Page images
PDF
EPUB

be rolled together as a scroll; for my sword shall be bathed in heaven. Behold, it shall come down upon Idumea and upon the people of my curse to judgment; for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea" (Isaiah xxxiv. 6). "Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah? I have trodden the wine-press alone" (Isaiah lxxviii). "And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together" (Rev. vi. 14). "He treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God: gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God" (Rev. xix. 15-17). And it is also to be remarked that this day of vengeance always introduces the time of Israel's restoration: it is "the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion" (Isaiah xxxiv. 8). "The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come" (Isaiah lxiii. 4). And as the termination of the Gentile dispensation is the time of Israel's restoration (Rom. xi. 25), and as this day of vengeance concludes the first of these periods and commences the second, the Jews themselves, as a people, and the land of Israel to which they are restored, must necessarily be exempted from the destruction of that day of vengeance; and that restoration of Israel is spoken of as a new creation, and as to abide for ever. "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come into mind; but be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy" (Isai. lxiv. 11). "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I shall make shall remain before me (saith the Lord), so shall your seed and your name remain" (Isaiah lxiv 22).

This is the time of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began (Acts iii. 21), when the times of refreshing shall come, and the heavens shall no longer withhold the presence of our Lord. It is called the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of his glory (Matt. xix. 28); and it is a kingdom that cannot be moved (Heb. xii. 28), of which we have already received the earnest (Eph. i. 14), and shall then for ever possess it.

We are not stating these things controversially, nor in reference to Mr. Faber, beyond the single point of differing from his view of the pre-millennial advent being figurative. If we began a controversy with him we should have to begin it much earlier; for he, misled as we think by the geologists, supposes this earth to be, not created for the abode of man at the time when man was created, but formed out of the

wreck of a preceding world, of which man was not an inhabitant a purposeless creation and a gratuitous destruction. And from his views of the planetary system we should also dissent, whether it regards their origin or their ultimate destination as mansions for the blessed. Such notions as the following may be tolerated in poetry which has borrowed most of its ideas from the heathen, but will find no support from Scripture rightly interpreted :

"If the many celestial mansions in the house of the Father be the innumerable spheres, these various heavens must have been created, not to stand uselessly empty, which is incongruous with the very idea of a heaven, but to be inhabited and enjoyed...... The material bodies of the angels, by their capability of either condensation or rarefaction, are perfectly qualified for any rapid facility of locomotion; and, as our bodies after the resurrection will become like the bodies of angels, we also shall no longer as at present be confined to our own peculiar mansion, On the contrary, there will be, I apprehend, a perpetual intercourse between sphere and sphere, conducted with the rapidity of thought or light; that so the communion of God's saints may, on the very largest scale, be perfected" (243-245),

There is a danger in too much miscellaneous reading and in a love of discussion; for both are apt to lead men into dreamy speculations, subversive of all true faith. The world will be inclined to think that Mr. Faber has become confused and uncertain on all the great heads of doctrine, concerning which he at one time seemed to be both clear and firmly established. We think that his reputation would have stood higher if this last publication from his prolific pen had never seen the light.

Of Mr. Elliott's work it is almost superfluous for us to speak; for, when four volumes on such a subject have in so short a time reached a fourth edition, this fact is sufficient to show that the work possesses sterling value, and supplies information which is not to be obtained in other and more compendious treatises. We ourselves regard Mr. Elliott's as the standard work on the Apocalypse-not in the sense of our agreeing with every part of his scheme, still less with every particular application of the symbols; but in the sense of being a standard book of reference-that is, it contains more information on the subject than any other book with which we are acquainted; and, consequently, helps those who may not feel satisfied with this or any other system, in all its particulars, to construct a system for themselves on a comprehensive plan, which may meet every difficulty, and so become all respects satisfactory.

It is only with the earlier parts of Mr. Elliott's interpretation, such as the first seals, that we feel dissatisfied; but, even then, he throws so much light on the early history of the Church that we are thankful for the collateral informa tion which we receive even here. And as from the tenth chapter of the Apocalypse to the end of the book we are nearly agreed with him in all respects, we can gain from this large portion of the Revelation abundant instruction and warning suitable to our own day, and to the duties which lie immediately before us, from this commentary or interpretation; which personal application, after all, is the thing which the Church most needs and which this book is best calculated to supply.

For, as we agree with the great majority of commentators who apply the sixth trumpet to the Turkish invasion of the East a woe which still continues-so we regard our present position as lying between the second and third woe, between the sixth and seventh trumpets-that is, between the ninth and tenth chapters of the Apocalypse, or, perhaps more precisely at the fourteenth verse of the eleventh chapter; for the second woe is well nigh past and the third woe cometh quickly; and it is because we see before our eyes the resuscitation of the Roman beast, and behold the mystical Babylon again decking herself out and presenting the cup of her fornication to all the kings of the earth-it is because we perceive the danger to be imminent, and to be more fully described in the Apocalypse than in any other part of Scripture, that we press on our readers the study of this book as incumbent upon them. Mr. Elliott says "With regard to our present position, we have been led, as the result of our investigations, to fix it at but a short time from the end of our now existing dispensation, and the expected second advent of Christ." We also believe this. And, as Satan knows it as well as we do, it is not surprising that he should exert himself to the utmost and come down in great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time (xii. 12). This is the real cause of all the evils we behold around us. Satan is putting forth all his power both of seduction and of intimidation; and the three unclean spirits are abroad, from the mouth of the dragon and the beast, and the false prophet (xvi. 13). And all these warnings are given in this portion of the Apocalypse, which is especially applicable to our own times, because the Holy Spirit foresaw that the Church now would especially need them.

And let us ever remember that these revelations are given,

not merely to warn us of the trials that are coming, but to enlighten and strengthen us, that we may be able to bear them. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope (Rom. xv. 4). And especially do we need that kind of information which the Apocalypse is calculated to convey to detect the wiles and artifices of Rome as well as to resist its power. The last enemy shall come after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders; and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thess. xi. 9). There is a fascination in the professions of unity and catholicity which the Church of Rome holds out, against the fallacy contained in which we need to be well guarded. Christ is the only Head of the Church, the only perfect Man, the only One in whom, as a Person, this unity can be found. The successor of Peter is not greater than he was whom he claims to succeed, and Peter on many occasions showed that he was fallible. Peter was an example of humility-not of

Papal arrogance. "The elders which are among you, I

exhort, who am also an elder, not as lords over God's heritage, but examples to the flock (1 Pet. v). And catholicity is the reverse of worldliness: it is being in the world and not of it: it is being God's witness to all nations in order to gather the elect and prepare the way of the Lord: it is being a separate people, as Israel was separated from the heathen, knowing that in the world we shall have tribulation, and overcoming in the power of the Lord (John xvi. 33).

The view which Mr. Elliott takes of the Apocalypse-that it is, as it were, an admission into the presence-chamber of the Most High, and a laying open to the Church of all the secret counsels of divine wisdom-is not only the most grand, but it is the only correct, view of this wonderful book; and if God has thus condescended to reveal his purposes to us, let us take heed that we receive not the grace of God in vain. Let us take the warning and receive the instruction; for, surely, all these things are coming on this generation, and let us remember the words of our Lord, when he wept over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not" (Matt. xxiii. 37).

278

ART. II.-1. Narrative of Five Years at St. Saviour's, Leeds. By the Rev. JOHN HUNGERFORD POLLEN, M.A., Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. Oxford: J. Vincent. London: Whittaker, and Co. 1851.

2. Six Letters on Points connected with the Present State of the Church; with a Postscript. By the Rev. JOHN JEBB, A.M., Rector of Peterstow. London: Joseph Masters, Aldersgate street, and New Bond-street. 1851.

3. Some Examination of a Recently Published Opinion of Edward Badeley, Esq., in favour of Altar Lights. London: Francis and John Rivington, St. Paul's Church-yard, and Waterloo-place. 1851.

4. Turning toward the East in Public Worship. Is it Right or Wrong? Second Edition. London: Pelham Richardson, 23, Cornhill; and J. Ollivier, 59, Pall Mall. 1851. 5. The Law of Church Ornaments and Utensils, including Communion Tables, Vestures, Organs, Candles, and Crosses. By GEORGE HENRY HEWIT OLIPHANT, Esq., B.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, and of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. 1851.

6. A Charge delivered at his Visitation, November, 1850. By the Right Rev. C. J. BLOMFIELD, D.D., Lord Bishop of London.

7. Address of the Archbishops and Bishops to the Clergy. March 29th, 1851.

AFTER having been debated longer than almost any other measure which was ever introduced into either House of Parliament, the Papal Aggression Bill has at length become the law of the land. We are glad that it is so, if only to prove to the Court of Rome that Protestant England is not asleep, and that her faithful subjects will allow no attack to be made upon the Queen's prerogative with impunity. The spirit which the whole course of these proceedings has drawn forth from every part of the country is one of the most remarkable as well as satisfactory character. The people of England have openly avowed their willingness to give the Roman Catholics full and free scope for the exercise of their faith. They have shown themselves ready to concede to the members of a Church whose tenets they abhor a degree of liberty, not an iota or shadow of which is conceded by

VOL. XXX.-T

« PreviousContinue »