Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

lie dead, as well as their ascension | it is added, The second woe is past; into heaven. The author dissents and behold the third woe cometh from the opinion of Bp. Newton and quickly. As the exposition of this others, who suppose the war of the prophesy depends on the sense of beast against the witnesses is to be the word hour, the author is at the last persecution of the church. pains to ascertain its meaning. The word hour in this book, and in other Indeed the supposition would plainly authors, is used in two different overthrow his exposition; because, senses, either for the twenty-fourth both the revocation of the edict part of a day, or for an indefinite of Nantz, and the persecution season. Here, he thinks, there is of the Piedmontese, were poste-nothing to limit the term either ta rior to the Protestant war in Germa- the twenty-fourth part of a natural ny. Indeed, the Prophet would be day, or of a prophetic day making inconsistent with himself to say this, 15 natural days, either in the strucfor he represents the witnesses as ture of the sentence, or in the nature prophesying in sackcloth through of the subject; and conceives it the whole period of 1260 years, and must be understood here, for seathe battle of the beast with them as son which in this book may be reabefore the sounding of the seventh sonably understood some one of the trumpet which constitutes a part great apocalyptic periods, (viz.) that of that period; of course, the wit of a seal, a trumpet, or a vial. Thus nesses must continue in a persecuted the hour of God's judgment upon state, after that battle. The fact Babylon is comprehended within the is, the witnesses were to be slain, limits of the last vial. So the one and to lie exposed, only in one par-hour in which the ten horns were ticular street of the city; and not to receive power, as kings, along in every street of it; and the war with the beast, means the period of is a particular not a general perse- the first woe trumpet: So ar cution of the witnesses. The sup-guing from analogy he concludes, posed objection that the lapse of that hour, in this place, is the perisomething more than three cen-od comprehended under the second turies from the war of the beast with the witnesses, as above assigned, to the end of their testimony, is inconsistent with the prophet's saying it should take place when they were drawing near to the end of their testimony, as the reading should be, is obviated by the remark, that the period may be called short, when compared with nearly thirteen centuries.

The next great event, and the last under the second woe-trumpet, is the great earthquake, and the falling of the tenth part of the city, which is said to happen in the same hour with the events just described, or the death, resurrection and ascension of the witnesses; and then

woe trumpet. The second woe trumhet commenced in the West, as it did in the East in the year 1281, and ended in 1792, the witnesses were slain in 1547 and the great earthquake was in the year 1789, when France, the tenth fart of the Roman city, fell; and so these two last events, though distant from each other, in point of time, happen. ed in the same hour or season. The opinion of many Commentators that the falling of the tenth part of the city was accomplished when a great part of Germany renounced the authority of the church of Rome, probably arose from a limited construction of the phrase the same hour, but this opinion is sufficiently confu

FROM THE PHILADELPHIA IN

I

ry

TELLIGENCER.

The full Assurance of Hope."-Heb. vi. 11.

(Concluded from p. 197.)

ted by the event, for upon the falling of the tenth part of the city the third woe trumpet was to sound quickly; but nearly three centuries « have elapsed and no event took place prior to 1789 which could merit the appellation of the third woe, but in 1789 the tremendous explosion of the French revolution would well merit that appellation. We have T is now to be remarked, that, after all, there are veseen the Author's opinion that Danfew Christians who do ever iel predicts the tyranny of Popery attain to such a state, as at no and Mohammedism under the sym-time to have their hopes shaken. bols of the little horn of the third and fourth beast, and the atheistical They who have enjoyed such a government under that of a king and for years together, may state in a very eminent degree, who neither revered the God of his have it clouded after all; and fathers, the Desire of women or perhaps have grievous conflicts, any other God, but who magnified even on a dying bed. In these himself above all, here we see the conflicts, however, victory is same great events, as he believes, ultimately given. At least, this under the first and second woes, is commonly the case. And it down to the primary revelation of is no more a reason why the atAntichrist, at the French revolu-tainment should not be aimed tion and to his full developement on the 12 of August 1792, when the infidel king exalted himself above all law: and on the 26th of the same month, when he exalted himself above all religion. The great earth-because it may be interrupted quake then, or falling of the tenth by short periods of sickness or part of the city, fell out in the year indisposition, or be lost imme1789,and quickly after, on'the 12th of diately before death. "The asAugust 1792, commenced the blast surance of hope" may, with peof the third woe trumpet; and the culiar propriety, be called the momentous events under it are de- health and vigour of the soul: scribed in general by the prophet And from this metaphor, (not from the 15th verse, to the end of forgetting that a metaphor is the Chapter; but a fuller account not an argument, but an illus gives under the symbol of the se-tration only), perhaps it may be ven vials, containing the seven last easy to give a just exhibition of plagues, to be poured out succesive-this whole subject. Ist, Health ly on the enemies of God, and all the events together fill up the whole period of 1260 years, as do the events predicted in each of the three following chapters of the little bock.

he

[To be continued.]

at, because it may be lost for a little while, than it is a reason why we should not endeavour to obtain and preserve a settled and confirmed state of health,

is not essential to life, though it renders life comfortable. So an assured hope is not essential to spiritual life, though it is greatly conducive to its comfort. And as there are a number of persons who are habitually in

valids, or destitute of health, so there are a number of genuine Christians who never attain any thing that can be called an assurance of hope. They have something that keeps them on in the Christian course, but it is not the vigorous principle denominated in scripture" the assurance of hope," 2d, There are some who are much and often indisposed, and seldom can say they are quite well; and yet there are certain times when they feel something so much like health, that they have no cause or disposition to complain. So there are many Christians, (perhaps this is the character of the most), who are much and often in doubts and fears, and yet there are certain happy seasons, when their hopes so much abound and prevail, that they are greatly cheered, and cannot complain for the present. 3d, There are some persons who often, and perhaps generally, enjoy a state of high and vigorous health and activity; | but from that very cause, are attacked, occasionally, with the most violent and painful diseases. So there are some believers, who in general, have the high exercise of" the assurance of hope," and yet occasionally, are cast down into the depths of spiritual distress; agreeably to which, the pious and judicious Dr. Sibbs has remarked, that "those who have the assurance of their salvation, are sometimes lifted up to heaven, and at others, are cast down to the gates of hell." 4th, There are some who enjoy an even state of good and comfortable health, only interrupted a short time, now and then, by incidental,

moderate, and short indisposi tions. In like manner, there are some, who, in the divine life, enjoy a steady, moderate and comfortable hope, only now and then darkened or obscured by some passing clouds, or a short lived tempest. And 5th, If there are a very few persons who can say that they were never sick a day or an hour in their lives, though they may have had a few occasional aches or pains, these are considered as prodigies of health; and they, perhaps, may have their parallel in a few prodiges in the spiritual life, who being real Christians, may be able to say, that, however they may have had some few short and severe conflicts, they never did seriously doubt their salvation, since first they obtained a satisfaction in regard to it. On the whole, it is to be remember ed, that, hope, as a Christian grace, admits, as all other graces do, of almost an infinite number of gradations. Every real Christian has some of it, as he has something of every other grace; though like the other graces, it may at times, be scarcely perceptible to himself, and be rather in habit than in exercise. In a word, from the faint dawnings of a perceptible hope, to the meridian of its full assurance, the degrees are numerous indeed; and yet at each of these degrees, true Chris tians may often be found.

N.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CON-
NECTICUT MAGAZINE.

We would see Jesus.

In the various conditions of human life, the devout and humble soul desires the presence of the Saviour. Under all circumstances, Jesus is a very welSIR, we would see Jesus*, come guest. In prosperity, he was the request of certain would see Jesus. He dare not devout Greeks who went to Je- promise himself happiness in rusalem to worship, near 1800] any enjoyment from which Jesus years ago. It is the desire of is excluded. Even prosperity, all Christians, that those who without his Saviour, is not deinstruct in holy things should sirable to him. He fears, that lead them, to a more perfect its fascinating charms would lead knowledge of their Saviour and him to a dreadful precipice. of his kingdom. To you Sir, Prosperity without grace is even their language is, "We would more ruinous than adversity. see Jesus." And whenever in Such is the nature of the human the pages of your useful Mag-heart, that prosperity has a tenazine, they find any thing to en-dency to lead away from God lighten the understanding and to warm the heart by promoting a nearer union with the Saviour, their request is obtained. If the following remarks are calculated to promote these designs you will please to insert

them.

MUC

the bountiful Giver and to induce a neglect of the cultivation of religion in the soul. Unsanctified prosperity is, therefore, a dreadful evil. Thousands can bear with fortitude the weight of adversity, but few are able to endure prosperity. Upon such minds as our's, its effects are to engross the attention and intoxicate the soul.

And we dwell upon it as a lasting good, forgetful of more durable riches.Doubtless thousands who are born and educated in the mansions of splendor and in the lap of prosperity, never think of a higher good, who, by a reverse of circumstances, would have been taught the unsatisfying nature of earthly enjoyments. Graceless prosperity is a very easy and sure road to remedi

UCH of theChristian temper is expressed in this short request, "Sir, we would see Jesus." The desire of every Christian is to behold Jesus by faith, and enjoy his presence. It is by faith alone, that his presence can be enjoyed in this world. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Thus it is by believing, that the Christian can rejoice in the unseen Sav-less destruction. There is a iour with joy unspeakable and lure in it which beguiles into full of glory. And in this way ruin. Hence the reflecting only can he enjoy the society Christian wishes the presence and fellowship of his Lord. of his Saviour in prosperity. He would seeJesus as exhibited in his life, his doctrines, and his laws. He would not taste of an enjoyli

John xii. 21.

VOL. I. No. 7

ment which is not tempered by | borne down by adversity, they

a sense of his presence; while he feels his own weakness and the deceitfulness of his own heart, he will not dare to trust himselfif his Lord be absent. The greater his possessions, the more need of wisdom will the contemplative Christian feel that he may use them aright. If God has trusted much to his care as steward, he is sensible that he has the more to account for; and he feels a greater need of the presence of Jesus, and the guidance of his spirit.

find it sweet to go and tell Jesus. They view this as one of their greatest privileges that when they are ejected by the world, they have a great and glorious friend whose heart is always open, and whose provisions are always ready. To such no calamities are so great, and no grief so pungent, as those which result from having wandered from their Lord and lost sight of his glorious and supporting presence. But when Christians have a clear sight and sense of a present Lord, all other evils lessen in their view; and tho the storm beats without they find peace and enjoyment with in.

The Christian in adversity, desires also the presence of his Saviour. This condition is more peculiarly calculated to promote a lively sense of his Christ is a friend born for dependence, and of the superior adversity. For this end came blessing of Christ's presence. he into the world. He is an It tends to strip a man of him- High Priest who can be touchself, and lead him from a de-ed with the feelings of his afflicpendence on sublunary enjoy-ted children. He knows how to ments. But it is a school of succour and console; and when affliction, and the important all earthly streams are dried up, lesson which is taught, is not al- He can let in the streams of ways learned. Even adversity more durable happiness into the without grace will make the soul. His name is a strong heart no better. Afflictions as tower, the righteous runneth inwell as mercies, in the distribu- to it and is safe ;-it is a haven tions of providence, are lost up-in which the humble Christian, on many, as to any good effects produced in the subjects; they render them no better, but only tend to prepare them for more aggravated calamities. Hence the Christian wishes his afflictions to be sanctified ones. In adversity he wishes to see Jesus. He would tell him all his trials, and in the midst of his grief, recline his weary head upon his Saviour's bosom. Under the pressure of adversity, He is the "friend that sticketh closer than a brother." When the children of God are tried and

tossed upon the billows of adversity, may securely anchor. Hence the Christian in adversity will always desire to see Jesus.

Another condition of life in which the Christian desires to see Jesus is, health. There are many who wish to hear nothing of Christ and his doctrines, when in the vigor of life who are willing to apply to him in sickness. While their bodies are healthy and active they put far off the evil day, and consequently have no desire to see

« EdellinenJatka »