veying the doctrine of a necessary perseverance in consequence of election, but as expressing, on the one hand, the vehement endeavours of false Christs and false prophets to seduce the Christians from their steadfastness; and, on the other hand, the difficulty for impostors, by lying" signs and wonders," to deceive those who had had such convincing proofs of the truth of Christ's mission and miracles, and who were themselves invested with a power of working greater "signs and wonders," by the assistance of the Holy Ghost.

In concluding this discourse, we may learn that whatever may be the case with particular states and people, this we know assuredly, that as Jerusalem perished by a sore destruction, so shall destruction, utter and terrible, overwhelm the world. Then shall the sun indeed be darkened, the moon shall withhold her light, and the stars shall withdraw their shining; and then, in all his glory, shall the Son of man appear, to judge both the quick and the dead. When, my brethren, we reflect on that great, that awful hour, how astonishing does it appear that we should dare by our sins

to defy the Omnipotence of Heaven. Let us think ourselves happy that God, in infinite compassion, hath vouchsafed to us the means, and hath appointed a season for obtaining mercy. Let us then, if we would act as rational and immortal creatures, endeavour duly to improve this gracious season, and to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Let us ask our hearts in what state we would wish to be found at that day and as we wish, so let us act; nor suffer our reason and our conscience to condemn us. Trifle as we may, neglect it as we may, put it off as we may, still it remains an eternal truth, that the day of the Lord will come. We may disbelieve it, as the Jews did the destruction of their city; but as assuredly as their destruction came upon them, so assuredly will Christ come in judgment upon the world. The day of death will indeed prove in effect that day to us all. Let us not then boast of to-morrow, nor neglect so awful an hour. Man is created for eternity: how miserably then does he pervert the design of his Creator, if he live only for the present time, and neglect the time to come!

If our Saviour wept over Jerusalem, how much more unwilling must he be that any of those who are baptized into his faith, who are elected to all the blessings of the Gospel, should by their own unbelief and disobedience forfeit these privileges, and bring destruction upon themselves. Let us rather, my brethren, in an humble reliance upon his mercy and love; in a constant expectation of his appearing "with our loins girded and our lights burning," wait patiently for our Lord, that we may be received at last with that cheering welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

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SERMON IX.

THE SUBJECT OF PROPHECY CONTINUED.

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."-MATT. xxiv. 32-35.

WHEN we first entered on an explanation of our Saviour's prophecy relating to the destruction of Jerusalem, comprised chiefly in the 24th chapter of St. Matthew, it was observed that the disciples in their question propose two things to our Saviour: first, when should be the time of his thus coming in judgment upon the Jews; and secondly, what would be the signs of his coming. The latter part of the question our Lord answers first: treating as we have seen from the 4th to the 31st verse, inclu

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sive, of the signs that were to precede, to accompany, and to follow the destruction of Jerusalem. He now proceeds at the 32nd verse to answer the former part of the question, and to speak of the time when the destruction of Jerusalem was to take place. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; when his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors:" that is, these signs which I have given you will be as infallible a proof of the approaching ruin of the Jewish state, as the budding of the trees is a proof of the approaching summer. Our Lord next proceeds to declare, that the time of his coming was at no great distance, and to show, that in the foregoing discourse he had been speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, and not of a more distant event, he affirms with his usual affirmation, 66 Verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled;" and then adds in a common figure of speech, used in the oriental languages to denote the certainty of an event, "Heaven and earth shall