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work of reform, and in spreading the pure Gospel through the world.

(8.) Within a very few years past, as it is ascertained, quite a number in this country, and very many in Europe, are beginning to talk, write and preach, "the kingdom of heaven-at hand," which, it is believed, has been almost generally left out of the preaching of the church since the days of our primitive fathers, who continued to preach it so till the departure of the church from the faith once delivered to the saints, and was not much, if at all, revived in the reform, even of Luther's day.

(9.) As it was at Jerusalem on pentecost day, there are now in our thousands of christian cities, strangers and foreigners from every clime, who, should they witness another such pouring out of God's Spirit, and be converted to Christ, would naturally, in the persecution which it would excite, flee home to their native soil, with the Gospel and Spirit in their heart, and on their tongue, to proclaim it to their fellows without a moment's hindrance in obtaining a public education, learning a foreign language, setting up schools, refining the natives, &c. &c., before telling them, in their own tongue, the simple story of "Jesus and the resurrection," and "the wonderful works of God."

(10.) Within about the same shortness of time, improvements in steam power have been made, and applied to conveyances both on the water and on the land, which improved power, together with the foretold general pouring out of the Spirit and universal persecution of the last days, will be indispensably necessary in rapidly conveying christian ministers throughout the desolations of their own countries, missionaries to foreign countries, and converted foreigners, as we trust there will be, from christian cities to

their own country. In this way, and in no other, as it yet appears, can the Gospel of the kingdom be preached, as foretold, with such despatch, power and excitement, throughout the earth, and as figuratively represented by "An angel" flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to all them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying, with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come," &c. (Rev. 14: 6, 7.)

(11.) God has foretold a pouring out of his "Spirit upon all flesh," &c. " in the last days," (Joel, 2: 28. Acts, 2:17, 18,) which, although supposed by many to have been wholly accomplished on pentecost day, and soon after, will be found, on a proper examination, as but very partially fulfilled at that time, and to be finally done in the literal "last days," and so extensively as literally to reach the regions of "all flesh," which cannot be less extensive than the Gospel, is to be then preached throughout the whole world.

(12.) That this work of finally preaching the Gospel as foretold throughout the earth, will be very sudden, powerful and awakening when it shall be done, may be understood from the passage, just quoted of the Spirit poured out upon "all flesh," &c., and the angel's flying" in the midst of heaven" as though himself to do the work. The same is apparent also, from its being expressly said of the Lord, as may be seen, in relation to this very prophecy-" For he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." (Rom. 9:28. See Mat. 25: 1-10.)

(13.) Even were there no express predictions that the latter day work of preaching the Gospel to all nations, will

be very sudden and powerful when done, we might naturally infer the fact, from the consideration that it is not to be done with the church asleep, as for ages past, but by the spirit poured out, as on pentecost days, throughout all nations, as no flesh now living has ever witnessed.

REMARKS.

From these considerations, it is apparent that although external preparations such as now suggested may be abundantly made for preaching the Gospel through the world, nothing effectual can be done in it either soon or late, except as the Lord himself shall enlist in the work by sending his Spirit as the Elijah to come, in making thorough work in doing it.

That by such a work of the Spirit as this, the Gospel of the kingdom may he preached in all the world as foretold, within a single year or so, with only present preparations, as well as within a century.

And finally, that these signs foretold by Christ being so far fulfilled already, and preparations so abuundantly made, now within a short time for fulfilling the last, show the day of the Lord now specially nigh, and that it will not be delayed at all by the haughty conduct of proud scoffers, in saying-" Where is the promise of his coming?"

LECTURE IX.

CHRIST'S FURTHER SIGNS AND DESCRIPTION OF HIS

KINGDOM AT HAND.

Mat. 3:2. 24:3.

"The kingdom of heaven is at hand."-" Tell us when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?"

HAVING examined this question in the preceding discourse, and assumed the position that it is an inquiry for the time and signs of Christ's second coming, not at the end of the Jewish dispensation, but at "the end of the world," with his kingdom to judgment, and having examined a part of our Saviour's answer to this question, the subject will now be resumed under

THE PROPOSITION

Further to vindicate the doctrine of CHRIST's "everlasting kingdom"-" at hand," against all arguments for considering it still a great way off-by a more full examination of HIS OWN ANSWER to this question; and by showing from the present fulfilling of his foretold signs of its coming, that now "that great day of God Almighty" is even so "nigh at hand," that it may be upon us, and upon the whole world, within a single year for aught we know, though the precise period be not revealed.

CHRIST'S ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, CONTINUED.

Mat. 24: 15-20. "When ye, [as a generation or lineage] therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation [or desolating abominable things] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, (Dan. 9: 27. 12: 11,) standing in the holy place [among God's people] (whoso readeth let him understand,) (Dan. 9: 23,) then let them which be in Judea, for the saints in Israel,] flee to the mountains; [" flee from the wrath to come," to "get up into the high mountain,” Mat. 37. Isa. 40:9,] let him which is on the house top not come down to take any thing out of his house, neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [but rather be always perfectly ready for a sudden flight to "Mount Zion," (Rev. 14: 1,) from "the house top," "the field," &c.] And wo unto them that be with child, and to them that give suck in those days! [or, to poor, unprepared, entangled sinners having no faith by which to "flee," or "mount up with wings as eagles," Isa. 40: 31.] But pray ye, that your flight [to heaven. 1 Thess. 4:17] be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath-day." [Or, that it may be free from every possible hindrance,]

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Although perhaps, for ages past, this whole passage may have been understood as a prophecy of nothing else than the siege of the Roman army against the bodies and city of the literal Jews 1800 years ago, there are certainly many serious and scripture reasons for rejecting such an interpretation, as being one of the mere traditions of men, making void the law of God, and not the less objectionable for its antiquity. In kindly and meekly dissenting from this long popular interpretation, as a supposed mere "Jewish fable," originating with the false prophet only to dis

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