J. V. IIIMES, Proprietor. 
" DAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES." 
OFFICE, No. 8 Chardon...street 
WHOLE NO. 658. 
VOLUME XII. NO. 26. 
 41111111a 
BOSTON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1853. 
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Moral Epidemics. 
REV. DR. BERG, pastor of the Second Re-
formed Dutch church of Philadelphia, and the 
accomplished editor of the Quarterly Review, 
delivered, not long since, a highly instructive 
lecture on the subject above named. An extract 
is presented to our readers : 
" There has not been an age since the begin-
ing of the Christian era in which the minds of 
sincere and well-disposed people have not been 
disturbed by prophecies respecting the immedi-
ate destruction of the world. The extent of the 
delusion has varied according to circumstances, 
but the theme, which all admit is a most mo-
mentous subject, is constantly seized by persons 
who, either from design or in ignorant sincerity, 
frame theories and schemes of their own, by 
which, without any real claims to theological 
science, they undertake the interpretation of 
prophecies, and arrive at any results which they 
find desirable. One of the most remarkable of 
these religious epidemics occurred about the 
middle of the tenth century. In France, Ger-
many, and Italy, a host of fanatical preachers 
proclaimed that the thousand years described in 
the Apocalypse were about to expire, and that 
the end of the world was at hand. One year 
before the expiration of the time, the number of 
pilgrims proceeding to Jerusalem, at which the 
scene of the last judgment was to be held, was 
prodigious, and resembled the advance of a des-
olating army. Thousands sold their possessions 
and lived upon the proceeds in the Holy Land. 
The ordinary duties of life were neglected, and 
every branch of industry suffered from the blight. 
Daring the thousandth year the terror increased. 
The appearance of a shooting star in the firma-
ment was sufficient to bring the whole popula-
tion into the streets of Jerusalem, in awe-struck 
expectancy of' the final catastrophe. In short, 
every country has had its prophets : Greece its 
Cassandra, Rome its Sybils, England its Nixon, 
Wales its Robin Dhu, the Highlanders their 
Kenneah Oaur, the Yankees their Joe Smith. 
" Speaking of fanatics of this description, 
Dean Swift remarks Formerly, the apos- 
tles received the gift of speaking several lan-
guages; a knowledge so remote from our deal-
ers in this art, that they neither understand 
propriety of words nor phrases of their own, 
much less the gift of tongues.' This is an ob-
servation which applies with great force to the 
whole race of fanatical prophets. They usually 
display a most deplorable want of information, 
and, what is worse, not unfrequently glory in 
their ignorance, as though it were the broad seal 
of Heaven attesting their apostolic commission. 
The Picardists of the twelfth century, so called 
from Picard, the founder of the sect, practised 
the most abominable licentiousness; and yet 
this Picard styled himself the Son of God, and 
was honored as such by his followers. This epi-
demic broke out again in the fifteenth century. 
A hundred years later, we have Theodoret Sar-
ter setting up his claims to inspiration, and John 
'of Leyden doing the same thing; rending out 
his twelve apostles to proclaim him king, and, 
like another Brigham Young, marrying ten 
wives. 'Ile possessed a sturdy impudence which 
nothing could daunt. When taken prisoner with 
arms in his hands, he was asked by the bishop 
how lie dared to set up for a king. He asked 
in turn, What right has a bishop to set up for 
a temporal lord ?" I was elected,' said Wal-
deck, by the chapter.' ' And I by God him-
self,' retorted the impostor. In the year 1524, 
John Stofierous, a mathematician and astrologer 
of' Saabia, predicted that a great deluge would 
'occur, and all Europe was thrown into conster-
nation. The highest ranks were smitten by the 
epidemic terror as severely as the lowest. They 
set about devising means of escape. Those who 
lived near the sea sold their landed property at 
a great loss. Surveyors were appointed to mark 
out the places where men and cattle in the dif-
ferent provinces would be least exposed to the 
flood. In France, the terror was so great that 
many lost their reason. President Auriol, of 
Toulouse, determined at all events to be even 
with the deluge. He had four pillars erected, 
and on the top of these he had a boat deposited ; 
but the exceeding fine and uncommonly dry 
weather which prevailed during the whole pe-
riod of the predicted deluge, rendered this in-
genious precaution of no practical use. A cer-
tain Michael Stifel, or Stifelius, revived the 
panic, to a partial extent only, however, by pre-
dicting a similar calamity, for which he set the 
day ; and so it was, that while the prophet was 
holding forth a violent storm arose, and the 
good people, supposing that Michael was indeed 
a true prophet, were thrown into the utmost con-
sternation ; but no sooner had the tempest sub-
sided than, by way of compensating the preach-
er for the alarm which he had given them, they 
took him out of the pulpit and drubbed him 
soundly. It is worthy of remark that in a large 
majority of cases of this description, the fanat-
ics represent themselves as coming from the 
Lord. Chief Justice Holt on one occasion com-
mitted sonic troublesome vagrants of this de-
scription to prison. The next day, a certain 
Lacy, one of their patriarchs, went to the 
Judge's house, and told the porter he must see 
his master. The porter answered he was indis-
posed, and could not receive calls that day. 
Lacy insisted that he must speak with him, for 
he was sent to him by the Lord. When this 
message was delivered he obtained admittance. 
; I come,' said the mountebank, from the Lord, 
commanding thee to grant a nolle prosequi to his 
faithful servants, whom thou hast unjustly com-
mitted to prison.' Holt eyed the fellow for a 
moment, and then coolly replied : Thou canst 
not certainly have come from the Lord, for he 
would have sent thee to the proper officer, the 
Attorney General, knowing very well that it is 
not in my province to grant thy demand; there-
fore thou art a false prophet, and shalt go and 
keep thy friends company.' The last century 
was most prolific in such epidemics. John Wes-
ley was frequently visited by fanatics of this de-
scription, connected with certain French.proph-
ets. Two of this class paid him a visit at the 
foundry ; they said they were sent from God to 
inform him that very shortly he would be, as 
they said, bornd again ; and they added, they 
would stay in the house till it was done, unless 
he turned them out. Wesley had had consider-
able experience in this way, and knew how to 
deal with such prophets. He assured them he 
would not turn them out, showed them into the 
society room, and left them to themselves. ' It 
was tolerably cold,' he says, and they had nei-
ther meat nor drink.' There, however, they sat 
from morning till night, and then quietly walked 
off, troubling him with their prophetical illumi-
nations no more. 
" Some of the most singular phenomena on 
record are found in the history of the French 
Convulsionnaires, in the year 1759. These were 
women who pretended that they received visita-
tions fro ii the Holy Spirit, and courted the most 
painful bodily inflictions, such as scourging, and 
actual crucifixion. The epidemic continued for 
twenty years in the heart of Paris, and was finally 
cured by the exhibition of' severe legal remedies. 
These fanatics pretended to work miracles, and 
they found believers in every grade of society. 
An author of some note, Carre de Montgeron, a 
counsellor of Parliament, went and delivered to 
the king a collection in quarto, of all their mira-
cles, attested by a thousand witnesses. They had 
their spiritual circles.' Sister Rose, Sister 
Illumined, Sister Promised, Sister Devout, and 
more sisters of the same sort, were perpetually 
sent for to people's houses. They used to have 
themselves whipped, and no marks were to be 
seen of the whipping next day ; they let them-
selves be beaten on the breast with sticks, and 
felt no pain ; they even submitted to be pierced 
with swords, and went through all sorts of fan-
tastic tricks—if the record is to be believed--
evidently such as the magnetizers of our day can 
perform whenever occasion requires. Our own 
century has been fruitful enough in epidemics of 
the rhapsodical order, always under the captaincy 
of some ignorant expounder of prophecy, who 
has not even wit enough to see his blunders whe 
they are pointed out, or to understand the plain-
est exposition. 
" The moral of all these facts is a practical 
admonition against the undue supremacy of any 
article, even of religious belief, which has refer-
ence to the temporal interests of mankind. Hu-
man selfishness needs no morbid stimulus. It 
will take care of itself without any foreign aid. 
We might illustrate the same principles which 
have been under review by an array of facts which 
would tire patience herself; but we forbear. The 
South Sea Bubble, the Mississippi Scheme, the 
Poisoning Mania, the Alchymists, the Crusades. 
and many other epidemics, exciting malignant 
passions, or stimulating the inordinate lust of gain 
to a paroxysm of insane folly, might be adduced 
as corroborating the same truth ; but we have 
cited enough to answer our present purpose. 
There is no safety in discarding established 
principles whose verity has been attested by the 
long experience of centuries. Nothing but 
shame, confusion and contempt can be earned by 
the simple souls that are ready, with itching ears, 
to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of 
new revelations, involving the abandonment of 
the sacred truths which God has fixed, like the 
bright galaxy in the firmament, to guide the pil-
grim through the darkness and the dim twilight 
of a transitory state, to the joys of perfect, 
glorious, and eternal day. 
MI I 
I Say unto You, 'Watch. 
BRO. BATCHELDER :—In an extract from a ser-
mon, delivered before the General Association 
of Indiana, by the Rev. A. Tucker of Lafayette, 
I read the following sentence : " Millerites had 
better be sawing wood, digging potatoes, or sell-
ing behind the counter, than watching for the 
time when Christ shall come." 
Shall the watchman upon the walls of Zion 
say that the bride must not watch for the Bride-
groom ? Does he look from that high tower 
which he occupies, that station of deep responsi-
bility, and mark the path of her pilgrimage from 
the time she commenced her sojourn upon earth 
in the garden of Eden, down to the present day, 
and then say to her, watch not for thy Beloved ? 
If so, I would ask him to take with me a flying, 
bird's eye glance of this path of hers, and I 
would request him to observe some of the me-
morials on the way. set up as being commemora-
tive of the difficulties she has encountered, the 
enemies she has had to conflict with, and the dis-
appointments she has been subjected to. 
First, we behold her in beautiful purity, fresh 
from the hand of her God in paradise. But how 
soon is the immaculate and transparent robe that 
adorned her, defiled by the touch of the old ser-
pent. Next we see her outside of the garden of 
God, amid scenes of' rural beauty, beside an al-
tar upon which her sacrifice is laid. Her God 
has accepted it, and already his swift messenger 
of flame is bearing it heavenward like the sweet 
incense of prayer arising from a pure heart, 
when the seed of the serpent aims as he deems a 
deadly blow upon the bride of heaven, the in-
fant Church. But we see her rising and totter-
ing on amidst a thousand dangers. By and by 
we behold her upon the face of the great deep ; 
no green spot of earth appears, no sunny gleam 
from heaven lights down upon that lone bark 
that bears her ! Deep, deep beneath the waters 
slumbers the baptized earth, and then she stands, 
upheld by God through the tremendous crash of 
nature. 
Again we look. We see her on the fresh 
green earth ; above is spread a glorious canopy 
of clouds, and the bride stands up beneath the 
gorgeous bow set in the heavens a token of 
the covenant God then made with her, that no 
more should the type of death in overwhelm-
ing waters spread itself over the chosen home, 
when, by arid by, her Lord should come to 
celebrate with her his own espousals. Here we 
would love to linger, and to lock the fair bride 
all full of faith and love and hope amidst sweet na-
ture's freshness, but time rolls on—on—on, and 
by and by we see her, a lonely wanderer from 
Chaldea seeking her Lord and watching for him ; 
then again we find her on the bank of Egypt's 
river, bound in slavish chains, dispirited and 
faint, aye, almost hopeless that her. Lord would 
e'er deliver ; but as she sighs, and heavenward 
looks, we see the bright cloud sinking low, and 
spreading round her its gentle halo. Glorious 
renewal of heaven's covenant ! But onward 
still she wanders a weary pilgrim. Her gaze is 
always heavenward. Suddenly she breaks forth 
into a cry of joy, and a song of' praise ; the 
gates of heaven, seem opened, and from thence 
come trooping myriads of angels, saying, Glory 
to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and 
good will to men, and to the bride the congrat-
ulation is, " Tidings of great joy, behold, the 
Lord has conic." Here, let us pause. Let 
us look in this moment of extatic bliss upon the 
beautiful bride ! The betrothed has come! The 
hope is fruition ! Her joy is full ! full ! full ! 
All is glory ! But what words of sadness are 
those he utters ? Not yet, beloved, not yet, the 
time is not fulfilled; net yet, beloved. And 
then, he tells the scenes of sorrow he must yet 
pass through, before God's kingdom can be set 
on earth, and the mansions all prepared for that 
magnificient metropolis that shall descend from 
heaven where the marriage supper shall be cele-
brated. But he speaks the words of consolation, 
that he would send her a comforter that should 
strengthen her on her way of sorrow until his 
corning, for which she was bidden to watch. 
Was it strange that in that moment of hope de-
ferred, it should be said to the bridegroom, be 
it far from thee, Lord ? 
But let us follow the disappointed bride to 
the heights of. Calvary. Behold thee, her Lord 
nailed to a cross ! Behold him with his kingly 
brow pierced with thorns ! Behold .the blood 
and the water gushing from his wounded side, 
and hands and feet ! Behold him in the mo-
ment of his agony, drinking the last dregs of 
his cup of misery in the vinegar and the gall ! 
Then listen to the cry, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-
thani ! Again, listen ! The earth is rumbling ! 
The rocks are crashing ! Behold ! Behold ! 
Darkness is spread over the earth ! All nature 
shrieks! ! The dead, the dead are coming out 
of their graves ! 0, God of heaven, where art 
thou! 0, God of -Israel, look in pity on the 
creatures thou hast made ! Where now is. the 
Bride ? Prostrate she lies beneath the cross of 
her beloved ! Crushed ! crushed ! But look 
yonder, a gleam of light is stealing through the 
dark clouds. A messenger from heaven comes, 
and pours the balm of consolation into the brok-
en heart of the fallen bride. She wanders away 
from the scene of horror, and seats herself be-
side the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. 
Two days of sorrowing gloom have past ; 
three nights of darkness. The dawn of the 
third day is breaking ; an angel appears and 
says, your Lord is not here, he has arisen. Glo-
rious acclamation ! The bride again and again 
beholds him. The heart burns within her, and 
she joys again in chastened hope. He recalls 
to her bewildered mind the promises that by and 
by he would again come. He recalls to her 
memory the emphatic command he had so often 
given, for her to watch for his corning, because 
that coming would be sudden, unexpected, un-
looked for, even as the lightning cometh from 
the east and flasheth to the west ; therefore was 
she bidden to watch and pray always. She now 
beheld him for the last time, until the restitution 
of all things shall return him to her embrace 
Still, heavenward was her gaze, and as he left 
her alone, rising up—up, angels renewed the 
promise that in like mariner as he ascended, so 
should he again descend to earth. Glorious 
promise ! glorious hope ! 
Almost two thousand years have past since 
this ascension, and the weary bride still hopes 
and watches. She has been driven into the wil-
derness; she has been persecuted by the dragon 
and the harlot, but she knows that deliverance 
is at hand. She knows by the tokens given that 
he will come quickly,. even as she knoweth when 
the fig tree putteth forth its blossoms, that the 
summer is at hand. She is now watching and 
 
 
 
 
410 
THE ADVENT HERALD. 
 
 
listening for the voice of the great multitude, 
as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of 
mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelujah, for the 
Lord omnipotent reigneth, Let us rejoice and 
Five honor to him for the marriage of the Lamb 
is come, and his wife hath made herself ready, 
Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus, le II. s. 
Journal and Meseenger. 
(Continued from our last.) 
Chronological Table 
Or EVENTS CONNECTED 'WITH TUE PAPACY. 
551.-The Emperor saw that he had been 
overreached by the Pope, and issued a new edict 
against the three chapters," and anathematizing 
all who defended them. The Pope and Western 
bishops protested against the edict ; and the Em-
peror " ordered the praetor, whose province it 
was to apprehend thieves, robbers, murderers, 
and such like criminals, to seize on Vigilius 
even in the church, and drag him, as a common 
malefactor, from the altar itself, should he there 
take sanctuary, to the public gaol." But the 
praetor was not able to effect it ; and the Pope 
crossed over from Constantinople to Chalcedon 
and took refuge in a church.-Bower, v. 1, p. 
358. 
552.-The Emperor in compliance with the 
Pope's wishes, revoked his edict, and the Pope 
returned to Constantinople.--/b. p. 359. 
553.-" Vigilius consents to the assembling 
of a council, and promises to assist at it in per-
son. He proposes to the Emperor the deciding 
of the controversy by an equal number of Greek 
and Latin bishops ; which the Emperor agrees 
to, The Eastern bishops refuse to stand to that 
agreement. The Emperor, without any regard 
to that agreement, orders the council to meet." 
-lb. p. 360. 
The Pope absented himself from the council, 
on account of the small number of Western 
bishops in it ; but finding his absence did not 
prevent its action, he sent a lengthy defence of 
the " three chapters." The Emperor opposed 
Vigilius by Vigilius, and sent to the council 
the Pope's former condemnation of what he now 
defended ; and the council decided against the 
Pope.-Ib. p. 364. 
After this decision of the council, the Empe-
ror let the Pope " know that he must either 
agree with his brethren, and condemn what they 
had condemned, or forfeit his see and be sent 
into exile. The Pope answered that the Empe-
ror might dispose of him as he thought fit," but 
that " he could not sign the acts and decrees of 
the council."-lb. p. 366. 
" This answer was no sooner known to the 
Emperor than he caused the Pope to be seized, 
and conveyed, under a strong guard, to Proeon-
nesus, an inhospitable island in the Propontis. 
The other bishops in the West," who refused 
compliance with the Emperor's wishes were " all 
driven from their sees and sent into different ex-
iles."-/b. p. 366. 
554.-The Pope had already changed his 
opinion three times, and now to regain his lib-
erty, he changes it a fourth time, and is re-
stored by the Emperor to his see.-lb. p. 368. 
" The whole Church was at this time rent,' 
as Justinian expresses it, from East to West ; 
that is, it was divided into two opposite parties, 
the cna condemning the three chapters.' But 
by neither was the Pope acknowledged for an 
infallible judge in the dispute, that occasioned 
this division."-Ib. p. 369. 
555.-Pope Vigilius died, without returning 
to Rome, and was succeeded by Pelagius, who 
had adhered to Vigilius in all his changes of 
opinion respecting the " three chapters." The 
Emperor had promised to raise him to the papal 
dignity if he survived Vigilius, on whose death 
in the island of Sicily, he hastened to Rome and 
claimed the office. The people of Italy were so 
incensed against him for his final condemnation 
of the " three chapters," that they withdrew 
from his communion. He appeals to the Em-
peror, who commanded Narses, now the gov-
ernor of Italy, " to support the new Pope with 
all his interest and power. In compliance with 
the Emperor's command Narses spared no pains 
to reconcile the people of Rome with their bish-
op, and succeeded therein so far as to gain over, 
in a very short time, the greater part of the no-
bility and clergy."-Ib. p. 371. 
556.-The bishops of Tuscany still opposed 
the Pope, and Pelagius addressed them a con-
ciliatory letter; but he is " abandoned by almost 
all the bishops of the West."-lb. p. 372. 
557.-" The bishops of Istria separate them-
selves from the communion of the Pope, and ex-
communicate Narses."--/b. p. 373. 
The Pope " had the mortification to see the 
authority of the Roman Church universally dis-
regarded, and brought to the lowest ebb, even in 
the West, the bishops of Gaul, Spain, Africa, 
Ireland, and Italy, continuing, in spite of' all 
his efforts, of his repeated protestations and de-
cisions, to condemn and reject a council, which 
he had approved and received ; nay and to sus- 
pect the orthodoxy of his faith because he re-
ceived it,"-Ib. p. 374. 
560.-Pope Pelagius died, and is succeeded 
by John, the third of the name. 
Bower says of Pope John, " He held the see 
thirteen years, wanting a few days ; and yet 1 
find nothing recorded of him by the contempo-
rary writers, that is worthy of notice. In the 
West, affairs continued in the same situation, in 
which his predecessor had left them,"-lb, p. 
375, 
565.-Justinian issued an edict declaring the 
body of Christ, from its conception, to have 
been incorruptible. It is opposed by the greater 
part of the Catholic bishops ; and Eutychius of 
Constantinople is seized and deposed by the Em-
peror, for opposing his edict.-Ib. p. 377. 
Justinian " acted in every respect, as the su-
preme head and governor of the Church ; and 
the laws he enacted as such, were received both 
in the East and the West, by the bishops of 
Constantinople as well as by those of Rome."-
Ib. p. 372. 
Among the magnificent edifices erected by 
Justinian, was one for the worship of the Virgin 
Mary at Jerusalem. " The Virgin of Jerusa-
lem might exult in the temple erected by her 
imperial votary on a most ungrateful spot, which 
afforded neither ground nor materials to the 
architect. A level was formed, by raising part 
of a deep valley to the height of the mountain. 
The stones of a neighboring quarry were hewn 
into regular forms; each block was fixed on a 
peculiar carriage drawn by forty of the strong-
est oxen, and the roads were widened for the 
passage of such enormous weights. Lebanon 
furnished her loftiest cedars for the timbers of 
the church ; and the seasonable discovery of a 
vein of red marble, supplied its beautiful col-
umns, two of which, the supporters of the exte-
ricr portico, were esteemed the largest in the 
world. The pious munificence of the Emperor 
was diffused over the Holy Land."-Gibbon, v. 
3, p. 44. 
565 (Nov. 14th).-The Emperor Justinian 
died, and was succeeded by his nephew, Justin 
the younger. 
As the bishops and clergy were, at the time 
of his accession, everywhere at variance in the 
East, about the corruptibility and incorrupti-
bility of the body of Christ ; in the West, about 
the three chapters ;' and the Church was re- 
duced, by their disagreements and feuds to a 
most deplorable condition, the pastors being 
more intent on cursing each other than instruct-
ing their flocks, the first care of the new Empe-
ror was to reconcile them, if possible."-Bower, 
v. 1, p. 378. 
566.-With this view, he publishes an edict, 
which restored peace in the East.-lb. p. 379. 
568.-Narses being recalled by the Emperor 
Justin, instead of repairing to Constantinople, 
invited the Lombards from Pannonia into Italy, 
which they entered without opposition.-lb. p. 
381. 
569.-The Lombards made extensive con-
quests in Italy. 
570.-Upon the reduction of Liguria, Al-
boinus was, with loud acclamations, proclaimed 
king of Italy by the Lombards, and the whole 
army ; and from that year, the year 570, histo-
rians date the beginning of the kingdom of the 
Lombards in that country."-lb. p. 382. 
Mahomet, the impostor, is born on the 5th of 
our May. 
573.-Gregory, afterwards, in 590, Pope 
Gregory the Great, having distinguished himself 
in the senate, was raised by the Emperor Justin 
" to the high post of Governor of Rome, as the 
person the best qualified, at that time, to gov-
ern, defend, and relieve the city, surrounded on 
all sides by a victorious and implacable enemy." 
-lb. p. 390. 
573.-Pope John III. died. 
574.-He was succeeded by Pope Benedict, 
after a vacancy of ten months and twenty-one 
days. 
The Emperor Justin abdicates the throne of 
Constantinople, and Tiberius is associated in the 
Etnpire.-Gibbon, v. 3, p. 198. 
578.-Pope Benedict died of grief in seeing 
the success of the Lombards, and was succeeded 
by Pope Pelagius II. " The Lombards were at 
this time, masters of the far greater part of Italy, 
and kept Rome itself closely besieged."-Bower, 
v. 1, p. 382. 
" Pelagius had the misfortune to govern the 
Church in the most calamitous times Italy had 
yet seen. The Lombards committed everywhere 
such dreadful ravages, spread everywhere such 
desolation and terror, that they were generally 
looked upon, by the holy men of those days, as 
the instruments of divine vengeance employed 
by provoked justice to depopulate Italy, and 
there extirpate the whole race of mankind ; nay, 
it was revealed to some saints, if they or Pope 
Gregory may be credited, that the Lombards 
were the forerunners of the last day, and that 
the end of the world was at hand. Gregory 
himself saw swords, and spears, and armies, and 
battles in the air, and the whole heaven stream-
ing with human blood. By these dreams and 
visions of saints, the credulous multitude were 
terrified to such a degree, that, instead of uniting 
against the common enemy, in their mutual de-
fence, they abandoned themselves to despair, 
and let the barbarians plunder, burn, and des-
troy, without restraint or control. 
" Such was, at this time, the state of the Em-
pire in the West; and that of' the Church Was 
not much better."-Th. pp. 382, 383. 
579.-Gregory, late governor of Rome, was 
ordained deacon,-having retired from the pomp 
and vanity of temporal affairs-and was sent to 
Constantinople as the Pope's nuncio.-Ib. p. 
391. 
581.-" The Lombards pursued the conquest 
of Italy without interruption ;" and the Pope, 
expecting daily to see them again at the gates of 
Rome, solicited help from the Emperor Tibe-
rius. The Emperor could render no assistance. 
-Ib. p. 384. 
582.-The Emperor Tiberius dies, and his 
son-in-law Mauricius is raised to the Empire.-
lb. p. 384. 
583.-The Pope applied to the new Emperor 
for aid against the Lombards, and an army was 
sent into Italy.-/b. p. 384. 
584.-This year witnessed a truce between the 
Greek troops, and the Lombards.-Ib. 15. 385. 
586.-Recared, the first Catholic king in 
Spain, renounced Arianism in 586 ; and it was 
through his means that " the whole body of the 
Visigoths and Suevi were allured or driven into 
the pale of the Catholic communion."-Gibbon, 
v. 2, p. 405. 
588.-In this year, the title of " UNIVER-
SAL BISHOP," was confirmed to John, the 
Patriarch of Constantinople, by a great council, 
which the Emperor assembled in that city.-
Bower, v. 1, p. 388. 
Pelagius, the Pope, in a letter to the patri-
arch, " reproached him in very sharp terms with 
pride and ambition, styling his attempt wicked, 
detestable, diabolical, and threatening to separ-
ate himself from his communion, if he did not 
forthwith relinquish the anti-Christian title he 
had impiously assumed."-lb. p. 389. 
589.-" The Goths in Spain, who having pro-
fessed the doctrine of Arius for the space of 213 
years, were at last, in that year, induced by their 
king Recaredus, to renounce that doctrine, and 
embrace the Catholic faith. On so remarkable 
an occasion the king assembled a council, the 
third of Toledo, consisting of seventy-three bish-
ops ; and being present in person, ordered, after 
a short harangue, his confession of faith to be 
read, signed by him and his queen ; and likewise 
the confession of the bishops, and other ecclesi-
astics of the Gothic nation ; receiving the three 
general Councils of Nice, Constantinople and 
Chalcedon, and anathematizing the doctrine of 
Arius, and all who maintained or professed it. 
This was matter of great triumph to the Catho-
lic party."-/b. p. 389. 
" Seventy bishops, assembled in the Council 
of Toledo, received the submission of their con-
querors; and the zeal of the Spaniards improved 
the Nicrene creed, by declaring the procession 
of the Holy Ghost, from the Son, as well as from 
the Father ; a weighty point of doctrine, which 
produced long afterward, the schism of the 
Greek and Latin churches."-Gibbon, v. 2, p. 
405. 
590 (Feb. 8th).-Pope Pelagius died. Grego-
ry, commonly surnamed the Great, was elected 
Pope. The election of Gregory was received 
with loud acclamations by all except Gregory 
himself, who thunderstruck at the news, and not 
able to prevail on the electors to name any 
other, wrote, without loss of time, to the Empe-
ror Mauricius, earnestly entreating him, as he 
would answer at the last day, not to confirm his 
election."-Bower, v. 1, p. 392. 
Gregory's letter to the Emperor was inter-
cepted by the governor of Rome, who sent in 
its stead a letter begging the Emperor to con-
firm him, who did so. When Gregory learned 
the result, he fled in disguise to a cave in the 
forest, where he concealed himself ; but he was 
soon discovered, and carried back in triumph by 
the people and ordained.-lb. p. 393. 
The first act of the new Pope was to send a 
confession of his faith to all the bishops ; and 
he " undertook, in the next place, to heal the 
divisions that still reigned in the Church, on ac-
count of the three chapters.' Several bishops 
in Italy, and some in Spain and Gaul, had in 
the end, been persuaded to condemn those chap-
ters, or at least, for the sake of concord and 
peace, to communicate with those who con-
demned them. But the bishops of Istria had 
not yet been prevailed upon to do either. They 
all, to a man, still continued to maintain that 
cause with more zeal and resolution than ever." 
-lb. p. 393. 
The Pope appointed a council to meet at 
Rome, and obtained an order from the Emperor 
commanding the Istrian bishops to attend it ; 
but they refused compliance with it.-lb. p. 
393. 
The Emperor " apprehending that violence of 
any kind, at this juncture, might incline those 
prelates to favor the Lombards,... revoked his 
former order ; and at the same time wrote to 
Gregory, notifying it to him in the following 
terms As your holiness is well acquainted 
with the present state and confusion of affairs 
in Italy, and sensible, that we must, in prudence, 
comply with the times, we command your holi-
ness to give no farther trouble to the Istrian 
bishops, but allow them to live undisturbed, till 
it shall please God to settle these parts in peace 
and tranquillity! "-Ib. p. 394. 
" Thus were the measures, which Gregory had 
concerted for the re-union of those bishops, all 
at once utterly defeated."-/b. p. 394. 
591.--" The conversion of the Lombards, 
which happened this year, proved of no small 
comfort and relief to the Pope, amidst his cares 
and anxiety for the welfare of the Church."-Ib. 
p. 398. 
592.-The Pope:opposed the election of Maxi-
mus, a new Bishop of Salona ; but a decree 
from the Emperor confirmed the election of the 
bishop. The Pope then summoned Maximus to 
Rome to give an account of his ordination; but 
the bishop paid no regard to the Pope's sum-
mons, and obtained " an order from the Empe-
ror, commanding the Pope, to give no farther 
trouble to the Bishop of Salona concerning his 
ordination." When the Pope " found the Em-
peror was not to be moved by any exhortations, 
entreaties, or reasons, he acquiesced in his will, 
and thenceforth never once mentioned the ordi-
nation of Maximus."-lb. p. 401. 
Soon after Gregory summoned Maximus to 
Rome, to answer to the charge of simony. The 
bishop paid no more regard to this than the 
former order. The Pope excommunicated him 
for disregarding the summons ; but, afterwards, 
by the interference of the Emperor, was recon-
ciled with him."-lb. p. 402. 
593.-Two presbyters were tried for heresy at 
Constantinople, and beaten with cudgels, which 
called forth a remonstrance from Gregory, to the 
patriarch of that city.-lb. p. 403. 
594.-The Emperor issued an order prohibit-
ing soldiers from turning monks. The Pope 
remonstrated with the Emperor, in which he 
said : " it is indeed matter of great grief and 
sorrow, that men should be withheld from leav-
ing the world, when the end of the world is at 
hand. For the heavens and the earth will be 
soon involved in a general conflagration, the 
elements will soon be dissolved, and the tremen-
dous Judge will appear, attended by the whole 
heavenly host. 1 therefore earnestly beg and 
entreat you, by the same tremendous Judge, 
that you will, at least, mitigate the rigor of 
your law, lest the many tears, fasts, alms of my 
lord, should, in the end, lose both their merit 
and reward."-lb. p. 405. 
595.-The Pope Gregory, wrote to his nuncio 
at Constantinople, to persuade the patriarch of 
that city to discontinue the title of Universal 
Bishop-effecting nothing. The Pope then wrote 
directly to the patriarch, " loading the title of 
universal patriarch ' or bishop ' with all the 
names of reproach and ignominy he could think 
of ; calling it vain, ambitious, profane, impi-
ous, infernal, diabolical ;' and applying to him 
who assumed it what was said by the prophet 
Isaiah of Lucifer (Isa. 14:12, 13). . said, This 
is the time which Christ himself foretold ; the 
earth is now laid waste and destroyed with the 
plague, and the sword ; all things, that have 
been predicted, are now accomplished ; the 
king of pride (that is), anti-Christ, is at hand ; 
and what I dread to say, an army of priests is 
ready to receive him."-Ib. p. 409. 
596.-John Bishop of Constantinople died, 
and Cyriacus was ordained in his place,-retain-
ing the title of universal bishop. 
Gregory now opposed that proud title, by 
styling himself' " Servant of servants."-lb. p. 
413. 
600.-A new colony of monks was sent into 
England for the converson of the Anglo-Saxons. 
In his letter to Austin the missionary the Pope 
thus wrote : " Whereas it is a custom among 
the Saxons, to slay abundance of oxen, and sac-
rifice them to the devil ; you must not abolish 
that custom, but appoint a new festival to be 
kept either on the day of the consecration of the 
churches, or on the birth-day of the saints whose 
reliques are deposited there; and on these days 
the Saxons may be allowed to make arbors round 
the temples changed into churches, to kill their 
oxen, and to feast as they did while they were 
still pagans; only they shall offer their thanks 
and praises, not to the devil, but to God.' "-lb. 
p. 416. 
602.-Phocas with the army, revolted from 
the Emperor Mauricius, deposed him, usurped 
his authority, and was proclaimed Emperor in 
his room, and afterwards murdered him and his 
family. The Pope Gregory " wrote letters to 
the new Emperor, congratulating him on his ac-
cession to the imperial crown."-Ib. p. 420. 
605.-Pope Gregory died, and was succeeded 
by Pope Sabinian. 
607.-Sabinian died, and was succeeded by 
Pope Boniface 
Boniface " no sooner found himself vested 
with the papal dignity, than, taking advantage 
of the partiality, and favor of Phocas to him . . . 
he not only prevailed on the tyrant to revoke 
the decree settling the title of universal bishop' 
on the bishop of the imperial city ; but obtained, 
what no man would believe could have ever 
come into the thoughts of a successor of Gregory 
to demand, were it not vouched by all historians 
to a man; but obtained, I say a new decree, 
settling on himself, and his successors, that very 
title."-lb. p. 426. 
When Pope Boniface was invested, by the 
Emperor Phocas, with supreme authority over 
all the churches of the empire, in the way we 
have seen, lie not only adopted all the pagan 
ceremonies that had previously, in various places, 
been incorporated into Christian worship, but 
speedily issued his sovereign decrees, enjoining 
uniformity of worship, and thus rendered these 
heathen rites binding upon all who were desirous 
of continuing in fellowship with the Romish 
Church, or, as it now was called, the Holy 
Catholic Church. Thus incorporated, they be-
came a constituent element of the anti-Christian 
Apostasy, and have so continued to the present 
day."-Dowling's Hist. of Popes, p. 112. 
" Boniface had scarce obtained it, when he 
took upon him to exercise an unanswerable juris-
diction and power to that time unknown and un-
heard of in the Catholic Church. For no sooner 
was the imperial edict, vesting him with the ti-
tle of universal bishop, and declaring him head 
of the church,' brought to Rome, than, assem-
bling a council in the basilic of St. Peter, con-
sisting of seventy-two bishops, thirty-four pres-
byters, and all the deacons and inferior clergy 
of that city, he acted there as if he had not been 
vested with the title alone, though Phocas proba-
bly meant to grant hint no more, but with all 
the power of an universal bishop, with all the 
authority of a supreme head, or rather absolute 
monarch of the Church."-Bower, p. 426. 
607 (Nov. 20th).-Pope Boniface III. died. 
608 (Aug. 25th).-Boniface IV. was chosen 
Pope. 
The new Pope begged the famous Pantheon, 
of Phoeas, who gave it to him. " He changed 
it into a church, substituting the Mother of God 
to the mother of the gods, and the Christian 
martyrs to the other pagan deities, adored there 
before ; so that only the names of the idols were 
altered."-Ib. p. 428. 
614.-Jerusalem was conquered from the Ro-
mans by Chosroes, the monarch of Persia ; and 
the Holy Land was overspread " by the worship 
of fire, and the impious doctrine of the two prin-
ciples-inculcated by the Magi, the priests of 
the religion of Zoroaster. 
Tine ruin of the proudest monument of Chris-
tianity was vehemently urged by the intolerant 
spirit of the Magi . . . Jerusalem was taken by 
assault.. The sepulchre of Christ and the stately 
churches of Helena and Constantine were con-
sumed, or at least damaged, by the flames ; the 
devout offerings of three hundred years were ri-
fled in one sacrilegious day; the patriarch Zecha-
riah, and the true cross, were transported into 
Persia ; and the massacre of ninety thousand 
Christians is imputed to the Jews and Arabs 
who swelled the disorder of the Persian march." 
-Gibbon, v. 3, p. 229. 
615.-Boniface IV. died, and was succeeded 
by Deusdedit. 
619.-Deusdedit was succeeded by Pope Boni-
face V. 
622.-THE SOUNDING OF THE FIFTH TRUMPET. 
" And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a 
star fall from heaven unto the earth : and to 
him was given the key of the bottomless pit.. 
And he opened the bottomless pit ; and there 
arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a 
great furnace : and the sun and the air were 
darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon 
the earth : and unto them was given power, as 
the scorpions of the earth have power."-Rev. 
9:1-3. 
In this year Mohammed " publicly preached 
his doctrines in the city of Mecca, the place of 
his birth ; but was obliged to save himself by a 
precipitate flight from the dangers that threat-
ened him there."-Bower, p. 431. 
625. - Honorius, succeeded Boniface V. as 
Pope. 
627. - Mohammed was reckoned as their 
prince and prophet by a large number of Sara-
cens whom he had gained over, most of whom 
were still pagans.-lb. p. 431. 
628.-Chosroes, the king of Persia perished 
in an insurrection in his capital, and his succes-
sor restored what was claimed to be " the true 
wood of the holy cross," to " the importunate 
demands of the successor of Constantine." (See 
A. D. 614.) 
629.-This year was made memorable by 
" the restoration of the true cross to the holy 
sepulchre. Heraclius performed in person the 
pilgrimage of .Jerusalem, the identity of the relic 
was verified by the discreet patriarch, and this 
august ceremony has been commemorated by the 
annual festival of the exaltation of the cross."-
Gibbon, v. 3, p. 241. 
632.-Mohammed died. 
637.---Jerusalem was conquered by the Sara-
cens. After a siege of four months, the Chris-
tians submitted to the followers of the False 
Prophet, and Omar " entered the city without 
fear or precaution ; and courteously discoursed 
with the patriarch concerning its religious an-
tiquities. Sophronius bowed before his new was-
ter, and secretly muttered in the words of Dan-
iel, The abomination of desolation is in the 
holy place.' " By the command of Omar, " the 
ground of the temple of Solomon was prepared 
for the foundation of a Mosque," which soon 
reared its stately pile on the site of the house of 
the Lord : and the religion of the impostor was 
celebrated on the spot which Jehovah had chosen 
out of all the places of the earth to write his 
name there. 
638.-The Emperor Heraclius, or rather Ser-
gius published in the Emperor's name the fa-
mous edict, styled the '' Ecthesis " or exposition ; 
that edict being an exposition of the faith, [af-
firming but one will, in the two natures of 
Christ,] which the Emperor was there said to 
profess, and require all his subjects to hold and 
profess. . . The Emperor afterwards disowned it, 
declaring . . . that the ecthesis was neither dic-
tated by him, nor published by his order. . . Of 
the disturbances which this famous edict raised, 
both in the East and the West, I shall speak in 
the sequel."-Bower, v. 1, p. 436. 
Pope Honorius died Oct. 12th. 
640 (May 28th).-Severinus was ordained 
.Pope, and died on the first of August of the 
same year. 
640 (Dec. 24th).-John IV. was ordained 
Pope. He condemned the Emperor's Ecthesis. 
642.-John was succeeded by Pope Theo-
dore. 
644.-The &thesis was universally condemned 
by the bishops in the West. 
648.-The Emperor issued a famous edict 
called the " Type," giving the reasons advanced 
on both sides respecting the two wills in Christ, 
and imposing silence on both parties to the dis-
pute. 
649.-Pope Martin succeeded to the papacy. 
On the 5th of October. the Pope called a coun-
ail at Rome, which rejected the " Type," con-
demned the doctrine of one will, and anathema-
tized " the most impious Ecthesis " and " the 
most wicked Type," with " all who had re-
ceived, did receive, or should thenceforth re-
ceive either of those impious edicts."-lb. p. 
449. 
The Pope attempted to extend his authority 
over the East, by appointing one of the bishops 
who then adhered to him " his vicar in those 
parts, empowering him by the authority, and in 
the name of St. Peter, to exercise all patriarchal 
jurisdiction," &c-Ib. p. 450. 
650.-For opposing the Type, the Emperor 
ordered his exarch of Italy to seize the Pope and 
send him a prisoner to Constantinople.-Ib. p. 
451. 
653.-The Pope retired for safety t) the Late-
ran Church, where he was captured. " The sol-
liery, on their first entering the church, broke 
all the wax-tapers in pieces, overturned the can-
dlesticks, and with that noise,•and the clashing 
of their arms, struck all, who were present, with 
consternation and terror. In the midst of that 
tumult, and general fright, the exarch produced 
an order from the Emperor, commanding him 
to depose Martin as unworthy of' the episcopal 
dignity, to send him prisoner to Constantinople, 
and cause another to be chosen in his room."-
lb. p. 452. 
" In the dead of the night the Pope was pri-
vately conveyed on board a vessel, that lay in 
the Tiber. . . . After a three months navigation, 
they landed in the island of Naxos . . . and there 
the Pope was kept. prisoner a whole year."-Ib. 
p. 452. 
654.-The Pope was then carried to Constan-
tinople and imprisoned " ninety-three days, no 
one being suffered during that time to come near 
him." He was then taken to the council cham-
ber, and tried before the Senate on a false charge 
of high treason, and condemned and banished." 
-lb. pp. 453-5. 
655.-Pope Eugenius is elevated to the see of 
Rome. 
657.-Vitalianus was elected Pope. 
663. -The Emperor Constans marched an 
army into Italy, against the Lombards-has lit-
tle success and retreats. 
672.-The Emperor Constans is murdered. 
The Saracens reduced all the north of Africa to 
the Mohammedan yoke. 
672.-Adeodatus becomes Pope. In his time 
the Lombards renounce the Arian doctrine. 
676.-Donus is chosen Pope. 
678.-Agatho succeeds to the papacy. 
Parting Words on the Study of 
Prophecy. 
FOR several months past, we have been in-
dulged with the opportunities of holding occa- 
sional intercourse with the readers of the Chris- 
tzars Observer, upon the grand object of our 
" blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the 
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." This 
solemn but delightful subject, is set before us in 
the holy Scriptures, as the incentive to diligence 
in duty and patience in suffering. The faithful 
servant is required to watch, and to stand with 
his loins girded and his light burning, waiting 
for the return of his Lord; and the suffering 
Christian is exhorted to patience, because the 
coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The coming 
of the Saviour has once taken place, and he once 
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of him-
self. That coming is the subject of our faith; 
and, as sinful creatures, we look back upon that 
coming as the time, when atonement was made 
for human guilt ; when as a sacrifice for sin, the 
blood was shed, in which we have redemption, 
even the forgiveness of sin ; and by which we 
are sanctified to God. But the second coming 
of the Saviour is the object of our hope ;* and 
as redeemed creatures, we then expect deliver-
ance from all the consequences of transgression; 
from affliction, sorrow, death and the grave. 
The fall benefit of redeemed grace, will then be 
realized ; and the humbling circumstances of 
mortality will be felt no more. 
The first coming of the Lord was an event 
which included successive revelations. He was 
first revealed to the shepherds, to pious Simeon 
and Anna, and to such as waited for the conso-
lation of Israel; and not to the whole nation of 
Israel until thirty years afterwards ; and it was 
a still longer period before he was made known 
to the Gentile world at large. So at his second 
coming, we are also taught to look for gradual 
developments, and unfolding purposes. The 
first thing to be accomplished, at the Saviour's 
coming, will be to gather the saints by resurrec- 
tion and translation to himself. This is clearly 
indicated in the Scripture, both by express dec- 
laration, and by just inference : " Our God shall 
conic, and shall not keep silence ; a fire shall 
devour before him, and it shall be very tempest- 
uous round about him. He shall call .0 the 
heavens from above and to the earth, that he 
may judge his people. Gather my saints toge- 
ther unto me; those that have made a covenant 
with me by sacrifice." This order runs through 
the numerous passages of Scripture in which the 
coming of the Saviour is mentioned. The wheat 
is gathered unto the garner before the chaff is 
burned up ; and the harvest of the earth is reaped, 
before the wine press of the wrath of God is 
trodden. Beside these, there are numerous 
passages, in which we are taught that when 
Christ appears publicly, all his saints are with 
him ; they must therefore be previously raised 
and translated, and united with himself' in inef- 
fable felicity and glory. This brings the resur-
rection of his people near; much nearer than we 
had conceived ; and blessed and happy are they 
who shall be foUnd waiting for him. 
How near or remote the coming of the Lord 
may be, it is not for us to say; the times and the 
seasons are in the hand of the Father, and he 
has not revealed the day or the hour. Every 
effort to foretell the period by the adoption of 
the year-day theory, invented by Joseph Mede, 
has failed to the present, and probably will always 
fail. Indeed it must be so. The Lord Jesus told 
his disciples, " It isnot for you to know the times 
and the seasons," and if it was not for the dis- 
ciples and apostles of Christ to know the time 
and season for the coming and kingdom of their 
Lord, it must be presumptuous in us to pretend 
to such knowledge. 
He says, " Behold 1 come as a thief," that is, 
without any premonition or notice. Hence the 
reason for being always ready, and always watch-
ful. To his waiting people, for anything we 
know to the contrary, the Lord may conic to-
morrow, or even to-day. It is very clear that 
they are gathered together with him in the air 
before he comes with them destroy the wicked 
out of the earth, bind Satan and set up his king-
dom. 
At this fearful time, fearful indeed to them 
that dwell upon the earth, the elect church, the 
bride of the Lamb, will be safe with the Lord in 
the elouds of heaven. Before the flood came, to 
destroy the ungodly in the days of Noah, he was 
safely shut up in the ark ; before the fire and 
brimstone descended upon Sodom, Lot was safely 
settled in Zoar ; and before the last storm of the 
wrath of God shall desolate a guilty world, his 
saints shall be removed from the earth. But to 
secure this deliverance we must attend to the in-
junction of our Lord : " Watch ye, therefore, 
and pray always, that ye may be accounted wor-
thy to escape all these things that shall come to 
pass, and to stand before the Son of man." 
(Luke 21:36.) 
* Some very erroneously speak of the advent 
faith, when they mean the hope of the advent.- 
ED. HER. 
411 
I 
And now Christian readers, as it is uncertain 
Whether any further intercourse will be carried 
on between us, on these subjects, permit the 
to lay theni to heart, and to ask, Are these 
things so Search the holy Scriptures, and pray 
writer seriously and affectionately to request you 
I 
fervently for the spirit of wisdom and revela-
tion; and you shall be led into the truth, into 
all the truth, as it is in Jesus Christ, and into 
a state of preparation and patient waiting for 
the heavenly kingdom. And most earnestly 
desiring and praying that you may be led to 
seek the things which are above, where Christ 
sitteth on the right hand of God ; and that when 
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then you 
also may appear with him in glory, " I commend 
you to God, and to the word of his grace, which 
is able to build you up, and to give you an in-
heritance among all them which are saneffied ;" 
and bid you a solemn, perhaps, a final farewell. 
Toronto Christian Observer. 
Epidemics. 
Tim great pestilence which prevailed in Eng-
land in the fourteenth century, during the latter 
part of the reign of Edward III., is thus des-
cribed in Lingard's History of England : 
" The victories, which had conferred so much 
honor on England, had been purchased, it was 
said, with the blood of fifty thousand English-
men ; but the memory of this loss was almost 
obliterated by the calamity, which shortly after-
wards visited the island, a pestilence as general 
and destructive as any recorded in history. We 
first discover it in the empire of Cathai [China] ; 
thence we may trace its progress through differ-
ent provinces of Asia to the Delta and the banks 
of the Nile ; a south wind transported it into 
Greece and the Grecian islands; from whence it 
swept the coasts of the Mediterranean, depopu-
lated Italy, and crossed the barrier of the Alps 
into France. A succession of earthquakes, which 
shook the continent of Europe from Calabria to 
the north of Poland, ushered in the fatal year of 
1348; and though England escaped this calami-
ty, it was deluged from the month of June to 
Decembe • with almost incessant torrents of rain. 
In the first week of August this plague made 
its appearance at Dorchester; in November it 
reached London, and thence gradually proceeded 
toward the north of the island. Of its victims 
many expired in the course of six hours, and 
none lingered more than two or three days. 
From man the exterminating malady extended to 
the brute creation ; the carcases of sheep, horses, 
and oxen, lay scattered in the fields ; they were 
untouched by birds of prey ; and their putrefac-
tion added to the malignity of the disorder. The 
labors of husbandry were neglected ; no courts 
of justice were opened; the Parliament was re-
peatedly prorogued by proclamation ; and men, 
intent only on their own safety, fled from the 
care of the infected, and slighted every call of 
honor, duty and humanity. 
When historians tell us that one half or one 
third of the human race perished, we may sus-
pect them of exaggeration ; but it is easy to form 
some idea of the mortality from the fact, that 
all the cemeteries in London were soon filled ; 
that Sir Walter Mauny purchased for a public 
burial place a field of thirteen acres, where the 
chapter house now stands; and that the bodies 
deposited in it during several weeks, amounted 
to the daily average of two hundred. It was 
observed that though the malady assailed the 
English in Ireland, it spared the natives. The 
Scots were exempt for several months, and the 
circumstances afforded them a subject of triumph 
over their enemies, and introduced among them a 
popular oath, by the foul death of the English.' 
They had even assembled an army to invade the 
neighboring counties, when the contagion insinu-
ated itself into their camp in the forest of Sel-
kirk ; five thousand men died before they dis-
banded their forces ; and the fugitives carried 
with them the infection into the most distant 
recesses of Scotland. 
" The consequences of the mortality are care-
fully detailed by the contemporary writers. At 
first the reduction in the number of the consum-
ers effected a proportionate reduction in the price 
of all merchantable articles ; in the second year 
the prices rose with a rapidity and to a height 
which alarmed the government. The ravages of 
the pestilence had been chiefly confined to the 
lower orders ; for the more wealthy, by shutting 
themselves up in their castles, and declining all 
unnecessary communication with the neighbor 
hood, had in a great measure escaped the infec-
tion. But hence arose a want of laborers to 
cultivate the land, and of artisans to construct 
or repair the implements of husbandry. To rem-
edy this evil, Edward published a singular proc-
lamation. prohibiting the relief of mendicants 
able to work, and compelling all men and women 
in good health, under the age of sixty, and with-
out visible means of subsistence, to hire them-
selves as servants, at the same wages as in for-
mer years, to any masters who should be willing 
to employ them." 
Other historians describe this terrible epidemic 
;•11. 
1V4,119.ff.i. 
111 
 1111111•111MoosaMI 
THE ADVENT HERALD. 
as an oriental plague, attended with inflammatory 
boils and tumors of the glands, and accompanied 
with black spots, indicative of putrid decompose= 
Lion. Burning heat and thirst, with black mouth 
and throat, were also among the symptoms, 
which are so far those of the ordinary eastern 
plague. All concur in the statement that the 
mortality caused by this pestilence was enormous. 
Calculating Europe, then, to contain about one 
hundred millions of people, Hecker sets down 
the loss of lives at twenty-five millions. It was 
reported to Pope Clement, that in Asia, exclu-
sive of China, twenty-three millions of people 
had perished. India was nearly depopulated. 
During three years, from 1347 to 1350, Europe 
remained more or less under this frightful scourge. 
rtbe 2buent fp:(0. 
BOSTON, DECEMBER 24, 1853, 
-THB readers of the Herald are most earnestly besought to give it 
room its their prayers ; that by means of it God may be honored and 
his truth advanced ; also, that it may be conducted in faith and 
love, with sobriety of judgment and discernment of the truth, in 
nothing carried away into error, or hasty speech, or sharp, uubroth-
erly disputation. 
THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH. 
CHAPTER XXX. 
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, 
And the ornament of thy molten images of gold 
Thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth ; 
Thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.-v. 22. 
Idolatry was one of the heinous sins of the na-
tion, and one design of these judgments was to re-
claim the nation from it. The images of idols 
were probably made of wood, and plated with 
metal. Thus ARMS said (Dent. 7:25), " The. 
graven images of their gods shall ye burn with 
fire : thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that 
is on them." (See also, Isa. 40 and 41st chaps.) 
In addition to their golden and silver ornaments, 
they were sometimes clothed in " blue and pur-
ple.'' To " defile them " is to make them con-
temptible. Hezekiah (2 Chron. 31:1) " brake the 
images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and 
threw down the high places and the altars out of 
all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and 
Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them 
all." And Josiah also (2 Kings 23:8, 10, 14, 15), 
" defiled the high places where the kings had 
burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and 
brake down the high places, . . . and he defiled 
Topheth which is in the valley of the children of 
Ilinnom And he brake in pieces the im- 
ages, and cut down the groves, and filled their 
places with the bones of men. Moreover, the altar 
that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jero-
boam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, 
had made, both that altar and the high place he 
brake down and burned the high place, and stamped 
it small to powder, and burned the grove." Thus 
were they to treat the idols, and to regard them as 
polluted. The abhorrence they were to manifest 
towards them is shown by the simile, in which 
they are commanded to cast them away as they 
would any loathsome thing. 
It will be seen by the reference to the history of 
Hezekiah and Josiah, that they complied with the 
requirements of this condition ; but the other kings 
were unmindful of it, or openly apostatized. • Ma-
nasseh (2 Kings 21:3-8) even " built up again the 
high places which Hezekiah his father had de-
stroyed ; and he reared up altars for Baal, and 
male a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel ; and 
worshipped all the host of heaven, and served 
them. And he built altars in the house of the 
Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I 
put my name. And he built altars for all the host 
of heaven in the two courts of the house of the 
Lord. And he made his son pass through the fire. 
and observed times, and used enchantments, and 
dealt with familiar spirits and wizards : he wrough t 
much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke 
him to anger. And he set a graven image of the 
grove that he had made in the house, of which the 
Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In 
this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen 
out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name 
for ever : neither will 1 make the feet of Israel 
move any more out of the land which I gave their 
fathers ; only if they will observe to do according 
to all that I have commanded them, and according 
to all the law that my servant Moses commanded 
them." And although the Lord sent to them (2 
Chron. 36:15, 16) " by his messengers, rising up 
betimes and sending, . . they mocked the messen-
gers of God, and despised his words, and misused 
his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose 
against his people till there was no remedy." 
Failing to conform to the conditions of this text, 
and not obeying the voice of their teachers, who 
continued to admonish them respecting the right 
way, they forfeited their claim to the promises 
which follow, except as the pious portion of them 
will have a part in those which refer to the resur-
rection state. 
Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the 
And bread of gtihoeulilidic;elatsheal ; 
of the earth, and it shall be fat and plen-
teous : 
In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. 
The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall cat 
clean provender, 
Which halls been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. 
vs. 23, 24. 
" Then," i. e., if they complied with the condi-
tions of v. 22. These blessings imply a prosperous 
condition of the nation ; and they doubtless enjoyed 
such a state of things while they conformed to 
God's requirements ; but not continuing to comply 
with the conditions, these favors were subsequently 
withdrawn from them. Had they not forfeited 
them, they would have continued till the day of 
the great slaughter, referred to in the next verse, 
which ushers in a new dispensation. 
To " ear " the ground, is an obsolete expression 
for cultivating, i. e., ploughing it. The word has 
gone out of use since king James' translation of 
the Scriptures was made. 
Describing the. " increase of the earth " as 
" fat," is a metaphor illustrative of its quality. 
It was not only abundant, but fully developed. 
And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high 
hill, 
Rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, 
when the towers laid-v. 25. 
The day of slaughter," is evidently the con-
summation, so often referred to in the Scriptures, 
when (Isa. 1:28), " the destruction of the trans-
gressors and of the sinners shall be together, and 
they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed." 
(See note on that text, and scriptures quoted in 
connection with it.) 
" When the towers fall," also refers to the same 
thne,*vvhen (Isa. 2:12-17), " the day of the Lord 
shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, 
and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall 
be brought low, . . . and upon every high tower, 
and upon every fenced wall," &c. 
That day, according to parallel scriptures, (Acts 
3:21,) will usher in " the times of restitution of 
all things, which God bath spoken by the mouth 
of all his holy prophets since the world began." 
Then (Isa. 35:7), " the parched ground shall be-
come a pool, and the thirsty land springs of 
water." When the Lord shall comfort Zion (lb. 
51:3), " he will make her wilderness like Eden, 
and her desert like the garden of the Lord."-
Thus the abundance of rivers and streams of water 
on the top of mountains, illustrates the well wa-
tered condition of the earth, in the regeneration. 
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, 
And the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, 
In the day that the Lord hindeth up the breach of his people, 
And healeth the stroke of their wound.-v. 26. 
This text refers to the same period of time, i. e., 
to the regeneration. The brightness of the lumi-
naries of heaven has doubtless been dimmed by the 
curse. If not themselves affected, they may shine 
with a diminished splendor because of the atmos-
phere which their rays have to penetrate, and 
which partakes of the consequences of the fall. 
Their light is obscured by fogs and mists, and a 
general derangement of the atmosphere. By rea-
son also of the mortality of our bodies, the human 
eye, by the curse, has been dimmed and unable to 
perceive the full measure of glory which it may 
take in when restored to its uncorrupted state in 
the resurrection. 
The relative increase of light, is shown by the 
similes, in which that of the moon is likened to 
that of the present light of the sun ; and that of 
the sun to the light of seven days-seven times its 
present brightness. 
"Dream not of a fairer earth, 
Ere the King of kings shall come, 
Till creation's second birth 
Guilt shall swell its awful sum. 
Ne'er a brighter sun shall rise 
Till Christ shall greet our waiting eyes, 
Earth shall wear no richer green 
Till Christ upon the Mount is seen."-Bonar. 
By the substitution, the present imperfect condi-
tion of God's people is illustrated by their being 
wounded and disabled ; and their restoration from 
the curse, by the binding up and healing of those 
wounds. This is accomplished by the mediation 
of Christ (Isa. 53:4, 5) : " Surely he bath borne 
our griefs, and carried our sorrows : yet we did 
esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he 
was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement 
of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes 
we are healed." 
Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, 
Burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: 
 
His lips are lull of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire ; 
And his breath, as an overflowing str2am, 
Shall reach to the midst of the neck, 
To sift the nations with the sieve of vanity ; 
And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them 
to err.-vs. 27, 25. 
The prophet having glanced forward, over the 
prosperous times which the nation might enjoy-
would they comply with the conditions-to the 
final consummation, he now returns to the destruc-
tion which should be inflicted on the Assyrian,-
who is expressly named in v. 31. 
The" name of the Lord," by a metonymy is put 
for the Lord himself. We read in Isa. 37:36, that 
" the angel of the Lord "-literally the Messenger 
Jehovah-" went forth and smote in the camp of 
the Assyrians,". &-,c. God said to Moses, (Ex. 23: 
20, 21,) " Behold I send an Angel "-literally, 
The Messenger-" before thee to keep thee in the 
way Beware of HIM, and obey His voice, 
provoke Him not ; for He will not pardon your 
transgressions ; for my NAME is in Him." Other 
scriptures show that Jehovah himself went before 
Israel to show them the way, in a pillar of cloud 
and of fire, as The Messenger to guide them. The 
coming of the NAME of the Lord, therefore signifies 
the coming of the Messenger Jehovah, in whom is 
the name of Jehovah. 
" Burning " is a metaphor, illustrative of the 
intensity of his anger. By a repetition of the 
same figure it is also denominated a burden ; and 
weight is ascribed to it, to illustrate its analogous 
effect in crushing and bearing down those on whom 
it should be visited. By the metonymy, " lips " 
" tongue " and " breath "-the organs of speech 
are put for the words or sentence spoken against 
the Assyrians. By a metaphor, they are said to 
be " full " of indignation, showing that they con, 
tain no element of mercy ; and by simile, they are 
compared to " devouring fire," and to " an over-
flowing stream reaching to the neck," illustrative 
of the desolating result which shall follow their 
utterance. By a metaphor,. also, " to sift,"-the 
act of winnowing grain, which is tossed and shook 
about,-illustrates the act of the destruction of the 
nations constituting the Assyrian army ; and by 
the same figure " vanity," or destruction, (Isa. 
58:13,) is denominated the " sieve " in which they 
were to be shaken and scattered. The only re-
maining figure, is the substitution, by which those 
who came against Jerusalem are represented as 
an animal under control by bit and bridle, which 
is turned about from the path it would otherwise 
pursue, and guided to its own destruction. The 
figure illustrates the turning Nick of the Assyrians 
from their attack on Jerusalem, their discomfiture, 
and the return of the remnant to their own land. 
Thus God said in Isa. 37:29, " Because thy rage 
against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine 
ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, 
and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee 
back by the way by which thou earnest." 
Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept ; 
And gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe 
To come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. 
v. 2J. 
By an apostrophe to the Jews, their joy over the 
destruction of the Assyrian is illustrated. The 
" holy solemnity " is the Passover, which was first 
instituted, and afterwards always celebrated in the 
night (Ex. 12:42 ; Deut. 16:1-6) ; and the supper 
was concluded with a song ; (Matt. 26:30.) By a 
their song on this occasion is likened to 
that ; and by the same figure, their gladness is il-
lustrated by that of the people when they came up 
from all parts of Judea to the solemn festivals at 
Jerusalem, which they were commanded to observe 
with rejoicings, (Dent. 16:11, 14,) and of which 
the Psalmist said (42:4), " I went with them to 
the house of God, with the voice of joy and 
praise." 
To Correspondents. 
" W."-We do not know the date of the " Black 
Saturday " in England. We have never come 
across any historical reference to it, and conclude 
that it was one of the more remarkable of those 
dark days, which are so common in England, a 
specimen of which was given in the last Herald. 
BRO. HIMES :-Ilow can Russia be called the 
king -or kingdom of the North, when the word says, 
"Tidings out of the East and North shall trouble 
him?" 
H. J. 
West Boscawen, Dec. 12th, 1853. 
REPLY.-It is a question we are unable to an-
swer.-E.D. 
BILLS.-In the next Herald we purpose sending 
bills to all who by their omission to comply with 
the terms of the paper, subject us to that measure 
to remind them of the amount of their arrearage. 
We hope that the injustice of neglecting these 
amounts-so small to them, and so large to us, 
will be seen, realized, and remedied. In each 
case, all parties will be made twice glad. 
BEREAVS REPLY TO ELDER ADRIAN. 
MR. EDITOR :-A reply to my articles in the last 
Herald demands a little notice from my pen. 
Bishop Newton after enumerating the kingdoms 
as presented by Machiaval, Mede, Bishop Lloyd, 
and Sir I. Newton, speaks of " the few variations 
in these accounts." I have before me a table ex-
hibiting seven distinct lists of the ten kingdoms, 
by the Rev. W. Dighy, illustrating " the unanimity 
among expositors " on this subject; and Mr. J. W. 
Brook says, " to the above [table] may be added, 
with as little discrepancy as to specific designation, 
only substituting in some instances the modern 
names of these kingdoms, the lists presented by 
Bishop Chandler, Daubuz, Dr. Allix, and Messrs. 
Cuningham, Frere, and Habershon." 
From the great mass of these learned Roman and 
Protestant historians the timists are obliged to dif- 
fer in order to sustain their theory ; but the fact 
that the subject of difference between them and 
men of such profound historical knowledge is 
purely historical, should cause them to express 
their views with becoming modesty ; and then their 
opinion in the case would never be made the basis 
upon which to rest an implicit faith-" a belief with-
out.doubting or reserve !" 
Their perfect " right to differ " none should call 
in question. Their right to thus differ, even from 
the wisest of men is one thing ; but the manner in 
which they differ, and the use they make of that 
difference, is quite another consideration. This 
discrimination should he kept clearly before the 
mind of both writers and readers. 
He denies in the most unqualified language, that 
a list of ten kingdoms can be furnished " for almost 
any given year after Western Rome was divided," 
and calls " for the proof." In the article referred 
to I gave examples illustrative of this. There is 
now on the table before me a catalogue of twenty 
distinct lists of contemporary kingdoms at twenty 
successive dates furnished by one of the best living 
prophetic expositors, for intervals from A. D. 860 
-A. D. 1816. My former reference to this was 
simply to show that the specification of ten king-
doms for the year 519, was of itself, no evidence 
that that year was of any greater importance than 
many other years in the Roman history. 
/t is indeed " easy to tell what is not," and when 
the fallacy of this position is sufficiently exposed I 
will most cheerfully at the proper time, and in its 
appropriate place, comply with the kind invita-
tion to " walk up and tell the church what does 
fulfil it." In the mean time, patience will be 
found to be an excellent grace. 
As I have said nothing about a " range of king-
doms consecutively existing from Romulus to Bona-
parte," either literally or comparatively, no de-
fence of that is necessary. 
As there existed ten contemporary kingdoms 
prior to the list furnished for the year 519, those 
who doubt the latter, do " reject some of the origi-
nal kingdoms." Those ten kingdoms are named by 
more than one reliable chronologer and historian, 
" three of which were plucked up by the little 
horn ;" the evidence of which will be again given 
when that part of the subject comes. under consid- 
e r oe rne. 
is a " challenge " for " proof that there 
were ten kingdoms in the Roman Empire during 
the existence of the Heruli." Let those who seek 
for the evidence of it, candidly read the " Chrono-
logical Table," by the editor of the herald, and his 
answer to F. II. B.! In four lists of contemporary 
kingdoms which I have examined, the Heruli have 
a place, and some of those lists are reckoned en-
tirely within the limits of the old Roman territory. 
Following this " challenge " is the following 
positive assertion : " I say that [the] Heruli and 
Lombarda [Lombards] did not exist in the Roman 
Empire at one and the same time. The Heruli 
were destroyed 493, the Lombards were not in the 
Empire at that time they did not come 
into the Empire until after the Vandals were 
plucked up in 534, therefore they could not consti-
tute one of the ten." He says " they did not," 
but gives no evidence to establish what is with so 
much assurance denied. Sir I. Newton however 
declares to the contrary, and gives the historical 
proof to sustain what he says. He informs us, that 
the Lombards emigrated under their king Guedehoe 
ft-urn Pannonia into Rugiland on the north of the 
Danube, and returned into Pannonia A. D. 526, 
under king Audein." Guedehoe was a contempo-
rary with Odoacer who reigned in Italy from 476-
493. So that the Lombards were in Pannonia, 
which was a part of " the old Roman territory " 
before 493. The timists admit that " the Heruli were 
destroyed in 493 ;" putting this with the fact given 
by Sir I. Newton, it follows that " the Lombards 
were in the Empire, existing at the same time with 
the Heruli." Now I, in turn call on Elder A. to 
give up that point ;" or else to show that Grotius, 
 .412111,111163•139MMO2filft&
-'"."-- 
 
AIM 
THE ADVENT HERALD 
413 
Procopius, Machiaval, Dr. Hales, Sir I. Newton, 
Bishop Lloyd, and other writers of acknowledged 
learning and ability, are in the wrong. Dr. Allix 
also, in his list of kingdoms for the year 486, places 
the Lombards. 
My " reference to the Britons " has this " to do 
with the question :" In the list of kingdoms reck-
oned as existing in 519, the fifth is stated to be a 
kingdom formed in Wales by the " native island-
ers " of Britain when they fled before the Angles 
and Saxons into that province, Now I proved 
from authentic histories 
First. That there is no positive evidence, that the 
Britons, when they fled before their invaders and 
conquerers, settled in Wales ;—that historians do 
not know whether they fixed their dwelling place 
there, or in Cornwall, or emigrated to the opposite 
coast : therefore, their having a kingdom in Wales, 
as stated, is more than doubtful. 
Second. That if they did establish a kingdom in 
Wales, it must have been in the mountainous part 
of that country. 
Third. That the mountainous regions were nev-
er conquered by the Romans—that it was beyond 
the prescribed boundary of " the old Roman terri-
tory ;" and therefore, if it could be proved that 
they did erect a kingdom even there, it should not 
be reckoned as a horn of the fourth beast accord-
ing to their own adopted rule of interpretation 
laid down in that article. And 
Fourth. That their flight into another country, 
wherever it may have been, did not take place till 
a century after 519. 
The inquiry, " Did Julius Cmsar go all over 
Gaul when he added it to Rome &c., did the sol-
diers of the United States go all over California 
when we took possession of it ?" is quite irrelevant. 
California in 1846 was taken military possession 
of by the United States, and in 1848 a treaty was 
made by the American and Mexican commissioners, 
and by this treaty California was ceded to this gov-
ernment for $15,000,000. Its cession by treaty, 
was what annexed it to this country. 
The Romans invaded Gaul B. C. 150, and in thirty 
years became masters of only its south-eastern part. 
Was the conquest of a part of Gaul the annexation 
of the whole territory ? No. The final .subjuga-
tion of that province was not till B. C. 50, and it 
cost Julius Cmsar eight years hard warfare, nine 
campaigns, and a million of men. In his last ex-
pedition for that purpose, lie met and defeated a 
large confederate army composed of men from all 
the unsubdued Gaulish nations, representatives 
from every canton, consisting of 300,000 soldiers. 
Thus by one mighty blow he crushed every oppos-
ing force, and reduced Gaul to the condition of a 
tributary province. The Romans invaded and oc-
cupied all the open country of Scotland ; but that 
occupation of a part of the country was never re-
garded as the subjugation of Scotland. On the 
same principle, and for the same reasons, the 
mountainous part of Wales never belonged to the 
Roman territory ; this is the unanimous voice of 
history. 
Let it be proved, if it can he, by fair arguments 
and good authority, that I have taken a false po-
sition respecting the establishment of a kingdom 
in Wales, or let it be frankly admitted that locating 
a kingdom in that country, cannot be sustained, THEN 
if they please to fall back upon their being an in-
dependent nation in Britain at 519, they will find 
me prepared with history to meet them even there; 
and by stubborn facts I will show that that resort 
will not answer their purpose. Let them take ei-
ther " horn of the dilemma " as will best suit their 
convenience, and take notice, whichever alterna-
tive may be chosen, it will be found equally con-
clusive against them. Their list has no fifth nor 
tenth kingdom, and the seventh is to be doubted to say 
the least. 
In the reply to me, the strongest language is 
employed : positively asserting, denying without 
qualification, and peremptorily challenging. Of 
the strength and definiteness of the words used, I 
make no complaint. The more decisive the terms 
by which their differences are explained, the better 
they will be understood. But it is a subject of 
complaint that it did not sustain his undoubting 
assuredness with suitable arid becoming evidence. 
He asserts and denies, but where is the proof that 
his assertions and denials are sound ? Not the 
first word. He speaks of having " examined th e 
productions of these men ;" but he does not give 
the name of a single author examined, nor show 
how thoroughly he has examined them ; so that 
no means are furnished by which to judge how 
much more, or less, his opportunities have been 
for arriving at a correct judgment, than those he 
dissents from. It is certainly " easy to tell what is 
not," while avoiding the labor of producing the au-
thority for " what is not." 
Will Elder A. again say, that Theodoric " and his 
kingdom were Pagans," when Gibbon plainly in- 
forms him that they were Arians?--that the " He-
ruli and Lombards did not exist in the Roman Em-
pire at one and the same time," when Grotius, 
Warnefrid, Procopi, Dr. Allix, Dr. Hales, Ma-
chiaval, Bishop Lloyd and Sir Isaac Newton, de-
clares that they did?—that the " native islanders " 
of Britain, established an independent kingdom in 
Wales, within " the old Roman territory," when 
it is the unanimous testimony of history that they 
did not ? This subject, and its deleterious influ-
ence, is too serious a matter to be trifled with, and 
when stern, undeniable facts are presented, we call 
upon every professed brother and believer to admit 
them, however much it may clash with views and 
sentiments ever so fondly cherished. If the high 
authorities cited in the Herald against their his-
torical statements be worthy of consideration, then 
they should have due weight in the summing up 
of the conclusion of the whole matter. 
The exhortation and desire " that brethren will 
be very calm, and look this thing in the face," is 
timely, and as we are both professed preachers of 
the gospel, let us have a care that that very com-
mon proverb be not applicable to us, that " it is 
easier to preach than to practice." BEREAN. 
LETTER FROM D. BOSWORTH. 
BRO BLISS :—In the midst of the confusion that 
prevails in the world, " how sweet to reflect on " 
the " good time coming," when " the watchmen 
shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring 
again Zion." As I have looked at the professed 
Christian world for some time past, and seen the 
fulfilment of that prediction of our Saviour con-
cerning the last times, that " because iniquity 
should abound, the love of many should wax cold," 
I have been led to pray more earnestly than ever 
before, " Thy kingdom come ; thy will be done on 
earth as it is done in heaven." But concerning this 
event also, Christ tells us innumerable perils shall 
attend its ushering in. For many in their eagerness 
to attract attention, or from a desire to draw away 
disciples after them, shall cry, " Lo ! here ! or Lo ! 
there !" and " shall deCeive, if possible, the very 
elect." We have seen and heard the fulfilment 
of this also in every variety of way ; but those 
who have learned only in the school of Jesus have 
not been deceived hitherto ; for he also told them, 
" Go not after them, nor follow them ;" and he 
adds as a reason, " for as the lightning's flash " 
shining from east to west, " so shall also the com-
ing of the Son of man be," visible in the whole 
heaven. Many however who have learned well 
thus far, we fear have not learned equally well (at 
least of Christ) in respect to some other things, 
one of which I wish to notice. I refer to the time 
of that event, which like the lightning's flash shall 
usher in millennial glory, and confound an unbe-
lieving world. 
At this point I hear the cry of heresy raised, 
and the question is triumphantly asked, " Was it 
not time that brought us out into the faith of the 
Advent near ?" I answer, No ! at least so far as 
I am concerned. I heard from the word of God, 
the teachings of the Saviour—" when ye see all 
these things come to pass, (signs of his coming,) 
then know that it (kingdom of God) is near, even 
at the door." I looked for the signs, saw their 
fulfilment, and I believed. And when the time, 
which I after received, failed, I fell back upon my 
original position, and there I stand to-day. But 
says one, " When you see a point of time equally 
well sustained with that you once received, why 
not believe it ?" 
1st. I have not seen it. 
2d. 1 have learned that in the school of Christ 
which I ought to have learned before, viz., that He 
who said, " Know that the kingdom of God is nigh, 
even at the door," and in view of it, to rejoice on 
account of coming redemption, also said, " Ye 
know not when the time is," and also told us that 
" because the good man had to watch, not knowing 
the time when the thief would come," so we also 
ought to " watch, not knowing the tune when the 
Saviour would come." 
3(1. Because that among the advoates of the new 
" times" (all having it just right, and laboring 
zealously together to build a tower whose top shall 
reach to heaven) there seems to be a perfect Babel, 
one teaching it in '54, one in '55, and again one 
in '56. All are equally certain, but all cannot be 
right. Stop says my friend ; who teaches it in 
'56 ? Ah ! there is the difficulty. A prominent 
brother, laboring with one who teaches the coming 
of Christ in '54, denying that position, with the 
words of Christ, " Ye know not when the time is ;" 
himself teaches the event to come in '56, although 
he seems not to be aware of it. I refer to the ex-
position of the 2300 days in the Herald of Nov 5th. 
But says the writer of that article, " I taught that 
the sanctuary will then be cleansed there, that the 
coming of Christ will be before." Certainly ! 
But you taught the ending of the 2300 days then. 
Now let us see what event ends them. 
Turn to Daniel 8th. The prophet sees in vision 
several kingdoms (symbolically represented) who 
are to tread the sanctuary and the host under foot, 
the last of which is to magnify himself in his heart, 
by peace to destroy many ; stand up against the 
Prince of princes ; and be broken without hand. 
In one word the length of the vision, about which 
Daniel heard a saint inquire, the answer to which 
was 2300 days, spans the time from the point 
where the prophet saw the Medo-Persian ram, 
pushing westward, northward, and southward, 
with no beast able to stand before him, to the 
breaking of the last power that should oppress the 
saints of God. The cleansing of the sanctuary is 
not included in those days, they only reach to it. 
If the breaking of the power symbolized by the lit-
tle horn ends those days (which is clearly the case,) 
the inquiry suggests itself, What power is there 
symbolized, and what event breaks it? 
1st. What power ? The answer is so obviously 
the Romans, that we only stop here to remark—
it was the Roman that stood up against the Prince 
of princes, and it was the Roman—Pagan and Pa 
pal—that destroyed so wonderfully the mighty and 
the holy people. 
2d. What great event breaks or ends it? We 
answer. Dan. 2:34, 44—Broken in pieces by the 
God of heaven. Again, 2 Thess. 2 :8—" Destroyed 
by the brightness of Christ's coming." We might 
adduce other passages to the same purport, but 
these are sufficient to show that the coining of 
Christ ends those days. So, then, if the 2300 days 
end in '56, the coming of Christ is then, and not 
in '54 or '55 ; and the brother has not obviated the 
difficulty he himself finds, in those passages of 
Scripture which teach us that we know not when 
the time is. 
A word to the waiting household. Dear breth-
ren, whilst those whom we deem misguided, but 
well meaning brethren, are teaching so many and 
contradictory theories, thus unsettling the minds 
of the unlearned, and the unwary, and also seeing 
deceivers, and deceiving spirits abound in the land, 
let us heed the admonition of the Saviour, by the 
beloved apostle, " Blessed is he that watcheth and 
keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they 
see Ins shame." 
D. BOSWORTH. 
LETTER FROM NEW YORK. 
J. V. IIIMES—DEAR SIR am much pleased 
with the Herald, as present conducted, and as I 
live in a small village where I have little opportu-
nity of hearing the whole truth, its weekly visits 
are truly welcome, and I could but wish that every 
candid seeker after truth might have the benefit of 
reading its pages, as I am sure that the clear and 
careful manner in which not only the subject of the 
advent of the Saviour near, but every topic that is 
within the range of a religious paper, is treated 
on, would disabuse the minds of many in regard to 
the want of harmony in the Scriptures, and give 
them unanswerable evidence of their truth. Its 
manly and Christian spirit, too, in answering all 
cavilling objections, and patient consideration of 
the doubts and difficulties of the more dull, cannot 
but work a happy influence on the spirit of those 
who are striving to contend for the truth. The 
time is rapidly passing by when the glorious truths 
of which the Advent Herald is and has always been 
a consistent exponent, can be treated with ridicule 
and contempt. The influence of the Advent move-
ment since the time of Mr. Miller, has worked on 
the minds of the people of this country in such a 
manner, that they now prefer to have the VIEWS of 
the Adventists met by their teachers in preference 
to the conduct and actions of the professed believers ; 
and where, a few years ago, it was with difficulty 
the subject could be broached, now a candid hear-
ing is given. There is no better way to bring the 
views professed by the Advent people, to the con-
sideration of those who seek for truth, than by giv-
ing or lending the Herald. If occasionally there 
were printed in its columns expositions of the 
prophecies relating to the advent, as in former 
years, with illustrations and diagrams, there could 
be found many to read them, who have hardly ever 
heard of the subject. I have many times felt the 
want of this information, in talking on the subject, 
and could not readily prove it, having always 
given away everything I had. There are many, 
too, who once professed and rejoiced in the belief 
of the near return of the Saviour, who, being scat-
tered and removed from the influence of this truth, 
are yet easily awakened to give it attention anew. 
In riding home in the cars from this city lately, I 
got in conversation with a gentleman on the sub-
ject of the advent of Christ, when another traveller 
who had been listening, remarked, earnestly, that 
he used to believe that doctrine, and it was true, 
too, but that he had not heard anything about it 
for a good while. 
With an occasional article on the first principles 
clearly set forth, all these persons might be made 
to give heed to the subject. Not that there has 
been any lack of treating on the near personal ap-
pearing of the Saviour, in the Herald, for it has 
been a faithful witness, but that it has avoided 
going over the same ground again and again, whilst 
there have been growing up around us classes of 
persons who must have the subject first in its sim- 
ple form. Yours truly, A. W. Si. 
Nov. 20th, 1853. 
THE DISCUSSION. 
Rao. Buss.—I wish to say a few words in reply 
to brother Wilcox in the Herald of Dec. 9th. 
Brother W. says, speaking of Dan. 12:1, " Now 
I take it for granted that brother Litch admits this 
personage (Michael) to be Christ ; and He causes 
the trouble," &c. That there will be sorrow to 
the wicked at the coming of Christ I do not dispute. 
But that the " standing up of Michael " is identi-
cal with the coming of Christ, I doubt. The 
" standing up of Michael," is the cessation of his 
intercession, and assumption of executive power, 
before he makes his advent in the clouds of heaven. 
Had brother W . carefully read my articles I think 
he would have seen that instead of my making 
Christ the abomination of desolation, he would 
have seen that my view is, that this age will end 
when Christ ceases to present his sacrifice in the 
holy place ; and that its cessation will be followed 
by the establishment of the " abomination of des-
olation " on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. Hence 
my theory is, that the " standing up of Michael " 
and the ending of this dispensation, the offer of 
mercy to sinners will he synonymous ; the latter 
will be the result of the former. When the 
Saviour takes away or " causes his sacrifice and 
oblation to cease," the " abomination of desola-
tion " will appear in the holy place. " And from 
the time that the daily shall be taken away and 
the abomination which maketh desolate shall be 
set up, there shall be 1290 days," not years. If 
this is correct, then it follows that the " tribula-
tion " of Matt. 24, and the " trouble " of Dan. 12 
are identical. 
Again brother W. says : " He says, The text 
does not affirm their deliverance before this time of 
trouble, but intimates that they will go through it, 
and be delivered from it.' Now as the brother 
admits they are delivered from it and do not expe-
rience it, it is enough for me to say, Amen." 
Brother W. does not understand me. I said, " they 
will go through it." And how they can go through 
it and not experience it, I am a loss to understand. 
It is a trial of the human race, a final trial, to 
make manifest the character of all men. The 
signs and wonders of false Christs and false proph-
ets in that time of tribulation, will be such that 
if it were possible they would decieve the very 
elect. But the elect will only be purified and 
made white and tried by either suffering or prodi-
gies. " But the wicked shall do wickedly, and 
none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise 
shall understand." The saints therefore go through 
and experience the tribulation, and then when fully 
tried, are delivered from further trouble ; while 
God's judgments come on the wicked. 
Your notes are a sufficient answer to some points 
in brother W.'s article, although I think you err in 
supposing the " abomination " to synchronize with 
the compassing Jerusalem with armies. 
J. LITCH. 
NOTE.—We claim no infallibility. But we small 
be much surprised to see reason to change our 
views on this point, or evidence that the days of 
the 12th of Dan. are not symbolic.—En. 
" THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL.”—This is the name 
of a new monthly (two numbers only having ap-
peared), published by ALFRED E. BEACH, No. 86 
Nassau-street, New York city. Two volumes are 
issued yearly, at 50 cents a volume. Each num-
ber contains 32 large pages of letter-press, beauti-
fully printed on fine white paper, and profusely il-
lustrated with engravings, executed in the highest 
style of the art. The People's Journal is an illus-
trated record of Agriculture, Mechanics, Science 
and Useful Knowledge ; which the Farmer, the 
Mechanic, the Inventor, the Manufacturer, and 
people of every profession, will find a repository of 
valuable knowledge, peculiarly suited to their re-
spective wants. We have no hesitation iu recom-
mending this Journal to each of this class of our 
readers, as the very best work of its kind that we 
have seen. 
PROFOUND.—A contemporary reviewing the chro' 
nology of Archbishop Usher respecting the date of 
the nativity, quotes from " The Time of Daniel," 
by the Duke of Manchester, whom he styles " Mr 
John Duke, of Manchester, England!" His Grace 
must be flattered by the reference. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
 SZEZZ=IMIBY 
r. 
414 
THE ADVEN T HERALD, 
CORRESPONDENTS are alone responsible for 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. 
THE DISCUSSION. 
nians, Persians, and the principal Oriental nations 
from the ealiest times" (Hales, vol. 1, p. 268. 
Ex. Bliss's Chronology, p. 24.) They reckoned 
then, 12X30=360 days to the year, and then set 
the year forward five days, and reckoned as before. 
Now that a time is a year, can be seen by Dan. 
4:16, 32. A time, then, is 360 days, two times 
780, and half a time 180. Total 1260 days. Rev. 
12:6—" And the woman fled into the wilderness, 
where she hath a place prepared of God, that they 
should feed her there, a thousand two hundred 
and three scoredays." V. 14—" And to the woman 
was given two wings of a great eagle, that she 
might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where 
she is nourished for a time, and times, and half 
a time, from the face of the serpent." These pas- 
sages show conclusively that the time, times, and 
a half are 1260 days ; the same as the forty-two 
months. 42X30=1260. 
This is the time of Gentile dominion over the 
people of God, and the Saviour has said : " Jeru- 
salem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until 
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled ;" and again 
in Rev. 11:2, " the holy city shall they tread under 
foot forty and two months." This cannot mean 
the city itself ; for that was entirely destroyed, 
only the place where it stood being left, then, it 
must have been Jerusalem that was carried cap-
tive into all nations, who were to be trodden down 
of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles 
were fulfilled. We now come to the signs of the 
close of this period of time, and the reader will 
please to notice the difference in the records of 
Matthew and Luke respecting these signs. Luke 
21:25—" And there shall be signs in the sun, and 
in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth 
distress of nations with perplexity ; the sea and 
the waves roaring ; men's heart failing them for 
fear, and for looking after those things which are 
coming on the earth." This does not inform us, 
directly, when these signs were to appear, or what 
they were to be ; but as they were defined and ex-
plained by the Saviour afterward, on the mount of 
Olives, as recorded in Matt. 24th and Mark 13th, 
then, it behoves all of us to consider the following. 
Read, and ponder. Matt. 24:29—" Immediately 
after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be 
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 
and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers 
of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall appear 
the sign of the Son of man in heaven : and then 
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they 
shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of 
heaven, with power and great glory." On the 
12th of May, 1780, the sun was darkened here in 
New England, so that the stars shone in the day 
time ; the moon being full it could not have been 
an eclipse. 
The moon borrows her light from the sun ; but 
on that night, although the moon was in her full, 
it was most intensely dark ; for persons have tes-
tified that the darkness of that night was so dense, 
that a piece of white paper could not be distin-
guished from black velvet. A full moon in the 
heavens, and yet an utter blank ! What ailed 
thee, 0 thou moon, that thou didst refuse to shine? 
Did he, " the greater light," that rules the day re-
fuse to shine on thee, and thou on us ? How could 
that night have been so intensely dark, if the sun's 
rays shone upon the moon's disk! As the moon 
reflects the light of the sun to us, if the light of 
the sun be intercepted, the moon is necessarily 
darkened, and whenever a full moon is in utter 
darkness, it is evidence that the sun is darkened 
also. So that the utter darkness of that night, is 
an evident token that the sun was darkened in other 
lands, after it had sunk in darkness in our horizon. 
Why did " the dark day " and the falling stars of 
1833, cause men's hearts to fail them for fear 
Why did gloom, and fear, and trembling, possess 
the hearts of the people ? How lightly men can 
think of these things, now that they are past ! 
Because judgment is not executed speedily, there-
fore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in 
them to do evil. Joel 2:30, 31—" And I will show 
wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, blood, 
and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be 
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, be-
fore the great and the terrible day of the Lord 
come." Who remembers not the time when the 
whole face of heaven was of bloody redness ? and 
the earth tinged with the same reflected bloody 
light? Who has not seen those appearances of 
blood, fire, and pillars of smoke moving on the face 
of the sky? And are all of these things to be disre-
garded, as though God had suffered nature to play 
fantastic freaks on her own account, without de- 
sign or object? 
• 
Those who regard these signs as those predicted 
by the Saviour will obey the following : Luke 
21:29-31—" And he spake to them a parable : Be-
hold the fig-tree, and all the trees ; when they now 
shoot forth, ye see and know of your ownselves that 
summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, 
when ye see these things come to pass, know ye 
that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand:" Amen. 
w. 
LETTER FROM NEW YORK. 
BRO. BLISS :—Since my return from New Eng-
land I have thought a little sketch of my visit to 
the various churches which I visited, together With 
a brief account of the cause in this city, might not 
be uninteresting to the readers of the Herald; but 
various hindrances have prevented my writing un-
til now. 
Most of the readers of the Herald have no means 
of knowing the state of the various churches ex- 
cept through the press, and it is therefore good oc- 
casionally, to make mention of them in the Herald. 
The church in Hartford to which I preached one 
Sabbath, evidently feel the loss of their beloved 
pastor, brother Fassett, very much. He was men- 
tioned by them with especial kindness, and they 
regretted his removal, but their prayers and sym- 
pathies will follow him in his new field. The con-
gregation was not large, and seemed smaller from 
the size of their house. I preached only twice, 
and my indifferent health made the change from 
the pulpit to the social prayer meeting, very wel-
come. The social meetings there are kept up with 
much spirit, and are well attended. 
I found several pleasant acquaintances here, but 
my ill health prevented my enjoying their society 
as I otherwise should. The unusual cares and 
duties connected with our efforts in New York dur-
ing the summer had made me almost an invalid ; 
and I felt that I could do but little besides recruit 
myself for the winter campaign in our new chapel. 
1 met brother Matthewson and his wife here, and 
spent a social hour with them, conversing upon 
the new version of definite time, in which they are 
interested, and although we did not coincide in our 
views on that point, we separated with mutual 
good will, and hopes of meeting in the kingdom 
when it comes. 
At Providence I spent two Sabbaths in exchange 
with brother G. W. Burnham, where I enjoyed the 
generous hospitalities of brother Andrews, brother 
Sissons and others. The meetings on the Sabbath 
were well attended. Brother Burnham has a prom-
ising field of labor, and I hope the church will soon 
have a larger place of worship :—they need it. 
The number of youth in attendance upon the even-
ing meeting surprised me. Most of them, to be 
sure, seemed to have come there for amusement, 
but time exhortations addressed to them, seemed to 
throw solemnity over their minds. I shall hope to 
hear that some of these interesting youth have been 
converted to the Lord under brother B.'s labors. 
I spent one Sabbath with the church in Salem, 
in exchange with brother Osler, and enjoyed the 
privilege of some social meetings which were es-
pecially refreshing. The spirit that pervaded these 
meetings was excellent, and several of the brethren 
and sisters seemed to have been recently renewed. 
I enjoyed especially one morning meeting devoted 
to social worship, and am inclined to think that 
the best time for a social meeting. Christians are 
more likely to sympathize with the labors of the 
preacher, if they have some responsibilities to per-
form in the early part of the day. Our meeting 
was a profitable time. A blessed and subduing 
influence pervaded the minds of the brethren and 
sisters, and a good number bore excellent testimo-
ny. It seemed to me that mercy-drops were in 
store for that church. A spirit of unity charac-
terizes the church, and a disposition to co-operate 
with their devoted pastor. Warm and earnest 
prayers were offered for him ; I cannot but hope, 
therefore, that they will enjoy a rich blessing this 
winter. 
Having a leisure day, I paid a short visit to my 
old friend and fellow-laborer in the West—brother 
John Pearson jr., at Newburyport. I enjoyed my 
visit here very much, as it had been several years 
since we had met. Brother Pearson took me with 
him to see several of his little flock, some of whom 
are invalids,—and in the evening, though a very 
stormy night, a good audience,—composed chiefly 
of members of the church, were present, to whom 
gave a brief discourse. There is more than or-
dinary interest in this church. Some have recently 
been renewed, and the meetings have increased in 
number. Brother P. organized a church of eight 
members when he went there, now they number 
forty or fifty, and their place of worship is well 
filled. The Lord seems to be with them. Brother 
P. devotes himself with commendable iudustry to 
the study of the word, and his preparations for the 
desk, and his efforts are not in vain. A loving and 
sympathizing spirit between pastor and people, is 
very observable here. The Lord will bless them. 
I was happy to meet brother Pearson's venera-
ble father, of whom he had frequently spoken to 
me. I found him still interested in the good word 
LETTER FROM ILLINOIS. 
DEAR SIR :—To continue the report of my West-
ern tour. I was in the State of Missouri about 
one month ; during which 1 labored incessantly to 
scatter the glorious light of the gospel of the king-
dom. I found there but a single reader of the 
Advent Herald. Meeting-houses were opened, and 
our meetings were attended by a candid and lis-
tening audience, who seemed interested in the ex-
positions of the prophetic scriptures ; and not a 
few were constrained to say, " it is truth." Of 
my labors there, and of the field in the Southern 
states my mind has been not a little and diversely 
exercised. " The field is the world," and the corn 
inand is, " go ye into all the world, and preach the 
gospel to every creature "—but how can men love 
God with all their heart, and their neighbors as 
themselves and yet deal with the souls of men, 
women and children as with goods and chattel ? 
To me slavery is not merely a political, but is a 
great moral question, and not to be unmindful of 
the generous hospitality shown me while in Mis-
souri, yet I am constrained to say that my feelings 
toward this peculiar institution—viewing it as an 
Bao. Buss :—In a former article reference was 
made to Rev. 7:14, as evidence that the persons 
there brought to view, are those who have passed 
through the great tribulation. In the first part of 
that chapter, an account is given of the sealing of 
an hundred and forty-four thousand " of the twelve 
tribes of the children of Israel ;" and then the fol-
lowing passage occurs. Vs. 9, 10—" After this 
I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man 
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and 
people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and 
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and 
palms in their hands ; and cried with a loud voice, 
saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon 
the throne, and unto the Lamb." Vs. 13, 14— 
" And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, 
What are these which are arrayed in white robes? 
and whence came they ? And I said unto him, 
KURIE, thou knowest. And he said to me, These 
are they which came out of GREAT TRIBULATION, 
and have washed their robes, and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb." The Greek phrase— 
sx 
 OXPLIIiC05 rrii pEy ctX115—is, literally translated, 
Out of the tribulation the great. 
There are persons who suppose the above is ap- 
plicable to them, while they would, or should, be 
ashamed to compare their troubles with the suffer-
ings of those who have passed through the great 
tribulation ; which commenced with the setting 
up of the abomination of desolation. Then, accord-
ing to the Saviour's words, there was to be " great 
tribulation such as was not since the beginning of 
the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Who, 
then, were those whom John saw in the apocalyptic 
vision, but those who have passed through " the 
tribulation the great'?" They were of " all nations, 
kindreds, people, and tongues," agreeing with the 
prophetic words of Jesus Christ, who said : " Na-
tion shall rise against nation, and kingdom against 
kingdom, &c. All these are the beginning of sor-
rows. Then shall they deliver you up to be af-
flicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of 
all nations for my name's sake." If they were to 
be afflicted, killed, hated of all nations, it must 
have been after Christianity had been introduced 
into all nations, and when the nations had com-
bined together, to kill, afflict, and hate them. 
But the Church of Judea, being forewarned to 
flee into the mountains, when they should " see 
the abomination of desolation " stand in " the 
holy place," obeyed, and " fled into the wilder-
ness," where she was to be nourished for a time, 
times and a half ; while the remnant of her seed, 
(Jew and Gentile Christians, who were among the 
Papal nations,) passed through the great tribula 
tion. 
,And who can say that it is possible for human 
beings to suffer more intensely than they have? 
Can any tribulation exceed the exquisite tortures 
of the Inquisition ? Has not the human frame 
been racked to the utmost by the most cruel tor-
tures ever invented? How, then, can there be any 
tribulation, future, greater than that under Papal 
Rome ? W ill God re-organize the human system, 
so as to make it more susceptible of suffering? 
Tempt not the old Roman harlot with the thought 
that she may again gloat her vengeance on the 
people of God, and be drunken again with their 
blood. " Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith 
your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, 
and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, 
that her iniquity is pardoned : for she bath re-
ceived of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." 
The time of trouble is a definite period of time. 
Daniel says, speaking of the man of sin, the Pope 
of Rome : " He shall speak great words against 
the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of 
the Most High, and shall think to change times 
and laws ; and they shall be given into his hand 
until a time, and times, and the dividing of time." 
Daniel was a captive in Babylon seventy years, 
and their mode of reckoning time was, of course, 
familiar to him. The form of the year then in use, 
Dr. Hales calls " the moveable year ;" " consist-
ing of twelve equal months of thirty days, and five 
supernumerary days ; which was the year in com-
mon use among the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Arme- 
of God, and firm in the faith of the coming king-
dom. 
I spent the fifth Sabbath of my absence in Bos-
ton. The Sabbath was very stormy, indeed it was 
so dark in the afternoon, that it was difficult to see 
the face of soy hearers. The rain poured in tor-
rents, and the number was not large. I met here 
some old friends and had pleasant interviews, and 
made some new acquaintances. 
The brethren here are struggling hard to main-
tain the meetings, but labor under much embar-
rassment for the want of systematic labors. 1 hope 
they may yet be prospered. Should the church re-
move to a new place of worship, and rally cour-
ageously, and enter the Lord's work with new 
zeal, they would see the blessing of God again. 
I received especial kindness at the hands of sev-
eral friends there, and 1 shall ever feel deeply in-
debted for their Christian hospitalities, and fra-
ternal sympathy. I hope this church will he 
strengthened and renewed. Brother Ilimes' ab-
sence leaves them to be supplied mostly by tran-
sient labors. 
The church in New York is placed in a better 
position to do good, than for years past. Our 
chapel is pleasant and commodious, and furnishes 
a far more comfortable home for the church, and a 
more attractive place for strangers. During my 
absence the church expected to have enjoyed the 
labors of brother G. W. Burnham part of the time, 
but were disappointed by his ill health. Brother 
S. H. Geers, (who resides here, and who is deprived 
of the privilege of laboring in the gospel regularly, 
by an affection of the throat,) though called on 
unexpectedly, supplied the place of brother B. 
the first Sabbath to very good acceptance, and we 
can but regret that this brother cannot be in the 
field of labor. Brother Edwin Burnham being 
telegraphed of his brother's inabilty to preach, 
came to the aid of the church, and preached the 
second Sabbath, and several evenings in the week. 
His subjects were mostly prophetical and gave es-
pecial interest, as our unsettled state during the 
summer, and my incessant labors in the erection 
of our chapel had prevented my lecturing on the 
prophecies. His discourse on the " Eastern ques-
tion " was appreciated at this time, when the na-
tions seem rallying for the " battle of that great 
day." Brother Osler supplied our brethren two 
Sabbaths and during the week, and was listened 
to with deep interest. His discourses were awak-
ening and highly practical. Brother H. L. Hast-
ings also preached one evening—a practical dis-
course, and very acceptable. 
The meetings are now well attended on the Sab-
bath. Many strangers come in, and I think we 
have reasoji to hope for good to be done this win-
ter. The Sabbath school is increasing in numbers 
and interest. Oh ! that God may bless us here. 
My heart goes out for the recovery of the backslid-
den, and the conversion of sinners to God. Let us 
all gird ourselves anew for our work of love, and 
endeavor while the Lord waits, to " pull sinners 
out of the fire." We have no time to lie upon our 
oars ! No time to sleep upon our arms ! We need 
all the energy which we can command, all the 
resolution which we can rally, all the faith which 
we can exercise, and all the love which we can 
cherish, for these times. 
Oh ! how blessed it is to be harnessed for our 
work ; to feel our souls inspired, not with secta- 
rian zeal and narrow, selfish bigotry, but with love 
to God and man ! Brethren in the ministry, let us 
enlarge our hearts with love ! Let us labor for 
immediate results ! Let us pray much for each 
other ! 
L. D. MANSFIELD. 
Dec. 5th, 1853. 
THE ADVENT HERALD. 
415 
evil—have become in no measure modified by my 
sojourn in its midst. 
I preached once to a colored congregation (by 
their particular request)—found those who were 
Christians received the word joyfully ; and with 
them I rejoice that the day is soon coming when 
the jubilee's trump will be sounded and all wrongs 
will be righted. 
" Savour, hasten thine appearing ; 
Bring, Oh bring the glorious day !" 
Oct. 5th.—Took boat at St. Louis for Warsaw, 
Ill., about one hundred and fifty miles north, 
where I arrived after a ride of thirty-six hours, 
having been aground no less than three times on 
account of the extreme shallowness of the water at 
this season of the year. Aside from tardiness the 
journey was a pleasant one. The Mississippi Are-
s nits a d'a, rsified and oftentimes the most exqui-
sitely beautiful scenery. Now is seen the bold 
bluff, rising as on palisades, a mighty barrier of 
nature, and a fac simile of the rocky heights of the 
Hudson. I was particularly struck with this like-
ness some twenty miles above the city of Alton. 
Then again is seen the far-stretching prairie ; al-
though usually the river is skirted by a most ma-
jestic forest. Unlike the turbid and rapid Mis-
souri—its waters are gently flowing and its surface 
placid ; so that whether viewed when blessed by 
the queen of heaven, and reflecting the twinkling 
light of the ten thousand gems that bestud the dia-
dem of night, or when reflecting the purer and se-
rene light of the broad blue sky at mid-day, it pre-
sents to the weary traveller one of the most charm-
ing panoramas that I fancy it is possible to find on 
a sin cursed earth. I should also remark that it 
is very numerously interspersed with beautiful 
islands. It is a mighty river, commensurate with 
the valley that bears its name. 
Scattered some of those fearless advocates—Ad-
vent tracts, as I was wont to do, and as usual had 
the pleasure of seeing them seized and read with 
avidity by the passengers and crew. 
Oct. Rh.—Arrived, and the same evening com-
menced labor with the church of Somerset, Han-
cock county, Ill. Continued to labor with this 
church until the twentieth, except to preach twice 
during the meantime to the church of St. Albans, 
and had as the happy result, the pleasure of seeing 
two added to the last-named church, and ten to the 
former. The church seemed much revived, and 
the community not a little starred up to hear on 
the great truth of the soon coming and kingdom of 
our Lord Jesus Christ ; not a few coming five and 
seven miles, night after night. The weather being 
propitious, our tabernacle was filled to overflowing, 
and the season to myself was most refreshing. It 
seemed to me the prospect was of a most glorious 
revival and a rich harvest of precious souls, when 
previous engagements compelled me to leave ; but 
my joy was, that the great chief Shepherd would 
continue to say to them, " Lo, I am with you." 
Here again I enjoyed the pleasure of feeling that 
the Lord our God is glorious in all his works. I 
do not remember to have ever conceived in my im-
agination anything like the silent but majestic 
beauty of a prairie in a calm moonlight night. I 
fancy imagination cannot paint it, and much less 
can language describe it. 
The night clear, the moon in the full, when night 
after night I found it my privilege to ride some dis-
tance on the prairie after the close of the evening 
service. A vast expanse of land—nothing but 
land—stretches itself far out before you ; the 
Prairie wind has now become but the soft fanning 
zephyr ; the vast, high dome of heaven is above 
you, no cloud is to be seen and the stars sing joy-
fully ; the ever-glorious moon going forth in all 
her majesty, singing in solemn silence her vesper 
hymn, sheds her soft but cheerly light around you 
—r.o echo is heard on the prairie, all is calm and 
serene as thoughts of paradise. 
All is silent, yet all is song—nature is harmo-
nious. 
The heavens smile, the earth seems glad, and all 
nature is attuned to sing the one harmonious and 
and mighty song of praise to the Lord most high. 
Such a scene to me is most delightful, most im-
pressive. But alas ! I am reminded that although 
nature would sing and indeed does sing, it is but 
in the minor key—it is the dirge of man's mor-
tality and earth's inconstancy. We are told by the 
apostle that the earth with the whole creation 
GROANS. And Oh! how oft does she open her char-
nel-house doors at the bidding of the monster 
Death. And how oft is she bedewed with the 
tears of the bereaved ! Ah ! it is indeed " a 
strange land." But I am reminded that if nature 
with the curse can appear at times thus glorious, 
what will be the Elysian fields of paradise, when 
comes the glorious " restitution of all things !" 
" Oh may thy kingdom come ! 
All power and dominion ; 
Bring now the faithful home 
On bright seraphic pinion— 
We're tired, Oh, come and take us home, 
And give us crowns of glory— 
We feel like those who weary roam 
About some ruin hoary." 
P. B. MORGAN. 
LETTER FROM BREWERTON, N. Y. 
BRO. BLISS :-1[ have had a good encouraging 
time around my large circuit, this last tour.—
There is a good interest awakened here—some 
seeking the Lord, backsliders returning, and a 
prospect of a good work. I go from here to Seneca 
Falls, Auburn, and Homer for extra meetings, and 
then protracted meetings at Batavia, Lockport, 
Lewiston, and Buffalo, if the Lord and brethren 
arrange. This I think for the winter will accom-
plish more than a Sabbath in a place. The friends 
in those places seem arising, and interested to sus-
tain preaching, and if two or three good helpers 
will come into this field this winter or spring, we 
can assure them a support, and a warm and hearty 
reception, and they may do good. Let them come 
and see us, or correspond with us by letter. 
The definite time of '54. The 1335 days run out 
17th of May, '54, as arranged by them—forty-five 
years from the decree of Napoleon abolishing the 
Pope's civil power. 
OBJECTIONS. 
The great contest of Dan. 11:40-45 as applied 
by them to Russia and Turkey, is unfulfilled, and 
unlikely to be, and, to a moral certainty, will not be 
before then. It cannot be without miracles. 
The sixth vial is being poured out, both they 
and we admit. And it is not yet fuly accomplished, 
for under it " the unclean spirits go to the kings 
of the earth and whole world, to gather them to 
that great day and battle of God Almighty." And 
he (or they) gathered them into A PLACE called 
Armageddon—" Mountain of Megiddo "—because 
it is the only "place " so called. This is not done 
yet, nor is there any prospect that the kings of the 
whole world will be, before the 17th of next May, 
or June either. It is scarcely credible or possible, 
and unworthy intelligent, candid faith. 
The ten horns of the beast of the 17th of Reve-
lation were to hate the whore and eat her flesh and 
make her naked and burn her with fire. This 
might be done, but there is not much probability 
that it will be before next May—there is more 
probability of it before '56, but we have no cer-
tainty. 
About " some of the ancient fathers making 
Christ's crucifixion 38 or 40," and trying there-
by to unhinge and unsettle all chronology. As 
the error of " our great men " I would not no-
tice it, if it were not that one of " our great men " 
would thereby lead us into error, and none of our 
great men have noticed it in the Herald. None 
of " the fathers," I think, put the crucifixion so 
late as 40 or 38, beginning his birth so late as 
thecommon era, as those do who make our Lord 
only thirty-three years of age at his death.—
They all, I think, place his birth earlier, and varied 
in the time of the crucifixion only from one to three 
years. Indeed, how could they, for it was under 
Tiberius and Pontius Pilate, and there has never 
been only about that time of doubt or controversy, 
concerning the time of their government ceasing, 
and I don't believe there can be found a solitary 
authority of the fathers, or modern chronologists 
either, for putting the death of Christ more than 
three years later than the common era, and but 
very slight authority for that. We call for any 
such proof from either. We wish not to be led 
into error by either " great" or little men—it is 
equally injurious from both. Will the candid 
and intelligent weigh these four things? 
Yours in the " blessed hope," 
Dec. 12th, 1853. 
D. I. ROBINSON. 
LETTER FROM LAWRENCE, Mass. 
BRO. BLISS :—I wish to express to you the satis-
faction which we feel in the course of the Her-
ald in regard to the question of the definite time 
of the Advent. 
Occupying the position which we do--looking 
for the coining of our Lord, with the best of rea-
sons for believing him to be " near, even at the 
door," and rejoicing in the hope of speedy redemp-
tion ; it is no marvel if Satan should take ad-
vantage of these holy affections which induce in 
us a disposition to heed the signs which mark the 
season of the Advent and so arrange and explain 
them, or cause them to be so arranged and ex-
plained in connection with the prophetic numbers 
as to induce in many a strong expectation of seeing 
Jesus at an earlier period than those signs and 
numbers do indicate he will come when correctly 
understood. It would be difficult, I know, to con-
vince many of our brethren and sisters that Satan 
would be engaged in so holy a cause as that of 
proclaiming the coming and kingdom of Christ 
nigh at hand ; much more difficult would it be to 
convince them that Satan would use the prophetic 
numbers and the signs to demonstrate the fact that 
these events are just before us. But if, by any 
means, he can cause them to be so arranged and 
applied as to beget in some so much confidence 
that Christ will come in a given year, that in the 
event of his coming before or after the year in 
which they looked for him to come their confidence 
in the Bible would be at once and forever destroyed, 
is it not obvious, so far as they are concerned, that 
his (Satan's) success would be just as complete as 
it would have been had he have attacked and cap-
tivated them by any of his wiles? It seems to me 
that it would be well for us to constantly bear in 
mind the fact that when Satan leads away captive 
any of God's chosen ones—it results generally 
from his having transformed himself into an an-
gel of light.. And that being possessed of such 
power he has many times persuaded men into a 
belief that Christ had come the second time.—
Many have come saying, I am Christ, and have de-
ceived many. And, doubtless, many more will be 
deceived by him. Our only safety is in taking 
" heed to the sure word of prophecy." It is by 
a want of attention to what the prophets have 
spoken concerning the coming and kingdom of 
Christ that so many become followers of that which 
is not good. If Adventists had given that atten-
tion to the prophecies which it was their duty to 
have done, we feel quite certain that one S. S. Snow 
would have found but few among them to sympa-
thize with his theory of definite time for the Ad-
vent. And when we hear many good brethren de-
fending the position which was then maintained 
by him, and by those who through him were 
deceived, affirming that this deception is entirely 
right, and that they do not repent that they fol 
lowed him out on time, because by so doing the 
Scriptures were fulfilled, we are painfully im-
pressed with a sense of the importance which at-
tached to the apostolic injunction that we do well 
to take heed to the more sure word of prophecy. 
If brethren would heed the prophecies they would 
understand that it was obviously their duty to 
confide in them though our Lord come this year or 
in '55, or '56. And that instead of making such 
chronological data as is employed by some to prove 
that our Lord will come next year the basis of our 
confidence in God's word, we should believe it be-
cause of its own intrinsic merits, and take heed 
to it " until " 1855, and then if the Lord have 
not come reproach ourselves for having believed it ! 
Or shall we not rather take heed to it " until the 
day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts ?" 
The 
wise will understand which course will be the saf-
est. That some place such unwarranted confidence 
in their theory of the definite time of the advent 
as to make it a test of the truthfulness of God's 
word, is a fact of which I suppose you have long 
since been advised. And it is because of the suc-
cesful manner in which the Herald has shown 
the untenableness of data claimed (by our breth-
ren who are advocating the doctrine—" The Lord's 
coming next year,") for the commencement of the 
1260 and 1290 years, that I write you this letter of 
thanks. Being very warmly attached to many who 
have been more or less affected by brother Berick's 
arrangement of calculations on the prophetic pe-
riods, we feel truly gratful for important informa-
tion in regard to those calculations, which we 
have gained by reading your articles, in the recent 
numbers of the Herald, on the question of " the 
definite time " &c. And we hope you will be am-
ply rewarded for the pains which you have taken 
to enlighten us on this very interesting subject. 
With much Christian affection I remain your 
brother in Christ, 
W. H. F. 
Letter from Hamilton. 
BRO. HIMES :—There are still a few here who ap-
preciate the paper as a herald of the soon coming 
Saviour. All that we know about the prosperity 
of the cause we ascertain through the Herald. The 
doctrine of the Second Advent is becoming less and 
less a subject of conversation. My own mind has 
become impressed with the thought that something 
must be done. What is likely to be the future 
history of the cause of our coming Lord ? is his 
coming near? do we believe it? if so what is our 
duty ? shall we remain as we are at present, or 
shall we make new efforts to raise the standard 
which has fallen in many places ? 
I am glad that brother Himes has been permit-
ted to visit some portions of the field, and encour-
age the hearts of the brethren, and strengthen their 
hands. And some other brother has pledged him-
self to procure supplies for as many destitute places 
as he can. These are indications that something 
may yet he done. I would suggest one thing, let 
every believer in the Advent near, contribute of their 
substance as the Lord has prospered them. Let 
the laborers go forth. 
I feel now like putting my hand to the plough, 
and so soon as I hear that such an arrangement is 
established I shall send according to the rule given 
in the Word. I hope that this subject will receive 
special attention. The West has long been left 
without a living ministry, with few exceptions, 
and should there not be some other agency than 
has been employed The truth must be brought 
before the people by those who are capable of ex-
pounding it, or the consequence certainly will fol-
low, namely, the truth will have but little effect 
even upon those who believe. Even we ourselves 
have need to have our minds stirred up, and our 
faith strengthened. 
Your sister, in behalf of the friends of Hamil- 
ton and Rossville, LOUISA S. PHARES. 
New Worits.—Just Published. 
" MEMOIRS OF WILLIAM MILLER."-430 pp. 12 mo 
Price, in plain binding, $1,00 
Postage, when sent by mail, if pre-paid, 20 cts. 
" PHENOMENA OF THE RAPPING SPIRITS."—With 
this title, we shall issue in a tract form the thirty-
two pages of the Commentary on the Apocalypse,—
from p. 254 to 286—which treats of the " Unclean 
Spirits " of Rev. 16:13, 14. It comprises only 
what was given in the former pamphlet with this 
title from pages 22 to 54, which is all that was es-
sential to the argument then given, and will be 
sent by mail and postage pre-paid 100 copies for 
$3, 30 for $1. Without paying postage, we will 
send 100 copies for $2,50, or 36 for $1. Single 
copies 4 cts. 
A NEW TRACT ON THE " TIME OF THE ADVENT."—
This tract is now ready. It contains resolutions 
of the General Conference of Adventists at Salem, 
and also of Canada East on the question of time, 
together with an article on knowing the time, and 
the duty of watchfulness. A very important tract 
for circulation at this time. $1,50 per hundred, 
two cts. single. Send in your orders without de-
lay. Let it be circulated. 
"THE ETERNAL HOME. Strange Facts, confirming the Truth of bite 
Bible. Lot's Wife a Pillar of Salt. Daniel's Tomb. Records of the 
Israelites, or the Rocks in the Wilderness of Sinai. Ruins of Nine-
veh. Spiritual Manifestations. The Restitution, Lake of Fire," &c. 
Published by J. LITCH, No. 45 North Eleventh 
street, Philadelphia. In marble covers. For sale 
at this office. Price 6 cts. 
AYER'S PILLS. 
For all the Purposes of a Family Physic. 
THERE has long existed a public demand for an effective purgative 
pill which could be relied on as sure and perfectly safe in its opera-
tion. This has been prepared to meet that demand, and an exten-
sive trial of its virtues has conclusively shown with what success it 
accomplishes the purpose designed. lt, is easy to make a physical 
pill, but not easy to make the best of all pills—one which should 
have none of the objections, but all the advantages, of every other. 
This has been attempted here, and with what success we would re-
spectfully submit to the public decision. It has been unf ,rtunate 
for the patient hitherto, that almost every purgative meolicii acri- 
monious and irritating to the bowels. This is not. Mat y f dam 
produce so much griping pain and revulsion in the system as to 
more than counterbalance the good to be derived from them. These 
pills produce no irritation or pain, unless it arise from a previously-
existing obstruction or derangement in the bowels. Being purely 
vegetable, no harm can arise from their use in any quantity ; but it 
is better that any medicine should be taken judiciously. Minute di-
rections for their use in the several diseases to which they are appli-
cable are given on the box. Among the complaints which have been 
speedily cured by them, we may mention Liver Complaint, in its 
various forms of Jaundice, Indigestion, Languor and Loss of Appe-
tite, Listlessness, Irritability, Bilious Headache, Bilious Fever, Fe-
ver and Ague, Pain in the Side and Loins ; for, in truth, all these 
are but the consequence of diseased action in the liver. As an ape-
rient, they afford prompt and sure relief in Costiveness, Piles, Colic, 
Dysentery, Humors, Scrofula and Scurvy, Colds with soreness of the 
body, Ulcers and impurity of the blood ; in short, any and every 
case where a purgative is required. 
They have also produced some singularly successful cures in 
Rheumatism, Gout, Dropsy, Gravel, Erysipelas, Palpitation of the 
Heart, Pains in the Back, Stomach, and Side. They should he freely 
taken in the spring of the year, to purify the blood and prepare the 
system for the change of seasons. An occasional dose stimulates 
the stomach and bowels into healthy action, and restores the appe-
tite and vigor. They purify the blood, and, by their stimulant ac-
tion on the circulatory system, renovate the strength of the body, 
and restore the wasted or diseased energies of the whole organism. 
Hence an occasional dose is advantageous, even though no serious 
derangement exists ; but unnecessary dosing should never be car-
ried too far, as every purgative medicine reduces the strength, when 
taken to excess. The thousand cases in which a physic is required 
cannot be enumerated here, but they suggest themselves to the rea-
son of everybody ; and it is confidently believed this pill will an-
swer a better purpose than anything which has hitherto been availa-
ble to mankind. When their virtues are once known, the public 
will no longer doubt what remedy to employ when in need of a ca-
thartic medicine. 
Prepared by JAMES C. AYER, Practical and Analytical Chem-
ist, Lowell, Mass. Price, 25 cents per box ; five boxes for $1. 
Ayer's Cherry Pectoral, 
For the rapid cure of Coughs, Colds, hoarseness, 
Bronchitis, Whooping-cough, Croup, 
Asthma, and Consumption. 
This remedy has won for itself such notoriety from its cures of ev 
ery variety of pulmonary disease, that it is entirely unnecessary to 
recount the evidences of its virtues in any community where it has 
been employed. So wide is the field of its usefulness, and so nu-
merous the cases of its cures, that almost every section of the coun-
try abounds in persons publicly known, who have been restored from 
alarming and even desperate diseases of the lungs by its use. When 
once tried, its superiority over every other medicine of its kind is 
too apparent to escape observation, and where its virtues are known, 
the public no longer hesitate what antidote to employ for the dis-
tressing and dangerous affections of the pulmonary organs which 
are incident to our climate. And not, only in formidable attacks 
upon the lungs, but for the milder varieties of Colds, Coughs, 
Hoarseness, &c. ; and for Children it is the pleasantest and safest 
medicine that can be obtained. 
As it has long been in constant use throughout this section, we 
need not do more than assure the people its qualtity is kept up to 
the best that it ever has been, and that the genuine article is sold by 
J. BARNRT, Boston, and by all Druggists everywhere. [d. 
ed, with an earnestness that proves her sincerity, 
the opening of a conference either at Paris or Lon-
don, in order to regulate finally the affairs of the 
East. Should the project be acceptable to the four 
powers, Russia and Turkey will be invited each to 
send a representative to lay before the Conference 
their respective grievances. According to the best 
informed sources Austria's line of conduct will be 
something like this. 
" If this last eflbrt in favor of a settlement does 
not succeed, Austria will consider herself freed 
from her engagements to Russia, and will remain 
neutral, even if that neutrality shall favor the 
Porte ; and if the conference Austria proposes, 
shall succeed in obtaining concessions from Turkey 
to Russia, Austria expects that Russia will accept 
it as payment in full for aid in the Hungarian 
war. This statement is the more probably correct, 
that we have rumors confirmatory of it from Lon-
don and Paris, with the additional-report that the 
conference was actually decided upon by Britain 
and France. 
" Austria in the meantime continues active in 
concentrating an army on the Transylvanian fron-
tier. It is placed under the command of General 
Schlick, whose head quarters are at Klausenberg. 
" THE SPIRITUAL LIFE : A sermon preached at 
the funeral of Frances Elizabeth Stowe, of Hamp-
ton, N. I. A student of Troy Conference Acade-
my, who died Oct. 12th, 1853. By Rev. Jason F. 
Walker, A. M., Principal of the Academy. Rut-
land : Printed at Tuttle & Co.'s Book & Job Office. 
1853." 
A copy of the above has been sent us with the 
request that we review it, and show wherein its 
doctrine militates against that of the resurrection. 
We find very little in it to review. The sermon 
is very well written, so far as its rhetoric is con-
cerned. But it presents no array of facts, or of 
Scriptural testimony, for the reviewer to analyze 
and show the unsoundness of a theory based on it. 
It presents a view of the other state which its au-
thor has imagined, without presenting evidence 
that it is sustained by facts, any more than exist 
to prove the truthfulness of the hopes of the Mo-
hammedan, the Polytheist, or Pantheist. 
We should judge by the sentiment of the dis-
course that the writer is half Swedenborgian, and 
half Spiritualist (tile rappers)—his views being 
such as are held by those sectaries. His views 
militate against the doctrine of the resurrection, 
inasmuch as it applies to death expressions and 
texts, which the Scriptures apply only to the res-
urrection from the dead. Also it treats death as 
a finality, makes no provision for the resurrection, 
and thus virtually ignores that great and last 
change. A view which dispenses with the resur-
rection, is as unscriptural as that which denies it. 
MINISTERS' CONFERENCE.—A meeting of the mem-
bers of this Association will be held Jan. 3d, 
(Tuesday,) at Newburyport, Mass., commencing 
at 10 o'clock, A. m., and continuing till Friday 
evening. It is desirable that all the members 
should be present. There will be preaching every 
evening, and perhaps afternoons, during the ses-
sion of the Conference. 
J. PEARSON, JR., See. 
THE semi-annual Conference of Adventists of Northern Illinois will 
be held (Providence permitting) with the church in Clinton, De 
Kalb county, in the school- house four miles north-east of Shah-
bona Grove P. O., commencing Friday, Dec. 30th, and hold over 
the following Sabbath. Elders Chapman, Cummins, and others 
are expected to break to us the bread of life. Come, brethren 
and sisters, in the name of our soon corning King, to this feast of 
tabernacles, praying for the outpouring of the holy Spirit upon 
us. Provision will he made for all who come. There will be a 
supply of Harps and other Advent publications at the conference. 
In behalf of the committee. N. W. SPENCER, Scc'y. 
THE General Conference for Central New York, Providence permit-
ting, will be held in the Second Advent chapel in homer, com-
mencing Wednesday evening, Jan. 4th next, and continuing over 
the Sabbath.. Meetings for conference, preaching, and divine ser-
vices generally, of especial interest to all who "love the appear-
ing " of our Lord and Saviour jest's Christ, every forenoon, after-
noon, and evening. Elder D. I. Robinson is engaged to be pres-
ent. We trust that Advent friends in Central New York and 
elsewhere, as far as convenient, will attend. The services will con-
tinue after the 8th, as the interest may require. Homes for stran-
gers.—H. H. Gmoss. 
I WILL hold protracted meetings at the following places, each com-
mencing on Thursday, at 6 o'clock P. at., and holding over the 
Sabbath, viz.—At Woodstock, Vt., Jan. 15th ; Caldwell's Manor, 
Jan. 22d ; Isle Lainott, Jan. 29th ; Champlain, Feb. 5th. Broth 
reit west of Champlain wishing me to visit them, will address me 
at Champlain, N. Y., until Feb. Stli.—L ADRIAN. 
ADVENT HERALD. 
BOSTON, DECEMBER 24, 1853. 
44 ANALYSIS OF SACRED CHRONOLOGY ; with the 
Elements of Chronology ; and the numbers of the 
Hebrew text vindicated." By S. Bliss. Published 
at this office. 
We find the following unsolicited notice of this 
work, from the pen of a clergyman in Hartford, 
Ct., in the Religious Herald, published in that 
city. The book was prepared for just such an 
emergency as the present, and an extensive circu-
lation of it at this time, would be a help to many 
who for the want of a little chronological informa-
tion are liable to be deceived by false and specious 
pretences. 
" This is a very valuable contribution to our 
list of works to aid in the study of the Scriptures, 
by our former fellow-citizen. No subject is less 
understood, or more necessary to a proper under-
standing of the sacred text, than this of Chronolo-
gy. We commend tile work to all ministers, Bible-
Class teachers, and whoever desires to study the 
Bible. Mr. Bliss has here abridged into a small 
compass all the more valuable results of the larger 
works of Hales, Usher and others. With admira-
ble skill he has examined, compared, and chosen 
from the great writers upon Scripture Chronology. 
There is moreover, in a small compass a great 
amount of original study. In such a book a man's 
labors are not appreciated. It is a little treatise 
you can get for thirty-seven and a half cents and 
it is worth six months' study—cheap reading for 
so long a time." 
The New York Evangelist denominated it, " a 
succinct arrangement of Bible• history, according 
to the chronology of Dr. Hales, and well adapted 
to give clearness to its incomparable narratives. 
The plan of the work strikes us as ingenious—as 
most assuredly its object is excellent." 
 
(From the Congregationalist.) 
" The object of this work, is to arrange the 
Chronology of Scripture events, so that the sub-
ject may be easily studied. In the language of 
the preface an original feature of this analysis 
is the presenting in full, and in chronological or-
der, the words of inspiration, which have a bear-
ing on the time of the events and predictions 
therein recorded.' The work bears evidence of 
much labor, and may he used with much profit by 
the student of the Bible." 
(From Zion's Herald.) 
" It is a brief but thorough outline of the science 
—defining all its technicalities, and introducing 
the unlearned reader to quite a comprehensive view 
of it." 
(from Lord's Literary and Theological Journal.) 
" This brief epitome of the Chronology of the 
Scriptures, furnishes a large amount of useful in-
formation in respect to the times of the persons 
and occurrences that are mentioned in the Bible." 
W. H. EASTMAN and I. II. SHIPMAN willhold meetings at Waterbury, 
Vt., Dee. 29ch, evening, and at Bristol, 30th, do., and continue as 
long as thought best. 
1=NIMMIEGI 
BUSINESS DEPARTMENT. 
BUSINESS NOTES. 
H. Jackman—Y 
Y. G. is paid to No. 84—May 1st. 
M. A. Ober, $2—Sent tracts, and credit balance on paper to No. 
724—the book not being out. 
C. Lawson, $1 to 692. The former credit should have been 669. 
We have no such maps. 
E. Parker—Received. 
I. H. Shipman—Sent you books the 16th by Cheney & Co. 
B. Webb 
J. N. Nutter, $2—It pays your Y. G. (two copies) ftom No. 72 to 
96, the tracts, and Herald to No. 693. 
fr. Ingmire—Sent you hooks for Mrs. II. Smith the 19th. 
D. B. Winslow—Sent you books to Benezett by mail the 19th. 
C. F. Luce—Sent you books to Caledonia by mail the 19th. 
 
aszisse
771" 
416 
THE ADVENT HERALD. 
Contents of this No. 
Moral Epidemics 
 409 Letter from D. Bosworth.... 413 
I say unto You, Watch 409 " " New York .. 414, 414 
Chronological Table of Events 
connected with the Papacy 410 
The Discussion 
" " Illinois 
413, 
 414 
414 
Parting Words on the Study 
" " Brewerton, N. Y. 415 
of Prophecy 
 411 " " Lawrence, Mass. 415 
Epidemics • 411 " " Hamilton 415 
The Prophecy of Isaiah 412 Foreign News 
416 
" Berean's " Reply to Elder New Year's Gift to the Herald 416 
Adrian 
 412 
" ON the 25th, the Turks advanced from Kalafat, 
12 English miles towards Krajova, and formed an 
entrenched camp for 8000 men. Large bodies of 
men at the same time passed up, and others down 
the Danube. On the 26th, the Turks constructed 
a bridge between Rustchuk and the Island of Mok- 
nan. The Island remains in possession of the 
Turks, notwithstanding the statement that they 
had been dislodged by Russian artillery, under 
General Formosoff. They had also resisted all the 
attempts of the Russians to drive them from their 
position below Hirsova, at the confluence of the 
Talonitza and the Danube. Letters from Galatz 
mention that the 4th and 5th Russian reserve corps 
are in movement. They have left Bessarabia, and 
are about to enter Wallachia. The whole of the 
army now in Poland is to be sent to the Principali- 
ties, and drafts from the Russian garrisons, to-
gether with a portion of the Imperial guard, will 
garrison Poland. 
" The following is given as authentic : On the 
night of the 21st November the Turks forced the 
Russians to quit the island opposite Giurgevo. 
Two attempts were made by the Russians to retake 
the island, but they were repulsed. In the second 
attack the Russians showed signs of cowardice, 
and had to be forced into the Turkish fire. Be-
tween seven and eight o'clock in the morning of 
the 24th the Russians retook the island. During 
the night of the 25th the Turks made a night at-
tack, but were unsuccessful. The passage of the 
river by the Russians at this point is out of the 
question. The pontoons, (quere, Russian or Turk-
ish ?) have all been sent to Hirsova, to connect 
the numerous islands with the right bank of the 
river. 
" In Asia, the Turks have not only:defended suc-
cessfully the Fort St. Nicholas, but have captured 
the fortresses of Usurghetli and Souchum Kaleh. 
Souchum Kaleh is a large fortress of the first class, 
considerably to the north-west of Redout Kaleh, 
and its capture shows that the Turkish forces are 
making decided progress in the exact direction 
which renders the Russian frontier in the Caucasus 
less secure than ever. We await with anxiety the 
details which the mail will bring of the taking of 
this important stronghold. 
" A subscription opened at Smyrna to purchase 
horses for the Turkish army, amounted in a few 
days to 260,000 piastres. 
" Tile latest accounts from the Danube announce 
that a large body of Cossacks having passed the 
river above Turtukai during the night, to reconnoi-
tre, were surprised by the Turks and cut to pieces. 
" Beyond this item the latest editions of the 
morning papers contained nothing fresh from the 
seat of war. Commenting on the news of the 
march of the whole Polish army to the principali-
ties, and their replacement by the Imperial Guard 
and Invalids, the Paris correspondent of the Times 
says: If this be true, it shows a determination on 
the part of the Emperor Nicholas to push the war 
with the utmost vigor, and it at the same time 
Proves that the troops which were to have rein- 
forced Prince Gortschakoff 's army have been other-
wise disposed of. After what has transpired as to 
the war now raging in the Caucasus, there can be 
little doubt as to where these trcops have been 
sent. 
" A private letter from Vienna on the 29th ult., 
states that as soon as the Hungarian General 
Klapka arrived at Constantinople, M. de Bruck, 
the Austrian Minister, addressed a formal protest 
to the Divan against the employment of that offi-
cer in the Turkish army of Europe. 
" It is stated on good authority that the French 
Government has received the answer of the Empe- 
ror Nicholas to the last of the pacific propositiohs 
which have emanated from Austria. In that an-
swer the Czar declares that he cannot accept of any 
project of arrangement that does not issue direct 
from Turkey, and that henceforth the fate of arms 
must decide the question. Private letters from 
St. Petersburg describe the Emperor as greatly ir- 
ritated by the late events in the East, and they de-
clare, on the authority of those best acquainted with 
his intentions, that he will not now enter into any 
negotiations or listen to any proposition for a com-
promise." 
We have an important statement in regard to 
the position and future intentions of Austria : 
" It is stated that Austria, becoming each day 
more embarrassed by the position in which her re-
lations with Russia have placed her, has demand- 
THE "YOUTH'S GUIDE" is published the first week in each month 
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CONTENTS OF THE NOV. NO. 
J. M. ORROCK will preach in Lawrenceville, C. E., Dec. 26th ; Mel-
bourne, 31st, and Sunday, Jan. 1st ; Brompton, 4th ; and West 
Hatley, 5th. Evening meetings at 6 o'clock. 
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PLEASE publish in the Herald the following notice :—Edwin Burn-
ham will commence a meeting at Alton Centre, N. II., on Thurs-
day, Dec. '29th, and continue over the Sabbath.—Cads. ROLLINS 
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N. BILLINGS will preach at Truro, Mass., the first Sabbath in Jan. 
NOTIOE.—The Advent Mission and Tract Society of Addison and 
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n 
G. T 
New Year's Gift to the Herald. 
To the Patrons and Friends of the Advent Herald : 
The year draws to a close, and we shall soon open 
a new year and a new volume of our old, long-
cherished friend and weekly visitor the Advent 
_Herald. We have been cheered on our journey 
from week to week, with the tidings it has brought 
us from the four quarters of the earth ; and we 
have also been fed by the expositions of God's 
Word which have come to us in its richly laden 
pages. To all human appearance the coming year 
is to be more fruitful in events of a stirring char-
acter, than any that has preceded it ; events af-
fecting the great interests of the human race, and 
stirring up the deep foundations of society. Al-
though I am unable to see with some of my breth-
ren on the prophetic times, yet I do live in constant 
expectation of great political changes which will 
usher in the day of the Lord, and give us definite 
data for fixing the prophetic periods. And I an-
ticipate for the Herald a career of greater useful-
ness than ever before, and that its weekly visits 
will be more welcome to its readers as time rolls 
on. I have a great deal I wish to say through its 
columns, and I judge it is the same with my breth-
ren. 
Let us then make a united and vigorous effort to 
increase the number of subscribers to commence 
the new volume. If each subscriber would obtain 
cne as a New Year's present to the office, it would 
place the paper on a footing where it could greatly 
enlarge its sphere of usefulness. We need and 
must have a paper, and it should be the aim of all 
to make it as good as possible and have its useful-
ness as widely extended as it can be. Let us then 
make a united effort at once, and see what can be 
done. I have found during the last six months a 
number, whom I had not before expected would 
subscribe who have readily done so on the first 
mention of the subject to them ; and I doubt not 
others will do the same if sought out. Now is the 
time to be active in the work, just at the com- 
mencement of the volume. J. LITCH. 
FOREIGN NEWS. 
Michael the Miner. 
Avoid Bad Company. 
Ingratitude. 
An Interesting Experiment. 
Hints to Teachers. 
Little John Brown. 
Sodom Destroyed. 
How He Got a Place. 
Artless Simplicity. 
The Child's Comfort. 
FITCH'S, MONUMENT. 
Cost of Monument 
 75 00 
Total received 
 40 00 
Appointments, &e. 
"Youth's Guide." 
The Most Unhappy. - 
Wills, Won'ts, and Can'ts. 
Hard to be Good. 
Saved by a Coon Skin. 
He Tilts Us Over. 
The Frog. 
Come, Children, Come. 
Christian Heroism. 
Knocked Back. 
A Puzzle, Enigmas, &c. 
PROVIDENCE permitting, I expect to attend a meeting at New Hamp-
ton, N. IL. the first Sabbath in January. The meeting will be held 
at brother E.,Pike's, unless he can obtain a more convenient place. 
The second Sabbath in January I expect to hold a meeting at the 
Baptist meeting-house in Danbury, N. IL—T. M. PBEBLE.