No one can dispute the antiquity of the Signs of the Zodiac, or of the Constellations. No one can question the accuracy of the ancient star‐names which have come down to us, for they are still preserved in every good celestial atlas. And we hope that no one will be able to resist the cumulative evidence that, apart from God’s grace in Christ there is no hope for sinners now: and apart from God’s glory, as it will be manifested in the return of Christ from Heaven, there is no hope for the Church, no hope for Israel, no hope for the world, no hope for a groaning creation. In spite of all the vaunted promises of a religious World, and of a worldly Church, to remove the effects of the curse by a Social Gospel of Sanitation, we are more and more shut up to the prophecy of Gen. iii. 15, which we wait and long to see fulfilled in Christ as our only hope. This is beautifully expressed by the late Dr. William Leask:— And is there none before? No perfect peace Unbroken by the storms and cares of life, Until the time of waiting for Him cease, By His appearing to destroy the strife? No, none before. Do we not hear that through the flag of grace By faithful messengers of God unfurled, All men will be converted, and the place Of man’s rebellion be a holy world? Yes, so we hear. Is it not true that to the Church is given The holy honour of dispelling night, And bringing back the human race to heaven, By kindling everywhere the Gospel light? It is not true. Is this the hope—that Christ the Lord will come, In all the glory of His royal right, Redeemer and Avenger, taking home His saints, and crushing the usurper’s might? This is the hope. May the God of all grace accept and bless this effort to show forth His glory, and use it to strengthen His people in waiting for His Son from Heaven, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come. Ethelbert W. Bullinger. _August 31st, 1893._ INTRODUCTION.