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(Num. x. 7,) they blow the rapturous call for gathering together the countless congregation of redeemed spirits, who now in ecstacy await the transporting signal for their blessed ascent; the Lord Jehovah has gathered all nations and all tongues; all will in rapture see the glory of their God. (Isa. lxvi. 18.) Behold, the Lord himself proclaims, I have preached the gospel to the poor, I have healed the broken-hearted, delivered free the captives, recovered the blind, set the bruised at liberty: I now proclaim the glorious year of universal jubilee, the hallowed year of acceptation with their Lord and God. Thus, He who loosed

and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you." (Levit. xxv. 1-10.)

:

"But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God I am the Lord your God. And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony, (prefigurative of the last parting vail to be removed on the decisive day.) And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai, (prefigurative of the ascension unto highest heavens which will succeed the final judgment-day ;) and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the command.. ment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies," towards the land of Canaan. (Numb. x. 7-14.)

the seals fulfilled the prophecy ;* and the eyes of

* "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four-and-twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and he cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write and I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, 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

all assembled in the valley of decision. fastened upon him. (Luke iv. 16-20.)

are

seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." (Rev. v. 1-9; x. 1-7.)

CHAPTER III.

THE ASCENSION.

ARISE, shine forth, thy light is come, on thee thy glorious Lord is ris'n,

The trumpets sound, He gives the word for thine ascending flight to heav'n ;*

The brightness of his righteousness triumphant guides to highest

skies,+

To the fair temple of their God his countless hosts transported

rise;

Salvation, as a burning lamp, does his unnumber'd tribes pre

cede,

To the bless'd, promis'd, heavenly land unveiled glory upwards

leads.

Led by the radiant morning star, the wise unto salvation fly,
All things in glory will behold the heavenly epiphany-
All nations, kindreds, people, tongues will manifested glory see,
In beatific vision have fruition of the Deity.

The infant cherubs spread their wings, the new-born seraphs sweetly sing

Melodious warbling as they fly, ecstatic notes of victory; Angelic legions, van and rear, enraptured join the gen'ral cheer,

* Isai. lxi. 1.

+ Isai. lxii. 1.

"The children of the glorious resurrection," that is, the spirits of just men made perfect in paradise, and advanced to angelic nature on their joyful reunion with their once vile, but now glorified bodies.

With loud hosannas all acclaim, blessings on him who, in God's

name,

To work this great salvation came, and his blest kingdom did

proclaim.

Hosanna in the highest! ambrosial wreaths of life they strew, With fragrant, scented, balmy dew, from heav'nly flow'rs of dazzling hue;

And as aloft they swiftly soar, their noble theme of praise pur

sue,

God is our strength, God is our song, all praise and power to him belong;

His name we laud and magnify, for He hath triumphed gloriously;

He our salvation is become, our God we will exalt on high; Glorious in pow'r is his right hand, it hath dash'd down the

enemy.

The greatness of his excellence hath overthrown the arrogance Of those who impious rose against the might of his omnipotence, He swift sent forth his wrath, and they as stubble are consum'd With his destroying nostril's blast-deep down in hell they lie entomb'd.

O who is like the Lord our God, with him in pow'r who can compare?

Glorious is He in holiness, his fearful praise none can declare; The mighty wonders of renown wrought at his last, dread, awful

trump,

When He stretch'd out his own right arm, and all his foes were swallow'd up.

He now in mercy

deem'd,

leadeth forth his servants whom He hath re

Girded with his Almighty strength, with immortality they teem, His purchased possession pass to the blest realms of peace and

love,

Pass over with their leader to the heav'nly Canaan up above; Unto his holy, blest abode, He'll bring them in and plant them fast,

His mountain of inheritance will ever and for ever last.

That place, O Lord, which thou hast made, wherein to dwell

above the sky,

Which thine own hands have stablished thy consecrated sanctuary;

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