in almost every line. The scriptures begin and end with prophecy. The sufferings and triumph of the woman's seed is the subject of the first revelation to fallen man; and the comforting assurance to an afflicted church of his speedy coming is the last. The account in the first chapter of Genesis appears to be not only descriptive of creation, concluded by the institution of the Sabbath, but also prophetical of the dispensations of God towards man in redemption, during the ages preceding the everlasting rest, or keeping of a Sabbath which remaineth to the people of God; and of which the first Sabbath or rest from creation is a figure. And perhaps all events recorded in scripture, besides their historical verity as faithful narratives of the past, may be regarded as allegorical prophecies or illustrative types of things to come. An example of this kind is given in Gal. iv. 22, &c. "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman; but he who was of the bond-woman was born after the flesh, but he of the free-woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory, &c." An examination of this interesting passage cannot fail to convince any one of the correctness of the foregoing remarks. It is a divine warrant for this use of scripture history in accordance with the analogy of faith. The ceremonial institutions of the law were so many typical propheciesthe shadow of good things to come: and we may confidently affirm of the particulars of that obsolete economy, that not one of them shall fail or want its parallel in the fulfilment of God's plan. Besides these we have the clearer predictions of the prophets concerning the first advent of Christ and the grace accruing to man; "Searching what or what manner of times, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. These form a large portion of the Old

Testament scriptures. The New Testament also contains

The discourses and prophets, not only have a rich vein of The Apostolic Epistles

many predictions of future events. parables of Christ, the prince of abound with moral instruction, but prophecy running through them. also are replete with warnings and promises of things to come: and the whole closes with the "Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass." Rev. i. 1.

Prophecy is history written by the pen of inspiration before the events take place, yet is as certain as if they had actually transpired. Nothing can prevent their accomplishment. To suppose a failure would imply imperfection and error in the foreknowledge of God, which is preposterous; for every word of God is a tried word. Its infallible certainty is the foundation of Christian faith. On this rests the pillars of Protestantism. This furnishes security to our trust in God. This fortifies the soul in the time of trial. This is the SURE WORD OF PROPHECY-a light in a dark place-darting its bright beams into the obscure future and revealing things to come. Take up this holy book and you will find that for four thousand years, prophecy alone shed the light of salvation upon a dark world, and awakened desire in the bosoms of kings and prophets and righteous men. And shall we now question the wisdom which so constructed the word of life? Can we teach God knowledge? Are we wiser than he? Shall we lightly esteem and treat with neglect, the grand medium which God has used in making known to man the exceeding riches of his grace and kindness towards us? Rather, let us obey the commandment of Christ and search the scriptures, the prophetic scriptures, more attentively and prayerfully, that the word of Christ may dwell in us richly, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

II. THE STUDY OF PROPHECY.-This is one of the most interesting and profitable that can engage our attention. It is the duty of all to whom the Word of God comes, to study it, and make themselves acquainted with its contents. No one is justified in neglecting it. The apostle says that ye do well to take heed to it. It is a sure and true light and not an ignis fatuus. It will not mislead you, but will guide your feet into the way of salvation. "By the study of the prophetic word," says Roos, "the heart is weaned from the world, placed upon celestial objects, and prepared for entering on the enjoyment of pure, uninterrupted, and eternal bliss." And in the preface to the Revelations, it is solemnly declared that "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." Rev. i. 3. But, alas! how much is this study neglected even by Christians, while multitudes of professors enervate their minds and defile their hearts by the light and frivolous trash with which our modern press teems. A careless and superficial habit of reading is thus contracted which utterly disqualifies them for the study of the Bible: hence it is regarded as a dull and insipid book. Alas! they know not what they lose; for by patient, persevering, prayerful study we obtain a knowledge of the truth which is better than gold, and more precious than rubies. The sacred page beams with a celestial light; the understanding glows with the inspiration; the heart warms with emotions of gratitude and praise, and we become sensible of a more than human power operating on the soul.

In the study of prophecy we need the influence of the Holy Spirit. Christ says, "When he the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He

shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you." And though this referred particularly to the inspiration of the apostles; yet the ordinary operations of the same spirit are promised to us. And if we ask we shall receive. Hence also the prayer of faith is necessary, and with the Psalmist we should say in our supplications to God, "Open thou my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

If we do not become acquainted with the truth it will be our own fault. "The wise shall understand." And to be wise in this connexion implies the use of proper means to arrive at a knowledge of the truth, as well as a practical regard to the obedience it requires. We must bring to this study an humble and teachable spirit. Some persons have a set of previously conceived opinions, the result of circumstances or of a peculiar theological training, and they read the Bible more to confirm themselves in their own views than to find the truth. No wonder if God should give them up to strong delusions that they might believe a lie. Such are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. This does not militate against the study of the prophecies. It is true that in the prophecies are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. Some have inferred from this declaration of Peter, that the study of the prophecies are dangerous, and that none but priests and learned men ought to read them. But the apostle means not so. He shows that it is the neglect of this study which is dangerous. It is such as are mere novices in doctrine and unsettled in faith, that are exposed to such danger; and not such as are humble and prayerful inquirers after truth; for he exhorts us as new-born babes to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby. And God filleth the hungry soul with good things, but those

already filled with their own notions he sendeth empty away. When the mind is pre-occupied with vain conceits there is no room for the verities of Bible truth. Such as think themselves wise must learn their folly first and seek the teachings of the Spirit that they may be wise.

III. THE UTILITY OF PROPHECY is the next point to be considered. It is generally conceded that fulfilled prophecy is useful as furnishing clear evidence of the authenticity of the scriptures and arming the Christian with a powerful weapon against infidelity. And this is indeed a very important use of prophecy. The revelation of future. events is a demonstration of divinity. By this test the fallacy of idolatrous and magical pretensions are detected, and the rightful claim of the only living and true God established. Hence the challenge in Isa. xli. 21-23, "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob: let them bring forth and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things what they be, that we may consider them; or declare us things to come. Show the things to come hereafter, that we may know that

ye are gods." To this

challenge the heathen oracles are dumb, and the God of Israel stands confessed in the light of prophecy as the only and universal Lord.

In the examination of this subject we obtain the most satisfactory evidence of the truth of God's word. Here is proof upon proof, accumulating age after age, for thousands of years, in a wonderful succession of events which no human wisdom could have foreseen. We have but to take our stand on the ruins of Nineveh, Babylon, Tyre, and other cities, with the Bible in our hand, and the hissing serpent, the hooting owl, the howling beast, the dancing satyr, and the murmuring wave will mournfully answer to the divine predictions uttered by the Lord's prophets while those cities yet stood in all their glory and strength.