Sermons on the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ

appearance and reign of the King of the Jews, though they are interwoven in the same contexts, by the inspiring Spirit of truth. Mr Townsend

says: "Of the unfulfilled prophecies of God, the most splendid, the most numerous, and apparently the most easy of execution, are those which relate to the Jews. They will again plant the vine and the olive upon their native hills, and reap their harvests in the valleys of their fathers." Then, after expressing some doubtfulness as to the mode by which they shall be borne back to Palestine, he calls "their own unoccupied, uncultivated, unregarded land, the central spot on earth, where the metropolitical Church of God may be most suitably established." In illustration of this, he appends a note from Mr King's remarks upon Palestine, considered as the centre of the millennial empire of Christ upon earth, which he truly says are highly worthy of notice. "How capable this country (Palestine) is of a more universal intercourse than any other, with all parts of the earth, is most remarkable, and deserves well to be considered, when we read of the numerous prophecies which speak of its future splendour and greatness; when its people shall at length be gathered from all parts of the earth unto which they are scattered, and restored to their own land. There is no region in the world to which an access from all parts is so open. By means of the

Black Sea and the Mediterranean, there is an easy approach from all parts of Europe, from a great part of Africa, and from America. By means of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and the well known roads from thence, there is an approach from Africa, from the East Indies, and from the Isles. And, lastly, by means of the Caspian, the Lake or Sea of Bayhall, and the near communication of many great rivers, the approach is facilitated from all the northern parts of Tartary. In short, if a skilful geographer were to sit down to devise the fittest spot on the globe for UNIVERSAL EMPIRE, or rather a spot where all the great intercourses of human life should universally centre, and from whence the extended effects of universal benevolence and good-will should flow to all parts of the earth, and where universal and united homage should be paid, with one consent, to the Most High, he would not find another so suited in all circumstances as that which is, with emphasis, called the Holy Land. These observations, perhaps, may not deserve great weight, but they ought not to be wholly neglected, especially when it is considered how many passages of Scripture there are which plainly declare that the time shall at length come when Zion shall be the joy of the whole earth." But these numerous passages of Scripture declare

* Townsend's Arrangement-Introduction, pp. lxviii., Ixix.

as plainly, that when Zion shall be the joy of the whole earth, the Lord himself, on the throne of David, in Jerusalem, shall be the joy, and light, and glory of Zion. Now, if the portions of passages which apply to the nation and the land be thus admitted to the favour of a literal interpretation by these respectable and sober-minded commentators, upon what principle of consistency, or canon of analogy, is it, that a similar interpretation is denied to the interwoven portions of the same passages, which apply to THE KING ?

The world is asleep, immersed in the perishing things of this present passing life. The Church is dreaming of the conversion of the world by means which never yet converted any one nation or city, and which were never intended for more than the taking of a people out of the world.* The time is short. The danger is urgent. The Lord is at

hand!

O most gracious and merciful God! let Thy effectual blessing accompany every warning sounded by Thy watchmen: accomplish, oh, accomplish, the number of Thine elect, and hasten Thy kingdom! Amen.

*Acts xv. 14.