WHOLE NO. 674. BOSTON, SATURDAY APRIL 15, 1854. VOLUME XIII. NO. 15 Franchise of the New Jerusalem. RY THE REV. JOHN' CUMMING, D. D., ESQ. (Concluded.) " Axt) there shall in no wise enter into it [that is, the New Jerusalem], anything that defneth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or mak- eth a lie : but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev. 21:27.) I may notice here, as under the previous di- vision, that the learned, the noble, the rich, the great, are not, as such, necessarily there. No man may say, " I am a rich man, and therefore my name is in the Lamb's book of life;" or, "I wear a crown now, and therefore I shall wear a crown of glory." 1 have told you these are mere circumstantial distinctions and perish- able as the clouds that sweep athwart the skies ; while moral distinctions will be alone abiding, like the bright stars which remain overhead be- yond. It is not, then, the noble, the great, or the wise, as such, who are called. Nor, second- ly, is it all who are baptized; because the bap- tized may not conclude, from the simple fact of their baptism, that their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. You may have been baptized by man, and yet be unbaptized by God; you. may have the baptism which consists in be- ing sprinkled, or, if you like, dipped, in water, —and yet be altogether destitute of that inner baptism which alone qulifies for the kingdom of God. Your baptismal name may be in the reg- isters of the Church below, and not in those of the Church above. It is possible to be a Jew outwardly, and not a Jew inwardly. It is pos- sible to have the sign, and not the substance, of life. It is a miserable delusion to trust in the cleansing efficacy of the outward water, instead of making sure of the inward power of the Holy Spirit.—In the next place, all communicants are not in the Lamb's book of life; all commu- nicants may not conclude that their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. You may be recorded on the communion-roll; your names may be mentioned by the minister as communi- cants : you may have satisfied man, but you may not have satisfied the Master; you may have been admitted to the Church below, and yet be excluded from the Church above. You may not conclude, that because you have been baptized, or are a communicant, or a seat-holder, or because you are a regular worshipper at the sanctuary, that you are all safe now, and that all will be happy with you throughout the ages of eternity. Those who are written in the book are not all those who even take an interest in religion. Many who helped to build the ark perished in the waters which bore it to Ararat. You can attend religious meetings, hold forth from their platforms, applaud the sentiments of the speakers; you may read religious newspa- papers, contribute to the erection of churches and schools, and support the dissemination of the gospel and the circulation of the Bible—and this ye ought to do, and if God's people this"ye will do—and yet do it all from corrupt motives, and for wrong ends; and therefore you will not on this aecount have your names written in the Lamb's book of lift. Who are they, then, whose names are inscribed upon it ? First, God knows: all things to him are naked and ^ open: "the Lord knoweth them that are his." ^ You may be condemned by man, or canonized by priest—you may be praised bv ministers, or proscribed by synods—it matters net God looks not at the anathema of the priest, or the excommunication of the sect, or the exclusion of the minister; but to the heart —the inner man of the individual. And as a man is, there, so God knows him to be.—But, in the second place, others may know if we are in the Lamb's book of life. We may mis- apprehend one another: we sometimes think tewer, sometimes think more, of the members of our congregations, are recorded there than are actually so. We often think the silent, unob- trusive man has no religion, because he makes no loud ostentatious profession ; and we as often mistake the mere professor, and judge from his loud and showy professions that he is a sincere Christ for the forgivenes of all their sins, and who have sought their title to the New Jerusa- lem in Christ;—those who say, "Lord Jesus, our hearts and consciences condemn us ; but we know that all we owe to God has been paid by thee the spotless Lamb, and all we deserved of woe endured by thee thou precious sacrifice. We know that in our stead, in our room, clothed with our responsibilities, Thou didst bear God's judgments, and exhausted the penalties of God's law, and didst bring in an everlasting righteous- ness. We rest on this great fact—hope in it— and the stress of our soul's expectations upon it; and we desire to love thy laws, and to walk in thy ways, and to show forth our gratitude in our life, and our peace in our death." The man who can say this—not with his lips—that is easily done; for many say their prayers who never pray, and many pray who never say their prayers; for it is the throbbing heart that is the true petition at God's throne—he that can pray so, and that because he feels so, may be assured that his name is written in the Lamb's book of life, as if a ray shot from that mysterious page, and, with daguerreotype precision, inscribed his name in light-letters on his brow, or on the sur- face of the earth. In the next place, they are recorded therein whose bodies are "the temples of the Holy Ghost." What a solemn expression is this ! 1 feel often anxious to clothe such, sublime truths in different language from that in which you are accustomed to hear them; because you have heard the beautiful metaphors of Scriptures so long and so often, that you have ceased to feel their weighty import as you ought; they go in at the one ear, and pass out at the other, leav- ing no impression behind. A Christian, then, is what? "A temple of the Holy Ghost What a statement! Weigh the expression. If it be not true, then it is the most terrible blas- phemy. If it be true, how glorious, that my heart, with all its sins and infirmities, with all its alloy and corruptions, is a shrine of Deity a consecrated fane of the Holy Spirit! And yet, my dear friends, it is truly so, if we are Christians: and he that cannot say it is so, just says that he is no Christian. But what a beau- tiful and glorious temple is the true Christian's heart! Yonder cathedral with its tall spire ta pering to the skies, its magnificent roof, its clus tering columns, its glorious arches, and all its monuments of the resources of human skill, is poor and contemptible and worthless, when con- trasted with the magnificence and grandeur of the temple of the Holy Ghost who dwells within you, which God himself has consecrated by his august and mysterious presence. "Know ye not that our bodies are the temples of the Holv Ghost." J But let me give you another characteristic of those whose names are written in this book. They are they (and is not this very plain ?) who keep Christ's commandments. Christ himself said, " Ye are my disciples if ye keep my com- mandments." " Hereby shall all men know if ye are my disciples, if ye love one another." " If ye love me keep my commandments." I told you on a previous occasion of the beautiful badge worn by the Christian. Common customs seem to call for a badge to distinguish the vari- ous orders and classes of men. "The priest has his shaven crown, the monk his cowl, the noble his coronet, the queen her crown. But the Christian has his badge too. Christ himself has appointed a badge; but what? If Christ had been a mere earthly teacher—if he had been the mere founder of an academy, like Plato, or Soc- rates—or of an ecclesiastico-milltary company, like Ignatius Loyola—then he would have laid it down that we should wear a cross, or crucifix, or crown of thorns, or something of that kind. But he did not do so. He has given us a badge which cannot be taken from us by man or devil, which neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, which thieves cannot break through or steal,—which time will not deface, nor eternity destroy. 1' By this shall all men know if ye are my disciples, —if ye love one another." Here is the grand badge, then, of your Christianity; herein is the evidence of your names being written in the Lamb's book of life. Do you love Christians ? Can you forgive Churchmen their churchman- ship, and Dissenters their dissent?—the Baptist his antipsedo-baptism, the Wesleyan his Armi- nianism, and the Calvinist his Calvinism ?—and feel that Christian love is the cement that binds Christian to Christian, and Christians to Christ; moulding men's character after Christ, and bring- ing the human will into harmony with the di- vine ? There is another evidence of our names being written in this book. The names of those are there, who cleave to God's word, and adopt it as their only rule of faith. This is a most im- portant test. It may be that those who cling to tradition as having a copartnership with God's revealed truth may be saved : there are grains of gold which the stream of tradition has carried down from Calvary; but they are few and far between, and there is sand and stone and much alloy mixed with them. The pure gold is the word of God. It may be that the man who holds tradition to be co-equal with revelation will be saved, because the human veil may not have wholly darkened the Divine glory, and the man who receives the Apocrypha may not have excluded by it all genuine truth from his mind; but we know that those who cleave to the Bible as their chart on earth, their guide to heaven, their lamp in life, and hope of glory—we know that such persons possess the strongest possible outward evidence that their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. And, lastly, let us notice that those whose names are written there look for Christ's second advent. From the commencement of the New Testament to its close, we are never, never, I think, so much as once warned to embrace sal- vation by the prospect and the fears of death; but we are constantly (and it is most remarka- ble) admonished to be prepared for the second coming.of our Saviour. " Unto them that look for him will he come a second time without sin unto salvation." I do not mean that they only will be saved, as some have rashly and unhappily sometimes taught; but I believe they will have more joy, as they now give evidence of much grace. We are taught not to look for our personal happiness by itself, but for a personal joy con- temporaneous with that catholic happiness which all the redeemed shall share when Christ comes a second time without sin unto salvation. Hear what the apostle says: " For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men ; teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing (or Epiphany) of the great God, even our Saviour J esus." We are to look upon Christ as to come: we are to have tte eye of faith riveted upon his cross, and the eye of ho^e riveted upon his crown : we are to view him in his sorrow, and look for him in his joy—in his affliction, as in his .triumph—as the sacrifice offered once for our sins, as well as our victorious king—as, in a word, our all and in all. And herein lay the mistake of the Jew : the Jew of old looked for Christ to come as a conqueror, and passed by the prophecies of his advent as a sufferer. He is still looking for Christ as a conqueror : and we tell him, that we too look for Christ as a king; but we look at his crowu through his cross: we must take our stand upon Calvary,, to gain a view of his throne in the New Jerusalem; we must be members of his spiritual church, and be baptized and sealed with his Spirit, before we can hope to behold him when he shall come in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, with an innumerable company of angels. The apostles, when they beheld their Master borne upon a cloud and ascending to heaven, were addressed: " Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus, which is taken from you up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." How can I interpret this? I must do it thus : That as Christ rose upon a cloud, and disap- w J. V. HIMES, Proprietor. J—L L OFFICE, N®. 8 Chardon-street and thorough disciple of the lowly Jesus. But there are tests, as there fruits, of character: we may know if our fellow-men have their names written in the Lamb's book of life, if they let their light so shine before men that others, see- ing their good works, may glorify their Father who is in heaven. The world, it is said, took notice of the disciples " that they had been with Jesus." And let me ask you, dear brethren, if, when you go out into the world, any one can in- fer from what you are, and do, and how you act, that you have been with Jesus ? Is there anything about you, or upon you, that would lead the man of the world to say, " This man is a Christian ?" And yet it ought to be so : not, however, as if it were your duty to stand forth and preach, or proclaim, I am a Christian, or publicly repeat the Creed or the Ten command- ments. But there is a something in the silence and meekness of indomitable Christian princi- ple, which must make itself felt. It may be disliked, but it cannot be denied. You may be stoned and trodden down, as in bygone ages, while we live in the midst of a world that knows us not; and yet that world may see us the while, as lights shining in the midst of it,—protesting against its sins, exemplifying in our lives the Christian character, and pointing mankind to something better, and beyond all that surrounds them in this lower world. But you may know it yourselves. I said that God knows it:—the world,—that is, men in the world, your fellow-Christians,—may know it; but I say in the next place, that you may know it yourselves. It is not so difficult a matter to know, if a man be a Christian. If we think it is so, it probably all proceeds from our secret consciousness that we are not Christians our- selves. If we have put our trust and confidence in Christ, our names not only are, but arefelt to be, written in the Lamb's book of life. You know if Christian principle sustains you in trial, or sanctifies you day by day, or enables you to overcome temptation, and to sacrifice the high- est gains rather than surrender your trust in Je- sus, or forego your obedience to all his will, or your respect for all his commandments. A man may know whether he is a Christian or not. The man whose heart throbs with love for Christ, whose conscience is inlaid with Christ's princi- ples—the man who can say, " I count all things but loss, save living, real religion,"—the man who would part with his fortune rather than his Bible—with his carriage rather than his con- science—with whom principle is supreme, and expediency subordinate,—who cleaves to God and to Christianitv when his fortunes seem fall- ing, and his star is either stained with blood or is hidden by darkness—the man who stands staunch for God, who walks with God, who trusts in God, and who hopes to be with God forever—that man is a Christian, and he him- self knows it; and this knowledge is the spring of all his sweetest joy and brightest hopes. He can say, " I know in whom I have believed, and he is able " (as he is willing) " to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." How worthless, when looked at in the right light, and from the right point of view, is all that man pursues or prizes in this life! How dim and fading is all the glory and mag- nificence of the world, in comparison with those moral and spiritual distinctions which constitute men Christians, and Christians heirs of "that city which kath foundations, whose builder and maker is God!" But, in the next place, the names which are written in the Lamb's book of life are those who have been " chosen in Christ before the founda- tion of the world," that they should be holy. They are those who are spoken of again as pur- chased by the precious blood of the Lamb with- out spot or blemish,—as inheritors of that which has been prepared for them before the foundation of the world. By any examination that we can make of God's sealed book, we cannot tell whether we are chosen or not. I state election simply as a scriptural characteristic. But we may know the following: that the names in the Lamb's book of life are those who have fled to 114 THE ADVENT HERALD. I peared in the brightness of the shechinah or glory, so Christ shall come " with clouds ; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth" who rejected him " shall wail because of him;" but unto us who look for him, he shall come a second time, without a sin offering, to everlast- ing salvation. If the .sailor looks with joy to the end of a long and dreary voyage—if the sol- dier, amid the din and shock of battle, antici- pates his tranquil, happy home—if the orphan longs for his father, and the bride for her bride- groom,—-then, may not believers, resting on the Redeemer's sacrifice, look forward with joy and hope and glowing expectation to the day when their Redeemer shall come again to receive them, that where he is, there they may be also ? So earnestly did the early christian church look for the Redeemer's second advent, that he no sooner had disappeared from the earth and ascended to the Father, than the cry at the commencement of the Apocalypse, " Come, Lord Jesus 1" and which is repeated at its conclusion, " Even so, come Lord Jesus!" was the aspiration of every heart. In one word, those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life are they who can say, " Thou wast slain for us, and we are redeemed by thy blood;" and (if I may allude to what I have addressed to you at our Friday evening lec- tures) those whose names are recorded in that book are those who are so beautifully described in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans : " Who are in Christ; to whom there is no condemnation and who may say in truth, whether they are able to say it with assurance or not,—" Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or fam- ine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." And think ye not with me That in that melody There speaks the placid tone of one adoring ? Certes there is a God indeed, And in His holy Book with worship we will read. Ye men whose peaceful life Remote from popular strife Is spent with nature in your own vocation, Who see her sylvan charms Round villages or farms, And pay to God and her your admiration ; As are the Father, Holy Spirit and Son, So are the Bible, God and nature, three in eno. Then bless the Lord of Heaven For all that he hath given, Both rich and poor, wherever ye are dwelling: Let Christian charity Your constant watchword be, And worship nature's God with bosoms swelling: All earth adores Him—fountain, flower, and bird, They speak of God to them that love His holy Word. Evening Reflections. BY A POOR MAS. " 0 Lord God of Hosts, God of Israel,Thou that dwellest between the Cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou, alone, of all the kingdoms of the eart'h : Thou hast made heaven and earth."—Isa. 37:16. When from the grey church tower, At day's most solemn hour, The sound of evening bells in tremulous motion, Now sinks, now rises high, As float the breezes by, Like changing waves upon the azure ocean, When the sun flings his latest fires On distant mountain tops and consecrated spires. 0! then the mind of maa Delights afar to scan The track of ages that have gone before him; And visions of the past Crowd on his memory fast, And throw a spell of dreamy rapture o'er him ; Then is the moment, then the hoar, To mark religion's course and feel her heavenly power: To watch with eager eye The flood of time roll by, And woo those scenes to stay whose features win us; Until our lips exclaim, Breathing his sacred name, " ' Tis the divinity that stirs within us 1 And Thou, O Lord, who mad'st the sun And moon and stars and earth—Thy holy will be done." To see the dewy star In the purple west afar, When day is o'er and twilight dubious lingers, When halcyon stillness reigns O'er darkening hills and plains And night the curtain draws with holy fingers; To feel there is a God indeed, And with delighted soul His holy word to read How blest the happy lot Of many a humble cot To see the Sabbath sun through lattice breaking And each effulgent ray That gilds a summer day With dazzling tints his brilliant sky-path streak ing; To feel there is a God indeed, And then in evening, time His precious Word to read. All men in summer hours, When nature decks her bowers, Their great Creator in His work admiring The life of man should trace In nature's varied face, From, cradled infancy to age expiring; And feel there is a God indeed, And then with ferveat joy His holy Word should read. OI listen to the song, Yon branches green among, On the hushed air its liquid music pouring -T Russia and Turkey. THROUGH the Paris Moniteur of Thursday we learn the subject of four ukases, dated the 5th instant, declaring various parts of the Russian dominions, apparently all European Russia, in a state of siege < the Emperor names the govern- ors for the various districts, and places the Gov- ernment of St. Petersburg under the authority of the Grand Duke, heir to the throne, and Com- mander-in-chief of the Guards and Grenadiers. The exportation of grain from the Danubian provinces is now prohibited. On the 2d instant, the Grand Duke Constantine inspected the fleet at Helsingfors. The Emperor was expected to arrive at Helsingfors in a fortnight. The Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland are still covered with The Swedish papers report that 80,000 Russians are employed in cutting a channel from Cronstadt to Sweborg. A Russian courier arrived at Vienna on the 16th, bringing despatches to the effect that Rus- sia would positively refuse to evacuate the Prin cipalities. Somthing of extreme importance was believed to have been settled on the 17th be- tween that Government and Russia, as a mem- ber of the Russian Embassy went to Oldenburg by special train. This was after a conference between Count Buol and the Russian Minister. The Czar is known to have said that the propo- sal of the Western Powers did not require five minutes' consideration. The whole of the Austrian loan of 50,000,000 florins is stated to have been taken. The Egyptian, which left Constantinople on the 7th, and arrived at Marseilles on Friday, brings the following news :—" A corps of 70,000 men has arrived for the purpose of establishing themselves at Sebastopol. Another corps of 30,000 men has arrived at Odessa. Between Moscow and Odessa, 100,000 men are on their march." The Russians in the principalities are receiv ing great reinforcements. There are at present five divisions of infantry in the Principalities, and the 6th is entering, and 18,000 cavalry. Omar Pacha will soon be opposed to a considera- ble numerical majority on the Danube. The line to be observed is immense, and it is not improb able that he may be obliged to withdraw forces from Widdin and Kalafat, in order to strength- en his position to the right, in the Dobrozia, and at Silistria and Rutschuk. It must not be for- gotten that, however brave and able the Ottoman forces are, they are very deficient in officers, especially in the staff, and that their opponents are, in spite of their defeats at Oltenitza and Csitate, superior to them in these respects. By late letters from Constantinople we learn that General Sir G. Burgoyne, or the English engineers, and Colonel Ardent of the French service, had completed their surveys at Gallipoli, and had returned to Constantinople. They had traced out the ground for an entrenched camp, intended to cover the Dardanelles on the Eu- ropean side, at the spot where the isthmus is the narrowest, and from whence the Sea of Marmora and the Gulf of Saros can be seen. It is thought that with 2,000 Turkish workmen all the neces- sary works may, if commenced immediately, be completed by June next. Another entrenched camp is to be formed close to the capital, at San Stefano, on the road to Adrianople. The Constantinople correspondentof the Daily News of Monday says, "MM. Fauvel aud Mon- gery, despatched, as you are aware, by order of the government, have returned from the tour of medical inspection on the Danube. Their testi- mony confirms all the reports hitherto received respecting the general health and spirits of the army. The comparatively small proportion of sick among the troops is rather a remarkable fact, considering that they have been exposed to the influences of a marshy climate, to the severity and discomfort of the winter season, and to the still worse inflictions resulting from the igno- rance aud incapacity of the medical staff. At Schumla, for instance, among 12,000 men, there were only 880, including wounded, on the sick list; at Rutschuk, 85, and so on in a like pro- portion. This is ascribed, in some measure, to simple, wholesome food, to temperance and sobriety, but, above all, to the strong constitutions of the troops generally speaking, and their wonderful powers of endurance. Thus, the inspectors ob- served wounds, and fractures prospering, with certain antediluvian splints and dressings—and some seemingly hopeless cases of intermittent fe- ver which had assumed a typhoid form, yielded during their stay to the remedies employed in simple ague. The inspectors had, moreover, many oppotunities of conversing familiarly with the men, who are, it appears of good heart, and confident of success in the ensuing campaign. They are all, without exception, it appears, rigid predestinarians, which circumstance, it must be admitted, is no small advantage on the field of battle. " No hostile hand can antedate my doom, " or the vakut-sahat, is the firm con- viction and war-cry of every Turkish soldier. Armed with this belief he rushes on fearlessly to and to death, achieving, in many instances, danger against a superior enemy astonishing suc- cesses." On the 8th inst., a four hours' conference was held between the English and French Ambassa- dors and Reschid Pasha, touching the convention between the Western Powers and Turkey. The chief points are : 1. The Porte engages never to negotiate with Russia without the intervention of the Western Powers. 2. Amelioration of the condition of the christians. A separate treaty is annexed for the following four points: 1. Abolition of the poll-tax (hara- tasch). 2. Right of christians to be admitted as witnesses in judicial proceedings. 3. Right to hold landed property, without distinction of na- tionality or religion. 4. The civil rights of the christians admitted in the army and the civil ser- vice. The destination of the English and French forces is to be left to the decision of the Sultan. A letter from Constantinople of the 9th, says: " The Russians are said to be preparing chains to stretch across the Danube. The Russian sub- jects in Turkey, France, and England are about to be summoned to return home. Since prohibi- tion of the export of corn from Odessa, the price had fallen from nine to three silver rubles. Nu- merous failures are expected at Odessa." The prohibition to export weapons from Aus tria into the Turkish provinces is extended to Moldavia and Wallachia. Austria is quietly arming upon an extensive scale. Scarcely a day passes without transports of troops to the southeastern frontier. The commander of the troops at Revel had proclaimed that probably the town would be bom- berded by the English and French, and women had been required to leave it. The following despatches are in the London Times of March 21. VIENNA, March 20.—Yesterday Baron May- endoff had an audience with the Emperor, which lasted two hours. It is reported that on the ex- planations of the intentions of Austria will, de- pend the stay of the Russian Minister in the capi- tal. BERLIN, March 20.—The English Govern- ment applied to engage 60 Prussian pilots at Swinemunde, the port of Stettin. •They have re- quested leave of absence of their Government. A despatch from Copenhagen, dated March 16, says that it is probable that the frigates and vessels of the second class of the English fleet, will enter the Baltic by the Sound, and the larger vessels by the Great Belt. The appear- ance of the British fleet has greatly strengthened the popular and constitutional party in Den- mark ; and, on the other hand, afflicted the friends of Russia with proportionate disgust. The London Morning Chronicle's Paris cores- pondent, writes on Monday evening:—"It was on Saturday that the Government received from Berlin a telegraphic despatch announcing the answer of the Czar to the summons of France and England. That answer is couched in short dry, and almost disdainful terms. As soon as the English minister at Berlin was made ac- quainted with the answer, he despatched a cou- rier forthwith with the news by way of the Prus- sian post of the Baltic, to Admiral Napier, in order that he may be prepared to act upon his instructions." Letters from St. Petersburg represent the pub lie in that city as in a state of great irritation against the Western Powers. At Marseilles arrangements are making for a grand fete to be given to the Duke of Cambridge on his way to the East. No later telegraphic news of interest from the East. A report of the capture of the Russian treas ure convoy had reached Constantinople. A letter from Bucharest, of the 4th, in the Ost Deutsche Post, of Vienna, says—" The manifesto of the Emperor Nicholas has arrived from St. Petersburg. It contains the following passage : ' The Sultan having persisted in his obstinacy, and France, and England having marched against Russia, we will advance in the name of the Holy Trinity to snatch our co-reli- gionists from the yoke of their oppressors ; and let the oppressed make common cause with us.' It is stated that this manifesto is to be printed in the Wallachian, Bulgarian, and Servian lan- guages." PRUSSIA.—The Berlin correspondent of the London Times, says: The Kirchenrath, or highest Ecclesiastical Court, has a command from the king to promul- gate a form of prayer to be put up in all churches, that the Almighty will be pleased to avert the dangers of war from Prussia's confines, but, should this not be possible, in mercy to grant victory to her banners." Baron Manteuffel stated in the Chambers that Prussia does not feel called upon in the same measure as other nations, to take an active part in protecting the integrity of Turkey. The king has decided not to require from Prussia the heavy sacrifices inseparable from war, until the particular interests of Prussia render such a de- cision necessary. The Minister is empowered to request the Chamber to vote a credit of 30,000,- 000 thalers. GREECE.—The following letter from Athens, dated the 7th inst., gives some details respecting the insurrection in Turkey:— 1 The news received from the frontier is not satisfactory for the insurrection. The revolters are still concentrated at Arta. They have sus- tained considerable loss in the several sorties made by the Turkish troops. It was announced yesterday that a corps of insurgents had been re- pulsed and driven to the Greek frontier, where the pursuers halted, in order not to violate the Greek territory. From this fact it may be con- cluded that the Ottoman government does not as yet consider itself at war with Greece, and it acts against the insurgents proceeding from Greece, as it would against the brigands who invade a province. Each day we have new emigrants, who take the road to the frontier. About 4000 Greeks have already departed to swell the ranks of the insurrection. Among them are generals, civil employes, officers, and, in a word, persons of all classes. The Prefect of Police of Athens and the Procureur de Roi are also gone, the lat- ter taking with him all the arms deposited at his office, as well as a large sum of money, the pro- ceeds of a robbery, also deposited there. At Chalcis, the garrison opened the doors of the prisons, where the prisoners condemned to irons were, and they have all gone, as good friends, to fight the Turks. At Athens and at Nauplia, all the prisoners were also set free, on the en- gagement of marching to the frontier. I am sorry to be obliged to add that the Greek gov- ernment is accused of sympathizing with the in- surrection." The War. THE bygone week, like its predecessors, has been wholly absorbed with the threatened war. People talk of nothing else; and of this they are never weary. The Dinner at the Reform Club to Sir Charles Napier has been the princi- pal social event, both in and out of Parliament. Sir Charles Napier, at the Club Dinner, said but little and that little wisely. He acted with similar discretion in addressing the Corporation at Portsmouth about an hour previous to his embarkation, when he was presented with the freedom of the Borough. His language was measured, and solemn, and somewhat monitory. The venerable Commander appeared to be deeply impressed with the terrible responsibilities which rested upon him, and to entertain a proper sense of the dread uncertainties of war, as well as the difficulties connected with the new species of Naval tactics, of which hitherto the British Navy has had no exporience. This steam will prove a tremendous matter! By its means, 2,200 guns may carried in spite of wind and tide, to any given spot, arranged in any desired order, and worked with all the facility, and directed with all the certainty of land batteries. There is something frightful to contemplate in such an aggregate of destructive power as is now resting on the bosom of the Baltic! It is very probable, that men who remember that " the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong," may have been uneasy at the ex- ultation with which both Statesmen and Journal- ists, and the public generally, have talked of this matchless array of maritime force. Let them, however, comfort themselves in the fact, that while such is the case, there never was a period when so large a portion of the British mind was governed by higher principles, con- necting all the events of earth with the wisdom which is from above: and which, though the great ones know it not, marshals their movements and guides even their vengeance to further its own merciful purposes to the human family. The prodigious majority of the Empire are still unenlightened by the light which ig from Heaven THE ADVENT HERALD. " of the earth, earthy," their confidence is in the power of men and the power of matter as wielded by the science of men. These, in the mightv arrangements of Providence, serve their purpose, and accomplish the Divine plans. It is the children of the world, as a whole, that fiaht .the battles of the world; but, while they look only beneath, there are still very many who look upwards, in humble dependence on the arm which has heretofore wrought such wonders. British Banner of March 15. The Old Greek Empire. RUSSIA—which in the early centuries of the Christian era, was the mere resting place of a few barbarous nomad tribes, became in the fif- teenth century, a Greek empire. During the whole of the fourteenth, the Greeks had defended their country with desperate valor against the invasions of the Turks. More than once had the victories of Bajazet and other Moslem lead- ers reduced their State to the last gasp. The crescent had passed over their bodies as far ag Hungary: and at length, in 1453, their capital was taken, most of their young men forced jnt0 slavery, and the remnant of their broken hand driven to take refuge in the barren wilds of Rus. sia. To Moscow and Novogorod they bore Christianity, the last relics of a partial*civ}];za_ tion, and an unquenchable hatred of the infidels who had despoiled them of their homeSi an(j erected mosques on the site of their churches> Karasmin ably depicts the fierce vindictiyeness with which Russians of every class and every age refer to that black day in the history of their forefathers. Their revenge was destined to wait long for satisfaction. One hundred and twenty years elapsed after the fall of Constantin0p]e be_ fore the west of Europe dared to breathe freely, or felt that the fate of the Greek Empire was not to be its own. All this time the Turks grew in power and might. Defeated at Lepanto and baffled in their attempt to extend Mohamedanism by the sword, they consoled themselves by inflict- ing the most barbarous tortures on all the Christ- ians who could be found in their dominions. Neither the sixteenth, nor the seventeenth, nor the first half of the eighteenth century witnessed any sensible diminution of the Turkish power. Russian hatred seethed helplessly, while Bagdad was taken by the Turks on the east, Vienna be- sieged on the west, Belgrade wrested from Aus- tria, and Azof insolently severed from the Rus- sian Empire and annexed to Turkey. The day of retribution was however at hand. With the aid of Austria—then powerful and prosperous— Russia waged for the first time a successful war against Turkey in the latter half of the eight eenth century. The Crimea was regained, and Russia took heart. The peace of 1783 could not last long. Russia was daily gaining strength, Turkey fast waning under the fatal influence of Mohamedanism. War broke out afresh in 1806 and next year, the long-cherished revenge of the Russians would have been gratified and their old home regained, had Napoleon allowed Constan- tinople to pass into the hands of Alexander. This the politic Emperor of France was not will- ing to do ; and though he made peace with the Czar, the war between Russia and Turkey still continued to feed the animosity of the former, and exhaust the resources of the latter. Ap- proaching hostilities with France obliged Alex- ander to make peace with Turkey in 1812; and the river Pruth was then agreed upon as the boundaries of the empires. But the retreat of Moscow soon set the Czar's hands free. Discon- tent was fermented in Greece, and it threw off the Turkish yoke: rebellion was provoked in Moldavia and Wallachia and they arose in arms against the Sultan. Massacres of the Greek pa- triots and other Greek Christians in Turkey ex- cited a general hatred of the Turks throughout Europe; and Russia prevailed upon England and France to join her against the Sultan. The battle of Navarino was the result, and the Turkish navy was utterly crushed. The defeat seemed to give new heart to the Turks, but suc- cess still remained with the Russians. The fall of Adrianople terminated the war, and Turkey was weaker than ever. In her distress she was compelled to call upon Russia, three years after- wards, to protect her against her old province, Egypt. Such is the history of the struggles that have taken place between Russia and Turkey. For one century, from the middle of the fourteenth to the middle of the fifteenth, the contest was be- tween, invading Moslems and Christians defend- ing their homes; for another, from the middle of the eighteenth to the present day, the battle has been between Russians seeking to regain their fatherland, and Turks defending their usur- pations. N. Y. Herald. According to the above, Russia lookson itself as being exiled from its former home, and striving legitimately for the recovery of its old possessions. This brings to mind an impression that we have somehow received, that Nicholas claims to be a descendant of a daughter of the last of the reigning monarchs of the Greeks, and o o that the word Czar, is the Russian for Caesar— the title of Roman, and subsequently of the Eastern Emperors. If there is existing any grounds for it, we would like to see the evidence of it. Religious Liberty in Turkey. TIIE Earl of Shaftesbury, last Friday evening, added to his great and countless services to the cause of humanity, religion, and liberty, by his speech in the House of Lords, when he brought forward the assertion of the Russian Emperor that " England and France have sided with the enemies of Christianity against Russia combating for the orthodox faith." The noble Earl thought that such language, issuing from such lips, re- quired some explanation to the British people. The religious societies of England, and on the Continent, the noble Earl observed, were pre- pared to give the most direct contradiction to the assertion of the Czar; and further showed that Turkey with all her faults, had been pro- moting the progress of Christianity, while Rus- sia had been doing what in her lay to suppress it. The noble Earl contended, that for the last twenty years Christianity had been making con- siderable advances in the Oriental Provinces subject to Turkey. It is not to be denied, that in the Turkish dominions there have been out- breaks of a violent character among the Chris- tians, ostensibly because of the hardships which still attach to them, outbreaks, however, gener- ally arising from the efforts of fanaticism rather than reason. The great enemies of Christianity in those provinces, however, were not the Turks but the Christians so called, themselves. No small portion of the spoliation, torture, and im- prisonment, has either been instigated by Chris- tians against Christians, or else the wicked work of the Greek Priesthood, with a view of main- taining complete domination over the laity of their own communion. These Greek Priests are worthy of their brethren of the West. If less violent, it is only because less intelligent; and if less injurious, it is only because less powerful. It admits of no doubt, that, for the last twenty years, the diffusion of the Bible has been mak- ing all but incredible progress in Turkey. Can the same be affirmed of Russia ? Were not the agents of the Bible Society compelled to flee from her inhospitable shores ? Have not the operations of British Missions there been entire- ly interdicted? Were not good and faithful men compelled to take their departure from the snows of Siberia, where they were diffusing the consolations of the Gospel to large numbers of cruelly persecuted, but patriotic men? The noble Earl turned to excellent account the testi- mony recently borne by Mr. Layard, a most un- exceptionable authority, which was confirmed by the American Missionary. "In forty towns and villages there are distinct congregations of Protestant seceders from the Greek Church. Twenty-five years ago there was not a single Protestant teacher, and now there are no less than sixty-five regular Protestant teachers, while in Constantinople there are four- teen schools also belonging to these seceders." With these facts staring him in the face, how dare Nicholas speak as he has done respecting the Western Powers? Could such a state of things have existed under his iron sway ? Im- possible ! This fact alone, were it unsupported, is absolutely demonstrative of the improved spirit of the Turkish Government, which bids fair, in point of liberality, to vie with England. Of France we may not speak, since there Reli- gious Liberty is a thing unknown. Again, except from the Greek and the Arme- nian priesthood, there is no obstacle whatever to the progress of knowledge, and the introduction of systems of popular illumination. Not only in Constantinople, but in every town and pro- vince, Religious Associations are openly recog- nized and permitted; while printing presses are in use, under the sanction of the Government, at Constantinople, Bucharest, and in other great towns. Nay, the Sacred Scriptures themselves are printed in various Oriental languages, and in the Turkish language, for circulation among the Turkish people. The Word of God is ex- alted to the same level, in point of privilege, as the Koran. There are, at this moment, forty depots in Turkey, where Bibles are sold, and colporteurs are engaged preambulating the coun- try, circulating the Scriptures, and preaching without opposition. Such are the privileges of English Protestants in the midst of the Ottoman Empire. Can Nicholas or Nesselrode deny this ? But let us accompany the Earl of Shaftesbury in his noble manifesto against the bigotry of the Great Bear. His Lordship proceeded: " Now, let their Lordships contrast that with what had been done in Russia, and they might be enabled to conceive what might be expected if the Turkish .people should fall under the do- minion of Russia. No colporteurs were allowed, nor any religious movement or association what- ever ; no printing-presses were admitted for printing the Bible. No versions of the Scrip- tures were allowed to be imported into Russia except those in French, English, Italian, and German. Not a single copy of the Scriptures in the modern Russ.was admitted, although that was the only language understood by the great body of the people. No colporteurs were allowed to preambulate the country, and not a single copy of the Scriptures in the modern Russ had been allowed to be printed in Russia since 1828 or 1824, under the severest penalties. Again, although the Emperor of Russia had within his dominions a concentrated population of nearly 2,000,000 of the Hebrew people, he did not allow to pass his frontiers, for the use of that people, one single copy of the Scriptures in the Hebrew tongue. That version of the Scriptures was forbidden and hermetically sealed. He had been told, indeed, that its introduction was more resisted by the Emperor than even the version in the modern Russ. If that was so—if that was the spirit which governed the Emperor in his own dominions—he (the Earl of Shaftesbury) did not think that would be a very different spirit if he once got possession of these provinces where he now observed the developement of lib- erty under the nascent right of conscience. (Hear, hear.) He had no doubt in that case that the Eastern provinces would be brought to a condition precisely the same as the internal provinces of Russia." What say the British people to these facts? Who is the friend of true Scriptural Christianity —the Emperor or the Turk? It is surprising that Nicholas should have the audacity to make such appeals as he has done to the fanaticism and ignorance of his serf-doomed millions. Noth- ing that has appeared in the course of the re- cent negotiations so strikingly illustrates the faithlessness and the falsehood which characterize the conduct of the Czar. It admits of no doubt whatever, that were the Ottoman Empire to be brought to-morrow under his sway, there would be an instant extinction of these Bible Societies and printing-presses, and an incarceration or suppression of the colporteurs; and, in a word, a complete assimilation to Russia. But the Bible suggested the idea of the mis- sionary ; and, if ever the Bible is to take effect among the nations of the earth, it must be pro- vided with and accompanied by a living ex- pounder. Now, what says this fierce advocate of the "Orthodox Faith" to Protestant Mis- sions ? Is he prepared to act as England does under every sky, in the case of the Missionary ? Will he suffer English Missionaries to occupy the heathen portions of his dominions, with a view to turn their population from darkness to light, and from idolatry to the Gospel ? Perhaps he will say "Yes," but what says his conduct? What is the history of his past career ? The Earl of Shaftesbury completely exposed his hy- pocrisy in this matter. In 1823, the gentle and prudent Moravians sent Missionaries to the dif- ferent parts of Russia, where they made about 300 converts. But were they allowed to baptise them in the name of Him whose disciples they had become? No, truly! There is a law that no heathen shall be converted to Christianity except by the Greek priesthood! If the mill- ions perish they may! None but the favored sect dare pluck a single brand from the burning; and, we need scarcely say, this is work for which they are but miserably qualified. Proofs stare us in the face. The Scottish Missionary Society, as many of oiy readers will remember, com- menced operations there early in the present cen- tury ; but, after a residence of more than twenty years, when their labors began to tell, and to attract the attention of the authorities, they were compelled to take their departure. Those of a kindred Society, after ten years' toil, were also constrained to flee. The London Missionary Society .itself sent a mission to Siberia, where they received at the outset the countenance of the Emperor Alexander; but, after a course of twenty years' labor, and expenditure of money in buildings and other ways, they too, were com- pelled to desist. Before the present rupture— when all was quiet and friendly as between .Nicholas and England, and when Nicholas pro- fessed to have something more than respect, even affection for England's great and virtuous Queen —suppose the London Missionary Society had proposed to resume its philanthropic labors in Siberia and elsewhere, would they have been permitted? The answer is obvious. Nicholas is the great Caliban of modern tyrants, and stands in the utmost dread of light ! But what of Turkey.? Has this bigoted and benighted Turk walked in the same paths as his Imperial neighbor, wielding his utmost powers in defence of the Koran and the Mosque ? Facts shall answer. All sorts of Christian missions, Protestant and Papist alike, are protected in the exercise of their function in Turkey. The noble Earl, in reasoning on this point, wisely abstained from touching on motives. It may be that the Porte in these permissions is pursuing mainly what is considered the .path of sound policy. Be it so: with this we have nothing to do; it is, no doubt, common enough for Potentates as well as people Of humble position, to do good deeds from doubtful motives. It is enough for us that the deed is done. All beyond belongs to the Searcher of Hearts. The world has re- cently seen once and again, the unutterably dis- gusting'spectacle of Spain, notwithstanding her infinite obligations to the blood and the treasure of Englishmen, refused to them other burial than that of a dog; and it required not a little diplo- macy to obtain what has at length been secured —permission to bury with decent rites such Prot- estants as may happen to breathe their last in Spanish territory. It is not so with the Sultan, who has actually given a large tract of land, with liberty to build a place of worship and to construct a cemetery.. Would Nicholas have done so ? Again let his conduct reply. How does he treat those whom truth and conscience have prompted to turn from his Church ? If such converts refuse to enter the Greek Communion, they are forthwith ejected from their shops, driven into the streets, denied the use of fire and water, and interdicted from all communication with others; and, in fact,fully excommunicated! We greatly mistake if the bulk of mankind, had they a religion to choose, Would not prefer that of the Turk to that of Nicholas, as represented by their respective Governments. British Banner of March 15. Letter From Turkey. Constantinople, March 2d, 1854. EDITORS OF THE TRAVELLER :—The insurrec- tion I alluded to in my last, as having broken out in the district of Arta, has become a very serious matter. The whole Greek Kingdom is shaken by it, and it seems likely to be the cause of an entire revolution of the Greek government. Arta, you know, belongs to Turkey, and the ris- ing up is of the Greeks in the province, against the Turks. Russia is, no doubt at the bottom of it, and probably her money has been freely put in requisition. The whole of independent Greece sympathizes with the movement, and they are going forth by thousands to the field. Offi- cers of the army, and Ministers of State, stu- dents of the University, artisans, and peasants, are moved as by one spirit to fight against the Turk. They all seem to think that now the dream of the restoration of the Byzantine Empire to the Greeks is to be realized. King Otho knows not what to do. In the theatre at which the foreign ministers were present, he was by accla- mation, called " Otho, King of Byzantine." The English and French Ambassadors immedi- ately left the house. The Turkish Minister is said to have asked for his passports. It is true, Otho resists the clamorous demands of his people to be led on to war, as far as he is able, but what can he do ? Some of his first generals, it is said, have gone into his presence, and tearing off their epaulettes, have cast them down at his feet, saying, " If you will not sanc- tion war with Turkey, we will resign." This is giving another complication to the al- ready sufficiently snarled Eastern question. Tur- key is now sending troops towards the 'Grecian frontier. England and France, must, of course, also come down upon Greece ; but there may be no practicable way of keeping the Greeks quiet, except by entirely extinguishing their empire. This "The Powers" are, of course, able to do, but will they do it ? They certainly are not likely to consent that Greece shall be given back to Turkey. Will England annex it to tbe Ionian Islands ? But it is useless to begin sudh speculations, for where will they end ? There is now every appearance of a wide-spread and terri- fic European struggle; and, I would also add,, " long continued," were it not that the present implements of warfare are so very murderous. When the smoke of the great battle all clears away, who can tell where the boundaries of king- doms will be, or what new adjustments will be considered necessary, in order to maintain " the great European principle,"—balance of power:! It is comforting, however, to reflect that 'God rules among the nations, by his special and never- sleeping providence.; and that all the nations of the earth, with all their wealth .and gloiy, are as a mere "drop in the bucket," amd as the "dust of the balance." "His counsel shall stand, and He will do all his pleasure." Two Americans are now in the 'Turkish army., one having the commission ans. From these wandering people he declares that he carried off to Assyria, probably colonizing with them, as was the custom, new-built towns and vil- lages, 208,000 men, women, and children, together with 7200 horses and mares, 11,063 asses (?), 5230 camels, 120,100 oxen, and 800,500 sheep."— Nineveh and Babylon, pp. 140, 141. After the record of the invasion of Judea, (for which see note on Isa. 37:38,) " Farther men- tion," says Layard, " is made of Merodach Bala- dan. 4 This king, whom I had defeated in a former campaign, escaped from my principal ser- vants, and fled to an island (name lost) ; his brothers, the seed of his father's house, whom he left behind him on the coast, with the rest of the men of his country from Beth-Yakin, near the salt (?) river, (the Shat-el-Arab, or united waters of the Tigris and Euphrates,) I carried away, and several of his towns I threw down, burning Assur- nadwitai 0 Assurnadin, according to Rawlinson) ; my son I placed on the throne of his kingdom.' He appears then to have made a large government, of which Babylon was the chief place." It is therefore evident that it was when he had recovered his throne, that Merodach sent an em- bassy to Hezekiah, which must have been between the destruction of Sennacherib's army and the death of Sennacherib, who probably survived his defeat at Jerusalem for some years, and made his second invasion of Babylon to punish Merodach for sympathizing with Hezekiah. We have thus, not only a verification of the in- spired record, but of the accuracy of the canon of Ptolemy, on a point which has perplexed chronolo- gers. Merodach, having usurped the sovereignty ©f Babylon, would naturally be anxious to strengthen himself by alliance with the enemies of Assyria ; and Hezekiah was no less pleased with the visit of the ambassadors of one who was at variance with Senna- cherib ; and who came with presents, as was cus- tomary when oriental monarchs sent messages to each other. Notwithstanding his sickness and recovery, (2 Chron. 32:25,) " Hezekiah rendered not again ac- cording to the benefit done unto him ; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem." And lb. v. 31, " in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart." Apd Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointmeut, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah showed them not.—v. 2. Hezekiah had apparently impoverished himself, when he gave Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:15, 16) " all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house. At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria." He may however have recovered no small amount from the spoils left in the camp of the Assyrians, after their slaughter. It is also recorded that after that occurrence, (2 Chron. 32: 23, 27-29,) "many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah : so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thence- forth. . . . And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor : and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels: storehouses also for the in- crease of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. More- over, he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance : for God had given him substance very much." It is evident that he made an ostentatious dis- play of his wealth to the messengers from Babylon; which was displeasing to God. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah,.and said unto him, What said these men ? and from whence came they unto thee t And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far oountry unto me, even from Babylon.—1>. 3. Hezekiah makes no reply to the question, " What said- these men V' but in answer to the other, states that they came from " a far country," which is evidently intended as a palliation of any guilt there may have been in the attentions he had shown them. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house ? And Heze- kiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.—v. 4. Like an honest man, Hezekiah promptly ac- knowledges the truth, resorting to no evasion or artifice to deceive the prophet. Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word ofthe Lord of hosts: Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away ; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.—us. 5-7. With all the faithfulness with which Nathan said to David, (2 Sam. 12:7,) "Thou art the man," Isaiah announces to Hezekiah the purpose of Je- hovah. " It is remarkable, says Vitringa, that this is the first intimation that the Jews would be carried to Babylon—the first designation of the place where they would be so long punished and oppressed. Micah (4:10), a contemporary of Isaiah, declares the same thing, but probably this was not before the declaration here made by Isaiah. Moses had declared repeatedly, that, if they were a rebellious people, they should be removed from their own to a foreign land; but he had not designated the country. (Lev. 26:33, 34 ; Deut. 28:64-67,30:3.) Ahijah, in the time of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:15), had predicted that they should be carried ' beyond the river,' i. e., the Euphrates; and Amos (5:27) had said that God would carry them ' into cap- tivity beyond Damascus.' But all these predic- tions were now concentrated on Babylon ; and it was for the first time distinctly announced by Isaiah that that was to be the land where they were to suffer so long and so painful a captivity."—Barnes on Isaiah, pp. 435, 436. Says Dr. Patrick, " Isaiah foretells all should be carried away to that very place from whence he had been complimented by those ambassadors. The most pertinent observation that I can make upon these words is that of Dr. Jackson (in his Answer to John's Question), where he saith, that whosoever will consider the state of things in this time, and the small power which the Babylonians now had, in respect to their mighty neighbor the king of Assyria (whom the Jews had reason to fear above all other princes) ; the accomplishment of this prophecy of Isaiah was, according to human conjecture, far more unlikely and improbable, thufi if a man should in the last age have taken upon him to foretell that the duke of Saxony, or some such prince in Germany, should conquer France and bpain, and lead them captive to Dresden. But the word of the Lord stands fast for ever ; and Isaiah was proved a hundred and twenty-five years after to be a true prophet."—Com. on 2 Kings 20:17, p. 447. All this was literally fulfilled. The Lord brought upon the Jews, (2 Chron. 36:17-20,) " the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the houses of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age ; he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treas- ures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes ; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, ar.d destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon ; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the king- dom of Persia." 2 Kings 24:13-16—" And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house ofthe Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand cap- tives, and all the craftsmen, and smiths : none re- mained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Baby- lon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Baby- lon. And all the men of might, even seven thou- sand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon." (See also Dan. 1:1-7.) Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord whiph thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be truth in my days.—v. S. The king submissively received the sentence ut- tered, and rejoiced that it was not to have an im- mediate fulfilment. This shows that the rebuke had its desired effect ; for (2 Chron. 32:26,) "•Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord eame not upon them in the days of Hezekiah." THE WAR IN EUROPE. JUDGING from the last advices, we may shortly expect to receive accounts from Europe of the ac- tual commencement of hostilities between the West- ern powers and Russia. The Czar has declined re- plying to the joint summons of England and France —the ultimatissimum as it has been called—and the notification to that effect communicated by Count Nesselrode to the English and French consuls, is of course equivalent to a refusal of the terms offered. The Western powers have of course anticipated this result, and are fully prepared to put in force the only alternative, which is war. There havo been so many ultimatums that many will probably still look for further efforts at pacification, but matters have now advanced too far to justify such an expectation. The English have despatched to the Baltic one of the strongest fleets ever assem- bled, consisting of twenty-seven sail of vessels, mounting 1363 guns, and manned by over fourteen thousand men. By this time the fleet is probably in the Baltic, and it may safely be predicted that with so energetic a commander as Sir Charles Na- pier, the formidable vessels of this squadron will not be suffered to swing idly at their moorings. As soon as the ice will permit they will menace the Russian coast of the Baltic, shut up the vessels of the Russian navy which are concentrating at Cronstadt, and perhaps bombard that important naval station, which is the key to St. Petersburg —or open the war in the Gulf of Finland. While the Western powers are thus prepared to operate with vigor jn the Baltic, their auxiliaries are probably now on Turkish soil, and are pre- paring for the contest. Where these troops will land, or what will be their line of operations, has not been announced. Gallipoli, at the entrance ofthe Sea of Marmora, has been mentioned as the rendezvous of the French troops, and it is reported that the English will establish themselves not far distant, in the Gulf of Enos. Both of these places are in Southern Roumelia, and the selection of this point for a base of operations would seem to indi- cate that the auxiliaries will operate on the Dan- ube. It is thought by some, however, that their first movement will be upon the Crimea, the penin- sula upon the Southern extremity of which Sebas- topol is situated. Looking at the situation of the Crimea upon the map, it would seem feasible to reduce that important fortress and humble the Russian naval power upon the Euxine, by a com- bined attack, or siege and blockade by land and sea. The advantage which would result from such an achievement, aside from its moral effect, would be the crippling of the Muscovite army in Asia, which derives its principle supplies from Sebastopol. But while the auxiliaries are prepareing for a decisive movement, actual hostilities are likely to commence in another quarter. The English steam- er Retribution and the French steamer Caton have been sent to the mouth of the Danube, where the Russians, besides obstructing the bar with rubbish, have erected a stockade to prevent the return of the merchant ships which have ascended the river. The commanders of these vessels, it is said, have orders to fire upon the Russians if they oppose the destruction of the stockade. This movement will be likely to inaugurate the war. The news from Germany is not of a character to hold forth very strong hopes of the union of the German powers against Russia. We have from the first distrusted the reports of the sympathy of Austria and Prussia with England and France, and are not surprised to learn, that instead of uniting against their formidable neighbor, they have, ac- cording to report, formed an alliance offensive and defensive, avowedly on the basis of neutrality, but really to take advantage of any future events which may seem to favor their own interests. Prussia, if we may credit the report, will if necessary send an army into Hungary, and thus leave Austria free to operate in the Turkish principalities. Prussia is notorious for its treachery. The interests of Austria in the fate of Turkey, according to the re- peated declarations of the Czar in the remarkable correspondence which has recently come to light, are inseparable from those of Russia. Both courts undoubtedly sympathize with their eastern neigh- bor, who is a powerful friend and coadjutor in the interests of despotism. The two powers, if they depart from the line of strict neutrality, will be more likely to side with Russia than with England and France. That they can maintain their neutral policy cannot reasonably be anticipated, and that such is not the expectation of one of the parties is proved by the demand of the king of Prussia for an extraordinary loan of $26,800,000. In a contest involving so many and such diverse interests, and in which new and unexpected com- plications are at any moment liable to occur, it is difficult even to conjecture what nations will ulti- mately become involved. It would be safer, how- ever, to predict that not only Austria and Prussia, but Sweden and Denmark will, ere the lapse of many months, be engaged in the quarrel', than to THE ADVENT HERALD 117 i suppose that they can long maintain the pseudo- peaceful attitude of an armed neutrality. Boston Journal. ASTROLOGY. FROM A CLERGYMAN IN CANADA WEST. BRO. HIMES :—Your kindness in furnishing me the Herald 1 assure you is not unappreciated, and its pages are of peculiar interest to me, frequently affording what I believe to be profitable reflection. Your position being such as I can cordially ap- prove, as a whole, although some of your details (of course) I may be allowed to demur to—your views of the " rappings " are quite in accordance with my own, and also, as regards the " time." But one thing I reject; and it is that which induces me to take the pen, believing you are blessed with too much of the spirit of the Master to be offended with what I intend as an affectionate suggestion. In your Philadelphia correspondence on page 93, March 25 th, you gave an extract from Zadkill's Astrological Almanac, containing a prediction of coming events. As to the truth or error of said prediction, I know nothing, but I believe that our Lord has classed astrologers, star-gazers, observers of times, necromancers, &c., in the same category, and if I were sure that a necromancer's spirit, or an astrologers prediction could be relied upon, I dare not either inquire of, or place any honor or de- pendence on, one or the other ; simply because I am persuaded that I should displease the Saviour by so doing. To elucidate my meaning more fully, I will inform you, that twenty or thirty years since, (when a young disciple,) I was led aside, unwit- tingly, to pay some attention to astrology, and have made many strange revelations by its use. But when I was directed to God's will in the mat- ter, I became quite convinced of the iniquity of anything of the sort, though not at all convinced that the revelations, so obtained, icere always in- correct. I did then what my conscience has ap- proved thenceforward to the present hour : I took my books (of some considerable money value) into my sitting-room—tore them in pieces, and com- mitted them to the flames. Glory be to the name of my beloved Saviour for that grace ! And I am quite certain that every disciple of Jesus is bound to remain in the profoundest ignorance upon every subject forever, rather than receive a revelation in a way contrary to the revealed will of God. Now, brother, you understand me—the prediction, page 93, may be true or false, it matters not to me. I am impoverished by a contribution from such a source. Dear brother Himes, do not take my re- marks unkindly ; they are made in the love of the spirit, and it is only because I love the truth, and you, that I have written. May the Lord bless you, is my prayer ; and that we may stand before him with joy and not with grief at his coming. Amen.' REMARKS.—A note was prepared to accompany the article referred to, showing the folly and wick- edness of relying on the deductions of astrologers ; but on farther reflection, it was omitted, on the supposition that it would be understood that nei- ther we, nor our correspondent have any approval for such prophets—his writings and our own hav- ing taken warm ground against them. We see however, that without reflecting on our known po- sition, we are liable to be misapprehended because of that article, and are therefore glad you have called our attention to it, so that we might place ourselves right respecting it. It was given as a si«;n of the times.—ED. are not embraced in it, are left to shame and ever- lasting contempt. To stand in his lot, therefore, is to be raised from the dead at the end of those days ; and the phrase conveys, as we understand it, precisely the same meaning as that brought to view in Rev. 20:6—" Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection." Daniel's " Lot." " SHALL stand in thy lot at the end of the days." (Dan. 12:13.) The Hebrew word here rendered " in thy lot " is Viu (goh-rahl) ; and is used to express the cast- ing of lots by which one's inheritance or destiny is decided. Thus: Lev. 16:8—"Aaron shall cast lots—one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scape-goat. (v. 9.) Upon which the Lord's lot fell. Num. 26:55—" The land shall be divided by lot." —34:13—" Which ye shall inherit by lot." Josh. 14:2—" By lot was their inheritance." —18:10—" And Joshua cast lots for them." 1 Chron. 24:5—" Thus were they divided bylot.'' Neh. 10:34—" And we cast the lots among." Esther 3.7—" They cast Pur. that is the lot." Joel 3:3—" They have cast lots for my people." The same word is used to express the result which was effected by casting lots. Josh. 18:11—" And the lot of the tribe of Benja- min came up according to their families. (See also Josh. 19:1,10, 17, 24, 32, 40 ; 21:4.) The idea conveyed by the text, is that of a sepa- ration by lot of the inhabitants of the earth into two great classes. Those on whom the lot falls, come forth to everlasting life; while those who Advent Herald. THIS is a weekly paper published by Elder J. V. Himes, Boston. Without endorsing any peculiar tenets, advocated in this spiritual journal, we al- ways hail its arrival with heartfelt pleasure. The tact and ingenuity displayed in unveiling apoca- lyptic mysteries, have secured the respect and con- fidence of many theologians, and placed the Herald in juxtaposition with the most influential journals of the age. We regret, however, that the Advent- ists are again attempting to fix a definite period for the second coming of Christ. The subscription price is only $2 per. annum. ! N. Y. Mercantile Guide. We copy the above for the purpose of remarking that those known as " the Adventists " are not " attempting to fix a definite period for the second coming of Christ." Those who are thus doing, are distinguished from them as timists—the time of the advent being ever the great question with the most of them ; while with the Adventists, the advent as an event near at hand is the great ques- tion, whatever its time may prove to be. The Ad- ventists as a body, have no confidence in the de- ductions of the timists, for their present time, which cannot be extended beyond the 10th of June, without setting aside their own reasoning. The " Cleansing " of the Sanctuary. " Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan. 8:14.) The Hebrew word rendered " then shall be cleansed," is p"iy (tzah-dak,) and occurs in forty other places in the Old Testament. In the margin it is rendered justified, which is the general signifi- cation of the word. It is rendered justified in Job 11:2 ; 13:18 ; 25:4 ; 32:2; Psa. 51:4; 143:2; Isa. 43:9,26; 45:25; Jer. 3:11; Ezek. 16:51, 52. Justify, in Job 7:20; 27:5; Deut. 25:1; Ex. 23:7 ; Isa. 5:23 ; 53:11. Justifying, in 1 Kings 8:32; 2 Chron. 6:23. Justifieth, in Prov. 17:15 ; Isa. 50:8. Just, in Job 4:17; 9:2; 33:12,32. Justice, in 2 Sam. 15:4 ; Psa. 82:3. Righteousness, in Gen. 38:26 ; Job 9:15 ; 10:15 ; 15:14 ; 22:3 ; 34:5; 35:7 ; 40£ ; Psa. 19:9 ; Ezek. 16:52. Turn to righteousness, in Dan. 12:3. Clear ourselves, in Gen. 44:16. And Cleansed, in Dan. 8:14. It thus refers, not to a physical cleansing, or pu- rification, but to moral rectitude. That to which it is applied, is thenceforth to be held innocent. It is no longer to be held guilty or abominable. Its uprightness is vindicated. Its past guilt is all cancelled, its sentence is then to be revoked; and its punishment is remitted. That period, therefore, extends not to the termi- nation of the physical restoration of the sanctuary, but to the commencement of that process. point for our conferences and large meetings, and for this object, if for no other, we could as a body afford to carry forward the enterprise. I think the location an eligible one, and affords opportunity for doing good, and yet be a very good investment for those that have the means at hand. May the Lord open the hearts of the friends of the cause to help in this matter. Yours in hope, I. II. SniPMAN. Sugar Hill. March 27th, 1854. A Tour West. BROTHER HIMES.—Permit me to say that since my return to Vermont, I have received very numer- ous letters from Illinois, of the most importunate character, portraying the condition and demands of the cause in that State, and earnestly requesting that I visit them again. After a severe trial in my own mind as to what was duty relative to the matter, I have concluded to make another tour through Illinois if the Lord will. Shall first make a brief call on the friends, and may there arrange for more protracted labor. Will therefore arrange to spend the last Saturday and Sabbath in May in Ogle county, (111.). The first Sabbath in June in Lasselle county—the second in Rock Island county, as brother Ruggles may appoint—the third in Hancock county—the fourth in Brown or (in Springfield) Saugammon county, as brother J. Mallory and Dr. Helm, may arrange. Brethren will please write at this place. Addison, Vt. P. B. MORGAN. PS. The brethren will please arrange tor the meeting at Rockford, Thursday the 25th. CORRESPONDENCE. CORRESPONDENTS are alone responsible fov the correctness of the views they present. Therefore articles not dissented from, will not necessarily be understood as endorsed by the publisher. In this de- partment, articles are solicited on the general subject of the Advent, without regard to the particular view we take of any scripture, from the friends of the Herald. NEW WORKS. CHINA.—The Overland China Mail mentions among the credible rumors that the northern army of the rebels is not making much' progress, and has captured neither the capital of Pekin nor the port of Tien-tsin; that Shanghai is likely soon to be retaken by, or restored to, the Imperialists—the latter perhaps the more probably, a conspiracy for a surrender having been discovered, and 200 of the conspirators put to death ; and that the presence of the French at Nankin was even less cordial than has been supposed, and augurs ill for improved intercourse with foreigners in the event of the rebels being ultimately successful. THE FAR WEST.—It will be seen by a notice in another column, that brother P. B. Morgan, is about to make another tour West. We hope he will be prospered in building up the cause in union an<{ love. He will act as agent for the Herald, Youth''s Guide, and other Advent publications. Brother Litch and myself will go out into that field in June and hold a series of Grove meetings. Notice hereafter. Our brethren in the West, may rely upon union and co-operation of brethren from the East. We can commend no one that would be likely to distract, or that would not work in har- mony with brethren Chapman and Cummings. J. R. H. The Chapel. DEAR BRO. HIMES :—I am glad you are making an effort for a permanent place of worship in Bos- ton . The cause demands it, and if we have the true principle of Christian philanthrophy among us, I think it will meet with success; not only do the brethren in Boston need it, but it is the central " THE THEOLOGICAL AND LITERARY JOURNAL.—Ed- ited by David N. Lord. No. XXIV, April, 1854. New York: Published by Franklin Knight, 140 Nassau-street. 1854." The April number of this able Journal, is de- voted to the following subjects: " Art. 1.—Christ's Second Coming, It is to be contemporaneous with the restoration of the Israelites. Art. 2.—Inquiry into the Meaning of Matthew 24:14. By J. Richards, D. D.. Art. 3.—Beecher's Conflict of Ages, Character of the Work, Error in respect to the Moving Powers of Christ- ianity, His notion that God suffers, The consequences to which it leads, His denial of God's power to prevent all sin, His notion that the Material Universe was cre- ated after the beings who belong .to our race fell, His denial of the justice of God's dealings with men in this life, if this is their first existence, His omission to define what is man's present state that makes God's government over him un- just, if this is his first existence, His omission to notice the unfavorable bearing of his theory of pre-existence on God's justice, His omission to notice the detraction of God that is involved in his notion that he must suffer, Proofs that his theory is erroneous: it is un- proved, It is in contradiction to the Scriptures, It has no adaptation to the end for which he ad- vances it, It involves the most awful accusations of God, Art. 4.—Infidelity, its Aspects, Causes, and Agencies. By R. W. Dickinson, D. D., Art. 5.—The Priest and the Huguenot, Art- 6.—History of the Apostolic Church, Art. 7.—Literary and Crirical Notices, 1. Rev. D. Winthrop's Premium Essay, 2. Sir W. Hamilton's Philosophy, 3. Rev. A. Barnes's notes on Daniel, 4. Rev. H. Reid's Hand of God in History, 5. Rev. Dr. Turner's Commentary on Romans, 6. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress." The first article contends for the restoration of the Jews. We believe with Mr. Lord that Israel will be restored at Christ's coming. But we differ from him in contending that the Israel then to be restored will embrace only the pious dead of that nation, with such living Israelites as shall be changed from mortality to immortality at that epoch—being placed in respect to their restoration on a level with the pious of all other nations. The article on Matt. 24:14 presents a very clear and satisfactory view of that chapter; while the article on the " Conflict of Ages " is a perfect scorcher—entirely demolishing all the arguments against which it is directed. " FIRST LESSONS IN GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.—By Aunt Alice. With original illustrations by Bill- ings. Designed for schools and families. Boston : Published by John P. Jewett & Co. Cleveland 0 : Jewett, Proctor, & Worthington. 1854." The design of this little book is to inculcate hon- or to parents; kindness to brothers and sisters; respect to the aged; love of truth, neatness and order; habits of industry, propriety of deportment. And the narrations and illustrations appear to be admirably adapted to impress the infant mind fa- vorably in those directions. THE MIDNIGHT CRY.—MATT. 25. IN this and the preceding chapter of our Lord's gospel we have an interesting portion of prophetic truth, given in answer to the questions of his dis- ciples respecting his second " coming, and the end of the world." And while there are conflicting views and strange notions respecting its applica- tion, I wish, without dogmatism, to present to the reader what appears to me to be the truth, after having carefully read much that has been written on it, and after having passed through three cam- paigns, and failures, of what was then called by some, " THE TRUE MIDNIGHT CRY." In Matt. 24th chap, is recorded the prophecies of Christ relating to many of the most remarkable events of the gen- tile dispensation. Events of a national and earthly character, connected with the temptations and af- flictions of the church,—"the elect,"—with the signs of their deliverance by his coming to their relief, to " gather the elect," and to cause his enemies to mourn. He then illustrates the condi- tion of unbelievers at that time, by the unbelievers of Noah and of Lot's times. At the same time assuring us that the elect will KNOW by the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, when " it [or he] is near even at the door." We next hear him say, " Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." The good and evil ser- vants are mentioned, which show the two classes of teachers of the last days, and the reward of each is stated ; the one is blessed, and the other is" cut asunder and his portion appointed with the hypo- crites, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This language closes chapter 24th. We now have two parables put forth to represent the trayail of the church from the days of Christ's humiliation, to his second coming, at the judg- ment. But we are only investigating the first. " Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." The term " THEN," gives a clue to the time when the like- ness has its completion, is full, is finished. It is when the evil servant is " cut assunder," at the advent of Christ. We are now to have a history of the travail or action o£ the church given in a parable. Let us examine the figures used, and then we may know how to apply them. Other scriptures throw light on this. Here the church seems to be likened to virgins. So Paul used this term, or figure, in 2 Cor. 11:2, " For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." The Revelator speaks of the church redeemed and standing on Mount Zion, and calls them " virgins." Rev. 14 : 4.) In the parable a bridegroom is mentioned. Does this respresent Christ? All will say, yes. To this agrees the words of Jesus, (Matt. 9:15; Mark 2:19 ; Luke 5:34, 35,) "And he said unto them, can ye make the children of the bride-cham- ber fast while the bridegroom is with them. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. Here Christ is clearly represented as the bridegroom, while on earth, and when absent. We will now return to the parable. " Virgins went forth with their lamps to meet the bride- groom," some " were wise," some " were fool- ish." The wise prepared themselves with il oil," the foolish did not. What is illustrated in scrip- ture by a lamp and oil? " Thy word," says Dan- iel, " is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Again," God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Psa. 45:7; 119 : 105.) Here and in other places, the word and spirit of God, are illustrated by a " lamp " and "oil." By a reference the prominent features of a wed- ding in those days, in the East the application of the figure, to the faet, will be easy and natural. A bridegroom invitee friends to his house several days prior to his wedding, that they may partake of his bounties while he is absent for the bride, and be waiting his return, that they may be ready to enter the guest-chamber at his coming, and en- joy the marriage feast. They go with their lamps, and if wise with vessels of oil to replenish them. 118 THE ADVENT HERALD. I The bridegroom then leaves them in the care of his servants, and goes to the house of the bride, to bring her and other guests. On the night of his return it often occurs that the friends fall asleep before his approach. A watch is kept, and sig nals of his coming at length appear, the porter gives the alarm to the slumbering virgins, a cry, Behold, he cometh, go ye'out to meet him, starts them up; they trim their lamps that they may see and be ready to go into the marriage feast. All who have lights enter in, and the door is shut, while those who come after that, are not permitted to enter on any plea whatever. Can we now rec- ognize any such features in the history of the church 1 We find in the record of Matthew, Mark and Luke, above quoted, concerning the children of the bride-chamber, Christ says, in connection, " I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Those who obeyed the call, and ac- cepted his invitation, come to his house (church) and become his friends. For he says to them, ." Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I com- mand you. Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth ; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you." (John 15:14,15.) Among the "all things," we hear him saying, " I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I-will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." Again in Mark 13:34—" For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work ; and commanded the porter to watch." Luke 19:12— " A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive tor himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered unto them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." In the above is the same great fact illus- trated by the virgins and the bridegroom. The virgins go forth to the bridegroom's house, to wait his return. Christ also has a house. Heb. 3:6—" But Christ as a Son over his own house: whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." The church, then, is Christ's house, as is also taught by Paul. (Eph. 2:19.) Christ has given an invitation to all to come in all times. He left them who came when he was here, to go to the Father. But just prior to his leaving, he said, " If a man love me, he will keep my words : and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14: 23.) This is to be fulfilled when Jesus comes again, as is clearly taught in Rev. 21:2, 3, 23. These promises, with many others of the same class, have entered largely into the hope of the church in all her pilgrimage. Indeed she can have no true hope without this. More than 1800 years have now passed, and the promise is not yet fulfilled. Jesus remains away, and we still wait for him, " whom not having seen, we love." But Borne will ask, Did any go forth until they ex- pected his return? Yes, some done so before he went away, and he calls them, " children of the bride-chamber." Hear Paul also, (1 Thess. 1:9, 10,) " For they themselves shew of us what man ner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God ; and to wait for his Son from heaven." A large number of texts could be brought to prove that the minds of all true believers in the gospel, were turned to the second advent of Christ, as the time of reward, the crowning event of all their hopes, when he would come and celebrate " the marriage-supper of the Lamb." (Rev. 19:9.) When they would enjoy the feast promised in Isa. 25:6-8. At all times when the gospel has been preached or believed in its purity, men have re- pented and obeyed God, with the hope of such things as is above mentioned. They have done so during the whole gospel age, and have taken the word of God, (lamp,) and those who have counted the cost, (the wise,) and laid their foundation sure, have " received the gift of the Holy Spirit," (oil,) and have gone to the house (church) of Christ, to be in readiness for his return. Others also have gone forth, but without a preparation ; they have been invited to the feast, and they hope for admission because they go forth, but they have only a profession—their faith does not give them grace to stand. These are a graceless class, doomed to the dreadful disappointment of being shut out of the kingdom of God, because they bring no fruit to perfection. The resurrection morn is the object before them; they remember that Jesus said, " He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live : [be raised to life :J and whosoever liveth, [until I come,] and believeth in me, shall never die." (John 11:25,26.) Paul also " shews a mystery " in 1 Cor. 15:51—" We shall not all sleep, [die,] but we shall all be i tyLithlj ohanged, ... at the last trump." He also tells us, (1 Thess. 4:16,) some will be alive and remain when Jesus comes. The Church is recognized in the Scriptures as a unit, and the virgins in the parable represent classes of men, and not indi- vidual persons. So the backsliding, or death of some, or all of one generation, does not affect the case, while others come in to fill their places. The two classes have been in the church from Christ's days on earth, until now. One class " hear the word and treasure it up in good and honest hearts," and being " mixed with faith, brings forth fruit." The other class " hear the word of God, but the wicked one catcheth it away," or " persecution ariseth," or " the cares of this life," or " the deceitfulness of riches choke the word," and they are deluded, and " have not the spirit," (oil.) " While the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept." The condition which is here represented is of course a moral one. So then the state represented by sleep is a state of unconsciousness in regard to passing events affect- ing the measurement of time, of insensibility of the nearness of the event for which they were wait- ing. They depend on the servant, the watchman, to give due notice of the approach of the bride- groom . But the term " tarry " next demands attention. For the term is used to signify the position of Christ to his waiting church. We believe the term tarry is here used in its primary sense, as it is in nearly all places in Scripture. This any one may see who will examine. The primary meaning of the word, as given by Webster, is, " to stay, to abide, to continue, to lodge." In the event of a wedding, the bridegroom goes for the bride. He stays, continues, abides, tarries, until the day ap- pointed to return. His friends are apprised of the day, but not of the time of day. They depend on the signal of his approach, and while he " con- tinues," before his return, they fall asleep. At length the sign of the retinue appears, and a cry is made, " Behold, he cometh : go ye out to meet him ;" they arise and examine their lamps. No definite point of time being stated when the arrival should occur, no blame is attached for being asleep nor is there any evil arising from it; the evil is in not having oil to replenish the lamp, at the time when the bridegroom is approaching. As is the case in this figure, so with that which it repre Our Lord has gone to the Father to " re- ceive dominion, and a kingdom, [Dan. 7:13, 14 ; Luke 19:12,] and to return," not only with domin- ion, but with a city and a multitude of angels who attend the heavenly Jerusalem, which, when adorned with the immortal saints, constitutes " the bride, the Lamb's wife." (Rev. 19:7; 21:9, 10.) He has now been absent more than 1800 years. He tarries still, and the promise is yet unfulfilled. Some of his disciples who only saw the first principles of his doctrine, looked for him in the first century, and in the second and third. Others during the reign of the papacy ; yes, and they longed to see him, too. But he did not come he was to tarry " on his Father's throne, until his enemies be made his footstool." He there continues to abide still, as intercessor, while gen- eration after generation of his waiting, longing disciples, are hoping for his return. They could and did read over his'promises, and study the signs that should indicate his near approach, but these not having taken place, they knew not how near he was. They could read the history of papacy and of its decline and death, but the vision was " sealed up," and they knew not where to put the measuring periods. Thus they were insensible of the time of the event for which they hope, (repre- sented by the virgins asleep.) Some of the watch- men did note the passing events, and saw the ful filment of prophecy, but it was not time to sound the alarm, to give the cry, " Behold, he cometh.' In due time God raised up a Luther, and others with him, to circulate the Bible, to preach the gospel, that the spirit of Christ's mouth might be breathed on the man of sin (2 Thess. 2,) to " con him unto the END." Thus a work was commenced to check the " great tribulation," that it might " be shortened to save some of the elect." (Matt. 24:22.) Under this reformation the gospel has a great circulation ; in it is the invitation for guests to the wedding—subjects for the kingdom. The word of God grows, the friends of Jesus multiply and rejoice in the hope of his return. But again persecution reigns, for a time, almost unlimited. The fifth seal opens, (Rev. 6:9, 10,) and with it the blood of the saints flows freely, and they, per- secuted, oppressed, and murdered, cry, " How long, O Lord!" Patience is nearly exhausted, the time seems long, and they are interested about the time. But they are only told " to rest, yet for a little season until their brethren also should be killed." Jesus yet tarried. Again God gave power to his word ; it affects the multitudes, it is exalted by papal princes even, and Antichrist faints under his trials. " He thaf leadeth into captivity, now goeth into captivity." (Rev. 13 : 10.) During the reformation, from A. D. 1525 to 1798, the'church for the most part obtains a res- pite from her former troubles, and during this time, though she bled at every pore, she achieves, through God, a mighty victory over papacy, and the bulk of " the great tribulation " is now stayed. In all this affliction, while the church formed a better acquaintance with the Scriptures than for- merly, her eyes and heart were continually turned to the " coming again " of her Lord, in judgment, to redeem her from this miserable world of perse- cution and death. But while she is being released from the papal tribulation, Satan is forging false hopes of a flattering character, to allure her. Even before she is quite out of the fangs of the beast that drank her blood, her nerves weaken be- fore the charmer. She is now at ease, and calmly looks about her ; everything seems to be in her fa- vor. The earth has drunk up the waters cast out after her, (Rev. 12:16,) the governments favor her. And now a portion of her members seek other lovers than the Lord. Their sentiments change, the gospel is corrupted, faith is crippled, the hope " is tarnished and displaced. A Swe- denborg has risen with his poisonous system of iries, which, when adopted, strikes a death blow to all the fundamental principles of the gos- pel. A Whitby has introduced a new invention to interpret Scripture, a system before unknown to the church. By this, the coming of Christ, the first resurrection, and the Millennium, are all changed to a mere spiritual and transitory affair, here in flesh and blood, to convert all men. Here ease and glory are held out where Jesus taught hardship and affliction. Next comes Universalism, assenting that Christ had come hundreds of years before, but it seems they had not seen him, yet many believe it. Now comes the Shaker system which professes to be the actual development of Christ's second coming and kingdom. By these systems, large masses of the church had their at- tention turned from the true hope of the gospel, from A. D. 1725 to 1820, and ever since. Their hearts have waxed wanton from Christ, while their minds have been occupied with such theories. This causes " iniquity to abound, and the love of many to wax cold." (Matt. 24:12.) Although they had gone forth with their Bibles to meet the Lord, they had nearly forgotten the promise of his return. Some remember it, but then, they are doing a great work. The enemy of reform is now crushed, (papacy,) Bible and Missionary Societies are multiplying, the church is growing, and many of them feel that they can do very well without his return. Great stillness prevails. The beasts of the field are at rest, (the four winds held, Rev. 7:1, 2.) Without it is dark, it is late in the night, the disciples have long waited, and they know not the time. Time is being measured off by events, and some of the watchmen are examining it, and watching the opening of events. They see God in history fulfilling prophecy. The sixth seal is opened, (Rev. 6:12,) the great earthquake experi- enced, the tribulation passed, the sun darkened, the moon had refused to give her light, the domin- ion of papacy is taken away, " the time of the end " has come. The seal of Daniel's vision is re- moved, many begin to run to and fro, knowledge increases. And while it is midnight hour, and all is still with the church, on this point, those sig- nals which were to indicate the immediate coming of the Lord, are seen by the longing gaze of the faithful watchman. As they continue to look the light brightens, hope springs up, joy fills the heart. A voice is heard, faintly at first, though all was not distinctly seen, " Behold, the bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet him." It falls pleasantly on the ear of the saint, it fills his heart with gladness, the spark kindles to a flame, the sound re-echoes from heart to heart, from church to church, in all countries, and awakens the attention of all professed Christians, to inquire if the Master is really coming. Such are som§ of the features of the church, and actions of the min- istry, signified by the " cry made at midnight," as it appears to me. I think this work of giving the alarm commenced (though faintly) under the la- bors of Joseph S. Waif, in Asia, A. D. 1820. It was more clearly announced by Edward Irving, in England and Scotland, commencing in 1822. • In Germany by Professor Gaussen about the same time. In America it began moderately in 1823 but its more clear and awakening notes were made public from 1831, by our beloved and lamented brother, William Miller. These, with a large number of co-laborers, have faithfully warned the church in the various portions of the earth, from then until now, that " the Lord is near, even at the doors." This has been done, not by their dreams, their feelings, or vain imaginations, but by arguments drawn from the prophetic scriptures and periods, showing by history their fulfilment, together with the signs mentioned by our Lord, by the opening of the seals, (Rev. 6,) sounding of the trumpets, (Rev. 8, 9,) pouring out of the vials, ^Rev. 16.) All these telling in thunder tones, that the day of God ia at hand. The parable of the fig-tree has been learned, and the good servants have been giving the household meat in due season, saying, " Behold he cometh," " the Lord is at hand." The voice has gone from east to west, from north to south, and is still go- ing by the living preacher, or by books, tracts and papers, bearing the all-inspiring, soul-reviving ti- dings, " The kingdom of God is at band." These notes of warning are now resounding in all lands. Professed Christians of all names are stirred by it, and for a time listen and start at the thought. They turn to the Bible, or look to their teachers, or to some other source, and ask, are these things so 1 Some have grace enough to see the truth, and they rejoice, and live more devotedly to God, and exercise living faith in the " sure word," and by it the light shines all about their path. With joy they are waiting the arrival of their soon coming King, their long expected Lord. The light is shining more clearly, and the cry grows more dis- tinct in all lands; and a more thorough prepara- tion is being made by those who have good faith in the message, and in God its author. But this is not a specific cry. It is of a more general char- acter, and takes a wider range, and has something more permanent for its foundation. It stands on the evidence that the prophetic events to occur, prior to the judgment, have all been fulfilled (ex- cept those immediately connected with it,) in chronological order, by which we know that " it is nigh, even at the door." It is true that several have ventured to calculate the precise time of the arrival of the Lord, and evidence has been adduced to prove the precise ending of the prophetic periods, and some have located their message on these giv- en points, and have confined their labors to them, teaching each time to be " the true cry at midnight," and given in turn, several times for the tarry, which is to proceed the cry. And many have hoped to see the Lord at each point, but all these local cries have failed, up to the present, and wTe have been as often disappointed. Such features are not found in the parable. No such disappointment is there shown. We therefore conclude that the true cry stands, and is also continued an evidence of the ' signs," and fulfilment of prophecy, chronologi- cally. There will be no failure in this cry, no dis- appointment while we follow the teachings and caution of Christ, " Watch ye therefore." The virgins will continue to rise and trim their lamps, but the foolish will seek for oil when it is not to be had until too late. The lo, here, and lo, there, the confusion of tongues, and vain traditions, call off their attention from the all-important point. They neglect to obtain and retain the spirit of Christ, and to cultivate its graces. They are therefore a graceless class, " drawing near God with their mouths, and honoring him with their lips while their hearts are far from him." O what a fearful condition to be in while the day of God is just opening on the vision of a lost world, and a host of professed friends of Christ, doomed to the terrible disappointment of being shut out of the kingdom of God. O backsliding children, re- turn to God while you may, and be ready to meet Jesus at his coming. Soon, yes, very soon, he will be here to judge the world in righteousness. " With the breath of his lips will he slay the wicked." He will cut asunder the evil servants who have said, " My Lord delayeth his coming," and those who have been deceived by them, so aa not to be ready foil the kingdom, will hear him saying, " Depart from me, I know you not." But those who are ready, will " come from the east, west, north and south, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, to go no more out forever." O, blessed day, Lord let it open upon us. It is supposed by some that the above views of this subject militates against investigation of, and faith in the time. We argue that it does not. We may study, and get all the light we can from the prophetic periods, and proclaim it all in a proper manner. Let each class of truth stand on its own merits and all is harmony; but seek to prop up one class with another which has no analogy, and all is confusion. 1 am fully aware that the position I take on this subject is much questioned by some, and I am thought to be op- posed to time, because of it. I doubt not but some will honestly differ from me, while others may criticise, and some ridicule. And were it a new thing for truth to be thus treated, I might be timid, but it is far otherwise. I do not shun criticism nor investigation, nor am I so presumptuous as to wish my views to be put forth by a medium THE ADVENT HERALD. 119 where no man is allowed to raise a question to their truthfulness. But while Bpeaking on a sub- ject that has been three times before, and now again brought to prove definite time true, while it does not touch the subject pro nor con, I wish to add, that I am only seeking to remove props that have been erroneously raised in support of an ar gument which is not at all dependent on such sup- port. Our present calculation on the definite time rests solely on the evidence produced, that the 1290 days commenced A. D. 519, and ended prior to, or on June 10a., Thursday, and over Suuday, 23d. LEVI DCDLEY will preach on Densmore Hill, Ilartland, Vt., Sunday, April 9th; West Randolph, Thursday, 13th ; Waterbury, Sunday, 16th5 Underhill Union, 17th ; Essex, 18th ; Burlington, 19th ; Col- chester, 20th ; Georgia, 21st ; Swanton Falls, 22d and 23d ; Stanbridge, 25th ; Cadwells Manor, 27 ; Odelltown Mastcrschool house, 29th, and Eldredge school house, 30th. All the week day appointments, in the evening. N. Billings will preach at Waterbury, Vt., on Sunday, April 23d, at Burlington, 25th; at Middlebury, 26th—will brother Hunt call for me at the depot, on ^he arrivall of the first train from Burlington ? at Mt. Holly the 27th and 28lh—will some bro. calL for meat Kimball's Crossings, on the arrival of the first train from Middlebury, Thurs- day the 27th ? at Low Hampton, N. Y., Sabbath the 30th ; at Green- field, May the 2d—will the friends be present from Middle Grove and elsewhere ? at Waterford the 3d ; at West Troy the 5th ; at Albany, Sabbath the 7th ; at Worcester, Mass., the 8tli ; at West- floro' the 9th. Week-day meetings at 7 o'clock, p. M., or as may be thought best. BUSINESS DEPARTMENT. BUSINESS NOTES. G, H. Carpenter—Have changed it as you direct—you are credited to 658, January 1st., 1854. B. S. Reynolds—Sent you books to East Haverhill, the 11th. G. Bangs—We have credited as your letter directs. HERALD TO THE POOR. Samuel Fullerton 10 00 Our poor list is very large. We know not how to diminish it ; we can but hope that those who have abundant means will rtmimber THE ADVENT HERALD 13 PUBLISHED EVERT SATURDAY AT NO. 8 CIIARDON STREET, BOSTOM {Nearly opposite the Revere House,) BY JOSHUA V. HIMES. TERMS.— $1 per semi annual volume, or $2 per year, »n advanet. $1.13 do., or $2.25 per year, at its close. $5 in advance will pay for six copies to one person; and $10 will pay for thirteen copies. Single copy, 5 cts. To those who receive of agents, firee of postage, it i» $1.28 for twenty-six numbers, or $2.60 per year. CANADA SUBSCRIBERS have to pre-pay the postage on their papers, 26 cts. a year, in addition to the above;»'. e., $1 will pay for twenty- three numbers, or $2.25 a year. The same to all the Provinces. ENGLISH SUBSCRIBERS have to pre-pay 2 cts. postage on each copy, or $1.04 in addition to the $2, per year. 6s. sterling for six months, and 12s. a year, pays for the Herald and the American postage, which our English subscribers will pay to our agent, Richard Robertson, Esq., 89 Grange Road, Bermondsey, near London. POSTAGE.—The postage on the Herald, if pre-paid quarterly or yearly, at the office where it is received, will be 13 cents a year to any part of Massachusetts, and 26 cents to any other part of the United States. If not pre-paid, it will be half a cent a number ia the State, and one cent out of it. To Antigua, the postage is six cents a paper, or $3,12 a year. Will send the Herald therefor $5 a year, or $2,50 for six months. RECEIPTS. The No. appended to each name is that of the HERALD to which the money credited pays. No. 659 was the closing number of 1853; No. 685 is to the end of the volume in June., 1854; and No. 711 is to the close of 1854. T. Parker, 685; R. Ticker, 699; L. Smith, 699; T. Ball, 699; Dr. W. Richardson, 699; R. Collier, 671; J. O. Sibley, 699; W. Cham- berlain, 638 and G; W. Moss, 676and book; W. M'Nelly, 697; C. II. Lang, 701; G. A Hammond, 701; D. F.Kendall, 685; E. Row- ell, 690; J. D. Sias, 685; Mr. Hanson, 699; H. Barton, on acc't; J. Albuson, 696; S. C. Barker, 699; E. Lee 2d., 685: J. II. Edmonds, 685; A. Wood, 690—each $1. L. Parker, 727; G. W. Thomas, 711; n. D. Boss, 690; F. Scoffin, 685; Mr. Wise, 664; C S. Collier, 705 and Y. G ; li. Andrews, 711, and Maps sent; P. Handy, 716; P Swazey, 725 if a new subscriber —if not, where does the paper now go I There was no such nawe at Cabot, where we now enter it; G. D. Warren, from 644, to 696; J. O. Donneil, 695, and bal. due on G; We sent the back No's., Mr. G. C. ; G. Hagerman, 697; S. M. Wootan, 711; M. Ray,694; P. Blood, 788; P. A. Terwillager, 725; A. Senter, 685; C. Phelps, 725; E. II. Pease, 664; L. A. Lang (and 25 for G., to A. P. to 86) 711; O. B. Russell, 703; S. Ilayden, 685; L. Gale, 723; A. G. Warren, 685; Caroline Spiller, 685; J. B. Barlow,716; 8. K. Oliver, 685—each $2. E. Shelden, 711—$3. L. L. Schultz, 646 and G. to 96—$1,50 due on n. to July 1st; J. Hall, 666; J. B. Taplin, 664—each $5. .J T. Dixon, $10 ; M. P. Wallace, 711 and G. to 96—$2,57, and $11,43 on acc't; T. M. Helm, for book, $1,50.