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predictions are explicitly interpreted by the angel as pointing out CHRIST's kingdom breaking in pieces all the previous kingdoms, and which will stand forever.

Here, then, is the complete overthrow of POPERY, MAHOMEDANISM, INFIDELITY, and EVERY opposing kingdom. This is the time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation to this time; NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE. Heaven prepare us for, and preserve us during our exposure to, the days of calamity which await us!

In conclusion,

A. M. A. D.

1. Put down from Creation and Fall to the commencement of Daniel's 70 prophetic weeks.... 3679 2. Commencement of Daniel's 70 weeks to the Na

tivity

3. From the Nativity to the commencement of the 1260 years

4. The 1260 years

5. Excess of 1290 years over the above.

6. Excess of 1335 over 1290

From the Creation to the Nativity.

453

533

1260

30

45

4132 1868

From the Nativity to the end of time

1868

Total 6000

"The Signs of the Times," as delineated in the following Lecture, will, we think, be found to confirm the above chronology..

LECTURE II.

"SIGNS OF THE TIMES," &c.

Matt. xvi., 23.

"O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times ?"

HABAK. ii., 3.

"The vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not tarry."

LUKE XXI., 28.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh."

These three passages taken together, form the ground work of our present Lecture. The first asserts the existence of "signs," as applicable to "times and seasons" generally; in other words, that there is a perfect analogy between the physical effects consequent upon the mutations of the heavenly bodies in producing incessant fluctuations from "fair weather” to "foul;" and those moral effects which are the result

of God's providences, and which, in the collect for fourth Sunday after Easter, are significantly styled "the sundry and manifold changes of the world." The second passage is designed to teach us that there are limits set to the long period of concealment of the prophetic word, and that the time is designated when that period of concealment should terminate; viz., "at the end." And the third passage directs our thoughts to a consideration of "SIGNS," which, in addition to DATES, as brought to view in the preceding Lecture, are designed to indicate "THE TIME" of "the end."

Nor let any suppose, that we are conducting them into a field of wild conjecture, or of idle speculation; for, of those constantly recurring signs in the physical world, the lover of nature may sing,

"Not till the freezing blast is still,

Till freely leaps the sparkling rill,
And gales sweep soft from summer skies,

As o'er a sleeping infant's eyes

A mother's kiss; e'er calls like these,

No sunny gleam awakes the trees,

Nor dare the tender flow'rets show

Their bosoms to th' uncertain glow."

Nor less certainly may the truly contemplative lover of God's eternal truth, as it is unfolded by "signs" in the moral world, sing,

"Not surer does each tender gem,

Set in the fig-tree's polished stem,
Foreshow the summer season bland,

Than these DREAD SIGNS-thy mighty hand!"

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Yes, of" the Church of the living God," which his word declares is "the pillar and ground of the truth," the existence of a general defection from the truth to the contrary notwithstanding, it may be said,

"She has a charm, a word of fire.

A pledge of love that cannot tire;
By tempests, earthquakes, and by wars,
By rushing waves and falling stars,
By EVERY SIGN her Lord foretold,
She sees the world is waxing old;
And, through that last and direst storm,
Descries by faith her SAVIOR'S FORM."

These and the like considerations lead us to perceive with what force and power our Lord must have charged home upon the Pharisees and Sadducees of his day, the appropriate epithet of "hypocrite!" "Ye can discern the face of the sky," says he: why not then with equal clearness, "discern the signs of the times ?" as though he said, both are equally marked by their appropriate characteristics—both, therefore, are equally intelligible. "When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red-and in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowring”—But, "The Times" are characterized by "Signs" even of paramount significance. "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Why then pretend ignorance of the lessons

1. Matt. xi., 5.

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