the

"Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred, and fiveand-thirty days." At that time, when Time of the End," or the period of the seventy-five years shall be terminated, the mystery of God will be accomplished. Then will the trials and sufferings of the church be completely ended. She will have perfectly passed out of her wilderness-state, and will be rapidly advancing towards her predicted millennial glory. Then "will her sun no more go down, neither will her moon withdraw itself." Then will the sanctuary indeed be cleansed. Those abominations which have so long defiled it, will be purged away for ever; and it will become in truth, "a house of prayer to all nations." And blessed then is he that waiteth and cometh to this time; which, in comparison with every preceding period of the church, or of the world, may be preeminently named, the time of blessed

ness.

But while the servants of God in the present crisis contemplate in faith this approaching triumph of the church, it is possible that the experience of their own trials and difficulties, contrasted with the predicted blessedness of the saints in these glorious days, may excite in them some feelings of discouragement, and may cast at times a transient gloom across their minds. Such feelings, indeed, would find no place in a nature that was perfectly renewed. But we must ever bear in mind, that the most eminent Christians are, in this life, renewed but in part; they are still compassed with infirmity. And in this state of things, it is far from impossible, but that they may at times be tempted to repine at their own lot, and to wish that their portion had been cast in those happier days, of which such glorious things are prophesied. While "watching and keeping their garments," conflicting with trials, and surrounded by dangers, how often may they be urged to

exclaim, O that we had been reserved 'for that season of blessedness, when such 'trials and dangers will be known no more!

O that, instead of bearing the burden and • heat of the day, we had been called into ⚫ the vineyard at the eleventh hour, when the work will be nearly finished, and the cool of the evening shall have commenced, and rest and refreshment will be 'the labourer's portion!' Such wishes, it is to be admitted, would not be perfectly innocent, because they imply some little measure at least of dissatisfaction and impatience. But the Lord is very merciful and of tender pity. He graciously watches over his people's happiness, and often anticipates even their unreasonable desires. And in this view may not the assurance which we are considering be regarded as peculiarly seasonable? May He not be supposed, as at this time addressing these words unto his people, for this reason among others, that He might kindly meet the feelings to which we

have adverted; and show them that He does not forget their work and labour that proceedeth of love:"True indeed it is, that those who wait and come to the predicted time, shall be blessed. But envy not ye their lot. Repine not ye at their blessedness. Ye have not been

forgotten of me. There is a blessedness also for you; "a joy with which a stranger 'intermeddleth not." I pronounce you blessed. Let this assurance console and "Blessed is he that watch

satisfy you.

eth and keepeth his garments." "

154

CHAP. XXIII.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

LET us now inquire into the particulars of which the promised Blessedness will consist. And in entering on this inquiry, it will be necessary to determine the period to which the promise belongs; the time, in reference to which our Lord declares, that "he who watcheth and keepeth his garments is blessed." If we contemplate the true Christian as he stands in relation to the world to come, we shall see that with a prospective view to the happiness and glory reserved for him in heaven, he may in truth at all times be pronounced blessed. Whatever his circumstances on earth may be, in whatever trials or troubles, in whatever depths of