pensations of Providence, that the time is drawing near, that it may be at hand.

And here I would wish to press upon your attention, that though we seem to be forbidden to exercise an inquisitive curiosity concerning "the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power," and much more to take upon us to fix the dates when unfulfilled prophecies are to have their accomplishment, yet we are commanded to observe and understand the signs of the times, seeing that our blessed Lord openly rebuked the Pharisees for not doing so in their day: "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" and again, "How is it that ye

We

do not discern this time?" We may, therefore, infer from this, that it is our duty and privilege so to observe the signs of the times, and the various dispensations of God's providence, that we may watch and stand prepared for every event, as not knowing what a day may bring forth. It becomes us, therefore, "to have our loins girt about, and our lights burning, like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately;" for, "blessed are those servants whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching."

Now, in order to exercise this duty profitably,

we must be daily occupied in the study of the Scriptures, for in them alone can we learn the stupendous plans and gracious purposes of the Almighty. We are taught, in the word of God, that these plans and purposes were laid before the foundation of the world; "for before the mountains were brought forth, or ever He had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting He was God;" therefore, it is written, "Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world." We are taught, in the same sacred volume, that it was the purpose of the Almighty to save a church from the ruins of the fall, of which He gave an assurance to our first parents, in the gracious promise, that "the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head"-that Jesus Christ, being the seed of the woman, should destroy the works of the devil, and save from sin and condemnation all that believe on him ; accordingly, he has had a church from the period of the fall to this present day, consisting, first, of those who looked for the coming of the Saviour, according to the promise; and, secondly, of all who, since his coming in the flesh, have believed on him, and received him as he is revealed, as their prophet, priest, and king. This church may be traced through successive ages; first, in the generation before the flood; next, in the nation of the Jews, the descendants of Abra

ham; and lastly, in the Gentile nations, when "God did visit them, to take out of them a people for his name," as the Apostle James testified: " and to this,” said he, "agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, after this I will build up the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."

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Against this church the great adversary of God and man has waged perpetual war, stirring up the wicked to persecute the godly, and going about himself as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The persecutions of the church, both under the Jewish and Christian dispensation, have been fierce and many-thus the seed of the serpent, as it was predicted, "bruised the heel of the woman's seed." would not permit to enumerate the various oppositions given to the church of Christ in successive ages; we shall briefly touch on some of the most remarkable, which have occurred in the latter days; and, while we do so, we shall remark on the encouraging promises held out to the sincere followers of Christ, that God will "shortly bruise Satan under their feet," and that, after all their sufferings, "they shall be more than conquerors, through him that loved them.”

In the Revelation given to John, the beloved disciple, concerning the church, from his day to the end, he was taught to expect great and bitter persecutions from the emperors of Pagan Rome; these persecutions were long and sharp; but "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church"-believers increased and multiplied exceedingly, and, for the comfort and encouragement of the people of God, the Apostle was shewn "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" of whom it was said, "These are they who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ; therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' Here is comfort and consolation, under the severest tribulations, for Christ's sake, for those that suffer with Christ shall also reign with him.

When the Pagan empire of Rome, described as a great red dragon having seven heads, and crowns upon his heads, representing their city built on seven hills, with her seven forms of

government, and which was used as an instrument in the hands of Satan, that great bloody dragon; I say, when this persecuting power was cast down, Satan raised up another instrument to wage war with the Church. The Roman empire, under another form, consisting of ten kingdoms, and which was represented by a beast having seven heads and ten horns, and ten crowns upon his ten horns: this, though professedly a Christian, was really an Anti-Christian and idolatrous power, having on his heads the names of blasphemy. To this beast, the dragon, that is the Devil, was said to give his power, "and power was given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, and he was to continue forty and two months," supposed to be a period of twelve hundred and sixty years, a long, but limited period.

There appears to have been another persecuting power raised up at the same time, represented under the figure of "a beast coming up out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb, and he spake like a dragon:" this is supposed to represent the Pope, with the regular and secular clergy of the Church of Rome, and these were to unite with the secular powers of the Roman empire, in persecuting the Church of Christ. There have been many and different opinions respecting the rise of these persecuting and