and experimental cost of it claim for her: if it be not a correct interpretation, let it be rejected; but she would still say, "Try the Spirits whether they are of God. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God." (1 John iv. 1, 2.) And she would ask for the work that, if it be scriptural, it may not be too hastily rejected, but that it may rather receive the verdict of time than of impulse or preconceived opinion. The writer also asks for the work leniency for the execution of it. Prophecy is a subject surrounded with difficulty. As we advance in the study of it, the light of progress shows us how much we have left behind in darkness that might, too, have been light, with a little more study and foresight; therefore she can only now say that, in another Edition, the first chapters would be revised.

In respect to the references made in it to the part of the work not yet published, she can only say, it embraces the whole Bible, and that she has very much at heart the purpose of publishing the whole; but that

this depends in some measure upon the manner in which this small part is received by her friends. When we are told by the generality of Publishers, "Bring us a story and we will publish it for you, but for theological works there is no sale unless they are written by

truth and humble service are almost afraid to lift their heads: but that does not prove that they should retire ashamed, or that they are any the less needed. They who in any way help to throw light upon Revelation, or to evolve light from it, are the greatest possible benefactors to their race, and the pretension, however humble, should not be despised.

With this little Preface to a great subject the writer leaves the work in the hands of an intelligent and Christian public. The title of the book has no other pretension than as signifying the Bible, the Orb of Light.

July 27th, 1860.

APOCALYPSE.

because I am a man of

“Ah, Lord God! behold a child." (Jer. i. 6.)

THERE was something very awful surrounding the missions of the prophets, and of the inspired penmen. It was a fearful thing for God to speak,—“ A deep sleep fell upon Abraham; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." (Gen. xv. 12.) "Woe is me! for I am undone; unclean lips." (Isa. vi. 5.) I cannot speak: for I am "There remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength." (Dan. x. 8-11.) And as St. John said, "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead." If such physical convulsion as this attended the proclamation of judgment, what will the execution and fulfilment of those prophecies be?

When God speaks now, His voice is not less awful

B

The fulfilment of what was proclaimed must come,judgment be made known as it approaches. The Sacred Scriptures are not less sacred ground to work upon now than then; when we approach them, we should put off our shoes from off our feet, and, like St. John, fall at His feet as dead, till we have the gracious assurance," Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." (Isa. vi. 7.)

This Book of the Revelation stands alone in its grand distinctness; and still it is entirely rooted in Old Testament Scripture, and stands in the most singular, sublime connexion with every part of Inspiration. I say it is grand in its distinctness, because it is, as it were, the interior of the Old Testament,-the thing signified in it. The Redeemer's work was done; and He had been into the world of Spirit, and brought from hence the history of the spiritual warfare of our world; the interior, the invisible of the Bible; the important warfare signified in the exterior history: therefore, those who seek in this book the common ground of the ancient prophets, will greatly err in their interpretation. Daniel prophesied of temporal powers the interior warfare was still almost hidden. Zechariah was more spiritual; but this book is still more so. The spiritual world is a more dread reality than we suppose. When the spiritual warfare began we do not know, and when it will finish we do