disciples, like Moses and Daniel, in their hours of humiliation and prayer, and in the sickness of hope deferred, can gain by these messages a clear and firm assurance that the time of the promise is drawing nigh.

So far, then, as we may safely reason before the event on these prophetic periods, they appear to me, as to nearly all patient students of the word of prophecy, to confirm the hope that the time is near at hand. The predicted times of the sojourn in the wilderness appear to be complete ; and perhaps, in the vast extension of Protestant missions during the last sixty years, we may see the true church, long oppressed under the iron yoke of Rome, and only half set free at the Reformation, coming out of the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved, and gaining her first victories in Bashan and Gilead, on the very skirts of the land of promise. Two great woes in Christendom seem to have run out their appointed course, and the heavy droppings of the third and greatest woe have been felt in the shocks of an infidel revolution, and the desolating warfare of the last generation. Nearly forty years of rest and pause have been given, amidst the rocking of human passions; and he by whom, as God's instrument, they were chiefly secured to us, like Gideon, has just passed away from the scene.

In the west and in the east

of Europe, a cloud like a man's hand seems once more to threaten us with a sky overspread with storms. The abomination that has made desolate the visible church for ages, has started into new activity. Amidst all these various signs we may hear the solemn oath of the mighty angel, that the mysterious reign of evil shall be only for a time, times and a half, and when he shall cease to scatter the holy people Israel, all these things shall be finished; while the voice goes forth to the wise virgins, Blessed is he that watcheth, and cometh to the end of these numbered days, when Daniel and all the prophets shall stand in their lot in the kingdom of God.

Whether, then, we look to the church of Christ, the Jewish people, or the Gentile world; to the progress of science, the rapid intercourse of the nations, or the clouds in the political horizon; to the language of the scoffer, the revival of decaying superstition, or the special warnings of the prophetic periods; the fig-tree blossoms and puts forth its leaves on every side. May we learn the parable in its deep and practical significance! May we hear the groans of creation, while, under the oppression of sin and evil, it waits with outstretched neck for the manifestation of the sons of God! "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come." May our souls come, with humble and lively faith, to the

mercy-seat of our Saviour. May the Saviour come, in the might of redeeming love, to bless a waiting world with his kingdom of righteousness! The winter has lasted long, and sealed our fallen race in the gloom and darkness of spiritual death. But though the heaviest storm is still to fall on the worldly and unbelieving sinner, for all those who love the Lord's appearing a summer of joy and glory is at hand. Amidst all the dimness of this mortal life, and the confusion of the world's history, their ears may now catch the sound of his voice, while He calls the church to make ready for his return: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone: the flowers appear on the earth : the time of the singing is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land. THE FIG-TREE PUTTETH FORTH HER GREEN FIGS. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." This is the last, and the sweetest note on the harp of prophecy "He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly." O that all our hearts may reply with the beloved apostle, "Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus." Only prepare us first by thy Spirit, blessed Saviour, for that solemn day, and mould our hearts into the image of thy love, and then we will gladly repeat the eager invitation, and say, "Make haste, O beloved Son of

God; be thou like unto a roe upon the mountains of spices, and bring with thee the summer of the heavenly paradise, to dawn upon a dark and stormy world."

LECTURE X.

PREPAREDNESS FOR THE ADVENT.

BY THE REV. W. BROCK, M.A.

RECTOR OF BISHOP'S WALTHAM, HANTS.

Parable of the Virgins.

MATT. XXV. 1—10.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so ; lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And