lished among heathen nations; and we may expect, that every nation will soon be able to read the divine decree concerning itself.

3. The Holy Scriptures are translating into various languages.

When the Gospel was first to be preached to all nations, it was necessary to give a diversity of tongues; a tongue for each nation; and this was done by the Divine Power. But in this second promulgation, as it were, of the Gospel, the work will probably be carried on by a diversity of translations, a translation for each nation. Instead of the gift of tongues, God, by his Providence, is giving to mankind a gift of Scriptures.

4. Another circumstance, which seems to testify that this work is of God, is the commotion in the bands of infidelity against

it. "Herod is troubled, and all Jerusalem "with him." A spirit hath issued from the mouth of infidelity, which rageth against Him whose Star appeared in the East, and would destroy the work in its infancy. It rageth not against the Romish Church in the East, though that be Christian; nor against the Armenian Church in the East, though that be Christian; nor against the Greek Church in the East, though that be Christian; but it rageth against the religion of the Bible, that vital religion which aims at the conversion of the hearts of men.

Our Saviour hath said, "The Gospel "shall be published among all nations.” But these resist the Divine Word, and say it cannot be published in all nations. Our Lord hath said, Go ye into all the world, "and preach the Gospel to every creature." But these allege, that the Gospel cannot be preached to every creature, for that "the

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"bond of superstition is too strong, or "that the influence of Christianity is too "weak."

These are unguarded words, and ought not to be heard in a Christian country. These are presumptuous words, arraigning the dispensation of the Most High. Such words as these were once spoken by the philosophers of Greece and Rome, but the Gospel prevailed, and first erected its dominion among them. In process of time the barbarous nations of Europe yielded to its dominion, of which we are evidences at this day. And the nations of Asia will yield to the same power, and the truth will prevail, and the Gospel shall be preached over the whole world.

5. The last circumstance which we shall mention, as indicating that the period is come for diffusing the Light of Revelation,

is the revolution of nations, and "the signs "of the times."

Men of serious minds, who are learned in the Holy Scriptures, and in the history of the world, look forward to great events. They judge of the future from the past. They have seen great events; events which, twenty years ago, would have appeared almost as improbable, as the conversion of the whole world to Christianity.

At no former period have the judgments of heaven been so evidently directed against the nations which are called Christian, as at this day. It is manifest, that God hath a controversy with his people, whatever be the cause. The heathen world enjoys a comparative tranquillity. But the Christian nations are visited, in quick succession, by his awful judgments. What, then, is the cause of the judgments of God on his Christian

people? If we believe the declarations of God, in his Holy Word, we shall ascribe them to their rejecting, so generally, the TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. That nation which first" denied His name before men," was first given up to suffer terrible judgments itself, and is now permitted to become the instrument of inflicting judgments on others. And this is agreeable to the ordinary course of God's just and retributive Providence. That kingdom which first seduced others by its infidelity, is now become the instrument of their punishment.

The same retributive Providence is "making inquisition for the blood of the Saints." The massacres, fires, and anathemas of a former day filled the minds of men with dismay. We forget these scenes, but all things are present with God. For a long time (as men count time) God kept silence; but the day of retribution is at length arrived,