7; 2 Thess. 2:8. The two words used in the last | 33:2; Zech. 14:5; Rev. 14:4; 19: 14. Comquotation to describe this return of Christ, are pare, also, Matt. 22:30. παρουσια and επιφανεια, which as strongly and He will come clothed with irresistible majesty directly describe a real, visible, and personal and power. Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13: coming as any in the Greek language; and 26; Luke 21:27; 2 Thess. 1:7; Ps. 110:2; when used with reference to a person, they can- Rev. 6:17; 19:15, 16. not mean anything but a real presence and He will come in connection with some very advent of that person. "The coming of Ste-marvellous heraldic demonstrations. 1 Thess. phanus, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus," means 4:16. Compare Exod. 19:16; 20:18; Isa. the personal advent and presence of these men. 27:13; Zech. 9:14; Matt. 24:31. "The coming of Titus" is the personal advent and presence of Titus. And so "Christ's own coming" is the advent and presence of Christ himself, in his own proper person. The idea of a mere providential coming of Christ is a theological fiction, with not a single text of Scripture to bear it out. SPECIAL NOTICE. It is regretted, by none more than by He will most likely come first invisibly to the Editors, that this number is so late in its steal away his waiting and watching saints, when appearance. The reasons are, that the pub"two shall be in one bed, the one shall be taken lisher had not the pecuniary ability to go on and the other left," &c.; at any rate" as a with the publication as he had contracted. thief in the night." Matt. 24: 43; Luke 12:39; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16: 15; Luke 17: 34-36. For several months he held matters in suspense, hoping for help which he did not receive. Unwilling that our subscribers should be the He will come suddenly, when people gene- losers by the non-publication of the three numrally will not be expecting such a thing. Luke bers which yet remained to fill out the year, 21:34, 35; Mark 13:36; 1 Thess. 5:3; Rev. the Editors applied for the subscription list, that they might, on their own account, arrange to supply what was about to go by default. It has been but a few days since their request was complied with. Hence the delay. 3:3. He will come, as to his visible manifestation (Emipaveia), in splendor and great glory. Matt. 16:27; 24:30; Luke 9:26; 21:27. Having done all the editorial work of the He will come in the clouds. Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Acts 1:9; 1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. year without compensation, incurred personal obligations for the publication of the preceding 1:7. He will be revealed from heaven as the light-numbers, and compelled to issue this number ning shineth. Matt. 24:27; Luke 17:24; Zech. at their own expense, the Editors beg leave to 9:14; 2 Thess. 1:8. state, that it will be necessary for other friends of the cause now to lend a helping hand. We He will be revealed to every one's sight. Rev. 1:7; Numb. 24:17; Job 19:26, 27; 34:26; cline the risks and responsibilities of continuing are willing to do what we can; but must de 1 John 3:2; Zech. 12:10; Rev. 22:4. He will descend to the earth at the place from which he ascended. Zech. 14:4; Ezek. 43: 2; Acts 1:11, 12. the publication, unless some benevolent friends, who love the Lord's coming, will consent to make donations towards meeting its printer's bills. He will come accompanied with the angel- Shall, then, our work stop for want of means, saints, whom he will raise from among the dead at a time when everything is so full of signs and steal away from among the living for the that the end is near, and when the need of such purpose of having them with him. Jude 14; a publication is so great and urgent? We Matt. 16:27; 25:31; 1 Thess. 3:13; Deut. 'await the answer. THINGS are approaching a very critical condition in Europe. The most careful observers are satisfied that a great war is inevitable, and that its commencement is not far in the future. Says the London Times, "A single spark would kindle a conflagration from the Pyrenees to the Caucasus, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Sea. It is scarcely possible to imagine how we could stand apart, and plume ourselves on our immunity between two worlds in flames. Yet who shall say how deep we should descend into the struggle, once begun-how long we should be involved, and with what changes we should finally emerge?" No. 11. versive spirit of extreme parties by opposing ourselves in narrow calculations to the legitimate aspirations of peoples. Let us have the courage to substitute for a sickly and precarious condition of things, a situation solid and regular, even should it cost us some sacrifices. Let us assemble without preconceived system, without exclusive ambition, animated alone by the thought of establishing an order of things founded for the future on the well understood interests of Sovereigns and Peoples.” MOVEMENTS AMONG THE JEWS. The foreign correspondent of The Moravian has the following: "The Universal Israelitish Alliance held its general annual meeting on the 18th of June A Paris correspondent of the Standard says: last in Paris. It shows progress, and is defini"I learn that notice has been sent to the troops tively organized. Its members number 1386. quartered at the camp of Chalons to hold them- There was a touching allusion to the death of selves in readiness to move at a day's notice, Sir Culling Eardley, to whom was 'rendered a and that orders to prepare ambulances and wa- last homage of pious gratitude' for his constant gons of the military train have been received sympathy and energetic concurrence in the deat Metz and Strasbourg. The Imperial guard fence and protection of Jews suffering persecuin Paris have not yet received any orders, but tion. The Austrian and Swiss Jews have formas they are always on the war footing, and their ed separate societies, working to the same end, artillery, commissariat, and ambulances are kept in constant readiness, they are always prepared, and do not require a lengthened notice." The Emperor Napoleon, in his proposal of a conference of the powers of Europe, makes the following significant remark: and acting with and appealing to the Universal Israelitic Alliance. The President for the new year, M. Cremieux, has put into circulation an energetic appeal to the Jews to unite. 'Come to us,' he concludes.-'Send us thousands of adherents; form committees-English, Russian, "Must we eternally maintain a condition of Polish, Belgian, Dutch, German Jews;-Jews things, which is neither peace with its security, from every state of Europe, Africa, Americanor war with its happy chances? Let us no Jews from every point of the Universe into longer lend a factitious importance to the sub- which our religion has penetrated; count your numbers, and unite in a fraternal bond to the the Czar of Russia, and he immediately deParis committee, which you will always find manded of the Divan at Constantinople the abready to promote your best projects. French rogation of this decree; and here rests the affair Jews in all our towns give the example of a at present; what the result will be, lies in the devoted concurrence! Let our numbers be a future." new power for the Association so pregnant with "The Missionary Herald" for August, 1862, promise, and which, although of so recent a presents an article from Dr. Barclay, from Jedate, has already produced fruit beyond all rusalem, which furnishes some interesting facts hope. Take courage, brethren, we are upheld bearing upon the same subject. He says that in our noble task by the most exalted minds in the Russians are engaged in erecting immense all other denominations, and are advancing buildings at the north-west side of the citytowards the true fraternity of mankind.'” TROUBLES BREWING IN THE EAST. buildings occupying a site of 157,000 square Mr. Barnyard, the artist, writes to The Tra. far from the upper Pool of Gihon, near which veller concerning affairs in the Holy Land, and Rabshakeh stood when he defied Hezekiah. It respecting the Holy Places in particular, as fol- commands also the north and west of the city, lows:-"The question regarding the custody of and if we are to credit Latin suspicion, its futhe Holy Places is now assuming a somewhat ture use will be military." threatening aspect, according to the late news It would seem from this as if war were in from Europe, and it is not improbable that a contemplation. war may be the result. While in Palestine, I "The Romanists, like the Russians, not convisited all these sacred localities, and became tent with their place in the church of the Holy familiar with their histories, and also with the Sepulchre, are securing other property there, questions now in dispute between their custodes, and are making provision for his Holiness, in the Latin and Greek monks; and as these disview of any contingency that may arise." putes have become serious political ones between two powerful European Sovereigns, it may be of interest to the public to know further regarding them. We are reminded in this connection of a certain Poem, written on the return of Napoleon's ashes to France, from which we make the following extract: "As many may not understand the distinction between the above mentioned sects, it will be necessary to say that the Greeks do not acknowledge the Pope as the head of the church, but the Emperor of Russia; they also differ materially in their forms of worship. The established religion of Russia is the Greek. The Pope is the acknowledged head of the Latin or Roman Catholic church-while the King of Shall beauteous Solyma lead back her tribes, France is the 'Protector,'-which title the present Emperor Louis Napoleon has assumed ;hence his demand for the restitution of the Holy Places to the Latin monks. This demand, by some cause or other, no doubt weighty political reasons, induced the Porte to publish a Hattehymaynn (imperial decree) reinstating the Latins in their ancient rights. This aroused the Greeks, who have appealed to their 'Protector,' "The day is coming-yea, is now at hand When wars shall struggle on the Syrian plains— While with sweet tones her Hebrew camps resound. Then shall stand still Euphrates; then shall stop, To her eternal God build shrine on shrine,— UNCONNECTED DISSERTATIONS ON THE PROPHECIES AND CORRELATIVE THEMES. "Behold, the Lord God will come, and his arm shall rule sist them understandingly to bear witness of Christ; not of the cross only, but of "the glory that was to follow." "He shall shew you things to come."-"He shall take of mine and shew for Him: behold, His reward is with him, and His work it unto you."—"He shall not speak of himself." But the spiritualizing system has the is before Him." Is. 40: 10. THIS is our proposition: This coming King- Spirit speaking of himself, and testifying of his dom is to be personal, and not spiritual. Those own coming; and, more unscriptural still, they who study the Scriptures in reference to the have the Spirit coming in great power and glory personal Kingdom, find so much that treats di- to reign, and to sit on David's throne! The rectly and specifically of it, that it is a matter Spirit's throne is in the hearts of true believers; of astonishment to them that all do not perceive and why he should abdicate that to sit on Dait. It seems to some of them a work of supervid's throne, they have never explained. The erogation to attempt to prove a thing so mani- Apostles were the most spiritually minded of fest. Yet many spiritualize these prophecies all men; but in bearing witness to the Spirit's into "airy nothings." It is incumbent upon us testimony, we never hear them speak of a spirito bring the sunlight of truth to bear upon their tual second coming. This was not included in vapory imaginations, that they may be dis- the promise that "He should shew them things persed. If we are to take the Scriptures in a to come," for "He was not to speak of himspiritual sense, how are we to know their mean- self." We might safely challenge any one to ing-since we have not the grammar nor lexi- find a single passage in the whole teachings of con of any spiritual language? True, the word the Apostles that speaks of a second coming of of God is "spiritually discerned" by the spiri- the Spirit. More than this, Peter declares, that tually minded. But that spiritual discernment the Spirit testified beforehand of the glory that does not see what is not, nor let loose the reins should follow simultaneously with its predicof one's own imagination, instead of an humble tions of "the sufferings of Christ." Accordseeking of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ingly, every where in the testimony of the Prowhich is able to "guide us into all truth." (John phets, the sufferings and the glory are often 16:13; 1st Cor. 2: 13, 14.) The spiritual dis- embraced in the same predictions. Even in cernment of which the Apostle speaks, is exer- that magnificent prophecy of the child that cised to understand the word of God as it is- should be born of a virgin, we have the Spirit not to subject it to exegetical torture to make testifying of His government, "the increase of it appear what it is not. We are to " compare which shall have no end." (Is. 9: 6, 7.) And spiritual things with spiritual, by the wisdom that this is the Spirit's testimony, no believer which the Holy Ghost teaches"-collating the can doubt-for Peter definitely declares, “That Scriptures in such a manner as to make one the Spirit in them (the Prophets) did testify, place explain another. The Saviour said of the before hand of the sufferings of Christ, and the Spirit, "He shall not speak of himself," but glory that should follow at the revelation of "He shall testify of me:" "Ye also shall bear Jesus Christ," when He shall show who is the witness." (John 15: 26, 27, and 16:13.) Here blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings! the Spirit is represented as the testifier, and the " For I will overturn, overturn, overturn, until Disciples as the "witness-bearers" of his testi- He come whose right it is; and I will give it timony. And "the Spirit was not to speak of Him." (1 Pet- 1:9–13; 1 Tim. 6:14, 15.) The Himself," which he would do if he spoke of a spiritual coming, or a spiritual reign. He was to testify of Christ, and the Apostles were to bear witness to his testimony-of whom the Jesus Christ, " as the things to be hoped for ;" Saviour said, "Ye are my witnesses,"—not the which could not be if they got their reward at Spirit's witnesses. The Spirit has only to as. death. It follows, then, that spiritualizers are Apostle Peter, in these texts speaks of the glorious coming as the end of their faith, and the grace to be bought them at the revelation of not giving that Spirit's testimony, who never made herself ready in Rev. 19:7. Here it is spoke of a second coming of his own. It expressly stated that "the Bride made herself should be called vaporizing; for it is not spiri- ready." Then let us examine Matt. 25:11, 12, tual to attribute unscriptural offices to the in reference to the unready ones, and see if it Spirit-contradicting and perverting the Spirit's is not identical with the unprepared servant of own testimony. See an exhibition of the ori-Luke 12:47.-(See also Luke 12:40–46.)— gin and character of this spiritualizing system The fate of this class of unready servants, who in Dr. Seiss' "Last Times," pp. 247-250. neither prepared themselves for his coming, nor Who does not see, also, that the remark-" did according to their Lord's will," is identi"O it's a spiritual coming, a spiritual reign," cal with those of 1 Cor. 3:15: "Saved so as has become the mere pretext for indifference by fire, with the suffering of loss." Their lives to the subject—a kind of soporific to the con- must be in very strict accordance "with their science-that those who use it may "slumber" Lord's will," to be in the high blessing of the on in the lap of worldly ease. But when "at"ready" ones.-"Bringing every thought into midnight, there was a cry made: Behold the captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. Bridegroom cometh," what was the fate of its 10:5.) For since the Saviour finds moral unwise slumberers? "They that were ready character in the thoughts as well as in acts, one went in to the marriage.”—But while the un- unholy thought habitually indulged, may put us ready ones went to bring oil, "the doors were in the class of those who are saved so as by shut;" and they were excluded, refused. We fire, with "the suffering of loss" throughout all have an intimation of the continued history of eternity. Who does not see from this, that all these unready or unprepared ones in "the ser- such Antinomian teachers are lulling their vovant that prepared not himself," and was con- taries into a "slumber" equally as injurious as sequently" beaten with many stripes." ." "There- the unbelieving spiritualizer. The sophistry of fore it is said, be ye also ready, for in such an this class of teachers is often subtle, and would hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."deceive the very elect," if it were possible. (Luke 12:40-47.) And it is because they obey the command, "Go There is an Antinomian delusion into which ye not after them," that they are not deceived. some believers in the Advent doctrine have They call it "The Gospel of grace;" it is rather fallen, which is calculated to cast them into as sin against grace. Any carelessness in referdeep a sleep as unbelief. Notwithstanding that ence to obedience is the sin of presumption, the sole plea for the exclusion of these unwise which the Scriptures represent as unpardonavirgins was unreadiness-they say, "Christ is ble, save by chastisement. We should rememour readiness," and give themselves no further ber who God is, and who we are; and if we trouble about preparation. Nothing could be could have a just perception of this, we could more unscriptural, for it is never said that form a better idea of the self-abasement which Christ is our readiness. He is our salvation- becomes us, and of that humble God-fearing and that is a finished work, with which we have spirit which checks the rising thought of disnothing to do; but we have much to do with obedience and every unholy emotion, as much the work of preparation. There are things that as open transgression; "for all things are 66 accompany salvation ;" and these are our con- naked and open unto the eyes of Him with cern-aided, of course, by Divine grace. All whom we have to do. (Heb. 4:12, 13.) Nothing doctrines that would have the effect to lessen short of this is a state of preparation which will our genuine Christian efforts, are "Satan's ensure the "blessing of the ready virgins." opiates," as the Author of "The Parable of the Ten Virgins" very truly calls them. 6: 10. They that A. P. J. Let us examine Matt. 25; "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that were ready went in to the marriage," and see if ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these they were not the same as "the Bride that had things, and to stand before the Son of Man.” |