of Daniel point out the time for the end; "and, although there may have been a difference of opinion upon the time for commencing the prophetic periods of his visions, every age, we believe, has spoken with the strongest confidence that they would be understood before the end should actually come." This uniformity of belief among all the most worthy sons of the church, in all its different states, and in every age, certainly affords presumptive proof of our being correct, in the absence of any positive proof to the contrary.

CONSIDERATION II. The opposers of the Second Advent doctrine, as well as its advocates, believe that a time is foretold, when "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord," and Satan shall be bound "a thousand years." They also agree in believing that the Bible gives a clue to about the time when this happy state of things shall commence. Mr. Dowling thinks it will commence in about one hundred and fifty-seven years. Dr. Brownlee fixes upon another year, A. D. 1866, I believe. Now, there are only two prevalent opinions respecting the end of the world as connected with that epoch. One is, that the end will occur at the binding of Satan; and the other, that it will occur very soon after the thousand years shall have expired. Those who hold to each opinion, maintain that the Bible has furnished us with the means of knowing which is correct, if we only study it aright. Therefore, let either be correct, we have the means of knowing about the time for the end.

CONSIDERATION III.⁕ We infer that God has revealed the time for this event from the analogy to be found in other great events under his government.

First event. Previous to the flood, God at first revealed only the time of destruction. Afterwards,

*Nearly all that is said under Consideration III. is extracted from the able review of Daggett's sermon, by S. Bliss.

+ It does not matter much, as respects the argument from analogy, what interpretation is given to Gen. vi. 3; although I think it is plainly a prediction of the time to the flood. There is no doubt about Gen. vii. 4.

the manner is given, with a more full revelation of the event. Minute directions are also given to Noah for building an ark, so as to save himself and family. As the time draws nigh, and there are but seven days to the flood, the very day of the event is given. Every individual soul, that is saved, is looking for the event at the very time; otherwise they would not have gone into the ark, and have been saved. Many who perished had an opportunity to know that God purposed to drown the world. Noah was a preacher of righteousness; (2 Pet. ii. 5;) but even if he "did not reveal the time, the ark itself must have warned them. It is in vain to suppose they were ignorant of Noah's expectations. Therefore every plank that was added to the ark was an admonition that the time of its completion was drawing nigh; and when it was ready for the reception of its inmates, they might then know that no longer delay was necessary for the accomplishment of God's purpose.

"We should, therefore, expect in the second destruction of the world, that God would reveal the time; that, however, he would not reveal at any one time the whole of his purpose, but a little here, and a little there—in one place the time, and in another the manner—in language so plain, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein; and yet, not in language so direct and explicit, but that those disposed might have an abundance of plausible reasons on which to predicate their doubts. Even the time itself, we should expect from the analogy, would be given in such a manner that it might be contended with some show of reason that it does not denote the duration of time, but only the defil ment of the temple by Antiochus; as the prediction of the time to the flood is also applied to the reduced age of mankind. We should also expect that, as the time of the event drew nigh, all who would be saved would have a more clear conception of the great e ent; and when the time had about expired, would all be in the attitude of expectation. On the other hand, we should also expect that

those who perish, would, many of them, have an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the time and manner of the end, but none of them would believe in its reality."

Second event. At the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, we find that all who were saved were apprized of the event a sufficient time previous to enable them to escape, and also to warn some of those who perished, unto whom Lot seemed as one that mocked. The analogy would therefore teach us that before Christ comes, all the truly righteous will be apprized of the fact, and know that it is so near, that they must be 'up,' 'for the Lord will destroy this city,' and yet they may not know the very hour,' until God takes them by the hand to save them. We also learn by this that some of the finally impenitent will be faithfully warned, but that they will look upon those who warn them as misguided fanatics, and men 'that mock.'"

Third. The seven years of famine, Gen. xli. 28 to 54.

Fourth. "It was predicted that the seed of Abraham should be a stranger in a land not theirs,' four hundred years; and afterward they should come out with great substance. This, with Abraham's own sojourn, made four hundred and thirty years.⁕ The children of Israel, therefore, could, at any time during their captivity in Egypt, have calculated the time of its termination, by adding four hundred years to the time when the seed of Abraham began to be afflicted in a strange land. We also find that at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day, it came to pass that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.'"

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"Notwithstanding it is so clear that the time was revealed before their captivity in Egypt commenced, it is also evident that the predicted period had nearly elapsed before the children of Israel were aware of its

*See Gen. xv. 12-14, 16; Ex. xii. 40, 41; Acts vii. 6, 7; Gal. iii. 17.

near completion; but before its end they did understand, and made all necessary arrangements for securing the great substance' that it was predicted they should carry out."

"There was also a fine opportunity for any one who felt disposed, to doubt respecting the time; as they might, with much show of reason, have contended that the four hundred years were to be dated from the time that Jacob and all his children removed to Egypt; or it would have been plausible to have supposed it was to be dated from the time that another king arose that knew not Joseph,' and who evil entreated them, -the same as many now contend, that the rise of Popery should not be dated from the commencement of its power, but only from the time it became quite formidable, or from the zenith of its power."

"The analogy' in this case would therefore lead us to expect that the period which is to elapse before the end of the world would be a definite prophetic period, but that it would not be fully understood until about the time of its termination; that there might be a question from what particular epoch it was to be dated; but that, as the period drew near its termination, the time of the end would be more clearly understood, and at its termination those who are delivered would be all expecting immediate deliverance; nor would those not delivered be all ignorant that such was an expected event."

Fifth. The children of Israel had not been more than about two years in the wilderness, according to Mr. Daggett, when they were told that the whole time of their wanderings should be forty years. Numbers

xiv. 34.

Sixth. The final overthrow of Israel within sixtyfive years. 2 Kings xvi.; Is. vii. 1—9.

Seventh. There were to be seventy years accomplished in the desolations of Jerusalem, and Daniel knew by books when they would expire. Dan. ix. 2; Jer. xxv. 8—12.

Eighth. The streets of Jerusalem were to be built

in troublous times, and finished in seven weeks of years, or forty-nine years, which was exactly fulfilled. Dan. ix. 25.

Ninth. For five hundred and eighteen years before the coming of Christ, the very year for the commencement of his ministry was a matter of prophecy. Dan. ix. 25. Our Saviour alluded to this when he said "the time⁕ is fulfilled." Moreover, the people "understood from books" that it was about the time for the Messiah to come; for there was a general expectation of his appearance then. Not only this, a special messenger was sent to confirm their expectations, and " prepare the way of the Lord."

In Matt. xvi. 3, our Saviour strongly rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees, because they did not "discern the signs of the times"—because they did not see by those signs, of which there were about twenty, that he was the Messiah, without having "a sign from heaven."

The analogy of this event would lead us to infer that not only the time for the second coming of Christ has been revealed, but that just before the event, men, perhaps as rude exteriorly as John the Baptist, will be raised up to preach with all the faithfulness of John, and cry, in the wilderness of sin, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh," prepare ye the way of the Lord."

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Tenth. Christ was to confirm the covenant with many for one week of years, or seven years, which period of time we find did actually constitute his ministry. Dan. ix. 27; Rom. v. 6.

Eleventh. Hezekiah was told to set his house in order, for he should die; and afterwards, when he prayed, he was told that fifteen years were added to his life, and a sure sign given him whereby he might know it was so. Is. xxxviii.

Twelfth. A handwriting on the wall foretold to Belshazzar, "God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it." "In that night was Belshazzar slain."

Dan. v.

Mark i. 15; Gal. iv. 4. † Matt. ii. 1—10, and Luke ii. 25.