xt7zgm81kq0c https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7zgm81kq0c/data/mets.xml M'Farland, John. 1821  books b92-88-27380504 English Joel R. Lyle, : Paris, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Sermons, American. Signs of the times  : being the substance of a discourse delivered in Chillicothe, Ohio ... / by John M'Farland. text Signs of the times  : being the substance of a discourse delivered in Chillicothe, Ohio ... / by John M'Farland. 1821 2002 true xt7zgm81kq0c section xt7zgm81kq0c 







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BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF A DISCOUR'E

   DELIVERED IN CHILLICOrTHE OHIO,

           IN MAT ToASTS


    AND ALS) IN PARIS, KY. ON THE

      LAST THURSDAY OF AUQUST 1820.


                BY

       JOHN M'FARLAND,

  MI VISTER OF THE GOSPEL LV TM-

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PARIS, KY.


     PUBLISHED BY PARTICULAR REQUESV-





     sCa you not discern the signs of the times '
                          Mat. XVI: 






            PARIS, Kr.

       Munted by JOEL R. LYLE,


              1821.

 
















   To the Assoicate Reformed Co0ngregation in Chillicotle; and to the
 Presbyterian Congregation in Paris, who heard the discourse, the sub-
 stance of which is now given to the public, the following pages are with
 much affection inscribed. ts miny of yol solicited its publication, some
 explanation for the farm in which my views now appear is necessary. I
 bave merely to state, that what is now given to the public, was nearly
 all written out last winter in its present form.  My object then was
 merely co furnish a few numters for the WEEK(LY RECORI)ER, on
 "The Signs of the Times." As I proceeded I found they would be too
 lengthy for insertion in that paper. Anid as both means  disposition were
 wanting to influence me to intrude my views upon the public, in a pria-
 ted pamphlet, I threw them, with other matter into that form in which
 vou heard them.  Sio that neither the form, nor all the matter, which
 you had from the pulpit, will he found in the following sheets.  'l'hc
 views and sentiments are the same on the main subject, and some small
 ,A.ditions have been made which were omitted for want of time in tlhe
delivery. Hoping that they may promote God's glory, and influence
ou and all who lnuty give them a reading, to pursue the course which
s;cly leads to worlds on high. I suoscribe myself
                                   Yours affctionatelv,
                                          JOHN M'FARL kND.
  P.ARIs, Sept. 1820,

 






   As man is a creature of hope and fear; and as t'6e prin.
ciple of i.imortality is interwoven with his nature, he in.
voluntarilv feels a deep interest i; fulturity.  Hence many
are easily duped by fortune-tellers, by pretended prophe s,
and often by their own fond hopes, and calculations. The
wise and better informed know that the particulars, whith
enter into the chequiered life of manl, and the great book of
futurity lie open only toithe omniscient God; and that it is
his prerogative to "tell thc end from the beginning." Such
however, are habitually forming their calculations, and in a
certain sense propheysing. rhe philosopher, acquainted
with the laws of nature, and of the revolutions of the he ,v-
enly bodies; and knowing from  frequent observation that
certain effects are produced by certain phtnomina, may,
and does foretell many ev'ents in the natural world, which
excite the astonishment of the unlearned.  Such, also, as
are acquainted with the prink iples oi human nature; the
history of God's providence and government. may foretell,
with astonishing precision, th8'greac events which are ab-But
to happen in the nations, and kingdoms whose character 
circumstances are known.  WVhen to these data, the be-
liever in divine revelation adds the Knowledge of things
there foretold, he maix and ought to know the great events
which are shortly to come to pass. God has been pleased
to give to his church such a disclosure of futurity, as may
enable her friends, if they be wise  attentive, to foresee the
days of evil and provide tor them.  They are also thus.
prepareCl to meet God in the marches of his providence,
and to perform their duty to him, and for his kingdom with
propriety.  This principle of our nature, then, which is so
prevalent, and influences all to look as f.r into futurity as
possible, is implanted for wise and salut. ry purposes, and
ought to bl) particularly improved. Considering its import-
ance, and the means which God has afforded for obtaining
the necessary knowledge of his providence,  the times, in
                           Ai -0

 



4



  which our lot is cast, it is criminal to be ignorant  inattru.
  tive. Our Saviour severely rebuked the Jews, who could,
  from the signs of the sky, foretell what was about to hap-
  pen in the natural world, but could not discern those signs,
  which clearly indicated, under the light of their prophets,
  the nature ofthe times, and the great events about to trans-
  pire in the moral and religious world.  The attempt there-
  fore in the following pages is not only the dictate of nature,
  but also of duty, and when such attempts are judiciously
  conducted, thev are at once highly interesting and useful.
    The object is not to give any thing like an exposition of
 prophecy, or to amuse the reader with a novel, or romantic
 theory, but to throw tight upon the manner and means, used
 by the Governor among the nations, for putting an end to
 the reign of iniquity and oppression; and for introducing
 the long expected Jubilee of the world, the millennium. The
 object is of practical influence; for if i acorrect views of the
 manner and means, hich God is using for this great and
 desirable purpose, be entertained by those who are wvishing
 to be feMllo workers wnthi him, it must have a serious effect
 upon their measures and efforts.
   It appears, at present to be a prevalent opinion, both in
 the religious, and political world, that there will be a peace-
 ful close of the reign of ignorance, iniquity and oppres-
 sion, and that the reign of light, lib rtv and happiness will
 be introduced gradually, by the dissemination of knowl-
 edge, and a pacific spirit, without any of those convulsions
 and effusions of blood, which have mar! ed all the great
 revolutions recorded in history. Notwithstanding there be
 many things which are calculated to eherish such an opin-
 ion, I am constrained to consider it incorrect.  In the fol.
 lowing pages my views are first brieflv expressed, and then
 the reasons are given, in detail, which support them. They
 are collected from the Scriptures, from history,  the actual
 state of things, at the present time. I have aimed at per-
 spicuity and brevity, and therefore have omitted references
 to those writers, to whom I am indebted for mv historical
 information. The facts of which I have made use, are so
 well knowh, that references could answer no purpose, uN-
Iess to crowd the margin, and make a show of learning.


 




CHA-PTrER 1.



CHRtST'S KINGDOM AND REIGN-WHAT OPPOSES IT-
    AND l HOW THE OBSTACLES WILL BE REMOVED-
    AND THE MILLENNIUM INTRODUCED.
    The great question wv ich has been at issue, since the
 day that AXlam rebelled, is. whether the creature, or God
 and his _I. ssiah shall reign. There can be no dispute who
 ought, and Nvill reign. God says, "I have set my king
 ul)on my holy hill of Zion-I w ill give him the heathen for
 his irtheritaice and the uttermost parts of the earth for hit
 possession-His kingdom shall extend from sea to sea,
 and from the river to the ends of the earth-all the kings
 of the earth shall bow before, and all nations shall serve
 him."  And accordinglv we hear the Son, this universal
 King, saying, "the Father judgeth no man but bath corn-
 mitted all judgemernt unto the Son, that all men should
 honour the Son even as they hoaiour the Father-all power
 in Heaven and in earth is givea unto me, go ye therefore
 into all tbe world and preach the gospel to every creature."
   From these, and similar declarations in the Scriptures,
we learn that God tile Father, whtlose are all things, has de-
termined to honor, or glorifv the divine perfeztions, ill and
through his Son, whom he has appointed Saviour of the
world: and that as such, le has given him  universal do-
minionW and made him heir of all things.  The Heathen
howvever, and the ends of the earth, given to him for his
inheritance, were under the dominion of sin and Satan, 
consequently under the curse of God's law. Hence before
the Son can become actual possessor of his inheritance, he
must redeem it by price and powcr.  On this great errand
he comes into the world-gives his own life as the ran-
som-makes an end of sin-bruises the head of the Ser-
pent-destroys death and the grave; rises triumphantly to
hleaven, and thence, according to his infinite wisdom, car-
ries on a process, which shall terminate in the expulsion of
sin, Satan find the curse from the earth. To effect this he

 




a



instituted a kingdom called his Church, which is a pro
gressive. and renovating svstem. As he extends the vic-
tories of his grace, this kingdom increases, ant it is through
the officers, the laws and ordinances, given by him, to the
kingdom, that he extends his victories.  And when all
nations shall be subdued unto the obedience offaith in the
Lord Jesus as A7ng, his Church shall be as extensive as the
earth, and he shall actually possess his inheritance. The
language here used implies hostility to him, and his king.
dom. He mustsuzbdue all nations.  That the world has
ever been hostile to the reign of God's Messiah needs no
proof -and Itt it be recollected that the great question is
respecting Rlule. If opposition to Christ, as King, were
removed, there would be no difficulty with respect to his
prophetical and priestly offices. This is the fact with eve.
ry renewed sinner  When he ceases to rebel, and submits
to Christ's authority, all that Christ is and has is cordially
received. And every believer is sanctified just so far as he
conforms to the laws ot Christ; and so far as he does not,
he remains unholy.  Now, as it has been with individual
members of the Church, so has it been with the Church.
They cordially submit to Christ as Priest, and as prophet,
so far as his authority is not brought to bear in precept;
but to submit and obey hii as legislator, and Lord, has
been nominally, or in profession, rather than in reality.
This remark should be impressed upon the mind, ;s it ap-
pears to be the prevailing opinion among professing chris.
tians that the heathen and unbelieving world only are op-
posed to that, reign of the Messiah, which is to take place
in the latter days.  Christ indeed has long since instituted
his Church, and entered upon his reign, but the degree of
submission to his legislative authority has been as linited,
even in his Church, as the extent of it has been circ um-
scribed in the world. And when he subdues the heathen,
and makes his Church embrace all nations, it may be said,
that he will then begin his reign.  Never, until that period
will the Church manifest any thing like becoming subor.
dination to her lawgiver and King.  These remarks are
tsupported both by scripture  matters of fact. The names

 




and metaphors, by which the Church of Christ is exhibi.
ted in the scriptures, teach us, that she is a completely ore
ganized society, and that she has a form and governmvientt,
as wtvlI defined, as an) society on earth. She is calkd a
kingdom; a city ; an house; the body and the spouse of
Christ. She has laws and ordinances, which can neither
be changed, incr ased, nor diminished. She has officers,
with the nature oftheir duties and the extent of their auk
thority, ckarly delineated. Sheis represented as one; con.
sistent and harmonious in all her parts.-And this we are
taught she actually shall be, when she arises from the dust,
puts on her beautiful garments, and becomes the glory
of al the earth. Then she shall be conformed to the will
of her Lord, as declared in the Scriptures.
   Now what is the actual state of things So far are mar
iwv sections of the Church from acknowledging the laws,
order  government of Christ's house, that they deny that
he has legislated at all, with respect to the organization and
fbrm of government, which he would have observed by his
people. Others, who are very strenuous en the opposite
side, are so fir from being satisfied with the legislation of
Christ, that they supply what would appear to be his defi-
citncies, and imake laws for admission into his house, and
terms of admission to his table which suit their party views
and prejudices. In both these cases Christ's authority is
virtually rejected. In the first, he has a Kingdom without
order and jorm, which is an absurdity-an impossibility
and the consequence is, that the Church, instead of appear-
ing ONE;, is fifty, an hundred-just as many as thereare
congregations; and the authority brought to bear in cases
of disc ipliiie is no other than human.  In the other case,
Chnist's authority, as legislator, is usurped and prostituted
to seal and sanction views and acts contrary to his word.
Thus it is, thjt Christ is little known and recognized as
King; and his church is carricatured, and cut up into jar-
ring and discordant parties. Each of these sets up for per-
fection, and is to flourish as the model, to which all will
contformn in the dlays of the millennium.  Tbis is openly
declared by some, and practically declared by all denomi-
Mtuons.

 


8



    Wherever Christs authority is thus rejected, usurped, ox
 prostituted, thle hearts and lives of professing people cannot
 be brought into conformity, generally, with the word of
 God.    Mhere his authority is not realized, or where it is
 prostituted, there will be a correspondent looseness in reli-
 gion and mordls.' And hence the little personal and famiiy
 religion, among those, who have by an open protession,
 taken Christ for their King. And hence, the worldly spec.
 ulating spirit, and the gross immoralities, which disfigure
 and slander the Church, and dishonour her head,  Can
 any one suppose that this state of things shali continue in
 that day, when the Church, as one harmonious kingdom,
 shall be exalted above all other kingdoms, and shall be the
 praise of all the earth  Or can any think. that, if all the
 human family were formed into such churches, and chris.
 tians as we now see, that the millennium described in the
 Scriptures would be realized Nay verily; we are taught
 to look for another state of things.  And it must atepear
 evident to all, upon the least reflection, that both the chris.
 tian and heathen world must be revolutionized, and sub-
 dued to obedience to the Ki ig of kings, and Lord of
 Jords.  Rebellion against his authority, or the want of re-
 coglnziiCg it, in the kingdom!s, governments, denominations
 and parties, which exist, is the sum of all the opposition
 against his kindom and universal reign. The 'mountains'
 which those kingdoms and governments in their present
 state and form, constitute; and the "crooked things," of
 sects and denominations, which embarrass and disgrace the
 church, are the great obstacles to the coming of the Mes-
 siah in his millennial kingdom.  How are these obstacles
 to be remomed; and how will the millennium be introduc-
 cd   'Tlhis brings us to the main subject, which was to be
 illucidated. God's manner of working, and the means
 which he uses iil bringing about his great purposes, are not
 such as human wisdom would devise. Hence, when he
 comes in aiiv remarkable providences, he always comes on
 his people, and on the world, unexpectedly. He takes the
 wxse in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward
he carries headlowg; and tbat before thy are aware of it.

 



One remarkable trait in all the great revolutions, which lhe
has effected, in his church, and in the world, so far as con-
nected with it, is a twofold process; one by which he grad.
nally introduces the new order of things, and another by
which the old order is brought to ruin. In this manner, it
appears the millennium will be introduced.  Thlirough the
increase of light, or knowledge, the injustice, unreasona-
blenessand oppression of systems, and governments are
exposed, and the people taught insubordination to the pow-
ers that be. They are also taught their own strength, and
their rights, which, under the general influence of humanr
depravity, eventually leads to rebellion, and civil wars.
Unprincipled, aspiring adventurers at such times, become
the instigators, and leaders of the people; and in rushing to
eminence, or empire, turn their country into a Golgotha, 
would inevitably leave it in anarchy, or despotism, were
there not a counteracting process. Where increase of light
is accompanied with grace, and a sufficiency of moral prin.
ciple, the result is a happy revolution, although marked
with all the horrors, and miseries of war. The kingdom
or government appears in a new form, put under new
laws and rulers. Thus all the kingdoms of the earth are
to be overturned, convulsed, shaken to pieces, and reor-
ganized.
  A similar process, under the increase of light, and the
influence of depravity, in various forms will bring all the
sects and denominations of Christians into a state of evo-
lution and anarchy, in which my church and your church,
and our church will be swallowed up; in which all the
crooked things. all the errors, and peculiarities of sects,
shall be lost ; and from which, as the world at first out of
old chaos, the church shall rise, and "s put on her beautiful
garmeiuts." This process may not indeed be marked with
bload, but it will be at least with ink and gall; with dis-
sentions and schisms; with the prostitution of authority
by some, and the entire neglect of it, and discipline, by oth-
ers. The wars and collisions will not be so much between
different denominations, as between the members of each
and everv deno.mnination. They shall be their Ow!1 e-cell-
                           B



 


10



tioners. This prncess, in the political and religious world,
would, without a counteracting procss, introducca state of
things more hopeless, and distressing, than ever was experi-
enced since the entrance of sin. And notwithstanding the
counteracting process, it may be to the whole Church, and
tq the world, what the state of things, in the siege, and de-
struction of Jerusalem, was to the nation of the Jews. By
the counteracting process I mean that process of grace which
God is carrying on by various means, and agencies, and by
which he is spwing the seed of his word throughout the
earth, and preparing the whole world for the reception and
right use of it, "without note or comment." This is where
the Church was left when her Legislator completed his
code of laws, and closed the cannon of divine revelatio,,.-
Such are mv views; the principal reasons iu support of
them will be found in the subsequent pages.







                   CHAPTE'   R   II.

REASONS IN SUPPORT OF THE FOREGOING VIEX S-
   PROPRECY-TIHE ANALOGY OF PRECEDING             REV-
   OLUTIONS.
   It will be seen from the preceding pages, that if I differ
from the most common views of christians Ik divines, it is
with respect to the process which is to revolutionize all the
kingdons, governments, sects  dentominations u hich exist;
k io introduce in them, previous to the millennium convu I-
sions of the most serious and desolating kind.  In other
words the dales, a short time previous to the end of Satdn's
reign. t ill be tile most distressvinrg and perplexing, wvhich
the Church has experienced. In favour of this opinion I
might quott some few authoritie.4, fromn tihe writers ou
prophecv. I however sh-all begin first wvith the Scriptures3

 
11



,ot confining nWtv reasons, or proof to this single point, but
to mv views in general.
  In the prophecy of Ezekiel XXXVIII and XXXIX we
have an account of the enemies of God's people ill the last
days, under the names of GOG and MAGjOG. It is evi-
dent fro;n the connection, and the parallel passage in the
revelation of fohn, that they will appear in dreadful array,
and be destroved just before the millennium.  God speak-
ing to Ezekiel says, "and thou son of marl, thus Faith the
Lord God; speak unto everv feathered fowl, and to every
beast of the field; assemble yourselves and comne; gather
yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice
for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel,
that ye may eat flesh atnd dring blood-ye shall eat the flesh
of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the
earth, of rains, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks all of them
fatlinus ofifashan-and ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and
drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sactifice which I
have sacrificed for voti. Thus ye shall be filled at my table
with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all
men of ovar, saith the Lurd God. And I will set my glory
among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judg-
ment that I have executed, and my hand that I have lall
upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am
the Lord their God from  that dav and forward."  John
says, Rev. XIX. "and I saw an angel standing ill the Suii,
and he cried with a loud voice, saving to all the fowls that
flv in the midst of Heaven, come,and gather yourselves to-
gether unto the supper of the great God; that ye mav eat
the flesh of Kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh
of mighty mel, and the flesh (f horses, and of them that sit
on them, and the flesh of all men both free and bond, both
small and great." c.
  Again God says, by Joel, Chapter III. "Proclaim ye thi;s
among the Gentiles; prepare wvar, wurike uip the mighty
men, let all the men of war draw 1ear; let them come up:
beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks
into spears; let the weak say I am strong. Assemble vour-
selves, and come all ye heathen, and gather yourselves
                          B 2

 
12



round about; thither cause thy mighty ones to come dowa
0 Lord.    Let the heathen be wakened and come up to
the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the
heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle for the harvest
is ripe; come get you dv)wn for the press is full, the fats
overflo .v; for their wickedness ;s great. Multitudes, muli-
titudes in the valley of decision, for, the day of the Lord is
near in the valley of decision.  Trhe Sun and the Moon
shall be darkened, and the Stars shall "vithdrav their shin-
ing.   The Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his
voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall
shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and
the strength of the children of Israel."
   In R-g. IT, 6, 7, we fitid similar language, 'For thus saith
 the Card of hosts, yet once, it is a little while, and It will
 shake the heavens, and the earth and the sea, and the dry
 land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all na-
 tions shall come. Verse 22, and I will overthrow the throne
 of kingdoms, and I will destroy tie strengti of the king-
 doms of the heathen: and I will overthrow the chariots and
 those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall
 come dozen, every one by the sword of his brother. Of this
 period, Daniel, Chapter XII; 1. God appears to speak,
 "and at that time shall Michael stand up for the children of
 thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as ne-
 ver was since there ivas a alation, even to that same timee;
 and at that time thy people shall be delivered; every one
 that shall be found written in the book."
   And of this same period our Saviour speaks in the xxiv
chapter of Mlatthewv, altho' he has a primary reference to
the siege, and destruction of Jerusaiem,  In connection
with these passageF, it we consider the sixteenth and nine-
teenth chapters inclusive of the Book of the Revelatioit, we
may come to the following conclusions.
   I. That these prophecies are not yet fully accomplished.
A primary, and a partial accomplishment they may have
had; as all prophecies respecting the Church have their
fulfilment progressively through the series of her history.
But it must be evidcnt that if the great and terrible things

 



spoken of in the preceding quotations, have bees adea-
plisbied the millennium ought to be introdluced; and Satan
cast out ofthe world and shut up in the botuoailets pit,
    2. We learn that the last period, previous to the millenr
 nium is to be marked with blood; with the shaking and
 overthrow of thrones and kingdoms; and of the heavens 6;
 the earth, the sea and the dry land ; which expressions in-
 clude all kinds of bodies, ecclesiastical and political.
    3. That the Jews, God's ancient people wilt at this pe-
 riod, be restored to their own land and shall enjoy with the
 surviving Gentiles, the reign of their Messiah in the happy
 period which is to follow.
   The general analogy of all the great changes and rtvolu-
 tions, whicl God has effected in the world, correspond with
 those prophecies, and illustrate and establish the views
 which have been advanced. All acquainted with the his.
 tory of God's providence, respecting the Church and the
 world connected with it, know, that he proceeds in effect.
 ing great revolutions ui the r oral world, upon principles,
 and in a mode, as clearly ascertained, as the principles and
 mode, according to which he effects revolUtions ui the 1vat.
 ural, or astionoinical world. This principle of analogy is
 one of the principal keys to prophecy.  For if we can as-
 certain how any prophecy has received its primary, and
 incipient accomplishnent, we ma ascertaxn how it will
 receive its perfect and final accomplishment; for the for-
 mer is to be considered as a sample. and pledge of the lat-
 ter. Thus the coming of the Son of man for the destruc-
 tion of Jerusalem, and the entire revoltijon of the Church,
 as prophesied in the xxiv chapter of Matthew, is. the pri-
 mary and ineipient accomplishment of the prediction, and
 alio a sample and pledge to the Church of the coming of
 the Son ot manr in the last day to destroy this world and
 revolutionize all things, which will be the perfect and final
 accomplishment of the prediction. With these remarks it
 will be sufficient merely to mention the deluge-the deliv-
 erance of Israel out of E-yp)-and the great revoiution, at,
 and shortly after the introduction of the New Testament
dispensation.  In all these the judgements of the Laord

 
14



brushed his enemies and delivered his friendsi  The last
scene also displayed the greatest indignation, and was most
replete with terrible dismay, and wide-spread ruin. The
plagues of Egypt were tremendous; they desolated the
kingdom of Pharaoh, but they were only the beginnings of
sorrow, compared with the last scene, the Red Sea. The
conflicts of the Jews with the Romans, and the miseries of
the siege, horrible as they were, present no scene like the
closing one, wvhen Jerusalem sunk into heaps of ruin, by
fire and sword, amidst the shouts of the victors, the clang.
or of arms, the spouting of blood, and the groans of the
dying.
  Now, if this be God's manner of working, if those in-
stances of revolution be samples of what he will yet effect
is there not a scene to b' witnessed bv the Church, and the
world, such as never has been witnessed since men were
upon the earth  We are to observe, in the above instan.
ces, that God by means and agents, instructed and prepar-
ed his own people for the new state of things and brought
them into that state, through water and through fire. In a
similar manner he is instructing, and preparing his Church
for passing into the millennial state.  Noal was 120 years
preparing the Ark, and admonishing the ungodly; b)ut
then he entered the Ark, the emblem of God's Church, and
she carried him gallantly amidst the wrecks of the world
which perished, into that world which is in reserve for the
flames of the last day. The Church prepared, and having
her King at the helm, and freighted with all God's people,
will as gallantly ride out the storm, and lpass through that
crimson deluge, which the breaking lp or kingdoms and
the torrents of God's wrath shall produce, previous to th2
age of rest, righteousness and peace.



 
16



                   CHAPTER Ill.

The subject continued -God's object to Arn6ble the przde 6f'
   man 6y leaving him to experinments-from Creation to the
   flood-from the flood to C/zrst-from Chrtst to the Ref.
   ortnation-fromn the Reformation to the present day.
   It appears both from the Scriptures and the history of
facts, that the governor of the world has determined, in
his infinite wisdom, to leave nqan to a full and fair experi.
intnt of his powers, in order to humble his pride, and to
evince that to remove sin and all its attendant woes, is solely.
the work of the Messiah, through the instrumentality of the
gospel. Now as this is the last age of experiment,  as the
world is far from being cured of the pride of human wisdomn.
God must, in order to accomplish his end, overthrow all the
devices, and boasted constitutions of men.  The happiest,
and best organized governments, civil and ecclesiastical,
which have been formed by man's policy, mnust become the
tport of human depravity, and have all their grandeur laid
in the dust. Let us amplify, and illustrate this 4rgumcit
a little.
   At first God created man, and set him up with high pow-
ers, and in extensive fund of knowledge, and materials.
But he soon forsook the wisdom and counsel of the Most
High, and at once became a rebel, a bankrupt and a crimi-
nal.  God pitied him-taught him the wvay of pardon and
restoration-gave him a new stock of knowledge suited to
his forlorn circumstances, and said, occupy and zmprove.-
And in less than sixteen centuries, "the whole earth was
corrupt." Immorality, violence and cwild misrule made one
general movement agaiinst the lain s and government of God.
Ti'o teach man wisdom-to purify the earth,. and to give an.
other fair experiment, the flood is brought in upon the world
of the ungodly, and Noah, the only righteous main, with
his faraily, is saved, and is made a new and instructive head
to the humran family.  But man, by this vwful display of
divine justice, and the evil of sin, t'als not cured df tke

 



love of'sin and the pride of his own wisdom. He again
forsook the wisdom fromi above-pursued the gratification
of his depraved nature-cornmencdd philosopher and poet,
and lo! the world sinks into a long night of "1 gross dark-
ness," idolatry and oppressive wickedness. This dreadful
reign of philosophy continuce6 until thw earth h4d nearly
reached her fortieth century.  An experiment, one might
suppose, sufficiently long. It did indeed, demonstrate what
is in man, and what human wisdom and human depravity
can do. It brought the world to "the crisis."  The light
of truth, which God had miraculoiislv preserved in one na.
tion, was ready to expire. The wvick, or "smoking flax,"
was glimmering in the socket, and the philosplhising Jewv-
ish doctors were, in their wisdom, and zeal prestilng the ex-
tinguislhr upon it. 0! it was an awful crisis! it was inl
deed, "the fullness of time."  A little longer, and then,
hope and the world parted forever. But all hail! the Star
of Bethlehem appears in the east; and the Sun of righteous-
ness arises with healing in his rays. God's Messiah is an-
nounced, who puts an end to the uncontroled reign of sin,
brings in by his obedience and death an everlasting right-
eousness; and by his resurrection, makes the light of life
and immortality spring from the tomb.
  Now with this cheering light, with the gospel ministry,
with a perfect reielation and with free access to the fountain
of wisdom and benevolence, the world is left to another ex-
periment. God, man's liberal and marvellously kind ben-
efactor, says again, occupy  improve, and draw upon me
for all that you need. Mark the result, again man takes the
downward road, and in a few centuries is found in gross idol
atria having turned the temple of God into the synagogue
of Satan, and the Chiurch of Christ into the mother of har-
lots and abominations. The reign of darkness, supersti-
tion, cruelty and crime becomes again almost universal, and
continues tuntil the light from heaven bursts forth in the ref.
ormation of immortal memorv.
  Tile world thu's resctied a second time, and having an ad-
ditional stuck of experience ; the learning of all ages, the
inestimabl: art of printing, ai ith all former privileges, coters