THE HARBINGER OF THE MILLENNIUM; WITH AN APPENDIX. BY WILLIAM COGSWELL, SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY PEIRCE AND PARKER, NO. 9 CORNHILL. MDCCCXXXIII. 1 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by PEIRCE AND PARKER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. PREFACE. No person who peruses the sacred Scriptures with attention and diligence, can remain unconvinced, that a period is approaching, in which the Church of God in this world will enjoy far greater prosperity and happiness than it ever yet has done. This blessed season, technically called the Millennium, the Lord will hasten in his time. Those individuals who desire, pray, and labor for the advancement of this blessed day, are co-workers with him in bringing it forward, and all those Christian enterprizes which serve to introduce it, may be considered as harbingers of its approach. Such are the various benevolent Societies, whose object is to diffuse religious knowledge and instruction. They are combined instruments in promoting the conversion of the world and the salvation of men. They have an interest in each other, depend upon each other, and assist each other. There is no occasion for collision or rivalship among them. They are each of them important and most of them absolutely necessary. They hasten the accomplishment of that glorious and animating prediction : "They shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord." These are precursors and will usher in the latter-day glory, as the morning stars precede the natural sun, and usher in the natural day. As this period advances, that system of benevolent operations which is designed to enlighten and bless the world, will increase in extension and efficiency. In order to this, a thorough knowledge of the nature, designs and progress of these operations, must be diffused through the community. This is necessary to awaken an interest, and to excite to vigorous and persevering efforts on their behalf. It was thought that were the nature and importance of the several prominent Societies discussed and the claims of each urged, and the whole presented in one volume to the public, it would contribute to this desirable end. For many years the Author of the following work has been interested, in the Christian efforts for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and for the last four years has been exclusively devoted to them. While engaged in the present employment, he feels bound to consecrate his whole strength to these benevolent enterprizes, which he considers the glory of the present age. With this in view, he has considered it his duty to lay before the public the following dissertations. They were principally prepared some years since, but have recently been revised for publication. It is hoped they will appear to be fair discussions of the several topics on which they treat. An opinion of the comparative value or merit of the different benevolent Societies has been purposely avoided.. In the arrangement of the dissertations, it was deemed best to have no regard to the order of nature, time of formation or importance of them." It was considered, that an Appendix, containing a brief historical and statistical sketch of the different benevolent Societies would be a valuable accompaniment. This, therefore, has been subjoined. In preparing the Appendix, much assistance has been received from a beloved Brother in the ministry. This assistance became necessary as the Author's time was wholly engrossed in the discharge of his official duties. The work was written, partly for the Author's own improvement, and he trusts he has received much benefit from the attention bestowed upon these subjects. His mind has been informed, and his heart more deeply interested in the general cause of benevolence. And his fervent prayer to the Great Head of the Church is, that the work may also be a blessing to others, and a means of promoting that cause which is so dear to the heart of infinite Love. Boston, May, 1833. CONTENTS. Need of the Bible as an inspired book, in view of the defi- ciency of the best uninspired writings.-Meaning of inspiration. -Consciousness of the sacred penmen that they were inspir- ed. The impossibility of their writing as they did, if they had not been inspired. -Their profession that they were inspired.- Evidence of their inspiration from history-from miracles- from prophecy and its fulfilment from the moral precepts of the Bible-from its tendency and effects-from the propaga- tion of Christianity. Remarks:-the duty of possessing the Bible-obligations of gratitude in view of the facilities of the present day for distributing the Bible-and the duty of distri- Page THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SABBATH. The Sabbath the first institution, and of moral and positive obligation.-Why it should be kept. Its perpetual establish- ment on the authority of God, and its fitness in the nature of things. In force under the gospel. The example of God an argument for keeping it also our own benefit. The question on which day of the week it occurs. -The first Sabbath on the first day of the week, and instituted to cominemorate the cre- ation. Occasion of the Sabbath being called Sunday. The Jewish Seventh-day Sabbath-its institution in the wilderness -limited in its existence to the political existence of the Jews. -Under the gospel the Sabbath restored to its original first day of the week-reasons for this view of the subject.-Ques- tion how the Sabbath should be observed, and what is implied in keeping it holy. The appointment of the institution, evi- |
