there is reason to think that God will so order things in his providence, and so influence and turn the hearts of mankind, as in the most agreeable manner to introduce the best language, to be adopted and used by all, in that day, in which great and peculiar favours and blessings will be granted to the world, far beyond those which had been given in preceding ages. And this is agreeable to the scripture, which speaks of that day, as distinguished and remarkable for the union and happiness of mankind, when they shall have one heart, and one way. And this seems to be expressly predicted: when speaking of that time it is said, "Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."* These words have been understood in another sense; but the most natural and consistent meaning seems to be, That the people shall not then have a mixed language, speaking with different tongues, which would naturally separate them into different parties, and render them barbarians to each other in their worship: but God will so order things at that time, that one language shall be introduced and spoken by all; and which shall be more perfect, elegant and pure, free from those defects, inconsistencies, and that jargon, which before attended all, or most languages; that they may all, even all mankind, call upon the name of the Lord, with one voice, and in one language, to serve him with one consent; by which they shall be united in worship, and divine service, not only in heart, but in lip, as mankind never were before.

“4. Then Christianity will appear in its true beauty and excellence, and the nature and genuine effects of it will be more manifest than ever before, and the truth and amiableness of it be exhibited in a clear and striking light.

"Christianity has hitherto been generally abused and perverted by those who have enjoyed the gospel; and *ph. iii. 9.

but little of the genuine spirit and power of it has appeared among those who have been called Christians. They have, the most of them, disobeyed the laws of Christ, and misrepresented and perverted the doctrines and institutions of the gospel, to accommodate it to the gratification of their selfishness, pride and worldly spirit; and have hated and persecuted one another unto death. They have divided into innumerable sects and parties, and have not been agreed in the doctrines and institutions of the gospel; but have embraced various and contrary opinions concerning them; and contended about them with wrath and bitterness. And the greatest part of the Christian world have been as openly vicious, as the heathen nations, if not more so. And as the name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles by the wicked lives of the Jews,* so the name of Christ has been blasphemed by infidels and others, through the various kinds of wickedness of those who have been called Christians: "By reason of whom, the way of truth has been evil spoken of." But few in the Christian world, in comparison with the rest, have honoured Christ, by entering into the true meaning and spirit of the gospel, loving it and living agreeable to it: And those few have been generally hidden and overlooked by the multitude of merely nominal Christians. And genuine Christianity is not to be found in the faith and lives of those in general who assume the name of Christians; but in the Bible only, since the most who profess to know Christ, by their doctrines and works do deny him.

"But in the Millennium the scene will be changed, and Christianity will be understood and acted out, in the true spirit and power of it, and have its genuine effect, in the lives and conduct of all. And when it comes to be thus reduced to practice by all, it will appear from fact and experience, to have a divine stamp; and that the gospel is indeed the wisdom of †II. Peter, ii. 2.

* Rom, ii. 24.

God, and the power of God, forming all who cordially embrace it to a truly amiable and excellent character, and is suited to make men happy in this world, and that which is to come. Then all the disgrace and reproach, which has come upon Christ, his true followers, and upon Christianity, by the wickedness and enmity of men, and the abuse of the gospel, shall be wiped off. This is foretold in the following words: “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee, and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out, and I will get them praise and fame in every land, where they have been put to shame. I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth.”* After the various schemes of false religion and infidelity have been tried by men, and the evil nature and bad effects of them discovered, real Christianity, as it is stated in divine revelation, when it shall be understood by all, and appear in universal practice, will shine with peculiar lustre and glory; and the beauty and excellence of it, and the happiness it produces, will be more apparent and affecting, and be more admired, by the contrast, than. if no such delusion and false religion had taken place. This is represented in the last words of David the Prophet. "And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." When the sun rises in a clear morning, after a dark, stormy night, and the tender grass springs up fresh and lively, it is much more pleasant and refreshing, than if it had not been preceded by such a night.

5. The time of the Millennium will be in a peculiar and eminent sense and degree, The day of salvation, in which the Bible, and all the doctrines, commands and institutions contained in it, will have their proper and designed issue and effect; and that which precedes that day is preparatory to it, and suited in Zeph. xix. 20. II. Sam. xxiii, 4.

the best manner to introduce it, and render it eminently the gospel day.

was

"The Spirit of God will then be poured out in his glorious fulness, and fill the world with holiness and salvation, as floods upon the dry ground. All the preceding influences of the Holy Spirit, in converting and saving men, are but the first fruits, which precede the harvest, which will take place in that latter day. This was typified in the Mosaic institutions. The most remarkable festivals were the Passover, the feast of the first fruits, and the feast of Tabernacles, upon which all the males in Israel were commanded to attend at Jerusalem. The Passover typified the death of Christ, and he was crucified at the time of that feast. The feast of the first fruits, or Pentecost, as it is called in the New Testament, typified the first fruits of the death of Christ, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the conversion of men, when the gospel was first preached, which took place at the time of this feast. ""* The feast of tabernacles, which "the feast of ingathering, which was in the end of the year," was a type of the Millennium, which will be in the latter end of the world, when the great and chief ingathering of souls to Christ and his church shall take place. This is the time when Christ will see the fruit of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. To this day most of the prophecies of Christ, and salvation, and of the good things which were coming to the church, have their principal reference, and they will have their chief fulfilment then. This is the day which our Lord said Abraham saw with gladness and joy. "Your father Abraham rejoiced (or leaped forward) to see my day: And he saw it, and was glad." He saw the day of Christ in the promise made to him, That in his seed, all nations should be blessed; which will be accomplished in the Millennium, and not before. This is the day of Christ, the day of his great success and glory.+ John viii. 56.

* Acts ii. 1. + Ex. xxxiv. 22.

This is the gospel day, in comparison with which all that precedes it, is night and darkness.

"Then the chief end of divine revelation will be answered. It has been given with a chief reference to that time, and it will then be the means of producing unspeakably greater good, than in all ages before. It will then be no longer misunderstood, and perverted and abused, to support error and wickedness; but be universally prized more than all riches, and improved to the best purposes, as the fountain of knowledge and wisdom. And all the institutions and ordinances appointed by Christ, will then have their chief effect. They will then be understood and take place in due order, and be attended in a proper manner; and the wisdom and goodness of Christ in ordaining them will be seen and experienced by all. Then the gospel will be preached, as it never was before, since the days of inspiration; in which the ministers of the gospel will be eminently burning and shining lights, exhibiting the important, affecting, glorious truths of the gospel, in a clear and striking light, and in a manner most agreeable and entertaining; which will fall into honest and good hearts, and be received with the highest relish and pleasure, and bring forth fruit abundantly. The Sabbath will be a most pleasant and profitable day, and improved to the best and most noble purposes. And the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, according to divine institution, will greatly conduce to the edification of the church, and appear in their true importance and usefulness, as they never did before; these and all other institutions of Christ, being appointed with special reference to that day, when they will have their chief use, and answer the end of their appointment.

As the winter in the natural world is preparatory to the spring and summer, and the rain and snow, and the shining of the sun, the wind and frost, issue in the order, beauty and fruitfulness of the vegetable world; and have their proper effect in these; and the end of winter is answered chiefly in what takes place in the