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THE PROMISE, AND

of mankind. And as the Spring of the year is welcomed in by flowery garlands, and the songs of the choristers of the grove; so is this Spring celebrated by casting the emblems of cherubic power before the footstool of the Heavenly Throne, and by the quiring songs of the angelic host, and of the saints, washed from their sins in the blood of their Redeemer, in multitudes which no man can number. "And I heard," says St. John, "a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of many harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth." These are the mysteries of the celestial abodes into which we are unable to look, further than is declared unto us in the words of revelation. But the good tidings did not rest here; for the same inspired apostle proceeds: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 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 judgment is come and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountain of waters." again in another place: "The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders which sat before God

And

on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee thy great power, and hast reigned." "And the temple of God was opened in heaven."

Those passages which have been quoted, contain in brief, though figurative description, an embodyment of the three grand epochs or events in the plan and promulgation of the gospel dispensation: First, there is the declaration in heaven delivered to the heavenly host only, and not to be learned by any others, except through the means which God saw meet to appoint. Next comes forth the other angel, flying in the midst of heaven, to preach the everlasting gospel to men of all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. This embodies all the predictions of the prophets from the time of the first promise of Divine grace to fallen man, that "the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent." It goes on to the fulness of time, when the Saviour was born in Bethlehem, follows him in all his ministry upon earth, and includes the glorious institution of the christian Sabbath, on the day-spring of that ever memorable morning, when he rose triumphant over all the powers of sin and death, leading captivity captive, to the right hand of the Father in the highest heaven, and giving evidence of the finished work of human redemption. Nor does it stop here, for it accompanies the church of Christ in all her vicissitudes, and remains to this day, and will remain to the end of the world, to all those who are saved by grace, through faith, of the gift of God.

The third epoch is, in human contemplation, far from the least delightful of the whole :-the voice of the trumpet proclaiming in heaven, that the kingdoms of the world had become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and that he-the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one mighty and mysterious God, should reign for ever and ever; and every race of men, of whatever clime and whatever colour, should know his law and obey it, and partake in his salvation.

And it is delightful to think, that in these latter times there is not a zone or a climate where the word of salvation has not been proclaimed; and they who aforetime sat in the region and shadow of death, have seen the glorious light, and are rejoicing in it. Yes, everywhere the idol is mouldering within its temple, and the people are journeying, with jubilation and with song to the heavenly Zion with their faces thitherward. Nor must we forget to be grateful that the goodness of God has made our little isle of the sea so effective an instrument in the spread of the everlasting gospel; or that wherever the Sabbath sermon, and the morning and evening hymn have been heard, "there have fallen, as it were, scales" from the eyes of the erewhile blinded nations; and the promise of the Saviour has been gloriously fulfilled: "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all other things shall be added to it." For whithersoever the light of the gospel has come in its purity, it has been followed by an increase in all the arts, and sober enjoyments of human life, unknown under any other circumstances.

All this is exceedingly delightful, and it is refreshing

to the mind, to "stand still and see the salvation of God." Yet, notwithstanding, man is naturally the same fallen and frail creature as ever; and hence it becomes necessary, not only that the hand of diligence in proclaiming the truth should not be slackened, but that it should be exerted more than ever. The field has in

creased most extensively; so that millions are now thirsting for the bread of life, where only thousands thirsted a few years ago; and it is not only desirable, but it is the bounden duty of every Christian, and must be the labour of love to every one upon whom the truth is come in demonstration of the Spirit and with power, to take his proper share in this good work.

And there is a field for every labourer, however high or however humble; and they who are not called upon to speak the word with their voices, may still administer the written word in such a variety of forms, as to adapt it to the ability and capacity of every one. A volume, a little tract, a single page, nay, even one text of Scripture, may awaken the conscience of some one, and bring them to the truth; and the value of a brand plucked out of the burning, will return and bless the donor, in his person, his household, and all that concerns him.

For the furtherance of this most important and highly desirable end, it were to be wished that every book which addresses itself to the general reader, and aims at contributing its part to the formation of the general character, should contain its admixture of religion; not of the mere acknowledgment of a creating God, which is inseparable from a rational view of any of the

works or workings of nature, but of the gospel doctrine of salvation through the atonement of Christ, and the impossibility of being saved by any other means. No doubt there are some works upon special subjects, alluding entirely to the civil occupations of mankind, their conduct to each other in civil society, in which this might seem out of place; though, perhaps, even in these it might appear to advantage more frequently than it does. But when the book is intended to speak to man, in his general conditions and relations, as one of God's creatures; it seems very imperfect, and very improper, not to address him as one conversant with the truth of God's revealed word. Christian charity always leads us to desire, that every one may feel and conduct himself as impressed in his heart with the knowledge and importance of divine things; and, therefore, any lesson purporting to be given to him, which does not reach this part of his character as well as the rest, is clearly imperfect; and because of the omission, the other parts of it cannot fail to be less palatable and less pleasing to him than they otherwise would be.

There are many other reasons why books for the general reader should address themselves to him, not merely as a rational being, but as immortal; and if there are any subjects upon which this mode of address is more desirable than others, they are the productions and the appearances of nature. All that grows or lives, all that shines in the heavens, and all that occurs in the natural succession of days and years, are not only more open to the observations of people generally,