awake, and render her expectation warm and vivid; that she may not be taken by surprise, but when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh," her lamp may be burning, and with the throbbing, exulting joy of a bride she may go forth to meet Him. By the combination of these two elements the Lord has provided for our spiritual discipline, that we may look and wait in faith and vigilance, as becomes those "who see through a glass darkly, and know only in part.”

It is the duty of the Church to wait for the coming of the Lord, that she may give an account of her stewardship; but it is the privilege and honour of the Church to look for His return as her Bridegroom. While they that pierced Him shall mourn, and all nations shall wail because of Him, when they shall "see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven;" it will not be a mournful sight to His people; no wailing, but joy shall burst from the lips of His Bride at the welcome return of her beloved Lord. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." He has gone away in person; but He has not deserted her, His heart is still with her; His Spirit still sustains and comforts her; He still enriches her with His gifts, guides her through the wilderness, and makes her all glorious within.

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He will not cast her off. He found her lying as an outcast, and after washing and clothing her, and making her His Bride, He will visit her, and live with her, and make her happy. "I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord." Hosea ii. 19—20. That sacred union shall never be dissolved. Let her not sit and weep as a widow; for her Lord liveth, and loveth her, and will own her before the universe, and celebrate His nuptials on a scale of unrivalled grandeur, and with a joy that shall never end. The marriage-feast is coming; and she shall be near Him there; to hear His voice, and gaze upon His Divine beauty, and be enraptured with the holy endearments of His love. She shall then be like Him, for she shall see Him as He is. Let her dry her tears, and anticipate that blessed and endless day. Let her not serve Him with a divided heart, but give herself with all her heart to Him, for He has given Himself with all His heart for her, and to her. Let not cares, and allurements, and sorrows, make her forget the promised meeting. Let her look for that blessed hope, and be ever working for Him, and preparing for Him, till He come. All things point as with a prophetic finger to that coming. The

whole creation groaneth for the full redemption
which it shall bring; when He shall restore all
things, and create new heavens and a new earth,
wherein shall dwell righteousness. "Behold, my
Beloved looketh forth at the windows, showing
himself through the lattice." He looks in love at
her through the lattice of prophecy, and invites
her to look at Him, that she may make herself
ready. Should her heart not bow down within
her, and prompt her to say, "O my dove, let me
see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for
sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is
comely ?"
Let her ever have on the wedding
garment, that she may need no change when He
comes. "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!" As
sure is His coming as if He was already on His
way, and joyful hosannas were already heralding
His approach. There is music in the sound of
His foot. Endless treasures are stored up in His
heart. Heaven is in His smile. "It is mid-
night;" but night is turned into day. "Let us
be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him; for
the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife
hath made herself ready."

“ And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,

Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away."

The harmony of united hearts makes all things

musical. The prolonged season of separation is over, never to return. The affections and will are one with His, and no string is out of tune. The union is visible as well as real; and the heart has the aid of eye and ear. At this feast no light is needed, for the Lamb is the light thereof. No military force guards the door, for the Lord Himself is a wall of fire around His chosen, and the glory in the midst of her. Love fills and irradiates and encircles the whole scene; and fear, and sorrow, and sighing have fled away. Faith is swallowed up in sight. Jesus is an absent Lord no longer. While yet unseen she rejoiced in Him with joy unspeakable and full of glory; but still more deep and calm is her joy, when she beholds the King in His beauty. "He brought me to the banqueting-house, and His banner over me was

THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY

AND OUR DUTY IN REGARD TO THOSE ELEMENTS WHICH CONTRIBUTE MOST POWERFULLY TO ITS STABILITY AND ADVANCEMENT.*

THE superiority of a state of nature to the advantages and enjoyments of civilized society, is an opinion which, I presume, will find few advocates in our day. The supporters of this theory have thrown an air of romance over the innocence and simplicity of a life of nature, by dipping their pens in the glowing colours of imagination, and deviating from the path of historical truth. Disappointed in their hopes, and morbid in their feelings, some of them have vented their spleen against the progress of their age and country, by drawing pictures of barbarism so delicately touched, and so softly shaded, as to appear far more lovely, more favourable to virtue, happiness, and freedom, than a highly civilized mode of existence.

Evidence is not wanting to prove that-though in the history of several nations there has been a marked decline in mental and social advance

* A Lecture delivered to the Young Men's Christian Society, at the Mechanics' Institution, Manchester, February 3, 1848.