in their low estate, and said to them, "Live," for "the time was the time of love." And as a consequence of that love, He gave Himself for his Church; He washed away her sins in His own precious blood; He clothed her in His own perfect righteousness; He renewed her soul by His Holy Spirit, and raising her from the grave, made her perfect through the comeliness which He put upon her. Yes, it was love, passing knowledge, passing praise, which raised His Church from that low estate in which sin had placed her, to that exalted station in which she will stand in the day of His espousals.

Surely, my beloved friends, such rich, free, and ineffable grace should fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to say, with the Psalmist, "Blessed be his glorious name for ever "and ever; and let the whole earth be filled with "his glory. Amen, and amen."

2d. How should this subject lead us to earnest prayer for Divine grace, and to unwearied diligence "in making our calling and election sure:" that, seeing such exalted blessedness is offered to the chief of sinners, who come to the Lord with penitent and believing hearts, we may willingly yield ourselves to Him,-may give up ourselves to Him, body, soul, and spirit; and

having laid hold of Him, as "all our salvation and all our desire," may keep firm our hold, let nothing shake us, but "through evil report "and good report may follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth," that at His appearing we may be found of Him without spot and blameless.

3d. With what meek reverence and holy fear should we seek to have our conversation. For if the Lord Jesus, in His abundant grace and surpassing goodness, is pleased to take His people as His spouse, what ought our religion to be but a religion of love?-every thought "being brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," and every desire of our hearts being to advance His glory and establish His kingdom.

He, like a Bridegroom, said to his disciples, "If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments; making love the criterion by which our actions should be regulated. Let this, then, my beloved friends, be the climate in which we desire to live. Let us leave to others strife and debate and angry contentions, and let it be our great aim to be ready for the coming of our Lord. Let us, therefore, "watch and be sober." Let us keep our garments with constant care, so that when the cry is made," Behold, the Bridegroom cometh ;

go ye out to meet him," our loins may be girt, and our lamps be trimmed, and we be among that blessed number who, being ready, shall go in with him to the marriage.

Finally, my Christian friends and brethren, how should this subject provoke our lively zeal and earnest endeavours to awaken those around us who, while the Bridegroom tarries, slumber and sleep.

For if the sure word of prophecy, that word of which our Lord has declared, "Heaven and "earth shall pass away, but my word shall never

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pass away;" if that word assures us that our blessed Saviour will go forth in His majesty to subdue all His enemies, and that He shall prevail over them, how earnest should we be in our attempts to persuade them to submit at once to His righteous sceptre; that being drawn to His service by some of those polished shafts which He has in His quiver, they may avoid that fearful end which will overtake those obstinate sinners who, refusing to receive Him as their King," shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."

I say, how earnest and how diligent should we be; for surely, my Christian friends, there remains but a little moment for us now to do

the work of God: "the night is far spent, and the day is at hand." For without attempting to decide whether the late event which has come upon all Europe like a thunder-storm, depriving in one day a king of his throne, and forcing him, with his princes and his counsellors, to fly for safety to foreign lands;-without, I say, attempting to decide whether this sudden event is the commencement of the pouring out of the seventh vial of God's wrath, surely it is an occurrence which ought to rouse every thoughtless sinner, and lead him to prepare for that great day which may come upon him with still greater suddenness. "Behold," says our Lord, "I come as a thief in the night;" as suddenly as the lightning's flash passes through the heavens, or as the burning fire fell on Sodom, or the flood of waters overtook the world of the ungodly.

Rise, then, my beloved brethren, "and quit you like men." "Be strong, yea, be strong in the grace of the Lord;" TRUST CONFIDENTLY; PRAY

FERVENTLY; COUNSEL WISELY; ACT PROMPTLY; LABOUR DILIGENTLY; WATCH CAREFULLY; WAIT PATIENTLY; and, as we have no doubt we shall, END JOYFULLY. Remembering, for your encouragement, that the Lord hath said, "BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF Life.”

LECTURE IV.

THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS AT THE

APPEARING OF CHRIST.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM CADMAN, M. A.,

MINISTER OF PARK CHAPEL, CHELSEA.

PSALM L. 1—6.

"The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and he may judge his people. together unto me; those that

nant with me by sacrifice.

to the earth, that Gather my saints have made a coveAnd the heavens

shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge

himself. Selah."