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In Scotland, however, an appalling stillness prevails. From some of her watch-towers the note of alarm has indeed been heard, in solemn warning of approaching judgments; but how few of the ministers of Jesus have yet lifted up their voice to proclaim their Master's speedy coming, or to call for thankfulness on account of it! When formerly Christ tabernacled on earth, we are told, (Mark xii. 37,) that "the common people heard him gladly, while the Scribes and Pharisees were his implacable foes. Yet these were most familiar with the Scriptures, and were also faithful in their injunctions with regard to legal observances: "All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe," said the Saviour, (Matt. xiii. 3,) "that observe and do." They also knew the time when, and could tell the place where, the Messiah should be born, yet with awful infatuation did they reject, and persecute to the death, the Lord of glory, entailing ruin upon themselves and upon those who trusted in their false interpretations.*

*Since the publication of former editions, the Millenarian cause has indeed received large accessions, both in England and Scotland, from all denominations. Neither the ribalry and ridicule of the profane, nor-what, to a mind rightly exercised, is more painful by far -the indifference and disbelief of the church itself, have prevented the acknowledgment of these truths; and, did the strength of our cause depend in any degree on the opinions of men, the names of not a few might be exhibited, of long-acknowledged and distinguished talent, who have enrolled themselves under the Millenarian banner. The expression of regret in the text has, however, been left unaltered, as the number of those by whom these doctrines are taught from the pulpit in Scotland is still comparatively "few.” We rejoice rejoice however that the fierce opposition with which they were even recently met, by men whose ill-regulated zeal allowed them little time for close examination or cool reflection, now begins to subside. A large proportion of our ministers, awed into silence if not convinced in their hearts, already shrink from all regular discussion of the subject; and, except from the anonymous revilers in periodical publications, opposition seldom rises higher than a feeble attempt at argumentation on some clause disconnected from its context, or an occasional unsupported sneer directed against brethren more faithful by far in the discharge of their trust, and haply more candid in the acknowledgment of their convictions. It is also cause for gratitude, that if the number be yet small who faithfully proclaim these truths, God has endowed some of his servants here, as well as in England, with an ardour for his work which has only been inflamed by opposition. Instances of this godly zeal might be adduced, displayed by individuals all over the country: but, besides a sense of

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But neither the silence nor the opposition of any of the ministers of Christ should prevent Christians from making a proper improvement of the exemplary punishment inflicted on the Jews, by examining for themselves the scriptures of truth, and watching with care against that spirit of unbelief which will assuredly involve many in a catastrophe still more awful. Not

a few who now wonder at the blindness with which the Jews were visited, and the infatuation they displayed in overlooking evidence so full, so various, and so unambiguous, are themselves wilfully shutting their eyes against the clearest light. While we lament that darkness which so beclouded the moral vision of God's ancient people, and prevented their perceiving the promised Messiah in the meek and lowly Jesus; and while we reprobate their criminality in His rejection and accursed death, it becomes us to enquire whether there may not be the tendency to a similar spirit in our unwillingness to believe the predictions of his future glory. Guilt may perhaps be as really contracted by having our attention so completely engrossed by the sufferings and death of Christ, that we disregard or discredit the testimony of God by his prophets concerning the Redeemer's glorious reign, as in being so dazzled by its splendour as not to perceive the necessity of His

gratitude for numerous obligations public and private, the place of eminence he occupies demands from me more than an allusion to the Rev. W. Anderson of Glasgow. From the pulpit and the press, this reverend gentleman has, with fidelity and power, laboured to awaken attention to the Coming Kingdom of Christ, in that great and populous city. Statedly, from month to month, and occasionally also at other times, with much success did he long lift up his warning voice unaided and alone, in testimony to his Lord's Return in Glory, while assailed by the obloquy of the worthless, and suffering from the misrepresentations of his brethren; and, although no longer called in this advocacy to occupy that place of honourable singularity, his efforts are in no degree relaxed by his now enjoying the co-operation of a brother in the ministry, belonging to another section of the Church. When all the slumbering virgins shall have at length bestirred themselves, (and from the Saviour's parable we dare not doubt they will do so,) it will be matter of gratitude to God, and remain a pleasing reflection to himself, that, amid much opposition, he was by his stedfastness made the honoured instrument of awakening many from their lethargy, when others would have lulled them into deeper repose.

death for the redemption of a lost and guilty world, and the glorious display which was thus made of the divine perfections. If Jewish infidelity, with respect to the humiliation of Christ, has been visited by a punishment so severe, Christians would do well to consider whether there be not an approximation to Jewish glosses in our usual explanations, (if such they can be called,) of predictions concerning the glory that should follow. May not we be as guilty as the Jews, who rejected Him who came to redeem them from the power and consequences of sin, should we be found among those who say in their hearts, " We will not have this Man to reign over us," in the manner and at the time He has been pleased to appoint? "Be not high minded, but fear, for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee." Romans xi. 21. Israel is not finally cast off by God. A remnant is still preserved, to whom His grace shall be manifested, and by whom His power is yet to be signally displayed. But the day of their restoration will be one of awful destruction to their enemies-the enemies of God, and the enemies of men.

SECTION XXVI.

DESTRUCTION OF ANTICHRISTIAN NATIONS.

CONTEMPLATING the period when Judah, now dispersed into every land, by all oppressed, shall be visited by the day-spring from on high; and when Israel, long left to wander in the vain imaginations of their own hearts, outcast from the favour of God and concealed from the observation of men, shall be cleansed from their iniquity and brought into the land of their fathers, which is promised them for an everlasting possession,-anticipating with delight the glories of that blissful day, the Christian will exclaim with the Psalmist, "Oh! that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, Jacob

shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad." Ps. xiv. 7. But, before this glorious consummation, that people have much to do and much to endure. At the time when Michael the prince shall stand up for the children of Daniel's people, " there shall be a time of trouble such

as never was since there was a nation even to that same

time;" (Dan. xii. 1.) "For then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but, for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened." Matt. xxiv. 21, 22. While men delude themselves with the idea of a peaceful introduction to the Millennium, the Scriptures represent it as being immediately preceded by one of the most awful catastrophes with which the earth has yet been visited. "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Matt. xxiv. 38, 39. "Likewise, also, as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all; even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke xvii. 28-30. This period of tribulation, on which we seem now to have just entered, is therefore to be of universal extent. But the specifications are much more minute of the sufferings to be endured by Israel after returning to their own land, while yet in an unregenerate state, and the instrumentality by which the Lord's wrath will be effected, instrumentality to be afterwards visited with divine retribution for their sins. Therefore thus saith the Lord, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess; a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people

and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it even to the years of many generations....Before their face the people shall be much pained; all faces shall gather blackness....The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining; and the Lord shall ulter His voice before his army; for His camp is very great; for He is strong that executeth His word; for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?' Joel ii. 1-11. "The Great Day of the Lord is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly; that day is a day of wrath and day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy; for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." Zeph. i. 14-18. "The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies....I will destroy and devour at once," Is. xlii. 13, 14. To the penitent among the children of Israel, He saith, "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but He shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the Temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to His enemies....And the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies. For behold! THE LORD WILL COME with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind,

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