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little prevalent, and have so circumscribed an influence, that it may be said (in the language of prophecy) they have no footing or existence amongst men. Happy and blessed indeed then may he be pronounced, who shall live in such times of rest from sin and trouble, and when the whole earth shall (for many centuries) be but one temple, and all nations, with united sentiments of religion and brotherly love towards each other, shall render praise to God and the Lamb, and "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ."

The millenary believers may be pronounced happy in respect of the universal and uninterrupted both inward and outward peace and security, and happiness, which a life conducted by faith, and under the influence of abounding grace, in a state of society so greatly improved, cannot fail to yield. In the present every way unfavorable state of things, a life regulated by no other rules but the wise and wholesome precepts of the gospel, rarely fails of happiness. "The work of righteousness

shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."* It will obtain "the peace of God, which passeth all consolation." But under a state of things so highly propitious to good and sincere minds, the effect will be greatly increased, and be infallible; because all men will be alike sincere and friendly, "walking by faith and not by sight. And the insolence of wealthy or of fanatical pride, will be banished from society, with the false ideas of superiority which gave birth to it; and the interested craftiness of evil men lying in wait to deceive, will be no longer an object of incessant dread and caution.

It will be no small addition to the happiness of this state, (the type of heaven,) that by reason of these great advantages in favor of righteousness, and the withdrawing of the great incitements to sin, which the binding of Satan seems to imply, the danger of falling away from that secure course of well doing, and of coming short of the glory of God in an eter

Isai. xxxii. 17.

nity of future blessedness, will be considerably lessened. We now "hold this great treasure

of our hope in earthen vessels," and in the midst of the most anxious incertitude of the final event; lest after all our painful striving in the main, yet by some unfortunate lapse before the victory is won, we ourselves should be cast away. When we thus think of the stake at issue, we hold on our course with painful apprehensions, "working out our salvation with fear and trembling, and with continual watchfulness and difficulty we are scarcely able to "keep our loins girded and our lights burning." Thus we proceed towards the goal of death that awaits us, passing through a vale of tears, and hardly stem the impetuous floods of ungodliness, which threaten to overwhelm our frail bark in everlasting night.

The greatest saints have ever been free to confess the painful weight of those apprehensions of the mind, that is seriously impressed with a sense of religion. "Why abborrest thou

* 2. Cor. iv. 7.

my soul, (says David) and hidest thou thy face from me? Even from my youth up thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind,—and the fear of thee bath undone me." But as the dangers incident to our probationary state, will then be reduced in number and lessened in power, so will the sorrows be that can possibly arise from that or any other source. "For Christ will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." "And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the Most High; whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Dan. vii. 27.)

SECTION XXXVI.

The ROMAN CATHOLIC Empire of Popery, although in a state of rapid decline, yet still exists the chief stumbling block in the way of Christ's Kingdom.

-It is to be broken up by an extraordinary instrument of Providence, working for God the work of vengeance without knowing or designing it.-His typical resemblance to the stone cut without hands, in the wonderful circumstances of his rise and successful career.

THE kingdom of the saints of the Most High, under the theocracy of Christ reigning on earth, whatever sense may be put upon the numerous and very extraordinary descriptions. of it given by the prophets; (whether we consider it as consisting in an exalted state of religion and manners only, or as including also great and congenial alterations in the present political relations amongst mankind;) certainly

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