open and decisive evidence can He give in that day of the triumph of His glory, than in those bodies which have been sown in weakness being raised in power, and in His being surrounded by those saints whom He has gathered to Himself through the redemption of the body?

7. But another step farther still in His triumph, is the renewal of creation. Here, as we well remember, were first seen the traces of the enemy's success in his malignity. "Cursed

is the ground for thy sake," is a sentence that still rests on our world. "The creature itself was made subject to vanity," and the groans of creation make up most of the dismal music of our present mournful condition. But here, too, there shall be no abandonment. This world, at the creation of which the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy, shall not be cast away as a vessel marred and useless, though thousands might replace it in one instant, to gratify the spite of him who loved to spoil what he could not enjoy. Even here, too, shall be the triumph of redemption; and again shall this earth be clothed in the beauty of holiness, and send up the fragrance to our God of its pure offerings and accepted sacrifice.

Nor would we omit here, as closely connected with this head, Christ's victory over the world,

understanding by that term all that is opposed to God in principle and practice, as developed in the fashions, habits, and circumstances of our present condition. To use use the world as the creature of God in the coming age, will be our delight; to abuse it, impossible. Disconnected from sin, it can no longer be either our snare or our idol; its current will no longer run counter to our heavenly affections, or its tone and temper jar with our spiritual mind; but it will be subjected alike in its material fabric, and in its moral principles, to its Redeemer and its King.

8. The placing sin under the condition of atonement, on the one hand, and of judgment on the other, will be another feature of the supreme power Christ will then manifest. What creature has ever been able to cope with that fearful disease? Mighty and wise and subtle as he is, how has the great arch-fiend failed to rid his being of this fatal poison! Who hath ever attained the mastery and the control of sin? But in that world it shall be seen that there is one who could pardon it, and be just; and punish it, and be merciful. That salvation will then wear the aspect of a richer love, which has availed to cleanse from a stain so deep, and to save from a misery so extreme; while the penalty inflicted on the impenitent soul will exhibit the glory of a

severer righteousness, as the result of such a propitiation being rejected, and such an atonement being despised.

9. Christ's triumph will be farther manifested in the righteous retribution which will then be fulfilled on all His enemies. Satan has long been at large, dreading, indeed, his imprisonment, but using to the utmost his liberty; seeking whom he may devour upon earth, and the accuser of the brethren in heaven; and the spirits who obey him, and the sinners who serve him, have followed where he has led, often without any apparent restraint, in their open and avowed rebellion. "Who is the Lord that we should obey him?" is still the language of thousands; and the world is less indisposed than ever to assert its independence of its Maker. But the chain of its license has a limit, and well its prince knows it. The mightier one is coming, who shall take from him all his armour wherein he trusteth, and shall divide the spoil. The vengeance that has lingered is hastening; and He to whom it belongeth shall show Himself. Then shall the wicked be cast into hell, and all the people that forget God. The Lord shall repay recompense to His enemies, and execute judgment upon all.

10. But we must not omit the condition of

the inhabitants of His kingdom during His reign of glory, as indicating, in the fullest degree, His triumph. This will be brought out in a subsequent Lecture, as will many of the other points which we have glanced at. Suffice it then to say here, that in the salvation both of Jews and Gentiles, His victory shall be manifested. The stubbornness and unbelief of His ancient people shall give way for ever. Their unrelenting hatred to their Messiah shall yield to penitence and contrition: they that have unceasingly cursed His name, shall welcome it with Hosannahs! They that have persisted in saying, "We will not have this man to reign over us," shall exclaim, "This is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us." Nor shall the whole Gentile world manifest less of the triumph of the Saviour. Idolatry and darkness, ignorance and superstition, all alike shall yield before Him. "In His days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth." "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. In the language of our text, "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him."

And thus will the triumphant reign of Christ

be no partial victory, no limited dominion; not the subduing a province, however vast, or reducing to obedience even a world; but the accomplishment of one mighty purpose, comprehending all good, and blessing, and glory,— a purpose which, without danger of miscarriage or fear of failure, has taken its own time and way for the perfecting of its wondrous object; turning all into its own channel, and clothing itself with light and beauty from every earthly vicissitude; only gathering glory through all its prolonged suspension, and drawing its more complete ultimate success from its apparent hindrances and disappointments. Stability, too, and that eternal, will combine with these results. The mutability and imperfection which hitherto have seemed inherent in the creature, will be finally surmounted. Every avenue to change in a retrograde direction, will be eternally closed. Time with its decay, and transgression with its death, will alike be done away for ever; and life, in an unceasing development of delight and enjoyment, be the undeviating law of the renewed being. Then shall be manifested unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, the manifold wisdom of God; and the dispensation of the fulness of times go forth in its glory, in which He shall gather