the MAN OF SIN who has exalted himself above all that is called God, shall appear, in the whole horror of his doom as the son of perdition, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. The terrible but joyous event shall be announced by an angel from heaven crying mightily with a strong voice, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen! ALLELUIA, shall be the response of the church universal, Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God; for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand! Then, too, the accuser of the brethren; that old serpent which is the devil, shall be cast down, and bound a thousand years that he shall deceive the nations no more. This will introduce the church's Triumph-in the prevalence of righteousness and peace throughout the world. Her people shall be all righteous. The voice of the blasphemer shall no longer insult her ear. Iniquity as ashamed shall stop its mouth, and hide its head. All her officers shall be peace, and all her exactors, righteousness. The kings of the earth bringing their glory and honor unto her, shall accomplish the gracious promise. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills by righteousness. Her prince whose throne is forever and ever, shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more! Every man shall meet, in every other man, a brother without dissimulation. Fear and the sword shall be far away, they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree, and none shall make them afraid. For thus saith the Lord, Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls, Salvation, and thy gutes, Praise. Triumph-in the presence of God, in the communion of his love, and the signal manifestation of his glory. Behold, the tabernacle of God shall be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Then shall be seen the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, which shall have no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God shall lighten it, and the Lamb shall be the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it, and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it; and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Such, according to the sure word of prophecy, will be the triumphs of Christianity; and to this issue all scriptural efforts to evangelize the heathen contribute their share. That mind is profane, indeed, which repels the sentiment of awe; and hard is the heart which feels no bland emotion--But let us pause-You exult, perhaps, in the view of that happiness which is reserved for the human race; you long for its arrival; and are eager, in your place, to help on the gracious work. It is well. But are there no heathen in this assembly? Are there none who, in the midst of their zeal for foreign missions, forget their own souls; nor consider that they themselves neglect the great salvation? Remember, my brethren, that a man may be active in measures which shall subserve the conversion of others, and yet perish in his own iniquity. That very gospel which you desire to send to the heathen, must be the gospel of your salvation; it must turn you from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God; it must make you meet for the inheritance of the saints, or it shall fearfully aggravate your condemnation at last. You pray, Thy kingdom come. But is the kingdom of God within you? Is the Lord Jesus in you, the hope of glory? Be not deceived. The name of Christian will not save you. Better had it been for you not to have known the way of righteousness-better to have been the most idolatrous pagan--better, infinitely better, not to have been born, than to die strangers to the pardon of the Redeemer's blood, and the sanctifying virtue of his Spirit. From his throne on high he calls; calls, my brethren, to you; Look unto me, and be ye saved, for I am God, and there is none else. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. On the other hand, such as have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them, are commanded to be joyful in their King. He reigns, O believer, for thee. The stability of his throne is thy safety. The administration of his government is for thy good; and the precious pledge that he will perfect that which concerneth thee. In all thy troubles and in all thy joy commit thy way unto him. He will Fear not that thou guard the sacred deposit. shalt lack any good thing. "He shalt be forsaken-Fear not that thou shalt fall beneath the arm of the oppressor. went through the fires of the pit to save thee; and he will stake all the glories of his crown to keep thee." Sing, then, thou beloved, Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. And if we have tasted that he is gracious: if we look back with horror and transport upon the wretchedness and the wrath which we have escaped, with what anxiety shall we not hasten to the aid of our fellow-men, who are sitting in the region and shadow of death. What zeal will be too ardent; what labor too persevering; what sacrifice too costly, if, by any means, we may tell them of Jesus, and the resurrection, and the life eternal! Who shall be daunted by difficulties, or deterred by discouragement? If but one pagan should be brought, savingly, by your instrumentality, to the knowledge of God, and the kingdom of heaven, will you not, my brethren, have an ample recompense? Is there here a man who would give up all for lost because some favorite hope has been disappointed? or who regrets the worldly substance which he has |