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 1 2 3 
 
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i- 
 
 THE THEORY 
 
 OP THB 
 
 SECOND ADVENT IN 1843, 
 
 SCRIPTURALLY EXAMINED, 
 
 AND ITS 
 
 von Tdlt^Pl^r^^lf IKlFOilPp 
 
 ■w 
 
 A LECTURE, 
 
 BY R. H. THORNTON, 
 
 MINISTER 0? THE GOSPEL, WHITBT. 
 
 ©tlatnalls treinieteti, anH note publlatetJ bs tequest. 
 
 PRINTED BY J. CLELAND, 15, CITY BUILDINGS. 
 
 1843. 
 

 r 
 
 i 
 I 
 
 J 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 J 
 
 The following Lecture i> made public, with no .mall reluctance on the 
 Ir. I Author, conscous ,e he is, that the «=-P'»'>""y;;"' "^t 
 U was received, by the nun.erou, ; .dividuals from among .11 denomma- 
 •.ions, who requested its delivery, must have been owtng m«cA ».or«Jo 
 the unprecedented excitement occasioned by the subjec of »vh,ch .t treats, 
 Tan to any intrinsic eKcellency. The call for its P"""-'"'"' '-°"'^;'' 
 was made in such a manner, and to such eKtent, tt could not be w,A- 
 Ld, lest it might have been supposed, thai was deUvered, wh.ch could 
 not bear more minute investigation. 
 
 Should it find its way into the hands of any, beyond the sphere of 
 that excitement which has given it importance, there is no doubt but the 
 
 r tt:is, will command that respect which -th^lw^^^^^^^^ 
 from its friends; while its numerous ^-P^^^f -"^"'"' '* ' ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 charitably attributed to their real cause-the getting up of it hastily 
 and unexpectedly, amid engagements already greaU 
 
 With the exception of a few notes, furnishing matter ot^ explanation 
 or intlst, it is not,'so far as he is conscious, -terially el^er alt^^^^^^^^^^ 
 enlarged since it was delivered. Wherever ,t may go, that it may have 
 the beslg of Him, who cays with regard to human instrumental.ty, 
 « not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit," is the earnest prayer of 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Whitby, ^th Aprily 1843. 
 
«» I 
 
 ■\ 
 
 . .i. 
 
 i 
 
LECTURE. 
 
 \ 
 
 < * 
 
 Acts, i. 7.—" It is not for you to 'mow the times or the ie^sons which the Father 
 
 halh put in his own power." 
 
 Times and seasons are terms which occur very often in Scripture, and 
 stand for periods of time indefinitely. They are almost universally 
 employed to denote those great eras in the dispensations of Divine Pro- 
 vidcicr. connected with some peculiar change or revolution in the state 
 of afinirs in this lower world. The terms are employed in peculiar 
 aii'-.GrdAnce with the way in which He thinks of time, with whom « one 
 d- y is as a i.houriand years, and a thousand years as one day." What 
 " lirr.es <xna stasoiis" are alluded to in this passage, it is not difficult to 
 ascertain. Ti:e vords are an answer to a question put by the disciples 
 to their risen Lord, in the preceding verses. « They asked him," saying, 
 "Lord, wilt thou at this time, restore again the kingdom to Israel ?" 
 
 But, to ascertain more distinctly what is referred to, in both the 
 question and answer, we must turn to Matt. xxiv. 3, where we are told, 
 that when Jesus was with his disciples upon the Mount of Olives, and 
 foretelling the destruction of the Temple, to the splendours of which they 
 had directed his attention, they said, " Tell us when shall these things 
 bet and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of 
 the world r What ideas the disciples had of the « coming" here 
 referred to, it is impossible for us to say ; for, till a considerable time 
 after his resurrection, their views regarding the nature and objects of 
 his mission, were imperfect and confused. But when He speaks of the 
 subject, it is uniformly in reference to some signal display of his glory- 
 some remarkable ey.ercise of his power— or some notable change or 
 revolution in the state of affairs. His coming, therefore, sometimes 
 means a spiritual manifestation of himself, by his Gospel, either to his 
 disciples or to the world j it also denotes his invisible, but powerful 
 agency as Judge, in bringing total destruction upon the impenitent nation 
 of the Jews, by the instrumentality of the Roman armies ; or, it is 
 employed literally, in reference to his final, visible, and glorious Second 
 Advent to judge the world. Now, of this final season, closing up all the 
 events of time, He makes the prophecy throughout this chapter, a type, 
 and a prophecy ; hence the prophecy runs on in a twofold reference. 
 
^ 
 
 6 
 
 intermingling the desciipiiona of the destruction of Jerusalem and of the 
 end of the world. " The principle on which this combined description 
 of two events was 8p(.4en, appears to be, that they could be described 
 in the same words, and therefore the accounts are interiiungled. Simi- 
 lar lanffuagc is frequently employed by Isaiah, where the descripl on of 
 the return from the Babylonish captivity siils also that accomplished by 
 the Messiah. This will serve to explain what has seemed an inconsist- 
 ency to many— that certain things which seem capable of being realized 
 only at the last day, are yet connected with declarations which can have 
 a reference only to the prior event. Thus, in the 34th verse it is said, 
 « This generation shall not pass, till all those things be fulfilled. Ihe 
 meaning of which is, that generation should not pass, till events took 
 place that should be a complete fulfilment, if there were nothing farther 
 intended. Yet the day of judgment was not thereby excluded ; but only, 
 that the destrucilon of Jerusalem would be such, as to make appropriate 
 the words of the prediction, were there nothing beyond. In like man- 
 ner, when death was threatened to Adam, the propriety of the threaten- 
 ing would have been seen, and its truth vindicated, had men been 
 subjected only to hmporal death ; yet it had a fulness of ^i^^ningy 
 extending also to spiritual and eternal death, or the "pains of hell. 
 So the words of Christ had a fulness cf import, which would meet also 
 the e.c-tsof the final judgment ; and the meaning, therefore, would not 
 he filled up till the end of time. Now, it is in reference to these descrip- 
 tions, that the disciples put the question already noticed, exactly similar 
 to that in Acts i, 6 ; and our Lord declares, verse 36, « that the precise 
 time of their fulfilment is unknown to men, yea, even to the angels. 
 The general signs betokening its approach, were distinctly given, jus*^ 
 as the budding of the fig-tree, when the juices have returned from the 
 roots to the branches, is a certain indication that summer is near ; but 
 ihe precise time is not indicated. To say, as some have done, that our 
 Lord's statement « does not prevent the year being known, is too much 
 of quibble to merit serious notice. 
 
 These remarks, although somewhat lengthened, are called for, m 
 order to clear up the fallacies of Milli^r's views upon this chapter, as 
 well as to illustrate the passage in the Acts. You will now perceive, 
 that in the latter passage, the same truth is declared regarding man a 
 ignorance oUhat day ; and with this important addition, that the know- 
 ledge of it is not becoming or proper for man. " It is not for you to 
 know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own 
 power." None need to be informed how much has been done in our 
 neighbourhood, and elsewhere, to explain away these solemn declara- 
 tions, nor how boldly " the same word of prophecy" has been pressed 
 into the service, as having all along foretold the very thing wnich our 
 Lord, as we have just seen, both before his death, and after his resurrec- 
 tion, emphatically declared was not to be, communicated, to man. The 
 
 1 
 
+ 
 
 consequence has been, that many, like the Thessaloaians, are " shaken 
 in mind, as though the day of Christ,'* the lerminaiion of the Hmea and 
 seasons, *' were at hand." 
 
 To advert publicly to this theory, I for a considerable time felt reluc- 
 tant, not only because of the difficulty of muKing any subject, so much 
 connected as this is with the reasonings of men, as useful as J wish all 
 my feeble efforts in the pulpit to be, but also, because I regarded it as 
 one of those visionary theories which, when most unheeded, are most 
 speedily numbered among the things of the past. Opposition in such 
 casesy not only attracts a notice which is not merited, but is almost cer- 
 tain to giv3 them \\h and form. But as not only an earnest request has 
 been made over the Township to take it up, but as it has of late been 
 promulgated with all the characteristics of insidious infidelity, 1 am ready 
 —if there is the prospect of aiding one mind involved in perplexity, 
 or of stopping the flood-gates of error— I am ready to " contend for 
 the faith once delivered to the saints." 
 
 It lias been the mode of some to dismiss the whole subject with 
 affected ridicule; but while this may be, and I believe is very appli- 
 cable to no small part of the reasonings by which it is supported, yet, 
 as scripture is appealed to with such confidence, we must come to it 
 after the manner of the Bereans, and search " whether these things a' i 
 so." And instead, therefore, of dwelling much upon the calculations 
 connected with it, which few in a mixed audience could follow, it will 
 be more satisfactory I trust, and certainly more useful, to turn our atten- 
 tion chiefly to the yet unfulfilled outline in the Prophetic Word. This 
 is what every one who " can read in his own tongue" may examine ; 
 and it is that of which the " faithful and true Witness" has affirmed^ 
 " all shall be fulfilled." And when we " search the Scriptures," it must 
 never be with a view to support any preconceived theory, but to make 
 every theory bend, and every thought and affection submit, to the dictates 
 of the unerring Spirit speaking in the Word 
 
 In what remains, I shall endeavour to proceed in the following 
 order : — 
 
 I. bhew that every attempt to interpret unfulfilleu ^.rophecy, should 
 be characterised by great modesty and caution. 
 
 II. That in the interpretation of that outline prophecy has present- 
 ed, and which the events of time fill up. Miller and his followers have 
 greatly erred. 
 
 III. Advert to some of the fundamental errors of the system, exhi- 
 bit a few of its numerous inconsistencies, and expose its dangerous ten- 
 dency. 
 
 IV. Notice the end for which we should examine prophecy, in 
 tracing the dispensations of Divine Providence. 
 
 First. I am to shew that our attempts to interpret unfulfilled- pro- 
 phecy, should be peculiarly cautious. 
 
8 
 
 The necemty of this, many will doubtlenK consider so obvious, as 
 \o deem any confirmation of it unneceMary. Such, however, is the dis- 
 position in modern times, to apoculate upon the unfulfilled part of the 
 train of prophecy, and BU''h the want of modesty and caution many 
 have displayed, that we cannot have the truth of this proposition too 
 strongly impressed upon our minds. 
 
 Within the last twenty-five years, numerous have been the attempts 
 to establish systems of calculation, in reference to the obscure language 
 of prediction, by which the most interesting events may, with accuracy, 
 be determined; and the means which ingenuity and learning, conserra- 
 ted by piety, have brought to our hands, are very great. But while we 
 are encouraged by the numerous and triumphant vindications of Divine 
 Providence, vvlich writers upon the subject have furnlsheu, we must 
 ever bear. in mind, that there is always an imminent danger of over 
 •tepping that boundary assigned by Him, to whom all time is but a 
 point. To this boundary he has directed our particular attention, by 
 saying to us, '** things that are revealed belong to us and to our children ; 
 but secret things belong to the Lord our God." 
 
 This line, I hesitate not to say, has been ever-stepped '::/ those 
 who presumptuously declare, that within the limits of the current year, 
 the consummation of all things shall lake place, — or from Vth to 14'h 
 April next, as tHey have at length more positively determined. The 
 very design c. prophecy, as interpreted and eniployed by them, has 
 been, I conceive, entirely misunderstood. Its design was surely not io 
 impart foreknowledge to man, but to deraonstiate inat God possesses it ; 
 and as time rolls on, along the prophetic ou'line, to present from age to 
 age the most incontrovertible evidence that "Jehovah reigneth," and 
 thus furnish the believing with so many ple^Jges Xh^Xallf.hall be fulfilled, 
 "Time has ever been ihe great interpreter of prophecy;" and the 
 Divine Wisdom has been displayed by that obscurity which rests upon 
 prophecy, till time declare it. Things future are commonly announced 
 in terms sufficiently obscure to check presumption in a pious mind, and 
 yet sufficiently clear to afford satisfactory evidence, when once the events 
 have taken place, that every circumstance was fore-ordained, foreseen, 
 and foretold. But those who start ahead of time, the great revealer of 
 secrets, must grope their way by a wisdom above what is written, and in 
 a '^perpetual mist, through which indeed a variety of objects are visible, 
 but none of them distinctly seen." 
 
 Now, I apprehend, we need no better evidence that the Theorists 
 already alluded to, have proceeded too quickly, vhan the almost distract- 
 ing variety of hypothesis which have already been broached upon the 
 subject of prophecy. When we have before us so many instances of 
 wide disagreement, between those of equal industry and talent— of the 
 oft-repeated failure of calculations, upon which the greatest stress has 
 beien laid— it Ib surely high time to bieware, and <' not lean to our own 
 
9 
 
 undertj'.pnding," by allerr.ptitig lo "give the stan.p and currency of 
 in!S|)ire;J truili" t'l those conjectures wtiicli litne may ere long deftion- 
 Btrate to havfj spriinj; iVoin our prfsuuiplion, iuipaliciue, or ignorance. 
 
 Apart, ilierclore, iVoin l!ia solcintuty of ilic ca.;o — apart from the 
 dec[)ly responsible' attempt lo docyplier with accuracy the sketching.^ out 
 oftiie Elernai Spirit, in his prot^peciivo oull'ue of the world's history, 
 suiely the consideration, that we treau upon the ground where many of 
 the wise and mighty have gone astray, shouhl lend us to advafice with 
 that humility and caution, whicli accord witli the entreaty — ''''had me 
 God in (hy truths (each wt." Were any specific illustration required, 
 I might adduce tiie fact, which many here will recollect w'lli me, that a 
 little more than ten years ago. the followers of Irving, in lllngland, and 
 of Cnnipbell, of Row, in Sco d, for a tinie, e}:pected frorr* day to day, 
 the Second Advent of the Ai,.f.siah, as confidenMy as the fullovyers of 
 3^iillcr do tuis year in Ameriea. And th;^ir expectation wat? founded 
 upon a system of calciilatiop. characterised by much greater placibdily, 
 and in the snipport of whicu, the plain words of Scripture were not so 
 unceremoniously wrested. 
 
 But the necessity of caution appears, not only from tho K;Uure of 
 the investigation, but from our situation and character, VViiaiever ex- 
 pectations man may form, he never knows '• what a day may bring 
 forth." Accordingly, it has been well said, that it is neither by "a 
 light issuing from the earth, nor by the meteor-gleam of high imagina- 
 tions, that the nage of history can be read, or the dark recesses of futurity 
 disclosed."* The Ruler among the nations, whose omniscient eye pene- 
 trates alike through space ami time, can alone shew " the 'hings that are 
 not, as though they were." He hath the " times and seasons in his own 
 power," and the signs of them can be known only by his vvcul. From 
 ancient times he hath declared by his servants the propheis, the things 
 that are nw passing, and that are yet to come. And if we v^^ould 
 trace the final resiilts, and ultimate consequences of existing events and 
 movements which agitate the worlds we must turn to the Word of 
 God, with all submissiveness and child-like docility, 
 
 It may appear to some rem.arkable, that upon no part of unfidfdled 
 prophecy perhaps, has iru-re been such boldness of exposition, as upon 
 that which respects th-* Second Jldvent. Although, f,-om the obs'iurity 
 which still enshrouds many statements regarding it, mistakes have been 
 made since the days of Paul, by all who have tried to fix limes and 
 seasons, yet the confidence of the most recet.t theorists is not in the least 
 checked. The cause of this boldness, however, is, in the present case 
 at least, not difficult to account for. The system exhibits either no or- 
 dinary display of ignorance, or of wilful perversion ; t J ignorance has 
 always been more assuming than knowledge. But audacity in such 
 
 Keith. 
 
 E 
 
I 
 
 theories is to be expected, from the ve\y circumstance that they overstep 
 the line stretched b /ore iis, by Him '•' who hath ihe times and seasons 
 in his own power ;*' and we need not wonder, that those who have the 
 hardihood todisregnrd it, should iiave boldness enough to assert anything 
 lo their fellow worms That peculiar confidence, therefore, which has 
 surprised many and staggered and perplexed others, is anything but a 
 favourable feature in the supporters of the Millen'an schen;e. 
 
 Second. I have next to shew, that in the interpretation of that out- 
 line which prophecy hos presented, and which the events of time are 
 filling up, Miller and his followers have greatly erred. 
 
 Prophecy stretches over the whole period of the world's duration. 
 It was first employed immediately after man had sinned, and it reaches 
 on to "the consummation of all things." And in all the grand events 
 it sketches out, and the times and seasons it passes through, there is one 
 notable personage who is kept ever before us, and who, from the time 
 he was first revealed as the ^^Seed of the Wonian," down to the era of 
 " the restitution of all things," is the uniform subject of prophetic testi- 
 mony. Now, it is important to keep in view the lact, that all the great 
 and leading events included in the prophetic outline, down to the Se- 
 cond Advent, have been partially fulfilled ; and whatever prophecy is 
 partially fulfilled, is just as capable of demonstration as any prophecy 
 relating to things wholly past. In other words, the begun accomplish- 
 ment of any prophecy, is the best of all evidence of its complete Jllling 
 up in future. 
 
 With this principle in view then, let us select for examination, a 
 few of the leading events foretold in the outline referred to, in order to 
 discover how far the way is prepared for " the coming of the day of the 
 Lord." And let us remember, that as with Him nothmg can be retard- 
 ed, so nothing is premature ; and, therefore, however much we may 
 suppose the way is prepared, " the Heavens will retain Him till the 
 times of the restitution of all things." 
 
 1st. We learn from the prophetic outline, that the power and do- 
 minion of Antichrist shall cease previous to the Saviour's " visible and 
 glorious appearing." Arnid the various conjectures, who, or what is 
 referred to, by tliis name of ominous import, the general definition given 
 by John, 1st" Epistle, ii 22, is explicit enough for any general purpose, 
 — « He that denieth that Jesus is the Christ, he is Antichrist that denieth 
 the Father and the Son." This general, yet forcible description, is ap- 
 plicable to every thing that is an opponent to the Gospel of Christ ; and 
 that the Apostle refers to various sects of apostates, and not to any indi- 
 vidual teachers, seems incontrovertible. Each sect was an Antichrist, 
 and there were, even in that age, "many Antichrists." And it is 
 equally applicable still, to Papal, to Mahomedan. or Infidel opponents to 
 Christ. But almost all nominal Christians restrict the name to the great 
 Power which was, according to prophecy, to ariso in the Christian 
 
 I 
 
11 
 
 Church, after the death of the Apostles ; and which they solemnly char- 
 ged the disciples to observe with all vigilance, and to resist with all for- 
 titude, patience, and hope. This Power is evidently spoken of also, by 
 the peculia- appellation, " Man of Sin^ 
 
 The rise of this Power, it is generally allowed, is matter oC history, 
 but its downfal, seems yet to be the subject of prophecy. Although ihe 
 limits of its duration, seem to be distinctly assigned in the prophetic 
 word, yet, all who have come to the examination of the subject, with 
 becoming humility, have felt no small difficulty in calculating the date of 
 its fall ; and, as might be expected, they have exhibited considerable 
 diversity of opinion in their respective conclusions. This difficulty 
 arises from the obscurity, which of necessity, attends prophecy, and from 
 the fact that although the duration is spoken of, as being for 1260 day3 
 or years, no circumstance is specified to mark with certainty, the date 
 from which the number of his days is to be compu'^d. One thing, 
 however, seems obvious, that the 1260 cannot begin at any period prior 
 to the full establishment of the Papal Power; for nothing less surely, 
 can be implied by the expression in Daniel, vii. 25, "the saints of the 
 
 Most High,. shall be given into his hunds^ until a time, and times, 
 
 and the dividing of time." Without presuming to decide then, where 
 wiser and abler men have been uncertain, 1 simply state as matter of 
 history, that in A. D. 533, the spiritual power of the P«ipe was declared 
 by the civil authority, viz : the emperor Justinian. From this date as 
 shall afterwards appear, Miller and his followers, proceed to calculate 
 the 1260 days of his existence. But it is equally a fact, which they 
 have overlooked or disregarded, tb"t Justinian's edict, did not then corre 
 into full operation.* For we find thrt after his death, when the Pope 
 was still advancing in influence and authority, his supremacy was still 
 disputed by the bishop of Constantinople ; and the case was not formally 
 settled, tilfA. D. 606, when the emperor Phocas, a usurper and a tyrant, 
 renewed and confirmed the edict referred to. As, therefore, an earlier 
 period cannot with propriety be fixed upon, if we take 606, and add 
 1260, it will bring us down to the year 18G6. The correctness of this, 
 I do not assert ; it is opinion only. 
 
 * It is not from any private complimentary letter to the Pope, such as the edict 
 properly was, but from the public law of the empire, that we can learn the true im- 
 port of the titles which Justinian applied to the Pope. In the Novella; Constitu- 
 tiones, treating of ecclesiastical titles and privileges, Justinian declares, " that the 
 most holy Pope of Ptome shall be the tirst of all Priests, but that the most blessed 
 Archbishop of Constantinople, shall be second, or next to him." If Justinian had 
 meant him to have a dominion over the Bishop of Constantinople, there would have 
 been no necessity for this special regulation, respecting the order to be observed by 
 those dignatariefl on public occasions. 
 
! • 
 
 12 
 
 But if, as many have supposed, his duration is to be computed from 
 the full establishment of his power, as a temporal prince, when he was 
 noi on]y a spiritual despot, "opposing and exaltitig himself above all 
 that is called God," but a haughty tyrant, holding crowns and empires 
 at hij disposal, then, a considerably later period still, must be thai from 
 which we must date his rise. In reference to this, the year 666, has by 
 several been supposed to be the commencement of the 1260. This idea, 
 however, seems to be derived, not so much from any historical evidence, 
 regarding this date, as from the supposition that in Rev. xiii. 18, iheie 
 is a key given in the statement that " t'.e number of the beast is 666."* 
 As I have already shewn, we should be extremely cautious not to speak 
 too positively upon such subjects. I state it, however, as matter of 
 opinion merebj, that notwithstanding what has just been said respecting 
 different views, that civil power is not essential to the Papal character, 
 any more than it is essential to the character of a sovereign prince, that 
 he be declaroi! head, over all matters ecclesiastical as well as civil, 
 within the limits of his dominions, There was an emperor of Rome 
 when there was no Pope, and there mny Le a Pope without his being 
 possessed of an inch of territorj-, which he can call his own. "It is the 
 Antichristian or spurious ecclesiastical authority, and not the civil power 
 of the Popes, which makes them both the head of the mystery of ini- 
 quity, and the curse and disgrace of human beings." 
 
 The theory we are considering, takes such grounds on this impor-' 
 tant subject, as has rendered it necessary to go at some length into these 
 divers views. This diversity of opinion, let me caution you to observe, 
 arises not from confusion in the prophetic sketches, nor from any inc -n- 
 sistency in the statements of the " holy men of God, who spake as they 
 were moved by the Holy Ghost." It arises as was already said, from 
 the fact that it is outline only, and comes to be developed as time fills it 
 up. Besides, the prophetic features of Antichrist, became gradually 
 unfolded, till they blazed forth in characters of light, "seen and read of 
 
 \ 
 
 * It may be interesting to observe, regarding 1260, that in Daniel, xii. we have 
 two express additional numbers,— 30 and 45,~relative to the close of the latter of 
 which Daniel says, " Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh ;" meaning probably 
 that this gives the rise of the Millenium. " To what purpose," it has l)een asked, 
 " are these numbers given, unless a fourth be somevVhtre furnished to inform us of 
 the commencement of the noted 1260 years? for men would never agree where 
 they should commence. But if such a number be given, it may be expected to at- 
 tend the description of the papal beast, whose rise commences the 12G0. And here 
 such a number is in fact found."— See Smith's Key to the Rev, Lect, xviii. 
 
 Take then on this supposition, A. D. 666 and add the numbers referred to,— 
 666 ^ 1260 X 30 « 45= 2001, or the close of 2000; this will give 2000 before 
 Abraham, 2000 to Christ, and 2000 to the Millenium; so the natural week. Thus 
 also it has been observed, is according to analogy in the natural week, viz ' six days 
 fur labour, and the seventh for rest. 
 
 i 
 
13 
 
 \ 
 
 all men." And tliiis, from small beginnings in the time of Paul, do we 
 behold him advancing, till, " sitting in tl.t temple of God," he receives 
 at his footstool the homage of vassal sovereigns, astBuniing to himseif the 
 prerogative of Him, " by whom kinfis reign." And while therefore, 
 maney circumstances of strong probabilHy, might be adduced in sun[)ort 
 of ihe correctness of some of the dates rel'erred to, as the period of his 
 rise, yei, it may, till the day declare it, rest upcm an ij\ winch may 
 stamp with arrogance and vanity, the most boldly promulgated theories. 
 And those who may live, to Lj able to say in reference to the final 
 overthrow, " what haih God wrought" will not be without evidences, 
 that " it is the glory of God to conceal a thing." Hence the venerable 
 Ireneus wisely said, " it is surer and safer, to wait for the accomplish- 
 ment, than loo much to conjecture, and divine about it. When the end 
 shall come, then we shall know belter whence to date the beginning." 
 It has been amply shewn, I trust, that uncertainty yet rests upon the 
 date of Antichrist's rise, and the conclusion is in-^vitable, that we are yet 
 unprepared to assign xoith certainty, the period of its final overthrow. 
 
 But all difficulties and uncerlamiies vanivsh, before those far-sighted 
 men, who confiJently predict, thai in a few days " there shall be time no 
 longer." They have made the interesting discovery, that Antichrist, in 
 reference to all his prophetic characteristics, is now no more. This event 
 we are told, took place in 1798. And in proof thereof, we are further 
 told, that "since Napoleon then do'hroned the Pope, he has ceased to 
 persecute.^'' This idea rests upon the supposition, that temporal power, 
 is an essential Antiohristian feature ; an idea which, as shall be shewn 
 in the sequel is untenable, if 1798 be the time of his downfall. The 
 assertion, however, that this power, hath either ceased to persecute since 
 the time of Napoleon, or haih no more the genuine Antichristian features, 
 is wholly untrue. 
 
 Indeed the error is too glaring to require a formal refutation. It may 
 suffice to say, that, frequently since that time, has the Inquisition been 
 in operation.* And to what influence, but the genuine Antichristian, 
 are we to attribute the burning of the Bible of Protestants, in the most 
 public manner, but a ie\w months ago ; and that too in the immediate 
 vicinity of him who confidently declares Antichrist is fallen 7 It is 
 readily granted, ihat it is no more what it once was. In many countries 
 for example, where the pomp of ceremonies was once revered, it has 
 lost now, its imposing charm. No king now stands, as Henry IV. did, 
 bare-headed and bare-fooled, at the gate of his Holiness ; at»d none do 
 
 » The re-institution of the Inquisition of the Jesuits, and of monastic orders in 
 the 19tb century, is a retrogm 'o step in the progress of society. "—Rome in the 19th 
 century, vol. ill. p. 174. 
 
 " By the re-institution of the Inquisition, tlie roost diabolical engine of oppres- 
 sion and torture was brought into action again." — Keith's Signs of the Times. 
 
14 
 
 nenance as of old, at his mandate. But even vet, Antichristlan fea- 
 tures as delineated by Paul and others, dislinctly appear. Is not the 
 name blasphemy yet written in his foreheaii 1 Does he not yet literally 
 " sit in the te(ni)le of God"] At his election he is enthroned sull, in the 
 temple of St. Peter, and ''adoration is not only the act, but still the 
 word in use, when on that occa.sion, the Cardinals and Prices of the 
 church, prostrate themselves before him." In short, he still "exalts 
 himselfabovea".! that is called God, and worshiped." The consecrated 
 wafer called the host, is not God, but it is called God', when laid on tne 
 aitar in St. Peters, it is said to be " the very body ol Christ, and when 
 it is borne through the Streets, all true Catholics prostrate themselves in 
 adoration of it, yet the altar, upon which the host is la'd, is but the/oo^ 
 stool of him, who is thus " exalted above all that is calle.', God. Ue- 
 Bpite of all such evidence however, we are told that the number of his 
 
 days is completed. , . ^ • 
 
 I have been thus particular, both because the subject is new to 
 manv and without considerable illustration could not be comprehended, 
 and also because 1260 being part of the 2300 which Miller savs rer.ches 
 to the end of all time, and terminates this year, it plainly follows, that 
 80 long as the smaller number is not completed, the end cannot come. 
 
 But here it may be observed, that as in almost every main feature, 
 the theory is inconsistent with itself. It is often maintained, for exam- 
 pie thai ihe "time of the end" mentioned in Daniel, is the end of all 
 things, when Christ shaU appear ; but in other cases, ii is granted that 
 it means theendofthe Papal power, terminating 1798; nevertheless it 
 is plainly said, this power shall pros?per "till the indignation be accom- 
 plished."-Daniel, xi, 36. If, upon this principle, we admit that 2300 
 reaches to the end of all things, and that 1260 extends to the clcs3 of the 
 
 * There is a circumstance connacted with the propliotic numbers regarding the 
 beast, or Papal power, which has not only been generally overlooked but inatten- 
 tion to which has doubtless been the cause of the great discrepancy which I'astnnrk. 
 ed the various treatises upon the subject. The cuTumstauce is this, that the 1260 
 days are almost universally spoken of, as if they took their begmnmg from the rwe 
 of the tyranny so often described. Yet the words of Daniel, vu. 24, 2i>, plamly re- 
 late r.o/ to his rise, but to the time, when, having made war with the saints, they 
 were given into his hand. Accordingly, one learned author remarks that John ex- 
 pressly says, that " The time not of the witnesses prophesying, (for in part ol that 
 lime thev had power) but of their prophesying in sackcloth, should be twelve hun- 
 dred and sixty day8."-Rev. xi. 3. " And the persocuted wouian aftf •• her flight, 
 was to be actually in the wilderness," the same time, chap. x.i. G. Wherefore also 
 the 42 months, (the very same period), during which power was given to the beast, 
 Rev. xiii. 5, evidently ought not to be reckoned from his rise, or when the ten horns 
 received power with him, chap. ..vii. 12; but from the iuue oHn. having overcome 
 the saints, and of his being worshipped by all that dwell upon the earth, ch. xm. 7, i. 
 —Clarke's Evid. of Nat. and Rev. Religion. 
 
15 
 
 larger number, then, if the Papal years terminated 1798, so did the pre- 
 sent state of tlvngs. When this inconsistency is pressed, il .s a owed 
 that Antichrist is not g ^te destroyed ; for he is to - be destroyed nop 
 Miller, " l.y the brighm... of the Saviour's commg"-but he has let h s 
 dislinctive characters, having no civil power 1 h.s explanat.on only 
 involves the scheme more inextricably still ; for not only is .t opposed 
 lo oft^repeated assertions, re.ardmg his fall in 1798, but U rests upon the 
 supposition, that his essenlvd characteristic always has been the pos- 
 session of :hat power. We shall .rant it, .rnl what ,s rhe 7^"'^'; ^^j' 
 that we must come down at least to a date /ar beyond that wh.ch was 
 fixed on to make his days terminate wi l79S. 
 
 The foundation of the civil power of the Popes, was doubtless atd 
 in the revolution, in the year 728, yet, till th.at rule was acknowledged 
 by some foreign power, they could ordy be regarded as usurpers, whom 
 the first who had the means, might dethrone at pleasure At what 
 period then did this recognition take plac^ ] It v.^s not td ^^0' ^ !^"' 
 in the treatv between Gregory HI. and Charles Martel, plenipotentiary 
 of the Kir.g of France, the evil power of the Pope was plamly recog- 
 nized. This then is doubtless the era of the secular throne, and hu. 
 the date assigned by Miller, is untenable upon his P"";^-'r^« «//';' 
 power hrmi essential. As it has been already shewn, however, that 
 the possession of it is not essential to the Papal character, then observe 
 though it should be wrested before the spiritual dominion expire, or the 
 1260 years of the apostacy run out, the predictions of John wo"l; "oton 
 that account be affected ; becaus<^, he describes the duration of the spi~ 
 ritual or ecclesiastical, and not the secular power of the Pope. 
 
 ond. I proceed to notice another important part of the prophetic 
 outline to be filled up by events yet future I allude to ^^ J^rk'^^^^ 
 power, which is idenlified with the religion of Mahome The charac er 
 Lnd downfall of this dreadful enemy are also repeatedly and distmctly 
 given, both in Daniel and the Revelation. It is also to " perish with- 
 out h;nd," before the mystery of God be finished. This power, hough 
 but the shadow of what it once was, has not yet ceased to be "nJer the 
 influence of the '' king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark 
 sentences." IN'lore requires therefore to he done here, recording to the 
 prophetic word, before '' he that shall come will come. H^''^ «g^'"' 
 however, we are told, all we are to expect m reference to this, has been 
 
 * Most writers have adopted a later date, viz : A. D. 75o when he Pope a^^" 
 huelv shook off the authority of the Emperor; and Pep.n "^ France sent thU^^^^^^ 
 Ravenna and Pen.enapoli. to the Pope. B.U the civ.l power was aa pla.uly recog 
 nized in 740, as by any subseijuent transacuou. 
 
10 
 
 accompli«he.l. The Turkish power, like the Antichristian, is number- • 
 
 ed, according to Miller, o.w.ng ^!;«;|>!"g^J^^^;^^!:,, Singly (bretold, un- 
 The grad-ial wasting of the 1 iirlo^h power is ^'r'^^'^J') ' 
 
 derthe e rd.lem of drying up '^^^^f r"''''~^H;ment\ f thi Z- 
 though few will believe with Miller the ful «ccon,pl..hment of this p o 
 nhecw, every d.scerner of the iirnes will acknovvledge it to be ti a course 
 S c^wi'us ulfihnent. The kings, however, have not yet passed Us 
 channel. Who '• the Kings of the East" are, 1 shall not at present a^- 
 temo to shevv, because it is unimporlant in our present inquiry. I be^ 
 Ucvetrem, however, to be different characters f.om w^^.t they are taken 
 o le Iv Mi lerT-lH> supposes them to be all the znfiuel powersj gatl- 
 rin uJge'her, to decide 'tL final conflict with tl^ su .ects o. he M s- 
 «iah Waiving this, however, and supposing with '"'V^'*^ f ^^" ''^' 
 no ^doutand the 'river dried up, what are ^»-, '-'^^ -"\%JX. 
 is the field of muster? and what indications are there that '" a/cu; rfays 
 h conlt't shall be terminated? If the f .-->' ^ ^S tfa Id 
 commenced three or four years ago. Speaking of the sixth v al, and 
 qurng the above passage he says, "This preparations f^J ^ « la t 
 Teat battle which wdl take place at the pouring oui of the seventh v.al, 
 in the V a 839 or 40. At \he pouring out of the seventh vial, a vo ce 
 frorn tl e'Lne will pronounce the word, it is done. The kmgdoms of 
 irearh rd the go ernn.ents of the world, will be earned away, and 
 tir places not fou'nd,-Lect. xviii. Agab. alluding to ^^e -- ^^^^^ 
 he states the case more fully; quoting Rev. ^^'j.;^^' ^^^ '";;^^^^ 
 stranae assertion, that this gathering is the same spoken of n Mat . xxiv. 
 30 .fAnd before him shall be gathered all nations ; and he «hall sepa- 
 ra^;," &c It is unnecessary surely, to point out to any one, vv, h t le 
 B ble in his hand, this reckless confounding of things so obvioi^sly dis- 
 ^nct The .^athe ing in Malt, is that subsequent to the resurrection,-'.t 
 is tl *e a ,peaHn7df " all before the judgment-seat of Christ ; ' whereas 
 he othTaccoding to Miller himself, precedes the 'y-e^;^ '^^ t- 
 This hovvever, is aside from our main argument. In the context m 
 r Ibat'l ?<^1owing that just alluded to, he says "the seventh and la 
 vial of God's wrath will be poured into the air, about the >ea ly^O^ U 
 mv former calculations are correct, when this judgn en ^ U have a 
 quick and rapid circulation over the globe. Like the air, 'tj' Frv^^^ 
 evLry kingdom, circulate into every nation, sow the seeds of anarchy m 
 
 * It is remarkable that Mahon,et began his imposture in ^'^.^wVer Mahlme't 
 Empei^r consututcd the Pope universal Bi.hop. This was 606, when Mahomet 
 retired to his cave to forge his impostures. 
 
 + This idea of the Kings of the East is inconsistent with verse 14, where there 
 ,.e 1 ipl« oft diffllent cLuaCor in.ro.lnced. and are placed in contrast wUhKuigs 
 of the r^st Tho^e in verse J4, ueing tenned Kir>gs oj ihe cam, appear n.nch n,ore 
 ulely what he supposes, especially as they we-e to be mustered by the unclean sprnts 
 
17 
 
 re 
 
 re 
 
 ts 
 
 every society, and disorganize every bond of union antiong men."— Lect. 
 * XV. p. 321. Whether ail these things have taken place, every one can 
 judge. Observe, however, tliey were predicted, according to that sys- 
 tem of calculation, which exhibits ail things as accomplished in 43. If, 
 therefore, these conjectures have turned out to be incorrect, then out of 
 his own mouth is his theory refuted. And since the events he so confi- 
 dently expected, have not happened in 40, 41, nor even in 42, then, 
 apart from all other reasons, it is difficult to conceive how, with this fail- 
 ure in view, the consummation of all things can be looked for in 1843. 
 Before leaving this, I shall allow the author to adduce another confirma- 
 tion of what has just been advanced. Speaking of the " time of trouble" 
 noticed in Daniel, xii. 1, he remarks, " Mankind will, for a short sea- 
 son, give loose to all the corrupt passions of the human heart. No laws, 
 human or divine, will be regarded ; all authority will be trampled under 
 foot; anarchy will be the order of governments, and confusion fill the 
 world with horror and despair. Murder, treason, and crime, will be 
 common law, and division and disunion the only bond of fellowship. 
 Christians will be persecuted unto death, and dens and caves of the 
 earth will be their retreat. All things which are not eternal will be 
 shaken to pieces, that that which cannot be shaken may remain. And 
 this, if I am right in my calculations, will begin on or before A. D. 
 1839. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that 
 shall be found written in the book."— Lect. vii. How obviously does 
 the theory furnish the means of its own refutation !* 
 
 3rd. Another great event which, according to the outline of pro- 
 phecy, is to precede the Second Advent, is the extension of the kingdom 
 of Christ in the worldP This is a topic, respecting which, it is unne- 
 cessary much to enlarge ; because the promises upon the subject are so 
 mimerous, and the indications of their rapid accomplishment, are becom- 
 ing every day more abundant ; so much so, indeed, that many who fully 
 believe the Bible, may regard it as needless to adduce any proof. But 
 strange as it may seem to such, vsre are told, that here also all is now- 
 done that can be expected. All the « great and precious promises" of 
 the knowledge of the Lord covering the earth, are set aside by i\\e asser- 
 tion^ that the gospel has been preached to all the world. And this, we 
 are further told, is all that is implied, previous to " the end coming.''''— 
 
 * It cannot be deemed unfair to adduce these Lectures as authority, i-ather than 
 more receut publications, because they are the Text-hook still, notwithstanding ail 
 their inconsistencies. None of his followers found their conclusions on any other 
 ground than his " Chronology" and scheme of computing the 2300. Indeed the 
 Lectures furnish the whole materiel of the Lectures of others, as I have had ample 
 proof, by reading the Lecture as it was re-delivering. As might be expected, his au- 
 thority goes with many beyond the Bible. 
 
ir 
 
 It would be endless to attempt to adduce half the amazing variety of 
 paetjciges, which relate to the grouing empire, of the Redeemer on earth, 
 its universal extent and miraculous etVects. It if, however, very difacult, 
 from BO splendid and harmonious a list, to make a selection. To render 
 this more easy, as well as present the evidence iri a more distinct t-hape, 
 I shall iirrange my quotations under diflerent heads; and before proceed- 
 ing, let me urge the consideration, that what is to be adduced, is rtot the 
 opinion of man, but the " true word of God." I solicit attention, then, 
 
 1st. To the promises of the cn/ar^'-c7?icn^of the Church, and the 
 spreading of the gospel throughout the tvorld. But here, I may first 
 observe, that the proof adduced, in reference to the end of time by the 
 spread of the gos^pel, is simply the assertion, that to some of all nations, 
 the gospel has been preached ; and besides, that it has been translated 
 into all the various languages of the world, with the exception hi one or 
 two. Hear now the testimony of Scripture — "Ask of me, and I will 
 give the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth 
 for thy possession." — Paul, ii. 3. " All the ends of the world shall re- 
 membei., and turn unto the Lord : and all the kindreds of the nations 
 shall worship before thee." — Psalms, xxii. 27. " All nations whom 
 thou hast made, shall come and worship before thee, Lord ; and shall 
 glorify thy name." — Ixxxvi. 9. Mark this language — they shall not on- 
 ly all her ' — God's " way" shall not only be known among all nations — 
 but they shall all remember^ all turn, and all worship before him. Nay, 
 as if on purpose, to build up his people's faith, in reference to those 
 *' glorious things spoken of in Zion," and preclude all possibility of mis- 
 take, by any general accomplishment merely of the " things spoken," 
 God even specifies by name some of those places, otherwise the most 
 unlikely, ever to be blessed by the joyful sound. " The Lord shall be 
 known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day,and 
 shall do sacrilice and oblation ; yea they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, 
 and shall perform it, &c. Again, in that day shall Israel be the third 
 with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land j 
 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, blessed be Egypt my people, 
 and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." 
 Isaiah, xix. 21—25. Again, we are told, that the kingdom of the Mes- 
 siah should reach " from sea to sea," from the Meditennean that is, to 
 the Indian Ocean, " and from the river (Euphrates) to the ends of the 
 earth," or to China and the isles of Japan, known of old as the "ends of 
 the earth." 
 
 In like manner, when we turn to the New Testament, we are told, 
 that Christ endured the cross, and despised its shame, animated by the 
 joyful prospect of "bringing many sons to glory." — Heb. ii. 10. This 
 joy was prominently set before, him, in the ancient promise o( ' a people 
 willing in the day of his powci," resembling in number, as well aa in 
 
19 
 
 »>ii 
 
 glory and beauty, " the dew-drops from the womb of the morning 
 Psalms, ex. 3. Accordingly, he himself said, " I, if I be lifted up, will 
 draw all men to me." And to sum up this part of the evidence, we are^ 
 told, that just before the final appearing of the Messiah, in the clouds of 
 Heaven, the Seventh Angel sounded, " and there were great voices ir 
 Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of 
 our Lord, and of his Christ."— Rev. xi. 15, Have these promises been 
 yet fulfilled'? Shall we believe the assertion of man ^ or the testimony 
 of God 1 Judge ye. 
 
 I pass over those promises which relate to the glory of the church, 
 because, they occupy what may be called disputed ground. Millenarians, 
 as well as Millerites, may insist upon their application, to the period, 
 when they expect Christ to re\gn personally upon the earth. 
 
 2'1. Turn next then, to the promises of light, -nd knowledge, and 
 means of grace. And the time shall yet come we let ? , vhen " the earth 
 shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the earth''^ 
 Hab. ii. 14. And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts maKe unto all 
 people, (or, as in the orignal ;3eo;j/e*)t a feast of fat things — full of 
 marrow and of wines on the lees well refined. And he will de .roy in 
 this mountain the face of the covering cast over all peoples, and the veil 
 that is spread over all nations."— Isa. xxv. 6, 7. As no terms could 
 more appropriately point out the darkening effects upon the mind of igno- 
 rance, delusion and idolatry, than veil or covering, so nothing could more 
 unequivocally point out their ultimate and entire removal than the term 
 destroy, and as applied to all nations and people. In addition to this 
 may be noticed the declaration in Daniel, xii. 4, that " many shall run 
 It and frojand knowledge shall be increased ;" and in the present accom- 
 plishment of which, by the many active labours of faithful ministers 
 and missionaries, and the numerous Societies for the advancement of all 
 useful, as well as saving knowledge, we have a present pledge of the 
 filling up of all the rest. 
 
 Now glance briefly at the Effects of all this, as indicated in the 
 Word of Promise. They shall be most beneficial, extensive, and glo- 
 rious. The distressed conscience shall be comforted, the barren heart 
 made fruitful, and the beauties of holiness communicated, where former- 
 ly vice and deformity, alone were visible. — Psalms, xxii. 2, 3, 7. " The 
 wolf also shall dwell with tht lamb, and the leopard shall lie down 
 with the kid ana the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and 
 a little child shall lead them," &c. &c.— Isa. xi. 6, 9. The advocates of 
 the Second Advent in 43, hesitate not to ridicule the expectation of 
 Christians, in reference to such promises, and they have shamelessly 
 asserted, that we expect a literal accomplishment of all this. Nothing 
 can be moro contrary to truth : any person of ordinary understanding 
 
 * Lowth'a Trans. t Plainly pointing out Gentiles as well as Jews. 
 
20 
 
 may see, that from the nature of the case, such a passage must hejiiru- 
 ralive. All 'the animals alluded to, are wisely adapted m every respect, 
 for their several modes of life; and the iii.uincls with which they are 
 severally endowed, direct them to act in accordance ,vilh their organiz- 
 ation. Hence any change in their piiysical construction, is not for a 
 moment supposed : '' Every creature on earth, man alone excepted, 
 continues to the last, of that disposition, and retains unchanged, those 
 propensities which belong to its lature." But this beautiful imagery is 
 nevertheless, happily fitted to express the renovation of human passions 
 and the completeness of moral transformation. They beautifully illus- 
 trate the reign of peace on earth, vvhen men shall beat their swords into 
 plough-shares, ^..J their spears into pruning-hooks,— when they shall 
 
 " Hang the trumpet in the hall, 
 And study war no more." — !• u ii- 4. 
 
 Hos. ii. 18. 
 
 Such are the general outlines of a great variety of most interesting 
 prophecies, partly accomplished, partly fulfilling, but which remain to 
 be completed; nor can we doubt that every part of this sublim'^ outline 
 the hand oUiine will fill up ; for thus sailh the InielVHness, " my word 
 shall not pass till all shall be fulfilled." The certainty is founded upon 
 the clearness of the prediction, and the absoluteness of the promise. It 
 is not a subject of mere ojnnioji, nor is it beset with obscurity and svp- 
 posilion, like the theory I oppose, but is exhibited in terms as simple as 
 the events predicted are desirable and glorious. 
 
 But suppose for a moment, that none of these promises exist, still, 
 the publication of the Gospel, which they affirm with such confidence 
 has been made to all the world, cannot be proven. I trust none here 
 are so ignorant of the world's history, and of missionary enterprise, as to 
 deny that the Gospel has been published in all the great divisions of the 
 world. But this is far from enough, to meet the terms of the promise j 
 for the Gospel is not merely to run through a country, or a continent, 
 and then disappear — leaving no better effects from its presence, than 
 what is seen in the empty channel of a deceitful brook-~\t is to become 
 water " to swim in, a river that cannot be passed over.'' Or, to change 
 the emblem, the stone cut out of the mountain is to fill the whole earth. 
 So the knowledge of the Lord is to cover the earih, we have seen, as 
 completely, as the channels of the sea.'^ But besides the want of con* 
 
 * Some faint idea of the state of the world, in this respect, may be obtained by 
 a single instance. The Island of Bombay, near the west coast of Hindoostan, has 
 a population, according to a late census, of 161,550 ; besides 4,300 British, who may 
 be called Christian, there are 11,500 Portuguese, Catholics and Armenians; still 
 leaving 145,750 in heathen darkness. Yet, owing to its situation in reference to the 
 trading world, its state cannot be so dark as inland places. The knowledge of the 
 Lord has not yet W/ covered the earth. 
 
 ■• 
 
 » t 
 
" 
 
 » •» 
 
 21 
 
 cord with the terms of the proinisoH, the asseriioii catuiot ho made good. 
 When, and by what iiistrumcntnlitieis was the Gospel proclaimed to the 
 many darkened tribes of the North American Indians'? or to ifie equally 
 benighted tribes of Central and Soulher.i America? to iho great mass of 
 the New Zealanders ? or to the iidiabitants of Central Africa ? When 
 did Ethiopia, in the fulnesa of the promise, *' stretch out her hands to 
 God 1" When did the millions in Independent Tartary, China, and 
 Jjpan, "remember and turn to the Lord f When did the numerous 
 is/es of the Pacific and Southern Oceans W(til for Messiah's law? or 
 when did the various castes and kindieds of the Hindoos and the 
 Aflghans worship before him? The oidy reply they can return must 
 be unfounded assertion s,\\\\. Certairdy, those who can believe what is 
 so destitute of all evidence must have a credulity nearly as hurtful as 
 infidelity itself; for in this case it is belief in that which is not only- 
 unsupported by faclj but which gives the lie to the promises of God. 
 Similar remarks might be made regarding the publication of the Scrip- 
 tures into the various languages of the nations. What a pity it is that 
 the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies, throughout all 
 their numerous branches, should not have been made aware of the fact, 
 that they might be prevented from wasting their gigantic eilorts and 
 misapply their means, in attenpting to accoiiiplish that regarc ;)g which 
 the notable words are employtJ, " It is done .'" 
 
 4M. I proceed now to the last event in the \ |>lietic ouUine which 
 I can notice at present ; and it is one presenting « field of vast and im- 
 pressive dispensations of Providence in the world, before the " second 
 and glorious appearing of our Lord." I refer to the outcast house of Is- 
 rael. Although Scripture were silent respecting the future history ofthia 
 singular people, a mind accustomed to reflect upon the Divine disper>sa- 
 tions, would almost naturally, I think, infer that something very remark- 
 able remains to be developed res^necting them. For who can behold 
 them scattered, according to prophxy, among all, yet remaining separa- 
 ted from all. and not see a constant miracle in operation? And when 
 we turn to the Gospel, and find it written that " all Israel shall be 
 saved," we have, in their present condition, a sure [)ledge of its accom- 
 plishment. We are told, however, the conversion of the Jews is never 
 to be expected;" that there is not in the Bible a promise regarding them 
 as a people;" that all the prophetic intimatious respecting them, refer to 
 spiritual Israel only — the seed of Abraham by faith. Of the agreement 
 of such assertions with the Word of God, I shall proiluce such evide' .j 
 as may enable every one to judge. And observe, that here again, the 
 case is to be met by documentary evidence, and not by my opinion^ 
 which is worth nothing, except in so far as it is borne out by the Lav) 
 and the Testimony: if I speak not according to them, it is because there 
 is no truth in me. It should also be observed, that all that ought to be 
 expected is but a meagre selection from the many references to this in- 
 teresting subject with which the VVord of God abounds. 
 
22 
 
 Before aJducn.g at.y evidence, it is requisite to lay down a Bimp e 
 nrinciplo for an in)puilial inteiprctaiiou of such prophecies; a pnnc.ple 
 U ohvious and rea^'onahle as to cumn.end itself to every mte .gent m.nd, 
 ond which has accordingly been, I believe, universally admitted by those 
 who seek to understand -what the will of the Lord is" upon such points. 
 The principle is this-that those portions of prop .ecy which have 
 a'ron<. . betM. fulfilled in ;!'.e l.istor- of the Jewish peoi-le, are to be taken 
 as" the surest guide for ascertaining the meaning ol those porUons which 
 yet remain to be accomplished ; so that if in the one part the lulfilment 
 be literal, we mu.t l-ok for a literal fulfilment in the other also. To 
 suppose that one part of a prediction is to be taken /<^erfl% and the 
 other part of it converted into an allegory, would be to maKC ihe Bible 
 the most inexplicable of all writings, and indocd would confound al 
 language. Upon the same principle, the d;tTorent parts of a>gwre must 
 have a uniformity of interpretation instead of relemng the first part to 
 one subject, and 'the rest of it to another. ,.. i- 
 
 Now, then, ii on reading prophecy, we find it predicted in most 
 express terms, that the Jeus were to be cast off from being God s pecu- 
 liar people- t.^rn from their beloved land, scatterer' among all nations, 
 yet separ..ed from all, treated with scorn, and loaded with reproach ;-- 
 and if, on -.oning the page of history, we find the whole venfitd with 
 surprising mi.H'tene.s, can we hesitate to believe, that what remauis of 
 the^r prop, -^tic history shall be accomplished as fully 1 Yet, in follow- 
 ing the outline of their history, as sketched by the seers of old, we find 
 it declared in the same explicit manner, that they shall be reinstated in 
 the Church of God, and invested with an honour and a glory which had 
 no parallel even in ihtir days of bygone magnificence. « When we see, 
 says a late writer, '' that God has magnified his faithfulness in giving the 
 dark side of their prospective history so complete a verification, shalvve 
 think so harshly of his chaiacter, or so meanly of the prophetic word, as 
 to suppose that he will not verify to the letter the other also ? 
 
 Guided by this principle then, I assert, «nd now proceed io prove, 
 that the Jews a5 a people, shnll become the people of God-in one vast 
 body members of the Chrisium Clwrch. Till the pretended discoveries 
 bearincr upon '43, few, if - - ---. rs in ScKpture ever doubted this.— 
 Whether they shall be restored to their ancient heritage or not, has occa- 
 sioned, and may vet cause diversity of opinion ; but as to their u Itinriate 
 conversion, there' has been no difference of senhment, nor would there 
 now I believe, had not th r propiietic history stood m ihe way of a 
 fond theory. It is declared then, that the Jewish people as such, shall 
 « no more be termed Forsaken ; neither shall their land any more be 
 termed Desolate ; but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land 
 Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married, 
 &c — Isa Ixii. 4, 5. That the Jews are the subject of the prophecy is 
 
 ' '• 'inf'.tinn between them and 
 
 pi 
 
 am to every one vv 
 
 ho will observe the 
 
-rh 
 
 23 
 
 ihe Genlilee, in the second verse. Turn ! ack to chapter xi. of the same 
 hook, anil the same truth i'- leclnred in langunge not exhibiiing the lea 
 eeniblance of poetical structure or of figurative caibellishniuiit. but in all 
 the distinciness of historical narrtitive ; vciise II," It stmll come to pass 
 in that day that tlie Lord sliall set his hand again t!ie second time, to 
 recover the remnant of liis people, which «hull he left from Assyria, and 
 from Egypt, and from Pat'iroe and from Cush,and from Elam, and from 
 Shinar, and from Hamalh. and from t!ie islands of the sea j and he shall 
 set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the oulcnsts of Ib- 
 rael, and gather together the di.-pcrsed of Judah, from \\h' four corners 
 of the ear;h." This cannot even be twisted to apply to iheir deliverance 
 from the Babylonish captivity, or to any event in Xhe'wpast historv. The 
 reuirn from Babvlon was confined, \> 'h a few exccptitins, to the house 
 of Judah ; and even in reference to tlt..-i, it was «o far from extending 
 to those lands here specified, that it scarcely uache'.'; beyond Assyria. — 
 Notl.ing then can be more certain, than this glorious restoration to the 
 Church of God, in their yet undeveloped li'^oiy , Even that ancient 
 promise, that in them "all nations shall he blesst'd," has never yet been 
 fully verified. T.^e Gentile world has indeed by their means had many 
 benefits imparte ' to them, but they are but a partial fulfilment of the -•- 
 nr.ise, compared with that " unrivalled glory wh'ch is yet to be con n- 
 Irated in them, and to emanate //"Ci them." In proof of wh'ch, turn to 
 Hos. i. 10, 11, " Yet the number of the children of Israel ohall bo as the 
 sand o*" the sea which cannot be measured or numbered; audit shall 
 come to pabs, that in the place where it was said unto them, ' Ye are 
 not my people,' there it shall be said unto them, ' Ye are the sons of 
 t'le living God,' " &c. Who are the subjects of this prophecy no un- 
 biased enquirer can doubt ; for they are spoken of under the names of 
 Judah, and Israel, the two distinctive branches of the Jewish nation, in- 
 cluding the whole natural seed of Israel. Of them it is plainly testified 
 that they shall become "the sons of the living God." But surely it is 
 unnecessary to multiply evidence in a case so plain. Turn then for a 
 little, to the testimony of the Spirit upon the subject, in the New 
 Testament, and an instance or two here may s-iffice. Paul address- 
 ing the Corinthians, 2d epistle, iii. 16, and speaking directly of the Jews, 
 plainly afhrms, that the rciV of spiritual blindness which for ages has 
 covered their hearts, sh.dl be iuken away., when they shall iurn to the 
 Lord. And that they shall turn, he distinctly shews, Rom. xi. 26, 27. 
 For nr; vily is it there affirmed that nil Israel shall be saved, but that 
 an im^'iant stipulation in God's ancient covenant with tl em was, to 
 turn away ungodliness from Jacob.* 
 
 " The Aposlle. in alluding to Isaiah lix. 20. 21, abri('ges, or giv's the general 
 «^se of the original. 
 
J 
 
 - 24 
 
 The case then is so plain, that we cannot wonder it should have 
 been hitherto universailv admitted. The only question which may natu- 
 rally arise ..-arding the things promised, is-When ? By what specific 
 means, or at "what particular time, the " De'iverer shall turn away un- 
 godliness troni Jacob," we are not inforn.ed ; but we can ascerlam that 
 it will be attended with most glorious results unto the Gentdes : which 
 shews that it will be previous to the universal diffusion of the bospel 
 among the latter. For. says the Aposde, i:! the preceding context, v. Id, 
 " if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall 
 the receiving of them be but life from the .lead ?» How the return of the 
 Jews will thus conduce to the conversion of the remaining heathen, we 
 cannot vet fully understand ; but this we learn, that they shall be a 
 blessing in no ordinary way, to those ignorant ol God. " The remnant 
 of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord. 
 —Mich V 7 One respect in which they shall have this influence !3 
 obvious,'from the circumstance that, in the character of Twm^onanw, 
 they will be the honoured instruments of converting many to God. In 
 past times, none were so efficient in this wodc, as appears from the little 
 DPocrress made in evangelizing the world since the christianized Jews 
 Went forth and fesfjfied ihat Jesus urns C/irisL « I will send those that 
 escape of them into the naiions, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that dravv the 
 bow to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar otV, that have not heard my 
 fame, that have not seen my glory ; and they shall declare my glory 
 among the G entiles. --h^. Ixvi."l9.* This illustrious event then-" the 
 gatheSna" of outcast Israel, is what may be expected with the utmost 
 confidence ■ and the time determined in the Divine counsels, the "signs 
 of the times" seem to say is not far distant. In the meantime, it be- 
 comes u« to wait in silent" awe, but with assured expectation, lor the 
 determinations of infinite wisdom Thus far then, I trust, it has been 
 proved, that in the interpretation of tiie prophetic outline, those who 
 entertain the expectation of the Second Advent at present, do g.-eatly err. 
 
 We come then to the Third Department, viz :— To advert to some 
 of the fundamental errors of the system, exhibit a few of Us numerous 
 inconsistencies, and expose its dangerous tendency. 
 
 Were it not that the theory of Miller has been so extensively em- 
 braced, and its diflerenl points so tenaciously adher-l to, this division ot 
 the subiect might be dispensed with, at least in so far as it is designed to 
 point out the errors of the svstem. For surely whatever is so opposed 
 to the most express declaration of the Word of God, must ue untrue.— 
 
 * The converts to Christianity in the latter days will be proud to acknowledge 
 their relation to t!>e J nv., as their fathers and mothers in Cluist The follownig 
 !ex!s merit particular attention : haiah xlix, 18,22: liv.1,3; Iv.o; almost all xv. ; 
 mid Zech. viii. 23. 
 
 I 
 
25 
 
 ^ 
 
 Leat, however, it may be supposed that the basis of the scheme is 
 correct if we leave it unas-^ailed, we shall refer at once to those passages 
 in Daniel out of which the whole theory seems to be drawn. Turning 
 then to vii. 25, 20, we find an account of the extent and duration of the 
 anti-christian power ; and the latter is said to be " a time, and times, 
 and the diviJing of lime." A year is universally the measure of time ; 
 and, according to the usual scriptural computation, there are 12 months 
 in a year and 30 days in a month. The period spoken of therefore, as 
 Miller has correctly enough shown, in common with all writers upon 
 the subject, is three and a half prophetic years. Thus time — 360 days, 
 i. e. years, times just the double or 720 years, and half a time or half a 
 prophetic year— 180, and their sum of course 1'260. We have thus the 
 number which occurs so often both in Daniel and Revelations, as we 
 have formerly seen. And it is to be observed that it is applied alike to 
 the Anti-christian and Mahometan powers. 
 
 Three years after this vision, another was revealed to Daniel, viii. 
 ch., where, under different emblems, the same powers noticed in the vii. 
 are represented as rising and falling in succession ; till we come to v. 9, 
 which introduces another power not noticed before, and which I shall 
 in a little very briefly explain. In the mean time, we are entering upon 
 the consideration of Miller's scheme of compnting the numbers which 
 are given in v. 14, as maruing the term during which the power alluded 
 to was to trample under foot " the sanctuary and host." Of this large 
 number, 2300, the 1260 are, I believe, universally allowed to constitute 
 a part; and most likely they terminate at the same time. Now, to 
 prove that this large number terminates in 1843, we must proceed with 
 the author of the theory to the next ch. v. 24- ; and as this constitutes 
 properly the j^>5^ step, or starting point, of die whole, it merits very 
 particular examination. The 70 weeks here noticed are equal to 490 
 years, and are atlirmed by Miller to be the fr':t part of the 2300 ; and 
 since the commencement of the former is g'ven, by the reference to the 
 " (/ecvee," there can be no difficulty in ascertaining when the latter will 
 terminate. Now, mark the process by which we are to come to the 
 conviction of the truth of this theory. 1st. We are recpiired to believe, 
 upon the aulhor''s oaaurance, that the reference is to the former vision. 
 2nd. That the 70 weeks, or 490 years, are to be subtracted from 2300. 
 By doing so, the result will be 1810 ; and as the 490 reach from the 
 decree to the death of Christ, add 33 years for his life, and of course the 
 result will be 1843. All the theory wants, then, is ^foundation, which, 
 however is a very important thing. Observe then 1st. That there is no 
 ground for the idea that the two numbers alluded to have any connection. 
 The things connected with the large number were revealed to Daniel no 
 less than fifteen years before those connected with the seventy weeks, 
 which makes tlie supposition at least very improbable. But to make 
 the case look more plausible, we must bear in mind that Miller has also 
 
26 
 
 discovered thai Daniel vn-s meditating upon the former vision and had 
 fallen into a mistake upon the subject, and that Gabriel was sent for the 
 express purpose of putting liini right. And we are further told, ihat if 
 he did not give Daniel the starting point oi' ihe 2301). ihen he did not do 
 what he was sent to do. This might all seem satisfactory enough if we 
 had any evidence of its Iruih, which we have not. It happened to be 
 the |)rophecy of Jeremlali, and not \\\q previous vision at all, that Daniel 
 was meditating upon, ix. 2. In the lace of this, however, Miller inti- 
 mates it was no such thing; and if he has better means of judging, 
 respecting the pious exercises of the " man greatly beloved," then you 
 will agree with me in concluding, he is '• wiser tha,! Daniel." Great 
 stress 'is also laid upon the definite expression, ike vidon, which the 
 angel wished him to consider. But if this indicates a reference to any 
 preceding visior:, then the probability is far greater that it was a still 
 prior vision, as Paniel remarks that it was the same angel he had seen 
 in " ihe vision at the beginning;' which was i!:*^ one in which the 
 " time, times, and dividing of time" occurs, and not 2300. 
 
 Again, as to the authority for subtracting the 490 years, it rests upon 
 a stray criticism of a Hebrew word which Miller and his followers have 
 in{ hold of (for they cannot examine for themselves generally). The 
 term rendered " de!er mined'''' it is said means cvt off, and hence the 
 thought struck them to cat it of from 2300 ; for, says Miller, " I cannot 
 see any thing else to cut it off from." The fiict then that he cannot see 
 any thing else suitable, is a second argument. Now although it is, I 
 think. aTorced rendering of the term, I have no objection to admit it; 
 and what ihen ? Why only look to the words of the angel, and you can 
 see, I trust, what filler couhl not, viz. that it is cut off'' upon Daniel's 
 people, aiid the holy city." That is, plainly, set off w appointed for 
 them, as the period in which certain things specified would take place.* 
 The term evidently implies appointing or making out, the limits of a 
 thing. And this is at once consistent with the terms employed, and 
 with the acceptation of it where it any where else occurs, and also with 
 the corresponding Greek term employed in translating it.f 
 
 ** The, e are six distinct events, for the accomplishing of which the 70 vvep'is are 
 said U- ''- ffetcrmincd. Isl. To finish Inuisgression ; probably nitMning the filling 
 up, on me part of the Jews, of the cnp o^ their iniquity. 2n(i. To make an end of 
 am, or sin ofering. 3rd. To make expiation or reconciliation for iniquity. 4th. To 
 bring in everlasting righteousness. 5th. ".'o seal up or I'nlfil the vision and prophecy 
 (orig. prophet), by the accomplishment ot all i.i himself. Cth. To anoint the most 
 holy. (See Pridean.x Connex. P. I. B. V.) 
 
 f Mkliadis, whose nnthoritv in such n case every scholar will admit to begrea% 
 says the term means wlifit is ih'ddo.d vpon (Snpplem. p. 484) ; and the Targnm o» 
 Esth. iv. 5. says Esther called Daniel ll/iUich (i. e. ddcrmintrl), because accorduig to 
 the word of hid uioulh were determined the affltira of the Kingdom. 
 
27 
 
 ■' 
 
 It has thus been shown that the Jirst, and of necessity the most 
 important, position in the scheme is assum€d,and that m carrying it out 
 violence is done to the plain words of Scripture. , , i 
 
 I proceed next to notice briefly that power already alluded to, 
 respecting which these numbers are given; and I allude to it, not so 
 much because of any peculiar bearing it has in this case, as on account 
 of the obvious misapplication of it, which has been made in Millers 
 scheme. The power is described, ch. viii. 9, H, and !^3, 2d. Ihis 
 power, or little horn, was fur long pretty generally understood ol Anti- 
 ochus Epiphanes, in whose career, though brief, it was thought there 
 were so many remarkable coincidences that he must have been intended. 
 This api)lication of it is now, as the case has been more examined, about 
 as universally discarded. Indeed the objections to it seem insuperable, 
 and too numerous to be noticed here. It may be observed, however, 
 that a horn is never taken for a single person ; it always s gnifies a new 
 kinerdom ; that of Antiochus was an old one. He reigned over one ol 
 ihe^ four horns, whereas the little horn was a fifth. Again, tlus horn 
 cast the sanctuary to the gmund ; Antiochus left it standing. Besides, 
 when he stood up, the Jewish transgressors had not come to the lull. 
 Miller, following some others, applies it to the Papal poiccr. Now, it 
 h remarkable that the locality in which the horn rose did not prevent 
 this misapplication. It arose within the boundaries of the lormer empire 
 c'- Alexander ; whereas the Papal power, it is well known, arose in the 
 west. Faber, in his learned dissertations, has adduced the mo^t abun- 
 dant evidence of the api)lication to the Mahometan power. One ol the 
 Second Advent writers seems to have observed the inconsistency re- 
 garding locality, and he gets quit of i* by the assertion that Alexander s 
 dominion did not include the region where the false Prophet began, lo 
 this it i*« enough to oppose the high authority of Gibbon, that ''when 
 Mahomei reared his holy standard, Yemen was a Provinceof the Persinu 
 empire." And, accordingly, ever since that time, Mahometanism has 
 been the exceeding great, prospering and prevailing power, os'er the 
 countries that formed the various kingdon.s that succeeded to the 
 Grecian empire of Alexander, the conqueror of Persi... Were it neces- 
 Barv, the api»lication of the various characteristics might be pointed out 
 at 'length, but to all acquainted with his history they will be quickly 
 
 obvious. , ^ . • .u o»«m 
 
 Another very conspicuous error, and of great moment in the systenj 
 of Miller, is the mistaking or substituting of the Pagan ^ot ihe Jewisfi 
 sacrifice. This error is so obvious, from a companion of tne ditlerent 
 text«, that every one must see it at a glance. All the nonces '" Daniel, 
 as well as those in Revelation that are parallel, show that 1-260 is the 
 term of the church's desolation, if the Pagan sacrifice is intended, tne 
 Pagan sanctuary must also be meant. The application of our Lord ol 
 the prophecy to the holy place at Jerusdem, is more to the purpose 
 
28 
 
 than any refutation however lengthened. And I have noticed the case, 
 as an illustration of the manner by which the tiieory is built up by a 
 series of supposilicns and assertions^ opposed by the letter as well as 
 the terror of the word of God. 
 
 Once more here, it is very generally known that great stress is laid 
 upon the words time of the end, already mentioned. Let ch. xii, 6, be 
 examined, and it will at once be seen that it is not the ei'd of a period, 
 but of the wonders, which is the object of inquiry. It is not the ejid of 
 the ii?ne, but the time of the end. And accordingly the duration is 
 specified, evidently indicating the duration from the rise to the ex'in^tion 
 of the power spoken of.* Hence it cannot with any propriety be applied 
 to the end of all things. 
 
 I have now to observe that there is another period of 1335, reach- 
 ing on other 45 years, and with rei^ard to this period, when spoken of 
 at the close of Daniel's [)-tphccy, it is very remarkable, and as if to 
 quash ah premature and presumptuous sjjeculation, it is only said in 
 general terms, " blessed is he that waiteth and cometh ;" whereas in 
 reference to the preceding numbers, there is uniformly some event of 
 importance connected witli them. But as it approaches the closing up 
 of the /ision, it becomes more and more indistinct — the Father keeping 
 the " times and seasons'' still more comj)letfly " in his own hand." 
 
 Till this jieriod, or the final developement of the whole scheme of 
 prophecy, the seasons may not be perfectly seen in all their due relations 
 and proportions. But this we ought to be certain of, that God *' will do 
 his work, his strai ^e work ;" and after the instances which have been 
 adduced of mis-^ itement and mis-application, this pait of the subject 
 cannot be better concluded than in the words of Keith, in his Signs of 
 the Times, where, alluding to Daniel's position after being partially 
 strengthened by the angel, he says, '" The sight (set upon his knees and 
 the palms of his hands) may well shew us hov human imaginations 
 have here to he prostrated ; how tiie idle strife rewords befits not such 
 a subject, and that it becomes not any man to vaunt of any interpreta- 
 tion of any word of his. And whoever may here receive strength to 
 stand, may well remember that Daniel stood trembling, and sympathise 
 with his emotion. It is not at least for the pen of muu to niter or mis- 
 place that which was spoken by the tongue of an angel at the command 
 of Christ." 
 
 From the numerous inconsistencies with which the theory abounds 
 I shall select one other feature here. 
 
 I 
 
 * And that Miller himself understands it in no other light, except when to serve 
 a purpose, appears from Ills statement that it i-i tlie term the Pope had " to tread 
 upon th Church by his civil authority" (Lect. vi. p. 93) ; but this time of tlie end he 
 has made 1798 ! ! ! 
 
29 
 
 It is a prominent part of the theory, that when tlie Saviour comes 
 the ricrhteous dead will be raised and the righteous living changed, the 
 wicke°d destroyed, and all the raised and changed shall live and reign 
 with Christ lUOO years. To this I shall attend as brieny as possible. 
 
 The point long in dispute, whether Christ shall reign personally, is 
 not of much moment here. The passage upon which the idea just 
 alluded to rests, is Rev. xx. 4, 5. The passage is highly figurative, and 
 too obscure to be made the foundation of a positive opiiuon. " I^o wise 
 man would oppose a vision in which the descrii)tion is professedly figu- 
 rative to the plain declaration of Scripture, that the rosurrection will tal:e 
 place at the second coming of Christ." But supposing IMiller's vie'v 
 correct respecting \he first resurrection, unfortunately for the theory, it 
 is a resurrection of souls, not of bodies. The \erm first is probably used 
 here, as it often is, for the best, or that which is excellent ; " bring forth 
 the best (literally the first) robe, Luke xv. 22. The literal resurrection 
 is of bodies, this of spirits. U a " living dog" be more excellent than 
 a "dead lion," because it is animated, how great is that excellency 
 which is communicated to the soul when it is made spiritually alive, and 
 has the divine image impressed upon it. What can it then mean but a 
 figurative or spiritual resurrection 1 A resurrsciion of the "cause for 
 which the martyrs died, and included with them of course are all the 
 righteous dead. They shall live in their successors, as Elijah did in 
 John : which is quite a common figure in the Bible. Now, Miller and 
 h's followers just flatlv deny that there is any such thing as a « figurative 
 resurrection" in Scripture. Does not Paul, as we have already seen, 
 describe the restoration of his kinsmen to the Church, oy this figure? 
 Isaiah makes use of the same figure, ch. xxvi. 19 ; and E^^ekiel des- 
 cribes in the same way the remarkable reviving which was to take place 
 in the Church upon her return from Babylon, ch. :<xxix. 11, 1>. And 
 as to these " souls" reigning with Christ, it is supposed that he is to 
 dwell " bodily" with them during 1000 years. Did not Enoch walk 
 <« with" God ] But who ever supposed that Enoch was either then in 
 heaven, or God ''with him" on earth, otherwise than by his gracious 
 presence f But the idea is groundless : 1st. Because there are only two 
 appearances of Christ on earth mentioned, and they are always spoken 
 of so as to exclude a third. The second is always connected with the 
 final judgment. 2nd. Such a reign is incompatible with the glory into 
 which he has now entered. The personal reign is also supposeu ; hovv- 
 ever, from ch. xxi. p, " the tabernacle of God is with men." Yet the 
 words seem emploved as if on purpose lo remind us of an ancient pro- 
 mise thus fulfilled, Ez.ch xxxvii. 27, "My tabernacle also shall be with 
 them." And it has been the privilege of genuine beuevers, in ail ages, 
 to have Him,'-wlio dwells in the high and holy place," with them. 
 The saints then, in the times spoken of, shall reign " with Ch-,st, in 
 their government of themselves by his spirit and laws, and shall have 
 
30 
 
 fellowship " '.vith him" in his spiritual and invisible government of the 
 world. As might bi3 expected after what has beeti said, the texts 
 adduced, as "direct" proof of Clirist's personal reign with his people, 
 seem io me at least to say nothing to the purpose. But you car. judge. 
 They are such as, " If I go and |)iepare a i)lace for you, I will come 
 again and receive you to myself," &c. And did he not intimute the 
 "locality" of this abode, "with him," when he went to his Father's 
 house "to prepare mansions 1" And when he comes again, it is not 
 to dwell "vviih them" here, but in the very terms of the texts adduced 
 by Miller and others, "to receive them to himself." And as to the 
 "second" resurrection, implied by the fi;st alluded to, it is supposed 
 to be that of the wicUed dead to be raised after 1000 years, when 
 Satan sh;ill be loosed It seems equally plain, however, that it is a 
 resurrection of the " spirits" of the wicked ; they in their turn shall live 
 in their successors. Like S:itan himself, they were put under restraint 
 for a season ; but by his influence, when let loose, the enemies of the 
 Church will again speedily appear. And they, doubtless, " will consti- 
 tute the spawn or germ from which the mighly army of Gog will be 
 raised. During the 1000 years they shall be like serpents stiffened with 
 the cold, and incajjable of harm ; but at the end of that period they will 
 revive." Bui, supposing we admit thf> theory, I ask — 
 
 1st. What is Satan to work upon, when let loose? The whole 
 populr.tion is then to be not only holy, but immorfal, and of course glo- 
 riou-j. This Miller expressly says, and quotes as evidence the promise 
 that " when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown 
 of glory that (tideth not away." If this is to be their condition, how can 
 Satan deceive them? We are gravely told, he " will only try, and 
 would deceive if possible the very elect, but it is not possible." Yet 
 words cannot be more plain than those which declare he shall succeed, 
 — and Gog and Mngog are mentioned as those he shall beguile, and with 
 them compass tlie camp of the saints of the Most High.* 
 
 2d. It is at variance with many intimations r^gnrding the resurrec- 
 tion and judgment scenes. " Man both down and riselh not again, till 
 the Heavens be no more."— Job, xiv. 12 5 but according to the theory, 
 the righteous at least are ♦o be raised before this event. We read only 
 of one summons, and " the hour cometh when all that are in their 
 
 * To .suppose, as the Miiierites do, that Gog and Magog are the wicked, long 
 dead and " gone to their own place,"' whom Satan is to deceive as he was wont to 
 do on earth, conveys ideas regarding the Divine being and the state of mind of those 
 who had gone to etein;il death, too sliocking and unscriptiiral to be adequately 
 characterised. Long before tiiis period will the multitudes of the lost have Irnrned, 
 by awful experience, the woes which rest on those who " strive with Uieir Maker." 
 Besides, Satan'3 end in their deception shall have by that time been completely 
 sferved. 
 
31 
 
 graves shall hear, and come foith— some to ihe resurrection of life, and 
 others to damnation ;" evidence enough, that at that hour there shall 
 still be two cAmes of bodies to raisti. I am aware that the words of 
 Scripture are adduced to ihc contrary : and if words only, without con- 
 nection is to be regarded, it can be proved. The pas^sage adduced, how- 
 ever, is nothing to the purpose. 1st Tliess iv. 16, 17. There are just 
 two things spoken of here, viz: the mm^ of the righteous dead, ai)(\ 
 the changing of the righteous living; the Apostle says, the latter shall 
 not an^c/>afe the former ;" the dead in Christ shall ms first ;" and 
 « then" after that, but how long he does not say, " we which art- alive 
 and remain, shall be caught up logedier with them in the clouds." VVhe- 
 ther the wicked shall be raised with, or ages after the righteous, this pas- 
 sage gives no information— \.\\^i must be drawn from other sources.— 
 Such, however, is the reckless manner in which Scripture is made to 
 teach the doctrine of men.* ^ 
 
 It now only remains for me, under this division, to allude to trie 
 evils of this system ; and after what has been exhibited of its departure 
 from scripture testimony, what requires to be said ? Yet hundreds are 
 still receiving it, despite of all the disregard manifested to the Word.— - 
 Had not the lamentable fiict been so obvious, one might have supposed 
 it must have condemned itself wherever the light of the Bible shone upon 
 it. 1st. We have seen it is maintained by a series of assertions with- 
 out evidence, and with manifest wres//no- of the Scripture; and what 
 must be the result t In every age there have been some, alas ! who 
 have daringlv called in question the truth of the Bil)le, and from time to 
 time, with scorn, have demanded <' where is the promise of His conri- 
 ing?" and when the day shall declare the error of this scheme, as speed- 
 ily it will do, these scoffers shall be fur. ished with another weapon 
 atrainst the truth, which they may employ with peculiar force. It has 
 been maintained, with a boldness seldom, if ever displayed before, ^not 
 only that the theory is supported by the Bible, but that " it is Bible. — - 
 And as infidelity will not have the candour to examine the sacred book, 
 nor discriminate between the real messenger of God and those who run 
 unsent, it will boldly conclude that all are alike false,— that since this 
 has failed, the Bible is " a cunningly devised fable." 
 
 » Another notable instance of tliis kind, is tlie a'tempt to 3et aside the reference 
 of some ter-ns In Matt. xxiv. to the destriiclion of Jenisalem. Foi instance, " this 
 generation" is not, we are told, the generation then living ; but Christ's disciples, 
 the generation of the faithful to the end of time. Suppose they were, why exhort 
 such to flee to the mountains at his coming, since their redemption would tlien be 
 nigh. Or if it was the wicked who were told to flee, reconcile that with Christ s 
 assurance that "hills and mountains" would be a vain resort in that day. But 
 applied to the desttuction of Jerusalem, all is consistent and harmomons; and 
 accordingly the event did happen about 40 years after, when John at least had not 
 tasted death. And opportunity was also given to flee, when CesUus Callus besieged 
 the city. 
 

 2(1. But infidelity is sfamped upon the svstem itself, and the whole 
 mode of carrying it out in public. This is a serious charge, hut I ad- 
 (lii(-e the proof. Can reverence for tlie Word of God l)e found where its 
 plainest lan^Miagc is thus set n-^ido, or made to bend to every crook in 
 this devious scheme? But besides this, it is well known that its sup- 
 porters have often, and publicly declared, that if it is not this year veri- 
 fied, they will no longer believe the I3ihle! nav, that it niav then be 
 burnt ! ! ilere is infidelity, if over that monster reared its impious head 
 on earth. And has it come to this, that after the blessed book has com- 
 forted the distressed, bound up the broken-hearted, dispelled with its 
 gleams of heavenly light the shadows which rest upon the valley of 
 Death, and upheld, yea, caused to triumph, bv its "exceeding great'and 
 precious promises," the tormented martyr, 'through -II the ages that 
 are past, is it now, In the nineteenth century, to stand or fall, to be priz- 
 ed or destroyed by its coincidence or otherwise with the presumptuous 
 speculations of men, displaying either a wilful pervernty, or the grosses- 
 ignorance of some of t!ie -' first principles of the oracles of God f The 
 more this feauire of it is considered, the more serious must it appear to 
 every pious mind, and have a tendency to rouse the dark suspicion, that 
 some hidden plot of infidelity must be ;it the basis of the whole. At all 
 events, as much is seen of its spirit and tendency as ought lo be suffi- 
 cient to lead every one to act upon the warningof our Lord, in reference 
 io similar sentiments of old, " Take heed that no man deceive you."* 
 
 Srd. The mode in which It is held forth to public attention, is sub- 
 versive of the Go.^pel scheme of salvation. It is not only exhibited as a 
 point ol immc.se importance to be believed, but as absoJuiely essential 
 to salvation ; so much so, that the doom of all who do not receive it has 
 been announced repeatedly, in terms which I cannot in this place re- 
 peat. We learn, my hearers, that " one thing is needful ;" and that 
 doubtless Paul had in view when he counted'" all things but loss, for 
 the excellency of the knowledge that is in Christ Jesus," and " his blood 
 cleanseth (rom all sin." But here we have something in addition, exhi- 
 bited as the only means of mercy to perishing sinners. And what can 
 come more plainly under the designation of " another gospel ?" which, 
 if even an Angel from Heaven should publish, the Apostle says he shall 
 " be accursed when the Lord shall come." We should therefore dread 
 having any fellowship with it. 
 
 */ 
 
 That vvliat is advanced is no breach of the " charity which thinking no evil," 
 will appear to any one who can jndire of impioty, wh^n it is stated and can be 
 proted by many witnesses that a prcarhcr. so called, p-ibiicly look the name of God 
 mvain. If this is to be done in sncii ciiciimstances and by those who call them- 
 selves '•■ Mcssnisrcrs of dod," then why, not only in the bar-room or any other "high 
 place" of wickedness, bnt any where, may not the swearer raise his shameless fro'nt 
 and blaspheme ins Maker ? And what awful evidence is it of blind infalr.aiion that 
 an ear should be given to individuals of such a stamp! ' 
 
*l 
 
 33 
 
 Lastly. Tlu8 theory has l)ocn often defcmlcd upon this princinlo, 
 that as should the end not now happen, the excitement is doing good.-** 
 Il 18 not a new idea to do evil that good may come ; but let the nature 
 of the evil, aa already pointed out, be consider-J, and then enquire, can 
 ivo, vvith the light we have, be guiltless, if we should prorr^ote it, even 
 with good in view? The means of grace which God has engaged to 
 blesa, are pointed out, and it is at our peril if we substitute others : but 
 It IS P daring I cannot characterise, to adopt that which does violence to 
 that « Word by which we shall be justified, or >/ which we shall bo 
 condemneil. ^ut I deny its good results. It is in the great majority 
 of uistances merely the alarm of a guilty conscience, scared at the proi 
 pect of speedy ruin. Let the « exciting cause be removed, and the dan - 
 ger 18 great mdeed, that many will spoeilily becoir.3 tenfold more the 
 children of the devil than before. Nothing is done to impart light ; to 
 the most grossly ignorant the reception of this one sentiment furnishes 
 the passport to tne realms of blies. 
 
 4./A. I v^'as to notice the ends for which we should keen our eve 
 upon prophecy, in tracing the dispensations of Divine Providence. ' • 
 
 Prophecy, and time as it rolls on, should be carefully compared; not 
 to discover what is concealed, but what is gradually unfolding. And in 
 this view, the *' Signs of the Times" l>ecomo every day more inleresting 
 and momentous. Antichrist is gradually expiring under repented fissaults 
 — tiie disease is mortal. Yet it is a question there is ground for proTiosine, 
 may vye not anticipate a partial recovery— a last deadly struggle--before 
 no sink to rise no more? J^ 55 
 
 The seat of the Turkish Prophet is also shaken ; and that empire 
 which has so long cherished this dreadful enemy to truth, may well trem- 
 ble. 1 he doom of the empire is certain ; when.or by what means it shall 
 be inflicted, it belongs to God in his own time to shew. Infidelity, in all 
 IS withering forms, must also perish, destroyed by the Spirit of the Lord, 
 and then cometh the end :" but as « yet we see not ail things put unde? 
 iim, and our posture should be that of resigne. ', and teachable expecta. 
 lion. While the " vision" is yet for an appointed time, we ought ever 
 to recollect that it is « at the end it shall speak and not lie ;" and ihouoh 
 It may tarry, according to our mistaken calculations, vet we are to wJit 
 lor It, because it surely will oome and not tarrv Hab. ii. 3. 
 
 Thus I have endeavoured, as proposed, to illustrate and prove, the 
 different parts of the subject. If some po-ts exhibit a want of that ar- 
 range.Tiei:t anv method, so essential to clearness, let it be considered as 
 unavoidable in sketching and exposing a few features of a theory which 
 IS comnhcakd and inconsistent in the extreme. For the dillerent posi- 
 tions! nave taken I have, I trust, adduced evidence from the holy oracles. 
 i now beseech you therefore, to examine that evidence, and « hold fast 
 hat which ,s good." And now, dlow me in justice to mvself, and that 
 tru.h I h?ve endeavoured to exhibit, to say, that it is neidicr mv ivish, 
 
34 
 
 nor lUe tenvkncif of any Uiing I have (roat Scripture, apposed to th« 
 theory so eCien noOced, to leod io security and tinconocra about yovr 
 eternal intereuts. This remark is mc99*aryf because, in ail that is writ- 
 ten and proclaimed on the other Bide,weare B\\ffwli2odn9fals>6 prophets 
 and ageiiit of ihe devil* If we utter v^, word ia oppoai^ooy Jt ii Sax ^ 
 purpose of saying /i«cc9, peace/ lo "if, • .7 w .; f o. •: I'l ,/ 
 
 jij,: So far f«wi this, I seek to improsa every one before nme^ with thd 
 itu^X 3f ihat Holy B«ok, wbich proclaims a Mwe io the wicked for it shall 
 bit ill with him; and which presses upon all, the absolute necessity of 
 inttant attention' to the thii^gs th«t belong to their peace. Peace ! no 
 iodeied, '* there is no peace saitii.iny God to the wieked)" and I would 
 earnestly embrace this opportuaiiy, the like of which I may never agaiii 
 enjoy, to urge you every one to give ail diligence^ to be found in Chri8t4 
 We have all tfe« motives to activity and watchfulness presented, which 
 can be supposed ic influence iatelligent beings. What security would 
 any one have were we informed now hy Divirje Aiiihcity, that this world 
 altould last for everl would it change for onv moment^.ihe solemn truth, 
 that life is but a vapour ' which continueth but ** for a titUe season and 
 then vanisheth away t" Noy for *< no manknowetb what a day may 
 bring forth ;" and whenever we may be called on> to give in the account 
 of 0ur stewardship, then with regard to us "there shall be time no longer," 
 and in whatever state we leave this world) that shall eternity stamp upoti 
 us for ever. << He that is filthy, siiall then be filthy still, and he thaf is 
 holy shall be My atill." Oh ! while It is called to-day" then, let every 
 one hear the voice of mercy, and "seek theLord while.be may be found,'' 
 Ojr this night your soul may be required of youl . 
 .;,! Yon have asked my opAnion; it has been given freely ; it ntay not 
 I trust be thought out of place ifl now offer an advice. Retire to "search 
 the Scriptures, which contain the things <^ eternal life ;" examine them, 
 to learn thejeftom " what is good, and acceptable in the sight of God.'' 
 IHxamtne: them, to understand how thoroughly every thought and afTec- 
 tlon should be subjected to Christ, And if you have only the word of 
 God dwelling in yoft richly, you will not be exposed to the pernicious 
 influence of "every wind of doctrine," but "established, strengthened and 
 sf^ttled," you will be enabled, not only to look for, with holy hope, but 
 also with patience to imit for the, coming of the Lord. Then too would 
 you learn, that since he first " ascended far above aii Heavens," leaving 
 the promise to come again, never has there bean reason to ..ly, he 
 « del'"^th his coming." Let every one thea who has not already set- 
 tled ' inquiry, settle it immediately— " where shall you stand when 
 he ap, -eth ?' 
 
 './fu TioHK ,./iiiii mi/'.