SECOND DIVISION,

"Will show, that such a period was expected by the Prophets, the

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Jewish Rabbins and Doctors, as the grand ultimo of the Messi

ah's reign on earth, and in all ages has been the expectation of the Christian Churches, as well as of Christendom at the present time, according to the Scripture promises.

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As from the bubbling fount on Eden's plains,
Four rivers pour'd their floods to the four winds-
So once the Prophet saw, beneath the temple's door,
A broader river flow, and sweeter waters pour.

THIS glorious and eventful day has been expected, poth of Jews and Christians, in every age since the days of Abraham, to whom was made a promise, that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed.

There cannot well arise a doubt, but the prophet Ezekiel had a view of the increase of the MESSIAH'S kingdom, and of the Millennium, in his notable vision of the temple, which he saw an angel measure, who has marked with great precision the progress of the knowledge of God in the earth, by the description he has given of it, under the similitude of water, or a great and flowing river, to which the grace of salvation is often compared in the Scriptures of truth. See Rev. xxii. 1, 2. where the same idea is corroborated. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and which yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." This last idea of the verse (the healing of the nations) establishes the fact, that this river relates to the earth, and not to eternity, as some suppose.

I will give the quotation verbatim, from Ezekiel 47th Chap. from the 1st to the 8th verse inclusive, upon which I build the sentiment, that this view which he had in the vision, of the waters coming out from under the eastern gate of the temple, has a definite allusion to the kingdom of the Messiah, and the progress of a knowledge of his salvation, in both the Jewish and Christian Churches.

Verse 1st." Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the fore-front of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

Verse 2d." Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the outer gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

Verse 3d." And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles.

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Verse 4th." Again he measured a thousand, and Drought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

Verse 5th.-"Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river tha could not be passed over.

Verse 6th." And he said unto me, Son of man hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caus ed me to return to the brink of the river.

Verse 7th." Now, when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

Verse 8th." Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea; which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed."

The first discovery of these waters by the prophet was under the threshold of the eastern gate of the temple, from whence they gently issued, which are to be understood as referring to what God revealed to Abraham concerning the way of salvation, when he thrust him out from the house of his father, Terah, the Syrian, to go, he knew not whither.

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing." Gen. xii, 1. 2.

To these promises, therefore, the issuing of this gentle stream of water from under the gate of the temple refers; and also to the promise made to the woman, that of her seed there should arise one who would bruise the serpent's head, which promise is now renewed to Abraham, that in him shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

The vision of this temple and waters, is a symbol of that plan of salvation, which none but the great God could build; and comprehends at a glance, the law, the sacrifices, and the Gospel, with its concomitant glory and final spread over the globe.

The angel, therefore, when he began his measurement, had his eye fixed on Abraham, and those promises of God, as being the threshold, or door of hope; from whence he began to measure this river of life.

The angel who showed these things to the prophet, had in his hand a measuring line, and measured from the threshold of the gate, along the course of the stream a thousand cubits, at the end of which the waters were found as deep as to the ancles.

From this place he again measured a thousand cu bits, at the end of which, the waters were as deep as to the knees.

From thence, he again measured a thousand cubits, and the waters were as deep as to the loins.

And from this he continued to measure another thou sand cubits, at the end of which the waters had become a great river, in which one miglit swim, but too wide to pass over.

From this place the river continued its course, aud

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passed down in the desert, and from thence into the sea, whose waters shall be healed, thereby causing a great multitude of fish to be brought forth.

The sea here mentioned, is a symbol of nations, multitudes and tongues.

See Rev. xvii, 15.-" And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues;" who shall be the subjects of the healing power of these waters, whose numbers and extent of country are compared to a sea or an ocean, covering the whole earth; for, observe, it is too great, and too wide, and too deep, to be passed over at all.

In attempting to give an exposition of those verses, which inform us of the conduct of the angel, who measured with a line this river, by cubits, a thousand at a time, I shall assume the positions of adapting the measurement of this river to the measurement of time, as referring to distinct dispensations of God's providence, in revealing, from time to time, and from age to age, to the Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles, and to his Church, in every age, his purposes of grace in the earth.

My desire in so doing is, to trace these waters, or this river, through the various periods of its measurement, to where they are represented by the prophet, so enlarged and extended, as to present to the view of such as look for the coming of Christ on earth spiritually, one universal ocean of His glory and holiness among men, which, when accomplished, is called the Millennium.