fully fulfilled prophecy, and yet they neglect this "testimony of Jesus"? Not only is the study of prophecy commanded both by example and precept, but the reader and hearer of prophecy are distinctly "blessed." The man who studies one particular book in the Bible is twice "blessed," as if it were in itself a book more valuable than either the Prophets or the Gospels. And justly so; for even an Infidel, if he once comprehend the Book of the Revelation of St. John, cannot fail to have his heart awakened. That wonderful book reveals to him the absolute truth of the Bible, and from it he hastens to the Gospels, wherein he finds that bread of life which is to support him in his new, regenerated existence. Thousands read or hear the Gospels apparently with no effect, but the study of the Apocalypse affects those feelings which lie in the inmost depths of a man's heart. Over such a one "there is joy in heaven more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." * Therefore more than all is he blessed "that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; "+ and again, "Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” ‡ In St. Luke we read, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it." § But this is the whole Word of God, not any particular book; it is only the Apocalypse, that book which is the seal of all the others; that book which few understand and many condemn as spurious; that book which is hardly ever—I * Luke xv. 7. Rev. xxii. 7. + Rev. i. 3. may almost say never-read in the Church Services, and very seldom preached from the pulpit;-it is only that neglected, contemned book which brings the greatest amount of blessing both to him who reads and to them who hear. Nor must we confine ourselves to the prophecies. We cannot understand them unless we have our eyes open to the events that are taking place in the political and ecclesiastical world. At the very same time that our Lord used the expression, "No man knoweth," He says that some shall know. "Now learn a parable "of the fig-tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: "so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, "When "know that it is near, even at the doors."* 66 ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy "place, (whoso readeth, let him understand.")† "And "when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption "draweth nigh." In these words we are distinctly told that if we watch passing events we shall see and understand the signs of the end; and in another place those who do not do so are condemned; "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye "When not discern the signs of the times?" § cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, "There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, "and it cometh to pass. * Matt. xxiv. 32, 33. Luke xxi. 28. a ye see ye say, There will be heat; † Matt. xxiv. 15. "cern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how " is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why " even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?”* Finally, let me ask you, dear reader, if you admit that all Scripture is written for our learning, why do you almost if not wholly ignore one book, and attach no meaning to more than a dozen of others? Be assured that prophecy was meant to be understood before "the coming of the great and dreadful day of "the Lord." Will you, a professing Christian, assert that all prophecy, and thus half the Bible, is practically useless? You cannot believe that prophecy is only meant to be understood when the day is past and the night has come. Remember that the day of our Lord's coming will be to us who are alive the same thing as the day of death; and will you assert that God never intended your friend and brother to study prophecy till after he was laid in the grave? It is true that Daniel was commanded to seal up his prophecy, but is it still sealed? Did not the Lamb open the seals? † and was not the command given to the Divine, " Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand"? Does not Daniel himself say, "None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand"? Are not all these things "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come"? Wherefore let us who think we stand take heed lest we fall: let us see to our lamps, and replenish our vessels with oil, lest in our surprise and agitation at * Luke xii. 54-57. + Rev. v. 6; vi. 1. § Dan. xii. 10. Rev. xxii. 10. || 1 Cor. x. 11. that last moment when the lightning shall shine from the east even unto the west, we find ourselves shut out from the marriage-feast of the Bridegroom, and our portion appointed with the hypocrites. "Ye, brethren, "" are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and "the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor "of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; "but let us watch and be sober," so that the Lord may preserve us from the hour of temptation, which "shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."+ 66 * 1 Thess. v. 4, 5, 6. † Rev. iii. 10. CHAPTER II. ON UNBELIEF. HAVING in the last chapter addressed chiefly the ten slumbering virgins, i.e., the whole Christian Church, having shouted in their ears the long-expected cry, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him," and endeavoured to show that the study of prophecy is commanded both by example and precept by our Lord and His apostles; that the Books are open, and that the wise will understand; that those who wilfully neglect them belong to the "foolish five" who will be shut out from the marriage-feast of the Lamb,-let me address a few words to those who are not foolish but wilful; not those who, though they slumber, still have made some preparation to meet the Bridegroom, but to those who stand by unprepared, because they ridicule the idea of His coming at all. Thousands who read these notes will perhaps turn their attention towards that great day of which they treat; they sleep now because they see all around them asleep; their attention has never been directed to this subject by their pastors and masters; their education has, on the contrary, diverted them from it; they have been more sinned against than sinning; and this cry will, I trust, rouse them so that they shall set their house in order |