fact, that the Jews are still scattered among all nations where they are a bye-word and a hissing, while the darkening of the sun in 1780 shows the tribulation of God's elect to have been ended.

In Luke xix: 41-44 we read, " And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, if thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee: and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another: because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."

Major Noah, of New York, some time since undertook to prove the falsity of Christ's predictions, from the fact, as he averred, that the foundation stones of the temple had never been removed. We discover from the above quotation from Luke, that not only the stones of the temple, but the fabrications of the entire city were to be utterly demolished, so that not one stone should be left upon another; but if disbelievers in christianity contend these prophetic declarations have never been accomplished, we have only to say, that at the second coming of our Lord, all the predictions of Christ respecting the demolition of those buildings, will have a full and perfect accomplishment, if not before.

From "The History of the Jews by H. H Milman," we extract the following remark; "The Romans, probably after a hard contest, made themselves masters of Jerusalem, and razed every building that remained to

the ground; it was then perhaps, if not before, that the plough was passed by Rufus over the devoted ground." This was in A.D. 132–135.

v. 5. "For many shall come in my name, saying, "I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

From Buck's Theological Dictionary we learn, that between the commencement of the second century and A.D. 1632, twenty-four false Christs arose, and some two or three others have appeared since. "And shall deceive many." Under the reign of Adrian, Barchocheba, one of the false Messiahs, managed to deceive many, and, in consequence, five or six hundred thousand souls perished.† Here the prediction began to receive its fulfilment on a large scale.

v. 6. "And ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."

This item was completely fulfilled just prior to the -breaking up of the Roman empire by the barbarians, in the beginning of the fourth century.

v. 7. "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places."

The Roman Empire at the first advent of Christ was, in a Bible sense, universal; and any insurrection of the Jews or other Provinces could not be a rising of "nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom." But when Rome became divided into ten kingdoms, then and not till then could this declaration be fulfilled, which accordingly took place A.D. 356 to 493, 2 item.

*Vol. iii. p. 104.

†See Art. Messiah, pp. 357, 358.

"Famines." There was a famine at Rome, A.D. 262; one in Britain, A.D. 272, "so grievous that people ate the bark of trees;' one in Scotland, A.D. 306, when thousands died; one in England, A.D 310, when forty thousand perished; a dreadful one in Phrygia, a.d. 370, and one in Italy, so destressing that parents devoured their own children.*

"Pestilences," or plagues. A most dreadful plague occurred at Rome, A.D. 78, in which ten thousand perpersons died every day; in A.D. 167, another plague ravaged the Roman Empire. "In Britain, A.D. 430, a plague raged so formidably, and swept away such multitudes, that the living were scarcely sufficient to bury the dead." Another dreadful plague began in Europe, in A.D. 558, extended all over Asia and Africa, and it is said, did not cease for many years. Another occurred at Constantinople, A.D. 746, by which two hundred thousand people were swept away.

"Earthquakes." In A.D. 357, an earthquake occurred in Asia, Pontus and Macedonia, and one hundred and fifty cities and towns were damaged. In A.D. 538, Nicomedia was again demolished by an earthquake, and its inhabitants buried in its ruins. In A.D. 543, an earthquake occurred so extensive that it was felt nearly all over the world. Again, in a.d. 558, there was an earthquake, in which thousands of people perished. In A.D. 560, another occurred, in Africa, by which many cities were overthrown. Another occurred in Syria, A.D. 742, by which more than five hundred

*World's Progress and Dic. of Dates, p. 319.

cities were destroyed, and the loss of human life surpassed all calculation.*

v. 8. "All these are the beginning of sorrows." If these are the beginning of sorrows, what shall the end be?

v. 9. "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."

It was at this time, (A.D. 519,) that the Church was delivered into the hands of that formidable power, symbolized by the "little horn" of Dan. vii: 25, and this event synchronizes with the power connected with the pale horse, Rev. vi: 8, 9, and with the events of Dan. xi: 33, "Yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame: by captivity, and by spoil many days."

v. 10. "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another,"

That is, during these days, but more especially aț the time of the Protestant Reformation, and subsequently.

v. 11. "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.'

That is, false Teachers. This is parallel with 2 Pet. ii: 1, and onward. These Teachers were to come, as expressed in verses 22 and 23, immediately after the shortening of those days, that is, the days of tribulation and while God's true watchmen were to contend for the literal and personal coming of Christ, the false Prophets, or Teachers, were to spiritualize away the

*World's Progress and Dic. of Dates, p. 302.

prophecies in relation to His glorious appearing, contending that he is in the desert, or in the secret chamber, coming "by death," or in some other way not authorized by scripture.

v. 12. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

This condition of society is brought about, in a great degree, by the false doctrines, or abominable heresies spoken of by Peter; and however men may flatter themselves that the world is growing better, we are convinced from statistical information, that, within ten years past, crime has increased fifty per cent. above the ratio of the increase in population. In what age of the world could the language of St. Paul (2 Tim. iii: 1) be more justly applied, than at the present time? "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power." This is the condition of the great mass of the professed disciples of Christ.

v. 13. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

This verse brings us to the very close of time, when the Church is passing through her last trial. May God help us to endure to the end.

v. 14. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Christ having brought us down to the end, here speaks of the publishing of the gospel, as a work to be done at the time of the end, and as a sign that the end is approaching. This work is being accomplished at the present time.

v. 15. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination