is "the man that feareth always. Bleffed is "that fervant, who, whether his master "cometh at the fecond watch, or whether "he cometh at the third watch," is ready to receive him, and exhibit his accounts. Blessed, in short, is he, and he only, who hears continually these words of the beloved John: "Behold, he cometh."

He cometh, indeed! But how changed! How different his appearance from what it once was! How fhall we be able to conceive of it as it deferves, to raise our thoughts from the voice of the tender babe in the manger, bewailing our fins that brought him thither, to the voice of the Son

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VI.

of God, from which the heavens and the DISC. earth fhall fly away, and no place be found for them any more for ever! Yet fo it is. Behold, he who came in fwaddling clothes, cometh with clouds. He who came to preach the day of falvation, cometh again to proclaim the day of vengeance. He who was led as a lamb to the flaughter, leads his ten thousands to the prey, as the lion of the tribe of Judah. He who cried not, nor lifted up his voice against his enemies upon earth, thunders with the glorious voice of his excellency against them from heaven. He who never brake a bruised reed, rules the nations with a rod of iron, and breaks them in pieces like a potter's veffel. He who quenched not the smoking flax, extinguishes the great lights of the world; darkens the fun, and turns the moon into blood; commands the stars from their stations, and the dead from their graves; shakes the powers of heaven, and the foundations of the earth, and all hearts that are not fixed on him.

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The trumpet founds, and he is coming! The everlasting gates of heaven, which lifted up their heads for the King of Glory to enter in, are again lifted up; and behold the proceffion that comes forth of them, descending to this lower world, as it is defcribed by one who saw it in vision. "I saw heaven opened, and behold a white

horse, and he that fate upon him was "called faithful and true," the accomplisher of all his promises; " and in

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righteousness he doth judge" the world,

and make war" against all that oppose him. "His eyes were as a flame of fire," difcerning and deftroying the counfels of his adverfaries; "and on his head were

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many crowns;" all the kingdoms of this world were become his " and he had a "name written, that no man knew, but "he himself," the ineffable name of the divine effence. "And he was clothed with "a vefture dipt in blood," the garment of vengeance. "And his name," by which he is known to men, " is called, THE WORD "OF GOD. And the armies which were

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"in heaven followed him upon white DISC. "horfes," attending him in his glory, "clothed in fine linen white and clean,' which is the righteousness of faints. "And "out of his mouth goeth a fharp fword," namely, his holy word, "that with it he "fhould fmite the nations. And he shall "rule them,” that have rejected the golden fceptre of mercy, "with a rod of iron. "And he treadeth the wine-press of the "fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. "And he hath on his vefture and on his

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thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, "AND LORD OF LORDS."

When Joshua, at the head of the armies of Ifrael, furrounded Jericho, at the found of the trumpet, the walls fell flat. When the divine Joshua, at the head of the armies of the true Ifrael of God, the church triumphant, furrounds this city of deftruction, can the event be otherwife? Affuredly it cannot. The ftrength, beauty, and glory of the world will fall, and come to nothing, at the moment when the trum

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