VOLUME IV.  NEW-YORK,  THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1843.  Nos. 7 & 8.  
a. ^ it PU, _ ^ that may run ** ^ , Pf ^PP^- at en* U sUatt Spea, an, not He 5 it wait for , =  
JOSHUA V. II1MES,  Publisher.  WEEKLY-NO. PARK-ROW.  N. SOUTHARD, Editor.  
THE MIDNIGHT CRY,  
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY,  
BY 3 V. IIIMES,  
3 6 PARK ROW, N E W-Y 0 R K.  
(Brick Church Chapel.)  
TERMS-ONE DOLLAR PER. VOLUME OF 26 NOS.  
$5 for Six Copies—$10 for Thirteen Copies.  
LECTURES  
Will be continued at the corner of Catharine and Madi- 
son streets each evening (except Saturday) and three  
times on the Sabbath.  
THE CONFERENCE assembled on Monday evening.  
Brother Litch spoke to a  deeply affected audience  
from the third of Philippians. We go to press too 
early to give particulars of the succeeding meetings.  
Next week, the brethren will hold a series of  
meetings at the Chinese Museum in Philadelphia.  
A FAVOR.—Reader, will you grant us this re- 
quest ? Please to commence at the article headed, 
" The Contrast"' and read on in course to the end of  
the version of Daniel II., carefully noticing the cn- 
cumstances of the destruction of the image, and the  
setting up ofthe everlasting kingdom which follows 
it, and then ask yourselves if the modern notion of a  
temporal millennium can be true 1 Remember that 
the populai doctrine on that subject is less than 150 
years old. " Ask for the old paths." Is it not your  
duty to seek the truth, and act upon it 1 Do not slight 
the good sense of Irving's scriptural suggestions on  
account of the stories you may have heard of his ec-
centricities.  
TRANSLATIONS.—Wre give various versions of the  
original texts in our quotations of Scripture, because  
the words of our common translation do not always  
convey to us the meaning with such clearness and  
vividness as a more modern phraseology. We usually  
give the names of translators. The second chapter of 
Daniel is prepared for this paper by Brother N. N.  
Whiting, whose knowledge, industry, and scrupulous  
adherence to the original, render his labors peculiarly 
acceptable.  
FUND S.  
Dear Reader, we are determined to live in the daily  
expectation of meeting Christ. We dare not lay up  
treasures on earth, and we retain but very little of the  
funds received to pay for future numbers, but we feel 
assured that the Lord will enable us to continue the  
Midnight Cry till he comes. The publisher of this paper  
has used his scanty means in supplying calls in the east  
and the west. Those who feel it. a privilege to help us, 
in this central point, that we may continue to give, in an- 
swer to the constant calls for light, are requested to for- 
I ward donations or obtain new subscribers, as they may  
i be able.  
I Brother Miller's health has much improved, and he ex- 
j pects, soon, to visit Massachusetts.  

New York Anniversary Week, May 8, 1843.  
Second Advent Conference and  
jLjBOTromiBs,  
At the Cor. of Catharine § Madison-Streets.  
Lectures each Day at 21 and 1\ P. M.  
Conference and Bible Class at 10 A. M.  
Subjects ofthe JLectures,  
Besides a general view of the arguments for  
the termination of the prophctic periods in 1843,  
illustrated by a Chart, 8 feel-by 12, the follow- 
ing topics will be presented during the week :  
1. History of the Second Advent caus^.  
2. Tendencies of the doctrine.  
3. Character ofthe opposition, &c.  
4. Duties and dangers of believers in the doctrine.  
5. The Restoration ofthe Jews, according to the flesh,  
unscriptural and absurd.  
6. Spiritual reign of  Christ, unscriptural and absurd.  
7. The influence of Neology upon the faith of the  
Church in the Bible.  
8. The Christian enterpiises of the age, sustained by  
mistaken views.  
9. Effects of modern sects upon Christian character  
and popular respect for the claims of the word of God.  
10. The present condition ofthe world, compared with  
the prophetic description of the " last days."  
11. POPERY:—Its "dominion" gone, but its priests  
and its spirit " prevailing."  
Brethren BARRY & BROWN from N. H.,  
HIMES and HERVEY from Mass., COOK and 
BACHELOR of Conn., WHITING, GATES, MARSH  
and others, of New-York, and LITCH ofPhila. 
are among the speakers.  
'•Behold I come quickly. Biesscd is he that watcheth."  
"The day of Judgment will not be absent above 300 years,"  
wrote Luther, about 1513.  
Books, Papers, Charts, &c.  
I A full assortment of the works of Miller,  
(Litch, Hale, Storrs, Brown, Hervey, Cox,  
Fitch, Bliss, Fleming, and others, at  
PARK ROW,  
(BRICK CHURCH CHAPEL.)  
The MIDNIGHT CRY, a weekly paper,  
I during the last few weeks has given a com- 
prehensive view of our principles. The double 
No. for this week contains a striking contrast 
between the unscriptural modern doctrine of a 
temporal Millennium, and that held by the  
church of Christ for 1(500 years.  
JJJ'Preacliers who may call, supplied gratis.  
« END OF THE WORLD." A large sheet  has been hawked  
about for the last few weeks, entitled, " Illustration of Mil- 
ler's views of the end of the world in 1843 " The sheet is  
compiled entirely from our own illustrations, with the excep- 
tion of a large cut to illustrate the Advent and Ascension.  
In consideration of this last representation, we take this op-
portunity to give our unqualified dissent, to this, or any at- 
tempt to represent by cuts, future scenes of such an awful  
interest, which are beyond the province of mati to delineate.  
I The more thou Anowest, and the better thou under- 
standest, the more grievously shalt thou be judged, un- 
less thy life be the more holy.  

THE CONTRAST.  
We have been long intending to gather together the  
facts illustrating the widely different effects of preach- 
ing the coming of Christ with the millennium, or the 
millennium without the coming of Christ. This paper  
gives a glimpse at the great subject. The " Second  
Advent," at Cleveland furnishes an appropriate intro-
duction, by Bro. E. Wade.  
" Without presuming to pry into the unfore- 
seen future, excepting by the light of divine  
revelation, let us look at the present influences 
of these  two interpretations of prophecy. Christ  
and'the judgment far away, a thousand years 
beyond an indefinite future, and that indefinite 
future to he devoted to war—and the contests  
of ambitious statesmen for wealth and power—  
to improvements in science and the arts—and to 
ameliorating the condition of mankind—and to  
the endeavor to evangelize the heathen ; and 
ih;it thousand years to be spent in the triumphs  
of the church—its peace and prosperity, in a  
world laboring under its Creator's curse of bar- 
renness, sickness, sorrow and death.  
"But this is aside .from my purpose. Let it  
once be understood that those who believex and  
love and obey the Scriptures, do not expect the 
coming of Christ until this" long, uncertain futu- 
rity shall have elapsed, and who will venture to 
predict from it, better fiuits to the church and  
this world than have been gathered in past  
years ? Will the mere worldling,  or the worldly  
professor be likely to loose his grasp upon the  
world—the devoted Christian be less tempted  
to desert his God and trust the world—the  
father less eager to provide for his children and 
his children's children, every means of gratify-
ing vanity, avarice and worldly ambition—the  
proud man to lay aside his arrogancy—the am-
bitious man to scramble less eagerly for the  
honors and titles of this vain world—the avari-
cious man to grind the faces of the poor any the  
less, that he may heap up stores of gold and  
silver, on which to feast his shrivelled heart—  
the man of pleasure less eager to grasp at his  
evanescent enjoyments, and less ready to sacri- 
fice innocence and beauty to his brutal selfish- 
ness—the warrior less ambitious of the slaugh- 
ter of his race, that he may engrave his name 
among those who are to illustrate the page of  
the historian of future ages—the oppressor less  
tenacious of his gripe upon his brother's throat;  
less reckless of trampling under feet the laws  
of God and the rights of nature in the plunder  
of his helpless victim—an arrogant and licen- 
tious priesthood less disposed to lord it over  
God's heritage, in the name of religion—the  
child of ignorance and oppression less disposed  
to envy his more fortunate and wealthy neigh-
bor : or the proud lordling less eager to spoil,  
in the name of law and government, his ignor- 
ant and impoverished fellow-worm?  
" Those who predict all these things, look  
for a change far more wonderful than that an- 
ticipated by those who now expect the advent  
1 49  
y


of their King and Lord, to ' take vengeance on  
those who know not God, and obey not the gos-
pel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' They look for a  
'new thing under the sun,' some new and mys-
terious move of the Almighty on the hearts of  
the '  children of disobedience ;' and surely they  
ought to show us where, in the book of God, 
this ' strange work' is foreshown. If this doc- 
trine is plainly revealed in the Bible, then we  
are to receive it with humble trust in God, that  
it is right; and every child of God will rejoice 
to do so, though he cannot see the reasons  
which move upon the benevolent heart of the  
glorious Redeemer, thus to delay his coming, 
and so to teach in his word.  
" But if this doctrine be not true—be not most  
plainly taught by the divine word, surely it is  
most hazardous to trust in it. Before the glori- 
ous doctrine of Christ's immediate coming to  
judge the world in righteousness, every worldly  
motive lies prostrate in the dust—ambition is  
reined up in its mad career, and lies humbled  
and chastened at the rebuke of the Almighty—  
the Christian parent learns to cast ail his cares 
upon the arm of his Almighty Saviour—avarice  
no more .hoards up God's gold and silver to  
gratify the lowest of all the base desires of a  
fallen lace—the senstialist feels the workings  
of his putrid heart rebuked before the glance of  
his coming Judge. In short, every worldly de- 
sire becomes chastened, and the minds of men,  
as God designed, turn with eager solicitude to  
the eternal future. Man learns that the ' fashion 
of th e yyorld passethaway,' and he instinctively  
turijs to God as the only firm, unshaken basis  
on which to fix his tossed and wearied spirit—  
earthly, 'sensual, devilish;' full of unfounded  
hopes—full of presumptuous reliance upon his  
owa good fortune—ready, it is true, to concede  
that all other men are in imminent danger, but  
himself, he casts the fear of death, and the with- 
drawal of the Spirit of God, behind his back, and  
rushes on to his eternal ruin, as the 'horse 
rushe,th to the battle.' But under the belief of  
this most grand and awfully solemn reality, that  
though death may be far from him, yet the Judge  
is at the door, and may come as a thief in the 
night, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,  
with no space for even the frail chances of a  
death-bed repentance, come to take vengeance 
on all the ungodly—all such as love not His ap- 
pearing—come to wind up the drama of this  
world's guilt and shame—to seal up lor eterni- 
ty the destinies of all men :—before this grand  
and glorious reality all worldly ties are broken,  
and poor, frail, helpless man,"is constrained to 
cry out, in view of his utt.er destitution, ' God 
be merciful to me a sinner.'. With this expecta- 
tion the Christian may live, as it is his privilege 
and duty to live, ' as a pilgrim and a stranger'  
in the earth, but with his eternal inheritance in  
prospect.  
" Thus cast upon the faithfulness of his Re- 
deemer, he finds abundant strength to endure 
the scoffs of an unbelieving generation, and to  
fulfil all the obligations cast upon him by his 
Creator. He is enabled to walk by faith, and  
to look upon the impending realities of the  
world's destruction—the final judgment—the  
doom of the wicked, and the reward of the  
righteous, as scenes in which he is soon to 
mingle as an actor ; and, as well he may, he  
tarns from the earth, wearied and heart-sick at  
its crimes and follies, with only one desire :  
' O that they were wise, that they would consid- 
er this, that they would think of their latter end.' "  
The articles which follow were all written or arrang- 
ed before the above came to hand, but it will be seen  
they are appropriate and striking illustrations of these  
great truths.  
50  

THE TRUE MILLENNIUM.  
As one who has long groped in dim obscurity, when  
he suddenly steps into the light of noonday, is dazzled  
at first, but soon recovers himself, so as to gaze with  
delight, on the beautiful works of God, made brilliant  
by His own light; so it is with those who have been  
led blindfold, by modern preaching, when the glorious 
doctrine .of the true Apostolic millennium bursts upon  
them.  
We have exulted in the possession of our new Bibles,  
for such we feel they are, when we can look upon  
them, as a glorious charter of a heavenly inheritance,  
which we are invited to contemplate, and in the pros-
pect of which we are commanded to rejoice and lift up  
our beads, amidst the distress, perplexity, violence,  
pride, surfeiting and drunkenness of the last days.  
The modern doctrine of the millennium was eating  
out the heart from a large part of God's word. Did He 
tell us, "Be not conformed to the world?" The 
church replied, "Excuse us; we calculate, by goingover  
to the world, to entice them into our pale. We think  
it right to be conformed to the world, for the world is  
rapidly gliding into the millennial state."  
When Christ, in his sweetly solemn manner said :—  
" Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth," the  
church practically replied: "We want treasures for car-
rying on our magnificent schemes for converting the 
world. We expect to  do it by introducing the learning  
and arts of civilization,  instead of preaching Christ to  
the Barbarians, as Paul did."  
Though we were earnestly warned that " they who  
will be rich, fall headlong into temptation, and a snare,  
and into many foolish and mischievous desires, which  
plunge men deep into ruin and destruction," (Doddr.)  
yet the church has .united to honor rich men, who have  
ground the faces of the poor, and spent their ten thou- 
sands in gratifying the lust of the eye, if they have also 
cast their hundreds into the treasury of the church.— 
Many an elder and deacon has said in acts what one  
said in words, when investing the Lord's money in some  
of the bubbles of 1835, " I can speculate for the Lord."  
Did the Lord in his kindness warn us to love not the  
world, neither the things which are in -tire world i The  
modern millennial preachers have nullified the exhor- 
tation, by pointing to this world as the theatre of the 
Lord's great triumphs, achieved through their instru- 
mentality, virtually exhorting us to keep our affections 
here. We recently heard one of the best of them, (E. I 
F. Hatfield.) say : " The kingdom, and dominion, and j 
greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, [NOT ! 
the new heaven] shall be given to  the people of the  
saints of the Most High ;" but he did not quote the re- j  
mainder of the sentence, "whose kingdom is an EVER- j  
LASTING kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and 
obey him."  
Thus the church is taught to look for its rest where  
the Lord told us we should find tribulation,—to expect  
friends among those whose friendship is enmity with  
God, and she has found such friends as Sampson did in  
the lap of Delilah. She has been told that the kingdom 
was in this world, though Christ said his kingdom was  
not of this world, and he " shall judge the quick and  
the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." She looks 
for her time of rejoicing in absence from Christ, though  
He told us we should weep and lament in the absence  
of the Bridegroom, and rejoice in his return.  
" This Miller doctrine is a gloomy doctrine," said a  
reader of the Evangelist, a few days ago, and he spoke  
the sentiment of his brethren, generally. Now, we 
ask all who love the Lord, to review this subject once  
more, and to bear a word of affectionate exhortation, 
which we give, in the language of some of the best  
writers of the last two centuries.  
Listen first to the Rev. J. Fletcher, the friend of  
Wesley, to whom he wrote as follows in 1775 :  

REFLECTIONS ON THE VIEW GIVEN OF CHRIST'S  
MILLENNIAL REIGN.  
Give me leave to conclude with some reflec- 
tions that naturally flow from what has been 
said on that system. 1st. Many people, I know,  
look on the meditations of Prophecies, so ex- 
pressly enjoined by Peter, as one of the greatest  
instances of presumption and enthusiasm ; be- 
cause they believe there is no sure ground to 
build upon, and that it is a land of darkness, in 
which the most enlightened Christians will  
never fail to stumble and fall shamefully. But 
is it probable that God, who foretold to*a year, 
and very clearly, the deliverance of the Israel- 
ites from  their Egyptian bondage, the return of  
the Jews from their captivity in Babylon, and the 
building of the second temple, and the birth  
and death of the Messiah ; is it probable, I say, 
that he should have been silent, or not have 
spoken as clearly concerning his Coming to  
destroy the destroyers, and to set up that king-
dom which we pray for, when we say, accord-
ing to our Lord's appointment, " Thy kingdom 
come ?"  
If God has exactly foretold, for the comfort  
of believers, the various revolutions that have  
happened to his Church in ages past, is it pos- 
sible that he should have left himself without a  
witness concerning the most important of all, I  
mean the last ? If he showed the Prophets the  
first act of his drama, is it not highly probable 
he has not forgot the last, without which, his 
wisdom, justice, and  mercy, would always re- 
main hid under a thick cloud ?  
2d. Let none say that. Jesus himself, as a  
man, knew not the end of the world ; and that  
Moses says, " hidden things are for the Lord,  
but revealed ones for us and for our children."  
I acknowledge that, the end of the world, and  
the time of the purification of this globe by dis- 
solution and fire, is a secret too deeply hid in  
the glass of God's decrees for any man to fath- 
om, before God himself is pleased lo reveal it.  
* * # #  
3d. It is lawful, yea, needful, that we and our  
children should often think of these things ; for  
hidden things are for the Lord, but these are  
revealed for us and our children ; they are re-
vealed in all the prophets, from Moses to John, 
and more especially in the Revelation of this 
beloved apostle. Let but those objectors pon- 
der the word Apocalypse* and they will be 
ashamed to say, that we must not look into  
those things, because they were never reveal- 
ed to us.  
4th. If Jesus told his disciples, that it was  
not theirs to know the times when those things 
should be accomplished, it does not follow that 
it must be hid from us, who are far nearer con- 
cerned iri them than they were ; besides, how 
should they have understood and borr.e those 
things, before they had received the Comforter, 
since they thought them better, after they had 
obtained the divine gift, when they had some  
knowledge of them ? Add to this, that Daniel's  
vision was to be " closed to the end," and could  
not be perfectly known till very near the time  
of the fulfilling of it.  
5th. It is remarkable, that more books have  
been written upon the prophecies these last 
hundred years, than were ever known before ; 
and all (those at le st which I have read) agree 
that these things will, in all probability, soon  
come upon the earth. I know many have been  
grossly mistaken as to the years; but because  
they were rash, shall we be stupid ? Because  
they said "to-day," shall we say " never," and  
* Apocalypse is derived from the Greek word which  
means to " uncover," to exhibit, to reveal.


cry " peace, peace," when we should look about 
us with eyes full of expectation 1  
Let us not judge rashly, nor utter vain pre- 
dictions in the name of the Lord; but yet let  
us look about us with watchful eyes, lest the 
enemy take advantage of us, and we lose the  
opportunity of rousing people out of their sleep  
—of confirming the weak, and building up in  
our most holy faith, those who know him in  
whom they have believed. If we are mista- 
ken in forming conjectures ; if the phenomena  
we hear of every where, are but common provi.  
dences ; if these things happen not to us, but to  
our children, (AS THEY MOST CERTAINLY WILL  
BEFORE THE THIRD GENERATION IS SWEPT AWAY,)  
is it not our business to prepare ourselves for  
them, to meditate on them, and to warn as ma- 
ny people as we can prudently, lest their blood  
should be required at our hands, were they to  
fall because of a surprise ?  
Ponder, next, the sentiments of Rev. E. Irving.  
THE REDEEMER'S GLORIOUS APPEARING, AND NOT  
OUR DEATH, THE HOPE RET BEFORE US IN  
THE SCRIPTURES.  
You say it is all the same to you to look to  
the uncertainty of life, and the certainty of  
death, and so you put extinction upon the great 
doctrine of the Second Advent, which was the  
brightest candle of the apostolic and primitive  
church.  
Now, first let us look at the fact. Is it a fact  
that you Christians who say so, meditate your  
death, and the uncertainty of life continually 1  
Do you every morning think within yourselves  
—this day may be my last, therefore let me be  
watchful ? Do you say every evening, I am  
one day nearer my death, now let me be thank- 
ful 1 I ask you, is the idea of death before your 
soul continually, darkening the brightness of  
worldly joys, unmasking worldly pleasures, en- 
couraging you to nobler acts of self-denial, and  
service in the cause of Christ, comforting you 
under the oppressions of the world, strength- 
ening you against the might of your spiritual 
enemies, and recompensing you for your world- 
ly losses; the balm of the wounds of this life,  
and the food of the powers and the faculties of  
the life to come ? Doth the knowledge of your 
certain death work such a constant and blessed  
effect upon your life ? Doth it ?  
You answer, it ought to do so. I did not ask  
the question, ought, it ? but the question, doth it 
so ? No, it doth not so. It is seldom present 
to the soul, and when its presence is forced up- 
on us, it is painful. We shrink from it. It is so  
fearful, it is so weak, it is so afflictive, it is so 
dark, it is so calamitous ; there is no beauty, 
there is no comeliness, why should we desire  
it 1 And  let me add, that it will always be so,  
because it is sin's great conquest, and Satan's  
chief work, the fullness of sorrow and affliction, 
the triumph of corruption, the fulfilment of the  
curse. Oh, it is a strange delusion of Satan,  
thus to have made the capital ""curse of God  
eclipse the capital promise of God; Satan's  
consummated kingdom over the body, take that  
place in our thoughts, which Christ's con- 
summated kingdom in the body and spirit,  
even the resurrection, was meant to take.- 
Such is the matter of fact; but you say, It  
ought not to be so ; and I answer, It ought to  
be so, and will be so unto the end. For, let me 
tell you, that the spirit of man is not a creature  
to like, and desire, and doat on, every thing, but  
hath a rooted dislike to think, look upon, and  
encounter many things; of which the chief is  
death. As light to the eye, so is life to the soul 
—as darkness to the eye, so is death to the  
soul. It cannot abide the thoughts of it. "Thou  
wilt not leave my soul in Hades, nor suffer thy  

Holy One to see corruption :" this was a chief  
consolation ofthe soul of Christ. And a chief  
suffering was, " The sorrows of death com- 
passed me, and the pains of  hell got hold upon  
me; I found trouble and sorrow." He endured  
the cross fur the joy that was set before him.  
He shrunk from the cup of deadly sorrow that  
was presented unto his lips. He did not desire  
it, as He desired to eat the Passover with His  
disciples. And in like manner, His apostle,  
when looking to the dissolution of his earthly  
tabernacle, was comforted only by the build- 
ing of God, not made with hands, eternal, in the; 
heavens, which was reserved for him. And  
death is called the last enemy which shall be  
destroyed. Now, I do not find that Christians 
are strengthened in their present pilgrimage, 
by looking to their enemies, but by steadily look- 
ing to the Captain of  their salvation, and His  
victories over their enemies.  
The ministers of the gospel, as captains of  
the Lord's host, do not present unto the people,  
or seek to keep continually before them the  
terrors of Satan, the weakness of the flesh, thcT  
povverfulness of the wqrld; but keep before  
them Christ, the victorious,—the Spirit, the  
quickener, the Father Almighty, their election 
unto salvation, their adoption into the commu-- 
nion of the blessed Trinity, their fellowship  
with all the saints who have endured and ovcxr  
come. How then be so foolish as to present 
before them death, or think to encourage them 
thereby ; you should have showed them death 
conquered, that is, the resurrection, first of  
Christ, and then of all Christ's people at His  
coming. You may make the Christian soldier 
quake and tremble, and misgive, by presenting  
him the frequent aspect of bare and ghastly death  
—but you will never make him cheerful and  
bold, but by preaching to him the victory over  
death, which is the RESURRECTION OF THE JUST,  
which is the COMING OF THE LORD.  
I say not, but that, as in all the trials and  
combats of the warfare, it is most necessary and  
profitable to set forth the enemy's force and his  
wiles, and his violent rage, so also ought death,  
the strength of his right hand, to be presented 
oft-times to the soul, for the same end of teach- 
ing her to have all her armor and weapons in 
use. But  if you do not present the resurrection  
fiomthe dead at Christ's coming; you do not give  
her the weapon with which that strongest as-
sault of the enemy is to be met and overcome.  
You teach the enemy's force, but are silent con- 
cerning our force to meet him, which, to say the 
least of it, is the part of a very unskilful of- 
ficer.  
And let me tell the church, that, because the  
resurrection of the saints at Christ's coming,  
and their reign with him, are so seldom set be- 
fore the church, it cometh to pass, that we have  
such shrinking from posts of danger, such fenc- 
ing and fitting out of our missionaries, such  
shrieking out if any evil befal them, instead of  
that carelessness to answer the matter, that ut*  
ter indifference to the fire, that rushing to mar-
tyrdom, and committing ourselves to all moral  
wilds and savage wildernesses, which charac- 
terized the first ages of the church.  
So much for the very article of death, which,  
I assert, every one will shrink from, till, by the  
doctrine of the Second Advent and the First Re- 
surrection, he has been taught to triumph over  
it. But  you say, We look to the Paradise which  
is immediately beyond. And I ask you, What 
you know of that Paradise ? of that separate  
state of the soul ? or what can the finest imag-
inafions make you to know concerning it? Just  
nothing at all; it is airy, it is shadowy, it is  
fantastical. I have labored myself to gather  
fruit in this field, but found it labor in vain.  

When I used to preach concerning it, all that I  
could do was, to study the soul's appearances  
up to the point of death, but 1  could go no far- 
ther. And, what is more, revelation will carry  
you no farther. For though it be said in the  
Parable of Lazarus, that he was carried by an- 
gels to Abraham's bosom, yet there is nothing  
thence to be inferred with respect to the sepa- 
rate state ; and the parable maj signify the con- 
dition after the resurrection, which seems more 
appropriate to the imagery, the rich man being 
spoken of in hell as with a body, lifting up his  
eyes, and crying for water to cool his tongue ; 
and with respect to the thief upon the cross,  
though it be conclusive as to the question of  
the reality of a Paradise, it gives us no idea of 
that which it is. Moreover, in the Apocalypse,  
the souls ofthe witnesses which had been slain  
for the testimony of Christ, are represented be-
neath the altar, as longing and crying out for a  
blessedness which was to arrive AT THE COMING OF  
THE LORD. And those who surround the throne,  
look forward likewise to the reigning with him  
on the earth at his cqmjr.g. So that all which 
is revealed concerning this separate state, be- 
trays incompleteness, desire, and a looking for- 
ward to that higher condition of things which  
we are endeavoring to present unto an indiffer- 
ent church, (but the church in heaven is not in- 
different to it.) And, therefore, it is like cast-
ing a man back, to fi^ his hopes there where he  
will still be hoping, instead of carrying them  
forward to that which here he may be permit-
ted tq hope, and \yhich there he will also con- 
tinue to hope.  
But in plain speech, I ask. If so much use  
was intended to be made of this intermediate  
state, why was not more revealed about it ? It 
could never have been intended of the Lord to  
be the great object of hope, else it would have  
been more defined. It cannot be the  great ob- 
ject of hope, for hope cannot seize hold upon it.  
It is inert, it is shadowy, it is unworldly. It hath  
no relation to the present world, that it should 
lift us above it. It seiseth not hold on the af- 
fections, to raise them above the earth ; upon  
the understanding, to fill and possess it ; upon 
the feelings, to ravish and refine them; upon  
the interests, to purify and enrich them. It is  
a mere negation of this evil, and that suffering ; 
it hath no positive compensation to any suffer- 
ing. nor real satisfaction to any desire ; no oc- 
cupation to any faculty, nor occasion for any  
function of man; seeing it is not man, but a  
part of man, concerning which in its severed 
state, nothing can be predicated or understood,  
hoped or feared ; and I boldly aver, that the con-
tinual turning of the church's eye to this unde- 
fined and undefinable estate has paralyzed hope,  
and quenched desire, crippled all the energies  
of the spiritual man, and impoverished every  
field of spiritual life.  
In the present aspect of the church's hope,  
turned chiefly to death and the shadowy exist- 
ence beyond death, besides this joyless and in-
effectual influence upon Christian life, this se- 
pulchral gloom and pale moonlight, like that  
which shines upon the solitary churchyard,  
there is a separating and divisive influence,  
which I feel better than I can describe. Death  
is a parting, not a meeting ; it is a sorrowful 
parting, not a joyful meeting; it is a parting in 
feebleness and helplessness, to we know not  
whither—into a being we know not what.  
There is your death, and my death, and the 
death of every one, in a different place, at a dif-
ferent time, and under different circumstances,  
^.nd we are thus divided and cut off from one  
another in the great object of our hopes, in- 
stead of being thereby concentrated and united  
from all places, and all times, and all conditions.


Now, we ought to have one hope of our calling  
as Weil as one redemption, and one baptism,  
and one communion of one body. It is an 
anomaly that the Christian religion, which by  
every other part procurelh unity, in defiance of  
time, place, and fallen conditions, should in the  
object of its hope, present diversity and produce  
separation. To this it is no answer to refer to  
the union at the day of judgment ; for that is  
placed so remote, and the die is so completely 
cast before it, that in this system it becomes a  
dead letter, a formal assize to do over again in  
solemn form what hath already been done in  
substance. I desire for myself some object and  
event so glorious as shall carry my eye clean  
over and beyond this chasm and abyss of being  
—some joyful and powerful, some majestic and  
glorious act, to which I can look, and to which  
another saint can look, and to which every  
saint from every quarter of the earth can look ;  
which may join us in one hope and desire— 
make time, and place, and change, wholly in- 
different to us, our death but a change, and the  
state beyond death unthought of, and uncared  
for, in our anxiety and assurance of this grand  
reunion with the Lord. For, as hath been said,  
I do find in the Apocalypse, this middle state  
represented as a state of longing expectation— 
not a state of perfect blessedness ; a state of  
desire, not a stale of rest ; a state of weakness  
and waiting for power. But all that is said in  
the Scripture concerning the intermediate state  
is only sufficient to show that the soul doth not  
become inconscious, or subject to d£cay, like  
the body, but abides under  the altar whereat the  
everlasting Priest doth minister. It is not suf- 
ficient lo ground any ideas, or rest any conclu- 
sions upon ; much less is it sufficient to become 
the great object of hope for rallying the dis- 
tressed mind of the militant church, for giving  
courage to her in the fearful warfare which she  
has to maintain against flesh and blood, prin- 
cipalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness  
in (high places.  
And therefore, we observe, in the last place,  
upon this part of our subject, that it doth trav- 
erse the whole spirit of Scripture, and run  
counter to all the promises of God, thus to  
make tbe day of our death, and the undefined  
state beyond, the great object of ihe church's 
observation. The first promise was, that the  
Serpent's head should be bruised, that his pow- 
er against men should be taken away by Christ,  
with ail the evil consequences of sin, and sor- 
row, and death, which have thence flowed in 
upon us. But this finale of death and the mid-
dle state, gifes me, gives Christ's people, no 
sight, nor experience, nor expectation thereof,  
but carries me off the stage of this world by a  
final blow of Satan and triumph of his power.  
Then there was promised to Abraham and to  
his seed for ever, an inheritance upon the earth  
—a land which flowed with milk and honey ;  
but I am a stranger, as he was and all the saints 
have been, and when or where are we to have  
this possession and inheritance, if we are taken  
for ever by death, if at the resurrection, when  
we receive our bodies, the earth is to be burnt  
up, and we removed to some undefined and un-
definable condition ? And the Old Testament is  
not more full of this inheritance than the New  
Testament is full of a Kingdom and a crown,  
which is to be given against a certain day to  
all those who love his appearing. And in every  
epistle, I find the apostles contemplating this  
as the great reaping time of reward, and direct- 
ing thitherward the hopes of all the churches, 
comforting them thereby under every affliction,  
exalting them thereby to pure and heavenly af-
fection, encouraging them to patience, and yet  
preserving them evermore watchful.  
52  

Now, you advocates of death, what say you ?  
Is it not a very daring abuse of Scripture to take  
the sense out of all this concurring testimony,  
to reject this method of exhorting and comfort- 
ing the church, to  let it pass wholly into obliv- 
ion, attempt no explanation of it, give it up as  
sybilbne leaves were never given up, invent  
fictions and imaginations concerning the middle  
state, adopt heathen ideas concerning the judg- 
ment, and so wholly change the glorious object  
of the church's hope. Which, seeing we are  
saved by hope, I hold to be no small enormity:  
hardly less than to change the object of our  
faith ; and instead of trusting in the humility  
of Christ and his atonement, for each individ- 
ual to trust in his own works, in the works of 
his own life, rather than in the one finished  
work of the life of Christ. As the former com-
ing of Christ is to our faith, so is the future  
coming of Christ unto our hope, one, common 
and free to all his saints.  
Now, take into consideration tbe apostolic,  
and prophetical, and patriarchal, I may say, the  
universal object of hope during the canonical  
and primitive ages of the church, viz., the com- 
ing of Christ, in power and majesty, and the re- 
surrection from the grave of «very member of  
his mystical body, the casting of Satan out of  
the earth, and the reign ofthe saints for a thou  
sand years ; and I say that you have here an 
object worthy the hope of the church, to which  
the eye of hope turns with delight, which is full 
of application to all the present infirmities of  
our condition, and is the proper recompense of  
all our sufferings.  
In the  first place, it presents to tbe expecta- 
tion of the saint all that is to be loved and de-
sired in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, by  
whom h", hath been redeemed, and upon whom  
he hath been nourished and sustained, not in  
his humility, as heretofore, but travelling in 
the greatness ofhis strength ; not as a servant,  
but as a sovereign, uniting in himself all the  
tender intercessions of the priest, and the pow- 
erful majesty of the King, a priest upon his  
throne for ever. We shall behold him whom  
not having seen we loved, we shall see him as  
he is; in whom while yet we saw him not, we  
rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory.  
We shall see all the glorious attributes of God  
made manifest in manhood ; the Son of  Mary  
glorified into the Son of God, and clothed with 
the all-sustaining power of the word of God, In  
the next place, we shall behold all enemies put 
under his feet, Satan the accuser of the breth- 
ren cast out ofthe earth, and with him all his 
evil angels which dwell in the natural man, and  
rule the world. And we shall see the prison 
doors of death  unbarred, and the grave yield up  
her dead, and then shall come to pass that say- 
ing of the prophet, Death shall be swallowed  
up in victory. In the next place, we shall be  
gathered with all the saints o: God since the  
world was, who shall all stand in their lot in  
the latter day, and in their flesh shall see God,  
the general assembly of the first-born, whose  
names are written in heaven, the church of the  
living God, the patriarchs, the prophets, the  
apostles, the glorious army ofthe martyrs, the  
whole host of the redeemed, whom he shall  
bring with him, and we, who remain till his  
coming, shall be caught up with him into the 
air, and shall be for ever with the Lord. This 
is not a cheerless parting, but a joyful meeting  
and eternal union of those who are spiritually 
dear to one another; and, as touching natural 
affections, let it be remembered that the natural  
man is then no more — the spiritual man alone  
is, and his affections alone remain. Then our 
father and mother, brother and sister, are they  
who have fulfilled the will of our heavenly Fa- 

ther. In the next place, this body of wicked- 
ness, this body of sin and death, shall be ex- 
changed for the likeness of Christ's glorious  
body ; for sinful flesh and blood shall not inhe-
rit that kingdom, nor corruption incorruption ;  
mortality shall be swallowed up of life. It is  
sown a natural, it is raised a spiritual body—  
it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in honor—it  
is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. So  
that all shall be strength, harmony, and union,  
within us—the perfect man, the holy man, com- 
plete in all things, and wanting nothing.  
In the next place, we shall be for ever with  
the Lord, partakers of his crown and partakers 
of his government; his assessors in judgment,  
his deputies in power, ruling over the cities of  
his dominion, and judging the tribes of the so- 
journers of the earth. For though I inquire not  
into tbe  mode or manner of our being, yet this  
1 am not ashamed to declare, that we shall be  
like tbe Lord who ascended up from the earth  
as easily as he descended ; who after his re- 
surrection, and even before it, passed to and  
fro without let cr impediment of matter, and  
governed the elements with a sovereign con- 
trol. And so shall we, in the exercise of that  
government and sovereignty which we shall  
then be permitted to hold of the earth, be as  
Adam, a king in his majesty, whom the ele- 
ments of nature, and all the living, moving  
creatures upon the earth harmed not, but de- 
lighted to obey.  
Finally, we shall behold the earth and all the  
sojourners therein living in peace and blessed- 
ness, under the government of the Lord  Jesus  
Christ—nature repossessed of all her original  
beauty, and society of all its proper blessedness, 
peace, gentleness, and meekness, restored on  
every hand—all men blessed in Jesus, and call- 
ing him blessed, nothing t.o corrupt or to de- 
stroy in my holy mountain, saith the Lord, for  
the earth shall be full ofthe knowledge of ths  
glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the  
channels of the deep.  
FRUITS OF MODERN PREACHING.  
Docs the modern preaching of a temporal millennium  
tend to bring on that millennium ? We answer, after  
careful observation, ISO. It enchains the heart to the  
world, and induces Christians to expect their rest here.  
But rest and luxury are enervating. The Church glides  
down the current with the world, and naturally feeling  
ashamed to be found in that bad company, by her return- 
ing Lord, quiets her conscience by a bustling earnestness 
to build up what she calls Christ's kingdom, but which is  
seemingly a strife, which of the sects shall be the greatest, 
—and because under this withering influence, Jews grow  
hardened, and Papists triumph, that very fact is appealed to  
as proof that Christ cannot come yet. Says Dr. Brownlee,  
" Christ will not come as long as there is an unconverted 
Jew or Roman Catholic on the earih."  
But while professors believe that the conversion of  
heathens, Jews and Papists is of infinite importance,  
where is the self-denial for these great objects 1 Does  
the clergyman bring up his sons and daughters to labor,  
and does he set an example of self denial, as Paul did 1  
Does the deacon think the conversion of the world so  
important as it is for him lo have expensive furniture,  
dress, and carriages? Do church members generally  
give up anything which they desire to eat, drink or wear,  
for the conversion of the world 1 Hear their own re- 
plies.  
The first is a letter from a returned missionary, pub- 
lished in a late New York Observer.  
" My Dear Friend,—It sometimes relieves a burden- 
ed heart to disclose its sorrows to a friend. This re-
lief I need. I am distressed when I think of the state 
of the heathen, and the present prospects of the cause 
of missions. Yet I know not what to say ; for no words  
can express my feelings.  
" I have stood among the heathen, and seen some


MTWHLMBIIFT&'M  
of them swing on hooks fixed deep in the muscles of  
the back, and others running through beds of burning 
coals to please their gods ; and I have seen thousands 
of them following their idols of wood and stone, and  
presenting an awful miniature of the ' broad road,' in  
which whole nations of them march on to ruin.  
" Again I have stood in the mission schools, and  
seen hundreds of precious youth joying in the privileges  
of a Christian school, and learning day by day the  
truth of God and the way to heaven : and I have sat  
down with hundreds of redeemed heathen, to com- 
memorate the love of Jesus, and express their faith in 
him. How did my heart rejoice at the sight of these 
precious fruits of missionary labor! and how was it  
grieved, yes, wrung with anguish, at sight of those  
millions crowding the road to death !  
" But my grief was then abated by the confident hope  
that many among those millions would soon hear of 
Christ, and join with those who celebrate his love. And 
my joy, I thought, was only just begun ; for I expected 
that those schools would be continued and increased,  
and gather multitudes of the heathen into the fold of 
Christ. But now those pleasing hopes are dashed, and  
my expectations are blasted. The churches do not  
sustain the missions. The few missionaries in the  
field are not supplied with the means they need for effi- 
cient action : and more laborers cannot be sent. And  
the schools, 0, I cannot think of it without bitter grief,  
some of them are dismissed already, and the dear chil- 
dren sent back to heathenism; and others still must go.  
"And why is this? Are the members of our  
churches unable to sustain the missions. No ; they  
can spend their money for that which is not bread, and 
their labor for that which satisfieth not. They spend  
it in beautifying their estates, ornamenting their houses,  
embellishing their furniture, decorating their persons,  
gratifying their appetites, and seeking the pleasures of  
this world in a thousand ways ; and many put it at inter- 
est, invest it in some other way, that it" may accumu- 
late, and become, it may be, a plague to them in their 
old age, or be squandered by their heirs. They may 
not be  able, as the times are, to support the missions,  
without practicing more self-denial than they have been  
accustomed to ; but they could do it, if they loved the  
souls of men as Jesus did, or as they love their own  
pleasures, and the commendations of a pleasure loving  
world.  
"What adds the bitterest sorrow to my grief is that  
Christians know the state of the heathen, and the sad  
results to the missions, if they are  not sustained. This  
makes the case appear hopeless. It seems as if every 
possible means had been used to excite an interest in  
the cause. The degradation, misery, and wickedness 
of the heathen have been plainly set before them.  
They have heard how God has opened the way before 
missionaries; and the heathen, in many places, are  
pleading for missionaries, and for Christian books, and 
schools. They have been told how heathen children 
can receive a good religious education in three years,  
for only one dollar a year, or two cents a week for each  
scholar ; and that many of those now in school must be  
dismissed for want of this small sum, if the missions are  
not better sustained. They have been told, too, how  
young men can be supported in boarding schools and  
seminaries, where a majority of the pupils become 
hopefully pious, and are made heirs of glory, and many  
of them become teachers and preachers of the gospel, 
for only one dollar a month. And it is all in vain.  
Their contributions do not increase, but diminish. 
The ruin is coming ; and they see it, and seem to say,  
' Let it come,' let the children be sent back to their  
pagan homes, and let the young men cease their pre- 
paration for usefulness.  
" The sympathies of Christians have been appealed  
to till they respond but feebly, if at all, to the appeal.  
Motives for exertion and self-denial in this work have  
been set before them, till motives seem to have lost  
their power to move. Facts have been presented, 
cheering facts, such as make angels rejoice at  the suc- 
cess of the work, and sad facts respecting the sin and  
misery of the heathen, enough to break a heart of  
stone ; but they make not Christians willing  to give up  
their pride and pleasure. What new appeal can be  
used ? What more powerful motives are there to be 
employed ? What more stiking facts can be address-
ed ? I know not.  
" So evident is it that a large majority of Christians  
follow the world in its sensual, proud, and expensive  
habits, that my sadness returns too often for my feeble 
health. I long to go forth and be among the heathen  
again : for then my mind will be occupied with other  
things, and what has caused me more sorrow than all  

things else, except my own sins, the sight of Christians 
living for this world, and not seeming to care much that  
heathen millions perish, will no longei»vex my eyes,  
nor pain my heart.  
" Your brother in Christ, •"  
This is an affecting appeal. But can we expect it will  
move the church when the senior proprietor ofthe paper 
containing it ranks as a rich man among the mer-
chant princes of this commercial metropolis? Suppose 
every reader of this appeal should say : " I will give when  
T have 'laid up treasures on earth/ and hoarded as much  
as those who publish it," how soon would missionaries be 
sent all over the world ?  
The following testimony is from Harris' celebrated  
book entitled " Mammon," which has been very highly 
commended in this same Observer.  
"The GREAT MAJORITY of Christian professors may be  
seen, from age to age, pursuing their own ends as eagerly, 
and wasting their substance as selfishly, as the world around  
them They seek their worldly prosperity. They know  
of nothing equal to that. EVERY THING IS MADE TO GIVE 
WAY TO THAT. The cause of Christ itself must wait for 
that; and is only held secondary to it. What ! neglect  
any thing which tends to increase their gains !—they  
would deem themselves mad to think of it; even though  
the salvation of an immortal soul had to wait in conse-
quence. And thus while God has to complain of them  
as slothful in his service, MAMMON CUN BOAST OF THEM AS  
AMONG HIS MOST DILIGENT AND DEVOTED SERVANTS."  
The above relates mainly to laymen. Could such  
things be true, if they were " looking" for the speedy  
personal coming of Christ ? Or could an Old Pastor bear 
the following testimony respecting his brethren ?  
From the Cabinet and Visiter.  
I observed in a paper recently, a report of the doings  
of a Presbytery, lately in session Among other things,  
it was stated that the members felt greatly embarrassed,  
to account for the fact that so few " Lay Delegates,"  
were present. I also notice, by your paper, of Nov. 1  
that there were very few delegates in attendance at 
the late meeting of the W. II. Synod.  
Now I think. I can somewhat relieve the difficulty of  
the brethren, by stating what two Laymen recently said.  
They were both professional, and intelligent men, and  
stood high in the estimation of their respective (Presby- 
terian) churches. They said " they had been sent by  
their Churches, several times, as delegates to Presbytery,  
but they alioays came home heart-sick, for they found the  
time taken up by some of the prominent ministers in 
battling each other, on some subject of little importance ; 
and the spirit of the whole seemed to be, to show how  
ably they could argue down, and beat their opponents, 
and even turn the laugh of Presbytery upon the vanquish- 
ed party—and that, as a matter of fact, so little was done  
to edify the Christian mind, and prepare the heart for  
serving God, that they had become disgusted, and did not  
wish to attend Presbytery again "  
This feeling, I have reason to know is quite prevalent,  
for the course pursued at these meetings of Presbyteries,  
and Synods is correctly staled by these Laymen, as I well 
know. For example, I understand that at a late meeting 
of the Genesee Synod, N. Y.., two ministers, both, I be, 
lieve, D. D's, and both pastors of Churches, in, Buffalo, 
spent much of the time in a debate on the. question-^-Is  
perfectionism on the increase, or on the decrease, in the.  
land 1 Now I ask, of what interest is this to the Churches, 
let it be settled as it might ? If true Godliness increases,  
that is sufficient to the Churches, without naming sects.  
If ministers mean to attract the attention of Churches,  
and induce the " Lay brethren" to attend their meetings,  
they must so conduct those meetings as to render them  
instructive to the pious mind. When they do this, we shall  
hear no complaint on account of the absence of the lay  
brethren. AN OLD PASTOR.  
Contrast all this with the Christianity of the first three  
centuries, when, as Mr. Hatfield truly told us, Christians  
wore constantly looking for their beloved Lord to return.  
"By their fruits ye shall know them."  
According to the foregoing testimony, the great majority  
of Christian professors, are not disposed to do the will of 
the Lord. They are therefore very unsafe guides in refer- 
ence to unpopular and self-denying truth. The Lord has 
said, " If any man will do his will, he shall know of the  
doctrine, whether it be of God." Reader, claim this pre- 
mise, search your heart, and then search the Scriptures, 
in the fear of the Lord, and you shall understand. Ifyou 
would not be led by blind guides into the ditch, listen to  
their condemnation in the words ofthe Lord ; " If ye love  
the world, the love of the Father is not in you." " How 
can ye believe, who receive honor one of another ?" " If 
ye have not the spirit of Christ, ye are none of his." He  

made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the  
form of a servant. The Lord was  wise and kind, when  
he told us to watch, wait, look and pray for his return. 
Reader, if you love Christ, you will keep these command- 
ments of his.  
SECOND ADVENT CONFERENCE AT  
AKRON, OHIO.  
Brother Fitch, in giving an account of this recent  
meeting, says:  
I have just returned from Akron, Summit Co., where  
we have had a most delightful conference of the believ-
ers in the second advent. We spent two days together, 
the morning in the relation of Christian experience, and 
afternoon and evening in preaching. It has truly been a  
precious season. The Holy Spirit was truly present, 
shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts, and we 
found ourselves sitting together in heavenly places in  
Christ. The experience of the brethren gave abundant  
evidence that they had been enlightened into the truth  
respecting Christ's immediate coming, only by the teach- 
ings of the Spirit of God. It seems to me that the mass  
of professing Christians at this day, have come to feel  
that they have no need to have " their understandings  
opened that they may understand the Scriptures"—no  
need to have  "the eyes of their understanding enlightened  
that they may know what is the hope of His calling, and  
what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the  
saints"—no need of being " guided into the knowledge o  
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ;" but  
that philosophy, and rules of criticism, and laws of inter-
pretation, and principles of exegesis, are sufficient to  
lead them into all the depths of God's wisdom and kgow- 
ledge which is treasured up in the Bible, without coming  
to God to have their eyes anointed "with eye salve that 
they may see." It is, however, a blessed peculiarity in 
the believers of the second advent, that they feel that they 
did not apprehend the truth on this subject, until they  
were taught it by the Sp rit of God. It is true that there  
are not wanting those in high places in the church, who 
are ready to deride them for their reliance on the teach-
ings ofthe Spirit, and to say that they are deluded, be-
cause they believe themselves to have been taught of 
God on this subject;'but it is a blessed consideration that 
the Spirit of God sheds-a light on which those who re- 
ceive it can rely. Whiie the wisdom of this world is  
foolishness with God, and God hath confounded the wis- 
dom of the wise, and brought to nothing the understand- 
ing of the prudent, that no flesh should glory in His pre-
sence, He has been faithful to reveal the things of His 
kingdom to. babes Most willing are we to be reckoned 
among the weak things pf the world, that so we may be 
iii an atlithde to be taught of God.  
One thing is -noticeable among the friends and believers  
of the second advent, that before they enjoy a light on  
the subject which fills and satisfies their souls, they are  
Brought to a full and cordial surrender of all the interests  
fif their being to Christ, and feel ready to lay reputation  
and every thing else at His feet, and count all things but  
loss, for the excellency of th,e knowledge of Christ Jesus  
their Lord. It is "emphatically in that state of mind that 
they receive light respecting His glorious appearing, and  
when they receive it they are filled with peace with God,  
and joy in the Holy Ghost. This was true of the dear  
brethren who told us of their religious state at Akron-—  
and it was sweet indeed to listen to  the relations whieh  
they gave of their religious state, and of the joy with 
which they were looking forward to the coming of the  
Bridegroom.  
The believers in the second advent, generally, are now  
looking continually for the eoraiag of the Lord. While  
sorne think that the period of His own ascension is a 
probable time when He Will Come for the deliverance of  
His people—and others, that the anniversary of the feast  
of Pentecost,, when the Spirit was poured out, may be 
the glad time to favor Zion by the return ofthe Lord—  
others are feeling a deep interest in the. declaration of  
our Saviour, "in such an hour as ye think not the Son  
of Man cometh." The fulfilment of prophetic events,  
and the termination of prophetic periods, show us be- 
yond mistake, that His appearing in the clouds of hea- 
ven as lightning, is near, even at the doors ; and we will  
therefore endeavor to "gird up the loins of our minds, 
and be sober, and hope,^ the end for the grace that sball 
be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and 
be continually as men that watch for the coming of the  
Lord. Our faith shall not be in vain in the Lord. C. F.  
BR. BROWN'S EXPERIENCE.— Brother Brown having  
written out his experience respecting entire consecration, 
and the Advent doctrine, they are now published and ready  
for delivery. Our friends who wish to attain a high standaid 
of Christian character, which should be our highest aim, 
will find this a valuable reference. It is also accompanied  
by several letters from brother Cook of Middletown, Conn,  
which adds much interest to the work. Price 12^ cents.  
53


For the Midnight Cry.  
THE BETTER TIMES,  
OB THE EARTH REDEEMED.  
BY L. D. FLEMING.  
" Nevertheless, we, according to His (God's) promise, look for new  
heavens, and a new earth, wherein  dwelleth righteousness."—2 Peter  
3 :  13.  
The Scriptures of divine truth present to the eye of  
the true Israel of God a most animating prospect. Re- 
lying upon the promises of Him who cannot lie, they  
look forward with a full assurance of the consumma- 
tion of their fondest hopes. If they are depressed  
while looking abroad upon this sin-cursed earth, behold- 
ing the ravages which sin has made for six thousand  
years—if they groan within themselves while they see 
their promised possession desecrated by all the evils  
that sin has brought into the world,—they are animated, 
on the other hand, While looking forward to " the re- 
demption of the purchased possession," the earnest cif  
which they have in the Holy Spirit. This earth is 
promised to God's people for an everlasting inheritance:  
to be possessed by them forever, even forever and  
EVER.  
I propose to show from the word df God, that the  
earth, renewed, is to be the home and heaven of the  
saints, FOREVER,—that it is to be redeemed, and restored,  
and totally exempted frorn all the frailties and miseries  
to which its inhabitants are now heirs.  
What devastation and wretchedness has sin spread  
over the fair heritage of God's people ! The earth and 
all its appurtenances wfere, when blought from the 
Creator's hand, pronounced VERY GOOD.  
Man, the crowning piece of God's workmanship, was  
made upright, and placed at the head of all things on  
the earth. This earth was designed fbr mail's abode. 
It was made for man, and man was made for it. It was 
adapted to his nature, and his nature was adapted to it.  
This is evident from the fact, that God pronounced all 
good—VERY GOOD. Also from the fact, that, subse- 
quent to the revolt of man from God, the burden of  
God's promises to His peculiar "or faithful people, have  
all been concerning this earth. God said, Gen. 1 : 26, 
" Let us make man—and let them have dominion— 
OVER ALL THE EARTH." The WHOLE EARTH belonged  
to the territorial dominion of man. But this dominion  
was lost by the first Adam, in consequence of  
SIN.  
"SIN entered into the world, and DEATH by sin; so  
DEATH passed upon all men." By sin, and its conse- 
quences, death, the earth was cursed—its beauty tar- 
nished—and its rightful Sovereign supplanted. Dis-
content, rebellion, hatred, sickness, sorrow, pain and  
death, became the patrimony of man. Man lost his  
LIFE, and his heritage or kingdom. And now, the only  
hope  ofthe race, was in a  
SECOND ADAM.  
If the FIRST ADAM was put in possession of THIS  
EARTH, as his inheritance and dominion, and by sin lost  
it, with his life,—then the SECOND ADAM, will of course  
redeem and possess the lost dominion, the identical do-
minion ; otherwise he cannot be the second. If Christ  
is put in possession of a new territory, of that new ter-
ritory he Will be t\ve. first and not the second possessor. 
If Christ be the second Adam, then this earth must of  
necessity be the territorial dominion which be shall in- 
herit. The idea which in these modern times, is so 
prevalent in the church, that this earth is to be left by  
Christ and his subjects, to the enemy, or perhaps to a  
total destruction at last, is a violation ofthe whole ten- 
or of the word of God. On this subject, the church has 
evidently lost sight of the great lights of revelation. 
Her hope has become untangible—her ideas are vague  
and beclouded—her inability to apprehend what she  
tries to apprehend, paralyzes her energies, weakens  
her faith, exposes her to the assaults of her infidel ene-
mies, leads her to forget her high and holy calling,  
54  

makes her worldly-minded,—preferring  the world as it  
is; to ivhat herjieclouded apprehensions seem to prom-
ise her hereafter. How truly doth the poet say—  
" Thy very Bride her portion  
And calling hath forgot "  
The first Adam having lost the earth, with his life,  
which is necessary for the possession of the earth, the 
second Adam came to redeem both the life of man and  
the territory. " The first man, Adam, was made a  
living soul ; the last Adam, a quickening spirit." "The  
first man is of the earth, earthy ; the second man is the  
Lord from heaven." 1 Cor. 15 : 45, 47,  
Since the fall of the first Adam, the dominion has  
been in the hands df wicked Gentile powers, and wTill  
there remain till He whose right, it is to reign, on the  
throne of his father David, shall come and take pos- 
session of his kingdom, and reign forever. The king- 
dom is Christ's by promise, which promise was made to  
Abraham, and renewed to Isaac and Jacob. See Gen.  
12 : 7 ; and 17 : 7. Paul says, Gal. 3 : 16, " Now to  
Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He  
saith not, and to seeds, as of many ; but as of one, and  
to thy seed, which is Christ." Now, what was the  
promise made to Abraham ? Why, Paul says, that he 
Sheuld be " heir of the world." Rom. 4: 13. The  
promise made to Christ in Ps. 1 : 8, is that he should 
have " the uttermost parts of the earth for his pos-
session." Again, in Dan. 2: 35, in speaking of the  
stone which was to smite the image on the feet, which 
alludes to Christ, Daniel says, it "became a great  
mountain and filled the whole earth.'''' Also in Dan. 7: 
27, it is said, that " The kingdom under the whole  
heaven, shall be given to the saints of the Most High."  
It should not be forgotten, that the promise made to  
Abraham, was vouchsafed to himpersonally, as well as 
to his seed. The promise was, " I will give it to thee  
and to thy seed," i. e., all the land that could be seen, 
or, as Paul says, " The world.''''  But Abraham has  
never yet possessed the promised inheritance. See  
Acts 7:5," And God gave Abraham none inheritance 
in it: no, not so much as  to set his foot on ; YET HE  
PROMISED THAT HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM FOR A POS- 
SESSION, and to his steed." Now, how can this promise  
be fulfilled to Abraham, except it be in the resurrection?  
If it is to be fulfilled in the resurrection, then this  
-earth, renewed, is what is promised to God's raised and  
glorified people. But, perhaps, it will be objected, that  
this earth is to be destroyed by fire, and that we are to  
have a " new earth,'''' and consequently this earth is not  
the promised inheritance. 2 Peter 3 : 3—13, gives us  
a perfect solution of this difficulty. The apostle speaks  
of the world that then was, as having perished—as be- 
ing destroyed—and that in like manner, the present  
world is reserved unto fire, to be destroyed. But in all  
this the identity is not destroyed-, for although it be 
burned with fire, and changed as a vesture,—the hea- 
vens rolling together as a scroll, and the elements 
melting with fervent heat, yet, its identity will not be 
lost, any more than that of the renewed saint, in the  
glorious regeneration. Like the glorified saints, the 
earth will be regenerated—RENEWED—REDEEMED,  
but not annihilated. The saint is a " new creature,"  
without having lost his identify—s'6, likewise, we shall  
have a " new earth," without losing the identity ofthe  
one we ntito inhabit. Hence, it is clear that the identi-
cal earth which we now inhabit, Will; when renewed  
be the inheritance of Abraham and his seed. " If we 
are Christ's, then WE shall be Abraham's seed, and  
heirs according to prtimiee." God's people have an 
earnest of the promised inheritance. Eph. 1 : 13, 14. 
" In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word 
of truth, the gospel of your salvation : in whom also,  
after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that Holy  
Spirit of promise, which is the EARNEST of our inheri- 
tance, until the redemption of the purchased possession,  

I unto the praise of his glory." Now, an earnest is not  
i the thing of which it is a pledge. It is given as a token 
I —an indubitable assurance that what is promised shall 
j be fulfilled. Peter declares, that by fire tbe elements  
of this world shall be dissolved, but adds, " Neverthe- 
less we, according to his promise, look for new heavens  
and anew earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."—  
WHERE is this PROMISE ? See Isa. 65 : 17, " Be- 
hold I create new heavens, and a new earth ; and tbe  
former shall not  be remembered, nor come into mind,"  
i.e., shall not come 11 upon the heart"—shall not be 
desired. (See the margin.)  
I am aware that this passage has generally been ap- 
plied to a temporal millennium,  but Peter does not so  
apply it, neither does John the Revelator. In the 21st  
of Revelations, in speaking of the New Jerusalem  
state, he uses almost the same language as does Isaiah,  
and they all three evidently refer to the same thing.  
And this passage in Isaiah being the only one of the  
kind in the Old Testament, except Isaiah 66 : 22,  
which is a continuation of the same subject, must be 
the one to which Peter alludes. An insuperable diffi-
culty, in applying it to a temporal millennium, is found 
in tbe 19th verse, where God says, "And I will re- 
joice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people : and the  
voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the  
voice of crying." A temporal millennium contemplates 
a state in which there will be dying. And I ask, will  
there be no weeping and crying, where there is death ?  
That cannot be. In the NEW EARTH we contemplate  
THE BETTER TIMES.  
1. Because there will be none of tbe wicked there.  
"The wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the  
transgressors rooted out of it, and the upright shall 
dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it,"  
Prov. 2: 21,22. "Evil doers shall be cut off—the  
wicked shall not be ; but the meek shall inherit the 
earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of  
peace.—Their inheritance shall be FOREVER.—But the 
wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall 
be as tbe fat of lambs : they shall consume ; into smoke 
shall they consume away. But such as be blessed of  
the Lord, shall inherit tbe earth ; and they that be  
cursed of him shall be cut off.—The righteous shall in-
herit the land, and dwell therein FOR EVERMORE." PS. 38.  
2. Because the Lord will be there to dwell with his  
people, and there will be no more sin. MISERY, or 
DEATH.  
" 1 saw a new heaven and a new earth ; for the first  
heaven and the first earth were passed away ; and there 
was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, the  
New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,  
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I  
heard a great voice out of heaven, sayino-, behold the  
tabernacle of GOD is with men, and he will DWELL with  
them, and they shall be his people, God himself shall  
dwell with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe  
away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no  
more DEATH, neither sorrow nor crying, neither 
shall there be any more pain ; for the former things are 
passed away."—Rev. 21.  
These glorious " belter times" shall have no end.  
" The saints of the Most High will take the kingdom  
and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and  
ever." "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an 
everlasting salvation; they shall not be ashamed nor 
confounded, ivorld without end." The Lord's dominion  
" will be an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass  
away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroy- 
ed." " He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever,  
AND OF HIS KINGDOM THERE SHALL BE NO END."  
Who, I ask, that loves the Saviour, does not long  
for his coming, and for the establishment of " the better  
times?" Who, that looks abroad upon the present  
state of this sin-cursed world, does not gladden in the


glorious prospect, of the speedy coming of our rightful , 20  
Sovereign, to establish his kingdom and scatter earth's 
dark night away ? Who, but a rebel, could be dis-
pleased with such a change'? If our affections are 
where they should be,—if we have yielded to God  the  
whole tribute of a generous heart, the agonizing prayer 
of the soul will be, "AMEN, EVEN so COME LORD 
JESUS, COME QUICKLY."  
How truly can the heart that is right with God, adopt  
the words of the poet and say,  
"Plowlong, O Lord our Saviour,  
Wilt thou remain away ?  
Our hearts are growing weary  
Of thy so long delay.  
O when shall come the moment,  
When, brighter far than morn,  
The sunshine of thy glory  
Shall on thy people dawn ?"  
For the Midir'ght Cry.  
VERSION OF DANIEL II.  
The following article claims to be nothing more than  
the result of a careful collation of the common English  
translation with the original. That original is Hebrew,  
from the commencement to the words found in the  
fourth verse, " O king"—(Malca.) The remainder is  
Chaldaic—(Aramith) or'the eastern Syriac.  
1 AND in the second year of the kingdom of Nebu- 
chadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, and  
his spirit was agitated, and his sleep was ended for  
3 him. And the king commanded to call the sacred  
scribes, and the magicians, and the sorcerers, and  
the astrologers, to show the king his dreams.  
So they came and stood before the king.  
3 And the king said to them, dreaming I have dream- 
ed, and my spirit was agitated to know the dream.  
4 Then spoke the astrologers to the king in Syriac,  
0 king, live for ever : tell thy servants the dream,  
and we will show the interpretation.  
5 The king answered and said to the astrologers, the  
thing hath gone from me: if ye shall not make  
known to me the dream and its interpretation, ye  
shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be  
G made a dunghill. But if ye show the dream, and  
its interpretation, ye shall receive of me gifts and  
rewards and great honor : therefore show me the  
dream, and its interpretation.  
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell  
his servants the dream, and we will show its inter- 
pretation.  
8 The king answered and said, Truly I know that ye  
would gain the time, because ye see the thing  
9 hath gone from me. But, if  ye will not make  
known to me the dream, there is but one decree  
for you : for ye have prepared lying and corrupt  
words to speak before me, till the time be chang-
ed : therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know  
that ye can show me its interpretation.  
10 The astrologers answered before the king, and  
said, There is not a man on the earth that can show  
the king's matter : therefore there is no king, lord,  
or ruler, that asked such a thing of any sa- 
il cred scribe, or magician, or astrologer. And it is  
a difficult thing that the king asketh, and there is 
no other that can show it before the king, except  
the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.  
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furi- 
ous, and commanded to destroy ail the wise men of  
13 Babylon. And the decree went forth that the  
wise men should be slain ; and they sought Daniel  
and his companions  to be slain.  
14 Then Daniel answered with prudence and wisdom  
to Ariocli the captain of the king's guard, who had  
15 gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon : He  
answered and said to Arioch, the king's captain, 
Why is the decree so hasty from the king ? Then  
16 Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. And  
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he  
would give him time, and that he would show the  
king the interpretation.  
17 Then Daniel departed to his house and made the  
thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,  
18 his companions : that they would entreat mercies  
from the God of the heavens concerning this se- 
cret ; that Daniel and his companions should not  
perish  with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.  
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a  
night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of the  

21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
27  
18  
29  
30  
31  
35  
36  
37  
38  
39  
40  
41  
42  
43  
44  

heavens. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be  
the name of God for ever and evep: for wisdom  
and might are his : and he changeth the times and  
the seasons ; he removeth kings, and setteth up 
kings ; he giveth wisdom to the wise, and know- 
ledge to those who are intelligent: He revealeth  
the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is  
in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.  
I thank and praise thee, O God of my fathers, who  
hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made 
known unto me now what we desired of thee : for  
thou hast made known to us the king's matter.  
Therefore, Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the  
king had appointed to destroy the wise men of  
Babylon : he departed and said thus to him ; De- 
stroy not the wise men of Babylon : bring me in  
before the king, and I will show the interpretation 
to the king- 
Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in  
haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man  
of the captives of Judah, who will make the inter- 
pretation known to the king.  
The king answered and said to Darnel, whose name  
was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known to 
me the dream which I have seen, and its interpre- 
tation ?  
Daniel answered before the king, and said, The  
secret which the king hath asked, the wise men:,  
the magicians, the sacred scribes, the astrologers,  
cannot show to the king ; but there is a God in the  
heavens who revealeth secrets, and maketh known 
to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the 
latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy  
head upon thy bed are these : As to thee, O king,  
thy thoughts came up into thy mind on thy bed, 
what should come to pass hereafter ; and he who 
revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall  
come to pass. But as to me, this secret is not re- 
vealed to me for wisdom that I have more than all 
the living, but in order that the interpretation might  
be made known to the king, and that thou might-
est know the thoughts of thy heart.  
THE DREAM.  
Thou, 0 king, didst look, and behold a great image.  
This huge image, whose brightness  was excellent,  
stood before thee ; and its appearance ivas terrible.  
This image's head ivas of fine gold, his breast and  
his arms°of silver, hisoellyand his thighs of brass.  
His legs of iron, his feet, a part of them was iron,  
and a part of them.clay. Thou didst look till that  
a stone was cut out without hands, which smote 
the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay,  
and broke them in pieces. Then was the iron, the  
clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in 
pieces together, and became like the chaff of the  
summer threshing-floors ; and the wind carried 
them away, that no place was found for them : and 
the stone" that smote the image became a great  
mountain and filled the whole earth. This is the  
dream; and we will tell its interpretation before 
the king.  
ITS MEANING.  
Thou, O king, art a king of kings : because the  
God of the heavens hath given thee the kingdom,  
the power, and the strength, and the glory. Aud  
wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts  
of the field and the birds of  the heavens hath he  
given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over  
them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after  
thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee,  
and another third kingdom of brass, which shall  
rule in all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall  
be strong as iron : forasmuch as iron breaketh in 
pieces and crusheth all things, and like iron that  
shattereth all these, shall it break in pieces and  
shatter. And whereas thou didst see the feet and  
toes, a part of them of potter's clay, and a part of  
them of iron, the kingdom shall be divided ; but  
there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, for- 
asmuch as thou didst see the iron mixed with miry  
clay. And as the toes of the feet a part of them  
was of iron, and a part of them of clay, so the 
kingdom, a part shall be strong, and a partbroken.  
And whereas thou didst see iron mingled with miry  
clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed  
of man : but they shall not cleave one to another,  
even as iron is not mingled with clay. And in  
the days of these kings shall the God of the hea- 
vens set up a kingdom, which shall never be de- 
stroyed : and the kingdom shall not be  left to ano- 
ther people, but it shall break in pieces and make  

45  
46  
47  
48  
49  

an end of all these kingdoms, and it shall stand  
for ever. Forasmuch as thou didst see that the  
stone was cut out of the mountain without hands,  
and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the  
clay, the silver, and the gold ; the great God hath  
made known to the king what shall come to pass 
hereafter: and the dream is certain, and its inter- 
pretation sure.  
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face,  
and prostrated himself to Daniel, and commanded  
that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors  
to him. The king answered to Daniel, and said,  
Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods,  
and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, be- 
cause thou couldst reveal this secret. Then the  
king made Daniel a great man, and gave him ma- 
ny great gifts, and made  him ruler over the whole  
province of Babylon, and chief of the governors  
over all the wise men of Babylon.  
Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Sha- 
drach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs  
of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the 
gate of the king.  
NOTES.  
Verse 2.-—" Astrologers."] Hebrew Casdim. This  
word usually translated Chaldeans, has a special signi-
fication, that of astrologers. The nation was particu-
larly devoted to astrology.  
Verse 18.—" Rest of wise men,"] or " the rem- 
nant of the wise men."  
Verse 32. "Brass."] Chaldaic, nechash. This word,  
like the corresponding Hebrew neehashett, is used for  
copper, and likewise for a factitious metal composed of  
copper and tin, which admitted of being tempered and  
wrought into armor, spears, swords, and various cutting  
instruments. The article, which is now termed brass,  
was unknown to the ancients.  
Verse 33.—Although the word " clay" has been re- 
tained, yet the original term ehasaph, (as well as the  
phrase ehasaph tinah, ver. 41, "miry clay,") signifies  
baked,-clay or earthenware, and not soft clay, as the  
English reader might suppose from the language of our 
common version.  
Verse 35.—" Mountain,"] Toor. This word signifies  
either a mountain or a rock. - PHILO.  
SCOFFERS ARE SIGN'S.  
Bro. J. N. T. Tucker, a well known philanthropist,  
writes;  
SENNETT, Feb, 26. 1843.  
" I became more fully convinced that the end draweth  
nigh, as I witnessed the madness and unprecedented folly  
ofthe enemies of the hoped advent. O, what obliquity  
must that man's heart be afflicted with, who, like many  
of our "great men," can join in the scoffing and ridicule  
heaped upon this solemnly interesting subject, so far as  
the wicked are concerned."  
The editor of the Christian Herald, a Baptist p^per at  
Detroit, Mich, has been impressed with the same thing.  
He speaks in the following sensible manner.  
" SECOND ADVENT.—We can hardly avoid trembling at  
some things which are going the rounds of our public  
prints, and thence pass into the mouths of the world, on  
this solemn subject. There is, to us, no sign that seems  
so much to portend the approach of that dreadful day,  as  
the coming of scoffers. Indeed, it has become almost  
impossible, at least, hereattke west, to ascertain the  
truth of matters that have any connection with this sub- 
ject, and especially with the conduct of the expectants of  
Christ's speedy, coming. Stories of ascension robes,  
spending nights in grave-yards, in order to ascend with  
the company of the rising dead, and hundreds of other 
reports of fanatical conduct, most of which seem to have 
occurred at ^distance from the place where the reports  
are most current, and probably at a distance from every  
other place, are rife throughout the country.  
With reference to these things, we wish to advise our  
brethren to get their information from that Chronicle of  
both past and future events, which, in too many instan- 
ces, lies neglected upon their tables. The Bible does not 
change with the changing wind, but when we once get 
the import of its prophetic instructions we may prepare  
for, and confidently expect, the event. Will  pastors take  
up the subject, not for the purpose of supporting or de- 
molishing  a theory, but to arrive at truth ? If any wish  
to know Mr. Miller's views, or those of his friends, their  
only safe course will be  to get them from their own works."


THE MIDNIGHT CRY.  
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1843.  
"THAT DAY AND HOUR."  
We think the words of Christ are greatly perverted  
when he takes pains to give warnings respecting a cer- 
tain event, on purpose that its corning may be perceived,  
and yet says, "Of that day and hour no one now knows." 
Is it not a monstrous abuse of language to say that 
Christ meant to have the event take us all by surprise,  
—that he wished and resolved to have all his pains go  
for nothing,—his warnings prove useless, and his ex- 
hortations to rejoice in the prospect, mere idle talk 1  
When he told us to take heed LEST that day should  
come upon us unawares, did he mean nothing '?  
" 0, that was about the destruction of Jerusalem,"  
says the objector.  
Indeed! you forget that it is part of the same dis- 
course, and if the warnings relate to the destruction of  
Jerusalem, so does the declaration, that no one knew  
the day or hour. Let us suppose, for a moment, that  
the language did all relate to the destruction of that  
city, which has been so absurdly considered the great 
subject of the New Testament prophecies. How would  
our modern theologians explain it 1 Of course they  
! would say, the warnings were designed to give notice 
j of the coming events to those who should heed them,  
that they might not be taken by surprise. The declar- 
ation that no one knew the day or hour would teach  
them to be ready at the first warning, for then the  
event might be constantly looked for tillit should come. 
This is the tenor of Scott's note on Matt. 24 : 36—41.  
He says :  
" Some expositors explain these words exclusively  
ofthe day of judgment, as being emphatically 'that  
dayand the context denotes that Christ intended to  
lead the thoughts of the hearers, and of those who  
should ever read this prediction, to that solemn occa- 
sion : (Notes, 42—51, 25,) but might not this be done,  
with reference also to the precise day and hour of Je- 
rusalem's destruction 1 Even this was not declared  
either to man or angel, so far as we can learn ; but the  
disciples were warned to expect and be ready  for its  
approach, and to mark the signs which had been 2'iven 
them. (Note, Mark 13 : 32.) For it would resemble 
the deluge, in that it was expressly predicted, and  
some general intimations were given concerning the  
appointed season when it would take place, with in-
structions how to escape. Yet men in general Would  
not believe, or take warning; but, being occupied about 
the employments and satisfactions of life, they would  
I be overwhelmed and destroyed by its unexpected com- 
| ing ; just as the inhabitants of the old world had been  
J by the flood. Even when two persons were in the  
same place, or about the same business, one of them  
j would be destroyed, and the other escape : as one would  
be watching and observing ' the signs of the times :'  
and the other carelessly neglecting them."  
Now let us apply the same principle to the still  
greater event, of Christ's personal corning, and all is 
plain. On this subject, a sister in Maryland, has just  
written to us the following appropriate suggestions :  
Br. J. V. Himes,—I should not venture to send you  
these thoughts, but that they occurred to me the other  
evening, when privately supplicating at the mercy seat,  
and strongly impressed my mind.  
Unto all who sincerely and prayerfully desire to know  
the truth, but are prevented from studying the prophe- 
cies, by the declaration, Mark 13 : 22—"But of that day 
and that hour knoweth no man ; no, not the angels 
which are in heaven, neither the Son, (his humanity) but  
the Father." And Matthew 24 : 36. I would say that 
to my mind the 5th chapter of Revelation confutes all ar- 
guments founded on those texts, against our knowing  
when the second coming of our Savior " is nigh even at  
the doors." Matt. 24 : 33 We there read, (Rev. 5 : 1—  
4,) " I John saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the  
throne a book written without and on the back, sealed 
with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaim- 
ing with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book 
and to loose the seals thereof?" &c. 5th and 6th verses,  
"And one of the elders said unto me,,'Weep not ; behold  
the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath  
56  

nrevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals  
thereof," &c. 7th v. "And he caine and took the book  
out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne."  
9th and 10th verses, "And they sung a-new song, saying, 
"Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seeds  
thereof; for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to 
God by thy blood." A part ofthe prophecies that follow'  
are made known by the  opening ofthe seals of this book  
of destiny, as some call it, or volume of prophecy, as it  
is called in the margin of my bible. Any one that will  
attentively read Rev. 1 : 1, must understand that not 
only this but the whole book is a revelation that God  
gave to Christ after kt had finished his work on earth and  
ascended to the Father, and that, he gave it to Hun to show  
to his servants what will come to pass. A reference to 
history will sho w that the fulfilment cl these prophecies 
helps to unseal the prophecies of the Old Testament:  
those I mean that remained to be fulfilled after the first  
advent of Christ, and were consequently carried out in  
the New Testament: for, those not repeated it) the New, 
we may rest assured, had already been fulfilled.  
S.  
"THEN SHALL THE END COME."—Mark, who wrote  
later than Matthew, reports Christ's words thus : "And 
the gospel must first be published among all nations."  
Doddridge applies this and Matthew 24 : 14, to the de- 
struction of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish  
state ; and he adds this note, to show the fulfilment of  
the prophecy:  
" It appears from the most credible records, that the  
gospel was preached in Idumea, Syria and Mesopota- 
mia, by Jude; in Egypt, Marmonica, Mauritania, and 
other parts of Africa, by Mark, Simon and Jude ; in 
Ethiopia, by Candace's Eunuch and Matthias; in Pon- 
tus, Galatia, and the neighboring parts of Asia, by Pe-
ter ; in the territories of the seven Asiatic churches, by  
John; in Posthia, by Matthew; in Scythia, by Philip  
and Andrew; in the northern and western parts of Asia, 
by Bartholomew; in Persia, by Simon and Jude ; in 
Media, Carmonia, and several eastern parts, by Thom- 
as ; through the vast tract from Jerusalem round about, 
to Illyricum, by Paul ; as also in Italy, and probably in  
Spain, Gaul and Britain; in most of which places  
Christian churches were planted in less than 30 years  
after the death of Christ, which was before the de- 
struction of Jerusalem."  
Modern objectors find no fault, with the tenor of this  
note, although it assigns but one preacher to many mil- 
lions of people, but they are strengthening the modern  
rejectors ofthe gospel, by assuringthem they will have 
the privilege of spurning it till it has b-en actually pre-
sented to every human being. But Christ made no  
such promise.  
When God destroyed the world by a flood, he warned  
them by one man only. When he destroyed Sodom,  
the warning was carried by angels to one man who re- 
peated it to his sons-in-law, but they scorned the warn- 
ing. The rest of the citizens did not personally receive  
the message, but they showed such a rebellious temper,  
that we cannot suppose they would have heeded it, if  
given them.  
All which the Lord foretold concerning the preaching  
of the gospel has been fulfilled, and it is the part of  
wisdom for us to regard the message we have received,  
and convey it rapidly to others, instead of nullifying  it,  
because we do not know that all have heard it.  
Our brother of the Religious Telescope, in Ohio,  
writing against our views, says :  
"Those who are at all acquainted with the history of  
the Gospel, must know that more has been done for the  
last 30 years for its universal spread, than was accom-
plished for ten centuries previous to that time. God has 
put it into the hearts of men of wealth, and they have  
given their thousands, for the express purpose of trans-
lating the Gospel into the different languages of the 
babbling earth, that all, according to the Saviour's own  
delaration, should hear for themselves; and now, with  
a few exceptions, the Scriptures, in part, are translated  
in every language and dialect under heaven."  
From these facts, we infer that we are living in the  
" time of the end," and that soon shall the end come.  
We beg our brother not to be found with the lulling 
message on his lips, " The end is not yet."  
Defer not a good purpose. '  

The Opening of the Tabernacle in Boston.  
On Thursday last the Tabernacle was opened for public  
worship. Its completion had been retarded by many unto- 
ward events, over which its friends had no control, but 
which were doubtless permitted for good ; and we doubt  
not but that it has heen opened at the very time when Infi-
nite W'sdom would direct. We were gratified with the  
presence of an immense assemblage from this and the  
neighboring towns. The presence of so many of our friends 
from different, and some distance places, and so strong in 
the faith, was most cheering to us. We perceived a large  
number of the clergy of this vicinity present, ami also a 
great number of the candid citizens, who do not sec with us.  
We think there could not have been present, less than 3500  
in all ; and all seemed highly attentive to the exercises, 
and pleased with the appropriateness of the house thus  
opened.  
The address of the Committee was read in connection  
with prayer and singing. Brother Silas Hawley, preached 
an able and appropriate discourse, to which the immense  
audience listened with evident gratification for. more than 
two hours. The discourse was from Ezk. xxi. 27.—" I will  
overturn, overturn, overturn it ; and it shall be no more,  
until he come, whose right it is; and I will give it him." 
It will be published shertly, that all may be instructed by it.  
Those present seemed evidently happily di.-appointed in  
the neatness and plain simplicity in which the Tabernacle  
is finished, it being so appropriate for the preaching of the  
gospel, and such a striking contrast to the gorgeous and  
velvet cushioned churches where " to the rich the gospel is  
preached."  
The services in the evening were attended by a crowded  
house, and several interesting addresses were made by 
ministering brethren from abroad. The day iiself was most  
delightful, and everything passed off in the most pleasing  
manner. To God be all the glory.—Signs of the Times.  
BROTHER WHITING—CORRESPONDENCE- 
NEW YORK,  April 5, 1843.  
DEAR SIR,—We the undersigned,  having heard it  
reported from various sources, that it was not gener-
ally believed that you had embraced the Second Ad- 
vent doctrine, we take the liberty to propose a few  
questions for jou to answer, that the  public may  
know what sentiments you do entertain on the above  
subject.  
AMOS S. MILLER, M. D.  
DANL. E. STEARNS, M. D.  
1st. Do you understand the four divisions of the  
image in Daniel 2, and the four great beasts in Dan- 
iel 7, as referring to four universal empires, and if 
so, what empires are alluded to 1  
2d. Does the vision of the 8th chapter refer to the  
same kingdom, and wherein does the little horn of this 
chapter differ from that  of the 7th 1  
3d. Will you give us your exposition of Daniel 8 :  
14—"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand three  
hundred days, then shall the  sanctuary be cleansed,"  
—and also of Daniel 9 : 24, in reference to the sev- 
enty weeks, and the anointing the Most Holy ?  
4th. Have we any evidence that thi world is about  
6000 years old 1  
5th. Do you think it possible to know the day and  
the hour, or even the year ofthe coming of the Son  
of man, and the end of these wonders 1  
WILLIAMSBURGH, L. I., April 13, 1843.  
Gentlemen,—I answer your questions as follows :  
To the first—Yes. The empires are the Babylo- 
nian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman.  
To the second—The vision in the 8th chapter re- 
fers to the same kingdoms, with the exception of Ba- 
bylon, which are described in Daniel 2 and 7. The  
little horn is the same one which is noticed in the 7th.  
[Note. Different views may present different aspects  
ofthe same anti-Christian power.—ED. CRY.]  
To the third—The 2300 days are used for years.


The "cleansing of the sanctuary" is described in 2  
Thess. 1—12. Compare Eph. 2 : 17—22. The 9th  
of Daniel furnishes the date from whence we are to  
reckon the 2300 days, viz. " the going forth of the  
commandment," which is recorded in the 7th of Ezra  
—in the seventh year of the reign of irtaxerxes, B.  
C. 457. The 70 weeks ofthe ninth of Daniel are a  
part of these days, both having the same commence- 
ment,— the former are cut off from the days, this be- 
ing the only proper signification ofthe Hebrew verb 
nechtak. If the phrase Most Holy (Kotlesh Kodo- 
thim) be referred to the Saviour, it points to the fact  
that the Spirit descended on him at his baptism.  
To the fourth—Hie weight of testimony is in favor  
ofthe period of 6000 years.  
To the fifth—I believe that prophecy indicates the  
year, but not the month, week, day, or hour.  
Respectfully yours, &c. N.N. WHITING.  
Messrs. Miller & Stearns. 
DR, WTEEKS' CRITICISM.—The exultation caused by  
the Dr.'s articles has been premature. A display of  
Hebrew and Greek rules, does not prove that a man is  
correct or infallible.  After Bro. Cook's communica- 
tion on page 62 was in type, a friend, to whom the ori- 
ginal languages is familiar, handed us the following :  
ANOTHER MISTAKE OF DR. WEEKS.  
In one of his recently published lectures, the Doctor  
has given us a criticism on Acts 13 ; 20, in which he  
insists that the phrase, " about the space of four hun- 
dred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet," is not 
designed to teach us that 450 years transpired between  
" the division of the land by lot," and the era of Samuel.  
To make this position good, he resorts to a rule of the 
Greek Grammar, (founded, by the bye, on the usage of 
the language of the classics,) which requires that if a 
word signify the duration of time, it should be put in 
the accusative case; but if a point of time when an  
event occurs, it must be put in the dative. Now as the  
words clesi tetrakosioispentckonta (400 years) are in the  
dative, the Dr. feels quite confident no doubt that his  
position is inexpugnable. We request his attention to  
John 2 : 19, 20—where the duration of time is ex- 
pressed by the dative case precisely as in Acts 13 ; 20 
—" Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this  
temple, and in three days (en trisin hemerais) I will  
raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years  
(Tessarakonta kai hex etesin) was this temple in  
building, &c." PHILO.  
[According to Dr. Weeks, this phrase must mean,  
After 46 years tbe temple was in building, &c.—ED. CRY.]  
CONFERENCE AT HARTFORD, &C.  
DEAR BROTHER HIMES,—The Con erence of Advent  
believers which commenced in this city on Tuesday, closed  
Thursday evening. Present, brethren Cook, Batchelder,  
Barry, and Brown.  
Our meetings were held in the City Hall until yesterday,  
when we occupied the house of the First Baptist Church.  
The attendance on these meetings has been very good, and 
so far as we may judge from outward appearances, those  
who have been present have listened with much candor and  
seriousness. At the close of the services yesterday morn- 
ing, brother Cook baptized twelve willing converts, ali of  
whom are looking for the blessed hope and the glorious ap- 
pearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
The brethren in the faith have been greatly refreshed and  
eftcouraged by what they have heard and experienced. I  
find thfrir number larger than I had supposed—the aged, the  
middle-aged,and the young, make up the blessed band. They 
are what might be termed a good class of Advent believers, 
that is, they are intelligent and pious. It has been said 
that none but the weak-minded embrace our views. This I  
deny. However, it is ordinarily the common people that  
receive the tru'.hs of the gospel, and I am willing  to be rank- 
ed among them. God has made religious truth for this 
class, and not for philosophers exclusively. Had he deposit- 

ed truth where the learned and the scientific alone could 
have discovered it, how few could have ever become ac-
quainted with the way of life and salvation. How surprised  
I am, that we have all along been soaring so high after truth,  
just as though we were so many astrohomers& seeking for  
some new world in the far-oil heavens, a discovery of which  
is essential to 3 perfect knowledge of the material universe. 
Why truth, and all the truth necessary for our good here* 
may be found by any mind that will stoop low eueugh to  
pick it up. Cold reason will never find out God unto per- 
fection— philosophy, unaided, could never trace the path lo  
heaven for a single soiil ; and if the philosopher would en-
ter there himself, he has got to come down from his giddy 
height, and enter thither by the same narrow, humble way,  
with the most untutored mind. The Christian scheme  
abases the pride of the wise. How common it is for us,  
when endeavoring to instruct etlch in regard to the plan of  
salvation, to present before their minds the simplicity of the  
gospel plan; and on the other hand, how natural is it for  
them to stumble at it, because they can discover nohe of  
man's wisdom in it. " The Jews require a sign, and the  
Greeks seek after wisdom," &c. Now, if these first, and, 
to the carnal heart, most humbling principles  of our religion,  
arc recognized and enforced by us in the great  work of re- 
generation, they ought always to be kept in view in the in- 
vestigation of all truths that affect our state after conversion.  
How much are any of us in advance of the Corinthian 
Christians, to whom Paul said, I have fed you with milk,  
and not with meat, &c.  
I do not despise learning, nor do I pretend to more than  
ordinary ability in discovering the truth of God's word. I  
think I have sought to let the Bible speak in its own sim- 
ple tongue. Still, I now see that I have sometimes erred  
in daring to try its doctrines by my own poor reason alone. 
Now, the Bible talks to me in the simplest strains, as though  
it took it for granted that 1 am just what I confess myself to 
be—a poor, ignorant sinner. I still aver that I read in it  
the doctrine of the glorious advent of my Saviour immedi-
ately at hand—and I solemnly maintain before High Heaven, 
that by the united agency of the Word and the Spirit, I have  
been taught this precious and sublime truth. God has  
seemed, too, to show me all the other great tiuths that clus- 
ter around it : he has shown me just the condition of the  
world, the church, and the ministry, until my soul could no  
longer bear the sight. He has given me a view of his holy 
law, with bold and impious man for G000 years trampling it  
under his feet—and Bhowi: me, as never before, the blood  
of his Son spurned and rejected, until Justice and Love have  
seemed to rend the heavens in their cry for the immediate 
and sudden destruction of a guilty world. Never before 
have I had fellowship with Christ in his sufferings—never 
have I felt before as though I could weep my soul away at 
the feet of  Jesus, as I have seen the indignity heaped upon  
him while he was on his mission of mercy to earth, and the  
manner in which his offers of love have been treated while  
he has been seated on the mediatorial throne. Oh, how can 
my soul any longer submit to his suffering further indigni- 
ties from graceless, wicked man ! Arid here I might ask, 
why is it that God has given us, and that without any  
eff'ori on our part, just such views of his law, of the love 
of Christ—-in a word, just such views of all truth, as reason- 
[ ing before hand, it would appear that we ought to have, in 
I order to qualify us to sound the Midnight Cry. Why has 
I he been so particular as to make his Wrord blaze with in- 
j struction, not upon one point only, the doctrine of the Se- 
i cond Advent, but on all tho^e points that are remotely con- 
j nected with it 1 
j Much is said about having charity for those who do not  
think with us ; and certainly we ought to exercise it to- 
wards all vvho are humble seekers after the truth, but to  
none who are  wilfully ignorant of it. We ought to have  
just such charity for them as we do for impenitent sinners,  
of whom there  are two classes—one that  seems half dispos- 
ed to be Christians, and the other determined not to be  
Christians at all. I believe that to be a Second Advent 
believer, it is just as necessary that the aid of the sove- 
reign and gracious power of God should be called in, as in  
the act of conversion. The cases are very analogous. Why,  
says the siuuer, I do not see proofs of the inspiration of  

the Scriptures. Another says, I do not see conversion and  
future punishment taught there ; and another, I do not un- 
derstand what you mean by experiencing  religion. But soon,  
perhapB, God's Spirit begins to m&vte, conscience is  
alarmed, the sinner is convicted, he is converted—he is 
in a new world. He says, I have awoke from a dream ; 
why did you not arouse me, and cry in my ear—destruc- 
tion I  
Just so as  to this doctrine. I know not why I was op- 
posed to it, nor why I did not see the proofs of it before; 
I am glad that I am converted ; and it would be as difficult  
to convince me that ii. is not of God, as to convince a youhg  
convert by argument; that all that he professed to expe-
rience when first converted, is not of God. As 1 have said 
once, so I say again, it may be God's purpose to select  
only a portion of his servants to give the cry, while he  
keeps it a secret to others. Hence our opponents ought to  
have charity for us, for we may he doing God's will:—for 
one, I  am solemnly persuaded that I am.  
As to an " abusive spirit," I candidly think that the  
other side need to be cautioned a little more than ourselves.  
I will not be abusive—it has never been my disposition to  
be ; but can I do otherwise than to speak of things just as  
God, without any effort or desire of mine, has  shown  
them to me 1 Ought not our brethren to allow that God 
may have shown us the conviction of the world and the  
church in a light in which they themselves do not see  
it? lam no man's echo. God sg,a;ns to have been my  
sole Teacher of late, and I speak just as he teaches; I im- 
plore my dear brethren not to abuse us either in private or  
in public, and not to treat us as though we were Mormons. 
A little time will correct our error, if indeed it be an error;  
Really, they ought to be grateful to God that there are so  
many in all our churches throughout the earth, that adhere  
so rigidly to the word of God as our guide—that love  
the appearing of the Saviour, and are ready, even at a 
" false alarm," to arise and trim their lamps, and make 
preparation for the reception of the Bridegroom.  
Affectionately yours, F. G. BROWN.  
RESTORATION OF ISRAEL.  
DEAR BRO. SOUTHARD,—There is one Scripture ar- 
gument for the restoration of the carnal Jews, that I 
do not remember to have seen noticed; At any rate,  
I am confident it has not received that attention  
which it merits. Perhaps some reference to it may  
be of service to Dr. Brownlee and others, who teach  
that "God's ancient covenant people, the Jews, are 
to be gathered in, and with them the fulness of the  
Gentile world."  
In the 16th chapter of Ezekiel, the 46th, 53d, 55th,  
and 61st verses, Jerusalem is thus addressed—"And  
thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters 
that dwell at thy left hand ; and thy younger sister, 
that dwelleth at thy right hand is Sodom and her  
daughters. When 1 shall bring again their captivi- 
ty, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the  
captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I  
bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst  
of them. When thy sisters, Sodom and her daugh- 
ters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria  
and her daughters shall return to their former estate, 
then thou and thy daughters shall return to your for- 
mer estate. Then thou shalt remember thy ways,  
and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sis- 
ters, thine elder and thy younger, and I will give 
them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy cove-
nant.'"  
From these passages it appears that when Sodom  
is restored to her former estate, then, and not till then,  
will " Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her chil-
dren," be restored to her former estate. But when  
will Sodom be restored? Let brother Jude make 
answer. Verse 7—"Even as Sodom and Gomorrah,  
and the cities about them in like manner, giving  
themselves over to fornieation, and going after 
strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering  
the vengeance of ETERNAL FIRE."  
" But," asks the Judaizer, " does not Paul say all  
Israel shall be saved ?" Yea, verily. But he also  
says, "They are not all Israel who are of Israel." 
"He is not a Jew who is one outwardly." " The  
children of the flesh are not tbe children of God ; but  
the children of the promise are counted for the seed."  
Yours in the hope of Israel,  
Brooklyn, Ct. SAMUEL S. SNOW.  
57  
t


PREDICTIONS OF THE END IN DAYS PAST,  
It is often said by the opponents of the advent, as  
evidence that the present is not the " midnight cry,"  
that similar expectations have been frequently enter- 
tained in every age; since the first promulgation of the  
gospel: and in proof, various dates are given when it is  
iaid such has beeil the belief.  
It is however one thihg to say that individuals en- 
tertained such views^ and that it was believed in certain  
times long past: but it is another thing tt> prove by  
ancient books or records, that such was the fact.  
When any one asserts that a certain man at a certain  
period predicted a similar event, it is useless to attempt  
to disprove it; for to prove a negative is impossible;  
The whole proof of most of the instances adduced, of  
predictions of the end of the world, are based entirely  
upon mere newspaper assertions, a mere say so, being  
the only proof offered.  
Now unless such assertions can be substantiated by  
indisputable prbof, by reference to the chapter and verse  
of authentic histories, written in the times when those  
dates and persons can be authenticated, it will follow 
that no weight whatever can be attached to them. 
These considerations at once show us that but little  
confidence can be given to the greater number of the 
instances enumerated of such predictions. This re-
duces the actual number of such predictions to a very  
small compass.  
Of actual predictions which have been made at  
various periods, and by different individuals,  and which  
are brought forward as parallel cases with the present 
expectations, the great majority were predictions and  
expectations of different events, ahd hot of the end of  
the world. Even some of the historical instances are  
of this nature. For instance, the case of the fifth  
monarchy men in Germany, during the reformation, is 
often adduced as an instance of a belief of the end ofthe  
world then at hand. It however was only a belief that 
the kingdom of Christ was to be set up in this World  
before the resurrection. Thomas Munzer in the six- 
teenth, and Thomas Yenner in the seventeenth centu- 
ries, who, with their adherents committed great ex- 
cesses, are also adduced as instances of similar predic-
tions ; but they taught that Christ would reign in time,  
and did not expect the world was then to end. John  
of Leyden, otherwise king John of Munster, who quit  
his thimble and shears to set up the kingdom of Christ,  
and alarmed all Germany,' possessing the city of Mun- 
ster more than a year, also taught that that kingdom  
would be in this world before the resurrection. The 
same was also held by the Cocceians, a sect founded by  
Cocceius, a professor of theology at Bremen in Ger- 
many, and who died A. D. 1699. Thus the most plau- 
sible instances adduced of similar predictions, are 
shown to be predictions of other events, and not of the  
end of the world ; so that the catalogue of such instan- 
ces is still further reduced. Again, by far the largest 
number of authenticated instances of an actual expecta-
tion ofthe time ofthe end, are merely the cases of indi- 
vidual belief: or at most had extended in a very small  
circle, and were embraced by a very few individuals.  
And further, such belief, when it has thus existed, has  
been based not upon the plain declarations of the word  
of God, the fulfilment of the prophecies, the termination  
of the prophetic periods, and the signs of the times ;  
but has been based upon mere private impressions.  
They have guessed, judged from the stars, dreamed,  
seen some wonderful coincidence, or unusual event, 
which induced them to suppose that  a certain time  
would wind up the affairs ofthe world. In some of the  
instances recorded, it has been the belief of but a single  
individual,  and in other cases there have been only a  
few adherents. Thus the long catalogue of cases of  
similar predictions will be found to vanish, and leave  
but a few solitary instances where such a  belief has  
been general.  
58  

The above remarks have respect to particular pre- 
dictions o'fthe end, and riot to the universal looking for  
ofthe coming Of Christ, which has been in all ages since  
his first advent, till these last days. Our Savior com- 
manded his children to live continually watching for his 
coming: and we find that in accordance with this in- 
junction, his followers have frOmthat day to the preach- 
ing of a temporal millennium, continued to live in ac-
cordance with such an expectation, without having  
their eye on any particular time. Even the twenty- 
third article of the Saybrook Platform, adopted by the  
churches of Connecticut, A, D. 1708, teaches us that  
we should "shake off all carnal security, and be always 
watchful," and "he ever prepared to say, come Lord 
Jesus, come quickly;" and with this agree the Savoy 
confession of faith and the Westminster, which were 
the basis of the congregational churches of New Eng-
land. Also Joshua Spaulding, of Salem, who wrote in  
1796, testifies that " as late as the great earthquake in  
N. E. many Christians were looking for the second  
coming of Christ; and with this expectation, they  
arose and trimmed their lamps. Many Christians were 
then in the exercise of faith like that related of the  
Rev. and godly Mr. P—s who, awakening from sleep,  
Said to his cdnsOrt, " My dear, the Lord has come ; let 
us arise and go forth to meet him." Mr. Spaulding  
further states, that he had the testimony of elderly peo- 
ple, who were alive in his day* that they remembered 
when the doctrine of a temporal millennium Was first 
preached: so that till the last century, Christians were 
continually looking for the coming of Christ, at any 
time; but this continual expectation is not to be  
classed with predictions of particular times for that 
event.  
After deducting from the list of predictions in days  
past those which have reference to other events, were  
instances only of individual  or a limited belief, or are not  
supported by Reference to any work written at the time  
when such predictions are reputed to have been given,  
it will be found that the entire catalogue itself has al- 
most vanished. Indeed it is doubtful whether more 
than THREE instances can be produced, well authentica-
ted, where a particular period for the consummation  
has been a general belief; Viz. sOon after the days of  
the apostlesj in the eleventh century, and at the present 
time.  
The primitive church believed that this world would  
terminate at the end of six thousand years from crea- 
tion. St Barnabas, Papias, Ignatius, Polycarp, and  
other writers of that day, distinctly taught this. Ac- 
cording to the chronology ofthe Septuagint, the world  
was near the end of the six thousand years, immediate-
ly after the days of the apostles; and therefore the  
general belief then prevailed that the time was about  
fulfilled. The chronology of the Hebrew text, however,  
proves that the world is only now about at the end of 
the six thousand years.  
Again, at the end of the tenth century, a belief pre- 
vailed that when our Savior was crucified, eatan was  
bound, that the one thousand years of Rev. xx. then  
commenced, and that at the end of the one thousand 
years from that time, would be the Lord's second com- 
ing. The expectation of the event then, was so uni-
versal, that during an eclipse of the moon, the army of  
Otho became unmanageable, and hid themselves in cel- 
lars, &c>  
The only remaining time when such a belief has  
been general* is at the present time. Now, however, 
the belief is based upon the declaration of the word of  
God. Because the various periods referred to have  
passed by, it does not follow that the present will also  
fail, for never before has the belief been based upon  
such a union of Scripture evidences, as at this time.  
Our Savior says, Luke xii. 35—38, " Let your loins  
be girded about, and your lights burning ; And ye your- 

selves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he 
will return from the wedding ; that when he cometh  
and knockfeth, they may open unto him immediately.  
Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord whesi he  
cometh shall find watching : verily I say unto you, that  
he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to  
meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if  
he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third 
watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants."  
As he did not come at the first watch immediately  
after the days of the apostles, or at the second watch  
in the eleventh century, and as only three watches are  
referred to by him, let us be ready, so that when he  
comes at the THIRD WATCH, we may be found of him in 
peace.—Signs of the Times.  
L ETTERS.  
Again we are obliged greatly to condense our cheer- 
ing letters. A Brother in Portsmouth N. H., writes :  
"Through the mercy and goodness of God, we are  
again permitted to hear Brother Brown, who has for- 
merly labored in this place ; since God in such a won- 
derful manner visited him by his Holy Spirit, he has  
been striving in a number of places to proclaim the  
Midnight Cry, and the blessed news of salvation! 
Last week he felt it his duty to visit Porthmouth once  
more, to proclaim the Saviour's speedy coming, to the  
people for whom he has offered many prayers, and shed  
many tears ! He commenced a course of Lectures on 
Thursday evening at the Chestnut st. Church, which  
were continued through the week with good success ;  
God crowned the meeting with his special presence  
and glory; and we trust many who were unacquainted 
with God were led to see the necessity of speedily 
forming an acquaintance with him: on the first even- 
ing he related his experience, and spoke of the peace  
and joy he felt on receiving this blessed truth. He  
said that it is the current report that he is insane ; but 
he never was so far from insanity, and never had such  
control over his intellectual powers, as he has had for  
two months past.  
"I beleve the people generally are satisfied in regard  
to the truth of his statements. On the Sabbath he  
preached at the Middle st. Church, where he has labor- 
ed in years past; he took up the objections generally  
urged against the doctrine of the coming of the Lord at 
hand, and endeavored to show by the word of God that  
they weighed nothing comparatively against the doc-
trine. O praise the Lord that light from Heaven is 
beginning to dawn on this subject, that whereas to  
many it wras once dark and mysterious, now it is clear 
as the sun in its meredian splendor. Ministers are be- 
ginning to give this subject a candid and careful exam- 
ination ; and souls, in view ofthe solemn scenes which  
are before them, are seeking an interest in Jesus, and  
a cover from the storm which is already gathering."  
Brother B—, Postmaster at Richwood, O, writes : 
"Will you please explain the following, viz : Daniel  
has a sure promise that he shall stand in his lot'at the 
end Of the days ;' will not therefore the 2300 days be 
entirely accomplished and ended before Daniel will  
stand in his lot, or in other words before the judgment  
shall set ; it appears to me, from the above, if I  
am correct, that Christ will not appear until the 2301st  
year shall usher in."  
[Ans.—Christ may come before the end ofthe days,  
when probation will close, which is represented by the  
Master ofthe house shutting the door, after which many  
will stand without the door and knock. Of that coming, 
no one knoweththe DAY or hour, and for it we are com-
manded constantly to watch. Our brother's view of the  
promise to Daniel may be correct, and the same faithful  
Being who has fulfilled his promises with such wonder- 
ful accuracy hitherto, will vindicate his faithfulness in 
the last, most glorious one.—ED. CRY.]  
"Bros. Prior and Haynes, have both been lecturing  
in this place and neighborhood for several weeks on  
the second coming of Christ; the result has been a  
great revival; 50 joined the church here, and in Mid-
dletown, a small village near this place, many have 
been added to the church ; but I am not able now to state 
the precise number. Judge Strong, of Marysville,  
(our county seat,) was here and lectured for us during


the piogress of our meeting. I saw in one of the  
Midnight Cry's, a communication of the Judge's."  
See letter of Silas G. Strong, Mid. Cry, April 7.  
We now first learn the office of the writer. It adds  
nothing to his true greatness, but we arc pleased with  
his modesty in concealing it.  
A WATCHMAN IN KENTUCKY.  
Brother Marsh, our fellow laborer of the Palladium,  
has forwarded us the following, which he had just re- 
ceived.  
"I have examined the all-important subject of the  
Second Advent at hand, with some interest ever since  
I received the Palladium last Spring. As soon as I  
looked at it with an unprejudiced mind, I was forced  
to admit that the prominent features in the doctrine I  
could not reason or explain away, and do justice to that 
conscience that will ultimately accuse or excuse me in 
a coming day. As I profess to be a free thinker and 
my own expositor of God's Law, and allow no man or  
set of men to bias or control me in this matter, farther 
than I think I find Thus saith the Lord, I must con- 
fess that the more I examine the subject the deeper  
the conviction sinks in my heart, that the doctrine  
has God's word for its foundation, and is entirely with-
out the reach of jealous vindictive sarcasm and sophis- 
try : based upon the sure word of Prophecy, the Rock 
of Ages—the word of Truth that never faileth.  
"My struggle was long and incessant to evade the  
force of its truth. I  have learned more clearly the  
coiling, subtle serpent-like disposition of the human 
heart. I now feel that this awful day, (though glorious  
to the Christian,) will speedily come. 0 Lord have  
mercy  upon a guilty world. O thou insulted and in- 
flexible Judge of quick and dead, shed abroad the saving  
influence of thy Holy Spirit, and let thy matchless 
power be made known in the salvation of a wicked 
and Hell-deserving world. Save, Lord.  
"I have expended much time and money for the ac- 
quisition of the Medical science, am young and my  
worldly prospects were blooming. But deep calleth  
unto deep, and recently He that hath promised to fill  
the treasures of those that follow him has reconciled  
all. The love of the world is hourly receding from my  
heart, and my prospects of ultimately reaping a rich  
harvest in the kingdom of God daily brightening. O  
that I maybe found worthy j that when the Savior again  
shall stand upon Mount Zion, and the 7th and last trump  
shall sound her shrill notes, and all the virgins arise  
from their dusty beds, I too may strike my golden harp,  
and tune it anew on Eden's plains*  
"I have long heard the sweet invitation of God's  
Spirit, saying, 'this is the way, walk ye in it,' and I  
have always in return said, not sOj Lord, until a few  
days past. I am now resolved to spend the remainder 
of my days in the service of God. For the future I  
intend to give the Midnight Cry in Ky. O Lord help, 
for thy help is greatly needed ; for the godly man ceas- 
eth and the faithful fail from among the children of  
men. The doctrine is entirely new here. I am all 
alone in this matter in this county. J. JAMES."  
An aged brother in Pitcher, Chenango county, writes :  
"The Midnight Cry has been read with interest and  
profit by me and many others. I have lent them all  
over the neighborhood. You have sent me many more  
papers than my money came to. I must send this let- 
ter without the means to help you print the Midnight  
Cry, for I am a poor man 73 years old ; I am deaf as a  
stone—have not been able to hear a human voice for  
many years. The Midnight Cry is a feast to my soul. 
Under these circumstances do I not need something 1 
If any of God's dear children send you money to send  
the Midnight Cry to those who have not the means to 
pay for them, please to remember me. I know not  
how to do without them.  
"I think you would like to hear a little of the result  
of Second Advent Lectures in this region. Our be- 
loved Brother Daniels from Massachusetts, came to  
Cincinnatus and commenced a course of lectures in the  
Baptist house. He had full meetings. Elder Swan  
is a believer in the Second Advent near, and some of 
his Church. Then Bro. Daniels went on the hill six 
miles south-east of Pitcher, and gave a course of lec- 
tures, and the result is glorious ; a great reformation 
took place. There are a great many young converts, 
and the reformation still continues. Last Sunday  
evening, 40 spoke,—all coming along in the faith ofthe 
Second Advent near. So we see the doctrine is ap- 
proved and blessed of God.  
"Bro. Daniels came to Pitcher, obtained the Baptist  

house, and preached three lectures. The clergy oppo-
sed and the people would not attend. He closed the 
second day at one o'clock. He spent the afternoon 
with Bro. Crandall, with whom I have been closely  
connected in the doctrine of holihess, for years. He  
has a large family of children. Two of them are  
married and have families, but they were at home. In 
the course of the afternoon, no less than three of them  
were converted to God. All of his family are now  
converted, down to two or three little children. It is  
a house of great rejoicing—it is a little paradise on  
earth. They can sing praises to God and pray together  
with one consent. The Clergy in Pitcher are con- 
strained to say the fruits of the second advent doctrine 
are good, though the doctrine is false; Dear brother,  
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit 1"  
Extract of a letter from Missouri.  
"I am earnestly and prayerfully seeking for light on  
the subject of the Second Advent near; and most of  
the human aid I have been able to obtain to enlighten  
my mind on this subject thus far, has been from some  
dozen of the late numbers of the "Signs of the Times,"  
and a few numbers ofthe "Midnight Cry," which have  
lately come directed to this office. I am convinced  
that the event is nigh even at the doors, and that the  
doctrine of a temporal Millennium which I have so  
long held, is not supported by the Scriptures. My  
prayer is that I may come to a right understanding of 
the whole subject^ and as time may be short, I feel  
that what is to be done mu§t be done quickly. I have  
had so many calls upon me for the few numbers of pa- 
pers that I  haVe received, that I have been compelled  
to let many of them go before I have examined them as  
much as I could wish."  
Brother Clapp of Akron, 0., writes : 
" Our Pastor ofthe First Congregational Church,  
James D. Pickands, has been absent from us about  
two weeks. He has been presenting tbe subject of  
the Second Advent to the people of Canton, a village  
20 miles south of us. The Lord has blessed his la-
bors abundantly. A goodly number of the impeni-
tent in the place have been converted to the doctrines  
of the Cross, and many of God's children have been 
led to embrafce the whole truth, and are living daily 
with the expectation of seeing the Lord- The Meth-
odist minister, Mr. McCue, of C., has come out  
boldly, and is now proclaiming the speedy coming of 
the Saviour. He preached for us yesterday, (Sab- 
bath,) and was not afraid to commit himself on the  
subject."  
A writer in Georgia says :  
" There are none here who read Miller's Lectures  
who can show wherein he is wrong, and many have  
faith to believe in the early coming of Christ."  
An aged brother in Vernon, N. Y., who has been  
a diligent student of the Bible from his youth, 
writes :  
" I have lately seen brother Miller's book, pub- 
lished  in 1835, wherein he has given his views of  
the time of Christ's second coming, from his diligent 
search of the prophecy of Daniel, and comparing the  
other prophecies with what is revealed in the New 
Testament by the Evangelists, the Apostles, and  
John the Revelator, I think in such a harmonizing  
chain of proofs, that it cannot leave any room for 
doubt on the subject. I have so far fallen in with 
the belief, that I can say that the thought of Christ's  
speedy coming gives me much joy, and it does com- 
fort my poor heart that I can say, Come Lord Jesus,  
come quickly, amen.  
" I would farther add, that I am not ashamed to  
espouse this cause before the world, and to contend 
earnestly for this faith, although I meet with stiong 
opposition, and am sneered at by some. But none 
of those things move me, so that I can find the tiuth. 
Iam willing to own my ignorance. I do not pretend 
to know a sentence of grammar. It was not taught 
in our common schools when 1 was young. But I  
am thankful that for more than thirty years I have  
been to a high school, and have had a Divine teach- 
er, together with the best school book that ever was  
printed—the Bible. I am in my 79th year."  
A writer in Birmingham, Ohio, says :  
"Admitting that your chronological dates are  
wrong, you will have the pleasure of looking back  
upon your past course through life, and of knowing 
that you have been the means, through Christ, of  
causing hundreds and thousands to ' emerge out of  
nature's darkness unto God's marvellous light.' Yea,  

even now, you can revert with pleasure to that pas-
sage which says,' They that turn many to righteous-
ness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.' "  
A subscriber enclosing two dollars from Pennsyl- 
vania, says :  
"I have been receiving your moat excellent paper,  
the Midnight Cry, for some length of tihie, and it has 
been of great good to my soul. I have received more  
light through your paper on the Scriptures, than I  
have received from the sacred desk in years that are 
past. It has been to me a key, and has unlocked 
many passages that appeared to me very dark and  
intricate, which now appear to me plain and intelli- 
gible, and prove a blessing to my soul."  
A writer in Canada says :  
"I have got a look at the Midnight Cry—vol. 2,  
Nos. 7 and 8. It is handed from house to house  
with great care. Some are scoffing, and many are  
listening v.ith care, comparing their Biblies, and prov-
ing the same to be truth ; thus it stirs up divisions  
wherever it goes."  
LETTER FROM NEW HAVEN.  
Not many learned are called ; nevertheless, there  
were a feiv such who believed on Christ at his first  
coming. Here we see a student who sat at the feet 
of our modern Gamaliels, confessing his faith in un- 
popular truth. We publish it  without the knowledge  
of brother Ilirnes, and do not think it necessary to 
suppress the personal acknowledgments it contains.  
"DEAR BROTHER HIMES—1 affl much surprised that  
you have not long since received Some frank ac-
knowledgment of the good effected,  through the  
blessing of God, by the labors of brother Miller and  
yourself at New Haven. W7hether this delinquency  
has been occasioned by the fact that your efforts  
were not duly appreciated, or by a culpable negli- 
gence and. ingratitude, is not for me to determine. 
As the period is now passed in which I conceive this 
ought to have been done, it will perhaps be sufficient 
to state, in respect to the general results, that thfe  
powerful and glorious revival, which commenced un- 
der your labors, continued for some two months with  
almost unabated interest. In view of this fact, no  
one will wonder at my disappointment in having  
hitherto seen no public acknowledgment nor ex- 
pression of gratitude.  
" But what is still more astonishing to me, is, that  
religious communities at large, so far from being wil-
ling to acknowledge their indebtedness to the labors 
of individuals, who love to dwell upon the Second 
Advent of Christ, not only choose to disclaim them, 
but effectually to reject this glorious doctrine. That  
tbe generality of churches and ministers do virtually 
reject the doctrine in question, I think is evident; for  
they not only fail to dwell upon it themselves, but  
close the doors of their sanctuaries upon those who  
wish to proclaim it. If they do not in theory wholly  
discard the doctrine of Christ's second coming, still  
they place the event so far in the future, as to utterly  
nullify its influence on the mind. It is dreadful to  
think of the treatment which this subject has receiv-
ed from Christ's professed followers. He has fre-
quently and emphatically declared, ' Behold, I come  
quickly.' What then must be the prospects of the 
mass of nominal Christians, in view of the following  
test? 'Whosoever is ashamed of me and of my  
words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed,  
when he cometh in the glory of his Father and the  
holy angels.'  
" But I wish more particularly to acknowledge my  
personal obligations for the good which eventually  
accrued to myself from attending your meetings. 
During the week which you spent in the place, my  
former views, which accorded with those of the  
church generally, were shaken. In addition to this,  
I contracted a relish for the important subject dis-
cussed, which led me to a protracted investigation. 
After devoting my whole attention to the examina- 
tion of both sides of the subject for five weeks, my 
convictions were so deep that Christ would soon  
come to destroy the world and  deliver his people, that  
I could no longer conscientiously lemain, and con-
tinue my regular studies in College^ 1 was well  
aware that the Faculty might perhaps consider their 
institution disgraced, and well knew that fellow-stu- 
dents would pity my so-called imbecility, and ridi-
cule what they imagined to be my credulity. In ad- 
dition to this, I expected that much esteemed pa-
trons would be disappointed, and become alienated


for ever. But barter my conscience I could not, and  
to remove my  convictions of truth was impossible.  
The course of duty, therefore, being made plain, I 
Commenced spreading before the people the evidence  
which convinced me that Christ will speedily come.  
In doing this, and presenting other practical truths,  
as circumstances seemed to demand, I have now  
spent the happiest three months of my life. My con- 
victions that the course I pursued was right, have  
been very much strengthened, not only by farther in- 
vestigations ofthe general subject, but by the violent  
i opposition manifested on the part of those destitute  
of the spirit of Christ, and the blessings with which  
God has owned his precious truth.  
" That the second coming of Christ is 'at hand,'  
' even at the doors,' I am scarcely permitted to doubt  
And that the evidence for believing the event will  
take place this year, vastly preponderates over all 
opposing that has yet been presented, and with 
which I am acquainted. I as freely acknowledge to 
be my belief.  
" For the evidence, in view of which my sentiments  
have been thus revolutionized,  I am, of course, most  
indebted to the Bible. But for the suggestion of ma- 
ny of these evidences, and for the impulse which led  
me to a long and careful examination of this subject,  
I am indebted to brother Miller and yourself. Re- 
ceive my warmest thanks, and be assured I shall  
ever cherish towards you the most grateful emotions.  
" Brother Dean, of the present Senior Class, and  
Brother Gurnsey, recently of the Junior Class, who  
were engaged in studying this subject at tbe same  
time with myself, were forced to adopt similar con- 
clusions. 1 am authorized by them to say, that they  
have since found no reason for changing their belief.  
They have both fearlessly sounded the ' cry' in dif- 
ferent parts of the State.  
"Yours in the hope of Christ's speedy appearing,  
" ASAHEL A. STEVENS."  
J WESTERN NEW YORK.-—LETTER FROM A PASTOR.  
" Dear. Bro. Southard,—'The glorious truth, that the  
comingof the Lord draweth nigh, is making some pro- 
gress in Western New York. Bro. Beach, under God,  
has done a blessed work for us in spreading the truth in  
most of our principal places : yet much remains to tie 
done, or that day will come upon thousands unawares.  
According to my feeble abilities, I endeavor to answer  
some of the many calls for lectures ; though for reasons  
that have answered my own conscience before God, I  
have not left my own people on the Sabbath to give the  
' cry' to others. I have many more calls for lectures  
than I can possibly answer and retain my charge.  
There are some five or six good brethren in our little  
Church, who are waiting the coming of their Lord, and  
who delight to go with us to sing the songs of Zion. By 
this, they add much to the interest of our meetings.  
The dearth is great, the 'Macedonian Cry' is long and  
loud for help in V\ estern N. Y. We want some strong 
men ; strong in God ; mighty in the Scriptures, to visit  
our cities and principal towns. Why do brethren thus  
pass us by 1 Multitudes are ready, yea anxious to hear.  
We have also the living arguments of which Peter spake  
in his second epistle, 3  : 4. We have Antiochus-men,  
we have Dr. Weeks-men, we have ' literalists' and 
spiritualists,—we have a representation of almost every  
shade of sentiment in Christendom.  
Presbyteries, Synods, Associations, and Consociations,  
are reeling and rocking as if drunk with a spirit of con- 
tention and division.  Old organizations are splitting in  
pieces, and new ones are forming. Jealousies, strifes of  
words, heresy-hunting and the like, seem to  characterize  
! many of the meetings of ecclesiastical bodies in the re- 
! gion, while the heart of humble piety is compelled to  
| weep and bleed in secret places. In looking at things as 
! they now exist, we are induced to raise the enquiry—  
j Had Paul any reference to the Church in his second 
j epistle to Tim. 3 : 1—5 1 It is painfui in the extreme, to  
j speak of these things, and much more so to witness them.  
j But the day is near at hand when they will all be pro- 
claimed as upon the house-tops. In the midst of all this  
commotion, let the glorious truth of our Savior near be 
proclaimed, and the wise shall understand." The  
righteous will hear and heed the voice.—John 10 : 27, 28.  
We are making efforts to get some one or two of the  
brethren who are prepared thoroughly to discuss this  
subject, to visit this region. We want Bro. Himes—Bro. 
Miller—Litch—Brown—Southard—Fleming  —Fitch—or  
others. Will not, cannot, some of those dear brethren 
«' come over and help us 1" If we can get help, and the  
Savior does not come before, we propose to hold a gener- 
al meeting in a beautiful grove just west of our place,  
about the sixth of June, or soon after. If brethren could  
come so as to spend some week or two previous in visit-
ing Palmyra, Rochester, Brockport, Albion, Lockport,  
i Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Batavia, Le Roy, and as many  
; other places as they were able, and then close their visit  
60  

jby a general convention in some central part, many thou- 
sands of souls, it is believed, might be much benefitted by 
the visit. Every facility we could afford to aid them in 
the work, we Would most cheerfully render. If any of 
these brethren, or others can come, will they not advise  
us by the earliest mail'?  
Yours, in the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of  
the great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ, 
L. Pi JUDSON."  
RKI'LY.  
Several brethren have been looking at western New  
York, with great interest, and will make arrangements  
to visit that section as soon as possible.  
THE CAUSE IN NEW JERSEY.  
The writer of the following,  is a young brother from Phila- 
delphia.  
"Dear rBro. Southard—At yourrequest Ifurnishyou with  
a short account of my labors at Great Egg Harbor. An in- 
vitation was received from a very warm hearted brother, 
who resides there, and had been a subscriber for the "Signs  
of the Times." He had wakened some interest in the subject  
himself, so that the way was in a measure opened for the  
spread of the truth. The glorious appearing of tbe Lord  
Jesus Christ, the truth which stands so prominently out in the 
Scriptures, but has been so strangely buried of late, has  
ihere run and been glorified.  I lectured in seven different  
places, at Leedsville, Bargaintown, Smith's Lauding, Abse- 
cuin, and elsewhere, and a great interest was awakened in the 
advent near, very little op| osition was made, and that little 
only by worldly professors. The truth appeared to take  
especial hold ofthe unconverted. Many of the most hard- 
ened sinners in the place have become anxious for their 
salvation, and are seeking the Saviour. Many have believed 
and are now with us, ' looking for that blessed hope.' At  
the last meeting which was  held previous to my leaving them  
about twenty arose for prayer, and about one half of this  
number were males. I expect to return, and resume the 
efforts which have been so successfully made, as soon as  
practicable, Yours in hope,  
THOMAS J. MEI.LISII.  
BROTHER CALDWELL, Writes, (April 25,) from Cincin- 
nati, that the call for lectures is great, the excitement is 
increasing—souls are obeying the gospel—ho was to com-
mence a camp meeting in New Richmond, in two weeks.  
PLYMOUTH BRETHREN.  
Some months ago, we had occasion to purchase a  
quantity of Bibles at a store where a young English- 
man was clerk. In conversation respecting our 
views, he mentioned that the Plymouth brethren, in  
England, are firm believers in Christ's coming near,  
though they do not understand the prophetic periods 
as we do. He added that they were noted for their 
benevolence and brotherly love. Those who have  
large incomes live frugally, and give the surplus to 
the poor.  
This information awakened a curiosity, which has  
been increased, but not gratified, by two or three  
brief allusions to them we have since seen. The  
last New York Observer adds the following to our  
stock of knowledge respecting them, but its readers  
are not informed that they are "Adventists.''  
THE DARBYITES, OR PLYMOUTH BRETHREN.  
From a publication of high Calvanistic sentiments  
and of great circulation, called " The Gospel Standard,'1''  
we extract the following account of the  above sect,  
which will be interesting to our readers :—  
"We laid before our readers a short time ago, a  
sketch of Puseyism; we propose in our present num- 
ber to present them with a similar outline of the views  
of the Plymouth Brethren. It is probable that many 
of our readers may not know them even by name, 
although there are few localities into which they have 
not more or less penetrated. We shall therefore give 
a slight sketch of their origin, and then a short account 
of their views.  
"They are called, then, Plymouth Brethren, from the  
place of their head-quarters, that town being the resi-
dence of the originators of the party ; and as they dis- 
claim everything of  a sectarian nature, and will not  
allow themselves by any name descriptive of views of  
doctrine, modes of Church government, opinions of an 
individual, or other usual sources of a distinctive de-
nomination, they speak of themselves as Brethren. 
Their chief originators were members of the Church  
of England, some being seceding ministers, and others, 
educated at the University, but never ordained, as the  
term is, by a bishop.  

"Their leading men are, or were (for we have no  
very recent information), Mr. Wigram, Mr, Newton, 
and Mr. Darby. The two former were educated at  
Oxford, but  not ordained ; the last is an Irish Clergy- 
man, who has seceded from the Establishment some  
tenor eleven years. All three are men of talent, and  
the latter of a mind peculiarly original, reflective and 
penetrating. Pallid in countenance, emaciated in  
figure, careless even to shabbiness in dress, disregard- 
ful of the common conveniences of life, possessed of  
martyr courage, liberal, even to the utter wasting of all  
his property, to the poor, and full of kindness and be-
nevolence, Mr. Darby is well fitted to draw admiration  
from all who look much to the externals of religion.  
And when to this we add, that he possesses a mind  
deeply reflective, a memory remarkably conversant with  
Scripture, a life spotless, an energy unwearied, a devoted-
ness to one subject rarely equalled, and a power to in- 
fluence inferior minds not often found, we shall not won- 
der that, though not the first originator, or the most  
known, he is the real leader of the Plymouth Brethren.  
' Our limits will not permit us to sketch, iri a similar  
manner, the  other two whose names we have mentioned,  
though we have materials for the purpose ; nor to do 
more than enumerate Sir A. Campbell, Mr. Harris and  
Captain Hall, as also leaders of the party of whom the  
former is a Scotch baronet, the second a seceding cler- 
gyman, and the third late a Captain in the navy, and a  
son of Dr. Hall, the late Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.  
"To these names we may add that of Mr. Beverly, so  
well known some years ago as the author of several  
clever and satirical pamphlets against the Church of 
England, and that of the Hon. Mr. Parnell, the eldest 
son of Lord Congleton, lately Sir Henry Parnell, and one 
of the late Ministry. We have mentioned these names,  
not to gratify carnal curiosity, but as presenting a re- 
markable feature. Nearly every name we have mention-
ed is, in some way allied to the aristocracy of this coun-
try.* Movements really of God have rarely commenced  
with the high-born and the well-bred. Fishermen and  
tent makers, tanners, tinkers, cobblers, weavers, and 
coal-beavers, have been more usually called of God to  
be apostles and ministers. We will do the Plymouth 
Brethren the justice to acknowledge that they disclaim  
any such title to worldly esteem, but that they have such 
a hold upon the natural prejudices of men, is a fact which 
their disclaiming cannot alter. At any rate it cannot be 
said that God has chosen the  poor of this world to com- 
mence that spreading movement which originated at  
Plymouth. And again, they are nearly all men of edu- 
cation, and some of considerable talent and learning,  
which further throws a conspicuous hue over them This 
advantage, (ifsuch it can be called)they do not disclaim, 
nor cast aside with the preceding one. Appeals to the  
original languages, quotations from Church History, and  
a general strain of learned allusion, are frequent in their 
writings. The Inquirer, a periodical which, from inter- 
nal evidence, is clearly in their hands, contains articles  
which show the highest cultivation ofthe mir.d, and writ- 
ten not only in a most forcible and eloquent style, but 
full of expressions and allusions which, to ordinary read-
ers, would be almost unintelligible.  
"It does not seem to be in unison with God's usual  
modes of dealing, that he should choose the wise in this 
world to originate or accomplish such a revolution as the  
principles of the Plymouth Brethren, if carried out,  
would effect in the churches."  
" * Mr. Wig-ram is the son of a baronet who died worth half a million  
of money : Mr. Darby is the brother of the member of Parliament  
for East Sussex : and Captain Hall is the grandson of a Peer."  
Our readers will be amused with the different  
style of opposition on the two sides of the Atlantic.  
Here, when an old farmer spends many years in  
searching the Scriptures, which were " written for  
our learning," and strives to obey the injunction  
which accompanies Christ's reference to Daniel the  
prophet, " Whoso readeth, LET HIM UNDERSTAND," it 
is considered insufferable presumption. " He actual-
ly talks about what Maccabees says in his first book," 
say our theologians, while one curls his lip in scorn, 
another raises his hands in astonishment, and a third  
exclaims—"Such an ignoramus set himself up as an  
interpreter of prophecy!" "His ignorance is most  
profound," adds Dr. Weeks. Thus conclusively  our  
theologians argue, and very self-complacently con- 
clude that Mr. Miller can't read the Bible so as to  
find out what it means.  
What a happy thing it would have been if he had  
lived the other side of the Atlantic. He would ex- 
actly suit the " Gospel Standard" there. Oh, that  
we had known the different states of things on the


< wo sides of the ocean, before ! We might have sent  
j  brother Miller to be introduced through the " great  
circulation" ofthe "Gospel Standard"—and received  
in his stead the relations of peers, whose great "tal- 
ent and learning" being highly extolled, (of course,)  
by the Observer, Evangelist, Baptist Advocate, 
Christian Advocate and Journal, &c.. &c., would  
have carried conviction through the land !  
Thus we should have reasoned in the sunny days  
of childhood,  before we had learned that "earth is  
sick, and heaven is weary of the cold and hollow  
words, with which from age to age, profession mocks  
petformance." The Lord has cast each one's lot 
aright. The same people who found a pretence for  
saying John the Baptist had a devil, rejected Christ  
for a pretence directly opposite.  
Reader, we beg of you not to be ashamed of  
Christ's words, though uttered by one who relies for  
their correctness on our common translation, which  
the Observer has lately eulogized in extravagant 
terms, when it had occasion to condemn a transla- 
tion favoring another sect.  
We should be pleased to get more information re- 
specting the Plymouth brethren, and if this falls into  
the hands of any who can give it, they can entitle 
themselves to our gratitude, by  furnishing it.  
PICTURES OF THE TIMES.  
" DISTRESS."—The business community of this  
country have been for a long time floundering ie a quag- 
mire of distress and difficulty.—True  Sun,  
" IN THE LAST DAYS MEN SHALL BE COVETOUS."—  
One ofthe leading causes of the difficulties and disas- 
ters which we have recently experienced is selfishness.  
—Ibid, April 26.  
Extract of a letter from Erie county, in the north- 
western part of Penn., dated April 8th :  
" The snow is now a foot and a half deep, and al- 
most all our hay, straw and grain are gone, and very 
many of our cattle are dead already. I have seen many  
cattle whose owners told me that they had not tasted  
of any thing but browse for two months. The destitu-
tion among the poor is much greater than we are ac- 
customed to see in this country. Pecuniary distress  
among all classes is MUCH GREATER than at any pre-
vious limey—Jour. Com.  
VIOLENCE.—A St. Louis paper "gives warning that  
if the Missouri slaves continue to be carried off by the  
Illinois Abolitionists, the citizens of Missouri will re- 
venge themselves by burning the houses of their Illi- 
nois neighbors."  
VIOLENCE AND BOASTING.—The style of the follow- 
ing, from the daily Chronicle, illustrates the prevalent 
morals, even in what is called the most moral city in  
the world,—in  the heart of New England :  
COWHIDING.—A Mr. Fenton, who keeps a dry good  
store in Boston, was cowTnctM by a Captain Bascom, in  
Washington street, on Thursday morning. There was  
no seduction, or breach of promise in the case, but sim- 
ply a cart load of furniture. These assaults are getting  
quite common in the Puritan city, and the Times man  
feels some alarm lest his turn should come next. He  
says :  
" We view with apprehension the tendency of the  
age towards violence, and thelukewarmness or positive  
approval with which a personal castigation is looked 
upon. For all OUR BOASTS ABOUT THE INTELLECTUAL 
PROGRESS AND MENTAL ENLIGHTENMENT of the agC, WE  
think it exhibits a strong propensity to turn back for  
examples to the days when might made right., and when,  
if every bully was not a gentleman, every gentleman  
was a bully."  
The progress of Lynch law is steadily onward.—  
Newark Daily Advertiser.  
CONDITION OF THE SOUTH-WEST.—A letter from a  
gentleman in Louisiana says :  
" The country is in a state of suffering of which you  
can form no ilea. Every day negroes and houses go  
under the hammer, and the people, who decamp with  
their slaves for Texas, are driving us mad. Properties 
are at a price that is null. The folks know not what  
saint to pray to. Wre now pay oft" the old score of folly,  

financial and political. There wants nothing to cap the  
whole, but general repudiation, and that will come."  
DELIRIUM TREMENS, AND MURDER.—Aaron Bachel- 
der has been convicted of the murder of his wife at  
Providence, R. I., and recommended to mercy. He  
was evidently acting under the influence of delirium  
tremens when he perpetrated the murder.—Tribune.  
A BROTHER MURDERED.—A man named Horace Rif- 
ford has been arrested in Wayne county, N. Y., charg- 
ed with having stabbed his brother while intoxicated,  
aiid injured him so severely that he died of his wounds.  
—Ibid.  
The pressure of the times, the losses by banks, by  
the explosion of stock bubbles, and the depreciation of  
property, have, as we all know, caused many touch- 
ing and painful cases of distress. The rich have be- 
come poor, the easy in circumstances have been reduc- 
ed to ivant.—Phila. Enquirer.  
" MEN'S HEARTS FAILING."—There are clouds in the  
political horizon which portend evil. They overshadow  
the whole country. A storm is gathering before which  
the stoutest frames will tremble, and it will be well for  
the American people—for the cause of constitutional  
liberty throughout the world—if there be stout hearts  
and clear heads to meet the shock and turn the moral  
tempest aside.—Ohio Slate Journal.  
" DISTRESS," BUILDING AND FEASTING.—The Cor- 
respondent of the National Intelligencer says ; " You  
may see at the head of the letters from Athens, in the  
London papers, in large characters, these phrases— 
' Greece ; declaration of national insolvency ; new loan  
wanted.' The Greek loans in London and Paris prove 
nearly as miserable as the American ; meanwhile, 
gorgeous palaces are built for king Otho, and his ma- 
jesty's balls and operas vie writh those of the British  
and French capitals."  
What a beautiful thing is the social system of a  
bankrupt kingdom. Starvation for the million !—" Ban- 
quet, song, and dance and wine," for the Nobles.—-True  
Sun.  
From the Huron Reflector, Norwalk, Ohio.  
THE TIMES.—There never was, and probably never  
will be a period, when " hard times" will not be a sub- 
ject of complaint, we can, however, safely aver that the  
history of the present generation will utterly fail of ex-
hibiting such icide-spread desolation, such UNIVERSAL  
POVERTY, as that which now afflicts this nation. It is  
not an imaginative distress. It is severely felt in the  
total loss of business among thousands of mechanics,—  
the depreciation of produce, to such a degree that the  
farmer is hardly paid for his actual labor,—and worse 
than all, the' increased value of public and private in-
debtedness rendered doubly pressing by the dearth of 
means, and the diminution in value of property- 
We have been most singularly blessed with peace,  
general prosperity, abundant harvests,, and all the means  
of national wealth, and yet, a war, a pestilence or fam-
ine could have scarcely more deranged the pecuniary 
affairs of the people. Every interest seems to be  
crashing. Every profession, and every kind of busi- 
ness is languishing  for support, and almost every  
second man one may meet, is oppressed with debts, to  
pay which, some officer of the law is either levying 
upon property, or perhaps trusting to the renewed prom- 
ises of payment which the debtor hopes may be effected 
when the times change.  
Many remember their former increase of imagined  
wealth, only as a vision of the night, a day dream of  
wild speculation, which has vanished, leaving its sting 
behind. Commerce lies prostrate,—-agriculture valu- 
less, and the mechanic arts suspended ! What has been  
the cause of such unparalleled adversity?  
" VIOLENCE."—The state of the times may be judg- 
ed of from the headings of our common newspaper arti-
cles. In the True Sun, of April 25th, the items in one 
column are in the following order :  
(1) A Fight between two Governors.  
This disgraceful and savage conflict was between  
Gov- Thomas, of Maryland, and his father-in-law, Gov.  
McDowell, of Virginia, who used an umbrella " with  
marked effect," upon his " IIon.'n son-in-law.  
(2) Shocking murder in Virginia.  
(3) Indian Murders in low-a. 
(4) Horn, the supposed murderer.  
(5) The Robber ofthe Western Insurance and Trust  
Company caught.  
(6) Trade with Nassau. A Pirate off Cape An- 
tonio.  
After these "fights," "murders," "robberies," &c.,  

the next four items relate to a " festival/' a revolt at  
Havana, in which 500 persons have been shot, or hung  
themselves, besides 300 who are put to death by law,—a  
runaway treasurer,—and falsehood.  
" EATING AND DRINKING."—" DISTRESS AND PER- 
PLEXITY."—At a meeting of the National Temperance 
Society at Exeter Hall, London, the Hoif. J. S. Buck- 
ingham, in the course of a very interesting speech, 
said :  
" In the present distressed state of the country—and  
he could state, from a personal examination, that for  
the last twenty years there had not existed such INTENSE  
DISTRESS—in the manufacturing districts, it was of the  
greatest social and national importance that the princi-
ple of total abstinence should be inculcated. Many  
families were subsisting upon a shilling a week a head,  
thousands were forced to take refuge in a union house,  
while others, whose sense of self-respect would not 
permit them to solicit charity, sunk into their graves. 
Was it not lamentable to think that, with such a state  
of things subsisting, £53,000,000 [250 millions of dol-
lars] a year should be expended in intoxicating liquors?  
He considered the existing state of distress  as an addi- 
tional reason why every one should curtail his own ex- 
penditure. This country was highly blessed in a  
physical and moral point of view, but still it lay under  
the disgrace of being the most drunken nation in Eu-
rope."—Boston Temp. Journal.  
Contrast this  distress with the riotous feastings,  
luxury and extravagance of the nobility and gentry of 
the kingdom, and the picture of the " last days," will  
be complete.  
"IDLENESS."'—It is often said that the times are  
strangely altered ; and certain it is the people are. It 
w'as once thought honorable to be constantly engaged in 
some active and useful avocation—but now-a days it is  
thought honorable to be idle. —Exchange Paper.  
"MEN'S HEARTS FAILING."—The British papers  
give the following index to the severe "distress" and  
"perplexity" of these last days :  
" Insanity.—It appears that within the last twenty  
years the cases of the above dreadful malady have  
MORE THAN TRIPLED."  
In England, the whole number is 14,000, in Wales  
1000, in Scotland about 4000, and in Ireland, more  
than 8000! ! This insanity is a sign of the times.  
No one attributes it to Millerism.  
The news from China for several weeks, has chiefly  
related to the proofs of the exasperated feelings of the  
Chinese, in consequence of their humiliation under  
Brit sh power. The news from Canton up to the 17th  
of Dec. last, is thus summed up, in the Daily Herald :  
" It shows that the difficulties between the Chinese  
and English are far from being settled. War seems to 
be re-kindling in that quarter with great rapidity.  
" This new but not unexpected phase in the aspect of  
affairs in the Celestial Empire began with a most hor- 
rible butchery of one or two hundred British subjects  
who had been unfortunately wrecked on the Chinese  
coast. It then assumed the shape of a terrible riot in  
Canton, which resulted in the total destruction of the 
English factories, and the loss of several lives. We  
give an account of this in which the revengeful, bitter  
feeling of the Chinese against the English, is seen  
throughout. It had become unsafe for foreigners to re- 
side in Canton, and the English have now the worst  
part of their crusade against China to perform. A  re- 
newal of the war appears inevitable."  
EFFECTS OF THE DOCTKINE.—A postmaster in Alaba- 
ma writes : "It causes more people to search the Scrip- 
tures than would otherwise, and seems to make men  
more honest and punctual in their dealings.—Men ought  
to be directed to the truth of the end daily, by something  
to stir them up, for there are too many unthoughtful of  
the end of time, or of death, in our country, for our gov-
ernment to stand unshaken long. Indeed, it already tot-
ters, from the forgeifulness of God and his kingdom."  
ROMANISM IN ILLINOIS.—A missionary of the A. H. M.  
Society, writes, from the interior of Illinois as follows.  
"The Cstholics are making settlements upon farms about  
us, and among us. Their influence is sensibly felt in the 
elections in our country. One is elected senator to our  
State Assembly. And if their increase goes on as formerly,  
they will altogether cont.roul us. I sometimes feel alarm-
ed at the indifference, and even evident satisfaction evinced 
at their coming in among us. We will pray for our country, 
anJ labour to enlighten men relative to the enemy. But  
alas ! many will never be convinced of danger until it is too  
late. 6*


From the Signs of the Times.  
Dangers which Believers in the Doctrine ofthe  
Second Advent should avoid.  
So long as we are in this world, we are continually  
exposed to temptations on every hand; for our adver-
sary, the devil, goeth about like a roaring lion seeking  
whom he ma.y devour, He is peculiarly anxious to  
secure in his wiles, those who have escaped, or are  
endeavoring to escape from his grasp ; and if any point  
is unguarded, that is sure to be the point of attack.  
Some individuals are the more liable to fall into one  
class of errors, and aome into another, owing to their  
peculiar temperament, and the circumstances in which 
they are placed ; and so it is with classes, and com-
munities. Some dangers are peculiar to certain views ;  
and, others are common to all. The dangers to which  
Second Advent believers are exposed, are by no means  
peculiar to them, but yet are not the less real.  
1. We should avoid a censorious spirit towards  
those who cannot see all things in the same light that 
we do. We should remember that once we were in  
the dark, but were none the less honest in our opinions  
then, than now. If others are honest in their views,  
and are candid, they are entitled to the utmost charity.  
Censoriousness belongs only to those who oppose the  
coming of Christ.  
2. Second Advent believers are from all religious  
denominations ; and to act in unison, it is necessary to  
meet on common ground ; to so meet it is necessary to  
lay aside all sectarian views. All true brethren, there-
fore, guard against making their own private views or  
sectarian belief too prominent, or as a necessary belief  
for those whose views are different.  
3. We should avoid bringing in connection with the  
Second Advent, and a preparation therefcr, any doc- 
trines not necessarily connected therewith. They  
only serve  to divert the mind from the true issue, and  
repel those who might otherwise embrace the doctrine  
ofthe Second Advent. Heb. xiii. 9. " Be not carried  
about with divers and strange doctrines ; for it is a  
good thing that the heart be established with grace ;  
not with meats, which have not profited them that have  
been occupied therein."  
4. We should avoid all extravagant notions, and  
everything which may tend to fanaticism. God is not  
the author of confusion. " Let everything be done  
decently and in order," says the Apostle. And " If any  
man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and  
able also to bridle the  whole body." " But the wisdom  
that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,  
and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits,  
without partiality, and without hypocrisy ; and the  
fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that  
make peace." Anything which may cause an unbe-
liever to turn away in disgust, may prevent the salva- 
tion of that soul. All things that are lawful are not ex- 
pedient. As our great aim should be the salvation of 
souls, we should strive to win all, so that if by any 
means we may save some of them.  
5. We should avoid placing too much reliance upon  
impressions. " Believe not every spirit, but try the  
spirits whether they be of God." Impressions and  
visions, and dreams have thus far usually failed those 
who have put their trust in them ; which proves they  
were not of God. We therefore should use the utmost 
caution ere we trust to that which may also in the end  
fail us, and prove notto be of God. We have for our  
guide the sure word of God; and those who will not be- 
lieve Moses and the prophets, will not believe though  
one should rise from  the dead. He that is of the faith  
of our father Abraham, will believe God upon his simple  
word ; and will need no other confirmation : but those  
who refuse to take the word of God without some other  
testimony, are dishonoring that  word, and giving the  
pre-eminence to that which may be doubtful or spurious  
testimony. Jer. xxiii. 28, 29.—"The prophet that  
hath a dream, let him tell a dream ; and he that hath  
my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is 
the chaff to the wheat 1 saith the Lord. Is not my  
word like as a fire 1 saith the Lord ; and like a hammer 
that breaketh the rock in pieces V  
6. Judge no man. James iv. 11—" Speak not evil  
one of another, brethren. He thatspeaketh evil pfhis 
brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the  
law, and judgeth the law : but if thou judge the law,  
thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.  
7. We should avoid setting up one's own experience  
as the standard  by which to test the experience of  
others. Men's experience will differ, as did those of  
the apostles. Had Paul required all to have the same 
experience that ho had, the faith of many would have 
been staggered. The moment we set up our own at- 

tainments as a standard, we cease to point to Jesus,  the  
only true pattern. We should look to him alone, and  
point others to him, 2 Cor. x. 12—" For we dare not 
make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves 
with some that commend themselves : but they, meas-
uring themselves by themselves, and comparing them- 
selves among themselves, are not wise."  
8, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest  
he fall." We are commanded to live with an eye sin-
gle to the glory of God. Without holiness no man 
can see the Lord. We are to abstain from even the 
appearance of evil, and to depart from all iniquity, that  
the God of peace may sanctify us wholly unto himself,  
and preserve us blameless unto the coming of Christ. 
We should therefore avoid feeling that we have reach- 
ed a point from which we cannot fall; for, our adver-
sary is continually on the watch, that he may over- 
come us at our least guarded point. He likes to whis- 
per in the ear of man that he has attained the victory, 
and become so holy, that to do what he will, it is no sin, 
Many have thus stumbled, supposing their warfare  
was accomplished ; and have thus ceased to press  
forward towards the mark, so that Satan has led them  
captive at his will.  It will never answer to leave our  
watch, or lay down the weapons of defence ; for while  
we are in probation our course is a continual warfare, a  
race, a strife for the victory ; and that victory can only 
be obtained in being faithful unto the end. There is no 
danger of being too holy: the danger lies in being  
satisfied with present attainments,  
9. We are commanded to occupy till Christ comes.  
We are to sow our seed, and gather our harvest, so 
long as God gives us seed-time and harvest. If we 
improve the coming seed-time, and have no harvest, we  
shall have done our duty ; and if a harvest should be  
granted us, we shall be prepared to reap. It is as much  
our duty now to be continually employed, either in pro- 
viding lor the wants of those dependent upon us, or in 
alleviating the distress of others, as it ever was. We 
are to do good as we have opportunity, and by no means  
spend our time in idleness, that \yill bring reproach on 
our Savior. Let us see to it that our hearts are right  
in the sight of God, and then, whether we wake or 
sleep, are laboring to save souls or are engaged in our  
daily avocations, we shall meet our Lord in peace.  
May the God of peace give all who profess to love his 
appearing that wisdom, that sh3.ll guide us aright, and  
lead us in the way of all truth, and redound the most to  
his honor and glory,  
DR. WEEKS' CRITICISM ON ACTS 13 : 20.  
In order to prove an error in the chronology which  
makes the world's age 6000 years, Dr. Weeks was  
obliged to explain away the declaration that God gave 
his people Judges about 450 years. If he had succeed  
ed, the proofs of Christ's coming near, would not have 
been materially weakened ; but the following remarks  
will show how completely he failed.  
Dr. Weeks has quoted Greek rules to establish his  
view of this passage, viz. to express time when, the word 
used is in the dative, and the time how long in the accusa-
tive. He has also quoted other passages to prove the use  
of the rule, but he has not referred us to any other sen- 
tence of a similar construction with this, neither do I be-
lieve he can do it in the New Testament. Here the lan-
guage used expresses both time, when, and how long.  
Will the Dr. be so kind as to inform us with regard to  
the ''rule" which should apply in such a easel  
But it seems to me that this verse is in itself plain  
enough, without reference to any parallel passages. Let  
us take the Dr.'s own translation, which I believe to be  
correct, thus—"And after these things, about years four  
hundred and fifty, he gave Judges, until Samuel the pro-
phet " 1st. "And after these things," here is time when; 
2d. " Until Samuel the prophet," here is time how long.  
Now what is the leading idea in this verse 1 Certainly  
the giving of Judges 1 When did this happen \ After the 
things mentioned aboye. This governing idea, then, 
must decide the question with regard to the "case" used. 
It should be, as it is, in the dative.  
Were it not true that time and room are both too pre- 
cious, I should like to notice some others of Dr. Weeks'  
"mistakes," but it is not  worth while. I am satisfied  
that none but those who desire to disbelieve, will be in- 
duced to do so by his articles.  
I have been most deeply interested in chronology, and.  
have spent weeks during the winter in studying upon it, 
and the more I study the more I am convinced of two  
things ; one is, that no chronology extant is correct, (I  
mean ofthe time before the Crucifixion,) and the other 
is, that God has preserved in the Bible a record and ma- 
terial sufficient for that purpose, and if we take the testi-
mony of any other witnesses, we shall inevitably be led  

into error. Impressed wifh this conviction, I have  
searched the Scriptures, until I am prepared to submit to  
the public a chronology from Adam to Christ, drawn en-
tirely from the Bible, which, with the time since the  
Crucifixion, will show the world to be at least. 6000  
years old at the close of 1842. W. D. COOK.  
writers  
Listen- 
Law, '  
of the  
" Daily  
21 : 25  
predic- 

WORDS OF THE TRULY WISE.  
" The wise shall understand."  
Miss Caroline Fry is one of the most spiritual  
of the present age. She is the author of " The 
er, " " Christ our Example," " Christ our 
" Scripture Reader's Guide," " The Table 
Lord," and other excellent works. In her 
Scripture Readings," she remarks upon Luke  
—36, as follows, after applying the preceding  
tion to the destruction of Jerusalem:  
" The remainder of the prophecy is ours : it is we that  
are to see, to know, and to be prepared. Do we say,  
as they did, when shall these things be, and what sign  
shall there be of them 1 We have read the answer.— 
In our variable seasons, we do not know the exact day  
in which the fig tree and all the trees will shoot forth";  
we watch them ; and when they do begin to open, we 
know that summer is at hand. It is in like manner we 
are to expect and to observe our Lord's approach. Ad-
mit that we do not know, and cannot know the day ;  
we have some intimations, though obscure ones, of the  
period, and plainer indications are to be seen as it ap-
proaches. When we begin to see them, we are to know  
that it is coming. Such is God's command, forbidding 
altogether  the supposition that we either cannot or need  
not know. The only question left for us to ask is, do 
we see them 1 Are those things beginning to come to  
pass which are to precede the coming of the Son of  
Man with power and great glory 1 By comparing the  
peculiar character of our times, and the events that  
mark it, with the description of the last days in this and  
other parts of Scripture, we may form some opinion on 
the subject, If we think it is so, the mistake, should it  
prove one, can do us little harm. The expectation is  
to make us happier, and the preparation to make us bet-
ter. ' Then lift up your heads.' Yes, in the face of  
this foretold destruction, at the very beginning of this  
distress, this perplexity, this failing of men's hearts  
for fear, the Christian is to lift his head in holy confi- 
dence that his redemption draweth near, the redemp- 
tion of his body from the dust, and of his soul from  
death. ' Take heed to yourselves.' Your want of 
observation will not postpone the day. Your unreadi- 
ness will not prolong the time. As a snare shall it  
some upon the unobservant, the unwilling,  the unaware.  
While as it was of old, in the fulfilment of the first pre- 
dictions, so will it be in the second. There will be 
some of whom not a hair of the head shall perish,  
'who shall escape all these things.' Once it was  
those who were hated  of all men for Jesus' sake. It  
may be so again; but certainly it will be those who  
watch and pray always, that they may be accounted 
worthy 'to stand before the Son of God.' "  
In remarking on the 20th of Revelation, she says :  
" There are then two deaths and two resurrections,  
distinct in time, ancl distinct in the subjects of them,  
with a definite interval between. The narration is so  
succinct, so explicit, as to the order in which the events  
are to succeed each other, it seems extraordinary there  
should be so much difference of opinion about it. Hap- 
py indeed are  they who have part in the first resurrec- 
tion. We may be mistaken in the time of its occur- 
rence, and the mistake be harmless. Not so, if we mis-
take as to our share in it."  
A PORTRAIT OF AVARICE.  
" In the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lov- 
ers of their own selves, covetous [Christians  will become selfish  lovers  of money—Wakefield's  Translation.]  
We meet with the following in George Sorrow's narra- 
tive of travels in Spain and Portugal, entitled, " The Bi- 
ble in Spain"—a work of much interest. It shows the  
Jews of this day to be as that same people were in the  
days when Jeremiah lamented, that " every brother would  
utterly supplant"—and as other people generally, have 
been, and still are. For, in Avarice, there is " neither 
Jew nor Gentile " It is essentially the same in all under  
its dominion, varying merely in mode, circumstance and  
degree. Behold the  picture ! in the article following. By  
receiving the Spirit and Precepts of Christ, you may be


freed from it—made 41 free indeed" from the debasing,  
wicked servitude.—Disciple.  
JEWS IN LISBON.—It is said there is honor among  
theives, but this is certainly not the case with the Jews  I 

of Lisbon, for they are so greedy and avaricious, they  
are constantly quarreling about their ill-gotten gain, the  
result being that they frequently ruin each. Their mutual  
jealously is truly extraordinary. If one, by cheating and  
roguery, gains a cruzado, in the presence of another, the  
latter instantly says, " I cry halves." and if the first refu- 
ses, he is instantly threatened with an information. I  
was one day in the shop of a Swiri, or Jew of Mogadore,  
I when a Jew from Gibraltar entered, with a Portuguese 
I female, who held in her hand a mantle richly embroidered 
1 with gold. " Good day, O Swiri," said the Gibraltar Jew, 
1 in broken Arabic ; " God has favored me to day ; here is 
I a bargain by which we shall both gain. I have bought  
I this mantle of the woman almost for nothing, for it was 
I stolen ; but I am poor, as you know ; I have not a cruza- 
| do ; pay her the price, and we will sell the mantle, and  
I divide the gain." " Willingly, brother of Gibraltar; I 
I will pay the woman for the mantle ; it does not appear a 
1 bad one," replied the Swiri, and threw two cruzados to 
1 the woman, w ho left the shop. " Thanks, brother Swiri," 
1 said the Jew of Gibraltar, " this is very kind of you. Now  
let us go and sell the mantle—the gold upon it is alone  
worth a moidore—but I am poor and have nothing to eat;  
give me, therefore, the half of that sum, and keep the 
mantle ; I shall be content." " May Allah blot out your  
name you thief!" replied the Swiri. " What mean you 
by asking me for money? I bought the mantle of the  
woman, and paid  for it. I know nothing of you. Go out  I 

of my doors, dog of a Nazarine ! if  not I'll pay you with  
a kick." The dispute was referred to one of the sabios,  
or priests ; but the sabio, who was also from Mogadore,  
at once took the part ofthe Swiri, and decided the other 
should have nothing. Whereupon the Gibraltar Jew  
cursed the sabio, his father, mother, and all his family. 
The priest replied, " I put you in ndui," a kind of pugatory 
or hell. " I put you in seven nduis," retorted the incen- 
sed Jew, over whom, however superstitious fear (ofthe 
priest's curse) speedily prevailed—lie faltered, became 
pale, and drooping his voice, retreated, trembling in every  
limb.  
REFORMERS.  
The following excellent sentiments are none the  
worse for coming from such a source. The editor of  
the "Observer" now calls us " pestilent heretics," for  
advocating precisely the same sentiments promulgated  
by Luther. Writing some time previous to the year  
1546, Luther said :  
"I am persuaded that verily the day of judgment is  
not far off; yea, will not be absent above 300 years  
longer ; for God's world will decrease and be darken- 
ed, for want of TRUE shepherds, and servants of God. 
The  voice will soon be heard, 'Behold the Bridegroom  
cometh !' God neither will, nor can suffer this wicked 
world much longer, but must strike it with his judg-
ments ofthe day of wrath, and punish the rejection of 
his word."  
In his Commentary on John 10 : 11—16, " Other  
sheep I have," &c., he remarks : "Some, in explaining 
this passage say, that before the latter days, the whole  
world should become  Christians. This is a falsehood,  
forged by Satan, that he might darken sound doctrine,  
that we might not rightly understand it. Beware,  
therefore, of this delusion."  
Now hear the "Observer" speak :  
DO RIG-HT.  
Even with the Bible in his hand it is not always that  
a wayfaring man finds the path of duty as plain as lie 
would like it. He must examine bis Bible and seek  
light from heaven, and with great watchfulness and  
prayer, endeavor to learn the way. But having learn- 
ed the path of duty, let him rest assured that he is in the  
path of safety.  
Sometimes very good men are in great fear, lest  
their conduct will involve them in trouble, though they  
have acted in the fear of God, and with the interests of  
his church in view. The best of men are sometimes  
timid. And  as doing right promises danger, and doing  
wrong promises peace, they are under strong tempta-
tion to waver, to compromise, to submit, when decided  
and manly action is demanded.  
Look at Luther. Not peace only, but honor, wealth,  
power, all that the human heart lusts after, might have 
been his, had he been willing to do wrong. Shame, 
persecution, death, all that the human heart dreads as  
evil, was before him as the reward of doing right.  
What was his choice 1 Despising the cross like his  
Master, and enduring the shame, he preferred to do  
right, and the result is on the world's records of the  
triumphs of the good.  

Look at every Reformer who has stood up against  
the errors ofthe church or the world, or both. Though  
victory is certain, because God is on the right side, it  
is not certain that he who strikes the first blow will 
live to strike the last. Nay, it is more than probable  
that, like the forlorn hope in storming a city, the fore-
most will fall. Before an impression is made  on the  
public mind, the pioneers may be crushed under the  
ridicule or reproach of the many, but the seed they sow  
may bear fruit after many days. They may be consu- 
med in the fires of public indignation, but by and by  
sparks from their ashes  may kindle a flame that shall  
never be extinguished. " The good that men do" is not 
always " interred with their hones."  
Now we have not put these two words at the head of  
these few lines as the text for a sermon, but for a short  
exhortation to ourselves and others. Let us learn our  
duty and then do it. The consequences are with Him  
who has laid his commands upon us. It is ours to do 
right, his to over-rule the consequences. Perhaps we  
shall suffer present loss and obloquy ; perhaps our good  
will be evil spoken of; our motives maligned and mis- 
represented ; and there is no trial more painful to a  
good man than to have bad motives imputed as impell- 
ing him to a duty which he performed reluctantly be- 
cause he could not excuse himself. But what of all  
this % They called the Master, BEELZEBUB ; and what  
will they not call his disciples 1  
Do right. Only be sure that the path is that of duty,  
and the way is clear. You may encounter opposition ; 
you may make enemies ; you may lose friends; but  
you cannot lose you best friend, and you cannot fail of  
final and glorious triumph.—N. Y. Observer- 
THE POPE IN AMERICA.  
" The Pope in England !"—is the startling head of an  
article that has gone the round of our sectarian papers, 
announcing a rumored intention ofthe pope to visit Eng- 
land, with a speculation by some on the probabities and  
results ofthe  visit. We assure them the pope has alrea- 
dy visited England, and has come even to America. Of  
course we do not mean by, ' the Pope,' what they do, the  
mere piece of flesh and blood which bears this personal  
appellation—but we mean that Spirit and Power for  
which that personality, which they call the pope, stands  
the accredited, acknowledge visible sign. It is of no con- 
sequence what the mere sign of that Power is, whether 
a living or a dead automaton, the shape of a man or a  
beast, a lump of flesh or of wood or wax, a substance  
material or immaterial, a body personal or a body corpo- 
rate—whether it be called pope, church,  minister, coun- 
cil, presbytery, association, conference, synod or assem- 
bly. Under whatever name it passes it is essentially and  
effectually ' the Pope'—the ' Man of Sin, who opposeth 
and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that  
is worshipped ; so that he as God, sitteth in the temple  
of God, showing himself that he is God.'  
Which of the denominations in this country does not  
this ? Which of them is not this Pope 1 They avow  
themselves, each one of them, THE CHURCH—and that in  
virtue of their organization and descent, as Rome does. 
They have not the audacity to pretend that they are the  
Church of Christ by a living faith that makes them holy,  
living members of Christ's spiritual body, which is his  
true Church. They don't profess to be such, but make  
their organizations, and forms and successions to be in-
stead of faith that works by love and purifies the heart,  
and sit themselves in the place of Christ, over the con-
sciences and destinies of their subjects. This is the Pope  
—in America—in all the sects. The organization, in its  
creed, successions, forms and ministries, is made to be  
salvation, instead of Christ.  
Mr. Sedgwick of the Rochester (N. Y.) Presbytery, was  
lately tried on a charge defined by Presbytery as follows :  
' Embracing, teaching, and propagating the doctrine  
of entire sanctification, or perfect obedience to the 
moral law, as a rational object of pursuit in this life."  
On this charge they excluded him from the Presbytery,  
erased his name from their records, dissolved his pastoral  
relation to the church and people of his charge, contrary  
to the wishes of both, and declared his pulpit vacant !"  
" A pastor in Ohio said to a parishioner who had embra- 
ced the doctrine of entire sanctification,^' Brother—I know  
you are not sanctified.' ' How do you know it, may I  
enquire 1' replied the parishioner who had learned to ask 
a reason even of a minister. ' Why,' said the pas>tor, • if  

you were, your face would shine like Moses, so brightly  
I could not look upon it, ' Is this  a scripture test of  
sanctification ?' asked the parishioner, ' I think' said the  
pastor a little disconcerted, ' that it is a scriptural test.' 
' Was Christ sanctified, and always so?' asked the pa- 
rishioner. ' Undoubtedly' replied the pastor with im-
patience. ' but what has that to do with the question in 
hand?' ' Only this,' said the parishioner, ' his face, so  
far as I know, never shone but once so thai his followers  
could not look upon it!' This confounded the pastor,  
who replied with warmth, 'This spirit of dictation to  
ministers which is creeping into the church is insuffera- 
ble. You and Mr. make it your business to dictate to  
me what I shall preach, and what not, I'll have no more  
of it.' ' I only asked'—replied the astonished parishioner,  
'areason for an assumption which would strip fiom me  
a pleasing hope.' "  
The Oberlin Evangelist, from whose full account of  
the two foregoing instances we extract, in its editorial 
on the dismission of Mr. Sedgwick says :  
" What  more could the Pope himself do? Especially  
in this country where the laws and the public sentiment  
prohibit a resort to the tortures of the Inquisition and the 
stake 1 And that public sentiment restrains others as 
much as the Romanists—else who could tell where this  
spirit of proscription would stop, even among professed  
Protestants? * * In this country, where the law and  
public sentiment will not tolerate the faggot, we would as  
soon fall into the hands of ' His Holiness,' as into the  
hands of some great sticklers for Protestantism. Neither  
could inflict any bodily tortures. But both could and 
would bring a man's character to the stake, and send him  
out with the mark of infidelity to the doctrines of the  
Church upon him. * * VV'e repeat then, that we  
would as soon be in the hands of the Romanists, as in  
the hands of certain Protestants under the charge of 
heresy. And we would sooner be in the hands of a civil  
court than in the hands of either, simply because we  
should expect that, some regard would be paid to justice."  
The order of Jesuits and the Inquisition are regarded  
perhaps as constituting the most odious features of popery.  
But the essence of both these pervades all the sects of 
this country. No need of a separate order of Jesuits  
where the whole sect generally practice upon the princi- 
ples of that order—nor of a distinct institution of an In-
quisition, where the whole denomination, by its leaders,  
is in effect an Inquisition. That the sects are so in their 
various corporate capacities, and in the personal charac-
ter of the greater part of their members, especially the 
leading ones, the richer and more influential ones, is 
manifest. Jesuitical policy and fraud, and Inquisitorial 
intolerance and tyranny, characterize them in their cor- 
porate and individual character, and in their ecclesiastical, 
political, social and pecuniary relations.  
This is the Pope in America. What matters, whether  
he be called Pope  or Protestant. " A rose by any other  
name would smell as sweet"—and Popery, by any other 
name should be equally odious. It is the existence and  
exercise of the worst passions of human depravity, under  
the name of religion. It is the Man of  Sin, in the place  
of God. How absurd the manifestation of so great a  
horror at it under the name of Popery, by those who have  
the same thing under the name of Protestantism! Why  
not take the form and the name of it, while they have its  
substance and its practice? They will take the name 
and the form, when there shall offer more advantage to 
their selfishness by it. And we believe nominal Papacy  
will in a few years, should the world continue, offer more  
advantages to those who have its spirit, then Protestant-
ism can, in this country even. The sects are all training 
for it. In England the return to the Romish church is  
commenced and rapidly progressing. We believe that  
were time to continue, the American Sects would likewise 
return to the MOTHER—abandoning their Protestantism 
as a family quarrel, which they would terminate in a re- 
concilement, with a return to their Mother's house which  
will offer greater facilities for their adulteries with the 
world. Then they would be in name, what they are now 
in character. We speak not of the few true Christians  
in them—to whom the voice cries, " Come outofhermy  
people."—Disciple.  
A METEOR.—The Savannah, Ga., papers of the 28th  
ult., contain accounts of a meteor of great size and bril- 
liancy, seen from that city on the evening previous. It  
perfectly illuminated every part of the city, and was des- 
cribed by a watchman to be as large as a hogshead.—


KSggpy?^ V ^ufffPfl'  >aw* IWHHMMWJWW  
SIGNS OF TIIE TIMES IN ENGLAND.  
Wh ile so many are talking about the Millennium just  
ab out to begin, our readers wili bear with us it' we give j  
*ine upon line respecting the signs of the fulfilments of:  
all the marks which show that these are the last days  
when men shall have " the form of godliness, but deny 
the power thereof "  
A private letter from a member of a popular Baptist i  
church in London, to his brother in this country, dated j  
February 5, 1843, has just been shown us, from which: 
we copy'the following striking statements :  
"The numbers at John street are much increased, and j  
are now verging on  700 members. Would to God I could  
also tell you of a proportional jrjcreaae of the graces of j  
the Holy Spirit, but here I fear I  must not lay the flatter- j  
ing unction to my soul; yet 1 believe we  are no worse !  
off'than ALL THE OTHER CHUKCIIES IN DRITAIN, who seem, I 
one and all, to abound much more iri projession than pos- \  
session. . . As to matters of religion here in England, j 
they are by no means in a more healthy state in general, 
than when you crossed the Atlantic. . . Matters are get- i  
ting worse and worse—and worst of all, I find the Na- j 
tional Church is fast verging towards Popery; for Pusey-1  
ism, as it is called, is, in my opinion, crossing the Rubi- j  
con towards it. Political matters are also worse and '  
worse, and the cry of millions in this country, (and many j  
of those millions, too, are those who fear the Lord,) daily  
ascends to heaven for that daily bread which they have  
not, and which the unfeeling hand of selfish avarice and  
grasping rapacity, alone prevents their having."  
PUSEYISM—GLOOMY FOREBODINGS.  
The Baptist Advocate of January 28, contained the  
following article :  
CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH  
IN ENGLAND.— AS DESCRIBED BY ONE OF HER MINISTERS.—  
I have just received a copy of Mr. Bickeisteth's Sermons  
on the Permanence and Progress of Divine truth, lately pub- 
lished. At p. 4, he speaks as follows :  
" Having proved elsewhere that Rome is Babylon, and  
Popery the great apostacy predicted in the New Testament, 
and this being testified again and again in the authorized  
documents which our Society circulates, I need not here  
detain you by proving it. To those who judge thus, the sit-
uation of the Church of England at the present moment,  will  
be seen to be one of deep anxiety. The enemies without  
her assailed her, and she  gathered strength by all their at- 
tacks upon her. But there are, alas! within us, those who 
have forsaken and who oppose the pure faith established  
amongst us by our Protestant forefathers ; and being within 
us, I have no hesitation in saying that I think oui danger  
from them on that account is the greater. There seems, to  
our beloved friend the Bishop of Calcutta, something ju- 
dicial in the rapid spread of these opinions. In  the language  
of prophecy, there is to be expected at this period an unclean  
spirit from the mouth of the false prophet. It comes forth  
under the sixth vial, seducing men back again to the apos- 
tacy ; and the beginning of this we have theif/ore especial  
cause to watch against and dread. The occasion was given 
by our orievous departure from the purity of Protestant truth 
restored to us, at the Reformation, while wo were glorying  
[" boasters"] in the name of Protestants. Without the trials  
and conflicts through which our forefathers passed; wi-hout  
their rich experience, deep knowledge, sound faith, ardent  
love, lively zeal, and heavenly joy ; their holy reverence for  
God's word, and their unfeigned humility ; their honor to his  
ordinances, and submission to the powers placed over in by  
him ; having only a name to live, we thought highly of our- 
selves as faithful witnesses to the truth, and were trusting in  
a traditionary faith, without its living power. Well then  
was it that such unfounded hopes should be broken in pieces  
on the one side by the recklessness of infidelity, and on the 
other b) a fresh revival of that from which we thought our- 
selves delivered. Well have we merited to be chastised  
with a fresh rise of infidelity,  and of the apostacy, in oar  
own borders. Thine own wickedness shall corrcct thee, and  
thy blackslidings shall rep'ove thee.  
[ ' Hearts failing for fear."] Our present situation is  
very perilous. Under tho general calmness, quiet, and secu- 
rity, and under the apparently peaceful worldly prosperity of 
Europe, and under the undisturbed surface of society, in  
nominally Christian countries, there is, as the word of God 
will lead every thoughtful student to expect there would be  
(1 Thess. v. 2—4,) the elements of destruction. There is a  
wide, deep, and ruinous ignorance of the blessed truths of  
the Gospel, full of evil and mischief; from it comes the un-
clean spirit of lawlessness, hating all restraint, restless, dis  
satisfied, given to change both in Church and State, national-
ly disowning God, speaking evil of dignities, an easy prey to  
those who promise liberty, while they themselves are the  
servants of corruption. There is yet a deeper evil in the  
unclean spirit of infidelity, coming from Satan himself, cast- 
ing off as much as it dare of God's own word, and putting  
forth empty and vain substitutes for the living waters  which  
God has provided. In perfect contrast with these evils, a  
revulsion from them, and an intended opposition to them, 
though having affecting points of union, isa most rapidly  
, diffused contagion of error, which corrupts the simplicity  
) 64  

ofthe Gospel, unduly magnifies outward ordinances, judges  
and condemns with severity even those who love Christ., if  
they dissent from an Episcopal Church ; and will, in iis re- 
sult, if diffused and enforced, bring on us, as its forerunt er  
the Laudian school, did, in the great rebellion, the ver) de- 
struction which it expects to avert.  
[Puseyism.] Those who have so grievously departed  
from the spirit of our Church, that they openly testify that  
they hate the Reformation, while they honor the Roman  
Church, and who thus show that they think more highly  
of ihe predicted apostacy than of that heavenly gift, Refor-
mation truth, have also got possession of many peculiar ad- 
vantages, in influential situations, in wealth, in public jour- 
nals and periodicals, and in many excellent natural endow- 
ments, with great zeal and earnestness, and readiness to  
make large sacrifices ; and they have used these advantages  
for disparaging the Reformers and their doctrines, and for 
diffusing that which the corruption, the pride and self-right-
eousness ofthe natural heart prefer to God's truth, though  
full of grace and mercy. Unless the Lord, then, open his  
armory and bring forth fresh weapons for the battle (Jer. i. 
25,) and mightily interpose for us, England is in imminent  
and peculiar peril, from our sad neglect and abuse of our 
many special privileges and blessings. We are in great  
danger of losing the shield of Protestant trr.tb, and of sink- 
ing back again into [Popery,] that which God accounts  
among the abominations of the earth, which has its issue in  
avowed infidelity and rebellion against God, and cn which  
his last most dreadful judgments are denounced—judgments 
ihat must now be near at hand."  
IllCtI MEN.  
• "How hardly (.hall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of 
heaven."  
How seldom is this preached in these last days, when  
men are " covetous," and especially need the solemn  
caution ! The papers have just announced the death of  
a man who laid up treasures on earth, amounting to six  
millions of dollars. How could this be done without a  
constantly increasing love of the world 1 If ministers  
were faithful to such men, would they not tell them that  
they were stewards who must soon give an account of  
their stewardship, and that every one is a fool who lay- 
eth up treasures for himself, and is not rich towards God.  
When he could grasp his money no longer, he gave a  
few thousands for benevolent objects, but divided the  
millions between his son and two daughters, exposing 
them to temptations which render it hardly possible for 
the n to enter into the kingdom of heaven. A religious 
paper in noticing his death, makes only the following re- 
mark—"He was regarded as a useful citizen and excel-
lent landlord," From the same paper we clip the fol-
lowing  
MUSINGS.  
BY MRS. SARAH J, HALE.  
I wonder if the rich man prays—  
And how his morning prayer is said :  
He II ask for health and length of days—  
But does he ask for "daily bread 1"  
When at his door, in posture meek,  
He sees the poor man waiting stand,  
With sunken eye and  care-worn cheek,  
To beg employment from his hand ;  
And when hetelis his piteous tale,  
Of sickiy wife and children small;  
Of rents that rise, and crops that fall,  
And troubles that the poor befall ;—  
I wonder if the rich man's thought  
Mounts free, as nature's hymn, to heaven,  
In gratitude, that happier lot  
By Providence to him is given.  
And does his heart exult to know,  
He too, like heaven, hath power to give?  
To strengthen weakness, soften wo,  
And bid hope's dying lamp revive ?  
And when around his gladsome hearth,  
A troop of friends the rich man greet,  
And songs of joy and smiles of mirth  
Add grace to flattery's homage sweet ;  
I wonder if his fancy sees  
A vision of those wretched homes,  
Where want is wrestling with disease,  
And scarce a ray of comfort comes.  
0 world ! how strange thy lots are given—  
Life's aim how rarely understood !—  
And men, how far estranged from heaven,  
If heaven requires a brotherhood !  

For the Midnight Cry- 
TilE NEW EARTII.  
We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new  
earth, wherein dwelleth ri^hteousncss."--2  Pet 3 s 13.  
When this our globe that hath so long to sin's dark reign  
been given,  
Is blotted as a cursed thing, from out the host of heaven ;  
Oh, then from his untiring hand who gives creation birth,  
Another yet more bright will spring, a new and joyous  
earth.  
To faith's pure eye, its hills and vales in beauteous robes  
appear,  
Its gushing rills all luminous, its silent waters clear ;  
And verdant boughs and blossoms fair, within the vista  
rise,  
As shaded erst the lovely walks, and bowers of paradise.  
Yet more transcendant beauty still attunes the heart to !  
praise,  
And bids the joyful lips break forth, in ever grateful lays ; j 
The same that wakens joy in hea ven—its highest, noblest j  
worth,  
Unsullied beams of righteousness, adorning that new  
earth.  
Thrice blessed orb ! from everv mount and every glen j  
shall rise,  
A quenchless flame of perfect love, accepted sacrifice ; j  
Each hallowed morn, and noon, and eve, seraphic notes j  
will bear,  
And he who cover'd Sinai's top, shall dwell in glory there. ] 
The " morning stars" in lofty songs will yet again unite, !  
And all the sons of God raise high their shouts of pure j  
delight;  
Yea, God himself will call it good ; and that bright work I  
divine,  
Arnid the countless gems of light, for ever more will;  
shine. A.C.J.  
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