would sacrifice all proper principle to the views and wishes of worldly men. Formerly, Christians dreaded conformity to the world as a certain symptom that their hearts were not right with God. Now, every thing which would indicate separation from the world must, if possible, be avoided; and this consummation is often obtained at the expense of all proper moral principle. But the worst feature in our case is the want of a due sense of the evil, and of proper feeling with respect to our declension. Oh, what an accumulation of guilt, of public national transgression, stands in fearful record against us! "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" Jer. v. 29. We do not, we dare not, desire the evil day, but what ground is there to hope for escape? Instead of expecting any permanent relief from the present increasing distress, we fear it is only the commencement of overwhelming calamity. Preparation is evidently being made for the restoration of Israel by the downfall of the Ottoman empire; and coeval with it is the period of unparalleled distress. For a length of time, the sixth vial has been pouring its wrath upon the votaries of the Eastern Impostor, and the seventh has now begun to flow. The out-pouring of the vials is indeed consecutive. They follow each other in order, but sometimes with a rapidity which allows not the effect of the one to subside ere that of the other is felt or perceived. The dregs of the sixth are not yet drained, the Euphrates is not yet completly dried up;-but, as if in holy haste to vindicate the righteousness of God upon the enemies of His Son, already has "the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air" (which surrounds our globe, thus indicating the universality of his judgments,) and the result begins to be seen in the fearful and bloody commotions which now convulse the Continent of Europe.

The great, the mystic Babylon is about to fall, and with it all those systems which from heaven have not their origin and power. And what ought now to be the work of the church of Christ? And in these eventful times, when long-established institutions, institutions

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at once opposed to the glory of God, and inimical to the civil liberties of men, are being broken up-when the combination of powers, confederated expressly for the perpetuation of their wicked and oppressive dynasties, have lost their power of coercion-when the whole fabric of society becomes disorganized and every thing indicates momentous change, when in our own country where the authority of Him "by whom kings reign and princes decree justice," was wont in some degree to be acknowledged, a government if not more than formerly indifferent to the duties of practical godliness, one at least more openly and avowedly hostile to the religion of Jesus, is popular beyond precedent-and when in England where the hallowing influence of vital Christianity was once extensively felt, not only is a prevailing infidelity undermining the faith of our people, but where an unprincipled and satanic spirit of lawless incendiarism desolates the country, wantonly destroying the must useful implements of husbandry, and recklessly consuming the richest produce of their fertile fields;-In such an awful crisis should those be silent who study God's word for their guidance, and who avail themselves of His "sure word of Prophecy," as a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path, until the day of God's glory shall dawn, and the day-star shall arise in their hearts? No verily, silent, they may not be. A mighty work is theirs. Theirs it is, to announce the angelic message of mercy and of woe. them belongs the work, and let them not forget it is their present duty,-"having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. saying, with a loud voice, FEAR GOD AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM, FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENTS IS COME." Rev. xiv. 6, 7. Let the celestial message then be preached with holy zeal. Ye who are the servants of the Lord, engage in His work with fidelity, with earnestness, and with stedfastness of purpose. For the consolation of God's dear saints, sighing for a world's emancipation, in soothing accents sing the hour of His judgments is come;"-for the confusion and dismay of God's implac

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able enemies, thunder it into the ears of those by whom his people are oppressed-carry fearlessly the dread annunciation over the whole extent of Rome's vast empire, the scene of greatest sin-publish the inspired authoritative message, astounding though it be, to all the nations by which she is surrounded-with apostolic power, which to the prayer of faith our dear exalted Lord will give, proclaim the unwelcome truth to earth's remotest bound-in love to perishing immortals, communicate it as "the everlasting gospel," in lands where other "tidings of great joy" have never yet been allowed to penetrate-let heaven resound with earth's acclaim of God's own glory, "For the hour of His judgments is come." Do this with affection for the souls of men, but do it for the honour of your Saviour. Do it, not from anticipation of great success, which God has not promised; but do it in obedience to His command. Do it for the vindication of His holiness in the destruction of all impenitent foes, and for the salvation of the few who shall be led yet to turn unto the Lord. -O do it, whatever be the result, because it is prescrib ed by Heaven to be done.

Oh! it is a momentous time. What a fearful awaking will there soon be from the delusive and polluted dreams of the ungodly! What a time of trial to the saints! It is indeed matter of thankfulness that God, for His elect's sake, shall shorten these days of awful "tribulation;" but especially blessed be his holy name for the gifted aids of the all-sustaining Spirit of grace. Still, how long they may continue before the coming of the Lord, or what time may be occupied in this work of overwhelming judgment after his return, it is impossible to say. The ablest commentators, of opposite opinions with respect to Christ's premillennial advent, seem to agree in believing that the commencement of general happiness, after the utter overthrow of all Christ's enemies, will take place about the year 1867. Were their opinion correct, with respect to the nature of the blessing pronounced (Dan. xii. 12.) on him "that waiteth and cometh to the 1335 days," from the rise of A t christ (of which however we have some doubt),

it will still give us no certain information respecting the precise period of Christ's return, which must be some time before this happy era, as He must first be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance" on His enemies. But at his coming, believers shall be removed from all subsequent troubles, being caught up to meet Him. "I tell you," said the Saviour," in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left." Luke xvii. 34. In the hope of being fellow-heirs of this blessedness, "the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ." 2 Thess. iii. 5. "Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all Watch." Mark xiii. 33--37. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching." Luke xii. 35--37. "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke xxi. 34--36. "For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night....Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. v. 2, 6. "The end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.' 1 Pet. iv. 7. Having therefore these promises, dearly

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beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii. 1. 66 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is even able to subdue all things unto himself." Phil. iii. 20, 21. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. v. 23. "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, (because our testimony among you was believed,) in that day." 2 Thess. i. 10. "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. i. 7, 8. "Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in h's times he shall show, who is he blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” 1 Tim. vi. 14, 15. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things." 2 Tim. iv. 1—5. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus ii. 13. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day ap

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