argument, I have come to this conclusion, that the views proclaimed year after year from this place, are less open to objection than any Postmillennial views, and are more in accordance with what I may designate as the literal and common-sense view of Scripture.

I have ventured upon these few observations as a mark of respect to the talent and energy of those who differ from us; and at the same time, as a reason for not quite limiting myself, to-night, to the practical application of the subject which the title of my Lecture would fairly allow.

The subject of our meditation is to be,"THE DAY OF THE LORD." And may the Holy Spirit, whose office it is to take of the things of Christ and manifest them unto his people, graciously condescend to guide us into all truth, for Christ's sake!

The importance of the question before us is far greater than may at first be imagined. There are many who do not hesitate to avow their opinion, that whether Christ comes on earth to us, or we are called from earth by death, it amounts to the same thing; and that inasmuch as the period of the Advent is uncertain, and never yet has been witnessed or experienced, death, which has been witnessed by

most of us, and is acknowledged by all to be more or less near, becomes a more stirring and exciting motive. To this I answer, that your opinion or mine becomes of very little importance, if unsupported by the Word of God; and therefore, if it can be shewn that the Word of God gives a prominence to the Advent which it does not give to death, we are bound to keep our minds fixed upon the one rather than upon the other.

But I would deny that death can be so powerful a motive to live unto God as the Advent. For instance, one of the most crying sins of our day is, the love of amassing wealth. Death will not act as a motive to check this sin. Men will heap to themselves riches, though they cannot tell who shall gather them. They think of their fame-their name-their children, and are encouraged thus to add field to field, and "call their lands after their own names." But let men realize the day of the Lord, the nearness of that day, the importance of that day, a day for themselves, their children, their all,—then they will begin to think more of those treasures which moth and rust do not corrupt, and which thieves will never steal.

Be assured, that it is only in the case of the ignorant and unreflecting that death will be

T

the stronger motive; explain the two points, and the Second Advent will prove to possess far more of constraining influence than the other. Not that I would for a moment be understood as considering any difference of opinion on this subject as likely to be of fatal consequence to the eternal happiness of any. I have rejoiced, indeed, that, notwithstanding my brethren feel so strongly upon the matter, there have been no violent or bigoted statements forced upon you by any one of the preachers; and I can now only express a hope that you, with the undoubted right to exercise your private judgment, will, like the Bereans of old, search the Scriptures daily for yourselves, to see whether these things are so.

I shall now endeavour to direct

to three questions :--

your attention

I. WHEN IS THE DAY OF THE LORD?
II. WHAT IS IT?

III. WHAT HAVE WE TO DO WITH IT? First, WHEN IS THE DAY OF THE LORD? To this my answer must necessarily be given and confirmed by the Word of God. I would therefore reply, WHEN THE SAINTS ARE CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. St. Paul says, in addressing the Thessalonians,-"I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning

them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. iv. 13-18.).

The Apostle is here setting before the Church the real grounds of consolation to a Christian mourner. His argument amounts to this. You must not sorrow as if you had no hope of ever meeting your departed friends again. The Lord Jesus Christ will one day return; on that day, viz., the day of the Lord, the dead in Christ will be with the Lord, and they who are alive at his coming will be caught up to meet the Lord, and thus all believers will be for ever with the Lord.

This explanation involves in it another descriptive mark of the time implied in the words, THE DAY OF THE LORD. If some are to be called out of their graves to be united with the living, that both may be with Jesus, the day of the Lord must be at the period of the "FIRST RESURRECTION." Thus in Rev. xx. 4-6, we read," I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the First Resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." That is to say, when the Lord shall come, then will be fulfilled the words which our Lord spake in St. John's Gospel,-"This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John vi. 39.) Our Lord is