THERE have been frequent periods when the minds of lovers of God's word have been drawn to the study of prophecy. The aspect of affairs around them, as well as the intimations of Scripture, have seemed to intimate that great changes were impending, and the desire, so natural to us, of seeing into the future, has led them to study the prophetic word with the hope of gaining some information there. We are not of those who would condemn this disposition. It has been planted in us for wise purposes by the Creator himself. There is much in those records, which have been bequeathed to us by men who wrote "as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," which is evidently intended to meet this disposition. Why are predictions regarding the future given us if not to be studied? Did not Daniel scek to "understand by books the number of the years?" Were there not prophets who inquired and searched diligently, what and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify ?" And in the Apocalypse, which contains a prophetic history of the church onward to the end of time, is not a blessing pronounced on "him that readeth, and them that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein ?"

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VOL. XXXII.

We freely admit, however, the necessity of sobriety and caution in connexion with such subjects. We know that many have been led astray by them, and that the wildest speculations and the most extravagant assumptions have been given to the world as valid interpretations of the predictions of inspired men. Events have been foretold on the strength of supposed Scripture intimations of them which have never occurred. Times have been specified at which stupendous and world-awakening movements were to take place, but these times have passed quietly away, and left matters moving on as before. We have just seen a nation, which, according to some of our modern interpreters of prophecy, was to conquer the whole of Europe, ignominiously defeated and driven back by one of the feeblest of those powers she was to overwhelm. In the present state of affairs on the continent moreover, in the political alliances and murderous conflicts now taking place, we have events which no student of prophecy, so far as we know, has had sagacity enough to foresee and foretell. The course which public events is taking, at least for the present, is certainly not what interpreters of prophecy have looked for.

These facts demonstrate the neces2 K

sity of caution, and should give a check to that spirit of rash confidence and presumptuous dogmatism, which is but too often manifested in connexion with prophetical interpretation. At the same time the opposite extreme should be avoided. We think those are equally in error, who, because of the ridiculous failures of some, and the differing or even contradictory interpretations of others, denounce such studies altogether, or at least decline themselves to engage in them. We fear that this effect has been produced on the minds of not a few of our brethren in the ministry. But what is the consequence? They thus not only neglect the study of a most important portion of the Divine word, but they also lose much of their influence over the minds of those who are interested in such subjects. They deprive themselves of the opportunity of restraining them from error, and leading them to the adoption of sound views. In these days, when stupendous changes are occurring in some nations, and are evidently impending in others; when society is breaking loose from the foundations it has hitherto rested on, that it may settle itself on some new basis; when even statesmen find their old experience to fail them in the conducting of public affairs, and look with fear on the things that are coming on the earth; and when, moreover, so many books and pamphlets on prophetical subjects are issuing from the press, and getting into such extensive circulation,-in such times, it is impossible to restrain the minds of men from looking into the future. The tendency in multitudes of instances is irresistible. It is but wise then to meet this tendency, and endeavour to guide it aright. Those who decline this obvious duty, need not wonder should they have the mortification of seeing some whom they might have guided aright, perverted and led astray. We have ourselves seen but too many instances in which this has occurred.

We have been led to these observations from having been brought much

into contact lately with Millenarianism. This ancient error is springing up with remarkable luxuriance at the present time, and is insinuating itself into portions of God's vineyard where we should hardly have expected to find it. We call it an ancient error. It appeared in the apostolic church. It prevailed extensively during the martyr era in post-apostolic times. It sprung up again in the days of the Reformation. It disfigured the times of the Commonwealth. And now again it is diffusing itself widely in various sections of the Christian world. There are multitudes who hold it tenaciously, and over whom it exerts a most potent influence. It gives an unhealthy tinge to the whole of their theology, invests, them with a peculiar atmosphere, and, in too many cases, leads them to withdraw from fellowship with those of their brethren whose views on these subjects do not coincide with their own. Many of them seem hardly able to regard that as Christianity which is not also Millenarianism.

Besides, they are untiring in their efforts to propagate it. It is their one subject, introduced by them on all occasions, and urged with a confidence and dogmatism which often impose on the uninitiated. Persons of warm and sanguine temperament, in whom the faculty of imagination predominates, who have got a dash of the romantic, are very apt, if they have not studied the subject, to be led to the adoption of these views. We have been surprised at instances that have come under our own observation, in which Christians of long standing and considerable intelligence, but who have not previously directed their thoughts to the point, have been quite shaken in their previous convictions by the reading of some Millenarian book, or by conversation with some Millenarian friend. We have generally succeeded, however, in staggering them in their new belief, by pointing out its inconsistency with many of the most important statements of the word of God.

Millenarianism has worked its way very extensively among the evangelical party in the church of England. Few dissenting ministers, we believe, have adopted these views, but it is well known that they are maintained by a large number of the evangelical clergy of the Establishment. We think this may be accounted for in some measure by the erroneous views they entertain regarding the nature of Christ's kingdom. Our Saviour has himself assured us that His "kingdom is not of this world," and is not therefore to be maintained by worldly policy. "If my kingdom were of this world," He says, "then would my servants fight, but now is my kingdom not from hence." They have accustomed themselves, however, to regard the alliance of Christ's kingdom with the civil power as essential to its welfare, and even in many cases to its existence. But in these days, when God is so visibly shaking the nations, civil establishments of Christianity, among other things, are giving evidence of instability. They certainly do not seem to be among "the things that cannot be shaken, and which are, therefore, to remain ;" but among those which shall be found wanting in the day of trial, and shall therefore pass away, and be found no more. In these days there are many indications of this approaching change. In the high places of our own country, the trumpet of warning on this subject is sounding louder and more frequently. They themselves see the crisis coming on. We find one of the most eloquent of the Millenarian writers of the present day, a minister of the twin Establishment of Scotland, expressing himself thus: "I stated my belief that the established churches of the empire will share in the tremendous crash; and whether you regard them as good or denounce them as evil, their doom is sealed-their destruction is at hand." Now it is

not wonderful, that those who regard the alliance of the church with the

* Dr. Cumming's Apocalyptic Sketches, 1st Series, p. 462.

state as essential to the church's prosperity, should be the more easily led to imagine, that the dissolution of present alliances will be succeeded by one of a more imposing and stable kind, in the personal coming of Christ himself to reign visibly over all the earth. The views which we ourselves entertain regarding the nature of Christ's kingdom, would have an à priori influence on us of precisely an opposite kind. For if Christ's kingdom be not of this world, we should expect to see a time when this feature of it will be fully manifested, and when it will rule, not by the aid of the sword, but by the energy of truth alone.

We intend to devote a few pages, in some of our following numbers, to an examination of the Millenarian hypothesis. We think the error a mischievous one, and we are desirous of doing something toward the lessening of its influence, and the diminishing of the number of its adherents. We shall take this course with perfect good feeling toward those from whom we differ. For many of them we entertain the highest esteem. There are not a few of them whom we know personally, and with whom we have passed many happy hours of Christian fellowship, which we shall not easily forget. We are bound, however, by a solemn regard to truth to do what we can toward the destruction of error. We hope the pages we may devote to this subject may be read in the same spirit in which it is our desire to write them

the spirit of humble dependence on Divine teaching, and of earnest desire to receive as truth only what has the sanction of the word of God.

The doctrine which we intend thus to bring to the test of Scripture, may be expressed as follows: THE PERSONAL COMING OF CHRIST, INSTEAD OF TAKING PLACE AT THE END OF the world, WILL INTRODUCE THE MILLENNIUM. CHRIST WILL THEN BRING WITH HIM HIS SAINTS IN THEIR GLORIFIED BODIES, THOSE OF THEM WHO ARE DEAD BEING RAISED, AND THOSE WHO ARE LIVING

There exists of course among Millenarians, considerable diversity of opinion. We are well aware that all of them would not subscribe to this statement, but we think they would generally. It should be mentioned, however, that the well-known writer we have already quoted from, has given forth views which certainly do not coincide with it. According to him, when, on Christ's coming at the commencement of the thousand years, his people have been caught up to meet him in the air, the dead being raised, and the living changed; then "the fire which rolls and heaves in the innermost recesses of the earth, shall burst forth at a thousand orifices; the gases that compose our atmosphere shall ignite; and 'the heavens and the earth shall melt as if with fervent heat:' Christ's people in the air-the people that are not Christ's on the earth-the living punished on it, the dead buried beneath it. Such is the solemn finale, and when this has taken place, this purified earth shall be the residence of the saints of God." Thus, according to this writer, the existence of the race of man in its present stage of development comes to a close at the commencement of the thousand years! The purified earth will be tenanted during this period only by saints in their glorified bodies. He disposes of the difficulty arising from the wicked being mentioned * Dr. Cumming's Apocalyptic Sketches, 1st Series, p. 482.

again after the Millennium in the following way: "I suppose that the enemies that come from the four corners of the earth are just 'the rest of the dead,' raised at the close of the Millennium, and then and there (in their resurrection bodies) with all their vices unextirpated, ...they shall make one last, dying, and desperate attack upon the saints of God (in their resurrection bodies) that dwell in the New Jerusalem, and who there magnify and worship the Lamb."* We make no comment, at least for the present, on this most extraordinary passage. It is but one specimen of the monstrous interpretations of Scripture to which Millenarians are necessitated to have recourse.

Another well-known and able writer of this school, in a work recently published, takes a very different view. According to him, at Christ's coming "a fiery baptism of the earth's surface, resembling in some measure the flood of Noah, is to issue in new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."† The church is then completed, but the human race, which escapes through this "fiery baptism,” instead of coming to an end, is to be continued and propagated on the earth for ever! The Jewish temple is to be rebuilt, and animal sacrifices restored as sacraments of spiritual things!" "If men through the Millennium," it is asked, "eat the flesh of slain animals, whether is it a nobler state, that there should be a trade of butchers, or Levites and priests, by whom every death, for the food of man, is made a holy service, and a renewed memorial of the crucified and glorified Son of God ?" p. 328. In proof of the endless continuance and propagation on the earth of the race of man, among other passages from the Old Testament, we have the original command to man to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish

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* Dr. Cumming's Apocalyptic Sketches, 1st Series, p. 484.

† Outlines of Unfulfilled Prophecy. By the Rev. T. R. Birks, M.A., p. 256.