have always seen clearly and distinctly. The founders of systems seldom stop to enquire for the good old paths laid down in the New Testament, (see Acts ii. 41-47) especially the epistles to Timothy and Titus. Can ye not then discern the "Signs of the Times."

Look again at the Sunday schools that have been made such rich sources of blessing to the youth of this country; but here, alas, the springs of the waters of life are poisoned, "they are turned into blood." What competition! What rivalry! What arts and devices are used to gather numbers, and keep them together. There are sumptuous dinners and collations, pleasure trips on railroads, amusements of various kinds, and such like allurements. Then parents neglecting the training their children up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" excusing their sloth and ignorance with-are they not taught at the Sabbath school? The consequence is, "Disobedience to parents, unthankful, unholy, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." Have we not here another solemn striking mark of the perilous times of these last days.

Again, look at the gigantic missionary efforts that have been made and are making for the conversion of the world, in utter forgetfulness of the words of Christ, " And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. xxiv. 14. Here we see that the present efforts shall not issue in the conversion of the world but as a witness to the world of what God has done, and of what he is going to do, viz., "to gather out of the Gentiles a people for his name."* But it will be said that this is to discourage all undertakings for the propagation of the gospel on the earth, if they are to close in such a result. Certainly if false hopes are entertained, they are deceived already. But did the fact that God told Noah that he was about to destroy the world, hinder him from preaching to the men of his day? On the contrary it was precisely that which urged him on, in order to gain those who had ears to hear. The growing conviction that false Christianity will become more refined and more corrupt in the world, will only give more energy and decision to the love of him that believes; and the nearness of the judgments of God, far from paralysing our efforts, will urge us with infinitely more power, more perseverance, and more faithfulness to preach the gospel ;-the only means of causing men to escape the righteous judgments that threaten them.

Can ye not discern the "Signs of the Times," in the lying spirits of the age? Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus is come in the flesh, is not of

• As a specimen of the fulsome and vain-glorious conceit of some modern theologians, we may give the following from the Protestanl Dissenters' Almanack for 1850:

"Speedy Conversion of the World.-Supposing that the population of the globe is 900,000,000, increasing at the rate of 34 per cent. yearly; supposing further, that among all the millions of professed Christians there are not more real Christians than there are inhabitants in Glasgow, namely, 360,000, 24 per cent. dying annually; and supposing further, that each Christian were, by the blessing of God on his exertions, to be the means of converting one sinner each year, then the whole world would be evangelised in the astonishingly short period of thirteen years."

Then follows a table, exhibiting the results in every successive year, from 1849 to 1861, when the whole world would be converted. Whether this calculation is most characterized by folly or by falsehood, we shall not determine. Whoever the compiler may have been, and whatever arithmetical skill may be displayed in the computation, his ignorance of divine truth and of Scripture prophecy must be deeply deplored.-ED. C. A.

God, and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." If this was true in the days of the apostle, how much more striking is it at the present time. What is Mormonism, with all its monstrous absurdities and manifest lies, but one of these? And yet vast numbers of professing Christians have fallen in with this Satanic delusion-this unclean spirit from the bottomless pit, who, by cunningly interlacing the true and the false, taking some of the most precious truths and doctrines of God's word-the presence of the Holy Ghost in the church, baptism, and the second coming of the Lord Jesus, &c.—perverting and prostituting them to his vile purposes, intending thereby to bring them into disrepute, that they may be lightly esteemed; or, what amounts to the same thing, that they may have no practical power upon the hearts and consciences of God's people. But the apostolic mark is the sure criterion whereby we may know them, "He that is of God heareth us, (the apostles) God manifest in the flesh," &c. is what Mormonism emphatically denies; and what renders this sign of the last time more solemn is, that it is chiefly from this country that Mormonism is now drawing its votaries.

Having now traced a few of the "Signs of the Times," as seen in the general state of the professing church, who, in the midst of all her progressing evil, is looking forward to a millennium of peace and righteousness, to be ushered in by her instrumentality. We may ask how far the signs around justify her hope. Look at England, the most favoured of lands, after the many hundred years since the gospel was brought to these shores. What signs of a millennium are there here? Evil! Progressing evil in the church and in the world, and sorrow among the saints; some of whose eyes are at last opening to see that the spirit of Antichrist is among them. Yea, that their systems are against Christ. We have also seen that which was foretold by the apostles, in that blessed word "which shineth as a light in a dark place," until the day dawn and the day-star arise in our hearts. The epistle of Jude, for instance, is a treatise upon the apostacy; and he, in the 11th verse, describes the three kinds of apostacy,-Natural apostacy,-Ecclesiastical apostacy, and open revolt, upon whom judgment will fall. We have seen first the apostacy of nature as it appeared in Cain. Secondly, the character of Balaam, teaching of evil things for reward, which is ecclesiastical apostacy. And thirdly, the character of Kore-that is to say, of him who exalted himself against the rights of priesthood and royalty of Christ, in the types of Moses and Aaron. Alas, that which will gather together the world, is not the gospel. "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the world, to gather them unto the battle of that great day of God Almighty."

But separation from evil is God's principle of unity. "Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Wherefore, stand fast, and hold the traditions as ye have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle. For ye brethren became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea were in Christ Jesus, for ye have suffered the like things of your own

countrymen, even as they have of the Jews. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And the Lord comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."-"If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him."

*

From these Scriptures we plainly see that the only safety for those who have the faith, and desire to observe and keep the commandments of Jesus, is to be separate from the progressing evil of these last days; and cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart. Remembering the gracious promise, " And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Walking before him in the nearness of sons; honouring him as our Father in all things. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." Have we not seen that striking sign in the present cry of Peace! Peace! A millennium of Peace! Forgetting that judgment must first sweep away evil with the besom of destruction, and that then the righteous King, whose rule shall be in righteousness, shall then establish peace.

Have we not seen also another sign of these last times, in the rage of of Satan, in his perverting the blessed doctrines of God's word, especially the doctrine of the Lord's second coming in glory, to take his saints home to the mansions which he is now gone to prepare for us in the Father's house. The goodness of the Lord has given back this truth to his church, knowing the deep need of his saints, how much they require the knowledge of the first resurrection, to cheer and animate them with this glorious hope, blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. Hence the malice of Satan in traducing it, "But he that is of God heareth us," (the apostles.) Paul when writing to the Thessalonians, whose faith was spread abroad everywhere, praises them for having been turned from dumb idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven. Not the Son of man, but "His Son," the Son of God,-two titles quite distinct. It is very different to wait for the return of the Son of man to judge the world. Acts xvii. 31. "But our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto his glorious body, according to the power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself." Phil. iii. 20–21. It was this Paul was looking for eighteen hundred years ago, as well as the saints to whom he then wrote, (see 1 Cor. xv. 51-55. 1 Thess. iv.) "Therefore says Peter, "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter i. 13. The duty of waiting upon the Lord, becomes more and more urgent in proportion as the night is far spent. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing that ye know these things, beware lest ye also, being led away by the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen." Jude, verses 24 and 25.

But

The hope of the gospel alone can raise man above the world, and draw his affections to the things of the kingdom of God. "Behold, (says John) what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1 John iii. 1-3.

The writer of the preceding Essay, deems it just and necessary to state,-that he is indebted for several ideas, and also expressions, to a valuable Lecture, (in the Quarterly Journal of Prophecy) by Horatius Bonar, of Kelso.

Errata.

Page 56, twelfth line from the bottom, for "power again," read "power is again."

58, fifteenth line from the bottom, for "will present," read "will present him."

,, 58, eleventh line from the bottom, for "wander," read "wonder."

58, eighth line from the bottom, for "fall before," read "fall down before."

THE EXTENSION OF THE GOSPEL AND THE SCRIPTURAL
CHURCH ORDER.

To the Editor of the Christian Advocate,

Sir, While reading those excellent series of papers on the "Pastoral Office," which appeared in the early numbers of the Christian Advocate, the following extract occured to my mind, as embodying a subject of vital interest. The writer in noticing the advantages which might be gained, were the Scotch Baptists to make a united effort, and go forth in the spread of pure and primitive Christianity, is thus led to speak of the zeal displayed by the late Mr. M'Lean, as contrasted with that of those who profess to adhere to his principles in the present day, (p. 225) "Had they a few men such as the late Mr. Archibald M'Lean, men possessed of his zeal, his nobleness of mind, his liberality of soul, and at the same time his conscientious adherence to what he considered to be the will of God. Had they a few Archibald M'Leans, what might be accomplished under the blessing of God." Now while disposed to admit that the churches may have fallen behind in the zeal with which they at first set out, in endeavouring to extend their principles, still it may be safely affirmed, that very many of the present generation are without knowledge as to what the real sentiments of Mr. M'Lean on this particular subject were.

Those who have read his writings at all, will be at no loss to see that there is a very great difference between the zeal evinced by him and his coadjutors, for spreading abroad the savour of the name of Jesus, and that which is so prevalent in our own day.

Mr. M'Lean taking the word of God for his rule, while making known the gospel of salvation, never failed to inculcate with it all its holy obedience, and not resting satisfied with calling the attention of sinners to the truth merely, but always made a point of following out the latter part of our Lord's commissions to his apostles, in teaching those who had been made disciples, to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them. This will strike

M

every reflecting mind, as being very different from the zeal which is at present so much noised abroad.

While therefore the writer of this most heartily responds to the sentiment expressed, that there were a few such men amongst us at present, possessing like zeal and energy as displayed by one who laboured long and diligently in his endeavours to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in this world. Still he considers it of importance that the principles advocated by the late Mr. M'Lean should be more widely diffused than they are This wish he has been led to express, as it is much to be regretted that many of the Scotch Baptists in the present day, are not so familiar with the writings of Mr. M'Lean, as their sterling merit entitle them to be. Were these writings more extensivly read and circulated, they might, by the divine blessing, be the means of drawing the attention of some to that religion taught and enjoined by our Lord and his apostles.

If these few observations have the effect of stimulating any to make themselves acquainted with Mr. M'Lean's writings, which to use the words of a reviewer, next to the scriptures, "furnish a mine of divine truth, fully and ably illustrated, and well adapted to build up the believer in the faith and hope of the gospel," I shall consider my object in troubling you sufficiently gained. I remain, Yours, &c.

A FOLLOWER OF THE ORIGINAL SCOTCH BAPTISTS.

ON MESSIAH'S KINGDOM.

As error in sentiment generally renders our practice erroneous, it is highly important that we entertain clear and scriptural views of divine things. Many of the now prevailing schisms in what is termed the Christian church, might be traced to mistakes on the subject before us, viz., the nature of Messiah's kingdom. Nor can these schisms terminate, and the harmony -the "one heart and one soul"—which characterised the believers at Jerusalem prevail, until all hold views consonant with the word of God on this important fundamental point.

We would now, with the scriptures as our only directory, make a few brief enquiries into the character of this kingdom. We are explicitly taught that the institutions established by divine appointment under the Mosaic economy, and all that pertained to them were typical of, and shadowed forth the Redeemer's kingdom, being destined to pass away with the completion of the fulness of the times. These were the shadow,—the painting,-the type, while the new dispensation, or new kingdom of Messiah is the original, the substance, the antitype. "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." "The law was given by Moses; but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The ceremonial observances of the typical system were abrogated by the death of Christ, consequently, should we in any way turn back, or borrow from the peculiarities thereof, we Judaize; while here it may be remarked, that borrowing from Judaism, such as Christian communities forming state alliance-consecrating stated places for the worship of God-the payment of tithes-having robed and mitred priests, &c. &c. is a system deeply injurious to the interests of vital godliness, a source of