sionary by our highest ecclesiastical authorities, and protected by Her gracious Majesty's consul, now for the first time appointed to the Holy Land, has commenced the foundation of a regular place of worship upon Mount Zion, in which divine service is intended to be performed according to the liturgy of the Church of England.

Whilst God, in his overruling providence, is thus drawing the attention of the more enlightened classes among the Gentile nations to the Jews, there is a very unusual stir among themselves. A confident expectation has risen up among them of the almost immediate advent of their Messiah. Many of them are desirous of proceeding to Jerusalem, that they may be upon the spot at his coming. A very remarkable spirit of inquiry prevails among them. Many are casting off the vain traditions of the Talmud, and diligently reading the books of Moses: others are willing to converse with Christians upon the claims of our blessed Lord as their true Messiah: while some of the ancient men among them are saying, "We shall die Jews, but our children will be Christians."

Such is the aspect which the Jews present, at the time that the Gentile world is in so critical a state, almost every one calling out, "It is

very

impossible things can continue as they are. There must be a change."

It is when this accumulation of peculiarly interesting events, all occurring at the same moment, is before us-when also no human being has in himself sufficient wisdom or foresight to point out a course of safety-it is, my beloved friends, in these circumstances that we are desirous to direct you to "the sure word of prophecy, as unto a light shining in a dark place."

I can confidently say, in the names of my much esteemed clerical brethren, who take a part in these Lectures, as well as my own, that we have not the slightest wish to occupy your time with any mere fanciful or speculative interpretation of the Scriptures; but "speaking the words of truth and soberness," to set before you the great outlines of the divine purpose towards the Jews; that seeing this purpose you may fall in with the divine counsels, and thus, through the grace and mercy of God, escape the judgments coming upon the ungodly, and partake of the great and glorious privileges which will hereafter be the portion of the true followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Yes, my

beloved friends and brethren, this is our heart's desire, even YOUR SALVATION.

The more effectually to promote the object, having offered these introductory observations, permit me now to request your attention to a brief statement, shewing the importance of an accurate knowledge of the Prophetic Scriptures, and of the spirit in which their study should be conducted.

May the Holy Spirit vouchsafe us his divine aid. May he “give to us a right judgment in all things," that "receiving the truth in love we find mercy in that day."

may

I proceed then to set before you some of the reasons which manifest the importance of an accurate knowledge of the Prophetic Scriptures.

The first of these, and one of vital importance, is, that such a knowledge affords one of the best means of settling, strengthening, and firmly establishing our belief in the Bible as the inspired word of God.

For these prophecies include a period of which above three thousand years have already passed; and yet they foretel events which had no appearance of taking place at the time the predictions were made; and this in such a regular succession, and with such minute circumstances, that the candid inquirer after Truth, comparing these prophecies with the events afterwards recorded in the sacred Scriptures, or made known by the most

accredited ancient histories, cannot but confess that they are indeed the inspired word of God.It is impossible that any mere man could have foretold and accomplished such a succession of events as these prophecies make known. They were in truth written, as they profess to be, by the servants of the Lord Jehovah; or, as St. Peter declares, "the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.*" It would occupy too much time to enter into a minute proof of this, and therefore I only refer you to those wonderful chapters, the 26th of Leviticus, and the 28th and 32nd of the book of Deuteronomy.

In these prophetic portions the eventful history of the Lord's ancient people is drawn from the days of Moses to the present time; and this with such an accuracy that no infidel who has ever made the attempt, has been able to give a reasonable ground for his unbelief: he has been forced to resort to some subterfuge for doubting the inspiration of that which as a sentient being he could not deny.

And is not this a great advantage? In a day when infidelity stalks abroad-when men are not ashamed to utter, before large assemblies, those

* 2 Peter i. 21.

blasphemies which were formerly whispered in retired corners; is it not an advantage to be able to say, Here is a book which proclaims "Glory to God in the Highest; peace on earth, and good will to man," the truth of which nothing can shake. But resting my soul upon Him of whom it treats from the beginning to the end, I need not be afraid of evil tidings; no, nor feel the least dismay, even when "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up.

Further, an accurate knowledge of the prophetic Scriptures not only affords one of the best means of assuring us of the truth of the inspired volume, but it may be said to be the key to a right understanding of its contents. When no attention is paid to the purpose of God, as revealed in these sublime books, but when they are viewed as mere detached visions, from which the reader may cull out a verse here and there at pleasure, the difficulty of giving a just and sound interpretation is found to be great. When, however, we take this key, and patiently wait for His guidance, "who gives knowledge to the simple, and wisdom to those who have no understanding," each portion

2 Peter iii. 10.