SECTION III.

Comment on the promise to Abraham.

The stone in Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's vision became a great mountain which filled the whole earth, and brake in pieces the image of the great empires of the heathen world. The empire of the mountain, which is already so widely extended, will ultimately become universal. It now engrosses the inheritance of the descendants of Japheth, namely, Europe and the western world; and in one fundamental particular, it is established over the portion of Shem, namely in the worship of God in unity, and an abhorrence of idolatry and paganism.

The

The kingdom of the mountain is a spiritual kingdom. It has nothing to do with temporal sovereignty; and the empires, which it has "broken in pieces,” are the idolatrous empires of Heathenism. reign of the mountain is that of the One only true God, over the usurpations and delusions of Satan. Its subjects are the whole congregation of Christ's church throughout the world, to which it may be

hoped that others, who are yet without the pale of his fold, are, notwithstanding their present prejudices, approaching as they have taken the first important step to that approach, by recognising and adoring the One God Eternal.

"

The empire of the mountain is not restricted by any geographical boundaries: in like manner, the great family of the seed of Abraham is not limited to any genealogical descent. It comprises that vast Christian family throughout the world, whose number, in the fulness of time, will be as "the stars of Heaven," and " as the sand which is on the sea-shore." As the "angels round about the throne are described (Rev. v. 11.) as "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands:" in like manner, countless also is that innumerable company of angels, whose kingdom is the "Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the Living God," "the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven." (Heb. xii. 23.)

Abraham was the parent stock of this universal spiritual nation, because from him proceeded that blessed seed, Christ Jesus, in whom, the nations of the earth are now in part, and will be collectively, blessed.

It is a great privilege to us, and it will be to those who shall succeed us in still later times, that we possess in prophecy a standing miracle, which becomes more clear, more striking, and more convincing, by

the very lapse of time itself. The light of prophecy is its fulfilment. Our Fathers could only contemplate these predictions "through a glass darkly." Clear as our means of perception at the present day are, even we, yet, "know but in part." "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part, shall be done away." (1 Cor. xiii. 9, 10.)

SECTION IV.

Promise to Abraham.
(continued.)

B.C. 1913. cir.

"The word of the Lord came unto Abram saying... I am the Lord, that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it."-(v. 7.)

"Know of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years." (13.)