so hard to be understood; but unhappily, because so little is intelligibly expressed, therefore many persons think there is the more scope allowed for the indulgence of fancy, and they take the more liberty in explaining the sacred language; it is as if a person should go into a dark chamber, and then give a particular description of all the things that he imagined it might contain. It is this irreverent manner of treating the prophetic Scriptures, that I would warn you against; be content to be ignorant of that which it is plain God does not intend that you should know ; and do not fill up, out of your own imaginations, the more confused outlines of future events, which are presented to you. If you observe this holy caution, and are fearfully anxious not to engraft on Scripture any wild visions of your own, you will not indulge in any particular descriptions of the Millennial state, nor confidently determine when it shall begin; for I am sure that Scripture is not so clear on these points, as to warrant such decisive or dogmatical expositions.

One circumstance that is remarkable, in regard to this subject of the Millennium, is the extraordinary excitement which it has produced in the minds of many, who have of late taken it up. All their preaching, writing, and talking, savour of it; they entertain a low opinion of the

Christian progress of those, who do not enter into the question with equal interest; they think that the principal thing now required of believers is, that they should prepare themselves for the coming of Christ to reign on earth for a thousand years. To those, who do not believe the Millennium to be so near at hand, as that they might probably live to see the commencement of it, nor that they shall be raised from their graves upon that occasion, two powerful causes of excitement are wanting. But even if we did believe these things, I wish to know why we should so value the Millennium, that we picture it to ourselves as above paradise or heaven? I am afraid there are some earthly affections at work, which cause this unjust preference: one writer on the subject, I remember, says somewhat to this purpose, that he can make nothing of the shadowy state of disembodied spirits, he does not know what their happiness or employment is; whereas, in the Millennial happiness, he can see that there is something substantial and tangible: in short, I fear that such persons, perhaps almost unknowingly to themselves, have set their hearts on a sort of gross, and carnal, and earthly heaven: for the same objection would apply to heaven itself: it is at present to us a shadowy state; "it doth not yet appear what we shall be;" we only know,

that " eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, the good things which God hath prepared for them that love him." But St. Paul had not so

low an opinion of the shadowy state of departed spirits; he had a "desire to depart and to be with Christ," which he thought "far better" for his own enjoyment, than to remain in the flesh; and I do suppose, that the happy souls in paradise are much more blessed, than if they were to be readmitted to their bodies, and to dwell again upon earth, though in the happiest state it admits of.

But again, I wish to ask, is the Millennium that which is proposed to us in Scripture, as our "exceeding great reward?" Does not our blessed Saviour always point to heaven? Do not all the apostles invariably point to heaven, and is it not its eternal duration which forms the consummation of heavenly bliss? How can we set a mere thousand years above heaven? Why should we fix our thoughts so much upon this short space, as to overlook the "inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away!" Thousands and millions of years vanish away, when we contemplate eternity. But does any one suppose that the Millennial state will be happier than that of heaven, and therefore that it deserves the preference in our hopes?

What then, if we were to live throughout the thousand years, should we then have to go back to a less happy condition? Would it be with sorrow that we should anticipate the conclusion of that period, or during the whole of it should we still, as now, be looking forward to a better state of existence ? I do not doubt your reply; the happiness of heaven is more to be aspired after, more to be meditated on, more continually to be before our eyes, than that of any other state whatever, because it will be in itself infinitely greater, and it will endure to everlasting ages.

Let me now, in conclusion, exhort you to proceed in your pilgrimage through this painful world, animated by a higher hope than that of spending a thousand years in the happiest earthly condition, even by the hope of eternal blessedness in Heaven. Let us, as faithful servants, ever be prepared for the "coming" of our Lord, whatever we understand by that expression. Let us trust in him for the fulfilment of his gracious promises, and doubt not, that the reward which He will bring with him, will far surpass our highest expectations. Let us pray God to give us his "continual help," that we may both "live unto the Lord" and "die unto the Lord," so that at the very hour of our death we may, like the thief

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translated from the cross, be with Him in paradise, and in the last day, "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, may the saying be brought to pass" on us, that "death is swallowed up in victory." "Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ ! Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain in the Lord."

Note. With reference to this and the preceding Sermon on the Millennium, the subjoined remark occurs in the author's Private "Diary," of the same date-" Messrs. Irving and some others, have been writing in a very injudicious style about the Millennium; indeed they go so far as to say that the most important subject in religion now, is the accomplishment of the prophecies relating to that event, which they expect will soon take place, that is, in about forty years. This extravagance requires to be checked. It may be a matter of curiosity, and a source of comfort, to speculate on such things; but history is the best interpreter of prophecy; we must not attach much weight to our conjectures before the events."