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to say) our hearers will award to us the mede of modesty in this department of our work, in proportion as the execution of it is free from apparent presumption. This is all we ask-this is "even-handed justice." We have admonished them against incredulousness of the Divine power to perform all that God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets — also against that spirit of idle curiosity which seeks to know more than God has revealed. It is right, therefore, that they should sit as our Judges, in deciding upon the proper use or abuse of Holy Scripture by us, as the mouthpiece of God to them.

This premised, we observe that natural signs, from their repetition, may be, and are unhesitatingly receiv ed as the unerring precursers of ordinary events. For instance: The fading leaf-the falling foliage of the forest-the hoary frosts and bleak winds, admonish us of the departing glories of summer. But, when to the "signs" in the natural phenomena of the earth and the heavens, and also of other surrounding objects, there is attached a symbolic and prophetic signification; and when our knowledge of their full import, and especially of the precise periods of the world to which they refer, is indispensable to a right application of them, we are called to encounter difficulties in the department of prophetic exposition of which the novice is little aware. In this aspect of the subject it will not be thought strange if we speak less confidently of the present "signs of the times" in their bearing upon the future, than we have the past. But of this, as we have said, our audience is our umpire.

First, then, before we can apply, we must define those prophetic symbols denoted by the surrounding objects of nature, and of the phenomena of the earth and the heavens with which the Scriptures abound, confining ourselves, however, for want of time, to those which immediately concern us.

Says our Savior, "when these things (signs) begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh." What things? What signs? Of these there are two classes, and they relate (as we shall prove) to two separate and distinct prophetic periods, to each of which are affixed appropriate "signs." Of the first class the events predicted, and their respective signs, are as follows:-

1. Great persecution, betrayment, and hatred toward all, and death to some of the disciples. The "signs" here were the agents at whose hands they were thus to suffer, viz., "parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends." "

2. The next predicted event of this class is, the destruction or "desolation" of Jerusalem, as the just judgment of God upon the Jewish nation for their rejection of the Messiah, and their continued persecution and murder of his followers. Its inhabitants, the Jews, were either to fall by the edge of the sword, or to be led captive into all nations; while, of all the splendor, magnificence, and extent of the buildings of the Holy City, not one stone should be left upon another, that should not be thrown down. The "signs" to pre

1. Luke xxi. 12-16. 2. Luke xxi. 20, 24; and Matt. xxiv. 1; 2.

cede these events were, the appearance of false Christs

wars and commotions — struggles for national preeminence - great and divers earthquakes, famines, and pestilences-fearful sights and great signs from heaven-and, the surrounding of the city of Jerusalem with the Roman army.

-The second class embraces two predictions, viz, first, the protracted captivity and treading down of the Jewish nation and polity by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled; and second, the appearance of the Son of Man in a cloud, with power and great glory.' The end, therefore, of the captivity and degradation of God's ancient covenant people, and the consummation of the Gentile economy, are to terminate simultaneously. Before, then, we enumerate the "Signs" which belong to this prediction, allow me to recall to your minds the following observation already made respecting them, viz, that they are designed, in the wisdom of God, to herald the fulfilment of predicted events, as near at hand. Now, connected with, and as immediately preceding the fulfilment of the above prophecy, are to be seen SIGNS in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth;" together with the shaking of the powers of heaven.

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We now remark that, in order to a proper under

1. Luke xxi. 24, 27.

standing and application of these "Signs," and the events to which they respectively refer, it will be necessary to discriminate between what of them are symbolical, and what are not. If, for instance, a "Sign," as an earthquake, famine, or pestilence, literally precedes the predicted event to which it belongs, it is not symbolical. Hence it is divested of all ambiguity, and consequently of uncertainty, as to its right application. This then we say, and as all authentic history, Jewish and Christian abundantly attest, was strictly true of all those "Signs," which belong to the above first class of predicted events.

Of the second class of predictions, however, the accompanying "Signs" are strictly Symbolical. Strictly, we say, though not exclusively. Literality, as we shall prove, is not necessarily excluded from the officework of a prophetic symbol. Nor is a strictly literal "Sign," any more than the event to which it refers, necessarily exclusive of a typical aspect. Indeed, if the event be typical, the "Sign" is typical also. This premised we remark, that the prophetic "Signs" or symbols now to be defined, are the following, —viz, the sun, the moon, and the stars, the earth, the sea, and the waves, heaven, &c.

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Now, the commonly received interpretation of the above symbols, and that which may be relied on, is as follows the sun, moon, and stars, represent secular and ecclesiastical authorities. By the "Signs" they shall exhibit are to be understood the changes through which they are to pass. "The sea and the waves roaring," are emblems of a disturbed and angry mul

titude; and "the shaking of the powers of heaven," (i. e. the sun, moon, and stars, the principalities and powers aforesaid,) signifies great revolutions in human governments, accompanied by the overthrow of longcontinued establishments and venerable institutions. Taken together, therefore, and recollecting that this is the sublime language of Christ himself, we are furnished with a prediction which speaks of the most fearful commotions in the national, political, ecclesiastical, and religious orders of society; yea, of universal agitation and unexpected changes, which are to spread their disorganizing influence among all ranks of men.

But, before we can expect that this representation will produce the wished-for conviction upon your minds, we must adduce scriptural precedent, if any there be, authorising the use, as above, of these objects of nature. Look back then, upon the great week of creation, when God said, "let there be lights (the sun, the moon, and the stars) in the firmament of heaven." Now, to what end were they ordained? Answer. “To divide the day from the night,” and to serve "for seasons, and for days, and for years," not only, but also for "SIGNS:"Yes, for "Signs!" But in what way were they thus used? In illustration, we refer you to Joseph's dream, as recorded in the xxxviith Chapter of Genesis, and 9th and 10th verses. "And he dreamed yet another dream and the moon, and the eleven stars, made obeisance to me." This dream, when made known to his venerable and pious father, brought upon Joseph the following patriarchal rebuke. "What is this dream

Behold, the sun,

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