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(1.) The progress of revealed truth, though slow, is evidently advancing; and as the motion of a comet is accelerated as it approaches the sun, so it is probable may be that of truth, as the Sun of Righteousness approaches the meridian. The gospel is compared to a seed which lies long in the earth, and dies, to use a scriptural expression; and even when it appears, at first proceeds very gradually till it approaches maturity, and then shoots up and ripens rapidly to fill the reaper's hand: more especially is this the case in eastern countries. It is true, that during the middle ages Truth even retrograded; but since the Reformation, it has taken root in most countries of Europe, and North America; and, as we have just seen, is now spreading with accelerated motion throughout India, Africa, South America, and even through the numerous islands of the South.

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(2.) With this event will doubtless be connected the conversion of the Jews. Whether this implies their restoration to their own land, may not here be necessary to decide, though this has generally been thought warranted by the Old Testament scriptures. It seems also highly probable that, in the event of their emancipation from the Turks, great numbers of Jews would be desirous to return; and should the Holy Land fall under the government of a Christian power, there can be little doubt but they would be encouraged so to do. The restoration of the Jewish polity, however, with priests and sacrifices, seems wholly inconsistent with their conversion to Christianity: "Jesus Christ having offered himself once for all, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin;" what, therefore, in the prophecies seems to lean that way, must either have been accomplished at the return of the Jews from their former captivity; or it must bear a New Testament interpretation, in reference to the Christian church.

The general conversion of the Jews seems unequivocally stated in the New Testament as well as in the Old. St. Paul, in the tenth and eleventh chapters of his Epistle to the Romans, speaks of the apostasy of the Jews as temporary only, and of their conversion as connected with "the fulness," that is, the general conversion—“ of the

Gentiles."

It has been a matter of dispute which of these events may be expected first to take place; but the most reasonable opinion, perhaps, is, that they will be in great measure coincident, and influence each other; that is, that the extensive conversion of the Gentiles may convince many of the Jews of the truth of Christianity; and that the conversion of the Jews may make a strong impression upon the unbelieving Gentiles.

13. Of the time when these events are to take place, the Author presumes not to enquire, being unwilling to add to the number of unsuccessful guesses; nor is he certain that a definite number of years is intended by the Millennium: it may be used only for a very long. period. And, as to their commencement, he much doubts whether prophecies of that nature are intended to be understood till about the time of their accomplishment. The Prophets who predicted "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, searched

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diligently" as to "what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify;" but unto them "it was revealed that, not unto themselves, but unto us did they minister" in these things.* Daniel, therefore, the most favoured of the prophets, as to time of his predictions being marked, was discouraged from prying farther into them by the Angel who attended him:-"Go thy way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end,”—that is, the period of their fulfilment. And most remarkable is it, that when our Lord was about to leave his disciples and ascend into heaven, and his disciples asked him in that interesting moment, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" they only received for answer, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put [or reserved] in his own power." Indeed, there seems a most important reason for this;-the same that conceals from us the time of our own death: for, as in the latter case it would furnish to many an excuse to put off their repentance; so in the former, it would provide an apology for the neglect of many centuries in not sending the Gospel to the heathen. As in the former case the time of our death is concealed from us, that we may die daily;" so in the latter, the period is left indefinite, that we may always be ready to promote it. But to return.

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The coincidence of these great events seems to be strongly implied even in the Old Testament prophecies, of which we shall cite only one passage from the prophet Isaiah; remarking, that the "last," or "latter days," refer to the whole period of Messiah's reign, according to Kimchi and the antient rabbins, as well as Bishop Lowth and the Christian commentators.

The Prophet says,§-" It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's host [i. e. Zion] shall be established in [or on] the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many peoples,|| and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

The reference of this prophecy to the last days, or days of the Messiah, shews it could not have been previously fulfilled; and the connexion here plainly intimates the effect of this event upon other

* 1 Pet. i. 10-12.

+ Daniel xii. 9, 13.

† Acts i. 6, 7.

§ Isaiah ii. 2-4. The same passage occurs, Micah iv. 1-3, and is a little amplified in the following verses. See also Ezekiel xvii. 22—24. Isaiah and Micah are considered to have been contemporary. See Rev. G. Townsend's Arrangement of the Old Testament, vol. ii. p. 234, N. 25.

The original word is plural, as well as nations, and is always so rendered by Bishop Lowth.

nations. The Jews, too prone to war from the beginning, having given up their enmities and hostilities, are imitated in this conduct by the other nations of the world, who no longer indulge their animosities. Another event, which can here be only hinted at, will, no doubt, co-operate to the same happy issue; namely, the fall of Antichrist; under which must be included, not only Popery and Mahometanism, but every Antichristian system - every thing that "exalteth and opposeth itself" to Christ's dominion. All this is represented in the Revelation of St. John, by the expressive image of a mighty angel from heaven-seizing the dragon, the old serpent, the devil and Satan" that is, "the spirit that worketh in the children of dis obedience ;" and binding and imprisoning him for "a thousand years*," during which religion, truth, and peace shall, far more extensively than heretofore, prevail, under the government of our Melchisedec, the King of righteousness and of peace. Then may we expect "the soulst," or spirit of the martyrs, shall live again in this new generation; while the souls of their persecutors, or the spirit of persecution and of hostility, shall remain in durance" till the thousand years shall be expired."

14. Here we have the encouraging prospect, which, beside the salvation of individuals, shall reward our Missionary exertions, a Millennium of righteousness and peace, with a proportionate increase of human happiness, and probably of human longevity; for as war, and luxury, and vice, are exterminated or diminished, so will human life be prolonged; for few, very few, in the present state of things, are those who die a natural death; that is, who die of age, or animal decay.‡

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We have now before us a "world that lieth in wickedness,§" wherein,

* Some benevolent minds have here taken a day for a year, and extended the period of the Millennium to 365 thousand years-a most extravagant idea! but they seem to forget, that by indulging this pleasing dream, they are to the same extent protracting the more perfect felicity, which is to succeed the final resurrection and day of judgment. + This probably is an allusion to the doctrine of the Metempsychosis, very prevalent both among Jews and Gentiles in the early ages, and still so among the eastern nations. See Dictionary.

↑ Some speculative writers have flattered themselves that the Patriarchal age may be restored, and the same individuals "live and reign with Christ a thousand years while others have gone so far as to believe that death itself may be evaded; but death shall not be destroyed till after the general resurrection. See Rev. xx. 14.

§ A question arises out of this subject, which has been often discussed by curious persons to little effect," What will be the final state of the many millions of heathen who have died without hearing the Gospel, and consequently without believing it?" This is so much like the question of Peter respecting John, "Lord, what shall this man do?" that the same reply may answer it-"What is that to thee? Follow thou me." That it is our duty to send the Gospel to heathens, and theirs to receive it, is sufficiently clear; but we have no more to do with the fate of those who are deceased than with the inhabitants of the moon. Neither the Gospel, nor a written law, is necessary, to render men accountable as moral agents. They who sinned under the law will be judged by the law-they who sin against the gospel, by the gospel-but they who have heard of neither, are not the less amenable to that law which is written in their consciences.-But here is nothing to call for our opinion, or to awaken our

out of nearly eight hundred millions of inhabitants, as already observed, not more, probably, than two hundred millions bear the Christian name; and even of these, how few are there that support the Christian character! To these, the first considerable additions, perhaps, may not be from the nations of Christendom, but from the east of Asia, or the south of Africa, or the more distant isles of the Southern Ocean. Christians (as well as Jews) may be provoked to jealousy "by those who are not a people-by a foolish nation" of barbarians.

But what are the means for converting five hundred millions of heathens, beside Jews and merely nominal Christians? Messrs. Hall and Newell, in a pamphlet already referred to, have calculated upon the necessity of 30,000 Missionaries; and yet, in the present course of things, it may be long before one thousand can be found, or means provided for their subsistence. Two or three circumstances have, however, recently occurred, which seem to shew that Providence has "ways and means" which we had never contemplated.

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(1.) It has occurred in the instance of the South Sea Mission, that the inhabitants of an island having been converted, they have become Missionaries, first to one island and then to another; and who can say that this work may not spread through hundreds of those islands, many of which are yet unknown to Europeans?

(2.) In India, the strongest hold of Atheism and infidelity, by the conversion of some hundreds of the natives, among whom are several Brahmins, a body of Native Missionaries are already forming, admirably qualified to spread Christianity in that country; and, if the colleges already founded should prosper, European as well as Eastern literature may there flourish to a degree sufficient to furnish all the exterior attainments of a missionary for those countries, far superior to what can be supplied from Europe; since they would, with languages and science, necessarily acquire a correct knowledge of those Pagan systems which they had to combat, and the prejudices wherewith they had to contend.

(3.) It has pleased God lately to inspire a spirit of piety and zeal into the minds of many of our Mariners, even from the highest officers down to the common seamen; and the Bethel flag (the signal for maritime prayer-meetings) is flying over the seas in a variety of directions: now supposing but a few thousands of these to be truly converted, and be as zealous in the cause of God as they have ever been in the cause of their country, and they will prove most effective Missionaries wherever they may go.

It may be said, How can uneducated natives, or British sailors, be qualified to preach? But it should be recollected that the work of a Missionary in Africa, or the South Seas, is very different from that of the clergyman of a parish, or the pastor of a congregation in this country. The instruction wanted, is in those elements of religion which every converted person derives from the word of God, and the teaching of his Holy Spirit; and this instruction is generally

sympathies. We may confidently leave them in His hands, who is too wise to be mistaken, and too good to be severe." Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right ?”

conveyed-not in eloquent and well-studied orations; but in familiar conversation-in reading to them the Scriptures-and in praying with them; for which no person, who has attended a sailors' prayer-meeting, will pretend that many of them are not already qualified.

Thus, beside the ordinary methods of instruction, by these means great numbers of Missionaries are preparing for the work; and it is no small pleasure to be able to add, that the Heathen are almost every where prepared to receive them; and from every quarter of the Pagan world resounds the cry, "Come over and help us." Monthly, weekly, and daily prayer is also offered, by every denomination of vital Christians, for these influences of the Holy Spirit, which can alone make the work successful.

The sum and substance of all is, God has promised to give to his Son "the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." The Heathen are stretching forth their hands to invite and to embrace the messengers of his grace-a large provision of Missionaries is preparing, and that by means scarcely before thought of many are already presenting themselves; and when a voice is heard from heaven, saying, "Whom shall I send? and who will go for us ?" we trust that from every part of the earth the answer will resound, "Here am I-send me.' And thousands, and tens of thousands, not qualified themselves to undertake the Missionary office, shall come forward with their offerings consecrated to support the work.

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"In all this progress," says the late excellent Missionary, Mr. Ward, "what difficulties have been removed-what ground prepared-what an army in array-what resources provided-what auxiliaries in the prayers of the saints! All, in fact, rapidly tends to the grand consummation. The Lord whom we seek will suddenly come to his temple,' and, amidst the hallelujahs of a saved world, he will be crowned Lord of all.

"One song employs all nations; and all cry,

'Worthy the Lamb! for he was slain for us.'
The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks
Shout to each other, and the mountain tops
From distant mountains catch the flying joy;
Till nation after nation taught the strain,
Earth rolls the rapturous Hosannah round.*"

* Ward's Farewell Letters. Let. xvii.

FINIS.

LONDON:---Printed by R. CLAY,
Devonshire-street, Bishopsgate.

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