period; it is quite clear that at that time the Jews will be gathered and converted.

But how different is their condition as here set forth in connexion with the ADVENT of which our text speaks, and which we have already proved to be the Lord's SECOND COMING; for they are described "as scattered to the four winds," and are exhorted to flee from the land of the north. And still further it is most clearly implied, that at this time they are in unbelief, for the Lord does not say, in addressing them, Thou dost, but "Thou SHALT know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.”

Therefore, if in one place we find that during the Millennial period they shall all be gathered into their own land, and "shall all know the Lord from the least to the greatest," but that at the Second Advent of which our text speaks, they are scattered, and in unbelief; it is quite clear that that event must be Premillennial.

2. But, again, another argument which may be drawn from the passage in support of this view is the following:-that the conversion of many nations is mentioned as subsequent to THIS ADVENT, and as resulting from it, as we read in Zech. ii. 11, "And MANY NATIONS SHALL BE JOINED TO THE LORD in that day, and shall be

my people." But at the period of the Millennium, according to the universal acceptation of Scripture, there is to be a prevalence of righteousness and true holiness, for "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters do the sea.' Such, then, is not the state when this Advent takes place; and therefore also we conclude that it must be PREMILLENNIAL.

3. From these considerations, I will pass on to some which may be drawn from the Word of God

generally.

And here we may notice, first, that the Scripture account of the Millennial period is not only different from, but altogether opposed to that state and condition of the world which the express declarations of the inspired writers lead us to expect at the time of our Lord's Second Advent. Let any one only read the following chapters of Isaiah, xi. and lx., besides many others which we might mention, and the conclusion to be drawn from them must evidently be, that there will come a time when righteousness, peace, and holiness shall prevail on this earth, to an extent that they never have since the fall of our first parents. But is such the state of things when the Lord shall come again? Let the Scriptures speak for themselves. In Luke xvii. 26, and following verses, we thus read: "As it was in the days of Noe,

so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Now, my brethren, were the Antediluvians in a Millennial state, when the flood came and swept them all away? Did not sin abound? So that the testimony of God was this, "That the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. vi. 5.) Again, were the inhabitants of Sodom in a Millennial state when the Lord declared concerning them, "that their sin was very grievous," and when in the whole city not ten righteous were found? But such is the account that Scripture gives of the prevailing condition of man at the period when Christ shall come again. In accordance with this, in Luke xviii. 8, the question is asked, clearly implying the negative, "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Our Lord, also, in Luke

xxi., speaking of his Advent, declares in verse 35," that as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth," clearly intimating that the WHOLE earth would be anything but in a prepared state for his approach.

How striking to the same effect is the testimony of the Apostle in both his Epistles to Timothy; a passage from the Second Epistle may suffice for our present object; we read in the third chapter and the first and following verses, this description of the last days, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof;" and again, in 2 Peter iii. 3, 4, we thus read, Knowing this first, that there shall come in the LAST DAYS Scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Such a description as we have seen in these two passages of the last days, and of the time imme

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diately preceding his Second Advent, cannot accord with what we understand of the Millennial period.

And further, the coming of our Lord is in many places described as producing general mourning, and wailing, (as for instance in Matt. xxiv. 30, and Rev. i. 7,) which clearly indicates that righteousness and holiness are not prevalent at that period.

Such statements, then, as these, are altogether at variance with the idea that the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters do the sea, previous to the Lord's coming. Therefore we conclude that his Advent must be PRE

MILLENNIAL.

But again, the same point may be proved, we conceive, from the description given of the state of the true Church during the present period, and up to the time of the Lord's coming. For instance, as to its number, it is spoken of as "a little flock," and that though "many are called, but few are chosen." As to its character, it is one of sorrow, as our Lord's words intimate, in Mark ii. 20,-"But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days." As to its condition, persecuted by the world, for, says the Apostle, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus,