Al

thing of this kind can be deter- | ent dark and gloomy days; but mined from the depraved char- for the confirmation of faith in acter of man, from past experi- those who doubt, briefly to desence, or philosophical reason-cribe the preparation that is maing. This day of general peace king by the allwise providence of on earth will arise from the God for the glorious event.sovereign will of God, and is When we look on the world and certified to us by the testimony the nations in their present state of the Holy Ghost, speaking to of convulsion; consider the erus by the mouths and pens of rors which prevail; the present his inspired servants. All the rage of war, and causes of war ancient prophets speak of a day for many years to come, the in which the earth shall be filled Christian whose faith is weak with righteousness and, peace: may be discomforted. He may when empires and kingdoms, be ready to say, I have been dekings and princes, and men of ceived on this subject. Indeed, every description shall bow to there is nothing which appears the sceptre of Immanuel :-- like millennial glory in the presWhen wars and rumors of wars ent condition of mankind. shall cease from off the earthlowing this to be truth, still When professing Christians of there may, in the dispensations all denominations shall see eye of providence, be such preparato eye, and be united in a holy tions for the event, as will astoncharity; and when a pure wor-ish every considerate observer ship shall be offered every where of the ways God. Before the to the Lord. Our divine Lord, | birth of the Saviour, it was dewhile in his state of humiliation clared" I will overturn, overon earth, predicted this conse-turn, overturn it, and it shall be quence of his sufferings, the no more, until he come whose foresight of which was one of right it is; and I will give it to his best consolations. He knew him." These overturnings took himself dying to gather innu-place in the successive destrucmerable sons to blessedness for tion of the Babylonian, Medothe glory of his father. The Persian and Grecian empires, unapostles and later prophets fore-til the Roman governed the told the future prosperity of the church, especially the distioguished apostle and prophet John, in prophetic language, assures us of a thousand years, after the preceding apostacy and plagues had passed away, in which Satan should be bound with a chain, and cast into the bottomless pit, when his people should live and reign with him.

world in peace, when the Prince of peace appeared. It would not be difficult to show how these revolutions were necessary

for the introduction and spread of the gospel.

So it is prophesied that there shall be great overturnings in the earth before the introduction of millennial peace and glory. These are now taking place, and they are a necessary preparation for that glorious event. Thro' the wickedness of men, the

It is not my design to introduce the whole scriptural evidence that such a state of the church shall succeed the pres-fire of the Lord is kindled, and

the spirit of God must be wrought by an effusion of his holy influences which he can grant, at any time, on all the nations of world. Often doth he grant these influences, at times and on places where least expected. He doth thus to prove his sovereignty, and when the natural preparation is made, the spirit, to fill the hearts of men

it will burn until all the materials which render the state of the nations combustible are consumed it will burn until the hierarchies which men have erected are destroyed: until the pride of man is brought low, and then the Lord will appear in his glory to build up Zion. The ten kingdoms, the Mahomedan powers, and the great earthly obstacles to the pure re-with peace and love, will not be ligion of Jesus must be given to denied. Although one great the burning, fiery flame, before part of the earth be heathen, the way is prepared for the and another great part, under peaceful reign of Jesus. A the name of Christian, in a state destruction of human pride, little better, and the purity of power and superstition is now the gospel, in every place mineffecting by means which men gied with awful imperfection; could not foresee. The flame yet, on inspection, it is surprisrages awfully, and exactly howing to consider the natural prelong it must continue, God only knows. This only we know that a want of the means of combustion must ere long stop the burning, and then the pride of men will be humbled.

paration for spreading the name of Jesus over the whole earth.

110W

In all the countries of Europe the name of Christ is known. In Greece and the western countries of Asia, where All these things are a prepara- Mahomedism is yet triumtion for the glory of the latter phant, there are an innumerable days. Search the scriptures, and number of various sects of ye shall see these things to be Christians, held under the rod of true. Cease not to believe be-oppression. It is the same in cause God worketh in a manner the extensive dominions of Ferdifferent from the wisdom of sia. It is true these are miseramen. The wisdom of God is bly ignorant, but when the opholy; the wisdom of men is sen-pressive rod now held over them sual, and they are used as instru- is broken, and the spirit of God ments of almighty power, when poured out, their posterity may they mean not neither do they become shining apostles through think so. a large portion of the eastern hemisphere.

Another preparation for the millennial state of the church is the universal spread of Christian knowledge.

Two things are necessary to form the Christian character: The first is a doctrinal knowledge of the gospel; and a second the sanctification of the spirit. Sanctification by

Russia professes the faith of

the Greek church, and her conquest of all the northern Tartars in Asia, is introducing the name of our dear Redeemer among the inhabitants of those dreary regions.

The European conquests on the southern coasts of Asia and

the intercourse with China, although designed wholly for the purposes of commerce and worldly grandeur, are becoming the means of an attack on the deepest pagan idolatry in the world. Through the influence of pious men, the Christian scriptures are printing in sundry languages of these countries, and where God sends his word, he will accompany it by the protection of his providence and the aids of his spirit.

second, to be instruments, after their conversion, of propagating the Christian faith. They have a firm belief in the true God, and in the divine authority of the Old Testament. When they become convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah, hosts of this people will be in every country to proclaim the name and doctrines of him, whom they slew on the tree. Then the name of a Jew will be as precious in the ears of a Christian as it is now odious.

plays of grace and justice to a guilty world. So far as the scheme of infinite wisdom hath taken place this hath been done. They have been distinguished

Around the vast region of Africa, we find colonial posses- The race of Abraham was desions and commercial facto- signed by the wisdom of God ries, possessed by those who as means or instruments of maprofess to be Christians, in dis-king some of his greatest distinction from heathen. The southern part of that quarter of the world hath long been under the government of Christian nations, from which, by the exertion of missionaries, some know-by blessings, by their own sins, ledge of Christianity hath been by the judgments of God; and propagated among the rude in- they shall again be distinguished habitants many hundred miles as subjects of divine mercy, and northward. Even in this most as instruments of spreading the unfortunate quarter of mankind, gospel into the darkest corners there are means preparing for of the world. Thus say all the the gospel to spread. The prophets, and thus the provi Mahomedans, notwithstanding dence of God hath hitherto fultheir bitter enmity to Christians, filled their predictions. have ever acknowledged Jesus Christ to be a prophet, and when their civil power is broken, which must speedily take place by the fall of the Ottoman empire, their minds will be open-prising. ed more benignly to hear the continent was overspread doctrines of the gospel. with pagan ignorance. Fewer traces of divine truth were found here than in any parts of the earth. Through ignorance it was the strong hold of Satan, and a knowledge of the true God was almost excluded from the minds of millions of its abori

The Jews are found in every country of the world. They are retained in a state distinct from all other people for two great purposes. The first to be monuments of divine displeasure against their nation, for cru cifying the Lord of Glory; the

If we look to the continent of America, which was last bro't into connection with the civilized world, the spread of Christian knowledge hath been surRecently, this vast

ginal inhabitants. Now it is peo

God to their savage groves and deep ignorance in divine things. Who that is a Christian indeed will not pray for them, that the means used for their instruction may be blessed, for gathering a remnant of their seed into the Christian church?

Thus vast, thus astonishing are the means used by the wisdom of God, for the propagation of Christian faith through the earth. In several ages past, while the members of the Christian church have been sleeping, the providence of its great head hath been preparing the means for its general extension.

pled by as many millions, the descendants of Christian ancestors, by whom the doctrines and practice of the gospel are as seriously received and obeyed. as in any part of the catholic church. Sanctuaries for the worship of the true God are erected, not only in the port towns and great cities, but even in the wilderness, and in the midst of groves where a private habitation cannot be seen by the eye. On all our shores, almost around the whole continent, the name of Christ is known. It is only in the interior parts that some knowledge of Christianity and civilization have not reached. This is a great work of God for reducing the world to the obedi-dent spirit awaked in the hearts, ence of faith in his Son. With- of God's children, to explore and in half a century from the pre- preach the gospel in the darksent time, the vast influx of est regions. A great number of Christian foreigners, and the na- missionary societies have been tural increase of the present instituted, the hearts of the piChristian inhabitants will fill this ous have been opened to bestow great Continent, with cities, their property liberally, matowns,and those scattered agricul- ny hundred missionaries have tural habitations, where Chris-been raised up in the spirit of tian piety is generally found in its greatest purity.

Last of all we have seen, and it is a wonderful event, an ar- ›

the ancient Evangelists, who are now endeavoring to search out the deepest recesses of hea then idolatry, and proclaim the good news of salvation. The work is the Lord's and it shall prevail. The islands of the sea rejoice, and the Lord begins to be known by those who knew him not. Thus the two great means of preparation for the millennial state of the church on earth, are operating at the same time: the fire of divine wrath is consum

But where are the aboriginal people, the millions of whom we spake before, and where are their descendants? They have perished before a knowledge of the arts, sciences and religion, and so far as these advance they disappear. Unhappy people! Except in some small districts, they refuse civilization, and without some degree of this, Christianity cannot be introdueed among them. From whating natural obstacles, and the race of men they have descended means of Christian knowledge we pretend not to say. Certain are prevailing. ly they are possessed of great human accuteness, but appear to be left by the Providence of VOL. II. NO. 1.

After all, perhaps, the Christian who is fervent in his feelings, and little instructed in the

D

of glory, and the sovereign power of God will be more displayed than ever before.

prophecies may say, I am not yet satisfied. Where is the promise of his coming? Where is purity of faith, the fervor of When all obstacles, except love, and holiness of practice? the sinfulness of the human Do these appear in all the re-heart are removed by his degions which have been mention-vouring judgments when a ed? It is readily conceded they knowledge of the name of Christ do not. Neither do they appear hath traversed every region : in the purest part of the church when instruments are found in on earth, it may be said, if the every place to proclaim his purity and love of the church in name, doctrines and laws, then heaven is to be made a standard the spirit shall be poured out on of our opinion. Miserable igno- all flesh. How vast the change, rance, imperfection and the re- to see a revival of religion thro mains of idolatry and infidelity the whole world at the same are found in those who have time! What an amazing display been mentioned as instruments of the sovereignty and grace of whom God is using to introduce God Imperfections, errors, the glorious state of his church jealousies, and remaining idolaon earth, and whether many of tries will be consumed by the them will ever attain the holy purifying spirit of God, as it rest of heaven is not for us to de- were in a day. Speedily will termine. Our desires, although the hearts of men be knit togearising from a pious source, ther in the bonds of love. The ought not to outrun the counsels Lord will be in all the earth.— and providence of God. "He Blessed is he who shall come to that believeth shall not make this time! haste." The great difficulty in converting heathen lands hath been to make them renounce their ancient faith, and acknowledge a God who hath been altogether unknown to them; and when this takes place, the most is effected that can be done by means; we, therefore, consider all these things as a natural preparation for the desired event. The forms of godlines may be through the instrumentality of men, but the power must be from the spirit of God. In this day of darkness, we receive many earnests of the spirit's operation to encourage the faith of his people, but we are not to expect any general harvest, until the spirit shall be poured out on all flesh. That will indeed be a day

Explanation of Scriptural Types.

(Continued from Vol. I. p. 469.)'

Explanation of the Typical System.

H

AVING considered the city which God chose to put his name there and the place, the temple, peculiarly appropriated to the institutions of his worship-we are next to explain,

Thirdly, The ordinances of divine service.

The holy rites now to be explained, shall be confined to the daily sacrifices offered to God, as acts of religious devotion.