And if the doctrine of the Sex-millennial duration of the world be a truth, and the Apocalyptic Millennium be the seventh chiliad, how near does it bring the golden-the blissful era! Let us cry, in the words of the pious Brainard, "The glorious times of the church are coming—are near at hand. O that his kingdom might come in the world!" and with Heber: "Chide the tardy seals that yet detain Thy Lion, Judah, from his destined reign." "Every day," wrote Alanson Covell, "proclaims the near approach of that blessed era, ,"* and Mr. Brooks affirms that "in the opinion of all intelligent men, some awful and portentous crisis is at hand." In view of this solemn fact let us adopt the language of the pious Fletcher, and pray, "O that the thought, the glorious hope of Millennial blessedness may animate me to perfect holiness in the fear of God, that I may be accounted worthy to escape the terrible judgments which will make way for that happy state of things; and that I may have part in the first resurrection, if I am numbered among the dead before that happy period begins." We have now coursed through about twenty centuries, and have found existing in the church three Millennial theories, viz: the Anti-millennarian, as held by Augustine, Andreas, Bush and others; the theory of a Post-millennial advent of Christ, as taught by Whitby and others, and its opposite, Pre-millennialism, and the personal reign, as believed by the early church, the two former of which we reject and oppose, the last mentioned we heartily receive and promulgate. What the real character of the Millennial age will be remains to be seen. It is "night" now, and we all " see through a glass darkly," but we shall see better and clearer when "the shadows flee away," and "the day dawns," and the "Sun" * Memoirs, p. 45. is up. But we sympathize with the Church of God in all her endeavors to interpret the Scriptures in relation to the nature of that hastening, glorious era. THE PRIEST'S LIPS SHOULD KEEP KNOWLEDGE. Meanwhile, to all those who are on the walls of Zion we say, in the earnest words of Hugh McNeil: "My ministering brethren, watch, preach the coming of Jesus-I charge you, in the name of our common Master, preach the coming of Jesus-solemnly and affectionately in the name of God, I charge you, preach the coming of Jesus. Watch ye, therefore, (for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning,) lest coming suddenly, he find the porter sleeping. Take care what I say unto you, I say unto all-watch.' '' T CHAPTER XI. PRE MILLENNIALISM. THE STARTLING CRY." HE COMETH." HE Lord cometh! The heart of many an one thrills at this call. He thinks of the approaching and complete establishment of the Lord's kingdom upon earth; and he sighs, "Ah, didst thou but come!" Yes, our heart also joins in this longing of eighteen hundred years; for even so long has it been in the church, not like a flood water, which is gradually lost in the sand beneath, but like a stream, which, the nearer it draws to its destination, rolls onward with greater power. How many a prophetic omen has there been, that the grand moment of jubilee is not far distant. We already perceive signs of the publication of the gospel in all the world; that of the shaken foundations of Mohammedanism; that of the re-emergement of the Beast from the abyss; that of the decline from Christ and his word, extending through the world; and that of the powerful errors of an anti-christian spirit, acquiring domination over the cultivation of genius; of the idolization of men, and of many more similar signs. "Never did the church witness such a constellation of signs of the near coming of Christ as now. 'The branches of the fig-trees are full of sap; and the summer is at hand.' Assuredly I am not ignorant that a portion of the Church has become gradually weary of the long tarrying, and has HE COMETH !"-" SIGNS OF THE TIMES. 369 fallen into doubt. You also shake your head, and are of opinion, that we have long talked of the last time.' Well, use this language, and increase the number of the existing signs by this new one. Add that of the foolish virgins, who shortly before the midnight hour maintained 'the Lord would not come for a long time.' They ate, they drank, they wooed and were wooed, and inscribed over the festivity-decorated gate of their dwelling, 'Peace! Peace! There is no danger!' But then, however, the depths suddenly burst open, and the floods rushed forth at the command of the eternal wrath. Only Noah and those with him watched, and were preserved; upon every one else destruction came with the swiftness of a whirlwind. The Lord cometh! O, were he already here! How do we long for his revelation in these dark times!"— KRUMMACHER. "SIGNS OF THE TIMES." When from scattered lands afar, Men behold their Summer near; When the hearts of rebels fail, Listen to her widowed moan, Gird with saints Thy flaming car, Luke 18: 3, 7, 8 Isa. 24: 13-15. Rev. 20: 4-6. Luke 14: 14. Psalm 49: 14, 15. 1 Thess. 4: 17. Col. 1: 15. Luke 19: 12, 27. Matt. 13: 41, 42. Luke 17; 27, 30. Rev. 19: 20, 21. Rev. 18: 3, 5, 9. 2 Peter 2: 9. Mark 15, 27. Zach. 8: 3. Dan. 2: 35, 44. Isa. 40: 1, 9. Ps. 67: 6. 1 Cor. 13: 12. 1 John 3: 2. Luke 21: 31. Rev. 1: 7. 2 Thess. 3: 5. Heb. 4: 9. 2 Tim. 4; 8. Rev. 22: 20. Isa. 49: 9. Rom. 8: 19. CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. |