the following quotations from Thomas Burnet's "Theory of the earth," printed in London, A. D. 1697. Speaking of the signs which will precede the coming of Christ, he quotes Matt. xxiv. 29, and after speaking of the darkening of the sun and moon, he says, "the last sign we shall take notice of, is that of the falling stars.

' And the stars shall fall from heaven,' says our Savior." He then shows that the fixed stars can never fall, neither the planets; and that the only stars which will ever fall, will be meteoric, or shooting stars, and adds, "No doubt there will be all sorts of fiery meteors at that time; and amongst others those called falling stars, which, though they are not considerable, singly, yet if they were multiplied in great numbers, falling, as the prophet says, as leaves from the vine, or figs from the figtree, they would make an astonishing sight." He says that "we need not look upon these things as hyperbolical and poetic strains, but as barefaced prophecies, and things that will literally come to pass;" and that "we are not to recede from the literal sense without necessity, or where the nature of the subject will admit of a literal interpretation."

If it be objected that meteors are not stars, I ask whether the objector thinks that the star which went before the wise men of the east to the place where the infant Savior lay, was a fixed star? Or does he think that when the "stars fall from heaven to the earth, as the fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when shaken of a mighty wind," (Rev. vi.,) they will be those fixed stars; one of which would drown our globe in a sea of fire? If not, they must be just what we have witnessed; and the text has been fulfilled.

"The powers of heaven shall be shaken." This, as also the appearing of the sign of the Son of man in heaven, mentioned in verse 31, I apprehend to be yet future, and that it will take place in immediate connection with the second appearing of Christ. So that when it comes, although the tribes of the earth will mourn, they will be unable to obtain mercy, for they shall see at the same time "the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from the one end of heaven to the other." It will be a day of glory for the saints, but of wrath to the enemies of Christ.

Verses 32-36: "Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only.”

The budding fig-tree is to be a no more certain sign of approaching summer, than the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, are, of the day of Christ being at hand, near, even at the doors." KNOW," said the Savior, "KNOW, that it is NEAR, even at the door." This generation, who see these signs begin, shall not pass away until all be fulfilled. They began in 1780, 62 years ago. But 70 years, the age of man, shall not pass, until all be fulfilled. Many are now alive who saw the

beginning, and they will not all be gone when the end comes.

But of that day and hour knoweth (in the present tense) no man, no not the angels of heaven but my Father only. Christ did not say it never should be known, but it was not then. But he had just told them, that when the signs took place they should know, who saw them, that it was near, even at the doors. It was not always to remain a secret, but according to Daniel it was sealed to the time of the end. The time of the end has come, and the wise shall understand.

The suddenness of that day will be as it was when the flood came; it will take the world by surprise, because they will not believe God's testimony. The old world were warned, but did not know because they did not believe. The world is now warned, but will be taken by surprise for the same reason.

"Two shall be in the field," one a Christian, the other a sinner; in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, the saint will be gone to meet the Lord in the air.

"Two grinding at the mill," or at work in the cotton mill; one will be taken and the other left. Left? Yes, sinner, left forever! O what a sep

aration will then come !!

Verses 42-51: "Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant

whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily, I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

One would hardly think it possible for those ministers of the gospel who say, not in their hearts only, but with their lips, "My Lord delayeth his coming," to read this terrible warning, and not tremble as did Belshazzar when the Divine hand wrote his doom on his palace wall. Will not ministers see that they are literally joining hands with the drunken and vicious of all degrees, while they say My Lord delayeth his coming? Why is the doctrine of the second advent shut from the church, and from the prayer and conference meeting? If this is not a suitable theme for Christians to dwell upon in meditation, prayer, praise, conversation and exhortation, what is? I ask again, what is a、 suitable theme, if this is not? Are not those who do not love to hear of the Savior's coming clearly where they ought not to be? Can they claim that crown for theirs, which is laid up for all who LOVE his appearing? It is in vain for any man to say he loves it, if he is disturbed whenever he

hears it named. "Where your TREASURE is," said the Savior, "there will your heart be also." If Christ is to us the chief, we shall certainly delight to think him near. But, says one, I don't care so much about its being introduced into prayer and conference meetings on my own account, as on others; it makes a division of feeling. Whose feelings are hurt by it, I ask? Those who love the Savior as they should? If they are so destitute of the Savior's love as to be disturbed by the very sound of the idea of his coming, I ask if they are in a state of preparation to meet him, if he should come personally at the time? "But we ought to be always ready." True, but are you always ready, with such feelings of hostility to the theme? "We ought to be always watching." True, but are you always watching, while you believe the day a great way off? "But

I do not know but it may come to night." The very reason, then, why you should bestir yourself to look at the subject, and get all the light on it which the word of God affords. "But I do not believe the Bible teaches anything about it." Then how do you know he will ever come? “0,

it tells us he will come some time, but nothing about the time." Then I ask if the Lord Jesus meant to deceive the church, when he told her, when you see the signs, then KNOW that it is even at the doors? He either meant so, or he did not. If he did not mean so, then he was a deceiver. If he did mean what he said, then we may KNOW something about it, and are guilty if we do not. But I mean, I do not believe we can know anything about the definite time." Why, then, not talk about all that can be known, and