The great results, to which this will lead us, remain for future examination.

*

We learn from all this, God's ceaseless regard for His Church. It is not kings and conquerors; the marshalling of armies, and the building up and the pulling down of thrones; that are great things in His sight. When His eye foresaw, and His Spirit announced, the rise and fall of empires; the contests of monarchs and leaders, and the great results that were to flow therefrom; it was not these things that attracted His regard. As one by one the nations of the earth appeared, acted their part and passed away, there was nothing in this; though like a grand panoramic view, it was all clearly displayed before Him; there was nothing in all this to commend it to His

Not for themselves would the splendour of the Babylonian; nor the sterner courage of the MedoPersian; nor the wondrous achievements of the Macedonian; nor the wider renown of the Roman monarchy ever have had a place on the pages of His Word, or existence in point of fact. The History of His Church, in its various manifestations, was to be connected with them. And therefore, they are pointed out. With each one of them the history of that Church is interlinked. And in all the changes that came over them, its connection was made distinctly to appear. Sometimes they were the shield of power which God held over it. Sometimes, the rod with which He chastened it; always the instrument with which its progress was to be connected. And, in some of its most momentous and striking forms, that connection will yet be made to appear. Take the volume

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of History, and say what is permanent therein save that which this connection has made so? And that which of all nations has set the impress of its influence in deepest lines on the mind of our race; and survived the greatest convulsions; and lasted for the longest time, but for which a future overthrow is distinctly reserved; that is the one which of all others has had the longest and most intimate connection with that Church. Nothing is great apart from this. Nothing is little which its preservation requires. Of it, God says: "I, the Lord, do keep it. I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." Isa. xxvii. 3. And no man has read History aright until he reads it in the light of this promise.

"Behold," says the prophet, "I have created the waster to destroy." Why, then, how absolutely they are subject unto Him! And so the declaration continues: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." Isa. liv. 16, 17. How necessarily this conclusion follows. God creates "the waster" for his work. Will He permit him to use his power against His own designs? Shall the instrument which He has formed be permitted to turn its edge against His own ransomed Church? "No, it shall not!" says the book of God. "No, it has not!" responds the book of History.

I know of course, that those words were spoken of God's literal Israel. And in them their complete fulfilment will yet be attained. But then, as a portion of the Gentile Church; which is only a graft on "the good olive tree;" we, too, may claim this promise for ourselves. And so claiming them, I ask you, breth

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ren, can you point out the weapon which has been formed against His Church and prospered? Unnumbered times have weapons been formed against it. Unnumbered times have they been raised against it. But, when have they prospered? The battle-axe of earth's mightiest powers has been wielded against it. But the stroke has been turned aside; or power given to resist; or the sinews of the arm that dealt it have been palsied in the moment of the blow. Never have they prospered! History, like a battle-field after some great contest, is strown all over with the broken relics of designs formed, and weapons fashioned against the Church of Christ. There they lie. Broken, dishonoured, cast out! Only preserved in the memory of man as eloquent witnesses for the truth of the word of God.

Do the interests of His Church require it? God will sway the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to His will by the mute eloquence of the tear-drop on the cheek of the infant Moses. Do they require it? Conquerors shall be turned aside from their purpose of vengeance; by an impulse they can neither resist nor explain. Let one instance suffice. Let one instance suffice. Alexander had just completed his victory over Tyre. He burned the city to the ground. He destroyed the inhabitants in cold blood, and then marched against Jerusalem. His purpose was, to mete out to it a like destruction. The report of his crucified two thousand Tyrian prisoners went before him. The people trembled. They felt exposed to his power. They fasted. They prayed. And as the maddened conqueror approached, the High Priest, in his gorgeous robes, followed by a long train

of priests and people in white, went forth to meet him. It seemed as if they were marching on to certain destruction. Alexander draws near. But now what means he? He bows down before the High Priest and reverently salutes him, adding, that he did so because of the God whose Priest he was. He then enters the city; gives them toleration in their religion, and sets them free from tribute every seventh year. His assigned work was not yet done. And, until then, he must protect the people of God with the power which the God of the people gave into his hands. Verily, He "maketh the wrath of man to praise Him; and the remainder thereof He will restrain!"

Well, brethren, this Church of the Living Godfounded in the councils of eternity-kept by His power-ransomed by His blood-oh! have you a part therein?

You may have all else. But, if you have not this, you are miserably poor. You read over the conquests of the great ones of earth; and as you tell the story of Cyrus and Alexander, and the world's mightiest heroes, a still small voice is sounding in your ears, "What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

LECTURE V.

I CONSIDERED the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." DAN. vii. 8.

IN considering the kingdom of the little horn, it is important to remember the manner of its appearance. The prophet was contemplating the fourth beast. Its ten horns especially struck his attention. He was pondering their meaning. "I considered," or, "I was considering," "the horns; and behold there came up among them," etc. And in explaining this portion of the vision, the angel said: "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." (Verse 24.)

Now, you will mark the point, and note the historic fact which it requires "Shall arise after them." The ten horns arise first. Then it appears. And the historical reading of the symbol is, that the ten kingdoms appear first. Subsequently; in their midst; the kingdom of the little horn arises. And to pursue any other order than this, will be to neglect one of the