who look for Him," that is, in humble, joyful hope, "shall he appear the second time without sin, unto salvation."* Still, in the face of all this ability, reaching back to the very days of the apostles, another hypothesis, essentially modern, seems to have obtained too general favour -an hypothesis which restricts the grandest and most effective prophecy of the Son of God -a prophecy conveyed under more awful imagery, and in a tone of deeper warning than any other-to an event of comparatively trifling moment. It is true this hypothesis has the sanction of a few powerful namest-names

*Heb. ix, 28.

Among these names are found those of Drs. Hammond and Whitby, the former of whom has furnished in his life, by Bishop Fell, the most finished human model of a Christian pastor; while the latter has, in his Commentary on the New Testament, generally, strengthened the cause of apostolic interpretation, notwithstanding his departure from this standard in the instance above cited; and, in my view, his eminent failure in the elaborate treatise on the millennium, a failure to be ascribed mainly to the fact of his having argued rather against the misrepresentations of the adversaries of the millennarians,

which in other cases are found to favour only those interpretations conducted according to the Catholic rule of Vincentius-still, it is always safer to listen to the voice of the Church primitive and Catholic, than to the voice of two or three of even her most skilful sons. Strong and united efforts, therefore, appear yet to be wanting to bring back the minds of Christians to the primitive and evangelical doctrine of

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-"whose doctrine," to use the words of Chillingworth, was overborne by imputing to them that which they held not"-than against the doctrine itself, as received from the apostles. In this remark, however, I am not to be considered as entering the lists as a champion of the millennarians; but simply as intimating a caution, how we reject, as a Jewish fable, a doctrine held by Papias, "the hearer of St. John, and familiar friend of Polycarp," as says Irenæus (Con. Haer. l. v, c. 33) by Nopos, Bishop of Egypt, and Victorinus, as says Jerome, (Pref. de Corn. Victor.) by Justin, the able apologist of the Church and martyr, by Irenæus, the holy Bishop of Lyons, by Melito, Bishop of Sardis, and Apollinarius and Tertullian-the most eminent men of the age next to that of the apostles; and held by them as witnesses merely of the apostolic tradition.

"the coming of the Son of man in his kingdom." Much, it is true, has been done, and ably done; yet in a manner, to render a popular treatise on the subject greatly to be desired. Whether this desideratum is supplied in the present work, is a question, the answer of which must be left to the judgment of the Church of Christ. Thus much, however, I will hazard, concerning the work itself—that it places in a clear and deeply impressive light, one of the most difficult, and at the same time, most solemn and interesting portions of God's Word: and also thus much concerning the views of the author-that, if the circulation of these pages shall bring to his mind evidence of their instrumentality, under the divine blessing, in converting one sinner from the error of his ways, or in imparting to one weary Christian, courage and patience to endure unto the end, he will devoutly thank God for so rich a reward of his labour.

L. SILLIMAN IVES,

SYNOPSIS OF THE PROPHECY.

As he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the SIGN of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

To preserve his disciples from mistaking for "signs of his coming and of the end of the world," occurrences which must be before the end came," the Saviour begins, by naming some of these occurrences; viz.

1. The rise of adventurers who would claim to be the Christ and might be mistaken for Jesus of Nazareth re-appearing.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no

man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [the] Christ; and shall deceive many.

2. Outbreaks in nature and among nations.

And ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet, For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

3. Trials to the Church.

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. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall

rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

4. The announcement of the Gospel to all nations.

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.

5. Destruction to the Holy City.

When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand :) Then let them which be in Judea [not look upon the occurrence as what must provoke the Messiah to appear, for the deliverance of his chosen people; but on the contrary, take to flight] flee into the mountains. Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house. Neither let him which is in the field, return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath-day: for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo! Here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold! I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold! He is in the desert; go not forth: Behold! He is in the secret chambers, believe it not. For, as the lightning cometh out of the East, and shineth even unto the West; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For, wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.