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It is indeed a joyful prospect that awaits the Church. Her enemies may well tremble, for the day of vengeance draweth nigh. Escape they

cannot.

Their weapons of hostility must be dropped, or he will speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. I tremble for popish and infidel powers! Against them all Jehovah is preparing the weapons of war, and those only will be found at last safe who have abandoned every system of error and vice upon which the God of heaven has placed his immemediate and awful interdict.

Finally, What are the means and instruments which are to hasten forward the day of millennial triumph?

To this inquiry, I reply, the very means which have hitherto prevailed, wherever Christianity has obtained the ascendency. The little leaven shall, in due time, leaven the whole lump. The grain of mustard seed shall become a great tree. The commission of our blessed Lord shall be carried into full effect. The "Gospel shall be preached among all nations for the obedience of faith." And the Spirit of the Most High shall be poured down from heaven to give it effect. Divine judgments, too, shall perform their part in the great renovating process. Mighty conflicts, it should seem, yet await the Church.* The strongholds of error and sin seem as yet to be terribly fortified. The great adversary can

* The passages which speak of the fall of Antichrist, are uttered by the Spirit, in language which indicates mighty preparations of Divine wrath. 2 Thes. ii. 8. Rev. xix.

not be supposed to relinquish such an immense territory as that which he now possesses without a struggle. Many changes must be looked for, both in the Church and in the kingdoms of this world. Nor can the great Ruler of heaven and earth be ever at a loss for agents to accomplish his own plans. The storehouse of Providence, with all its resources, is ever at his command. If terror is wanted, he can cause the lightning to flash and the thunder to roll. If mildness and mercy are wanted, he can "restrain the wrath of man, and make the remainder thereof to praise him." Who can counsel infinite wisdom, and who can control Omnipotence? Has not he

who made all hearts, access to them? And can he not claim admission by a thousand channels? Let not any one say, then, a Millennium is impossible. Who shall thus limit the Holy One of Israel? Can he not fulfil his own bright designs? "Has he spoken, and will he not do it? has he commanded, and shall it not stand fast?" Let despondency give place, then, to confirmed and settled expectation. Let the conclusions of reason be exchanged for those of faith; and let the prayer of each heart be, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven."

May the discussion of this subject induce us all to aid in every effort fitted to promote the interests of that kingdom, which shall, ere long, extend from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth! May we all feel ourselves to be workers together with God in hastening onward the great sabbath of this sin-stricken

world! Let the Church awake from her slumbers, and advance to the field of honourable conflict; that field is the world, and by her agency the Gospel of salvation shall extend its benign influence to earth's remotest bounds. "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him!"*

*Psalm lxvii.

FINIS.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR,

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ALSO MAY BE HAD,

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LONDON:

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OCTOBER 8, 1829,

BEFORE THE MONTHLY ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONAL
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LONDON:

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