and the shadows flee away," until that "morning without clouds," when the day-star shall rise (Rev. xxii. 16).

Then we shall have the "True Light" itself of which "the Prophets did write."

Surely, if it is written, "whereunto ye do well that ye take heed," we do not well if we treat it as of little or no

importance. Foreseeing all this the Holy Spirit has pronounced a solemn and emphatic blessing on all who

obey the precept of our text: -- "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written therein" (Rev. i. 3). He does not say anything about understanding

it, but reading, hearing, and keeping it; in other words, taking heed to it in our hearts. It follows therefore

that those who do not thus heed it, must of necessity lose the promised blessing. Again it is written (2 Tim.

iii. 16, 17) "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable," etc.2 How many treat Scripture as

though it were not "all profitable," as though one quarter at least were not profitable. They cannot believe

that "all Scripture is profitable," without condemning their confessed neglect of so large a portion of it!

But it does not end with neglect; for while most neglect it, many pervert it, others merely speculate about it

and treat what they call "prophetic language" according to their fancies and imaginations. They thus make

the word of Prophecy of none effect and put it to an open shame. Not that this can form any excuse for our

neglect of that Word. For this treatment of Scripture has characterized every age of Ecclesiastical History.

What important truth or fundamental doctrine has not suffered from the follies of writers who have

speculated and reasoned about Spiritual truths. All through the ages men have been "turned to fables" and

have "given heed to wandering spirits and doctrines of demons." Hence the Deity and Atonement of Jesus,

Justification by grace, and nearly every other article of the Christian Faith has been denied or perverted.

But surely this is all the greater reason why we should contend for them and "take heed" to them; and if the

great doctrine of the Second Advent of our Lord has been covered over and obscured with the teachings of

men, there is all the more reason why we should seek to separate what God has said from wh at man has

taught, and bend our devout and earnest attention the more earnestly to this great and important subject.

There is one other consideration which I might urge, if another be needed; and perhaps it is second to none

in its powerful conclusions. It is the one which is to form the subject of our sixth Sermon and therefore I

need not do much more than mention it here. It is this: The importance of prophecy as seen in its practical

effects on Christian life. "The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy," and therefore the right study of

it necessarily links us with Jesus, and occupies us with Him. Those who love Him will long for His

appearing, that they may see Him; and this longing will re -act and increase the love. We are exhorted to wait

and watch for Him, so that nothing may come between our hearts and Himself, and that thus our character

may be formed.

"We beholding...are changed into the same image." No restless efforts, no anxious toiling, but simply "We

beholding...are changed"!

Christia n life is not molded by precepts, or regulated by ordinances. The Law which was "holy, just and

good," only proved the impotence of the sinner, in order that he might cast himself on the omnipotence of

The Revisers translate this, "Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable," &c. But this is not English,

to say nothing of the Greek. For it can no more be "Every Scripture" than Eph. ii. 21 can mean Every

building. The word "also" is meaningless unless a previous assertion has been made.

Heb. iv. 13 is strictly parallel in its structure and in the arrangement of the words, but the Revisers have

emphasized the rendering of the A.V. "are naked and laid open" and have not said "all things naked are also

laid open"! Likewise in I Tim. iv. 14. They have said "Every creature of God is good and nothing is to be

rejected," and have not said "Every good creature of God is also nothing to be rejected"! Thus they

themselves condemn their rendering of 2 Tim. iii. 16.