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The very circumstance of such an admonitory exhortation being uttered by our Lord, recorded as it is by three of the evangelists, surely presupposes the possibility, at least, that the persons to whom it is addressed would be competent to understand and apply it for it would be nugatory, indeed, to premonish the Jews of their approaching deliverance, and to bid them look up and prepare for their redemption, as being now on the point of being accomplished, if at the same time they should be utterly incapable of comprehending the meaning of the premonition, till the time in which it might be of use to them, should be passed, and their deliverance completed. In other words, they must be deemed capable of rightly interpreting "the signs of the times," and of seeing in passing events the fulfilment of prophecy, before they can be expected, at the sight of these things, to comply with our Lord's exhortation, and to lift up their heads.

These examples show that the objection, which is now combated, is not supported by any uniform principle of interpretation. Instances, as it is seen from the Scriptures themselves, do occur, in which the application of prophecy to passing events, is intimately connected with the peace and safety, and even with the duty of those who witness such events. Though "the times and seasons" are not generally discoverable by us, till the fulfilment of the predicted occurrences has shown that they are passed, yet there are certain periods in which it has pleased the Lord, for wise and gracious purposes, to grant to his church such clear indications of approaching judgments or mercies as may be sufficient to announce their approach, and to prepare his people for their coming; and as it is obviously their duty and their interest to attend to such indications, so it must be presumed that it is in their power to perceive and understand them.

The question, then, which in relation to our present subject specifically demands our notice, is this,Is the period to which this discussion applies one of those periods which have been described? Is the present one of those "times and seasons" in which the Lord has favoured his church with such signs and indications of approaching judgments or mercies, as show that He intends and expects it to notice and regard them?

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CHAP. XVII.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINued.

In replying to the enquiry suggested in the close of the last chapter, it might certainly be concluded, so far as analogy may influence a conclusion on this subject, that such signs and indications would be granted to the church during "the time" in question. On the supposition that it is a season in itself of apparent tranquillity and quiescence, but pregnant with the most important results, and designed to usher in, at some early, but undefined period, a time of unprece dented trouble and trial, what could be more reasonable than to expect, that in concurrence with the general tenor of the Divine proceedings, some clear and distinct intimation of such a season would

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be vouchsafed? For though the precise nature and extent of these approaching judgments may not be exactly disclosed, yet doubtless they will be such as may involve the people of God, though his servants will not be the immediate objects of the visitation, in situations of peculiar difficulty and temptation; may call them to the exercise of peculiar duties; and require of them a peculiar course of previous preparation and discipline. In this view, then, of the case, is it not highly reasonable to suppose that God would grant to them such a seasonable insight into his intended operations, as would be sufficient to lead them into the necessary course of preparation and discipline? He who gave his disciples a sign, by observing which they might flee from Jerusalem, the devoted city, and not perish with their unbelieving countrymen: He who hath left upon record a premonition to the Jews, and hath pointed out to them a signal, by noticing which they may ap