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Zaccheus did; while the numerous and rebellious rejectors must again come forth, to suffer in another stage of existence, for their pride, their avarice, and rejection, and then they may be humbled, and gladly accept what they before rejected. In this, we can, with our understanding, and with our hearts, sing, as David did," God's mercy endureth for ever."—This none of them that send the reprobate and unregenerate to hell can do.

Before we give the parable, there is another observation we must make on the Lord's words, which you may find in Matt. xi. and John, v. There he gives a very plain and clear declaration of the purity of heaven, and the practical purity all must have before they can enter it. He saith, John the Baptist ye thought him a burning and shining light. And so he was; for, of all the men that were born of women, there never was a greater than him, but he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Not all that praise and pay men liberally for telling them they shall go there when they die, ask themselves this question," am I greater than this John? if not, these "men cannot tell me true; for I cannot enjoy the low"est station there."-Such inquiry would certainly tend to excite a little attention to the Lord's words, "unless ye are humbled as little children, ye cannot enter." The boast of the present day is of living in Gospel light.—And such, like those of old, supposing they know the whole council and will of God, are finally determined to resist any information sent into the world. Thus it has ever been, and thus it will continue to be, till the wisdom of man is destroyed and the council of the prudent brought to nought.-How widely does this retailing knowledge differ from the

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Lord's manner! He did not speak plainly even to the faithful around him. He was about to suffer, to the great surprise and disappointment of his faithful followers. They expected he would then establish the kingdom. In a way, very obscure to them, he corrected their mistake. He did not tell them plainly“instead of establishing the kingdom now, I shall be "driven from you in a barbarous and cruel way; and you will be left to a persecuting world, that will oppose you in getting subjects for the kingdom;" but saith, a certain nobleman went into a far country, "to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return, " and he called his servants and gave them ten pounds "to occupy till he came, but his citizens hated him, "and said we will not have this man to reign over "us."—Luke, xix. What could these men learn from this? He was here speaking language that they never could understand, till the spirit became their teacher. -Atonement must be made for the sins of the whole world before the "kingdom could appear."-He must return to the Father, there to prove that what he had undertaken he was equal to. And had accomplished.The deed was done; and the effects must be felt by all, angels and men, good or bad. When the period allotted for Satan's reign ends, then will Christ make his second advent-not as before, but in power and glory. He has been near 1800 years in this far country. His right and title to the kingdom are fully proved; and he waits for nothing but subjects, the least of which, we have shown, from the Lord's own words, must be greater than John the Baptist. Where are they to be found? Where can they ever be found, while the wisdom of the wise rules? While religious leaders and guides send those they influence to where

Christ is, instead of showing them that they must, from the Spirit's teaching, be made to do "the will "of God on earth as it is done in heaven," to receive him here. Each of these leaders, if they can make their hearers firm to the body they are united to, faithful to the opinion held and creeds made to govern them, resisting all that oppose them, they are then counted good soldiers of the cross.

This parable, although not understood by the Apostles then, was understood afterwards, when the Spirit's light came! And this, with many others of a like kind, gave them that expectation of the Lord's coming again, and to that event they were ever alive, because, no time being fixed, they were daily looking for it. Paul, about twenty years after his conversion, declared," There must first come a falling away," 2 Thess. ii. 2, 3. This falling away from the expectation of the Lord's coming cannot well be greater; for, instead of expecting his coming to us, we are all expecting our going to him. Wonderful difference! Paul says, this falling away must be attended with a revelation of that man of sin, the son of perdition. In what way will he be revealed? In immorality,-outward profaneness?-There certainly is abundance of them, but it has ever been thus. Will it be in false worshippers? One hundred years ago, protestant writers would have answered yes; and told us where. They would have said it was the followers of the Pope and of Mahomet. I will show "mine opinion," and say, I believe it will be in those who have fallen away from the expectation of the Lord's coming.

It was this son of perdition that worked the Antediluvians into the union they had. It was he who worked them in one mind at the building of Babel.

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And it is him that has worked that confusion of tongues in the divided profession of the present day, in mimickry of what the Lord did then. Yet it is extraordinary to tell, he has united them all in the idea of sending their hearers to heaven when they die. This is most wonderful. This son of perdition is a wonderworking being. But it suits his policy two ways; first, it serves to destroy the expectation of the Lord's coming altogether; and, next, it serves to keep them in the Babylonish confusion. Quarrelling about the way. How the world has been inundated with books, as well as preaching, to show who has found out the best way! -Were it not thus, I see not how we could understand this parable. His "Citizens would not have " him to reign over them." These efforts for preparing their hearers for going to him, instead of his coming to them, make it out. It is not that they literally hate him. The hatred is from that being that fills them with this false notion. They are certainly inexcusable, because, if they were humbled as little children, the spirit would teach them otherwise.

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Bring them hither and slay them at my feet." Are these the citizens? A part of them, I presume.-It is said "these mine enemies"-there may be amongst them, some that may yield, may submit, as Paul did, and others that will continue obstinately to be guided by human wisdom, over which Satan has a power; instead of seeking the Spirit to lead them without a rival into a knowledge of all truth. And will those that are slain perish? Oh, no!-Like the rich man, the impossibility of their entering heaven will be rendered possible. The rich man taken from his riches which he did not like to part with, and brought into existence again a poor one. The riches of Christ's

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kingdom may then have their charms for him.-The wise man die, and leave his wisdom that he would not renounce in the grave, and come forth again simple, when he may rejoice in having the offer he now rejects." God moves in a mysterious way, his won"ders to perform."-But some will say this is to be at the Lord's return; will there then be a latitude for such changes and alteration of condition? At his spiritual coming, which must precede his personal reign, there will be that latitude. And that period now is. Which I shall hereafter prove.dition of the Jewish people caused the darkness they were found in at Christ's coming, which arose from the ingenuity and inventions of men. Even so is it now under the Gospel. And with all the great boast of Gospel light there never was a period of greater darkness a period in which the human mind was more closed against inquiry. Yet thus it must be to fulfil the scripture. Although the coming of the Lord is rendered so certain, from his own declaration, and from all the inspired writers both before and since his coming in the flesh, yet, foreseeing the present state of the church, he declared it would be a coming that would be unseen, unexpected-" at midnight,” and, as Paul saith, as a "Thief in the night."-Was the want of information the only cause that would be got over; and those that are apprized of his coming have much more to say and write upon it than the missionary associations have on the conversion of heathens and pagans. But, while the citizens are unitedly agreed that they will not have "This man to reign over "them," that conversion will be a mere farce; very pretty statements may be made on paper, and it may tend to civilization, but, in a religious sense, will

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