knowing that his supplications, and prayers, and thanksgivings, though in themselves utterly defiled and unfit to enter the ears of Jehovah; yet when passing through a Saviour's hands are made well pleasing in his sight, a service acceptable to the God he serves. Thus faith in an ascended and therefore an interceding Saviour enables him that hath it to overcome the world, to do all things through him who from his heavenly dwelling-place strengthens his people for all their journey through this wilderness; still preparing for them a rest with himself from all their labours in the mansions of his Father's house.

The manner of that judgment is abundantly declared in the word of God, as well as the fact which we here profess our faith in as to the person by whom the proceedings of that awful day shall be carried on -that "all judgment is committed unto the Son;" that "the Father hath given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man;" being that person of the Trinity who was perfect man as well as perfect God; and therefore specially fitted as to be the Saviour, so the judge of his people whose nature he had taken part of.

To 'judge,'-to make that solemn inquiry into the state of all the vast multitude that shall then be gathered before him, (speaking after the manner of an earthly judge,) when, according to the deeds done in the body on earth, the sentences shall be passed; according to which the condemned shall go away into everlasting punishment, and the acquitted into life eternal.

The persons whom we believe he shall come to

judge, the quick and the dead.'-This manner of speech is to be found often in Scripture, as Acts x. 42, 1 Peter iv. 5, 2 Tim. iv. 1: evidently meaning those who shall be found quick, that is, alive, when Christ comes to judge the world, as well as those that shall then be found numbered with the dead. The fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth verses of the first of Thess. chapter iv. make this quite plain, "We which are alive and remain shall not prevent them which are asleep." This shews that the generation of men which shall be found living in that day, (as of course there will be such,) shall together with the dead raised from their graves, and not beforehand, attend the solemn judgment. And again, in the first of Cor. xv. 51, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." There will be a generation of living saints when Christ cometh who shall not indeed die, yet shall undergo that wondrous change; by which they shall be fitted, even as those who have laid their corruptible bodies in the grave, for judgment and for the glory of being ever with the Lord.

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"And the dead.'-Marvel not at this saith the Lord, for all that are in the graves shall come forth " and the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them, and they were judged every man according to his work." Faith in this great article which we profess is comfortable to the true Christian-it comforts and reconciles him to all the dealings of God with him below under every trial. When he sees wicked men exalted, and the righteous put to rebuke, he knows that the time is at hand when the saints shall have the dominion. How glorious the thought that the time.

is near when all that is wrong shall be set rightevery crooked thing made straight; all the dark and perplexing things that cross our path made plain as the sun at noon-day. Comforting to the believer to know who the Judge is before whose judgment-seat he must stand-the Saviour of his people, their Advocate; into whose hands having placed their cause they fear not the issue; for "who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died."

Often then as we repeat this article of our Creed, let us consider "what manner of persons we ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness! looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of God."

A SCOFFER SILENCED.

A young man was one day turning religion into ridicule, and to justify his mockery instanced the inconsistent conduct of some Christians. My friend,' said a grave man, who had been listening to his remarks, have you never seen anything to surprise you in the wicked conduct of unbelievers?' 'No,' replied the youth. 'Well then, do you not see that thus you do religion the greatest possible honour, since you expect from those who profess it better conduct than from those who partake your sentiments. If Christians ought to be holy, by your own shewings, is not this a proof that the religion they have received is holy? What can you say to that? The unbeliever went away without another word. Thus we find God continually "confounding the wisdom of the wise,

and bringing to nought the understanding of the prudent" of this world; for "he taketh the wise in their own craftiness," while his own people "shine as the brightness of the firmament, and the stars for ever and ever."

SKETCHES OF CHURCH HISTORY.

(Continued from page 135.)

2. But as the age passed on, many (of the Prophets) taught the people not so much by word of mouth as by their writings. Among the ten tribes Jonah is believed to have prophesied under Jeroboam the Second. Ilis history seems to be alluded to in the fable of Andromeda and Hercules being swallowed by a whale. The prophecy also of Hosea points at the times of the same king. But a more abundant harvest of prophetical writers may be gathered in the kingdom of Judah. Amos lived under Uzziah. To the same reign Joel may be refered. But whether Obadiah may also is more uncertain. Isaiah and his contemporary Micha flourished under Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. To Nahum are assigned the last days of Hezekiah. Habakkuk is decided to be his contemporary. Zephaniah prophesied under Josiah. Then follows Jeremiah under Josiah and the succeeding kings, even to the Babylonish captivity; Ezekiel and Daniel uttering many prophecies in Babylon itself. And since in these times the books of Kings terminate, it is probable that they also were not written at a later period. But the Books of

Baruch, of Tobit, and of Judith, as also the Prayer of Manasses, and the History of Susanna and Bell, which are thought to be additions to Daniel, we reject as spurious.

But the dispersion of the Jews among the nations overthrew to an extent the knowledge of the true God.

3. The public worship in the Temple was at one time discontinued, then again restored in proportion. as the kings of Judah worshipped the true God more or less. But the Temple itself, now spoiled and profaned by idols, was sometimes shut up, sometimes restored, and at length altogether destroyed. Among the restorers of the sacred worship three are especially commended, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Jesiah. At its last restoration a copy of the law of Moses, which had long been lost, was found in the Temple, by the reading of which Josiah was stimulated to remove superstition. He made it his study more than heretofore; he celebrated the Passover; during which event it is uncertain whether he commanded the ark of the covenant (which was removed from its own place, and which was also itself altogether taken away and lost at the destruction of the Temple) to be brought back into the holy of holies. The order of the Priesthood indeed flourished with constant succession, and was not disturbed by the carrying away of the Jews. And although the sacrifices ceased, we may still collect from certain passages of Scripture that the cause of religion was kept up among the captive Jews assembled there.

4. Meanwhile great corruption sprung up in religion; the ten tribes departed farther and more