Is it impious to ask how these builders knew the solar year so completely? They knew the sun's circle of 448 years, which completes a circle of time without any excess or deficiency. This they ran into weights and measures as G.o.d's religion does.

The Pyramid, having four sides, would divide this circle into four parts, which make 112 pounds, or a hundred-weight; or, if multiplied by five, the faces of the Pyramid, 448 would give 2,240, or a ton.

In the descending and ascending pa.s.sages a person must stoop to pa.s.s through them, but when the Grand Gallery is reached, they can stand upright, for this gallery enlarges seven times the proportions of the others. The first pa.s.sages are only four feet high; this is twenty-eight.

The first ascending pa.s.sage is 1,542 inches in length-the time, taking inches for years, from the exodus of Israel from Egypt to Christ.

Christ brings enlarged liberty. He was symbolised by the ton-the end of weight scale. "When the fulness of time was come, G.o.d sent forth His Son."

Again, thirty-three inches in this gallery is an open sepulchre with fifty-six empty graves in miniature, carved out, telling, again, by a strange coincident, the life years of the Saviour and His resurrection; also the number of those who rose immediately after. For "the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection" (Matt. xxvii. 52).

Another remarkable feature is, that at the end of this gallery, the wall bulges forward about four inches, as if it were going to fall in. This gallery, on the floor is 1,882 inches; on the roof, 1,878 inches. This explains to us our very times. The shadow of war-Russia and England appearing as if they would fight every day. But they know not the counsels of G.o.d, nor His sublime purpose. Surely, as the text declares, "Our G.o.d is great in counsel and mighty in work; and His eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men." More next Sunday evening, G.o.d willing, about His own marvellous witnesses. Let us praise and adore Him.

"_And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles_, _in the midst of many people as a_ LION _among the beasts of the forest_, _as a_ YOUNG LION _among the flocks of sheep_: _who_, _if he go through_, _both treadeth down and teareth in pieces_, _and none can deliver_."-Micah v. 7.

[Picture: Coat of Arms with Lion and Unicorn]

"_His glory is like the firstling of his bullock_, _and his horns like the_ HORNS OF UNICORNS: _with them he shall push the people together to the_ ENDS _of the_ EARTH."-Deut. x.x.xiii. 17.

THE THRONE OF DAVID.

DISCOURSE XIX.

ENGLAND'S PROPHECY FULFILLED IN THE BERLIN CONGRESS-THE HARP OF TARA THE HARP OF ISRAEL-THE FUTURE EUROPEAN ALLIANCES-ROYAL SUCCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

"I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it Him."-Ezekiel xxi. 27.

The closing of the famous European Congress will now freely permit us to canva.s.s the work and results of the same, and to compare the sequences with the teachings of the prophets and intentions of Providence. The results of the Congress have taken the world by surprise. The very fact that one should have been held under the enforced conditions of the crownless king, Disraeli, was a wonder in itself. But the wonder is not confined to the meeting and work of the Congress, for outside of, and in spite of the Congress, a treaty has been made which converts wonder into amazement. Back in the middle of last May (1878), England and Turkey formed an alliance, offensive and defensive. Nay, more, for Turkey cedes to England the fruitful and strategic island of Cyprus. What a triangle of strongholds-Cyprus, Malta, and Gibraltar! Shades of Bonaparte! Where is France in these days? She is renewing her strength, and is wisely standing aside so as not to oppose Providence. In all this there is nothing new or strange to the prophetic student. For long ago it was written of Israel that she should be a company of nations, and possess the gates of her enemies.

It is not by might, nor power of human origin, that these events must be judged, or that they come to pa.s.s. But surely by the Spirit of G.o.d.

"There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth it understanding." Here Job gives us the key to unlock the mysteries of the crownless king and his success. The apothegm of Bonaparte is as false as he was unsuccessful-namely, that Providence is always on the side of the strongest battalions. In Israel, in time of old, this was seldom true.

In fact, it was not true in the experience and campaigns of Bonaparte.

The logic of such a faith has been the ruin of lovely France more than once, and will be again. For it must needs be that France break her alliance with England, though now they are friends. France in a few years will ally with the Beast, the Roman Church, in its last struggle for rule and supremacy; and she will join hands with Anti-Christ. France will repeat the follies of '93. She will again seek to dethrone Religion, and enthrone Reason. Her Marats, Desmoulens, Herberts, Clootzes, and Robespierres are at hand ready to overturn. And the Church of her choice is patiently waiting to re-enact the scenes of blood and terror of St. Bartholomew. Her time of opportunity will appear to have come in a few years. Bismarck and Kaiser William will be out of the way, and Germany will languish for want of two equal successors. And France will not forget to pay back the debt of revenge she owes to Germany, and seek to reclaim her prestige in councils, and especially to restore her lost influence over Egypt, Turkey, and the Mediterranean.

Last year it would not have been so easy to see how France and England were to become once again enemies. This Cyprus wedge has cleft open a little farther the dark and mysterious way.

Last Monday we received the astounding telegram of the treaty between England and Turkey. It evidently was a surprise, we have no doubt, even to Rev. Dr. Storrs, and the _New York Herald_, as well as to many others who could see nothing but defeat and shame for Israel-England. From Dr.

Storrs we have not heard what he now thinks of his child of promise, Russia. From the _Herald_ we did hear, for, by the way, the _Herald_ is one of our morning papers. By an editorial of a column and a half the _Herald_ struggled n.o.bly to wriggle out of the tight corner in which its sympathies for Russia had crowded it. We like and admire the _Herald_, because of its tact and ingenuity in getting news first from any part of the world. Still this time she was behind time. Two years ago, from this pulpit, we announced the exciting facts of the past week. Last Sunday evening we closed our discourse in these words: "Now, again, England pledges herself a Continental Power, nay, more, an Asiatic Power.

She will come forth from the Congress the virtual ruler of Turkey, the owner of Palestine."

If the Saxons be the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel-and most certainly they respond to all the features that were to distinctly mark them when found, as written in the Bible-then the English throne is a continuation of David's throne, and the seed on it must be the seed of David, and the inference is clear-namely, that all the blessings attaching by holy promise to David's throne must belong to England. This is the key that unravels and makes plain the marvellous and sublime history of the English nation and throne. We know many scout the idea of the Lost Tribes ever being found, although over thirty times G.o.d declares by the prophets that they must return; surely before they return they must be found. G.o.d has not cast away His people for ever. No, no. He declares Israel to be His inheritance, and that this people He had formed for Himself.

The Two Tribes forming the Jews of to-day are said by the best calculation to number about nine millions. If, then, the Two Tribes number nine millions, how many ought we to expect the Ten Tribes to number? If the Two Tribes have stood and survived the shock and persecution of centuries when known, and therefore open to a.s.sault, is it not reasonable to suppose that the Ten Tribes will be in existence, a numerous and powerful people, for they have been hid, and thus have they evaded the persecution that a knowledge of their nationality would have entailed upon them from the Gentile and Pagan nations?

Some, indeed, persist in looking for G.o.d's chosen seed-His people, His inheritance-among the bushmen of Africa, the Indians of America; indeed wherever they can find a people mean, and few, and very low in the scale of civilisation. They overlook the fact that Israel, not the Jews, were to be the most powerful and prolific people on the face of the earth, to be as sands of the sea, as the stars of heaven. Especially were these promises to be true in the latter day-for then G.o.d promises to multiply them, men, beasts, and the fruits of the field. This is one of the signs of the times, and it is a remarkable one. See our harvest, see our cattle, and see the Saxon race-doubling, at least, every forty years. No other nation is doubling at that rate. Germany comes the nearest, and both in Prussia and Austria they only double every one hundred years. In one hundred years from to-day the Saxons will control the world for peace and Christ.

To this end G.o.d is overturning, and will overturn until the whole world shall be federated around one throne, and that throne is David's-the only throne G.o.d ever directly established, and the only one He has promised perpetuity to. G.o.d has a land-Palestine. He has a people-Israel. He has a throne-David's, and for that throne He has a seed, just as the seed of Levi was selected for Temple service.

This kingdom is the fifth kingdom, to be set up in the latter days of those kings, says Daniel. The kingdom was never to be left unto other people. It is typified by the stone cut out of the mountain that is to fill the world. Why then stand amazed at the cession of Cyprus to England, if she be Israel. To her was promised the isles of the sea, the coasts of the earth, the waste and desolate places-the heathen and uttermost parts of the earth, as a possession. Already out of the fifty-one million square miles which composes the earth, England, including the United States, now owns about fourteen millions, or say one-fourth. She bears rule over one-third of the people of the earth; she adds a colony every four years on an average. At the present rate it will not be long before the kingdoms of this world will be given to the saints of the Most High. It is no marvel in the light and instruction of prophecy that this throne and people should be so stable and prosperous.

Turn your attention to the founding of this throne of David. You will find the throne and seed unconditionally federated, the place and measure of prosperity conditioned on the obedience of the people and throne to G.o.d. "The Lord has sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it; of _the fruit of thy body_ will I set upon thy throne" (Psalm cx.x.xii.

11). Again, "I have sworn unto David, thy seed I will _establish for ever_, and build up thy throne to _all_ generations" (Psalm lx.x.xix. 3, 4). This promise is to all generations-not a part, nor simply for sixty years. For the kingdom was rent in twain when Rehoboam, the grandson of David, began to reign. The throne of David would be about the poorest type of Christ's throne and rule, and reign, if we can only see it in Palestine. There it was soon divided, very corrupt. "If ye can break My covenant of the day and night in their season, then may also My covenant be broken with David My servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne . . . Thus saith the Lord: If My covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of _his seed_ to be rulers over the seed of Abraham" (Jer. x.x.xiii. 25, 26). Let anybody of the same mind read the seventh chapter of the second book of Samuel, and they will see that G.o.d promised to David that his house and kingdom should be established for ever, and that G.o.d would set up the seed of David after him. Well might David exclaim when he sat before the Lord, "Who am I, O Lord G.o.d, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord G.o.d; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy _servant's house for a great while yet to come_." It is a pity men will not take and interpret the Bible by the rules of common sense.

David at this time was king over all the Tribes and was at peace, and settled and prospered. But G.o.d told him that "He would appoint a place for _My people Israel_, and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more." This promise was to Israel. If the promises of the mult.i.tudinous seed were to be fulfilled to Israel, then it would be necessary to find them another place, for Palestine wouldn't hold them. So G.o.d has planted them. G.o.d never promised to find the Jews another country; Palestine is specially reserved for them. They have been without country, king, or government. In the year 725 B.C. the Jews and Israelites were separated, and since that time they have never been united. But the day is coming, says the prophet, when they shall dwell together and appoint one head over them. The Israelites are only to return to Palestine representatively (Jer. iii. 14).

When Nebuchadnezzar carried the Jews captive, he took the king, Zedekiah, with him, and destroyed all his family, and all the real royal seed of David. Zedekiah died in Babylon. He placed upon the throne of David, Gedaliah. Now Gedaliah was not of the seed royal: but G.o.d was displeased and permitted the crown to go to others. Ezekiel was taken captive to Babylon in the reign of Jehoiachim, the father of Zedekiah. The prophecy of the text was written in Babylon, and refers to Zedekiah, whom Ezekiel calls the "wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, iniquity shall have an end. Thus saith the Lord G.o.d, Remove the diadem and take off the crown, this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it to Him."

Now all this is plain if we keep in mind that Zedekiah was the last prince of the House of David that ever reigned in Palestine. G.o.d removed the diadem. But in the course of time a lawful heir of the seed of David shall appear, and the throne and the seed will be established again in Jerusalem. It is to this end Providence is overturning Turkey to make way for this seed royal. But where is this seed royal? Answer: It is on the English throne. Listen carefully to the following:

Jeremiah tells us that with him he had the daughters of Zedekiah, who had by some means escaped the destroying edicts of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer.

xliii. 6). And from Jer. xliv. 14, we learn that they visited Egypt, and from Jer. xliv. 28, we learn that a small number escaped. Now Jeremiah, being the only prophet in Judah at that time, had a right to take charge of the royal seed. He could not stay in Egypt, nor in Palestine, nor would he go to Babylon. Where, then, did the prophet go? He no doubt took ship with the Danites, and sailed for Cornwall, in England, for this place was called Tarshish. We learn from Ezekiel the ships of Dan traded in tin, and other things. History and tradition both agree that there landed on the coast of Ireland in the North, a divine man and a princess.

G.o.d had promised to Jeremiah his life wherever he went. "But thy life will I give thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest" (Jer. xlv.

5).

[Picture: Jacob's Stone]

The North of Ireland had been settled with the Tribe of Dan; they at once understood who their visitor was. They called him Olam Folla, meaning a Divine man or teacher. The princess was called Tea Tephi, the beautiful one from the East. This princess was married to Heremon, of Ulster, the king of Lothair Croffin, for such was the name of the city of Tara. This word Tara is Arat spelled backward. The Hebrew reads from right to left; English left to right. Lothair Croffin was changed into Tara at the time of the wedding. Tara means law. Thus began the seed of David to take root, and from there it spread over all Ireland, then to Scotland, thence to England, and Jacob's Stone in Westminster Abbey marks the journey of David's throne, and has always kept with the seed, and they have been always crowned on it. Ezekiel's riddle is at once solved. The tender twigs were Zedekiah's daughters. One of these twigs was planted by the great waters in a land of traffic. Our Episcopalian friends intended by their beautiful service to aid the members of their communion to read in order, and through the Bible, or a given portion of each chapter, once per year. But strange to say, this 17th chapter of Ezekiel, they have left out both of the Old and New Lectionary. It is itself a riddle, why this should so happen, that the only two chapters of the Bible left out or proscribed are the 17th and 21st of Ezekiel. Surely blindness in part has happened to Israel, and what we esteemed as accidental in the increased light of Revelation, stands to view as the ordered purposes of an all-seeing G.o.d.

The royal standard of England has nine lions on it and a unicorn. Let anyone set this standard before him as a map, the right hand will represent East, the top North, left West, the bottom South. The unicorn comes from the East, it has a chain round its neck. So the Tribe of Benjamin came that way, and, as Normans, were finally attached to the throne. The big lion comes from the West, so it did from Ireland to Scotland and London. On the top we have a crown, and on the top of this we have a lion. On the first quarter are three lions, second quarter one, on the third a stringed harp with an angel's head, and on the fourth three lions, the total of lions nine, and an unicorn. The fact is, this standard, had we time, teaches a world of history, and with the Psalmist we may say: "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee; that it may be displayed because of the truth" (Psalm lx. 4). The genealogy and descent of Queen Victoria from Zedekiah we will furnish you. This genealogy has been got up by the faithful and very persevering labours of Rev. F. R. A. Glover, M.A., and Rev. A. B. Grimaldi, M.A., two Episcopalian clergymen of England. The chart is supposed to be as near perfect as any such thing can be. If any of you find any defect be kind enough and let me know. In the following genealogy those who reigned have K. prefixed-the dates after private names refer to their birth and death, those after Sovereign's names to their accession and death.

ADAM TO VICTORIA.

GENERATIONS.

1. Adam (B.C. 40003070), Eve.

2. Seth (B.C. 38732978).

3. Enos (B.C. 37652860).

4. Cainan (B.C. 36752765).

5. Mahalaleel (B.C. 36052710).

6. Jared (B.C. 35402578).

7. Enoch (B.C. 33783013).

8. Methuselah (B.C. 33132344).

9. Lamech (B.C. 31262344).

10. Noah (B.C. 29442006), Naamah.