discussions in this part of the Chapter, endeavours to shew that the time of the patience of the saints is the fiercest persecution of the true Church by the beast, betwixt the preaching of the everlasting gospel and the last destruction of the beast, and the same with the time of the overcoming and killing of the two witnesses, ch. xi. v. 7. Immediately after this, is the coming of the Son of man on the cloud, and the reaping of the harvest, or the gathering of God's saints (Mark iv. 26, 29. Matt. xiii. 24, 30; xxiv. 31. John iv. 35—38.) and then the treading of the vintage, or the punishment of his enemies, Rev. xix., and Isa. Ixiii. 1-6. The exertions of Religious Societies shew that the first angel, preparatory to the coming of Christ, with his warning voice, has already taken his flight: the other angels will follow, and then the Son of man appears in the clouds to establish his glorious kingdom, Dan. vii. 13, 14.

Mr. Cuninghame on Rev. xiv. 14, observes, "It is plain that the vision does not belong to the first moment of the Advent, for that is described by the one like the Son of man coming in the cloud. (Dan. vii. 13. Matt. xxiv. 30.) here on the contrary, John sees him sitting on a cloud, which implies not the action of coming, but that he is already present." On this he makes this just reflection, "The moment of our Lord's first approach is, in this fourteenth chapter, as every where else, sedulously concealed from us. How unspeakably awful and awakening is

this thought."

We must contemplate and meditate upon the future glory of the Church, as revealed in the prophetic pages of Scripture. The study of this, though

yet unfulfilled, is not to be neglected, for it is connected with important practical duties. Daniel understood by books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, and he began to seek the Lord by prayer and supplication with fasting. The first Christians, warned by the prophetical intimations of our Lord, fled from Jerusalem, and escaped the tremendous visitations which came upon its inhabitants: and so there are still duties connected with the expected fulfilment of future prophecies. Behold, I come quickly! Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. We cannot indeed fix any precise time as to when future events are to happen. There are several important periods specifically named in scripture, and especially the great æra of 1260 prophetic days or years, and these will be noticed afterwards, yet we cannot tell, till events have declared it, when that æra commenced. The whole chain of prophecy manifestly leads us to expect that we are on the verge of remarkable events. Even if it be admitted that the 1260 years have not closed, (as it is thought that they did in 1792,') and will not come to an end for some years, they must obviously be hastening to their close. But a short period can then elapse before the coming of Christ for the general establishment of Christ's kingdom. Daniel intimates two further brief periods of thirty and forty-five years; and then says, Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. The servants of Christ then may well lift up their

See Mr. Cooper's "Crisis." Whatever may be the difference of opinion on his prophetical views, all Christians must feel the practical and holy tendency of this work.

heads, enlarge the preparatory work, and anticipate, first indeed, intervening trials and awakening judgments on his enemies, and then happier and more prosperous times than the Church has ever yet enjoyed. There is enough of clear prediction to animate us to the most strenuous and self-denying exertions for the conversion of Jew and Gentile, the one cause of our Lord and Saviour Christ.

Though real

But do not the most wise and judicious Christians differ much in their view of these things? It must indeed be confessed that it is so. Yet in practical results there is a great agreement. Christians differ, in some respects about the order in which the latter-day glory of the Church shall be brought on, and, in some particulars, as to the means by which it shall be accomplished: there is no difference on practical points. There is no question but that the preaching of the Gospel, whether by the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, or the faithful ministry of devoted Missionaries, is a great and divinely appointed duty. There is no doubt but the larger outpouring of the Holy Ghost in his sanctifying influence is absolutely necessary. There is no obscurity in the truth that it is our duty to seek the conversion of the whole world, whether Jewish or Gentile. There is one general expectation, by all who believe God's word, of the full triumph of our Lord Christ, however they may differ as to the way in which God will bring it to pass. The duty is plain and admitted by each intelligent Christian, the encouragements are great and felt by all, and all difficulties in the way of establishing Christ's kingdom, however to be removed, shall all ultimately be surmounted. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked

shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

There is one great event, the future coming of Christ, predicted in the Scriptures, which has an all-important bearing on the hopes of the Church; yet the precise nature and the time of that coming, and its influence on the conversion of nations, and the blessedness of our earth, is, in a great degree, involved in the obscurity of unfulfilled prophecy. Let not this, however, be any impediment to active exertion in the cause of Christ. The views of the Apostolical writers were remarkably vivid and distinct respecting the coming of Christ. It is perpetually brought forward by them, and we may see that in their lives and labours, it was attended with a most practical and holy influence. None were more devoted in their efforts to spread the Gospel. Those therefore must be grievously mistaken who rest in the speculative part of this subject, and on whom it has the effect of hampering and crippling exertions to promote the advancement of his spiritual kingdom. Whatever be our views of the coming of Christ, as it is an infinitely desirable æra for the Church, and there are events previously to take place in the accomplishing of the number of God's elect, well may we labour by means of Religious Societies thus to "hasten the coming of his kingdom." If he be speedily coming, surely we should desire to be found among those labouring to make the day of grace known before it be too late, 2 Cor. vi. 1, 2, and hastening the coming of the day of God, 2 Peter iii. 12.

But we will consider this subject more fully in a following Chapter,

CHAPTER VII.

CHRONOLOGICAL PROPHECIES.

CHRONOLOGICAL Prophecies have an important use. Though they may not be designed to enable us absolutely to fix the precise time in which such prophecies shall be accomplished, yet they are manifestly intended to guide the Church in looking out and preparing for, the event predicted. It was thus that

Daniel, in the first year of the reign of Darius, understood the accomplishment of the 70 years captivity, (Dan. ix.) and thus the devout Jews were waiting for the first coming of Christ. Luke ii. 25, 38.

It would be a grievous error in the Church to disregard such prophecies. Because many in past ages have made serious mistakes respecting the dates, we must not, therefore, in the spirit of infidelity, refuse to consider them, as if they were full of danger and evil. The mistakes of others should lead us to more caution, and diligence, and prayer, in our researches, and more diffidence in our conclusions. But having now the advantage of a more lengthened manifestation of God's mind, from the past history