highly figurative and incomprehensibly mysterious; unfit, therefore, for profitable study. Let us view them as a LIGHT sent for the illumination of the sincere inquirer, to be used as a continual guide by the Lord's earnest servants while they sojourn in the "dark place" of this life's pilgrimage: and let us avail ourselves unceasingly of prophecy's muchneeded beams, until the night which is "far spent" shall pass away, and the great "day" of light and life so long foretold shall "dawn."

But now I well could think I hear already the objection-"Is it not unduly inquisitive, and therefore wrong, to search out the momentous matters which are yet before us in the future?" Does not the Lord intend rather that the prophecies should be studied AFTER THE EVENTS WHICH THEY PREDICT HAVE TRANSPIRED, so that His truth may be confirmed, and his faithfulness made known? This is an objection which lays firm hold upon the minds of not a few so that we continually hear it said, that while fulfilled prophecy is of great utility, proving beyond controversy the foreknowledge, power, judgment, mercy, and deity of God, unfulfilled prophecy had far better be passed over for the present, lest we be found sinfully prying into those secret things which belong only to the Lord. Now in reply to this, we may again refer to the plain language of our text. The light of prophecy there spoken of, and to which it is said we "do WELL that we take heed," is not certainly a light prepared by God to cast its beams upon the path in which a man has trodden hitherto; for, mark the language,-"Whereunto ye

do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, UNTIL THE DAY DAWN." This surely speaks with plainness. It is a light which shines as from a guiding lamp, to show the traveller where he is, and what is before him. But let me give you Bishop Newton's words upon our text. He says, "St. Peter is asserting and establishing the truth of Christ's second coming in power and great glory. (For we have not followed cunningly-devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His Majesty.) One illustrious proof of His coming in power and glory was His appearing in glory and majesty at His transfiguration. (For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent gloryThis is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleasedand this voice, which came from heaven, we heard when we were with Him in the Holy Mount.) His appearing once in power and great glory is a good argument that he may appear again in like manner; and that He not only may, but WILL, we have the further assurance of PROPHECY; (we have also a more sure word of Prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed.)"

With the testimony of a scholar and divine so able, we might well rest satisfied, even were the connection in which the passage stands less plain, and be confident that the "sure word of Prophecy" before us is a word which has its great concern with an important future; even with THAT DAY OF WONDERS WHEN THE

GREAT

"REDEEMER SHALL RETURN AND COME TO

ZION" TO BE GLORIFIED OF ALL. But it is not only OUR TEXT, with its surrounding context, which gives evidence that we "do well that we take heed" to the "sure word of Prophecy" with reference to things to come. We may take notice also of our Lord's own words. What could he mean but to advise his people thus, when he said "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for the looking after those things which are coming on the earth. When these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh!"* What could our Saviour mean when he spoke these words-but to warn His disciples-then and now, and to teach them to look forward, marking well the signs of the times, that they might perceive when they are drawing near that glorious period to which He taught them to look forward. It could not be that they might profit thereby after the event,—after the Lord's coming,— after they should have received the inheritance. It must have been that they might be in readiness, with their loins girt about, and their lamps burning, and they themselves like servants watching for their Lord. I have read somewhere much as follows: If the use of unfulfilled prophecy be after the event which it foretells has come to pass, it must be either to the Lord's people or to wicked people that it is found useful. Now it cannot be of any use to the wicked. It must needs be too late to be of use to

*Luke xxi. 25, 28.

them, when its predictions have received accomplishment in their destruction. The flood proved the truth of the Lord's word which Noah delivered; but it certainly was too late to be of any use to the wicked people to whom Noah preached; and the Lord's servants had no need of such a proof as the fulfilment of the prophecy afforded, for they were well aware beforetime that God spoke in faithfulness and truth. Moreover the wicked perished in the flood "because they did not believe the prophecy BEFORE its accomplishment, and the family of Noah were only saved because they did believe it."

Surely then as the inspired John declares concerning the Apocalypse, so we may assert respecting every other prophecy which the Word of God brings forward, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein."* So reading and so hearing we shall not fall under the condemnation of the Jews of old-" Ye hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?"+

The objection then which many have advanced upon the ground of a supposed undue inquisitiveness is idle.

But let us weigh another prominent objection. An objection raised by many good and seriously-minded Christians. "Do but observe," they say "how great the number of those students of the unfilfilled prophecies who have made shipwreck! Moreover, see the differences which exist among those students who still

*Rev. i. 3.

+ Luke xii. 56.

stand their ground! Surely such a dangerous, or at least unsatisfactory subject ought to be avoided." Now, allowing that many have made shipwreck, and allowing that great differences of interpretation do exist (though I do not altogether receive the statement as correct), surely prophecy is not the only subject of great moment which has become a stumbling-block, or concerning which there have been serious differences of opinion. Satan has been very busy in spreading error with regard to every spiritual matter, and his work has told with fearful power on many who were looked upon as the Lord's people. Indeed the very GOSPEL OF SALVATION, which a man must needs receive or perish everlastingly, has been made a theme of study by vast numbers who have lacked the spirit of the Lord, and so has proved “A savour of death unto death to their souls." Amazing truth! yet truth indeed! Men have heard and read the GOSPEL OF SALVATION to their own DESTRUCTION!! But shall the Gospel therefore be a subject we forbid? Shall we keep it from our less learned brethren? From our families, our neighbors, our poor? Oh, not so, surely; though it be true that, as in Peter's day, so now also, men "wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction." For where can be the cause for fear as to those students of the word who read with humble, self-distrustful hearts, since God has promised that He "will give His Holy Spirit unto them that ask Him."* "If any man,' then, shall "lack wisdom" (and who lacks it not?) "let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally

*Luke xi. 13.