IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 ■• lillU 
 
 m 
 
 IIIIIM 
 |||M 
 
 1.8 
 
 U IIIIII.6 
 
 V} 
 
 ^t 
 
 
 ^7 
 
 
 "l. 
 
 ///. 
 
 i 
 
 l! 
 
 on 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 ,\ 
 
 ^9) 
 
 V 
 
 ^^ 
 
 <> 
 
 >3 
 
 6^ 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 
tp.< 
 
 w- 
 
 Cp, 
 
 o 
 
 v 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 1980 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 1 
 t 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 s 
 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 □ Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagee 
 
 nCov 
 Cou 
 
 overs restored and/or laminated/ 
 verture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e 
 
 □ Cover title missing/ 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 □ Coloured maps/ 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue ov Mack)/ 
 ere de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ?u noire) 
 
 □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Plane 
 
 D 
 
 iches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Reli6 avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge int6rieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filminrj/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages kilanches ajout^es 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas dt6 filmdes. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires suppl^mentaires: 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage 
 sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. 
 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommag^es 
 
 Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages d^color^es, tachet^es ou piqu^es 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages detachees 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of print varies/ 
 Qualite inegale de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel supplementaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 6t6 film^es d nouveau de facon d 
 obtenir la meilieure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est film^ au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 SOX 
 
 7 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library 
 Dalhousie University 
 
 L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grSce d la 
 g6n6rosit6 de: 
 
 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library 
 Dalhousie University 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film6, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimde sont film^s en commen^ant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont film6s en commandant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symuol — ^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Un des symboies solvents apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole — *• signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent etre 
 filmSs d des taux de reduction diff^rents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film^ d partir 
 de Tangle supdrieur gai.*che, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prttnant le nombre 
 d'images n^cessaire. Las diagrammes solvents 
 illustrent la m^thode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 

 wtmm 
 
 '. f 
 
 wm^mT' 
 
 7^....u^^i^^ /-^d^^ h^l 
 
 "M^^ 
 
 Txss sscoND coivtmo 
 
 OF 
 
 OUR LORD 
 
 
 AN ESSAY, 
 
 BY 
 
 cr. nyc. ci^^nyni=>, d. x). 
 
 Halifax, N. S. 
 
 MESSENGER PRINTIN(J OFFICE, 
 
 00 & 71 (Jkanvii.lk St, 
 
 187'J. . ' 
 
 V) 
 
 1^ 
 
 r^i^^J 
 
 •r. 
 
',1- 
 
THS sscoNS comma 
 
 OF 
 
 OUR LORD. 
 
 » »»» t- 
 
 
 AN ESSAY, 
 
 BY 
 
 X 
 
 ^9 
 
 \^ 
 
 0". :m:. ci^^imiip, id. x:*. 
 
 -« ^»» » 
 
 Halifax, N. S. 
 
 MESSEN(iKH I'KINTINU OFFICE, 
 
 69 A' 71 (!i;anvili,e St. 
 
 1879. 
 
 ■^ 
 
''Ib.f,. 
 
PREFACS. 
 
 This tract is published in compliance witli the request of 
 the King's County Ministerial Conference of Baptist Min- 
 isters, for whom it was written. 
 
 I take this opportunity to express the satisfaction with 
 which I observe the rapid spread of those Institutions. They 
 are very useful. They encourage thoui^ht. They stimulate 
 research. They promote union. They nurture and develope 
 activity. And the people share in the benefits enjoyed by 
 the ministers. 
 
 Gifts vary. One has wisdom. Another has eloquence. 
 This brother can lucidly expound. That one can powerfully 
 argue and persuade. Let each discern his proper gift, and 
 wse it in the best manner possible, as for the Lord. 
 
 J. M. C. 
 
* 
 
 '1 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 L Jilt" 
 
The Second Coming of our Lord. 
 
 "When the time of the Lord's death drew near, he informed 
 liis disciples of the fact, and warned ihein that he nui«t 
 soon leave them, and return to the phice whence he came. 
 They were greatly disturbed by the announcement, havinj^ 
 entertained the hope that he would assutne the royalty which 
 he was heir to, and j^ive peace and glory to Israel, which 
 nation had been miserably distracted by inttM-nal commotions 
 lor many years, and had been com[)ellcd to subniit to 
 the Roman yoke. To quell their anxieties, the Lord 
 further instructed them, statinp; that fuller communications 
 of truth were to be made, which would be the result of the 
 bestowmcnt of the Holy Spirit, and that the bestowment of 
 the Spirit depended on the Redeemer's departure. (John xvi. 
 7-11.) To us, all this is very clear, but it does not appear 
 that the disciples understood the spiritual nature of the new 
 dispensation at that time. Their minds were beclouded by 
 Judai-m, and the light broke in upon thiim gradually. A 
 distinct revelation was given to tlie Apostle Paul by th<> 
 Lord himself, and his views were from the first transparent 
 and settled, requiring no change, except by addition. 
 
 The Lord's earliest intimation on tliis subject was given 
 in his closing discourse to his disciples. (John xiv. 2. .j.) 
 About six weeks after the resurrection (Acts i. 2, Jj,) he 
 went up to heaven in the presence of his disciples, including, 
 perhaps, many besides the twelve, (Acts v. 9-11). The 
 expression " in the same manner," used by the angels, refers 
 to the cloud in which the Lord wasreceived into his heavenly 
 dwelling. As he went up in a cloud, so he will return in a 
 cloud. That he would return, and that in all likelihood it 
 would be soon, became the common belief of Christians, who 
 are especially characterised as " waiting for the coming of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Cor. i. 7.) They not only expected 
 him to come again, but they hoped it would be in their lite- 
 time, and that they themselves would see the Lord. (See 
 Rev. i. 3 ; xxii. 10, 20.) 
 
 The angels who were in attendance at the Lord's ascension 
 foretold his re-appearance, but they gave no note of time. It 
 might be within five years. It might be five hundred. It 
 might be five thousand. Nobody could tell. So it was left. 
 iJut the " earnest expectation" of the people began to produce 
 undesirable effects. If the world was so scu>r to come to an 
 
 k 
 
6 
 
 end. why should its intorests be cnrcd for, and anxii'ty be 
 cherished oti behalfof that which might vanisli in a moment ? 
 In<hi^try sticmed in (hinder of being paralysed, and religion 
 threatened to be associated with inglorious idleness. Some- 
 thing recpiired to b(! done to check the growing evil. The 
 Apostle Paul interposed liis authority, and sternly taught that 
 " if any would not work, neitiior should he eat," (1 Tliess. iii. 
 10.) Jjut this did not prove sutricient,and Paul wasdirected to 
 convey at the same time prophetic announct^ments of a forth- 
 coming apostacy, wl',;;'h would overwhelm the churche?:, and 
 well nigh destroy the fair hopes of God's people, (Acts xx. 
 29, .'30; 2 Thcss. ii. 1-12; 1 Tim. iv. 1-4.) Again, there 
 was no note of time. But the prophecies were fulfilled. 
 Long l)efore the close of the first century, the departure from 
 the faith had taken effect, Jewish tradition and Gentile 
 philosophy had entered into a league against Christianity, 
 and were as intent on its ruin as were the conspirators 
 against the Apostle Paul, who swon; that they would neither 
 eat nor drink till they had killed him. (As they did not 
 succeed, it is fair to infer that they died of starvation.) The 
 Lord Jesus had promised his servant that be should " bear 
 witness for him at Rome ;" (Acts xxiii. 11,) and lie kept 
 bis word. 
 
 Th(i last of the Apostles had passed away. Jesus liad 
 come but not visibly, lie came at tlie destruction of Jerusa- 
 lem. Titus and the Roman hosts were the Lord's minist<rs, 
 executing bis righteous vengeance. " Ye shall see Jerusa- 
 lem compassed with armies" — lie had said: "There shall 
 be great distre>s in the land, and wrath iij)on this people. 
 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be 
 led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be 
 trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles 
 be fullllled." (Lukexxi. y-24.) All came to pass, according 
 to bis word, and truthful history records the horrible details. 
 Christians believe that the Saviour himself superintend/id 
 the execution of the divine sentence. No one saw Him, 
 for be was not bodily present ; yet heathen soldiers, uncon- 
 sciously obeyed the behests of tlie invisible Ruler: — He, 
 meanwhile, was " within the veil." 
 
 Five hundred years had run their course. Satan, as was 
 bis wont, had been bu.sy all the time. He revelled in blood 
 and ruin. His servants covered the lands with dead saints, 
 burned bibles, and demolished churches, under the orders of 
 the emperors Decius, A^ileriau, and Diocletian, and men of 
 
• The 
 'M thnt 
 
 iw. 
 
 ■'^i. III. 
 
 'V tlint cliipg, who fondly inin^iinod that they had triumphed, 
 ^ and that Christianity was about to expire. But thoy had 
 ■ '^ miscah'ulatc'd. Jesus had said, '* Upon this rock I will l)iiild 
 my church, and the gates of hell .-ihall not prevail against 
 it," (Matt. xvi. 18,) and so, though error beguilod tnany 
 mistahle souls, and su{>erstitiou3 mummeries amused the 
 braitdess, the good work went on. Many eminent men ap- 
 ])eared. and sustained the truth by their pen : and the learned 
 still read with satislaction the works of Jerome, Augustine, 
 and Ctn'ysostom. 
 
 The next five hundred years were more perilous. Drividl- 
 ing superstitions had crept in, in abimdance, and were 
 patronized by men who ought tj have known better. Ivitnal- 
 istic childi.-hness deprived the Church of its power. The 
 abominations of monkery defiled and deformed the bride of 
 Christ. The ceremonies by which Christian worship was over- 
 loaded w(;rc mther the a(lo[)tioii of Pagan forms in Christian 
 guise, than the legititnale results of gospel truth, understood 
 and felt. A succession of public men had been kept U[), 
 but their work lacked th<; j)oint, vigor, and unction of tho-e 
 of their predecessors, although some of them continue to 
 adorn the she'ves of clerical libraries, and are read with 
 weariness and impatience. Here and there an* extraordin- 
 ary excitement sprung up. which was declared to be a revival. 
 But medieval revivals will not abide the application ol' gos- 
 pel tests. The tenth century exhibits the culmination of 
 evil. Cardinal Haronins, the ctdebrated Roman Catholic 
 historian, is candid enough to confess the ignorance, super- 
 stition and immorality that universally prevailed at that 
 time, among all ranks and orders of men, including even the 
 highest clergy. It was at this period that the world was 
 startled by a strange phen(»nienon. All at once the peojjle 
 fell under the power of a wild notion, and its effects were 
 surprising. A thousand years had passed away since the 
 Saviour's birth. ISIisapplying Rev. xx., men agreed that 
 the comingof the Lord was to be expected, and that he would 
 ■ appear in Palestine. " Immense numbers," says Mo-heini, 
 transferring their property to tlu' churches and monasteries, 
 left all, and proceeded to Pale-tine, when they supposed 
 Christ would descend from heaven to judge the world. Others, 
 by a solemn vow, cons ,;rated themselves and all they possessed 
 to the churches, the monasteries and the priests ; serving them 
 in the character of slaves, and performing the daily tasks 
 assigned them ; for they hoped that the superior Judge would 
 
8 
 
 
 ; r 
 
 1)0 more " vorable to them, if (liey made themselves Pervants 
 to his servants. (Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii. p. 274. Edit. 
 London, 1845) 
 
 Tlie L6rd saw it all, but paused not -in his interce-^sory 
 work. The time had not come. After a few years the 
 tiinudt subsided, and affairs re-assumed their ordinary con- 
 dition. 
 
 There was a healthier state of society in the sixteenth 
 century than in the tenth. Tlic people were not so easily 
 iVightened. They were reading tlie scriptures, and had 
 learned to judge ibr themst s. If here and there an indi- 
 vidual was disposed to visionary views, the bulk of Reform- 
 ing congvpgations obeyed the dictates of common sense, 
 and " followed the Lamb," who was among them in the 
 l)o\ver of the Spirit, bestowing the blessings of a genuine 
 revival. Other seasons of a similar kind have been enjoyed 
 since, in almost all parts of Europe and America, and latterly 
 in Asia and Africa ; many a " wilderness and solitary place " 
 have been gladdened by the gospel, and tens of thousands 
 have been educated for heaven. 
 
 But very much remains yet to be done. The Lord Jesus 
 said to his disciples, "This .gospel of the Kingdom must be 
 preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations ; and 
 then shall tlie end come," (Matt. xxiv. 14.) These words 
 must be fulfilled. But how much work must be completed 
 by the church, ere that desirable result is brought about? 
 How many millions are there, who have not yef heard the 
 glad tidings ! "What a vast amount of conversions must take 
 place before it can be affirmed that the truth of God 
 has been sufficiently proclaimed in any country, so as to 
 warrant the statement the gospel has been preached there, 
 " as a witness"— that is, that the people generally have had 
 the opportunity of becoming accpiainted with the " crreat 
 salvation!" Myriads of additional labourers musf be 
 emi)loyed, and immense sums of money expended, before it 
 can be honestly affirmed that every country now unevan-^el- 
 ized has been blessed with the " gospel of the Kin-rdom " 
 The Lord's words will not " pass away :" he has distinctly 
 declared that Ins second coming waits for the issue now 
 referred to, and depends on its development. ]Many of his 
 predictions have been fultilled over and over again, in a spir- 
 itual sense, and will continue to be so as long as the present 
 <lispensation lasts. They have what Lord Bacon calls " a 
 springing and germinant accomplishment." lie who said, 
 
 i 
 
'II 
 
 yoars the 
 '^'"7 con- 
 
 so easily 
 and Jjud 
 •in indi- 
 
 seii.'?e, 
 '" fiio 
 genuine 
 
 Jatfej'iy 
 p/ace " 
 'usands 
 
 ' Jesus 
 ust ';e 
 s ; and 
 ^vords 
 
 ■J f/ie 
 
 ^•d<e 
 
 God 
 
 s to 
 
 eve, 
 
 fiad 
 
 eat 
 
 be 
 
 it 
 
 iU 
 >> 
 
 " Where two or throe nre cathcred togr>ther in my name, 
 there am I in tlie inidsl oftlieMi," (Matt, xviii, 20,) is pn-.-eut 
 with his i)eoi)le whurevt-r they iiiCft, with combined love and 
 zeal, to promote the interests of lii> kinLrdoni, and liis Caiilit'uU 
 ness to liis prom-i>(^ is a matter of every day exner'''iiee. 
 
 Tlie special clieumslaiiees eoiinecled witii the Lord's 
 coming are very noteworlliy. Tlie coming is conditioned 
 on the accomplishment of an event, which must be brought 
 about by human instriimentaHty, emph)ycd in obedience 
 to tlie Lord's wilh The pieaching of tlie gospel to all nntions 
 which is to precede the linal an-aiigriucnts of the dispensa- 
 tion, is the work of the Chui'cli, I'nr which gh(i has received 
 the Great Commission. As in Apostolic times, the messengers 
 go forth, " the Lord working with them, (Mark xvi. 20.) 
 But the messengers must <r() furtii, or the Lord will not 
 come. Tiiose who are truly "'waiting for the comiuLT of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ," can only show their situterity by dili- 
 gently working for him. And the work which re(|uires to 
 be lone must be done more heartily. The churches must 
 ''shake themselves from the dust ;" (juickened activity must 
 take place of modern duhiess ; the work of a hundred years 
 must l)e performed in ten, or perhaps in two ; and every 
 disciple must take part in the labour. Then, when the 
 church shall have filled the world with the gospel, she will be 
 ))repai'<'d for the arcii-angel's trumi)et, and will '• meet the 
 Loi'd in the air" with joyful satisfaction.' But not till then. 
 
 Some, who think that the Lord's coming is near, maintain 
 that the gospel was generally spread in aspo-tolie times, as 
 stated in Col. i. G, but it is clear that the phrase "all the 
 world " means the Roman Empire only ; besides which, a 
 large part of the world was then unknown. 
 
 If the considerations that have been now adduced are 
 correct great responsibility rests upon all profes>ing ('hris- 
 tians. And great criminality is i?icurred by those who 
 linger, or frame excuses for neglect. He who refuses to do 
 bis part in prev'ding the gospel for all nations is in fact 
 engaged in an adverse enter[)rise, and is doing what he can 
 to d(day the Lord's coming. 
 
 Crotchetty people are seldom harmless. They may he 
 instruments of great mischief. A singular case occurred in 
 England about half a century ago. The Scrampore brethren 
 and tlu; Uaptist JMissionary Society had disagreed, and fur a 
 number of years then; were two Missionary Societies in our 
 denomination. At length the dilliculties were removed, and 
 
10 
 
 v.i 
 
 / 
 
 a minister who had boon one of the leading spirits on the 
 
 Sorainpore side, was invited to preacli one of the annual 
 
 so uonson behalf of tlio Baptist Missionary Society. He 
 
 accepted the invitation, and preaclied ; but unfortunately he 
 
 was the victim of a crotchet, and lie ,-pi'nt the wlude time of 
 
 the exerci><! in sf-ttinj; forth the crotchet, and arjzuing for its 
 
 adoption. Tlie crotchet was tiiis :— all missionary etl'orls, 
 
 as at present conducted, are useless. The missionaries by 
 
 whom God will convert iIk; world will be converted Jews. 
 
 Your object, then, should be to employ measures for the 
 
 conversion of the Jews, from whom may be selected suitable 
 
 agents who will traverse heathen lands and turn the nations 
 
 to liod. The preaclior was eloipient, and his imagination 
 
 fruitful ; but his exhortations fell on unwilling ears, and the 
 
 Society had to hunent the scantiness of the collection, tor 
 
 Avho would give iu respon-e to such an appeal ? 
 
 AVhen the Saviour foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, 
 his disciples asked him to tell them .vhat would be the signs 
 of his coming, and of the end of the world. In bis rejjly 
 lie gave no dates, but indicated certain events which must 
 take place before his coming, though still without assigning 
 dates, lie added, " Immediately after tlie tribulation of 
 these days" . ..." he shall send his angels, with a great 
 soimd of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his 
 elect," &c , (Mat. xxiv. 29-3 1); but the Lord has not come. 
 His other predictions have been fulfdled, and their fuUllment 
 is recorded in history. Clods " immediately " may dilVer 
 much from ours; "one day is with the Lord as a thousand 
 years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 I'eter iii. 8). 
 So with the word " (|uickly " used by the Lord Jesus, 
 in dictating the closing sentences of the Apocalypse— "Surely, 
 I come quickly" (Rev. xxii. 20). It is the year ot grace, 
 1879, and the Lord has not come, lie will co:ae, but neither 
 man nor angel can say iclieii. 
 
 The diver.-ity of opinions on this subject is marvellous. 
 Li proportion to the obsciuity of a theme is the po-ilivity 
 with wliich some men jironounce upon it, ludding their own 
 views to be correct, and all others erroiu'ous. Tho>e who 
 do not miderstand the true nu'thod of interpreting ligurative 
 language (and their number is larire ) are apt to make sad 
 blunders. Lx|)laining ligures literally, they impute to the 
 sacred writers the odde-t fancies, and represei:t them as 
 father^ of most '•idiculous notion j. In interpreting the book 
 of IveveUaiun folioo of dreariness liave been written, enough. 
 
 i 
 
"■'ta on (lie 
 t''<^* aunual 
 t'iety. Jl^ 
 '"'lately Jie 
 "'*^ 'Jine of 
 """g iur i(s 
 '•y Pfforis, 
 >'iaries by 
 
 •s for tliG 
 ^ '^"itable 
 ^' nations 
 '/filiation 
 and tiie 
 (ion, for 
 
 ■"salom, 
 
 le 8fir„s 
 
 •s reply 
 'i rnust 
 
 ion of 
 g'-eat 
 •I- Jiis 
 come. 
 
 iient 
 i/fer 
 and 
 
 «). 
 
 ce, 
 ler 
 
 f'y 
 
 n 
 
 10 
 
 •e 
 
 d 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 
 to nial<e all compo^ilor.-; and printers' apprentices " r-taro and 
 gasp." Even Ca\toii would liave been seared at tlieni. 
 
 Some of the advocates of (be early coniiniij of our Lord 
 have proposed a iiovil interpretation of Matt. xxiv. 14, 
 h()|)in;i; thereby to remove cei-tain dillleulties out of tlu; way. 
 'i'licy wouM have us believe that the Saviour did not intend 
 us to expect a ^oieral diffusion of the gospel anion;; tho 
 nations, but only that it should be so presented everywhere 
 as to be "a witness" to the country. A Mi>sionary, Cor 
 instance, might stop for a few hours at some populous 
 island, gather a few scores of the inhal)itants on the bearh, 
 and pi'each a sermon, by the aid ol an interpreter, departing 
 tlience to the next people. This, it is said, would be the 
 preaching of tlie gospid in that island, " for a witness." 
 Jjut can it be imagined that 'our Lord meant anything less 
 than such an introduction of the go,-j)el as woidd give all the 
 iniiabiiants of the country in question an opportunity of 
 learniuL' its truths, and examining and deciding on its claims, 
 to be tullovved by such an ell'ectual blessing as would icsult 
 from the ingathe-ring of converts into churches, and tho 
 production of a rich harvest of spiritual fruits? This 
 piocos will have to be re|)eate.d in every land till Isa. xi. 9 
 is fulli'led. Dr. V.'atts, as it appears to us, has vcr.-ified the 
 right interpretation : — 
 
 " Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise 
 Kouml llie wliok' t'arlh, ;inil never stand; 
 For, when thy triUii heicau its race, 
 It touched and ghmced on every land ; 
 
 Xor sluill thy s])readin.L; .uospel rest, 
 'I'il! throuirirtiie world tliy truth has run ; 
 'fill Christ lias all tiie nations blessed 
 That see the light or feel the sun." 
 
 The twentieth chai)ter of the book of Revelation is a 
 favourite ()ortion with prophetic saideiits. That (jliapler is 
 the must obscure of all the chapters in God's IJook. It 
 l.iristles with difficulties, sufficiently apalling to the modest 
 critic. How much is to be understood litei-ally, iind how 
 much s[)iritually, need not be here discussed. The " first 
 resurrection," howev»4j', may be confidently set down as 
 spiritual. The jjrobability is, that it will not be thorctughly 
 imderstood till it is seen by its own light : the fuliilment will 
 be the interpretation. 
 
 One remark, however, may be permitted. The twentieth 
 chapter represents a glorious episode in the history of 
 Christ's Church ; its progress and development may spreui 
 
12 
 
 over many oentiirles. But whether the time be long or 
 short, it will be borne in mind that all will precede the 
 Lord's coming, and be preparatory to it. This observation 
 does not refer to the last paragrii[)li of the vision, comprising 
 vers(is 11 to 17, in which the. writer nntioipntos iho final 
 judj^iiiciil, auu gives II brluf tkt^lch, substaiiLially similar lo 
 Other passages in the New Testament. See IMat. xxv. 
 24-48 ; John v. 28-30 ; Acts xvii. 31 ; Rom xiv. 10 ; 2 Cor. 
 V. 10; 2 Tim. iv. 1, 7, 8. 
 
 Other episodes are contained in the same bock. Each 
 seal, truii.pet, and vial is a separate one. But dates are 
 altogether wanting, and landmarks are dimly discernible. 
 As tiie time draws near, thrilling experiences will be 
 enjoyed by God's people who will then be dwelling on the 
 earth, and who will see and hear much with which not only 
 we, but those also who will succeed us in the next ages, 
 must be content to be unacquainted. But the times of 
 ignorance are shortening. 
 
 The general conclusions may now be briefly stated: — 
 
 I. Ihc Lord Jesus will come again "the second time 
 without sin, unto salvation " (Heb. ix. 28). He has promised 
 to come, and He will come, for lie is '• the foithful and true 
 witness" (Rev. iii. 14). 
 
 Now, He is within the veil, performing the duties of the 
 high nriect's office— interposing, as far as is needful, in 
 
 the 
 
 management of the concerns of the Church— and governing 
 the world. Let us often think of Him as actually engaged 
 in our behalf, and let us not be unmindful of the " hope set 
 before us," of which we are in fact reminded whenever we 
 celebrate the Lord's Supper. "As often as ye eat this 
 bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till 
 
 H 
 
 e come. 
 
 (IC 
 
 or. XI. 
 
 20). 
 
 IL The time is not fixed. It /s fixed in God's decree, 
 but it is not revealed to any of his creatures. "The day 
 will declare it." All we know is, that it will come suddeidy, 
 unexpeeteilly, " as a thief in the night." 
 
 III. The purposes for which tlie Lord will come are 
 clearly set forth ; — 
 
 Thi 
 
 1. lie will come to bring this d 
 
 ispensation to a 
 
 close. 
 
 IS will involve a series of sore judgments, affecting the 
 material inteicsts of the world, and the world itself, all being 
 doomed to destruction, (see 2 Bet. iii.); it will also include 
 the termination of the mediatorial kingdom of the Saviour 
 (I Cor. XV. 24-28). 
 
13 
 
 a" 
 
 or 
 the 
 It/on 
 sing 
 
 h 'o 
 
 f-xv. 
 
 -ov. 
 
 |ie/i 
 [ire 
 lie. 
 be 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 2. He will come to complete the happiness of hi.s people, 
 (John xiv. 3). 
 
 0. He will come to sit as Judge of the human race, and 
 award to all their final allotments. 
 
 IV. Certain practical considerations demand serious 
 attention. 
 
 1. We must be content to remain ignorant on many im- 
 portant points. The number of those points .vill increase 
 tlie longer we live. " It is the glory of God to conceal a 
 tiling," [Prov. xxv. 2]. And when He conceals it, woe be 
 to the vain man who thinks himself competent to search it 
 out, and puzzles his brain and wastes his time in the endeavour. 
 The Apostle Paul said, " If a man think that he knoweth 
 anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know," 
 [1 Cor. viii. 2] : and the Apostle Paul was a true philoso{)her. 
 
 The writings of Archbishop Whately contain many obser- 
 vations on this subject, which may be profitably studied by all 
 who are desirous of being regarded as thinkers ; especially 
 his " Logic," and his "Annotations on Lord Bacon's Essays." 
 
 2. Let us avoid dogmatism. An old friend of ours was 
 accustomed to say when various opinions were referred to in 
 conversation, " A good deal may be said in favour of 
 that view." Our friend's own views were rather broad, and 
 he was very averse to dogmatism on any matter, in which 
 respect he may be safely imitated* It is disgusting to hear 
 shallow minded men talk in favor of their peculiar notions, 
 assuming airs of authority, and demanding submission to 
 their dogmas. 
 
 Opposed to dogmatism is indifference — a state of mind 
 equally or even more dangerous. We have need to guard 
 against it, as it often proves to be the parent of unbelief. 
 The outcry raised in these times against dor/ma, as it is 
 called, is as senseless as it is mischievous. There is a medium 
 course, which an honest searcher after truth will have no 
 great dilficulty in finding. 
 
 3. Public instructors should shun speculations, in their 
 teaching. The reference is to the pulpit. It, is rartdy desir- 
 able for a preacher to unfold the method of a process. The 
 results only need to be placed before an audience, accompan- 
 ied by such explanations as will tend to satisfy intelligent 
 hearers. 
 
 A singular case occurred many years ago in London. The 
 pastor of one of our churches in that city had employed him- 
 self in some speculations, partly pliilosophicai, partly theo- 
 
 i 
 
 
u 
 
 logical, and had thrown the result, the argument infliided 
 into a sermon. Being invited to preach a missionary sermon 
 in Kent, he took tlmt sermon \vi;h him, and preached it, hut 
 soon discovered that he had made a mistake. No one un- 
 derstood him, and consequently no interest, was hdt, and tlie 
 good man expressed afterwards his regret that he had not 
 preached a plain gospel sermon, which would have warmed 
 all hearts jmd opened all pockets. 
 
 4. Great care is required in the choice of texts on the 
 subject of this paper. An uncritical reader of the Scriptures 
 (many preachers are found in that category) notes a num- 
 ber ot passages, some in tlie Psalms, some in the prophets, and 
 some in the New Testament, which speak of the coming of 
 oi the Lord as a most desirable event, and give avssurance 
 of its certanty. These pasages are supposed to relate to the 
 Lord's second coming, and are so uniformly interpreted. 
 But it is overlooked or forgotten that the comings of the 
 Lord have been numerous, sometimes of a judicial character ; 
 sometimes merciful, and that Jesus himself used language to 
 his disciples which was evidently susceptible of a twofold 
 application, partly to the fall of Jerusalem, and partly to 
 the final judgement. There is a dividing line somewhere, and 
 a transference from one event to the other is supposed to exist; 
 but thei-e is a want of agreement among the best judges as 
 to the proper place for it, ami it is an allowable inference 
 that great caution is requisite in the choice of texts. 
 
 0. Insoluble difficulties and irreconcilable conclusions 
 must be expected. 
 
 We have to do with imagery of the wildest, grandest 
 kmd. The Easterns surpass all other people in this particu- 
 lar, and the writer of the Apocalypse surpasses all other 
 Easterns, havmg, besides, this specialitv, that it is a prophet- 
 ical book, abounding in figures, but altogether wanting in 
 dates. Whatever system of interpretation we may choose to 
 adopt, we shall find ourselves so perplexed by digressions, 
 and episodes, and sidq-lights, that it may be safely deemed 
 the wiser course to give up attempts at explanation, and 
 satisfy ourselves with the belief and expectation of the 
 1.01(1 s commg, leaving questions of time and manner, and 
 attenuant circumstances, to be answered by the event itself. 
 
 It IS not for you to know the times or the seasons, which 
 the l<ather hath put in his own power." 
 c» 7',^^!, °'S^'' °i, proceedings on "that day" ia briefly 
 ilT'l I!' ?^^^ Testament, and may be now sketched, as 
 lar as the materials are supplied. 
 
15 
 
 It must be supposed, tlien, that the preliminary events 
 have occurred. All the seals have been opened ; —all the 
 trumpets have been blown ; — all the vials *ave been poured 
 out; all the visions of the Apocilypse, the various, obscure 
 and conflicting metaphors, which liawj exhausted the efforts 
 ol the mightiest minds of Cliristendom to explain them, 
 have been lulfilled. The time of the consummation has come. 
 The transaction of affairs of all kinds is going on as usual ; no 
 uncommon tokens of divine manifestations have been pre- 
 sented to notice, except, it may be, some remarkable dis- 
 plays of power in missionary stations, sucli as have gladdened 
 God's people for many years, and occasioned a revival of 
 that watching, waiting state of mind which is evidently 
 agreeable to the Lord's will. 
 
 1. On some wondrously bright morning all eyes are turned 
 to the appearance of a cloud unlike all other clouds, gradually 
 covering the hemisphere, and moving towards the earth. 
 The Lord is there, with his escort of " mighty angels," 
 coming to wind up all affairs.and "make all things new:" He is 
 not seen as yet but his presence is felt, and consciousness of 
 the fact begins to spread among God's servants, producing 
 ecstatic joy, while others are filled with trembling apprehen- 
 sion, crying " The great day of his wrath is come, and who 
 shall be able to stand ?" [Rev. vi. 17.] 
 
 2. There will be a " great sound of a trumpet," and 
 forthwith squadrons of angels will leave the clouds in ev'ery 
 direction, whose mission will be to raise the "dead in Christ," 
 and gather in God's elect " from one end of the heaven 
 to the other." This will be " the first resurrection," the 
 event so termed in Rev. xx. as has been already remarked, 
 is clearly of a spiritual kind, one of those highly-wrought 
 figures with which the Apocalypse abounds. It is Christ's 
 prerogative to raise the d ^ad, and he employs the instru- 
 mentality of angels for th -^urpose. We must not omit, 
 however, to observe, tliat ti adieg which will be raised 
 will be spir'*ual bodies; there will be nothing fleshly about 
 them, for ' lesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of 
 God," [1 Cor. XV. 50.] We do not know what a " spiritual 
 body " is ; but we shall " know hereafter." 
 
 8. This being done, the saints then living in the world will 
 be prepared to meet the Lord. They will not die, but they 
 will be " changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at 
 the last trump" [1 Cor. xv. 52] for Christ shall " change 
 our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his own 
 
16 
 
 glorious bedy, according to the working whereby he is able 
 to subdue all things unto himself " [Phil. iii. 21] A new 
 power of loconootion will be given them, and they will be 
 able with ease to ascend to the cloud and " meet the Lord 
 in the air." That will be the most glorious assembly ever 
 convened. The sun never shone upon anything like it. 
 
 4. We do not inquire about time and place, for we are 
 out of the regicri of those things. All that we can now say 
 is, that the next transaction to be considered is the last 
 judgement. "NVe have an account of this great event 
 in the words of our Lord himself, who has told us as much 
 as we are to be permitted to know in the present state. 
 These are his words : — 
 
 *' When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all 
 the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne 
 of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations ; 
 and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd 
 divideth the sheep from the goats ; and he shall set the 
 sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left." 
 
 Neither our Lord nor any one of his apostles has given 
 any account of the process of the judgment. There are 
 great blanks which cannot be filled up. The separation, 
 general and final, seems to be the act o^ judgment. 
 Omniscience is on the throne, and the effect of His presence is 
 felt throughout the vast assembly. Every individual's 
 conscience is awake — and active — and true, securing in all 
 cases a just and unerring decision, which is immediately 
 carried into effect. There will be no mistake. Not a sheep 
 will be found among the goats, nor a goat among the sheep. 
 Every individual will be in his or her " own place." 
 The Lord proceeds — 
 
 " Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 
 'Come, ye blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom 
 prepared for you from the foundation of the world ; for I 
 was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I wps thirsty, and 
 ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; 
 naked, and ye clothed me ; I was sick, and ye visit^ed me ; 
 I was^ in prison, and ye came unto me." 
 
 •Then shall the righteous answer. him, saying, 'Lord, 
 when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee, or thirsty, 
 and gave thee drink ? When saw we thee a stranger, and 
 took thee m, or naked, and clothed thee ? Or when saw we 
 thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee ? And the King 
 shall answer and say unto thee, Verily I say unto you, 
 
 ^^ .- 
 
17 
 
 ir 
 
 I 
 
 Iiiiiflmucli as yd Imv(^ done it unto o)io of tlin least of these 
 my brethren, y*; have done it unto me,' 
 
 "Then shnll he say also unio tliox^ on the left hiind, 
 (who appear to have been raised from the dead at the Hfirne 
 time, or nearly ho, as the saii'ts, See John v. 28, 'i'.' ) 
 Df'part from me, yt- cursed, inio evi rlistin^j; fire, preparfl 
 for the devil and his anpels ; for I was :in hiin<x»M'< d, aiid 
 
 ve "a\e ine no meat 
 
 w 
 
 as thi:sly, and ye ;zav c nir no 
 drink ; I was a stran^er, and ye took me not iti ; naked, and 
 ye clothed me not ; sick, and in pri^o^, and ye visit-.d me 
 not 
 
 Then shall they also answer nim, savin};, Lord, wl 
 
 it-n 
 
 w 
 
 hen saw wc tiiee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or 
 naked, or siek, or in prison, and did not minister inito the- ? 
 
 Then >hall He answer them, sayinfj. Verily I >ay unto 
 you, inasmuch as \e did it not to one ot the least of tlieS'', 
 ye did it not to me. And these -hall l;o awity into ev«;r- 
 ia>ting punishment ; hut the righteous into everlasting life/' 
 
 AND THICY WILL ALL <;0. 
 
 VI. This will be tlie end of t'le G 'sp ^ dispensation. All 
 power was given unto the Savierir, • in heaven and in < arfh." 
 Me wa^ coDmis.sioiied to govern the nations, atal he did gov- 
 ern them, ihoujih th' y kii<*w it not. Tlu;y executed His will, 
 
 [lerforniing their own 
 
 •en- 
 
 while they llif)Ught that tley 
 
 plea-ure, and secui'ing their own glory. At the san^e tii 
 
 ne 
 
 He has cared for the intere>-ts of the Church, i 
 
 n every part 
 
 of the world ; in raising up and sending forth gitted men by 
 whose instrumentidity the cause of truth and holiness has 
 been maintained, revived, and defitvided ; in preveritin<; ihe 
 success of wicked schemes, ;itid making tlie " wrath ot man 
 to praise 11 im," [Ps. Ixxvi 10]. niid in bestowing all rpan- 
 ner of spiritual blessings en his s-rvant-. "Of his fulness 
 have all we reoei'^ed. and giace for grace, (John i. 17), that 
 is, grace answering to His g?ace ; the fidne-s btdongs to tlie 
 Church, and is coniinuail\ imparted, and will be as long a.-s 
 
 ne( 
 
 d req 
 
 UM'es 
 
 Then cometh the end, wlien he shall havi 
 
 delivered up the kingdom te God. ev.ii the P\ither ; wtien 
 he sha'l ha^ e put down all ride, and all authorit and p')\v<M-, 
 For He must reign, tdl He hath put all ei.eniies under his 
 feet. And when all thing- shall be subdued unto him ; then 
 shall the Son abo himsell be subject unto him that |.!jt all 
 tilings under Him, that God may lie all tn all," (1 Cer. xv. 
 21-28). 
 
 Then will a [)assage in the old record receive its ample.-t 
 
 ■.VI 
 
 -■»/*■■■> 
 
 iff 
 
18 
 
 v.iilication :— '' Tlicie fiiiU") i ot aiijzlit cf any «joo(l thin", 
 wliicli tlie Lord hail HpokfU niiti» rlic \\n\inv, of Israel ; all 
 I'.iint' to iiass. 
 
 (Jo.-I 
 
 I. XXI, 
 
 4.0.) 
 
 VVt" know not wliat arran^it'iniMil.s will follow lliis dispen- 
 sation : Hut we may vtMitnVe to affirm tliat " thf <^ra(Ui of 
 llit^ Lord JeHij^ Cliri«it, and tlie love of (im], and the corn- 
 nujniou ul the II(»ly Cili(.>t" will be as |)re(;ioiis and as 
 |i(»werful it) the e\peri<'nce of the saints in their final 
 dvv(diiii^-|)lacM', as in their piltrriniajie-state formerly on the 
 earth, and that the Ilalh hijali-. ot the saved, in honour of 
 " the Lainh that u!i> slain" will he heard lor ever all ovtr 
 the plains of heaven, to its widi-st rxtent. 
 
 Vll. The ^t'nt ral conflaf^rati m will follow. When and 
 
 w we know no 
 
 t. Hut here- is the authority : — 
 
 ho 
 
 "■ The day ot the Lord will come as a thief in the niiiht ; 
 in the which, the heavt ns >liall pa.i- away with a ;freat iioise, 
 and the elt'inent- shall melt with fervent hcui; ; the eaith 
 also and the works that are thereni >hHll he burned up." 
 
 [2 Vvt 
 
 t'V 111. 
 
 10.] 
 
 Many questions inijiht he asked ; to none of which any 
 au-v.er eonlil he <fi\<'ii in tln' present -tate of" our know- 
 led,i'. We iniiht quote pottry hy tlie hushed — hut wiih 
 what result ? Spiritualist.- and dreamei'ii uiisht eover reams 
 ot pajicr with ink — ^ill uselessly. Darkness rests upon the 
 prospei-t. All we eaii say i>, that every thing around us is 
 doomed to ihe lire 
 
 VI IL The new heaven and th<^ hh-w earth: 
 
 Wlu're ? We do not know, loi- no sulfieii'nt idue is fjiven. 
 Fiuin the last two chapters ot the i)ook ot Revelation we 
 mi^ht ;j:atht'r that this earth is intended ; but the ti<jrurative 
 and the liti'ral are so iniuiilpd in those chapters that a sat- 
 isfactory dfcision i> hardly attainable. Still it .nusi be 
 "ir.uited that many dis ines liave held that this world, puri- 
 fied by the eontlanration will l)e the abi^de of the blessed ; 
 ihoiiorji, how stone- and earth can be purified by being burnt 
 i- ditllcult to be conceived ; perliaps. however, all that is> 
 meant is, that the exclusion of the wicked will itself be a 
 purification. •' There shall in no wise enter into it l_tlie new 
 Jerusalem] any thiiio; that defih'th, neither whatsoever 
 woiketh abotiiination, or makt-th a lie." (Rev. xxi. 27.) 
 
 Yes — "Thy jeople also .-hall be all righteous" [Isa Ix. 
 '20. "1 No mere professors or hypocrites will be seen there. 
 The wants, desires and habits of the redeemed host will 
 be so dit!erent from those of earth, every tiling Heshly 
 
 ^ 
 
19 
 
 having ceased to oxi.st, and marriages, births, sickness and 
 death being unknown, every saint existing in a spiritual 
 body, hat a clear idt-a of tlie stale of society in the new 
 woild is not to bo looked tor, and pr(>hal)ly would not be 
 comprehensibh'. But of this, we may be certain, that all 
 truth will b(; discovered, and correctly received ; that all holy 
 ath'ctions will be pt-rleeted, and in constant exercise ; that 
 every member <>l the gloriHed Church will be heard ex- 
 cliiiniinu, " Tuv will uk donk ;" and that throughout the 
 wide extent of the vast t<^rritory occupied by God's servants, 
 they will be all " of one heart and one soul," (Acts iv. 
 .'32), as they were at the lir-t. Thert- will be no contro- 
 versies. Divisions will he rf'i'ortt'd dead and liuried. Strife, 
 liatred, susjiicion, unbelief, will be only known as things of 
 the past, ntiff there will 7iever be (tni/ reaction. 
 
 Finally, the Lorii .Icsus will be thern. " We shall be 
 like Iliin." says the b^'l()ved disciple, "for we shall see 
 Ilini a-i He is," [1 .loliti iii. 2]. " They are before the 
 throtie ol God, and S'rve him day and night in Mis temple ; 
 and He that sitt<'th on the throne -hall dwell among them. 
 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; 
 neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the 
 Lurid) which is in the; midst of the throne shall feed them, 
 and shall lead them lo living fountains of wa'er, and God 
 shall wipe away all tears [iietter, " every /e«r"] fi'om their 
 eyes, " [He\. vii. l."»-I71. "And so shall wi". KVEii liE 
 WITH THIi LoitD." [1 Tliess. i'. 18.] 
 
 " For ever with tin- Lord !' ' 
 
 Amen ! So let it be: 
 Ijite from (he deaii is in tliat word — 
 
 "I'is immortality. 
 
 Ili're in tlie hody pout, 
 
 Absent from llim, 1 roam, 
 Vet nij^ditiy \nw\\ niy moving; tent, 
 
 A iliiy's march m-arur home. 
 
 My Fathrr's house on hi}fli, — 
 
 Home of my soul, — how near, 
 At times, to faitii's foreseeing eye, 
 
 riu' golden gates appear I 
 
 " Forever with the Lord " ! 
 
 I-'atlier, if 'tis 'I'liy wiU, 
 The p.omise of that taitht'ul word, 
 
 K'en here to me fulfil. 
 
 i 
 
 — James Montoomkuy. 
 
 J. M. CRAMP. 
 
 /■