ation did pafs away." This was fulfilled in the deftruction of Jerufalem by Titus.

CHRIST'S Coming to judgment, is often foretold in every part of the new teftament, to pass over the intimations given of it in the old. But none of these can be the coming of the Son of man, referred to in the text. That it cannot refer to his incarnation is evident, from, the time in which the declaration in the text was made. His coming in the flesh had been then accomplished.

NEITHER can it refer to his coming to punish Jew. ish apoftacy and ingratitude; or to his coming to judge the world in righteousness, because the moral state of the world at neither of those periods, anfwers to the defcription here given. Shall he find faith on the earth?

THE ruin of the Jews by the Roman armies, happened about thirtyfix years after Chrift's crucifixion. Long ere that time the spirit had been poured out, and many had embraced the gospel. The apostles and evangelifts, had gone, not only to "the loft sheep of the house of Ifrael, but also into the way of the Gentiles ;" had called "thofe who were afar off, as well as those who were near; their found had gone into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." Neither had they labored among the Gentiles in vain. St. Paul spake by the Spirit when he declared to the Jews that the falvation of God was fent unto the Gentiles, and they would hear it." His word was verified. Many were added to the Lord, and the number of the difciples was multiplied."

Such was the state of the world, at that coming of Faith was then to be found on the

the Son of man.
earth, if not among Jews.

WHEN Chrift fhall come to judgment, we have reason to believe, that faith will also be found on earth; and more than at that period we have now confidered.

THE fcriptures of both teftaments, abound with predictions of the univerfal prevalence of religion, in the latter days;" of the whole worlds rejoicing under the aufpicious government of the Prince of Peace; of reftraints laid on the powers of darkness, that they should not deceive and feduce mankind. And though we are taught that "the old ferpent will afterwards be loofed, for a little feason, and go forth to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth," we have no intimation that the main body of the Church will be corrupted by his influence, or injured by his powHis adherents may compass the camp of the faints, and the beloved city," but will make no attack upon them. "Fire will come down from God out of heaven, and destroy them." By fome fpecial, perhaps miraculous interpofition of providence, the people of God will be protected and delivered.

er.

Sr. JOHN, who gives more particulars of the latter day glory, than those who had gone before him, fixes the term Chrift's reign on earth to a thousand years, which he reprefents as to be those next preceding the judgment. And agreeably to the statement which he hath made, a numerous

body of faints will then be found to welcome their Lord, and rejoice before him at his coming.

To this agree the other prophets who treat of this fubject. No other limits the term of Christ's reign; or mentions Satan's being enlarged and permitted any measure of deceptive influence, after the restraints laid upon him at the beginning Chrift's reign. But others foretell the happy day, and several seem to dwell delightfully upon it, and reprefent it as continuing to the end of time; and none give the remotest hint that it is to terminate, and iniquity again to become universally prevalent. ISAIAH often mentions it, and dilates more largely upon it than any other who lived before the gospel day. From his representations we fhould expect it to terminate only with time. "I will make the an eternal excellency-violence shall no more be heard in thy land; wafting nor destruction within thy borders-the fun fhall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord fhall be unto thee an everlasting light, everlafting light, and thy God thy glory-the days of thy mourning fhall be endedthy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever."

By the little horn in Daniel's vision, Antichrift is doubtless intended. When at his fall Chrift is to take the kingdom; or it is to be given to his people, it is to be an abiding kingdom. "And there was given unto him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages, fhould ferve him; his dominion is an ev

erlafting dominion, which fhall not pass away, and his kingdom that which fhall not be deftroyed.

THIS is a prophecy of the universal prevalence of true religion in the last days, after the reign of Antichrift fhall have come to an end. By the explanation in the latter part of the chapter, the faints are from that period to have the dominion. It is no more to be taken from them. "The faints of the most high fhall take the kingdom, and poffefs the kingdom for ever, even forever and ever-and the kingdom and dominion, and the greatnefs of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the faints of the most high, whofe kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominion fhall ferve and obey him.'

"

THESE representations agree with that made to St. John, who faw the church guarded and protected from infernal power and influence, at the close of the millennium. The only difference confists in the mention of a few particulars by the apostle, which were not communicated to the prophets; fuch as the term of Chrift's reign on earth; and fome fruitless attempts of the powers of darkness against his people, after that term shall have expired.

THE Coming to judgment cannot therefore be intended in the text. There will then be faith on the earth. But if we confider" that which is noted in the scripture of truth," refpecting the moral ftate of the world before and at the time of Chrift's coming to reign upon it, we fhall find it anfwering to this defcription.

WE will therefore, first take a general view of the prophecies refpecting the moral ftate of the world, under the gofpel difpenfation―Then a more particular view of the great declenfions which were to take place, with a special reference to the state of religion at the approach of the latter day glory.

THE Savior, in perfon, and by his Spirit, gave general intimations to the apoftles, of the times which were to pass over them, and over his church. When they were ordered to preach the gospel in all the world, beginning at Jerufalem, they were forewarned that the Jews would reject their teftimony, and perfecute them, as they had perfecuted their Lord-that foon after "there would be great diftrefs in that land, and wrath upon that peoplethat they would fall by the fword; be led captive into all nations, and that Jerufalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles fhould be fulfilled."

THE Comforter which was to" teach them all things," not only explaining the nature of Chriftianity, and causing them to understand it, but also to unveil futurity before them, taught them, that after the Jews had rejected the gospel, the Gentiles would receive it, and the church grow and become great; that a falling away would afterwards fol. low, which would fpread wide, and continue for a long time, till it became nearly total; that when fuch was the ftate of the church, Chrift would come, take the kingdom, and reign on earth.

SUCH were the outlines of futurity, relative to Christianity, as sketched out before the apoftles.

F