erect their Temple and restore their Ancient worship; but that their protector will turn speedily against them, and they will endure a tribulation, of a kind. more bitter than all former trials.

Now, in concluding this chapter, let me impress upon my readers THE GREAT NEED OF PRAYER ON THE BEHALF OF ISRAEL. We have seen already, and in our future chapters shall see more particularly, what great blessings God has laid in store for the Twelve Tribes in the Millennial age. But they have much to suffer first. We must, then, keep them in remembrance.

Moreover, while we pray for them, let us look well also AT HOME: examining OUR OWN standing before God. For even now are there many Antichrists, fore-runners of "THE ANTICHRIST" who shall appear. INFIDELITY is an Antichrist: POPERY and TRACTARIANISM are Antichrists: ANTINOMIANISM is an Antichrist: LUKEWARMNESS is an Antichrist. Let us see that we take not the side of any such, but ever guard our hearts with prayer and watchfulness: ever keep our lives in harmony with the inspired word: ever

KEEP OUR BEST AFFECTIONS FIXED WITH FIRMNESS ON

THE SAVIOUr. O that in every one of us professed believers there were more DECISION For the Lord: and less room allowed for any man to doubt about us, whose we are and whom we serve. O that we were more entirely and more simply looking to THE CRUCIFIED ONE, whose blood alone can cleanse our sins away. For, so, should we stand firmer; so, become more joyous; so, delight ourselves more fully in the prospect of that day when Christ shall call His people

hence; and so, if we should see the tribes of Israel returning to their land, we should look up, and lift our heads expectantly, well knowing by that foreappointed sign, that the Archangel's blast must quickly sound to summon all the servants of the Lord whose glorious "REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH."

CHAPTER IV.

THE ADVENT.

"Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierce Him; and all kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."-REV. i. 7.

It will be needful for us to retrace our steps a little, in order that we may deal fairly with the subject which now comes before us. That subject is THE ADVENT.

Uplifting first the mind towards Heaven, we must behold our Great Redeemer, there enthroned in glory at the right hand of the Eternal Father. He is a man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh; a man, who once was dead, but liveth, and has been exalted above all the Principalities and Powers of Heaven; a man, before whose GLORIFIED HUMANITY the angels bow. A man, yet GOD:* the very and Eternal God: "for whom are all things and by whom all things consist." Since, in the sight of His disciples He ascended up on high, His session has been there. And there, amid unceasing praises, He must sit—the great High Priest-the only "Mediator between God and men"-until the day appointed by the Father, when He shall descend once more to Earth for JUDGMENT and SALVATION.

* John i. 1-3. Romans ix. 5.

† Col. i. 16, 17.

In Heaven, then, at the right hand of power, awaiting the appointed time, let us BEHOLD OUR LORD as we commence this chapter. And let us note well the fact,-He shall descend to Earth again. HE SHALL DESCEND. That once despised and rejected Lord who by the hand of wickedness was crucified, but who, by the Eternal Spirit rose again, and then ascended, and now sits enthroned at the right hand of power-THAT VERY JESUS, at the time appointed, SHALL DESCEND as King and Judge UPON OUR FALLEN EARTH.

Moreover, it is evident that He will come AS MAN; clothed indeed in the perfection of our manhood, but still in its reality. It does not require much searching into Scripture to establish this. In the first chapter of THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES we are told that when Jesus had spoken His last words to His disciples, "while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards Heaven, as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, which said, ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? THIS SAME JESUS which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.” "THIS SAME JESUS," then, who had arisen from the grave, who had been crucified, who had dwelt and ministered among the sons of men; who had been born of a human mother in Bethlehem;-THIS SAME JESUS, shall most surely come again "in like manner" as He went. Descending instead of ascending; the clouds unfolding to reveal His manhood, instead of closing round about, to hide it from our sight.

But now let us follow the ALMIGHTY SAVIOUR by the steps of His descent.

"The MAN CHRIST JESUS" quits the Throne of Intercession at the right hand of Heaven, and advances towards the Earth. The glory of the Father's Majesty surrounds Him. The Holy Angels bear Him company.* Thus, to an appointed place in heights above the world, He makes descent, and there a pause ensues. The trumpet sounds in the hearing of the DEAD in Christ, that they arise from vaulted tomb, and earth, and stream, and sea, to meet Him. It sounds, moreover, in the hearing of the LIVING SAINTS that their frail mortal put on immortality, and that they ascend to be for ever with the Lord. And they obey the summons. On this "first resurrection" we have dwelt before; we need not speak of it, therefore, in further explanation. THUS, however, does the LAST GREAT DAY-the DAY OF THE LORD'S ADVENT -open.

But when the multitudes who have arisen and ascended to their Lord, are in His presence, what shall follow? Surely eye of man hath never seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived-the JOY, the BLISS, the GLORY!!! O think of the re-union of those loving ones the grave has so long severed! Husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and friends, united now to live and love FOR EVER! No more to shed a tear! no more to doubt, nor sin, nor suffer! No friend to cause another pang of grief to friend! The name of enemy unknown! All perfect peace, rest; joy, praise, glory, everlastingly. And then the * Matt. xxv. 31. Mark viii. 38. †Thess. iv. 16, 17. Rev. xix.