plain and literal interpretation of this chapter, have uniformly applied it to the destruction of Jerusalem; affecting to discern in that event a complete accomplishment of all its prophetic predictions. This work most happily, as we conceive, wrests from their hands this sophistical weapon, strips the specious covering of apparent reason from their flimsy arguments, and allows the language of the Savior to have its simple and obvious import; and to be regarded, not as a figurative or hyperbolical description of something to take place at the overthrow of Jerusalem, but a plain and positive statement of coming events, which were successively to transpire during the existence of generations then future, and closing up by distinctly assuring them that certain prominent and unequivocal signs upon the earth and in the heavens would precede his coming, and admonishing them to watch for the signs, and commanding them to know, when they were seen, that the end of the world, the harvest, when the tares would be burned and the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father," was nigh, even at the doors.

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By suffering the words of this chapter to have their obvious and literal import, a desideratum, hitherto unattained, is believed to be secured, and a portion of Scripture rendered plain and intelligible, which heretofore has been regarded as having a two-fold or occult and hidden meaning, a very common error, which, through the labored efforts of mysticising and spiritualizing commentators, has led the church into a dark and intricate labyrinth of doubt and perplexity respecting some of the plainest and most glorious portions of the blessed word, which were written for cur profit and instruction, that we 66 through comfort of the Scriptures might have

hope."

To such as are seeking to know the truth, and who are studying the prophecies with a view to understand them, and to be ready for the grand, crowning event to which they point the waiting soul, it is confidently believed this little work will prove salutary and useful. To such we cheerfully commend it, bespeaking for it a prayerful and patient perusal, as well as a careful comparison with the sacred volume, feeling assured that wherever such a use is made of it, it will serve to enlighten the minds, confirm the faith, and encourage the hearts of its readers.

O. S.

Verses 1, 2: "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily, I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down."

In this prediction, our Savior evidently had allusion to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and which had been predicted by Moses in Deut. xxviii. 49-53: "The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favor to the young and he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed

thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land which the Lord thy God hath given thee. And thou 'shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege and in the straitness where with thine enemies shall distress thee." Also in Levit. xxvi. 29-33: "And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors. And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste." Also predicted in Jer. xxv. 17, 18, 26, 29: "Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me to wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a