the Spirit of Prophecy," Rev. xix. 10. And, finding that all things spoken concerning him by the old testament prophets, have, at the appointed time, received their accomplishment, he gives all glory to Christ, and receives the substance of the new testament as inspired also; and then, when he compares the two testaments together, he perceives they were both indited by the same author, and, that Christ is the sum and substance of the whole, and that in him there is everything which he needeth, whether for time or eternity; therefore casts himself upon him, and finds that in him alone he hath wisdom, righteousness sanctification, justification, and redemption; and he is enabled to rejoice in the grand truth, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin-that through his blood we have forgiveness; and, that God in Christ Jesus is reconciling the world unto himself, and beseeches rebellious wicked sinners to be reconciled unto him; and he finds by experience, that without Christ he can do nothing, but, that by Christ strengthening him, he can do all things. Thus is the honest enquirer after truth led on from strength to strength until he is filled with the fulness of the blessing of the gos pel of Christ, who is everything to him that his heart, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, can desire. Thus he goes on from righteousness unto holiness, whilst the wilful despisers of the testimony of Jesus, go on from sin unto death.

If infidels would but listen to the voice of conscience, put away their abominable wicked practices, and search the word of God with an honest motive to ascertain its truth, instead of seeking with a malicious spirit to bring it into contempt,

because it opposeth their vicious lives, they would soon be forced to bow to its authority; for there is no history in existence that is written with such impartiality, for, contrary to all the works of men, those characters whom it sets forth as examples of godliness, to such as walk uprightly before God, it likewise makes known their infirmities, as a warning to such as are backsliding from him. Therefore it is a book to guide us in all circumstances-and such the author has found it. And it is a book suitable for all ages, and all seasons. And, in all seasons of political or religious calamities, that book (if applied by the Spirit which indited it, that can make its words spirit and life to its reader) is the only thing that can give comfort and support under such seasons of distraction. For there hath no season of calamity ever occurred to mankind, nor tyrannical power ever arisen to scourge the human race, but what has been foretold in that book. Therefore, the true believer in Christ, who hath his commandments and keepeth them, is not alarmed when sudden calamities come, because he is well assured that nothing can happen contrary to the foreknowledge of God, who will make all things to work together for good to them that love and serve him. For, what do we see in the present calamitous appearance of the times? Has it not all been exactly predicted in the scriptures? And has not the rise and fall of nations happened exactly according to the predictions of the Bible? the fulfilments of which have been brought about (as I have noticed before) by the most unlikely means, according to man's judgment: for, according to the wisdom of man, it would appear insane

folly for a man of wealth and influence, to choose twelve poor, unlearned, simple-hearted fishermen, for the purpose of establishing a kingdom which should overturn and triumph over all the kingdoms of the earth. Such instruments, I say, would appear the most unlikely to accomplish the purpose. Yet such were the very kind of instruments which our blessed Lord and Saviour used to establish his kingdom.

And, what was the nature of that kingdom? Was it composed of the regal power, the pomp, the pride and vain pleasures of this world? O, no. It was a kingdom, or principle, of holiness, directly opposed to all those things; it was a kingdom at perfect enmity with the world, which the world hated, because it was not of the world. Therefore our Lord said to them, Mat. x. 16, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues: and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." Such was the prospect before them. Marvel not," said our Lord, "if the world hate you, for they hated me before they hated you. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

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Thus did their Lord and Master prepare them for the conflict. Thus did he choose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the things that are not (that is, not of the wisdom of the schools) to confound the things that are. And, how was their weakness made manifest,

when on the memorable night Judas came, with a band of men, and betrayed his master with a kiss, when “ they all forsook him and fled." Mat. xxvi. 56. And Simon Peter, who appeared the boldest amongst them, and the most vehement in declaring his attachment to him, denied him, ver. 70. All which happened according as it had been predicted. Zech. xiii. 7. “Awake, O sword, against my Shephard, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." And in Psalm xli. 9, it saith, speaking of Ahypothel, the type of Judas, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." And, concerning the sufferings of Christ, the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah is most explicit; and in Psalm xxii. 18, alluding to the fact of the Roman soldiers casting lots for his garments after he was hung upon the cross, it is written, "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture."

Thus were the manner of his crucifixion, and the circumstances connected therewith, predicted ages prior to its accomplishment; and the persons chosen to be witnesses of those things, twelve poor fishermen, who had shown such cowardice in forsaking their Lord in his greatest extremity; yet, directly after their Lord's resurrection, those poor cowards stand forth with boldness to proclaim that kingdom which the rulers of their own nation had determined with all their might to destroy. And Peter, who had before been terrified by a maid, to deny his Lord, was the first to open the kingdom. Mat. xvi. 18, 19, "And I say

also unto thee, That thou art Peter; and upon this Rock (Christ) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." And Peter was the first to open the kingdom on the day of Pentecost, by declaring the mystery of the kingdom of Christ, as the Holy Ghost gave him utterance; by which sermon three thousand souls were converted. Thus, by the power of the Holy Ghost was the kingdom. of heaven opened, the mysteries of which kingdom were the keys which were delivered to Peter, and which, by the power of the Holy Ghost, he received power to use a thing quite different to the heretical notion the papists have about the text.

And how has the kingdom triumphed, notwithstanding all the fury of its enemies? And it must go on conquering, until it has destroyed all other kingdoms, according to Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream, Dan. ii. 31, which the prophet interpreted, and in which the kingdom of Christ is symbolized by a stone cut out of a mountain, that was to break in pieces the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream, which the prophet thus describes : 66 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible. This images head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron,