make assurances to such as do this or that, while God Himself takes in hand to enable them to whom the assurance is given, to fulfil the condition on which it is founded. And there is a fearful consideration pressed on the mind, that the most certain and evident approach of judgment threatened, and the clearest intimation of wrath about to be revealed from heaven, will have no effect on the impenitent and unregenerate to turn them from their ungodly ways. Thus, with the final pouring out judgment without mercy on the rebellious, there will be a most marvellous display of the sovereignty of grace, in the conversion of those who are to be vessels of mercy in the millennial dispensation.

Now, let men cavil, if they will, with our views of prophecy, let them call the investigation of this subject a delusion, and the inculcating of what we believe to be revealed in the Word, a deceiving and being deceived, we ask those who are really students of God's word-Examine that for yourselves, and if, from that authority, you can point out a better way, we are ready to listen to you. We know that we have the primitive Church on our side of the view we

take generally, but we rest on nothing but that which is warranted by the Scriptures for the ground of our faith, and the warrant of our hope. We make no appeal but this; and if you will meet us on this ground, we thankfully confer with you.

For ourselves, and for all whom it may concern, we desire to have always before our eyes the warning, not to make lies our refuge; and the danger of those whose fear toward God is taught by the precept of men (Is. xxix. 13); because we contemplate the judgment of our Redeemer upon all such, Is. xxviii. 16, 17: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place."

The Advent of the Lord the Present Glory of the Church.

BY THE VEN. J. C. WIGRAM, M.A.

2 THESS. i. 10.

"When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."

IN the prospectus by which this lecture was announced, it stands as one of a series, in which certain of the brethren who are associated in this place for the study of prophetic Scripture, would express their convictions on matters connected with the coming of our Lord.

That Christian men, whose lot is cast in the latter times, should stand upon their watch to

mark the progress of the night, and catch, if possible, the signs of the approaching day,—or should set themselves, with prayer, to search diligently into the things which the Spirit hath spoken concerning the ultimate purposes of God-cannot, surely, create surprise. That they who fear the Lord, should speak often one to another of His controlling providence in ages past, and of the things which have yet to be fulfilled-that they should exhort one another daily, and be fellow-helpers in sharpening each other's understanding to discern the truth, and to walk more warily in these last and perilous times-is perfectly in accordance with the teaching of God's Word. The Evangelical spirit of our reformed church, requires that its members should be encouraged to search the Scriptures daily, for the mysteries of truth as well as for the morality which they contain. The dignity of the Saviour's person, the marvel of His incarnation, the value of His atonement, the nature of His eternal priesthood, the efficacy of His intercession, if we are to be guided by the apostle's rule, should be brought prominently before the ordinary disciple's view. And it equally consists with the

analogy of true doctrine-with the example of Daniel, when perplexed by prophetic dates and signs, with the preaching of St. Paul, when addressing the Corinthians and Thessalonians,and with the direct command of the Holy Spirit, through St. John-that we should "hear the words of prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein;" nay, rather, is there not now increased reason for such practices, because "the time is (now, indeed) at hand?"

There is a conviction gaining ground, I might almost say recognised, in Christendom, and not confined to the brethren to whom I have just referred, that the appearing and personal presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to the consummation of the blessedness for which His faithful ones look, has not been brought forward in modern teaching with the same prominence, and the same boldness, as in primitive times. The earnest looking for, the continuous appeal to "that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ," are doctrines melted down into the very composition (if I may so speak) of the addresses of the apostles to the

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