from sneering contempt or freezing apathy, through a somewhat condescending pity, to heartfelt respectful love. We have learned at length how dear the Jew is to Jehovah even in his punishment; and how high a pre-eminence divine electing Love has given him over the mere Gentile. The increased efforts and success of the London Society, the brotherly investigations of the Church of Scotland, and the recent union of our non-conformist churches in the glorious work are full of hopeful promise. Who could sit in that noble Hall where the first named Society lately met, and mark the eager interest with which its thronged inmates listened to the narratives of Jewish evangelists, or the thrilling hosannahs of Jewish children,-and not feel that the LORD is indeed rolling away the reproach of Israel, that He is binding up the breach of His people, and healing the stroke of their wound? The "land of shadowing wings" has already brought "the present unto Jehovah of Hosts of a people scattered and peeled,— to mount Zion:" the " Ships of Tarshish" have already been engaged in "bringing His sons from far" kings have already become their "nursingfathers, and queens their nursing-mothers :" and Jesus is preached to Israel by Jewish ambassadors, through the sacred language, even in the Holy City!

And China is wonderfully opened to the Ships of Tarshish that most interesting nation after being so long mysteriously shut up as with brazen gates, at length is thrown open. Why? There is every reason to believe that "the land of Arsareth," where the ten tribes are said to have found a refuge is none other than this land of China: and if so, we see at once why it should have been shut so long, and

why opened at last. "These! where had they been?" will be the astonished exclamation of Judah when Jehovah shall bring Ephraim "from the land of the Sinim.'

VI. The proclamation of the Gospel. "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come." And if Paul could say that this had been done in his day, "to every creature which is under heaven," (Col. i. 23.) in how much greater fulness of meaning may we take up the past tense, in speaking of the fulfilment of this sign. What "nation" has not heard the proclamation of Christ's gospel, in this day of Bible Societies, and Missionary labours? How much further He may see fit that the offer of it may be prolonged to these nations, before He has "filled up the number of His elect," we cannot say but it appears that the prophecy has already received a sufficient accomplishment to justify the truth of God, if the dispensation were closed to-day.

VII. The activity of the spirits of superstition, atheism, and anarchy. This is a darker sign: here fall the shadows of the picture. Yet holding forth the prophetic torch, we can feel our hearts bound with joy, as we trace the workings of these "unclean spirits" of darkness. In our own land, heretofore so highly favoured, these foul demons are peculiarly active: the spirit of Popery has succeeded in infusing its poison into an overwhelming majority of our national Church; while the other two evil spirits have hand in hand, seized upon the lower classes of our population. Anarchy and insubordination are indefatigably preached to misguided multitudes by furious demagogues with startling success: and blas

phemy and atheism are no less industriously diffused by the ribald publications of the Sunday press. Yet I cannot see any prophetic warrant for expecting with many students of prophecy, that the true church of Christ will again be subjected to a terrible persecution, even from all this array of Satanic malice; but I do see in these things, the elements, which, when "the salt of the earth" is once removed, will hurry the moral world into a horrible state of putrefaction with fearful rapidity.

Among other signs of the present age which because somewhat less definite, I will not dwell upon, may be mentioned, the two given by Daniel," many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased; " and truly it would be difficult to characterize this age more aptly than as an age of rapid and universal travelling, and of widely and cheaply diffused knowledge. Then there is the Czar, the exact counterpart of the description in Ezekiel, "Gog, (the crafty one) prince of Ros, Mosc, and Tobl;" perfectly ready from situation, power, and known policy, to act the part of the last invader of the Holy land. Add to these the "distress of nations with perplexity; "the unprecedented loss of life by shipwreck, "sea and wave roaring," the unexpected appearance of the late Comet in our system, like a flaming sword;-the "earthquakes in divers places; " which have marked the current year, young as it is; and he must indeed sleep soundly who cannot hear in these things the solemn cry, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh!"

We look, however, for still more remarkable and terrifying tokens of his approach, as the time draws near. Wondrous celestial phenomena are predicted

as the precursors of the Advent, which we yet wait to see. The prophet Joel tells us that "the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come: " and Christ confirms the prediction ; "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the SIGN of the Son of Man in the heavens." Let none however flatter themselves with the thought, that when these unequivocal manifestations take place, it will be time enough to turn their attention to the coming KING; for it appears highly probable that these things will be so immediately preceding the revelation of Him, as to be rather the attendant circumstances of that great event, than premonitory tokens of it. It will not force itself upon the attention of careless men beforehand; abundant as is the evidence of its approach to those who in childlike humility seek to know His will, to the many it cannot, and will not be divested of the character of extreme and overwhelming suddenness; like the flood of Noah, like the fire on Sodom, like the snare upon a bird, like a thief in the night! "Watch therefore! for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

Hackney,

May 13, 1843.

P. H. GOSSE.

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

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"You have often heard it said, even by Protestants, that Roman Catholics have the letter of scripture in favour of their own doctrine. By letter," I mean words which are made of so many letters. If this were conceded to them, their arguments would be good: *** our eyes tell us, that we receive bread and wine * * * but, I have observed, that the letter of scripture is against the Roman Church. Now hear: "The Lord Jesus in the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, he brake it, and said, take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." Speaking in modern language, after he had consecrated the elements, He gave the bread to His disciples and said, 'Take eat; this is" -this bread signifies-" my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me." After the same manner also He took the cup when He had supped, saying, "This is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as ye brance of me." Now mark. eat this BREAD, and drink this Lord's death till He come." (1 Cor. xi. 26.) BREAD before it was consecrated. BREAD after it was consecrated, according to the testimony of Christ Himself."-Rev. W. Howells.

drink it, in remem"For as often as ye

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