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tion, to the ultimate accomplishment of its purposes, in the Great Consummation of all things. The veil being thus drawn aside, by which the prospect into futurity is intercepted; the glories of the prophetic vision are displayed for our inspection; that while we have "respect unto the recompence of the reward,"* and "endure as seeing him who is invisible," nothing should be denied us, which could serve to animate hope, or stimulate exertion.

In tracing the course of human events, as manifesting, in their disclosure, the direct superintendence of providence; we here observe fully realised, all that imagination can conceive of the abstract perfection of revelation, or that prophecy can be supposed to effect, in evincing the divine authority of Religion. In the contrast with which we are struck, on comparing the revolutions achieved by human policy, and the reformation projected in the divine decrees; the different sources from whence the pure and the polluted current have issued, are directly apparent. For who will venture to assimilate objects where a comparison must be degrading? What likeness can be supposed between the waters of Siloa or Castalia; the living fount whose freshness imparts health and strength, whose draught is inspiration, and the lowly stream whose waters were but fabled to infuse the dreams of poetic

* Heb. xi. 26, 27.

fiction? Nor is the difference, thus wide and disproportionate, less apparent, in the means by which the contrary objects are attained which were projected on either side, than in the magnitude of the end which is to be accomplished. On the one hand, we behold the petty schemes of groveling ambition, pursued through the perplexing mazes of intrigue, and the sanguinary field of slaughter, yet proving as doubtful in the acquirement as they are precarious in the tenure. From the mouldering remains of one fallen structure, the towers and pinnacles of another are observed to arise, but to sink, in their turn, to dilapidation and ruin. As Assyria yields to Persia, Persia sinks before Macedon; and the rising splendor of Rome finally eclipses the waning glory of Macedon. While, on the other hand, the great purpose, which is held steadily in view, is not more signally distinguished by its vastness and importance, than by the purity and sanctity of the means, which are employed in its attainment. The glorious consummation, to which the whole system uniformly tends, bearing the impress of the Infinite Being, through whose prescience it is revealed, and by whose power it is promoted; the Dispensation which it promises to realise being destined to surpass in its diffusion the bounds of this lower world, and to survive in its duration the laws of nature. While in its participation of ubiquity and eter

nity, it thus shares the attributes of its divine author, it presents to the mind, an object of that vastness and importance, which surpasses its powers of conception, to exceed or heighten; the image of a regenerate world, raised from the moral and natural convulsions with which it is rent, to a state of holiness which is without alloy, and of happiness without abatement.

To an object of no less interest and magnitude, than the development of this great purpose, I would aspire; and I trust, with a deep and adequate sense of the immeasurable disproportion between the subject which I have undertaken, and the powers with which it is attempted. In aiming at this end,-from which the discussion into which I have entered derives its entire importance,—my justification must be likewise sought, for the minuteness and intricacy of many of the subjects, to which I have to solicit attention. Nor can I bring myself to doubt, that when the nature of the plea which I have advanced is duly appreciated; the indulgence which I ask, will not be denied me. For it is not a matter of curious speculation, or subject of subtle disputation, to which attention is solicited; but the highest practical end, of which our earthly state is susceptible. In Prophecy, the project is revealed, to which God himself is engaged; to reclaim a world, immersed in sin and misery, to purity and happiness. It is the pro

mise which he has given, that his kingdom shall be finally established upon earth; that the creation, freed from the natural and moral evil under which it groans, and renewed in righteousness and bliss, shall no longer dishonor its Maker and Governor.

"See then that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth; but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaWherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”*

ven.

* Heb. xii. 25, 26, 28.

26

LECTURE II.

2 KINGS, XVII. 22, 23.

"For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria, unto this day."

To the mind which is merely conversant with the usual course of events, which is accustomed to trace common occurrences to ordinary causes, the reverses which are here described may be not unnaturally supposed to present an instance merely of the mutability of human affairs, which is generally ascribed to accident or fortune. The difficulties which they present to the cursory observer, in referring them to more than natural causes, are not a little increased by the obstacles opposed to the endeavour of him who would reconcile them with the privileges of a race, who laid claim to a divine election; difficulties which increase in their magnitude, as the distance appears extended between the different

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