sufferings of the Messiah, concluding with the glory to follow-reminding us of Hebrews xii., “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God;" and of Hebrews x., "Henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool." Many of the truths relate to Israel's national and political condition, but the principles involved are of far wider application than merely to the Jew. Zechariah, if not the most, is one of the most beautiful of all the prophecies-beautiful to read, and beautiful with brightening hope, which it sheds over the future of Israel and the world. It will be obvious that we have no sympathy with those who say they never so much as read prophecy, as if God would indulge us with the secrets of His breast, the vast, eternal counsels of His mind, and not mean that we should read. Not stranger would it be for a musician to neglect some of the sweetest chords of his lyre, or for an astronomer to shut his eyes to some of the brightest orbs which occupy and adorn illimitable space. No, we search the Scriptures; for they are they which testify of Christ. Mysteries there are, sublime heights and depths of wondrous things, many of which we cannot fully understand; yet are they presented to our faith. The Lord Himself said to His disciples, and through them to us, "I call you not servants ... but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." What fulness of favour! name! The gospel is for Blessed be His Holy the sinner, and we blessed light of it find the full glow of the here, which the sinner needs to show him the rest for his wearied soul. The gospel tells of the Door by which he must enter. But these secrets of God are for those inside, as the Lord has said-His "friends"—for those who have believed; the one for life, the other for food, for guidance, for our joy in God, and for our hope of glory. Let us think how especially, now, should prophetic scripture be viewed with deepening, yea, deepest interest, and for this reason-the greater part of the prophecies, and in a certain sense, all the prophecies, will have their accomplishment at the expiration of this dispensation. We would emphasize this; for what is near and coming to pass-events at once solemn and glorious -ought to be well known and pondered by us. Let the indolent think that when they do occur it will be too late then either to be convinced of their truth, or to use them for the conviction of others. Alas! the terrible judgment which will come upon those who despise them will then be sufficient demonstration of their truth. To the Jew especially we would commend these pages, that he may see how a Gentile views the promises made to his fathers, and what reason there is for believing that the Messiah of the prophets, and the crucified, risen, and ascended Son of Man of the Evangelists, are one and the same; moreover, that with confidence he may look for the coming again of his Messiah. Let him ask, Why has prophecy been given? Certainly not for the future merely, but to direct us now in our true knowledge of the Lord; and to be our comfort and stay in enabling us to see that it is God, not man, who is controlling and disposing all events. It will be seen how freely the thoughts of others have been made available for united testimony on the great truths of doctrine and prophecy. They unitedly own that it is only by revelation God has shed light on the world, or on ourselves—the immense love He has for us, the ruin He has seen us to be in, and the salvation He has provided; and that it is only the believer who can confidently affirm, "I know whom I have believed;" or of these prophecies can say— "Sweet, for they are the channels Through which His teachings flow; |