restoration of the ordinances of religion. The ministry of the prophets was ratified and filled up by the authority of the written word. In the reformation of our own Church, the light of the Scriptures shone forth with unmistaken lustre, when it produced so mighty a change in this and other countries.

We have a remarkable testimony to the supremacy of the Scriptures in this passage. St. Peter had just appealed to the preaching by the apostles of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, of which they had had a suitable confirmation in being eye-witnesses of his majesty during his transfiguration on the mount, and by the voice of God from heaven, "This is my beloved Son." Yet important and necessary as the dispensation. was to the apostles, and satisfactory as their testimony must have been to the Church of that day, "We have also," says St. Peter "a more sure word of prophecy." The apostolic word was sure, but the prophetical word was more sure. Earnest heed was to be given to the message of those who came with a mission from the Lord of life and glory,—but more earnest heed was demanded to the written word. The apostles themselves continually enforced the same obligation, "witnessing both to small and great, saying none other

things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come."

The same distinct appeal to the Scriptures, we are directed, by the same apostle, to consider very necessary for the last times. "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

Being requested to address you, on the study of prophecy, I cannot appeal to a more suitable portion of the sacred writings than the one now before us. Let us consider

I. The particular subject of the more sure word of prophecy, to which the apostle seems to refer. One great object of these two epistles, was evidently to encourage and confirm the scattered believers of the gospel in the prospect of their future inheritance of glory; an inheritance "reserved in heaven," but "ready to be revealed in the last time,"

when their faith shall be found, after trial, "unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ;"* when "an entrance shall be ministered unto them abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." To this subject St. Peter undoubtedly refers, when he says, "We have made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

With

respect to this great event, we have a more sure word than even apostolic testimony, in the mouth of all the holy prophets, who "testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

The expressions in 2 Peter i. 16, particularly apply to the second advent of our Lord. "We made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;" coming, or presence, is the word more expressly suitable to that event to which it is often applied in the sacred writings. I need not quote any proof of this, because it cannot be questioned. It is also an event, of which it is declared that it draweth nigh: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh"-(James v. 7, 8). Power is

1 Peter i. 4, 5, 6, 7. † 2 Peter i. 11, 16.

1 Peter i. 11.

also especially identified with the same event (Matt. xxvi. 64). "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." "When the kingdoms of this world are become (the kingdoms) of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."* Then shall be heard a "loud voice saying, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God. and the power of his Christ;"+ "because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." It requires no detailed proof, that this great event was always before the mind of the early converts to the gospel. It was the immediate result of the conversion of heathen from idols to the service of the living and true God, to be "waiting for his Son from heaven." So far were they from deferring that hope, that they were more ready to antedate it, than to argue that it was distant by a very long period of time.

II. We may now direct your attention to the exhortation, implied in these words"whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light which shineth in a dark place."

The duty of attention to the Scriptures is urged by the sacred writers, in the use of *Rev. xi. 15. xii. 10. xi. 17. § 1 Thess. i. 9, 10.

truth has to do with our inward experience; the prophetic word has to do with our outward character, and all our relations for time and for eternity. The word of salvation to the soul, trains us inwardly to serious self-contemplation, holy desires, and the increase of the spiritual graces of the soul;-the prophetic word directs all the powers of the mind, every holy affection-the highest elevation of which the soul is capable-through time to eternity; above all the things of this earth, to heavenly things; and links the soul to the very throne of Christ himself, where all power in heaven and earth is put into his hand, and where he sits till he has brought out the very purpose of God the Father, in securing and providing for his own glory. This I take to be the import of the expression, "till the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your heart." The revelation of mercy to the soul, and the manifestation of divine grace to the heart, is the dawn of the day, in which all the sons of God shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The revelation of Christ within, is the day-star which ushers in that day, in which we "shall see him as he is, and be like him."

III. The ground and reasons of this attention to the prophetical word, "whereunto ye