There is one other objection, which, though generally regarded as bearing against the doctrine of Christ's premillennial advent, does in reality confirm it. If Christ's personal reign on earth were a Scriptural doctrine, it is supposed that it could not have remained unknown to the Church or untaught by her ministers. It is indeed surprising that it should have been so long generally overlooked, and still more so that it should ever have been utterly denied. But even this forms the subject of prophecy; by which we are prepared not merely for the indifference with which it is viewed, but also for the rejection of the Scriptural Evidence by which it is supported. Our Saviour, as has been already noticed, having predicted to the disciples His coming in glory after the great tribulation, spake several parables for their farther information. By one of these, the state of the Church with respect to the expectation of the Saviour's return is intimated: "THEN," or at that time, (of His coming,) said the omniscient Saviour, who well knew the change the opinions of his professing people would undergo concerning the time of his Return;" Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the Bridegroom tarried, THEY ALL slumbered and slept. And, at midnight, there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." Mat. xxv. 1-6. The whole professing church, both real Christians and hypocrites, is thus represented as falling asleep, from Christ's unexpected delay, and as being roused from their lethargy just at the annunciation of His return. How strikingly does this parable characterize the Christian Church! Before the close of the third century, many had lost that wakefulness by which the apostolic age was distinguished. Afterwards the church generally was lulled into repose, (although from time to time a few have been found in all ages faithfully declaring these sublime truths,) until in later times

237 this lighter slumber had settled into deep unbroken sleep. The Saviour represents the church as being in this state till immediately before His coming, being awakened from it only by the announcement of His return. Instead, therefore, of the present indifference and disbelief manifested by the church being evidence against the truth of these doctrines, that circumstance, taken in connexion with their recent partial revival, is in itself a proof of the time being near at hand. In the parable, the virgins continued asleep until the time of the Bridegroom's approach. The cry, Behold He cometh, was made at midnight, and therefore very near the morning. As in the church this cry has already arisen, His coming must be near, even at the door.*

It is on this account the more necessary that those already aroused should endeavour to awaken others, that they may be found ready to receive Him. Especially does it become such of" the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God," (1 Cor. iv. 1,) as have been brought to a knowledge of this glorious doctrine to be found exerting themselves in making it known. It has too long been excluded from the Christian's creed; nor will the furtherance of God's designs, arising from our disbelief, vindicate the Church in this important omission. It can be little satisfaction to the believer to know, that his listlessness with respect to the period of his Lord's return has more effectually lulled the world into security, and that thus more obviously as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." Luke xxi. 35. "For your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace

*

As are the predictions of Christ's coming, so is this parable, also, often applied to the time of each individual's death. But the figure is one of a collective character, representing the state of the whole church at a particular time. Independently, indeed, of our Lord's direct application of it to the time of His return in the clouds of heaven for it is, "then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins"-it is not even true of all the members of the church, the wise as well as the foolish, that before death they have fallen asleep with regard to that event, even the wise being only awakened by its solemnity when eternity is opening to view.

ing

and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." 1 Thes. v, 2, 3. But are there none, even among the disciples of Jesus, who have in these last times joined themselves with the scoffers, who unbelievingly ask, "Where is the promise of his coming"? 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4. Many and precious are the promises given to the saints who shall be found waiting and lookfor the Lord from heaven, but the professing church of the present day has assumed a very different attitude. The multiplicity of proof, direct and indirect, of the nearness of His return is generally disregarded, while ignorance and enthusiasm are charged on those by whom it is received. The unbeliever's proverb has not indeed been confined to the land of the literal Israel: "The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth. Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God, I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision." Ezek. xii. 22, 23. How clearly did the omniscience of Jesus foresee the state of the Church before His coming! and how distinctly did he predict it as being " then," or at that time, likened unto ten virgins who had fallen asleep" while the Bridegroom tarried!" And the belief having once obtained that a thousand years had certainly to elapse before the coming of Christ, how few have fully examined the divine record for the authority on which this opinion is supposed to rest! Surely we will not be regarded as unreasonable, if, before submitting our faith to such an opinion. we require the evidence of its divine original. It adds not a little to confirm the truth of these doctrines, that those who oppose them generally satisfy themselves with empty declamation, inveighing against what they have noconsidered, and disregarding the proof they cannot refute. Those who esteem the authority of God's word as paramount, will require objections more weighty than the unsupported charges with which these doctrines have yet been assailed; and, distinguishing between Scriptural proof and futile attempts to set its

evidence aside, they will be little moved by the profusion of odious names which are so easily applied, and which have, in this case been so liberally bestowed. But, notwithstanding of the general indifference manifested, and the violent opposition some have made unto them, as these doctrines become more fully known, they are also more generally received. The prepossessions of men have been made to yield to the power of divine truth. On the continents both of Europe and America, the doctrine of Christ's Speedy Personal Return has made considerable progress.* In England,

A distinguished clergyman from the city of New York, when on a visit to this country a few months ago, expressed his surprise at finding this doctrine so extensively advocated among us. He had supposed its propagation more particularly confined to the United States of America, where, he stated, it "has gone the length and breadth of the land." And the Edinburgh Christian Instructor for June, (1830,) contains the translation of a speech delivered in the palace of Gottorf, by his Serene Highness, Charles, Landgrave of Hesse, in 1829, at the Annual Meeting of the Sleswick and Holstein Bible Society, which is almost wholly occupied with a statement of his views of the Redeemer's Speedy Personal Return. The prince is father-in-law to the present king of Denmark, and is described as "a very old and a very worthy man," and apparently "imbued with deep religious feelings." In his expectation of the Second Advent of Christ, the translator considers him as "very sincere, talking of it as at once certain and near; and regretting in the most pathetic manner that the natural term of life must prevent him from witnessing it." It will be gratifying to friends to perceive from the following passages how accurate are his views, and how similar are the arguments advanced, to those urged among ourselves. "Can we repress our astonishment," he asks," when we look at the past time so utterly irreligious-in which the Bible especially, as the only true foundation of the Christian religion, was derided, ridiculed, and almost entirely rejected; and at the excellent use now made of the divine book, to scatter the light of the gospel over the whole earth? Can we fail to perceive in it the wise direction of Providence? Does not the thought enter your minds? Is not his Second Coming, spoken of by our Lord to his disciples, now near, since the appointed sign by him has ap. peared!"

"Mat. xxiv. 3. His disciples asked him, What will be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, (verse 14,) And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.'

"The disciples considered the coming of our Lord as the end of this world and the commencement of a new, in which, seated on twelve thrones, they should reign over the twelve tribes of Israel. In Rev. xx. 4. an account is also given of these thrones and of the first resurrection of those who had lost their lives for the witness of a

it is now taught from greatly more than an hundred pulpits, and advocated from the press by perhaps half that number of authors. "The Morning Watch," a Journal published in London, and commenced express. ly for the propagation of these truths, is extensively circulated; and the "Jewish Expositor" maintains the same views-if with less decision, with less asperity also. Ireland likewise has largely received them ;indeed we have just this moment (Dec. 17th, 1830,) received information that "there can scarcely be less than one hundred clergymen of the Irish Establishment preaching the doctrine regularly." That island has also furnished several able authors in its support: and, in Dublin, another periodical, confined almost exclusively to the elucidation of Prophecy, is the faithful "herald" of our Lord's Return.*

Christ, and these, adds St. John, lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.' From this has been taken the idea of a Millennium. But in the 5th verse mention is made of a second resurrection of the dead. The world also will continue and not come to an end. In the 8th verse is the account of Gog and Magog. According to the Asiatic researches, the Tartars claim Magog, the second son of Japhet, the son of Noah, as their progenitor. From the same source spring also the Turks, at least in part, and it appears likewise that these people, occupying at present no small part of the Antichristian kingdom, after the perpetration of great enormities, are about to fall of themselves.

When our Lord speaks of his kingdom, in Luke xxii. 30, he mentions distinctly that his disciples should there eat and drink at his table, and sitting on twelve thrones should reign over the twelve tribes of Israel. It is also the account of a worldly kingdom, with which many other passages agree."

* We feel peculiar pleasure in recommending the Dublin "Christian Herald," to the attention aud patronage of our Millenarian friends. Conducted with great ability and with Christian temper, and communicating in a popular form much information on the questions discussed, it is admirably adapted for general circulation among those whose situation in life precludes their access to more expensive works, or whose education unfits them for comprehending arguments presented in a more abstruse form. At a time when so many of the most eminent Christian authors, in fixing the price of their works, give little heed to the spirit of that peculiar characteristic of their Master's ministry-" to the poor the gospel is preached"-it will not be considered unimportant to add, that the work, which is published monthly, is sold cheap. A though now enlarged, the price is only sixpence. It is published by R. M. Tims, Grafton-street, Dublin; and James Nisbet, Berners-street, London; and we hope that enterprising booksellers in this country may find it their interest largely to introduce it here, where such a work is still a desideratum.