the truth. All sincere inquiries into prophecy are infinitely better than indifference.

Some instructive practical lessons may be drawn from these things:

1. THE DANGER OF DISBELIEVING PROPHECY. This unbelief damped the hopes of the Israelites in Egypt, and filled them with anguish of spirit; it made the Jews heartless to return from Babylon and slack in building the temple. The Jewish rulers were from disregard of prophecies led to fill up their sins; and the Apostles were filled with despondency at their Masters leaving them, (John xvi. 6, 7), though it was needful for their best advantage, that he should go away. Let us then, warned by so many varied examples, attend to this sure light, and get on to this safe watch-tower, and wait for our Lord.

THE GRAND DANGER TO BE FEARED in these varied interpretations, is A STATE OF SLUMBER, as to the speedy, personal, and visible coming of Christ. let us never forget, that not merely the foolish virgins slumbered, but THE WISE VIRGINS also. The tendency of all these differences of Christians is to deaden our faith in, and dull our hope of our Lord's coming, and to cause our love to wax cold. Any thing that has these direct effects upon our mind, cannot be the truth.

It is a just remark of Mr. Cuninghame's that no mistakes of honest inquiries into prophetic truth are so fatal as the error of neglecting and despising the spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus. Rev. xix. 10.'

2. Again, varied interpretation may lead us NOT TOO PERTINACIOUSLY TO ADHERE TO VIEWS which we have given to the public, should subsequent in

vestigation throw doubt upon them. Whatever may be the correctness or incorrectness of Mr. Faber's last views, the candour and ingenuousness of mind with which he has been willing to adopt fresh sentiments on a variety of points where he thought evidence compelled him to do so, is very remarkable and exemplary. In the same way Mr. Cuninghame has acknowledged a mistake as to the time of the expected restoration of Judah. Such acknowledgments are highly honourable to those who make them, and so far from leading any to triumph in their mistakes, should rather give us greater confidence that the writers are pursuing substantial truth, and not a mere private system; and lead us to copy a frankness truly Christian.

3. It is also important to be free from DOGMATISM, éven when on the strongest grounds we think that we are right. It is a large subject, full of serious difficulties, and spread over vast fields of God's word and God's providence; he then must be greatly blessed indeed in considering it, who is wholly free from mistake. When such men as Mede, Newton, Cressener, &c. have in some things erred, (and who will say they have not,) we ought surely not to be over-confident in our own interpretation.

4. Again, varied interpretations should excite us to increased and closer INVESTIGATION; the prophecy shall be so completed in the end of God's dispensation, that we may compare it with its accomplishment, and fulfil the direction, and attain the promise, Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read: no one of these shall fail; none shall want her mate. So far from giving up the study because of its difficulties, we should only search the Scriptures more diligently.

It is not so surrounded with difficulties but that patient investigation will clear away many, and open much invaluable light.

5. The end of all shall be the FULL TRIUMPH OF GOD'S OWN WORD, and of all who rest in it and obey it. The word of the Lord is tried-it is pure truth-it shall stand for ever; things will clear up, difficulties vanish, and God's mind and will, be fully developed and manifested.

A glory gild's the sacred page
Majestic as the sun;

It gives a light to every age; -
It gives, but borrows none.

The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;

His truths upon the nations rise ;-
They rise, but never set.

6. SUBMISSION TO GOD'S WILL, however contrary to our own, and deep REVERENCE FOR HIS WORD, should be farther results of all these discussions to those under the real teaching of the Spirit. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord. If his truth be established, his name honoured, his word magnified, and his will accomplished, the Christian's highest aims are gained.

7. In conclusion, I would remark that the whole subject may suggest to Prophetical Students, an important CAUTION, not needlessly to multiply new interpretations,-not without full consideration and deliberation to bring before the public what may be a stumbling block to the weak; and this equally applies to Authors and Editors of periodical works. May we all remember the almost closing words of

the last book of prophecy: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

CHAPTER XVI.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

ONE design of the Author in the preceding remarks, has been to excite A DUE ATTENTION TO PROPHECY. An exclusive and speculative regard to it leads to a serious shutting out of primary and important duties, and to controversies and divisions; but the subject of prophecy makes so large a proportion of Scripture, that no one can slight it without disobeying the plain direction of searching the Scriptures. There have indeed been so many opposing interpretations, and so much self confident and controversial statement of prophetic views, that Christians are really in danger of contemning that which God requires them to take heed to, (2 Peter i. 19.) neglecting that on the reading, hearing, and keeping of which he has pronounced a blessing, (Rev. i. 3.)

Only let us attend to it in the spirit of prayer, humility, forbearance, practical application, patient research, and waiting; suspending our judgment in doubtful matters, and open to conviction, and we shall find the study of prophecy very quickening to