away; when evil days had set in, and darker days 2 S. Peter i. were coming, S. Peter, on the eve of his departure, could only commend the Church to the Comforter, which he did with all confidence; knowing that though all men failed, GoD doth not fail, and though He be greatly grieved through the resistance and perverseness of His people, the HOLY GHOST Would not forsake His Church, during Her long captivity and worldliness, but would remain with Her till Her perfection. This Apostle therefore in reminding the Church of the glorious revelation of CHRist's kingdom, when He was transfigured before them on the holy mount, and of the voice which came to them from the excellent glory, says, "We have a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed," as though he said: "the Holy Spirit Who came down from that 'SON' when He ascended, speaks now with a more sure and effectual voice than we heard that day. Let Him speak to you. Let Him fill the ministers of CHRIST, and cause them to utter the truth. He knows how to deliver, He knows what is coming; He, the faithful guide, shall lead you into all truth and show you things to come. He will raise up all the help you need, and in the needful time. Despise not prophesyings; through Him you will learn the way of

By

escape from Babylon and from Antichrist. hearkening to the sure word of prophecy you will learn the way of deliverance." Thus did the dying Apostle shut up the Church to the prophetic voice, as the source from whence light should come, in the time of darkness-as the quarter from whence help should come, in the day of extremest peril and need.

It has been said, Why did not S. Peter, when dying, appoint another Apostle to succeed him? The answer is obvious, he could not do it. Apostles were not appointed by men, but called by CHRIST. In commending the Church to the Spirit of CHRIST, Who was in the midst of her, he commended her to Him Who could, when He pleased, again call forth and endow Apostles, and all other servants of CHRIST necessary to the perfection of His Church. S. Peter saw the hope deferred; he knew not when it would be realized; he only knew that evil teachers were coming to deceive,-to prevail on Christians to deny the LORD that bought them,-to deny Him as LORD and Master while professing Him to be their SAVIOUR and REDEEMER-to seduce the Church from her high sphere as the angels were seduced from theirs-to make the Church a disbeliever in the coming judgment, and a despiser of the ark of

E

11, 12.

safety, as the antediluvians despised Noah and his preaching-to bring the Church ultimately to the wickedness of the cities of the plain-to make that which had escaped the world to become entangled in the world again, that which had been washed to return to wallowing in the mire, that which had been purged to return to its vomit again. He saw the scoffers of the last days following the corrupt treachery of men and the seductions of Antichrist, and he could only say to the Church-Hold fast your hope; remember your calling; hearken to the Spirit, Who has yet words to speak to you, and ways of salvation to show unto you.

When GOD shall stretch forth His hand a second time to perfect His Church, those who harden their hearts against Him, as did Pharaoh, shall be judged for blasphemy against the HOLY GHOST. "GOD

2 Thess. ii. shall send them strong delusion to believe a lie, who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness,"-truth and righteousness must be set before them, and be presented to them, before they can reject it. "Who hath resisted His will?" Another Pharaoh shall strive to do it. But His will must be presented to Pharaoh, before he could bring forth such wickedness. "Jannes and Jambres" shall not withstand the systems and traditions of men, but

2 Tim. iii. 8, 9.

42, 43.

the truth-that which God declares to be the truth -therefore it must come before them that their folly may be made manifest. "Those wicked citizens who would not that I should reign over them, bring them forth and slay them before Me." His rule must be presented to them, His gracious will, in deed, and not in profession, must have been brought unto them, to provoke this terrible judgment. "Is. Matt. xxv. was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.” The reality of oneness with Him must be revived; the reality of membership must be shown to men again, that the righteous Judge may be able thus to speak. Antichrist shall deny CHRIST who came in flesh,-who will come in flesh,—therefore the reality of that mystery must be seen in CHRIST's body in the times of Antichrist. Servants of CHRIST,—His witnesses indeed must they be, whom the beast shall slay-men filled with the life of GOD as the olive trees, shining with the truth of the Spirit of CHRIST as the lamps in the holy place. The last persecution shall be for righteousness' sake.

To whom then, shall He make known His will? Where shall He appear for the salvation of His

Rev. xi.

3-12.

Hab. ii. 20.
Mal. iii. 1.

22.

people? From whence shall He utter His voice if not in His Church keeping His ordinances, containing His Spirit, abiding in Him? "THE LORD is Eph. ii. 20-in His Holy Temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him." He first revealed His purpose to Moses. He afterwards appeared to him, and spake to him out of the midst of a bush, burning with fire and the antitype shall be seen by the Church receiving the grace obtained by CHRIST, bestowed by the FATHER, conveyed by the HOLY GHOST. Blessed are they who shall be accounted worthy to bear witness for the LORD-to stand for Him in these days of gainsaying and blasphemy. And blessed shall they be who shall receive their testimony-who shall truly keep the Passover unto the LORD their GOD, and be brought forth from a fleshly state into the condition of the heavenly, possessing the gift of Eternal life, being baptized with the HOLY GHOST and with fire.

Let us not fail, then, to profit by the instruction which God would give us in this prophetic narrative. The children of Israel cried unto God in their affliction, and He answered their prayer by sending to them Moses. Pharaoh proposed terms to Israel, but the evils of Israel only increased, until the people followed Moses out of Egypt. Had Pharaoh hearkened