VI.

DISC. faith gives them. confidence towards God, and teaches them, without hypocrify, to pray for the fecond Advent of Chrift. For although in that day "he cometh with "clouds," yet God's promife is, that whenever he brings his cloud" over the earth, his "bow fhall be in the cloud," the fure token of the "everlasting covenant of mer66 cy between him and all flesh." And accordingly, when Ezekiel and St. John faw Chrift upon his terrible throne, he appeared encompaffed with a RAINBOW, to teach us that even the throne of judgment is encircled by mercy, which rejoices against judgment. All the cries of defpairing nations, the thunders of heaven, and the horrible noises of the perishing earth, shall not keep thofe, who have been indeed the difciples of Jefus, from hearing a voice saying unto them, "Come up hither." Yea, and they who in faith and patience have waited for the Lord, as the prophet Ifaiah speaks, "fhall then renew their ftrength, they "fhall mount up as eagles." They fhall afcend to meet their Redeemer in the air,

and

VI.

and the eye of faith shall stedfastly behold DISC. the glories of the Sun of Righteousness. Marvel no longer then that the church fo paffionately defires the manifeftation of Chrift. Marvel not that fhe fhould fay, COME! when the Advent of him to whom she speaks is to be the day of her efpoufals, and the day of the gladness of her heart; the end of her Saviour's fufferings, and her faith; a day of triumph, and everlasting felicity. Let the men of the world lament, for their joy is ended, and their forrows beginning; but let the redeemed be glad, for their forrows are at an end, and their joys beginning. Let the "tribes of the "earth mourn," but "let Ifrael rejoice in "him that made him, and let the children "of Sion be joyful in their king." For the trumpet which proclaims the deftruction of the ungodly, declares at the same time the falvation of the righteous. When that trumpet founds throughout the land, the eternal jubilee is begun. There is liberty for the captives, and the opening of the prifon doors, even the gates of the grave,

for

DISC. for thofe to come out, who lie there in

VI.

darkness, and in the fhadow of death; and every child of God is free to return to his poffeffion and inheritance, and to the family of his heavenly Father. When they who have loved the world, instead of him whom the world crucified, and trusted in the false glory and riches of earthly Babylon, shall stand weeping and wailing, to "see the smoke of her burning, saying, "Alas, alas, that great city, that was "clothed in purple, and fine linen, and

fcarlet, and decked with gold, and pre"cious ftones; how in one hour is fo

great riches come to nought?-What faith the Spirit to the church?" Rejoice "over her, thou heaven, and ye holy Apof"tles and Prophets, for God hath avenged 66 you on her." And what faith the church herself?" The kingdoms of this world

are become the kingdoms of our Lord "and his Chrift, and he fhall reign for "ever and ever. Hallelujah, for the Lord "God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to

66

him for the marriage of the Lamb is DISC. "come, and his wife hath made herfelf

ready."

And now, my brethren, whofe heart does not burn within him, when he hears the melody of the celestial choir chanting forth the praises of their victorious Redeemer, round his glorious throne? Is there a fingle perfon here, whofe foul has not a defire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord, and to bear his part in the never-ending chorus? But know, O man, whofoever thou art, that haft this defire and longing, know thou must be a penitent upon earth, before thou canst be a faint in heaven. Thou must be holy in time, if thou wouldeft be glorious in eternity. Acquaint now therefore thy felf with God, and be at peace with him, thyfelf, and all mankind; thereby, and thereby only, shall good come unto thee at thy latter end. Stop not thine ears, and harden not thine heart against inftruction, when it is the day of trial and probation

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DISC. in the wilderness.

VI.

Receive now, I pray

thee, the law of the Moft High; retire, and meditate upon it, and lay up his words in thy heart; nor fuffer the world to rob thee of that wisdom which is more precious than rubies, and to which all the things thou canst defire are not to be compared. Fear not, neither be difmayed, because of the multitude of thy paft tranfgreffions, which prefent themselves to thy troubled confcience, and fet themselves in array against thee. God can forgive, if thou canst repent. Nay, he will "give thee repentance "unto life," if thou wilt request it of him. If thou return to the Almighty, thou fhalt yet be built up, and, impoffible as it may appear, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle: thou fhalt ceafe to do evil, and learn to do good: thou shalt cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life thou fhalt have thy delight in the Almighty, and lift up thy face unto God: thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he fhall hear thee; he shall not

lay