tullian, that is, in less than two hundred years after the death of Christ, that apologist could tell the Roman senate, that it had overspread their empire. "Your cities, islands, forts, towns, and assemblies; your very camps, wards, companies, palace, senate, forum, all," said he, "swarm with Christians." Yet all appears to have been conducted without violence or tumult, save that which was found among unbelievers.

We read of the stone cut out of the mountain breaking in pieces the great monarchies of the earth; of the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; of his judging the people righteously, and governing the nations upon earth; and of the kingdom under the whole heaven being given to the people of the saints of the Most High. But it does not follow, that governments will be destroyed as governments, but merely as idolatrous or antichristian governments. We have no reason to think, that Christ will abolish civil authorities, and set up a government of his own in their stead. His kingdom never was, and never will be, of this world. If the government of nations, as well as that of lesser societies, be CONDUCTED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, then will Christ reign; then will the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ, and then may the nations be glad, and sing for joy. These principles, existing in the hearts of governors and governed, would shortly burst the bands of oppression, still the tumults of the people, and cause wars to cease unto the ends of the earth. The dæmon of discord might then be addressed in the language of the psalmist : O thou enemy! destructions are come to a perpetual end; and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. But the Lord shall endure forever; he hath prepared his throne for judg

ment.

And now, things being reduced to this peaceful state, itstead of the earth being smitten with a curse, we are given to expect, that it will be loaded with blessings: Then shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our own God shall bless us. And all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Nor do I see any objection to the increase here predicted being literally understood. It is a fact, that, from the day that man departed from God, the earth was cursed

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with barrenness, in comparison of what it was before; and it is not unnatural to suppose, that, when the greater part of men shall have returned to him, this curse may be, in a manner, removed, At present, the system of depravity which prevails among men, renders it unnecessary. Sin counteracts the tendency to increase and multiply, with which we were created. The world is, in a manner, depopulated by selfishness, intemperance, and war; and a great part of it inhabited by wild beasts and other noxious creatures. But, when men shall know the Lord, and these widewasting evils shall subside, population will increase; and he that sends men will amply provide for them: In that city will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground; and I will break the bow, and the sword, and the battle, out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto me forever; you, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies: I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord. And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord› I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.

ト

Moreover, at present, the system of depravity which prevails among men would render any considerable increase of earthly fulness exceedingly dangerous. There appears to be as much wisdom and goodness, as there is justice, in the sentence passed on man, to eat bread by the sweat of their faces. Were there no necessity for hard labour, every day might be taken up in riot and debauchery. The deeds of the people of Sodom and of the CaThe bacchanalian revels which are naanites might be reacted. seen at some of our contested elections, (where men can indulge free of expense,) afford a specimen of what might be expected, if God, while men are what they are, were to cause the earth to yield her increase. It would be nothing less than furnishing them with the means of being seven times more wicked, But, when men shall know the Lord, the danger will have subsided; and then, he will take pleasure in pouring fourth his blessings upon them, and then, instead of those blessings being abused, as heretofore, they

shall tend to recommend the gospel: God, even our own God,shall God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear

bless us. him.

Christians will be followed
The depravity which has

Once more: As peace among men will be followed with a blessing on the earth, so peace among with a blessing on the means of grace. hitherto prevailed in the world has, in too great a measure, extended to the church, and wrought much in a way of destroying its fruitfulness. Corruptions have produced divisions, envies, jealousies, and almost every evil work. Hence the blessing o God has been, in a great measure, withheld. We read of great things among the apostles and primitive Christians, and, now and then, hear of a minister and a people, who, approaching somewhat near to their doctrine and spirit, are honoured with a portion of their success: but, in general, we are as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat, though our souls desire the first-ripe fruit. Now, as the carnal notions, envies, and petty discords of the apostles ceased from the time of their Lord's resurrection, and as the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul, so will it be with the whole church of Christ, when the Spirit shall be poured out from on high. And then, the earth shall yield her increase, in a still higher sense. Not only every nation and city, but every town, if not every village, will furnish a church of Christ, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Then will God, even their own God, bless them, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. The people of God will be of good comfort, will be of one mind, will live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with them!

From the whole we may conclude,

1. It becomes Christians to set their hearts much on the spread of the gospel; to pray for it; labour for it; contribute of their substance for it; and to rest all their hopes of the amelioration of the state of mankind upon it. Political men may place their hopes on political changes; but Christians should always remember, that peace on earth and good will to men connect with glory to God in

the highest; and that they are reserved to grace the triumphs of the Prince of Peace.

2. It is of infinite importance for us to repent, and believe the gospel. So long as any of us are unbelievers, we are under the curse; and the whole career of our life tends to draw down the curse of Heaven upon us, and upon the earth on which we dwell. We have heard much of the conversion of the Jews and heathens; but of what account will either be to us, if we ourselves be not converted? All the great and good things which the Lord has promised, either in this world or that which is to come, will, if we be unbelievers, only aggravate our misery.

3. Sinners, even the greatest of sinners, have every encouragement to repent, and believe in Jesus. The invitation of Moses to Hobab is the same, for substance, as Christ's servarts are now warranted to address to every one they meet: We are journeying to the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.

THE RECEPtion of chRIST THE TURNING POINT

OF SALVATION.

SERMON XVI.

JOHN i. 10-12.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

AMONG the numerous self-deceiving notions which are cherished in the minds of men, is that of their being willing to return to God at any time, provided they had opportunity, and the means of doing so. In accounting for their own impenitence and perseverance in sin, they will impute it to their situation, their temptations, their callings, their connexions, or to any thing but their evil hearts. Some have even learned to speak evil of their hearts, while it is manifest, that they mean to include, under that term, nothing pertaining to intention, desire, or design, but something that exists and operates in them against their inclination. Hence, you will often hear them acknowledge themselves to be unconverted, and, at the same time, express how willing and desirous they are of being converted, if it would but please God to put forth his power in their favour. The word of God, however, VOL. VII.

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