To preach the general doom. When were the winds Let slip with such a warrant to destroy? When did the waves so haughtily o'er-leap Their ancient barriers? Fires from beneath, and meteors from above, Have kindled beacons in the skies; and the old Having considered the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, as to its meaning and time, we shall now consider— II. Its blessings, which those who are finally called will enjoy. Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage supper of the Lamb. Our salvation from sin is represented in the Scriptures as originating with God, and as attributed to his compassion for the guilty. The doctrine is best expressed by the plain declarations of scripture. Eph. i. 4, 5 — According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy, and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." 2 Tim. i 9-2 "Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. The Lord knoweth them that are his." God, however, is not represented by these passages as partial in his grace toward mankind. Peter said, in the house of Cornelius, "of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." He, in common with most of his nation, thought that the favor of God was confined to the house of Israel; but now he sees that, in every nation," he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted of him." The free invitations of the gospel are sufficient to encourage every sinner to accept the mercy of God at the foot of the Cross. Those who are called by the spirit, and become reconciled to God through his Son, are sealed unto the day of redemption. Such may hope to be called at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. They may have the full assurance of hope, that when He, who is our life, shall appear, they will also appear with him in glory. The call spoken of in our text will be indicated by the seventh trumpet. Rev. x. 5, 6, 7—" And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever and ever, and the things that therein are, and the earth and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." The sounding of the seventh trumpet is a notable sign in the course of the prophecy, that "time shall be no longer"—the mystery of God shall be finished — and when 66 the time of trouble," alluded to in Dan. xii. just previous to the resurrection of those who sleep in Jesus will begin. And may the people of God be prepared for this trial of their faith and patience. "Many shall be tried and purified, and made white before the millenial morning shall dawn, and the marriage supper of the Lamb come. They must put on the whole armor of God, that they may be able to stand in the evil day. This time of trial is rolling on and coming nearer; but the saints may rejoice in the testimony of God. They shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.” Christians will then be called to the marriage supper, by the last trumpet, "at the resurrec tion of the just." 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52—“ Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Then will be "heard, as it were the voice of a great multitude, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." Now, as it is the purpose of the Father to give his people the kingdom, so Christ exhorts them to be ready. See Luke xii. 33, 38—"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." To gird up the loins means to be prepared· to be found active and diligent in the service of the Lord. "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." The blessings which the marriage supper of the Lamb implies are clearly pointed out in the Scriptures. To these blessings the righteous I will be called at the resurrection. They are as follows: 1. A glorified nature. That God can form a spiritual and glorified body, no more liable to decay, disease and death, the apostle positively affirms. 1 Cor. xv. 44. - It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." It is one of the most cheering prospects that can be presented, in view of the ideas we form of death and the grave; especially when we think of the "dark and narrow tomb," the receptacle of the offensive mass of clay. It is said of a friend to Spencer, that, as he leaned over his lifeless form, he exclaimed. "I thank God that the body will be redeemed at the resurrection." Then when the righteous are raised from the grave, and the redeemed living changed, they will be clothed upon with an immortal glorified nature; and, 2. They will be perfectly holy. Sin is death to all our spiritual emotions. "In heaven no sin is found." The intellectual and moral nature of the righteous shall be clothed upon with the Redeemer's holiness; mortality shall be swallowed up of life; their souls, expanding in the ever increasing glory of the new abode, will be adapted to the entire enjoyment of the marriage supper. Rev. vii. 13, 14—“ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes ? and |