them is plainly intimated to be praiseworthy and essential to us; and as to the acquiring ouly an imperfect knowledge of them, it is of no consequence whatever, since we may go on improving. Thus Apollos had attained to be mighty in the scriptures, and that, says St. Paul, with only the baptism of John; his knowledge of them was but imperfect, for we find that Priscilla takes him unto her, and expounds them more fully; and afterwards he was thought worthy, and it was granted him, to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

That we are encouraged to make a study of the prophecies there can be no doubt, or wherefore are we bid to compare spiritual things with spiritual things, or, I may say, words with words, scriptures with scriptures, unless it is intended we should acquire a knowledge of the prophecies? And wherefore is it written, "That we should be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us, the

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this first, that there shall come, in the last days, scoffers, &c., walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?" "O fools," exclaimed our Saviour," and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken!"-Our "hope is as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, so long as we are held worthy of being permitted to believe the words; but it is no belief to suppose that immaterial things are to be understood when material things are referred to: "Handle me and see, saith our Saviour, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have." The bodies of the just in the resurrection have properties of a celestial nature, as when the Lord vanished from the disciples' sight, and appeared unto them again: not so with the reprobate, whose penitance comes not, ere, like Belshazzar, or like Esau, he be found wanting in the balance. How hardened men become who dwell not continually upon the word, is most manifest, as at what time the meekest of mankind, after so much was done for the people preserved, was

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him," saith he," shall he appear the second time*, without sin unto salvation." And Moses says of the nation which he had brought out of Egypt, "O that they were wise, that they would understand this; that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?" If we set before us the judgments of God as concerning his enemiest, and his mercy as concerning them that fear him, it is impossible but we must improve in goodness. For myself, with all humility, I acknowledge my sins, which are ever before me; but I have confidence in

In the first chapter of Acts it is written, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

When my readers more completely understand the prophecies, they may read the sixteenth chapter of the Wisdom of Solomon, which will give them the fullest ideas of the great power of God, and of his goodness towards them that fear him.

the righteousness of God, am a lover of his works, and a true believer of his sayings; and I am "not fearful with any amazement," because I know his power, and his great mercy toward them that fear him, and think upon his name: and so long as he holds me worthy of being permitted to believe his words, I have an assured hope, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. I am a lover of peace, but if I should be driven to contend against the enemies of peace, I think I should not be without the hope of the

mercy of God: since thus we admit the

almost necessity, I had nearly said, of contending against the enemies of peace, we must acknowledge the judgment of God to be just. How hardened men become who dwell not continually upon the word, which is the rock of salvation, is most manifest, as at what time the meekest of mankind, after so much was done for the people preserved, was

at length compelled to say, "Ye rebels, must I draw water out of the rock for ye?" whose patience being exhausted, he broke the tables at Sinai, in the face of the people; at what time the mercy of God was enthroned above

the patience of the most patient of men; he

restored them the tables, and from the excellent glory was proclaimed, in the hearing of Moses, the name of the Lord: "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity upon the children, and upon the children's children unto the third and fourth generation"-the commandment saith, "of them that hate me." "And Moses made haste,

and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped."