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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 filmis A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, 11 est film* d partir de Tangle supirieur gauche, de gauche ^ droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I m 1^ Z8 11^2 3.6 2.5 M 111112.2 4.0 1.4 2.0 1.8 1.6 ^ APPLIED IIVMGE Inc 1653 East Main Street Rochester, New York 14609 (716) 482 -0300- Phone (716) 288- 5989 - Fax USA < > THEIILLEMIUM: *■ f !.' A DISCOURSE, DELITERKD BKFOHE TOE REFORMED PRESBYTERY OF NEW BRUNSWICK AND NOVA SCOTIA, ON WEDNESDAY, llth MAY, 1864, BY REV. J. R. LAWSON, BABNESVlLfiB, Jf^ B. Published by tlie Bequest of Presbytery. SAINT JOHN N. B. PRINTED BY B AEMES *; r^MP A MV PBISCK WILLIAM HTUBEr. 1864. *6 THE MlLLEA'NIfJM; !/ '^ i)rsr() i; RSK / "Ki.iVKitKu rttrutiK tup: / / KKtoRMED VmhTW OF NEW DRUNSWICK Ai\D NOVA SCOTIA, ON WKDNKSDAV, nth MAV, ,no4, (!V fiJiV. J. R. LAWSON \ lUKNKSVK.l.K, X. I,, Published fay the Eoquest of Presfayeery, -tetSa-Wt*^- «A]NT JUilX X. ii. TKLVTED BY IJAKXKS L COMPANV-. i SERMON. to:;,2^^^?aS 3= ;;rs i "- '■-• ---^^ ^^^ ^^y or .he ,.. Sat.; and'bo;;;iZ! :aZ^:^^^^''' ^'^ ^^'P-^. -^'^'' - the DeviJ. „„d be r«lfilIecl."_RKv. XX ], 2 3. "" '"**'"' *'" *'>« '*'«"'«'"d years lould ^ mo.s, " the t i no.s ^ ; '^,, '/^ f^^y^^^^ "^ ^he Isle of Pat- ^vhichuro,andftetl;n^^'» in hi! thenationfand cLin f f ''''''''' the deceiver of slotting h' nf up 4d ^\et S" "^'" '^' botton.less pit, and ^lionld deceive h'p nnr ^ ^ ''^^^ '^P^^ ^^^^^^ that he should be Sm r The'ev^M "r "^^'^^ ^ thousand year! lai'^'-age is, tJiat prio7to u.'fi \'"^'''' "*' '^^^^ ^>'"^'^«^i« thiuL^s, and imnVprKni? ^ ^"''^ consummation of all eln-ia,' and eT ry S:]fwT'^"^-^^ '^'' ^^^^'^'f^" of Anti- period of reLnfablf !• ! r and X?\'ir t" ^-^ ^ du]-ing which the Chmv.]? In ^^^'^T^ ^^^ssed period, mentstand appear fa^ as h.^" ''''"!' ^^"^' ^^'-^"tifil gar! terrible as an^amy w th hnr! "'^'^"' f^''' ''^ the sun, and thousand year^dYring w^^^^^^^^ ^^^^T'^ ^'V^^^ «f ono shall be the kii^doT^f If r kingdoms of this world truth and rigLtfouBTes' an^ Til ''^*« ^^^'^'^^t, and nations. -"^^^"^neso and peace shall spread over tU Believing that we are rapidly approaching this glorious 4 millennial era, we huv,. (■onsi'^^r'-^^"^^r;T'''^^'^^^ ^'^ '^^' most wonderful revival ot religion which has ever marked the annals of the Church of God ; and it will be the fruit of the most remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit that the Churc d!v«''''' '-.VTi'S ^'''\ '' '^'''^^ ^^^"^^ *^ P««« i" the last days, saitli. God, by the prophet Joel, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh ; and your' sons and your .>our young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days^ wil I pour out my Spirit."-(JoeI ii. 28, 29.) This Toird e it 18 rue, was partially fulfilled on the day of Kecos God then poiired out His Spirit in a very remLkable manner, opening a door of utterance to the Ai Ss and a door of entrance for the truths which they proclaimed 1 itss^'Xt fl" ""'^^f^'^.l ''^^"^' and'sich'^rthe blessed ettects flowing from that communication from on Jefl; M,fl?rH^ ^"^^-^f"^^ ''r'^-y '''^'^ -t the name o Jesus. Multitudes of them that had aided in the cruci-'^ fix.on of the Lord of glory, looked to him whom they had pierced and mourned for him. But it is to the millennkl era that we are to look for the fullest and mosT glorious accomplishment of this promise. TI.pp anr} ^?ii ^ ^ ^ T^i^ll** r\%-\ t- nt iiiun^ nit undnntly tlijin In any previous doHu.I ir; »^. .• •. .■i!i\t;r,V£.t1:;S:';;~i.''r»' '■•»•— rivers in },ir.J. .V , J^^' t^ud promises to "open 2d. The millennium will be cliaraoVn^Prl ]..r 9lo^^ous condition of the ChurahT^^ ^^^ ^^^'^ Ihis glorious condition of the Chun'li\r,-:i 1-^ fi, v v of the Spirit's promised influences IW.l if *'"'^ g oiy, save aniexcept whatrhr^^^ei'.'s^i^onrtt Spin" Mie may have numbers, wealth, fforgeous temnL^ 1 i a pompous ceremonial knd „^.'X & , P^^^' ^"^^ whWv'er, in the eStfo„ orAm who^'wretr- ^'^P' ■niflst of the seveu golden .■anmestitir Zt 1 rH .weiesstordf/;^„\:L^:^^^^^^ understandings, renewinrr their will^ nnri !f v • ^ [^ ' &< j?4% "p°^V- ""'l:^/ r "E^e ^.'■;- when "He abnndantly blesses her pmvi.ip„ „"^ ifS' irer poor with broad ;' wlion he clothes "\ »er pi'icstg with 'I M '1 I'eaJt],, nn.] iuakesjicr .aiM. tu .hout aloud lor juv' -then .he Ci.ui-di IS glonou. indeed; then .ho imts on lier })e u j>eiicai piopJiet l&amh, with Ins eye upon the resDlpnrlonf giones of the millennial Church .piks o^h^K Lebanon coming unto her, the Hi' tree, the pine tfee and the box to.£rether, to beautiiV the tAico of rir 1' a.id to ma].e the place of hif l';^ ^lo^^l ^'' ^ ^""'""^' J.t.'"' '''""'' ^^'^" ^^' ^^^--"« -^ -«--! to her It is mejancholj to reflect, that after the cxnir-itinn rf npwards o eighteen hundred years, the ^lorioToo .'el of the blessed God has made such comparatively 1 n^eDro gress amongst the nations of the wo Id. W son etimes talk about the wonderful circulation of the '.^id "f Go5 through the agencj of the different Bible Soc eties Th t circula ion amounts, 1 believe, to somewhere a w'.eveniv two mil ion copies. That appears a large nnS-nndt realljalarge number; bnt\dien we cSmmrrit wiih tl. population of our globe, who must have Bibles! or p^rio is of them or else perish eternally-..,,7^ it Z'Zriarae? The truthis, that notwithstanding ail the eftS of nlut.! Bible Societies in the new and old world w l^ one in every iifleen of the'^lthpl ^^S ^""- mJ ct A rdT' ^ '''' i-evelationof^I a^tf u!:l'nv """' '''^'^" '^'® consider that of those seven v ^ B^l un^^T' T'^'^r "^"^"^ ^^^- ^-- ^^^^ ja xjiiicun ana its (lenendoncips • f-n-onfTr -a'..^ m- «.e continent of E„4e ;t";d1i^tcSM„%t^;,1;™i^ jve will see that only 6ve million copies of tl.e word of S r'r^v-'?' /i/j ^'S ;!if eitsL u'rnd"rr : B, t 'o"ls And T ''""^ ',''" '''^^^' «"'' Sat™ tl.e an;. false prophet Mnhnmef : Jf ,vo ,i.wi.,... i»..„l T^^^^^ ^9 l^^^ '.-ttivt jiwiu me remainder !? the seven million cf unbdieviii.^ Jow- who i-pI-.m fi f Uinstian and Protestant CJuirches liavp nr I "! / hve^^yho have only the /T.;'.;!;,/ J^^^^ only y,a^i, fo Jv. 1.) Jiere shall be an handfii of corn in thp p.S npon tlK) top of the mountains, the frnit therec^t^hall Zt hke Lebanon, and thev of tho ^itv «l/.ii fl • i vi ^^® of the -rth "-fPs Ixxii ipff ^^^Y ^'.'""'^' like grass uiviunai , out It will be the tn/iahtanfs of one ottv RPndiTio. to the mhabitants of another cUy, saving " £' t ^f"? E "^ Yo^"^ '^'^^^ *^r ^^^^^^' -^^ t^^-^^ the lord ff %tfSiS'::"' ""' '" =""°™"' '" '•"S-'^l ^'« her In allusion to this, it is promised, "Tlie hVlit nf tt,« moon shall be as the light of the sun,'and the li?0,t of th^ sun shall be seyen-fold as the lif^ht of seven da3' aU n 1 dy:rri;?/th" t'' t ='" )t ^""^ ^'^ ^-^■ ^^•x^== i^oL oiujrne uuiversaJity, but the rZ^^w//? r»f fhof .^nntual knowledge which shall A'a.acteJt tSter dar If' i i I '•'!■ unl4 ■ ^'"^ ^'^"'■^'' ^''«" '^'^ g'^'o-'B i.> regard to 1«,. ^vith Jealousy, Fejadi^rand^'L': o!it" "ti'^Zo 'Zt believe that some of those unions tfnt hnvl i. "" precious \vn^^ ^ a t" ^^ f^''^'^'^ portions of God's ^T-mSro; a":raf aJlie^M hold '^ ''r "' ^ certain articles of the creej for whll, tl 1 abeyance ff^ir^^sr'f-t': ti4 1^^-^ unto vp hnfi 1 ^ -^ J^'^. ^''''^^'' '^"^^ '^^^^ «"^ ^^^5." " Where- are the remarks of the "Rev P tt 4{^°"°^ ^^"^ J "Vicious lect. " All attPn nta f. • V* • ?P^"\2jeon on this sub- let me keep my conscience clear. i« nAV.,S ^^.^.^^1^^^^^^^ IC id, " T] ]xv. 20.) bild shall futh, and tiired, as .Id. d to Iter llie Ro- so many netimes, nie, til at abolish late into tained a he most 'fill sign we are is very lich wo s. We onsum- e their God's iis of a eyance latioiis ;ion of Vhere- , mind ilt up T fall, iicioiis Is sub- truth, glory, Biices, form fixed II the then sell a mder 1 not "love U^. '''"' Ch-«h^" be glorious in regard to her i>™«i«rn.nryoftheLord. This Sato of mZri a I 10 int/'Lclnctiun of i ecu Sv .n'^^l'^^^' w 'T''''''^ ''^'^^ *!'« tlie pulpit, wliici seals oW^ 'liseourses of they ough to speak'" t ^^^^ ""^^^^^^ U^« ^>f men, when to Godrand in uHous !<; the nnrV'"T^"'^^'^^ ^'^1^'^'^^'"^^ it possible for'^o c to dec hro .1 -1 f '^ "^" ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ wl4out the intn:;Le^.^^;.l^^^;^^t.S^^ f ' Ood, occupied witli the dnfv L 1 ^'^^'^^''^i'^"^'' ^^ ^'^^ «P^'«tle.s or preach on any of thp^P .W • ^ ^''^^'''^ *^ l^'^ture supported A 1 fi,; , • ^ "^"^^ ^*^ trained, sent out, and ^uj.»pujLLu. ii.li tins requo'es mrmpn • o,n.i j? i ' the money to come « W ll fl! T ^/ ^ ", ^^^"^ whence is to be not their own,Xit God?^^'^^^^^^^ i^^"^'" ""^^^ l^^^^f^«« obligation to '^lonourt P T i' ? "^ i'''^"" ^'"^ ""^^r an witi? the first i^.^'^^t^t^.^^ iJieuibers of the Cliiii-r.li ^( pi , • * , , ^""^ "^ f'e that all tliatXv are a nT'^'^'^ff '"•'""'"''"'"■<'"'»; touch their pocket tn - ^'^^ '"^'^rts-ancfsoon Jiot lans,„-s tor wan? of 1? '•' "^ "'« Redeemer wonld Churcirwould Imve ^o „f d'^fr *T "'P''"'''- 1''""' the door for moan to earn 1 P " '"««'!'S «' «'« ^v-orId•s Soirees, and Caars and Pin , • ' T;;f' ?"''• ^lien tea such like trSkfof earnaf viT' ''f Cliristmas trees, and the poekets of tW Itio f ' ""'''' '""""■^ °"' "^^ because no longer necessarv 3 fl' o ni , ''""'^ "^'"y, abundance of Seinf w?fl,17'l ,J ! 9'";,''«'' ^'O"" have uiuxc btn.-.Di\ diiui ever thej iiave felt •dncss of ? on tlie witli the )urses of ^n, wJien ^, liow is of God, Is not a natters 'i ej)!* sties ? LIow lecture g about s to be ; by the nent of printed nt, aiid ence is rain it Israel ? profess der ail ^e, and if tile it they ' 0W71 • 1 wlio ig ap- d sooji would n the Grid's 11 tea s, and •ut of li the iway, have 3eg of ns. stlan riicii 2 felt W ^^^^^TZt ««>«„,; t),oy will sav n.ore Lord's ;^ a,K in a nSf ?"'*', '">' 'i"''"'^'' " ^ »'" tl,u will "l',on„ , . he SvithX, ''•'"'■!" ^'<=^"'«'"«-^^ tl.oy fruits of their i„cr:l""'i',, ^ I'' '! il"^-^' ''"'' "-."«' fniits of their increase •" on,i +i r;;""^' '''"^' "-"i^ nrst Ihe Church will be glorions in regard to her Again. holiness. •shall boSioLiNE ™1 .2"t"'1';?"'^, "*«'--■ l'0>'ses In mises there shall beVouS Zo Tnr'loL ■'"l/"*',""'.'"'!?^'* ■Ihat was tlie inserintion nn tl,„ i' -^°""-, — (A'cli. xiv. 20.) I'igh priest, when I?e went in ? l',''<'«tl'''"';°*' ""■ «"«''"' thegieat day of at«,ement In"^' ^^"n I^?'-)' P'o^'c on ivill be on the commZos ' tl • " """(^n'lial period, it liorsos. Then therwil b„ »"' °™" "'« ^-^''^ o<' * 'o tion of "religion rc:mmo„w""'"Tr'"''''f! --"P'^^"- he a thing fo° the Sal hntri , religion will not e^ory day. u Zi tt be' 1 ['/ TS^,Y '^ """S for wli.oh men put on in the mo rnin,^ rft of ,' ''"^' «,'''""™'' at Its close: but men will ,'„ "5 "I '''''•''' ""<' P"* <>«' take it witl them to the m.H f ""'? f'h """^ "'"Vwill work-shop,and eco ft2 '"'"' *''«, fi«ld. and the and whet ier the Lt or d r n:''"''"', ""'' ""= ^'"""l 'circle ; wm endeavour t^ rali tth^ gW of GVd" ""^ ""' ""^"^ .iflik^tiLToatetCeteS^^^^^^^^^ 3l^\fr^rf-irrr:™w^"^^'>'^^ then be lioly, and thepeoirtnn ^^'"^ ministry will God's liouse will liate " /i/y! ^^ 'I)''''"? '^- ^"^^^'^ ^^^ "Pontiienr; and t e sanie rwf ^f ^^'' f"^"^^" "^^^^^^^^^ characterise the ruled An T '^•"'^''' '^"""'^"^^ ^^'^^ iaw of God's hou e iLcHh^ ^ "^ "^^^'^^ *'^^" the limit thereof roimd Tout .i;il^^^'^ ^^^ ^ " The M-hole this is.the law ot"lte;:!^^^;,;ryf ^Th ''.^'"^'' prescription is not that tl,^ „u Vo „ "'•J -'■'"' divine but thit the whole 1,1 of tw>"' '^°'^' '""'^'^ 'n^'-e'v, be most holy. So tn there ? f "'" ™V'"' '''^«"' ^•'a" pastors, anianother fo t S 'rople- n^f °' "'"""^ ^<"' ethics for rulers in Gnrl'. i P^^P^e; not one system of ^^o. If pa^ioi: aiet be'hr the r""^" '''' ''V^''^^'' same obligation .- if \\!Z „!. '?,' ^J\^" P^PP^^ ''^I'e under the ^-1 Lilt H "-.Kanon ; it tboy are to set a fioli ev „." , ,;; ^r,^ ?•.''" i;^"!""^':- to set a hoi'v e.;; ' ! M.„MbHfthe,;.;;r;,-'^,^f--;:'^--^ le bei lOro ore e most holy, 12 80 is tliG whole limit thereof round about. And so it will be in the millennial period— for " The pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls bef ^e the altar." Again. There is another ble sed assurance, " And in that day thoro shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts."— (Zech. xiv. 21.) It is not promised that there will be no Canaanites then — aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise there will be ; but there will be one place where they will not be found— the house of the Loi^d of hosts— the Church of the living God. The Church of the millen- nium will not be a mixture of tares and wheat, as the visible Church has been in ages past, and as she is now ; for the assurance is, the Canaanite shall not be found in her pale. But how shall this promise be fulfilled ? Will the Lord of hosts, who has the hearts of all men in his hand, cause such a terror to seize upon the ungodly, that they will not dare to seek membership in such a holy con- federacy as the Church of the living God 1 Such may be the case. Or will the terms of admission into the pale of the millennial Church be so holy, that they will at once exclude those who would now be welcomed into many a professing Christian society ? Such undoubtedly will be the case. But there will be one circumstance that will eminently serve to protect the Church from the intrusion of ungodly men— a circumstance that will protect the pulpit from the intrusion of ungodly ministers, and the Lord's Table from ungodly communicants ; and that will be the holiness of the Churches members. Now, men of unrenewed and unsanctified hearts, can find their way into the Church, and can be even comfortable there. "They meet yith very little to repel them ; very little in the con- versation of ministers, ruling elders, or people, to repel them by its sancti^^ But in the millennial Church it will be far different. Then, when " holiness to the Lord" shall be inscribed on the members of the Church, when the pots in the Lord's house shall be as the bowls before the altar ; then the Canaanite, even if he could, would not find his way into the house of the Lord ; he could not stand the dazzling brightness with which he would be surrounded ; he could not bear to be brought into such close contact with holy men, holy women, and holy children— and therefore he will choose to stand aloof, and not ccme into close quarters with those, who by their holiness, will be not onlv fair us the morn, and clear as the sun : but also to /tim. now 13 terrible as an army with hanncrs. ! what a glorious condition of things that will be. Holiness in the cottage, holiness in the palace, holiness at the altar of God, the whole limit thereof round about most holy, 3d. The Millennium will be characterized by the volun- tary subjection of all national associations to the sceptre of Prince Messiah. It was the assurance of this that brightened the eye and gladdened the heart of the Apostle John, when he heard great voices iii Heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of liis Christ (Rev. XI. 15). The 1260 years of Antichrist's reign have come to a termination— the witnesses that have prophesied during that dark period in sackcloth have been slain— their three and a half days of contempt and dishonour during which their dead bodies have been exposed in the streets ot the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and ±.gy])t, have terminated also ; and now they have a glorious resurrection ; the spirit of life enters into them ; they ascend up to heaven ; and now as the result of that resurrection of the witnesses, the revival of principles long despised, great voices are heard in heaven, ^proclaiming, " The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." Now, if Antichrist's dark reign has not yet terminated—if the angel has not yet proclaiiTied " Babvlon IS fallen —if the two witnesses have not yet finished their testimony— if they have not yet been slain and raised again to hie, and honour, and influence, then these great voices have not yet been heard ; for it is consequent on the oc- currence of these events that the Apostle, in prophetic vision, saw the triumph of the Redeemer's sceptre, and the universal subjection of national associations to Him as the Trince of the kings of the earth. If we cast our eyes abroad over the nations of the earth, we will meet with indisputable evidence that this condi- tion of things has not yet been reali?;ed— melancholy evi- dence, that the nations of the world have not, as national organizations, " kissed the Son," that they have not tho- roughly adopted his word as their sui)reme rule of legisla- tion, and that in tlie administrationof their national affairs tliey have not such regard to his will and iiis glory as entitles thein to be designated " Kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ." Passing over the nciglibouring Republic, and the nations ol continental Europe— let us look at Britain, the most 14 eliristi principles of oivil and rei inizod of all the nuti.,ns of the cartl;, wlu-iv tl i(> irrent Htooil {iiid more full i^'ious liberty arc Itetter iind tl ic coMstitution of wliicl .y exoiiipliiicd thuii' anywhere el er- Christendom- Brit so, and I IS inconiparahlv tlio best in -we have a ridit to a.sk tl 10 (pu'stion, Has r'''Jl!"'"?."i; *" "- «';'-il'""- "1-/'*=' Kin..lo,n of our Lord Jesus Christ ? Is tl tl le constitution of Britain a .prouo-hl^. ehristian constitution i Are the rulei^ of Bn- h"!:; ;:;? ;^7^?^^::^;!^,--!^ ^^- ^-- ^f Bntam ti.orcii^ christian laws? I think that wl su])port that is given to idolatr countenance that i Avhen len we consider the national J m India, and the national s o-iven to Romish idolatry at 1 we consider that upwards of £200,000 sterl imiuallj given out of the national tr of liomish schools in Brit lome — ing are ■easurv for the su])port ain, and that £'80,000 the ,.1 ictl.oot , in connexion witli a system tliat tl.e Si.ii-it of lie Lord clesigiuites " Antiolirist," and wliieliro i destroy with the spirit of his n.onth/and the i i ' it less o f Ills coining-whei, we consider the eonteinpt t£t "cost ..pon the law of Christ in the setting; up of' the nation's nilers : that law says, " He that rulSli Iver me'i m^t he us niling ,n the fear of God:" it ordains tlia those ca ed to rule must be able men, men of truth, fearS./God and hatins covetousncss ; but the constitution of lirit" say s, that whilst social qnahtications are reouisite and some measure of mtcUectual qualiiications, tliatmmrfZXfc ui-e not essential to the nation's ruler. ; acSHvIt , ^ no veto on the drunkard, the p.-ofane^tweirffie"c« e despiser, or the iinj.ure, but admits him to a , otflce't„ wliieli he aspires as cordially as the man who fears God aiK keens Iiis eoinmandmentl Thus the e.xp icU aw of Chi St the king nations is practically set aside and tl result is as stated by the Psalmist : " f),e wM ed w 1 - 1 every side when vile men are exalted" (Ps xii 8) Whe omTt t tll'r'" rf^^-"^ the^Emanci/ation Ae ot Ib^tf the legislative disabilities of Eomanists were re moved, ai.d now they can sit, and talk, and vote in Pari a ment, and have the control in a great nea uiTo all , „h" tical movements, and having it iiftlieir power to n.^et' or at least, very mueli embarrass any exitting govXmi'ent' 1 It''.;',' !™"-<;'-'"lly "'fl"f»«e the nieasuresof tliat gS -nev ci..mom . a ^latc oi things which tiircatens the very 15 life of 11,0 nati..i,'s Protost.i.itiein. Whou we cm,^i,U.. ,h„, tl.o Je«-, wI.o l,luspl,c,„cstl,o na.ne of tie Chris 'ssf To\X: J"'' ■ F''"'^«"'.'-' «'"-irtian ,,co|.le ; a„ I en m rn»tors an.l oIlioo-bLrcrs a"d "na °^^ scttinf? asKlo tlie claim of tl,c Mediator to n, o olv. f,:,-, luvuu utioie tiiat slie can eniov t ho smilp* .»+* +iw. Governor amongst tlio nations. And it mo sav i„ f ' connexion, tliat tliey are tlie true WendVof S„- " S ''IPIV" " 'f r -"^." '- i-1 to no'™" otr deceitful " ' ® ^^^'^^ ^'^ ^^ enemy arc natn^na society, ^iU le -^^.i^'sorett" t E- J: e\iih— Vvjiat can you do to remedy those ox'\U9 a J 16 wave. Hut what wc caniiut do, God can. Wliat we cannot do^ God will do in his own time, and in Jiis own way. Vee, the national evils a«,'ain8t wliich wo testity, at the expense of popularity, social position, and influence, will he removed, for God will take the work into his own hand. By a scries of national judgments, he will pur'^^e out na- tional evils ; in the furnace of national aHlicti'on, he will reiine Britain as silver is refined; and out of the furnace, he will bring her forth glorious, as she never has been before ; and that will be when she shall become thoroughly a kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; when she Siall exemplify that righteousness which exalteth a nation, and be purged from that sin which is a disgrace to any people. And what a happy state of things it will be, when not one kingdom merely, but all the kingdoms of this world, shall be thus Christianised. Then there will be abundant peace. " They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks : nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." — (Isaiah ii. 4.) " No longer hosts encountering hosts, Shall crowds of slain deplore ; They hang the trumpet in the hall, And study war no more.'" And then there will be liberty. Then Africa's wrongs will be redressed, and slavery, that " sum of all villanies," shall be seen in its naked deformity, and swept away for ever. " God shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children or the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." And then there will be prosperity. " For brass, I will bring gold, and for iron, I will bring silver, and for wood, brass, and for stones, iron."-— (Isaiah Ix. 17.) Then shall the earth, that was cursed on account of man's sin, yield her fruit in abundance; "Instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar, shall come up the myrtle tree."— (Isaiah Iv. 13.) " Then shall the earth yield her increase ; and God, even our own God, shall bless us." — (Ps. Ixvii. 6.) I now propose to notice, II. Some of the indications which Divine Providence furnishes of the near approach of this glorious condition of things. 1st. "We are on the very eve of the predicted period of tut; aovvinaii \ji tiiubo uuLicnriscian systems ruat nave •''I r li ot I Milium itherto^been the p-cut obstacles in tbc ^^■ay of tbo k Thcvso 8j8toni8 arc Moliamincclanism nnrl V nntichr^.t of tiio ca.t, and tbe alS^^o? t^. l" ^'^'ti two sjsteniB attained their elevation a , ,,; f "''"^ and l>otI)]iave l)een Dennittt- 1 n fU ''' '^""^^ ^•"•^'' iniesof Christ and his fr,,f^. i " -^ ^^'^' ^'^'^'fit one- one must necessarily be tlie tall of the otW the "Man nf <5,\.'' • i *= ^'^^'- ^^ tJi^' efforts which only eollccting Md'Si ^j in-o"c ^ t'Te' Iir'? stiiijjgle, whicj. must eventuatS in thl iJt I ■ ^""^ to the p.eSed Z: ^HlT mTr^S^lont 1 « l^ZTiZ^ eL'X°R'^ CO nmeuoeSoVf?]^*' of UniJersal Bis,:! f V.'.'d^ d fnlfr,!; ,■?.?■ "1*1^ "'^l- Fophecy tavour the " adoption -7ftlur'Se):ld'rwe IS i8«'s tiurti.no of h ^trt k^- L t'ho"''' "." ',''•';•■>■'-""■ ""J ovont,u,c i„ U>VZT,Z ill •'"'"7; '" "" '"'"Is. And •■« that duto ,n "'l,; , '''''''^'■"''''^''^'■''■"'^tion I'opo-, tcmi,unil i,o«-cr i„ tliV prae Iv^ a " "'° nonent ti'. lioiiye -md l!t.i„ r'^stnt Oayi Aimost a "i"l WHS it not for I , ,„ l"s o-co ricli i.atriiuony : tho Pope of UmxJcZu ,,nt ^ ^- ^'^ ""«' «™ «-l'en tlio nations of E rom" T .™r *''"' «'»» '"^a'd hy con«i,lcre,l tim most . •calfurol;,-/^?,''''''' ""^'••'icl .>.>3 l.-'n.l. Wl,at a clu,, .'o , ™ wC '^. "" •^'"'''' ''^■•'•1 a twcon any two nowci w , „, .? "«cronccs arise 1,0- which si/c is thfpo^'? Wh^:: 'i','"''" "^ "!y"""l^' "" I'ropoacl a few months a™ who f^f "''"'"' .^""S'-«« was t" know wliether th^row 3o?l,K • "^, f '''■''™''''- ""''■'ty truo,ifwelookto-'B„-tai„ weft,eiV,t?hf ,^''^ oing, nrging claim after claim ™1 li--*^'''?''-'' "<'™n- boon, from a professedly I'roteW' nf ""'"""'S ''»"" after wo look to America wo see S'" ^"^""^nt. And if But these, he itobseUd are tKt K°^''^^ ""'™ "ko- so to speak, and tho stat nV il?. •™,'""*' »* "'« '^Vetcm, not furnish'any in fal We cri to ™1 "' "."^'^ '=°""'"^^ ''"O the condition of the sy tem as a whol^ li^ '" '^<^'«"""'« termino the real conditioTof the Man of sf^-r'''"' '" ''"■ detennine the state of his he^Itl? i * "' 'f "^^ ^^""t to -let us look at Italy Jviri'- ™ "':'","""^ '""« ''»'"•» I'opish countries whicl we 'mlv ,^'1'",'' "T? °"^'"- "'<• heart of the system. Wlnt ,ln ^L ^ "'""''•>' ?'='"gnate the of a rapid decline Yc^-jL ml ■ ' '•'"/'. Symptrms tlio Bible is spreading and -r!,-,"- ''-•'" ^'^ breal-L.a ; the minds of ts vSes aIT,^' 'S ^- ''' ''"^'^™ee o,%- know this full will Shoifcft ■? ^"J^.^d his council to prop „p their faling system wL7^'''fr''' ''«"'^'^« •^ >^ "■ .?o;"p^thii.^fSgS:i "^:?^ra;Tit 19 «oi"'sc to any devi™ t a „v hrN r''''''''''.''''» «" '""o '^ Wliat God .r,, detoririinwl t , 1 , • ■""',"""' ' "mot iceo,, ,„ wonder, canuot koo a „ j 'J^' "'V»"- '-n.c-^ I -i ! '^"""h wl,o„ the an..el si I'rn ''""^"'^ '"i' "Pl'roa 'I'i,,^, asaimt tl,o HiWe i„ «,I'-'LS!e'if J l^'Ti" "^ «'o-'^'d T ^ ","" .?<'™""''ent. ""•'"•"'''' ''"I' tlic sanction J neii look at Intll,, a ^ Zti^l T" ""' ""o-c^ t?"cn';n,^' ■>>.-»sionn,.io3 of native idolatry, vet it i ? t-ountcnauc ■ m^en tn ;-o taken place durlnf the ri,^^ '^ ^^•'•-^' ^-^y 'thai r^ adnimisti-ation of IIo m • .'"^ -^^^^^'^ 5 »»(' "ow tliat ^een entrusted to su^h It.nZT, '''^r^ f P"*- ^^' feH John Lawrence thorn •" f"^"^^ '-'* the Bible as tJiat the word of the W «h' if i"""^/^^ ^^"^"i"e W ''"y P\j e , U 1 ^'f !' ^V"'^'''od miHions, w is 1 overrnb'nr. ,._../'"^" ^^ it is in .Tp«pc ti— - ' - ium M ho has tJie ].earts of all 20 I : man in his hand, and who can make the track of blood- stained armies a passage for tlie chariots of salvation, China has been opened to the Gospel of peace, and in the very capital of that vast empire, missionaries of the Cross may declare the unsearchable riches of Christ. Then look at Ttivhey. It is not long since it was death for a Moham- medan to embrace and profess Christianity. " Christian dog" was the common designation of the follower of Jesus. How is it now ? A depot for the sale of copies of the Christian Scriptures has been established in the very heart of Constantinople, the capital city of the empii^, and Christian ministers may preach, and Christian congrega- tions may be established, without any molestation from the higher powers in any portion of the Sultan's dominions. And then look at Itahj^ bright, sunny Italy. In the ex- perience of the people of that land, the Saviour's words have been verified : " The people that sat in darkness have seen a great light ; and to them that dwelt in the region and shadow of death, light has sprung up." A few vears ago, Italy was the region of darkness and death ; but'ligbt has begun to gild her mountain tops, and to illuminate her valleys. The word of the Lord has " free course" to a very encouraoing extent, and is now being "glorified." The Duke of Tuscany, who imprisoned the Madiai for circulating the word of life, is now an exile from his do- minions ; and these liberated servants of Christ may now disseminate, without fear, that word which is able to make wise unto salvation. The Theological Seminary recently established at Florence, under the auspices of' the Wal- densian Church — " That Church that kept the truth so pure of old, AVlien all our fathers worshipped stocks and stones"— that Church that has suffered more from Rome's fierce anger tlian any other people, is doing a great work in training of missionaries for Italy, to enter in through the wide door and effectual tliat has been opened to them of the Lord. The " British and Foreign Bible Society," ever ready to embrace any providential opening for the 'circula- tion of the Scriptures, have, by its colporteurs, during the past year, put into the hands of the Italian people upwards of twenty-seven thousand copies of the word of life ; and the Scriptures of truth are now publicly exhibited for sale, even in Naples— a few months ago the' darkest spot in the dark dominions of the " Man of sin." These are samples of those wonderful openings which tJic m \ will tha] "We ; dof . %t the tlie ( wate tongi the'f l^ipes liiiJiio at one ?A. man if { their r It is Churel of; the thing n the last is there a.2:onts, I ^^'^'i worJ and glo; labours. Ocean, i of model the abod( standard poor sava ami live. ^aid aside P^<^y- A] tiio Islai]d has been e.^ i'^oard of J ^'lusion tlia vision may Church of'i ^''PPortin'^- T'i- ,-1 '^ weaie funnshed wit), i, rf.v' •"* '"!" to praise for o„r fallen ancl u'ri , '^"""^ »' wiia He i % the translation of tC 5 -^ ''''"^'^' «"d tt,t s,.,.„ n " "le natbns inrl ,, •'" '""''Ptnres info ti,„ i '*J"^etlily. f-ulard of tt'tev ^^---ontTeS^tT" poor savacTos boo-on r y*^ elevated in tlipf, • i " ^'^^ J'^Kl aside Jif. f ^?'' ''"^t^^er bowed .f-'fl ^''^' ^^ ^^fe'^% 22 aiiotliur ii()tul)lo exaniplu of the succor^s of niodorii miHsio- iiary enterprise. About 1)0 years ago tlie tii-st missionary entered there. The Gos])e] began to tell jxiwerfiilly on the minds and hearts of the natives, eonstraining theiri to east theii- i(k)ls to the moles and to the bats. Soon the iircs of persecution began to burn. The persecuting queen of that island determined to suppress the new religion by iire and sword. J3ut that she could not do. Fulfof foith and of the^ Holy Ghost the Christian converts trinm]-)lied amid their sufferings, and rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suli'er for the name of Ilim who loved them and gave himself for them. That persecutijig queen has gone to her And God is signally blessing the labours of his servants in other mission fields. He is sending the rod of his strength out of Zion, and making a willing people in the day of his power. In the days of his flesh, the Redeemer sent his disciples " two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would cotneP He is doing the same now. He is sending his servants to ''Green- land's icy mountains, and Afric's sandy plains, to the islands of the Pacilic, to India, China, and Jjipnu. And Avhy is He sending his servants ? but because it is his pur- pose to coine himself, in his grace and mercy, to our fallen and ])erishing world. He is coming to claim the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. He is coming to make the wilderness and the solitary places glad, and the desert to rejoice, and blossom like the rose. •Ith. The rapid advancement of science and art in the good time coming; and every one sees that this is a pro- minent feature of the age we live in. This is pre-eminently an age of intellectual and social improvement. Science is nobly pushing forward its outposts, and art is enriching its treasures with the most Vv-onderful and beneficial inventions. The steamboat, rail car, and electric telegraph, are wonders that our fathers never dreamt of. In what light are we to contemplate these discoveries in science and inventions in art, which distinguish the present age ? The statesman will look at them in one lidit, the merchant in another, It;; 1 1 1 5 a( the h'zf t\\G tJir( his seel and selvi forti ders: is eir not J to tu the c so tin vatio] all pe call Ij HI. rapidl 1st.' expect woi'd ? that hii years, «'ind wa ^dfsam jouruin the lau( mised a come o garment nations the king should Av Jie; Ho 2d. It state of A rejoice tl be pourc' the mora over the joicc that 04 ■nation of tl>e worM, L X , , . '"'"■'."" "" *''" cv, , "et tie speedier « „:;_:'■ .' ■''!; 'Jnirch '■ ■ ue a time when Ej,],!- let unt ihall not lis re- envy 24 Jiidali, and Judah sliall not vex Epliraiiu ; wJicn tlic Loi I sliall bo one, and his name one, tlirongliout all the earth. Do we mourn the desolations that are made in the world by revolution and war? Let us rejoice that there is a time approaching, when wars shall cease to the ends of the earth and when there sliall be abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. Do we mourn over the dishonour that is done to God, his authority, and his law, by wicked men ^oing on in sin, and refusing to keep his law ? Let us re- joice that there is a time coming, when the wickedness of the wicked shall, in a great measure, come to an end, and iniquity as ashamed, shall hide its head. Do we mourn' over the dishonour that is shown to the Prince of the kino-t, of the earth, by the refusal of national associations to submit to his sceptre? Let us rejoice that there is a glorious era approaching, when the Redeemer shall take to'himself his great power and reign ; when the kings of Tarshish and ot the isles shall bring presents ; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts ; yea, all kings shall fall down before him ; all nations shall serve him. In particular, as Reformed Presbyterians, charged with the duty of holding fast, and holding forth the great prin- ciples of our fathers' testimony— principles for which they contended, sulfered, and died— it becomes us to rejoice in the assured prospect of the ultimate triumph of these prin- ciples, and their adoption, as the basis of all ecclesiastical and political associations. With such a hope, let us take encouragement to labour on, " rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer." "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always' abounding in the work of the Lord ; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." " Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatso- ever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatso- ever things ^ are pure, whatsoever things' are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."