Episcopal clergyman, the Rev. A. B. Chapin, A. M. Mem. Conn. Acad. Arts and Sci.; Mem. Yale Nat. His. Soc.; and Minister St. James Church, New Haven, Ct. It was first published in the Quart. Christ. Spect. Nov. 1838, bë fore Mr. M's Chronology appeared; and in ev ery instance where we have varied from the chronology of Dr. J., and taken that of the Heb. text, with the exception of the reign of Jehoram, it agrees with the chronology here given. From the 7th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, to the Christian era, Mr. Chapin makes 2 years less than Dr. J. has given, and in our view is correct. This, making no allowance for odd days or months, would make the chronology of the world 6001 years; and brings the 7th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, in the year B. C. 457, where we commence the 2300 days and 70 weeks of Daniel. After the 70 years captivity commenced, Nebuchadnezzar made Mataniah his father's brother, king, and changed his name to Zedekiah, who reigned 11 years in Jerusalem, during the 70 years captivity, doing evil in the sight of the Lord. "For through the anger of the Lord, it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon." 2 Kings xxiv. 17-20; also compare 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14-17, 19,-21, Moreover, all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen: and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed

in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending: because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwellingplace but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, tili there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age; he gave them all into his hand. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia; to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years."

Some date the 70 years from the destruction of the temple to the time it was rebuilt. The prophecy, however, seems to indicate that the first captivity is the time from which to date it. But the 70 years are fulfilled in either case,

The above evidence drawn from the word of God, in connection with those chronological periods respecting which there is no dispute, is

conclusive evidence, we believe, that the vision will not necessarily be longer delayed, for the prophetitic periods harmoniously to terminate in the fulness of times, at the expiration of six thousand years from creation.

According to Dr. Jarvis, the commencement of the first servitude was from creation

According to Mr. Chapin, this was before the Christian Era.

Since the Christian Era, is

2594

1563

1843

This makes the sum total from creation, 6000

THE ANTIQUITY OF THE TRADITION OF THE EARTH'S EXISTENCE TO CONTINUE 6000 YEARS IN ITS PRESENT STATE.

Antiquity can never prove error true; neither can the plea of novelty disprove a truth. We therefore refer to the antiquity of the tradition of the 6000 years' duration of the present dispensation, not as any proof of its correctness, but simply to take from it the prejudice of singularity and novelty, with which many regard it. We first find it brought to view by the ancient Jewish Rabbins.

"As for my opinion," saith R. Menasse, "I think that after six thousand years, the world shall be destroyed, upon one certain day, or in one hour; that the arches of heaven shall make a stand, as immovable; that there will be no more generation or corruption; and all things by the resurrection shall be .renovated, and return to a better condition." Menasse also ase

sures us that "this out of doubt, is the opinion of the most learned Aben Ezra," who looked for it in the New Earth of Isaiah 65: 17.

IRENEUS flourished A. D. 178. He was Bishop of Lyons, and says, "in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years it is perfected; for if the day of the Lord be as it were a thousand years, and in six days those things that are made were finished, it is manifest, that the perfecting of those things in the six thousandth year, when anti-Christ reigning 1260 years, shall have wasted all things in the world, &c., then shall the Lord come from heaven in the clouds, with the glory of his Father."

BARNABAS says, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath appointed ME to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of restitution." He then adds-" Furthermore, it is written concerning the Sabbath, Sanctify the Sabbath of the Lord with pure hands and with a clean heart.' And elsewhere he saith if thy children shall keep my Sabbaths then will I put my MERCY on them;' (alluding to the mercy promised to Abraham :) and even in the beginning of creation he makes mention of the Sabbath: And God made in six days, the works of his hands, and he finished them on the seventh day, and he rested on the seventh day, and sanctified it. Consider, my children, what that signifies :-'He finished them in six days.' The meaning is this: that in six thousand years, the Lord will bring all things

to an end. For with him one day is a thousand years, as Himself testifieth saying: Behold this day shall be as a thousand years,' therefore, children, in six days (i. e. in 6000 years) shall all things be accomplished. And what is that he saith, He rested the seventh day?' He meaneth that when his Son shall come, and abolish the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly, and change the sun and moon and stars, then he shall gloriously rest in the seventh day. He adds, lastly: Thou shalt sanctify it with clean hands and a pure heart, (alluding here to circumcision being of the heart.) Wherefore we are greatly deceived if we imagine, that any can now sanctify the day which God hath made holy, without having a heart pure in all things. Behold, therefore, he will then truly sanctify it with blessed rest, when we have received the righteous promise ;-when iniquity shall be no more, all things being renewed by the Lord; and shall then be able to sanctify it, being ourselves holy." See sec. xiv. xv. Epistle of Barnabas.

CYPRIAN, Bishop of Carthage, flourished A. D. 222. His writings are held in great esteem among all the Godly. He speaks of the six thousand years' completion and perfection fulfilled. The testimony of all the fathers is so general and concurrent on the universality of this belief, that this point cannot be denied without impeaching their veracity.

LACTANTIUS, who lived about A. D. 310, says in his "Book of Divine Institutions," "Let philosophers know, who number thousands of