But, on the other hand, what if the great God be now about to take to him his great power, and reign? What if the kingdoms of the earth are now about to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, Rev. xi. 15, and the long-expected period of the conversion of the Jews, and the fulness of the Gentiles, be just come? This would be a grand revolution indeed: and we cannot expect it will be brought about without much blood and desolation. Many thrones must totter and fall; many kingdoms must be overturned, which are now the supports of Popery, Mahometanism, and heathenism. In this sense, the gentle Saviour came not to send peace upon earth, but a sword. And who knows but the ferment that is now begun, may work up this grand revolution? this grand revolution? Who knows but the mystery of God is about to be finished, in the days of the voice of the seventh angel; and that the sixth vial is running, and the seventh about to be poured out upon the persecuting powers of Rome? What if great Babylon is come into remembrance before God; and we shall ere long hear the proclamation, "Babylon is fallen! is fallen!" Isa. xxi. 9. If so, " rejoicc over her, ye heavens, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her." What if the signal be now given for the grand decisive conflict between the followers of the Lamb and the followers of the beast? It may be sharp and bloody; and you and I and millions more, may fall in it. But victory shall soon be determined in favour of the oppressed servants of Jesus. What if he who is called Faithful and True, and who maketh war in righteousness, be about to ascend the white horse of victory and triumph, followed by the armies of heaven, that is, by his faithful servants? And what if, according to the vision of St. John, the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies, were about to gather together to make war with Him that sits on the horse, and his army? Rev. xix. 19. The issue of the battle is represented in the same vision: "The beast and the false prophet were taken; and the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse. And an angel standing in the sun," says St. John, "cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come, and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." Rev. xix. 17, 18. Accordingly they were all sated with a dreadful meal. This period, we have reason to expect, though we may not exactly calculate the time of its commencement. The time indeed is determined in prophetic computation, both in Daniel and the Revelation. This grand conflict is to be in the close of three years and a half; time, times, and a half a time; forty-two months, or twelve hundred and sixty days: all which computations exactly amount to the same sum, viz., twelve hundred and sixty years. But at what time this period commenced is not fully agreed upon; and, consequently, it is uncertain when it will end. However, it is generally agreed, that we are not far from the end of it; and, consequently, matters must *The ancient year consisted of three hundred and sixty days; and a month of thirty days. A prophetic day is a year; a week, is a week of years, viz., seven years; a month is a month of years, viz., thirty years. Therefore, twelve hundred and sixty days, in the prophetical arithmetic, are twelve hundred and sixty years: forty-two months multiplied by thirty (the number of years in a prophetical month) amount to the same number, twelve hundred and sixty years; three years and a half, i. e., three times three hundred and sixty, and the half of three hundred and sixty, viz., one hundred and eighty, amount also to the same number, twelve hundred and sixty years. Time is one year; times two years; and half a time is half a year; which is but another way of expressing three years and a half, and makes the same number, twelve hundred and sixty. be ripening fast for that grand result. If this glorious day be so near, let us bless God and rejoice, though we should be overwhelmed in those commotions that may introduce it. And let it be the matter of our daily prayer that it may be hastened. Upon the whole, let us endeavour to put ourselves in a posture of readiness to meet with all events that may be approaching. Though I know not these futurities, yet I know it shall be well with them that fear God: but it will not be well with the wicked: neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. Eccl. viii. 12, 13. It shall, however, be well with the righteous. Isa. iii. 10, 11. Their heaven is sure; and while they have a place to go to there, it is little matter to them what becomes of this earth, and all their mortal interests. The Ruler of the universe is their patron, their tutelary Deity; and under his protection they are safe, come what will. Therefore put on courage, and show the world you have a God to go to, in the greatest difficulty; and that you can confidently trust him. But at all adventures, I must say on the other hand, "Wo unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him." Isa. iii. 10, 11. Suppose these uncommon appearances in nature were wholly insignificant; suppose there were no such thing as war in the world, and you were in no danger of being involved in the ruins of your country: yet, you have death, the king of terrors; you have an angry conscience, and, which is worse, an angry God, to encounter with; you have the terrors of a dissolving world, and of a final judgment, to pass through: you have the pains of hell to endure. And are you hardy enough to encounter these without horror? Oh! that you would be so wise as to be reconciled to God, and make him your friend, whose protection you so much need. : Finally, I would recommend it to you all, to make this a praying time among you; often appear in the posture of petitioners at the throne of grace, in secret, in your families, and in those societies* which I desired you to set up for this end. Pray for the continuance of your religion and liberty pray for the establishment of the British throne, and the preservation of the royal life, which is of so much importance at this critical juncture. Pray for the success of our arms by sea and land, and the restraint and confusion of our enemies. Pray that you and others may be prepared for all occurrences. But, above all, pray that the Holy Spirit of God may be poured out upon us, to work a general reformation. Though all these natural prodigies should be unmeaning, alas! we have moral prognostics enough to make our hearts meditate terror, and forebode some impending judgments; I mean, the general wickedness and impiety that prevail in our country. Alas! I am afraid the voice of this prodigy, though more terrible and more certainly ominous than earthquakes or blazing stars, will not be heard till it be too late. But I must repeat the declaration I have often made in your hearing, that it will never be well with our country, till there be more of the fear and love of God, more sincere practical religion, among us: and that all our military forces will not save us in the issue, without a general repentance and reformation. Could I once convince my countrymen that there is something in this proposal, I should begin to entertain some hopes of a speedy deliverance. But, alas! while it is disregarded as a chimerical project, my heart cannot but forebode some fearful things coming upon us; which may God, of his infinite mercy, prevent, for his name's sake. Amen. * Societies for prayer, intended to be continued during the present alarming situation of our public affairs. VOL. III.-26 SERMON LXV. THE HAPPY EFFECTS OF THE POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT.* ISAIAH XXXII. 13-19.-Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city; because the palaces shall be forsaken, the multitude of the city shall be left, the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks: until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and. righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places, when it shall hail, coming down upon the forest. It is our lot to be born in an age of blood and slaughter; an age, in which mankind remarkably exemplify the character given of them long ago by an inspired pen, "Hateful, and hating one another;" an age, which has seen a strange revolution in that Britain that about three hundred years ago had crushed the power of France, and had the crown of that kingdom made over to her by treaty -now everywhere defeated by that very power; an age, * This Sermon is dated, Hanover, October 16, 1757, |