387 SERMON XXI. THE CHRISTIAN'S MOTTO IN THE PRESENT CRISIS. 1 PET. iv. 7. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 66 IT is a solemn charge which the Lord gives to the Prophet Ezekiel, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel." It sets forth a very important part of the ministerial office: that while as stewards of his mysteries they are "rightly to divide the word of truth," and as servants of the chief Shepherd are to "feed the flock of Christ committed to their charge;" as his appointed watchmen they are to "stand upon their watch-tower," and observe the signs of the times, that they may be the better qualified to warn the church of Christ as the changing scene may require. It is in connection with this duty that I have selected the text you have now heard: "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore 1 sober, and watch unto prayer." It is a solemn word, but not more solemn than circumstances demand. We live in most eventful times: in times in which, though there be nothing to alarm a Christian--for the word is gone forth, "Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him:" "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble: therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea' -still there is quite sufficient to make him "sober, and watch unto prayer." The events now occurring, compared with the sure word of prophecy, seem to indicate "that the end of all things is at hand." Not that the end of the world may be soon to take place, but that the time is drawing nigh in which the Almighty will fulfil his long-denounced judgments upon the Gentile oppressors, and redeem his church and people from their heavy bondage. As this is a very important part of Divine truth, I purpose to occupy your time this morning in explaining it; and athough it may not in itself be so interesting as some other subjects, it will be found like a key to unlock those parts of Holy Scripture in which our richest treasures are contained. This morning, therefore, I propose only to set before you the Scriptural meaning of the words, "THE END OF ALL THINGS," leaving the remainder of the subject, if God permit, till another opportunity." Let us, then, attempt, first to oPEN, and then to IMPROVE, these words: and may the Holy Spirit graciously assist us, for Jesus Christ our Saviour's sake! This term, "the end of all things," like some other prophetic expressions which have a twofold or three-fold accomplishment, embraces different periods of time. The great and ultimate period is that day which, according to St. Peter, "will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up*." Another period to which it applies, is the close of the Jewish dispensation, or that season for which, in the Divine economy, the children of Israel were selected as a separate nation, and in that character became the visible church of God. The end of that dispensation was glanced at by many of the prophets, and expressly predicted by Daniel at the close of the ixth chapter: "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the * 2 Peter ii. 10. Let, then, this child plea school-fellows. And may when your last hour shal have to say, with this child, Lord to me!" 387 SERMON XXI. HE CHRISTIAN'S MOTTO IN THE PRESENT CRISIS. 1 PET. iv. 7. ut the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. T is a solemn charge which the Lord gives to he Prophet Ezekiel, Son of man, I have nade thee a watchman unto the house of Israel." t sets forth a very important part of the miisterial office: that while as stewards of his nysteries they are "rightly to divide the word of truth," and as servants of the chief Shepherd are to "feed the flock of Christ committed to their charge;" as his appointed watchmen they are to "stand upon their watch-tower, and observe the signs of the times, that they may be the better qualified to warn the church of Christ as the changing scene may require. It is in connection with this duty that I have selected the text you have now heard: "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore |