future is not free from danger. It is difficult to say where the storm may burst, but the horizon is charged with clouds which betoken the possibility of a tempest." What used to be denounced as the visionary dreams of prophets is now turning out the solemn facts of the age, the calm statements of men who have "understanding of the times."

3

THE GREAT PREPARATION.

LECTURE I.

WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?

THE nearer the day of the Lord the more frequent and bitter the opposition of the scoffer. It is a pity it should be so. The prospect, however, is glorious—its certainty beyond dispute-its advent approaches every day.

"This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you;

in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last day scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.". 2 PETER iii. 1-4.

I HAVE been lately turning my mind with some intensity to the leading thoughts embodied in the chapter of which I have given the opening prefatory verses.

I intend to call attention-first of all to the words here prefixed, afterwards to these words, "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished ;" and next in contrast to this, "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men;" and then to the words, 66 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." After these the inspired apostle adds more comforting words: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned np." But out of the smoke and embers we are taught to look for the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

The words on which I will dwell in this lecture are prefatory. They constitute the commencement of the apostle's reply to some who are predicted to appear in the last days of this present Christian economy, and to indulge in scoffing. The object of their scoff, or subject of their special contempt, is what is announced in the fourth verse, the promise of "his coming," and the dissolution of the world; and the ground on which they object to the possibility of a change is what they think

the highly philosophical one, but though highly philosophical no less grossly wrong-" All things continue exactly as they were ;" therefore, argue these sciolists, all things will continue as they are for ever and ever. The apostle seeks to deepen the impression which he has made in his previous Epistle, and to prepare those who have read the first to enter into the higher and sublimer truths which he seeks to teach in the second. It is perfectly plain that he desires to convey to their minds no ordinary theme, and to impress upon their hearts no common and every-day lesson; for he says it is necessary to stir up their minds, and to stir them up also " "by way of remembrance." In such words we are taught a most precious lesson, that great truths need to be reiterated, reimpressed, and retaught. The eloquent and excellent Dr. Chalmers was asked to what he attributed the great success of his preaching. His answer was, "To repetition." His way was to hammer one truth upon the people's hearts, and memories, and intellects, and never leave off till he was thoroughly satisfied he had convinced, or converted, or impressed them. The apostle says here, he would try to stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance. But to stir up their minds respecting a truth implies that they were believers,-though fainting, and cold, and languishing believers. We do not stir up cold ashes, we let them alone; we stir up embers in which a few sparks remain that may be fanned into a flame, and give warmth to those that sit around them. Christians do not need lighting, they only need stirring; sickly they may be,--but dead, if Christians, they never can be. Therefore the great function the apostle here calls upon us to fulfil, is to stir up those that know, but too faintly feel, those magnificent verities which he