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on; and that as they darkened the moral and political atmosphere, many would be roused by the aspect of the times to consider the subject of prophecy, who were previously unmindful of it; and that others, who, though not disregardful of it, did not bring it prominently forward, would then be moved to sound the alarm in God's holy mountain, and to call the attention of their people to "the light that shineth in a dark place." And this is remarkably the character of the present day. A few years since great attention was awakened by the cry—“Behold, the bridegroom cometh;" but Satan contrived, both by urging to extravagant opinions, and to unseemly dogmatism in propounding true ones, to cast a measure of odium on the study of prophecy, and more especially upon the hope of the premillennial advent of the Lord, which odium has stumbled many and tended greatly to retard the progress of investigation, and the consequent diffusion of prophetic light. The signs however have continued to increase;-that which was but as a mist spread upon the mountains has thickened into gloominess; (Joel 11. 2.) and one and another of steadfast sober minded men have arisen and trimmed their lamps, and numerous instances have recently come to our knowledge of persons who were indifferent or prejudiced, who now at least acknowledge the propriety of studying prophecy.

The interest then of the publication which heads this article does not arise so much from any thing new in the way of prophetical interpretation which it contains; as from the circumstance of its being the production of a dignified minister of the Church of England, who has been distinguished among all who have known him for simple piety, modesty and sobriety of deportment; and who is yet moved to come for ward, at a period when prophecy is

still labouring under a reproach, and not only to direct the attention of the clergy assembled at the annual visitation at Cambridge, to the importance of the subject at the present crisis; but also boldly to state views in regard to the sense and bearing of prophecy in general, which are inseparably identified in the minds of some with the notion of danger and delusion. It is encouraging however to perceive that in the present instance the charge of the Archdeacon is "published at the request of the Clergy;"-a fact from which we may infer that it produced a serious impression upon their minds.

But if the Archdeacon gives us nothing additional in the way of interpretation, he treats his subject with ability, and brings it before his hearers in a striking and forcible manner. He begins by noticing the fact, that many serious students of the word of God have had their minds directed to the prophetical parts of it, and are endeavouring to ascertain, under what prophetic era we are living; and he contends that if such inquiries be conducted in a spirit of humility, prayer and moderation," they must tend to raise our thoughts above the turmoils of earthly strife, to calm the agitation of our minds in the prospect of impending danger, and to cheer and invigorate us in the path of duty." He then brings forward certain texts to shew, that it is the decided duty of the Christian to enter upon this investigation; one of which texts he illustrates so ably that we must give it in his own words.—

"In strict accordance with these views are the words of St. Peter-We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. It is evident that the Apostle is here speaking chiefly, if not exclusively, of unfulfilled prophecies. Those predictions which had received their accomplishment could with no propriety be compared to a light shin

ing in a dark place. Whereas, on the other hand, the dim and indistinct perceptions which they impart to us concerning time, locality, and circumstance, in connexion with those future events, which are the objects of prophetic vision, render the similitude peculiarly appropriate. The great outlines may be traced with much distinctness, while the collateral and subordinate incidents are enveloped in obscurity, till the time when their completeness

shall have drawn aside the veil. The force and exactness of the comparison will, perhaps, be best appreciated by those, who, with the aid of a few glimmering tapers have endeavoured to explore a lofty and spacious subterranean cavern. They may be enabled to discern some of its more prominent features, while the configurations of the smaller projections are entirely concealed from their view." P. 5.

He next proceeds to avow, that he is "strongly impressed with the conviction, that a sufficient number of tokens and indications may be found concentrated in the present eventful era to leave little room for doubt, in the mind of any judicious and impartial inquirer," that our lot has fallen under that period emphatically designated in Dan. XII. as THE TIME OF THE END. He adduces verse 4, that at the time of the end

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many should run to and fro and knowledge should be increased," which he conceives is remarkably accomplished, whether it referred to the increased understanding of the prophetic writings, or to the assiduity with which secular learning should be cultivated. He also instances 2 Tim. III. 1, in which Paul describes the character of the apostates of the last days; first shewing that though, from the constitution of our nature, present occurrences make so vivid an impression on the mind, as naturally to lead us to overrate immediate danger; yet, when a strong feeling of alarm with regard to the future pervades the thoughtful, intelligent and best informed classes of society;-when, even amongst many worldly men, lively apprehensions are entertained

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of political convulsions :—whilst amongst a large body of real christians a period of trouble is anticipated as introductory to the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom; when, in short-men's hearts are failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, we can scarcely doubt that these are the perilous times predicted by St. Paul, and that the fabric of civil society must be endangered when the characters whom he has enumerated increase and abound." (p. 10.) Having slightly pointed

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to the existence of those evil characteristics, described by the Apostle! in men having the form of godliness," he next instances Rev. xiv. 6, 7, in which St. John sees an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation and kindred, &c. and saying, Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgement is come. This angel we take it sets forth a mighty missionary agency, which is to be raised up immediately prior to the judgement of God upon Babylon (for that is the judgement which the context evidently points to;) and which agency, when it shall be seen, is to be interpreted by the church of God as loudly declaring, "that the hour of His judgement is come,' and therefore will be immediately followed by a signal exhibition of divine wrath. The existence of this missionary agency to an unparalleled extent, is a sign of the times that must be evident to all. The last sign instanced by the Archdeacon is the drying up of the Euphrates] which takes place at the pouring out of the sixth vial; (Rev. xvI. 12,) which he understands, in common with most other modern interpreters, to be the weakening or exhaustion of the Turkish power, which has been remarkably witnessed of late, by the loss of its

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Greek provinces, the destruction of its fleet at Navarino, the rebellion of the Bey of Egypt, the occupation of Algiers by the French, and of some of the fairest provinces nearer home by the Russians.

The venerable Author then goes on to state, "that he is aware that the wild reveries of some interpreters, and the pestilential heresies of others, have excited a prejudice against any attempt to investigate those predictions which relate exclusively to the future; but that the folly of the former and the perverseness of the latter, cannot annul the blessing pronounced at the commencement of the Apocalypse upon those who read, hear and keep those things which are written therein;" and therefore, though he deprecates the attempt to penetrate into the precise time when the prophecies

now in course of fulfilment will receive their definitive accomplishment, he nevertheless proceeds to point out those more prominent changes which appear to be impending, and which are as follow : "that Popery and Mahommedanism, with every other anti-christian power, will be exterminated from the face of the earth-that Jews and Gentiles will be converted to the christian faith and that those stupendous revolutions will be either preceded or accompanied (or in all probability, both the one and the other) with judgements of an inexpressibly awful character."

We must refer the reader to the work itself for the scriptural data on which these conclusions are founded. It must be obvious to those at all acquainted with the subject, that it would be impossible to do justice to the numerous topics adverted to within the compass of a Visitation Charge but this defect is in some measure supplied by a copious appendix, containing extracts from various writers elucidating the author's

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views. We cannot better conclude than with his own words.

"I will observe in conclusion, that Archbishop Usher is said to have had a presentiment of the impending final struggle between Popery and Protestantism. As the anticipations formed by this eminent prelate of the issue of this conflict are of an encouraging nature, and have evidently a bearing upon the subject which has been under discussion, I will submit them to your thoughtful consideration." The greatest stroke upon the Reformed Churches is yet to come;

and the time of the utter ruin of the See of

Rome shall be when she thinks herself most secure."-One presuming to inquire of him, what his present apprehensions were concerning a very great persecution, he answered; "that a very great persecution would fall upon all the Protestant Churches in Europe;" adding, "I tell you, all you have yet seen hath been but the beginning of sorrows, to what is yet to come upon the Protestant Churches of Christ, which will ere long fall under a sharper persecution than ever. Therefore (said he,) look you be not found in the outer court, but a

worshiper in the temple before the altar. For Christ will measure all that profess his Name, and call themselves his people : and the outward worshippers he will leave out to be trodden down of the Gentiles.

The outer court is the formal christians whose religion consists in performing the outward duties of christianity, without having an inward life and power of faith uniting them to Christ; and these God will leave to be trodden down and swept away by the Gentiles. But the worshippers within the temple and before the altar God will hide in the hollow of his hand and under the shadow of his wings. And this shall be one great difference between the last and all the other preceding persecutions. For in the former, the most eminent and spiritual ministers and christians did generally suffer most, and were most violently fallen upon. But in this last persecution, these shall be preserved by God, as a seed to partake of that glory which shall immediately follow and come upon the Church, as soon as ever this storm shall be over. For as it shall be the sharpest, so shall it be the shortest persecution of them all; and shall only take away the gross hypocrites and formal professors; but the true spiritual believers shall be preserved till the calamity be over."" P. 40, quoted from the Appendix to Fleming's "Apocalyptical Key."

(3.) Extracts on Prophecy, chiefly concerning the approaching Advent and Kingdom of Christ.

Glasgow, Begg; London, Burns; 12mo. 4s. 6d.

The mention of the appendix to Archdeacon Brown's Visitation Charge, containing Extracts illustrative of the subject he has treated, reminds us of the above interesting volume. It is the method of the Lord, not to pour out upon one individual member of his church all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; but to divide to every man severally as he will; and thus it is given to one individual to treat some particular portion of his prophetic word with a force and clearness which is not given to another. A volume therefore which brings to a focus the light which has thus opened upon various interpreters of the word

of prophecy, necessarily possesses much interest.

The Selector of these Extracts has made a judicious arrangement of the various subjects, which aug. ments the value of the whole; and the Reader will at once, we think, conclude that we cannot easily overrate the work, when we inform him, that it contains complete passages on detached subjects by such writers of by-gone days, as Fletcher, Goodwin, Mede, Newton and Toplady; and of the present day, as Anderson, Begg, Bickersteth, Cuninghame, Dodsworth, Fry, Hooper, Keith, Madden, Maitland, Marsh, Melvill, Noel, Pym, Sabin, Simon and Stew

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New Publications.

Preparing for Publication by Subscription, "Come and See," being a Systematic study of the Apocalyp. tic Seals, Trumpets, and Vials :See the Advertisement on the Cover.

The above is by the writer who has favoured us with several interesting communications under the signature H. S. L. Subscribers are requested to forward their names through their Booksellers to Messrs. Nisbet & Co. In the press-The Prophetical Character and Inspiration of the Apocalypse considered; by George Pearson, B.D. Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge. (London: Parker.)

In the press-The Imagery and Poetical Ornament of the Book of Psalms; its Prophetical Language and Apocalyptical Character; with the modes of using the Psalter from the earliest times. By the Rev. H. Stoddart, M.A. of Queen's College, Oxford. (London: Parker.)

Just Published, 2 vols. 8vo.--A Commentary on the Order for the Burial of the Dead, considered as a manual of doctrine and consolation to Christians. By the Rev. William Greswell, M.A. Fellow of Baliol College, Oxford, and Curate of Disley, Cheshire.

Recently Published-The Coming and Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. By John Cox, Minister of the Gospel, Woolwich.-See the Advertisement on the Cover for this and other Works by the same Author.

Recently Published-Sermons on the Lord's Prayer. By the Rev. John Browne, Rector of St. John's, Norwich; late Missionary at Burdwan, Bengal. (London: Nisbet.) We have not had time to give this volume a careful perusal; but it appears to us to bring forward prominently and ably the prophetical character of this Prayer.

Correspondence, etc.

MATTHEW XXIV. 34.-" Verily I say unto you. This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."

To the Editor of the Investigator.

Sir,

In the last Volume of the Investigator there was a paper of mine, advocating the reading of aurn without the aspirate, in the expression yɛvɛa avrη (Matt. xxiv. 34, &c.) in the sense that "that generation (the generation existing at the beginning of the last troubles) should not pass away till all was fulfilled." I have heard it objected that εκείνη would in this case have been the pronoun chosen; and that the use of avrn with the article in the sense of εκείνη is questionable. It is therefore necessary to fortify the interpretation by parallel examples. This I beg leave to do now.

My first example is the one given by the original suggester of the reading advocated in the Christian Ob. server; (vol. xiv. p. 6.)

Αύτη αυτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ επισασα, she coming in at that instant (Luke 11. 38);-in which verse we see in immediate juxtaposition the aùrn with the aspirate and the avrn without.

The same, or similar phrases, occur in Luke VII. 21; XII. 12; xx. 19; XXIII. 12; xxiv. 33; Acts xvI. 18: XXII. 13: also in Dan. III. 6, 15; iv. 33; v. 5 in the Septuagint. In all these passages avrŋ is translated in much the same sense as ɛkEn; so that, indeed, in the parallel to one of them Matthew uses εkεivn where Luke uses avry: thus, Luke ΧΙΙ. 12, το γαρ ἅγιον Πνευμα διδαξει μας εν αυτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἡ δει ειπειν :— Matt. x. 19, δοθήσεται γαρ υμιν εν εκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ & δει ειπειν. The chief difference is that the avrŋ is more emphatic than the εκείνη. In the passage from St. Luke just given the

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There is a further observation that I would wish to make on this passage. I find the writer in the Christian Observer estimating the length of time implied in the αυτη ἡ γενεα 8 μn Tapeλon at 30 years. And thus, dating the commencement of the term, as I do myself, from the French Revolution in 1792, he thus writes at the close of the year 1814; "According to the view I have taken of this prophecy 22 of these 30 years are already past: only 8 remain to be fulfilled. Our redemption draweth nigh."

We see in this, as it appears to me, a mistake not uncommon; so that it may be of use to notice and rectify it. I feel the rather bound to do this as having formerly written under the mistake myself.

I would observe then, that the duration implied in any expression involving yɛvɛa cannot be determined independently of the verb or other words in immediate context. This must appear almost a truism. But it has been frequently overlooked;— by myself, as I said, among others.

If the case were this, that we had a genealogical table under consideration of father, eldest son, grandson, &c. for many successive γενεαι or generations, then the nature of the case would determine the γενεα of the father as ending with the birth of the eldest son succeeding him, and the average length of the yɛvɛa must be the average age at which a

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