1 sentation of the true church, as it appears But pressed in Ps. ii. 9: "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (See also Rev. xix. 15.) Her King will then appear; "the great ensign of Messiah " will be unfurled to the view of the world; and He shall reign "whose right it is.”“In his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and 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" (Ps. lxii. 7-11). "AND THE SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED, AND THERE WERE GREAT VOICES IN HEAVEN, SAYING, THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER." CONCLUSION. Ir will be perceived, that in all the foregoing investigations I have taken it for granted that the fate of Britain will be involved in that of the ten Papal kingdoms of the Western Roman Empire, of which it unquestionably forms one of the principal, or what is denominated one of the kingdoms of iron. Would that I could form a different opinion! that I could, with some other writers on this subject, perceive an exemption made in favour of a country to which, as our native land, we are all so deeply attached, and in the prosperity and preservation of which the happiness of all whom we hold dear on earth is so inseparably interwoven. But finding in the Bible no such exemption, and it being declared that prophecy is of no private interpretation, it is a question that rests not on our wishes or prepossessions, but one that must be referred to the all-wise and irreversible counsels of Jehovah, as they are revealed in His word; and to the accomplishment of that wonderful foreknowledge, which, to use the language of the immortal Toplady, " is un darkened by the least shadow of ignorance, and superior to all possibility of mistake." There appears in the Bible to be no exception whatever made, in the denunciation of widespread ruin and desolation coming upon the world, in favour of any people, except the literal Israel, and a spiritual people typified in Revelation vii. by that nation. In other words, there appears to be no exception made, but of the Jews, who as a nation are to be restored to their own land; and of the humble and faithful followers of the Lord Jesus, who in some wonderful and miraculous manner will be shewn to be objects of preserving mercy. In the one instance, as it regards the Jews, the deliverance will be NATIONAL; in the other, as it regards believers, it will be INDIVIDUAL. With respect to the former, the Lord says, Though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: " "And I will gather you from all nations, and from all places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried captive" (Jer. xxx. 11; lxvi. 28; xxix. 14). And with respect to the latter it is said, "And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet; and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." "Then shall two be in the field; the 66 |