But though our Lord checked the aspiring minds of his disciples concerning his kingdom by presenting to them a time of trial, yet he did not fail to cheer them with the promise of glorious things beyond it. "A woman (saith he,) when she is in travail, hath sorrow because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow : but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. The glory of the Millennium will more than balance all the trials during the 1260 years of antichristian usurpation. Nor shall we have to wait for the Millennium, nor even for the ruin of the antichristian cause ere we see glorious times. Two hundred years have been thought to be the utmost point to which the pouring out of the vials can extend: they may terminate in less time: but if not, there is great encouragement for the friends of Christ in the promised progress of his causé during this period. We shall not have to wait for the Millennium, I say, ere we see glorious days in respect of the success of the gospel. The seventh trumpet, though it includes the vials, and in this view is a woe-trumpet, yet is introductory of good tidings to the church. At the same time that her enemies are bleeding under the strokes of heaven, the "kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." The pouring out of the vials will be to the Millennium that which the wars of David were to the pacific reign of Solomon. The servants of Christ may have to encounter great opposition; but as "the Lord prospered David whithersoever he went," so he will prosper them. Paganism, Mahometanism, Popery, and Infidelity, shall fall before them. Nor shall the obstinacy of Judaism maintain its ground. The wall shall be built though it be in troublesome times. What short of this can be intimated by the "Angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people”—and this before the fall of the antichristian Babylon.t 265 What else can be meant by the song preceding the pouring out of the vials-" All nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest;"* The judgments referred to are those of the vials, or "seven last plagues" (Chap. xv. 1.); the effect of which on the nations will be to induce them to " come and worship" before God. They shall so "manifestly" appear to be the judgments of God against the antichristian powers, that the nations will be deeply impressed by the conviction; and by the concurring influence of the Holy Spirit and the "everlasting gospel," will be subdued to the obedience of faith. To the same purpose is that remarkable passage in Isa. xxvi. 9. When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. "The church under the gospel dispensation, (says an able writer,) is in this and the preceding chapter the principal subject of prophecy. Zion is introduced singing. A song is always in the prophecies a symbol of the enlargement of the church. In verses 17, 18, she complains of feeble and ineffectual efforts in extending the interests and kingdom of her Redeemer. We have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. She receives in answer the consoling promise of a period when she shall make vigorous and successful exertions, and no longer complain of abortive labours; when converts numerous as the morning dew shall join her standard. Thy dead shall live. Awake and singthy dew is as the dew of herbs. No season or time is particularly ascertained when this promise will be accomplished; but another event is foretold, and immediately connected with this. A judgment, a singular judgment, inflicted as the punishment of a peculiar and enormous crime is mentioned. The event is represented as inevitable; the Lord's people may not pray for its removal, but are directed to fly to their chambers, and hide themselves until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain ! The terms here used compared with parallel exertions in the rev * Chap. xv. 3, 4, elation, put it beyond a doubt that the blood of the martyrs is intended, and the punishment predicated is the avenging of that blood. This is introduced as a coetaneous event with the enlarge 'ment of the church. Whenever thatcious blood begins to be avenged, then Zion will sing of mercy as well as judgment; then a new and prosperous ministry will arise in the church, and her borders be widely extended."* If the "punishment" referred to at the close of the xxvith chapter of Isaiah be that which is appointed for the antichristian Babylon for her having shed the blood of the martyrs, in which not only this writer, but almost all our ablest commentators are The agreed, the ninth verse doubtless refers to the same events. pouring out of the vials are the "judgments," which while they are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Many judgments have been in the earth without producing this effect; but the Lord will in this instance accompany them with his word and Spirit, and so render them effectual to salvation. The same things in substance are taught us in Rev. xix. 11–19. where, prior to the last struggle with the beast and the false prophet, Christ is described as "going forth upon a white horse, and as being followed by the armies of heaven on white horses." And when their enemies, provoked by their success, shall gather together in order to oppose their progress, they themselves shall fall to rise no more. و رار . The period of the vials being a season of WARFARE, it is in this, rather than in the Millennium itself, that we are to look for the most distinguished VICTORIES Over error, superstition, and irreligion. The Millennium is a reign; but a reign presupposes possession of the throne, and that, in cases where it has been previously occupied by an enemy, a victory. It is in this period therefore, that we are to look for the overthrow of paganism, Mahomeanism, popery, and infidelity; and towards the close of it may expect the malignant opposition of the Jews to give place to the gospel. The glorious Millennial rest will not commence while * Dr. LIVINGSTON's Sermon, from Rev. xiv. 6. before the New-York Missionary Society, on April 3, 1804. such an enemy remains unsubdued. The marriage-supper of the Lamb must include the children of Abraham in its train. The return of this long-lost prodigal will heighten the joy of the feast, and be as life from the dead. Supposing the period of the vials to have commenced within the last five and twenty years, let it be considered whether the aspect of the times does not correspond with what we are given to expect. It must of necessity be a period of unprecedented wars; and if those wars are designed of God to avenge the blood of the martyrs, it may he expected they should have a kind of special direction given them towards the countries where that blood has been principally shed. How far this is applicable to late events, it is easy to judge. It must also be a period of extraordinary prayer and unprecedented exertion for the spread of the gospel. It is during this period that "the kingdoms of the world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." But the accomplishment of such mighty moral changes is not to be expected by any other than the means above-mentioned. When the Lord buildeth up Zion, he regards the prayer of the destitute;. and when his servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour her dust, then the time to favour her, even the set time, is come. Had we been more importunate in prayer we might have been more successful; but with all our imperfections, the prayer of faith has been presented and heard! God hath given the word, and, compared with former times, great is the company of those that publish it. Can we overlook that providence which has been raising up numerous societies and plans, some for teaching the poor to read, and others for furnishing them with books, especially with the oracles of God? Ought we to overlook the translation of the scriptures into the various languages of the East; or the circulation of them through the earth in such a degree as perhaps was never before known? Can we be inattentive to the desire after evangelical preaching which prevails, not in one or two countries only, but almost everywhere? If our Lord concluded from the flocking of the Samaritans to bear the word, that "the *Psa. cii. 14-17. fields were white already to harvest," are we not warranted to draw the same conclusion? "The Let us observe the state of the public mind a little before the coming of Christ, and compare it with its present state. people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts whether John were the Christ, or not." And who that is no blind to the operations of God's hand does not muse in his heart whether the extraordinary changes which have of late years taken place in the world do not indicate something great to be pending? Whether, notwithstanding the many venders of false prophecies, and mistaken comments on the true, there be not a body of genuine and important prophecies fulfilling and about to be fulfilled : whether some of the convulsions among the nations may not issue in what is foretold of the restoration of the Jews; and finally, whether all that is going on be not a preparing the way of the Lord, and making straight his paths? Look at the blessing already attending the various attempts to propagate the gospel. To some it may appear a "day of small things:" but if God does not despise it, it will increase. Already have we been provoked to jealousy by Hindoos and Hottentots: nor is this all; look at our fleets and armies: did we ever before hear of so many lovely groups of Christian people amongst them? It would seem as if God had begun with these publicans and sinners to shame the rest of the nation. Finally, If these be not sufficient, look at the state of mind amongst the enemies of religion. Do not their hearts fail them, like those of the Canaanites before Joshua and his army? Why do the brahmans tremble for their gods? and why are practical unbelievers afraid of godliness, whether in or out of the establishment? It is pleasant to observe, while endeavouring to stigmatize it under the name of " Methodism," how despondingly they confess their inability to arrest its progress. Surely these are tokens for good to the church of Christ. * On the period of the vials being closed, that of the Millennium will commence. "The Lord gave Solomon rest round about from all his enemies ;" and the Lord will now give rest to his peo * See Edinburgh Review, No. XXII. p. 241. Art. Methodism. |