dually fulfilling, the faith of the Church in each passing age marks the divine hand. The accumulation of accomplished predictions confirms our hope more and more, with the lapse of time, and teaches us to expect the complete and final fulfilment of all our warmest desires for the conversion of the world.

Thus gloriously does the divine prophecy shed its beams amidst the darkness of the world. When the miracles and doctrine of our Lord, in agreement with the ancient predictions, had established his claims to the Messiahship, and the apostles had promulgated the new dispensation to mankind, the church was left to support itself for some period on the undoubted tradition and explication of those proofs. By the time, however, that those miraculous powers had lost something of their impression by the flow of ages, the additional evidence of prophecy was preparing to supply its place with still greater efficacy. The predictions with regard to the state of the Jewish and Christian Church, began to improve into evidence, as miracles failed. And thus the latter times of the church have more than an equivalent for what was, in the nature of the case, confined to the earlier. Prophecy is the last and concluding evidence. This marks a divine hand. The proof from miracles loses something of the vividness of its effect from the distance of time; (not indeed of the force of conviction, when examined, but of the vividness of the emotions produced as it lies in history;) but the proof from prophecy gains strength from that very cause, and is therefore admirably fitted to accompany the church to its latest period. The two unequivocally attest the divine authority of the religion, of which they form an integral part.

A review of some of the more remarkable instances in which this vast scheme of prophecy has been ful

filled, and is now fulfilling in the world, will be the object of our next lecture.

I. In the meantime tell me, in conclusion, if this prodigious scheme has not the IMPRESS UPON IT of THE INFINITE MAJESTY OF GOD. Tell me whether any kind of evidence can, in its own nature, be more distinct and clear-whether any proof can be of an extent more becoming the majesty of God-whether its parts can converge in a centre-truth of more sublimity and grace-can be developed with more exquisite contrivance-can be communicated by messengers of more purity and integrity, or be directed to ends more worthy the Almighty and most blessed God.

I see you already are convinced by this display of divine wisdom. The evidence from miracles has prepared you for this different and yet more astonishing testimony from prophecy. The union of the two overwhelms the mind with the superabundant proof. You listened with increased attention as we passed over the rapid survey, and your heart was touched and moved. You saw the wide and irreconcileable distinction between all the petty and miserable conjectures of men, and the majestic and widely-spread ramifications of the holy revelation of God. The dignity and glory of the divine Saviour, incarnate for the redemption of man, seemed to you a suitable and natural centre around which such a system should be placed. All is in proportion.

II. PROCEED, THEN, IN YOUR course of huMBLE AND CAUTIOUS INQUIRIES. Study with sacred awe the amazing subject. You now more clearly comprehend the reason of our insisting so repeatedly on the right temper of mind in the inquirer into the Christian Evidences. If a man may neglect and reject the palpable proof from miracles, as we showed to

have been the case with the Jews at the time of our Lord, he may also misinterpret the divine prophecies. If our minds are prejudiced against the spiritual and humiliating doctrines of Christianity, and we come to the investigation with pride and scorn, we shall discover no harmony in the scheme of prophecy, we shall derive no confirmation from it in favour of the Christian doctrine. In such a state of mind, all is perverted, misunderstood, abused. If the deductions of mathematical science were placed before us as the medium of proof for such holy doctrines, in such a state of mind, we should reject them.

But to the teachable and candid heart, touched with a sense of the weakness and ignorance of man as a creature, with his demerit and blindness as a sinner, and thirsting for heavenly wisdom, the prophetic word is as rivers of water in a desert land. He traces its rise in paradise. He follows the stream as it flows onward. He marks the union of all the tributary waters in one majestic and widening course. He perceives that each refreshes and fertilizes the immediately adjoining banks, as it rolls on to successive regions. He views the collected torrent pouring into a new hemisphere. He drinks himself of the living waters; and whilst he partakes of its blessings, rejoices in beholding its diffusion and expansion through every region of the world.

III. STUDY, THEN, THE SACRED VÒLUME with It is there you will learn the scheme of divine prediction, and the gradual development of it in various dispensations. This is the only safe method of studying a divine revelation. The opinions of men as to what prophecy might or ought to be, and what should be the clearness of its declarations, are out of place. We might as well speculate on what ought to be the operations of nature and the laws of motion. The duty of man

HOLY AND INCREASING DILIGENCE.

is to study the natural world according to the phenomena which present themselves to his examination; and to study a scheme of divine prophecy on the principles which it lays down, and by a contemplation of its several parts, according to its own plan." We study prophecy aright when we study it in the Bible, when we derive our first data from its records, observe on what scheme it professes to proceed, and compare the fulfilment with the predictions to which they correspond.

It is one advantage of this method, that it leads men to become acquainted with the whole of the sacred volume. A certain knowledge of the contents of that book is essential to the comprehension of the argument. It is not possible, by quotations, to supply the materials for a judgment. The prophetic scriptures must be examined for themselves. "Nor is this the only instance," says a great writer, referring to the prophecies, "wherein our means of judging of revelation depend on some personal study of it. Scepticism is often no more than a form of very unreasonable enthusiasm, demanding conviction without the pains of inquiry." Unbelievers, generally speaking, know nothing of the Bible. Nominal Christians too often know but little more of it. It demands all our attention. It is the study of a life. The simplest Christian, indeed, with the use of marginal references and chronological tables, may trace out much of the vast theme. His heart assists his understanding.

The

glory of God, shining in the face of Jesus Christ, guides his footsteps. But in the full development of the divine system, there is employment for the noblest powers, and the longest and most diligent research. It is remarkable that even the prophets themselves understood not adequately their own sacred oracles"The prophecy came not by the will of man. They

"1 Bishop Hurd.

12 Davison.

spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. They inquired and searched diligently what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them did signify." Let this teach us humility, and stimulate us to diligence in the heavenly science.

IV. LET US, however, aLWAYS KEEP IN VIEW THE PRACTICAL ENDS OF THE STUDY. We do well to "take heed to the word of prophecy, as unto a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts." This holy purpose this cheering view of a future world-this obedient attention to present duty-this anticipation of a heavenly and eternal state which is opening upon us-this is the high end of the prophetic word. Thus hope is sustained-thus present afflictions are tolerated-thus painful duties are made more easy-thus, as events confirm and make sure to us the sacred system, we render praise and glory to God.

Let us guard against "private interpretations'against "the will of man"-against prying with unhallowed curiosity into unfulfilled prediction-against indulging fancy and conjecture. The church has seen, in different ages, the mischiefs arising from this practice. Nothing tends more to discredit the magnificent subject-if any thing could discredit it-than the impertinence of human conceit, especially if united with ignorance and dogmatism, in deciding on unfulfilled predictions; and, instead of waiting for the slow but sure comment of events, and interpreting prophecy according to the general import of the system to which it belongs, rushing in with unhallowed haste, fixing on an interpretation on partial grounds or insufficient evidence, and then attempting to impose on others the opinions we have espoused ourselves. True wisdom, as well as modesty, appears in the holy and cautious use of the prophetic revelation; which should never be approached but with a recollection that it