What is the hope that we have set before us? I speak not now to the open scoffers,-the Cains and Esaus and Judases,-probably there are none here; but I avail myself of our deeply solemn subject to say a word to the professing Christian, who, like Adam in the garden of Paradise, lives amid light and privilege. I would point to the sinless bowers of Eden for an impressive warning to us all, to live simply dependent on God, and more distrustful of ourselves. It is not enough to be decent and serious in the business of religion, we must wrestle and watch and pray lest the subtle tempter beguile us of our reward. Our strong consolation is, that He who conquered for us knows our weakness, and has promised strength equal to our day. He compares his own people in this world to lilies in a field of thorns, but our comfort is, that He Himself is in our midst as a sure defence. "He feedeth among the lilies until the day break, and the shadows flee away." "If we have been planted in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." He died by the hand of sin once, but he now liveth by the power of the offended Judge, as a proof that the curse is wholly exhausted. He is now emphatically "the Resurrection and the life;" and that resurrection life

in Jesus not only delivers from condemnation, and secures eternal life to all who believe, but has in it a vivifying power, by virtue of which even their bodies shall be made heavenly. The first Adam was only "a living soul;" the second is a quickening spirit;" and in the largest sense, he says to every true follower, "Because I live,

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3. I would add one short word on the passing events of our day. It may be in the remembrance of some, that when last I addressed this Church, I named, amongst the several marks of the time of the end, the darkening of authority, and the prevalence of popular commotion. One seems now to be dealing with prophecy, while it is merging into history. Another act of the great Revolution (perhaps the last) is now performing, and then the Master comes. It brings no terror to the waiting servant, for "the shaking of the nations" tells him that "the desire of all nations is at hand." While kingdoms are rising and falling like the waves of a troubled ocean, let our hearts' affection centre with a more intense longing on that only "kingdom which shall never be moved." It is the saints' inheritance, for they are joint heirs with Christ. "Let us comfort one

another with these words."

Each hour that we

live they are gathering a deeper interest. "The

morning cometh, and also the night,”—a blessed morning to the children of the kingdom,—a long and dreary night to the slaves of Satan! Fear none of those things which thou mayest be called to suffer; for He who is the faithful and true witness hath said, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." This is the strength of the believer's hope! Oh! may that secret of the Lord be revealed in us! May our goings be established, and our feet fixed on that Rock of ages! And then, when the day of God arrive, we shall be ready, with every faculty of our souls and bodies, to unite our voices with the joyous chorus of the regenerate creation, "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"

LECTURE X.

THE EARTH YIELDING HER INCREASE.

BY THE REV. EDWARD BICKERSTETH,

RECTOR OF WATTON, HERTS.

PSALM LXVII. 6, 7.

"Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him."

AT first sight, my brethren, this might seem a very unseasonable subject for these times. Instead of the earth yielding her increase, we see upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. We see the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the

earth and the sea, letting loose the destructive winds in all quarters of the world. We see the prediction fulfilling, "Yet once more I shake, not the earth only, but also heaven-signifying the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made." We witness the declaration realizing, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn, and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is, and I will give it him."

How, then, can we speak now of the earth yielding her increase? For this very reason. Our Lord teaches us in all these things to see the preludes of his coming to reign in righteousness, and hence to be full of courage and hope. Thus, he says, "Then shall they see the sign of the Son of man coming with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." The shaking of things that are made, is for this very end: that "those things which cannot be shaken may remain." The tempest of the great tribulation is for the last grand ingathering of the great multitude out of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, who come out of it, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.