The Advent Herald, and Signs of the Times Reporter [Himes], vol. 7
April 24, 1844
Vol. VII. No. 12. Boston, Whole No. 156
Joshua V. Himes
THE ADVENT HERALD,
AND SIGNS OF THE TIMES REPORTER.
BEHOLD! THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH!! GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM!!!
NEW SERIES VOL. VII. NO. 12. BOSTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1844. WHOLE NO. 156. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.1
THE ADVENT HERALD
IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY
J. V. HIMES,
AT NO. 14 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON.
J. V. Himes, S. Bliss, & A. Hale, Editors. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.2
Terms.—One Dollar, per Volume, of 26 Numbers. Five Dollars for 6 Copies, Ten Dollars for 13 Copies. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.3
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ABRAHAM’S INTERSESSION FOR SODOM
And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?—Genesis 18:17. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.5
Even as the Lord, in days of old,
The “Father of the faithful” told
What wondrous things He meant to do,
Ere the dread bolt of vengeance flew;
HST April 24, 1844, page 89.6
So to His faithful children still,
Who seek and wait to know His will,
Doth He reveal His deep design,
And warn them in each coming sign.
HST April 24, 1844, page 89.7
O spouse of Christ! believing few!
The word prophetic speaks to you!
This is no time to slumber on,
And dream of peace, where peace is none.
HST April 24, 1844, page 89.8
When o’er the cities of the plain
Suspended hung the fiery rain,
Did Abraham stand in heedless mood,
And gaze upon that sulphurous flood?
HST April 24, 1844, page 89.9
Oh, no! Then you who claim to be
Members of Abraham’s family,
With Abraham watch, with Abraham pray,
That God may turn His wrath away;
HST April 24, 1844, page 89.10
That He may yet withdraw his hand
Of vengeance from our guilty land;
And for the righteous few may spare
The self-deluded many there.
HST April 24, 1844, page 89.11
Nebuchadnezzar’s Image
Speaking of that which symbolizes the present kingdoms of Europe, Mr. Habershon says:—pages 183—190, 194—196. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.12
“Whereas.... iron was mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but shall not cleave one to another even as iron is not mixed with clay.” The meaning of which is, that though there should be such constant intermarriages between the respective royal families of these ten kingdoms, as would intermingle their descendants in mutual kindred and affinity, still they would be kept divided. And the fact is most remarkable, that through the long period of twelve hundred years—which time it is since this division took place—the number of distinct kingdoms corresponding to the ten toes of the image, and these of the comparative strength of iron and clay, should still have remained preserved. For nothing was more probable, according to the accustomed course of events, than that from such intermarriages on the one hand, and from schemes of conquest and aggrandizement of the greater powers over the less on the other, the number would have been reduced; or indeed, that they would altogether, like the seven kingdoms of the Saxon heptarchy, have been swallowed up in one. This has been repeatedly attempted, and that in the most determined manner, and with every probability of success, and has as often failed. To say nothing of the probable easy conquest of the lesser kingdoms, it was for a long period the great and persevering object of England to annex France to its dominions; and at one time this was very near being accomplished by our Edwards and Henrys. In more recent times, particularly during the late war, France had hoped to possess itself of England and other countries, but was signally unsuccessful. Charles the Fifth obtained, by fair inheritance, the crowns both in Spain and Germany; but the hidden springs of this prophecy made the cohesion of Spain and Germany impossible; and though he had a son to succeed him, these nations were quietly separated at his death, one to Philip his son, and the other to Ferdinand his brother. In taking this view of the subject, the truth forces itself upon one’s mind, that had this prophecy been more studied and attended to—and it is one of no difficult or uncertain interpretation—what innumerable wars, what rivers of blood, would have been spared! They shall not cleave one to another, had been uttered by God—by Him who spake the word, and all things were in being; and His Word could not fail to keep them separate, and it has kept them separate! For who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when He commandeth it not? What schemes of human policy, however plausible or probable they may appear, either shall or can succeed, if opposed to His decrees? HST April 24, 1844, page 89.13
Thus expressively, by a highly significant emblem (and one much used, both in ancient as well as in modern times, to represent nations and governments—of which we have an instance on our own coins in the figure of Britannia,) is laid, with the utmost clearness, the whole groundwork of history,—of those great and leading events which for 2520 years constitute the vast unbroken series of the world’s affairs. The succession of kingdoms, here so significantly prefigured, may be considered, in short, as the alphabet of history; and their connexion with each other, as the leading powers of the world, is beautifully recognised in that surest and most useful guide to ancient chronology, where the sacred historians are silent, Ptolemy’s famous astronomical canon. This valuable production begins a considerable time before the Old Testament history ends, and reaches to the 137th year of the Christian era; and it is a remarkable fact, that in giving an entire series of reigns, it confines itself to those of the four successive monarchies of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome; thus affording a fine illustration of the prophetic vision before us. For instance, after giving the list of the kings of Babylon, Cyrus is made the immediate successor of Belshazzar; and this is the point where the silver joins the gold. Alexander the Great is made the successor of Darius, the last king of Persia; and this is where the brass joins the silver. While Augustus, who conquered the last remains of the kingdom of Greece in the person of Cleopatra, is made her successor; and this is where the iron joins the brass. Now this regular series was continued unbroken, through the successive Roman emperors, the various epochs of whose history were formed by Constantine, Theodosius, Justinian, Charlemagne, and Charles the Fifth, till it ended in the late emperor Francis II., or perhaps more correctly speaking, in the Emperor Napoleon. The formation of the ten kingdoms neither interrupted this line of sovereigns, nor destroyed the identity of the Roman empire, which was all along the kingdom symbolized by the iron part of the image, under a real though but nominal head. As long as it continued entire, it was still the great tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream previous to its being hewn down; after its fall its was in the state described, as being bound together by a band of iron and brass—that is, by the Eastern and Western, or the Latin and Greek empires; and in this state it has continued ever since. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.14
Having thus briefly gone through the fulfilled part of this interesting prophecy, we now come to that portion of it which the silent course of time, in its never ceasing round, has not yet brought to fulfilment, but which is now likewise rapidly hastening thereto; for the interpretation which Daniel gave of it to the king is sure (ver. 45.) However new, strange, or contrary to our pre-conceived ideas, calculations, or expectations it may be, still it is sure. Thus much we may with the highest confidence assert; and as we form a part of the empire of which it speaks, the proper understanding of it most deeply concerns us, and calls for our fixed and solemn attention. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.15
Nebuchadnezzar, it is said, “saw till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (ver. 34, 35.) HST April 24, 1844, page 89.16
Here we have information with regard to the future, which none but the Holy Ghost could have given to us. Not all the depth of human intellect, not the most acute penetration of the politician, not the utmost stretch of human curiosity, unaided by Divine revelation, can lead us one step beyond the present hour. Without such aid as this, we do not, we cannot, know what a day may bring forth, what is in the secret counsel of Providence, nor what possibly will be the issue of passing events,—a thing which is indeed generally very opposite to the most profound calculations of the mere mind of man. It behoves us, therefore, to make use of God’s revealed light as far as it hath been previously imparted; and to pray for the increasing influences of the Holy Ghost, that in this light we may see light. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.17
What is it, then, which we learn, from the above cited portion of Holy Writ, that God had decreed? It is this—that the ten kingdoms of the Roman Empire, signified by the ten toes of the great image, shall be smitten and broken to pieces! Strange that such an announcement as this should be so little regarded! Strange, that in all those speculations upon the future, which are daily vended in our public journals, we read not a word about such a tremendous catastrophe, as in the plain meaning of this sacred prophecy is so clearly predicted! It is true no date is here assigned as to when it shall happen; and had it pleased God entirely to withhold the information even in other prophecies, which he has not done, still, when we consider that the Roman empire has already continued five or six times the duration of any of the three former ones which constitute this great symbolical image, we have no right to presume upon another year of worldly tranquility. The wonder in this case might only be that the crisis spoken of has not taken place long ago. HST April 24, 1844, page 89.18
The expressions smitten and broken to pieces, imply sudden and overwhelming violence! a violence which shall not only involve in one tremendous ruin the ten kingdoms on which the blow falls, but the whole territorial limits of the other empires which the image represents. The language is so express on this subject, that it cannot be mistaken. The interpretation of the 34th and 35th verses appears clearly to be this, that the sovereignties which at the present hour are represented by the ten toes of the great image,—and which ten toes signify the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire was divided—shall fall under some fatal blow that will be levelled at their very existence; and that in this ruin not only themselves—that is, the larger and smaller kingdoms, the iron and the clay; but also the brass, the countries that once belonged to the empire of Greece; the silver, those of Persia; and the gold, those of Babylon—shall alike be involved. It is further added, that that destruction shall be so overwhelming, so complete, so irremediable, as to be compared to the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and thus, it is said, the wind carried away, that no place was found for them! HST April 24, 1844, page 90.1
Before passing on, I would just ask the question, Does England, with her arts, her commerce, her perfection of beauty; does France, does Austria, do the other papal kingdoms and states, anticipate, or in the most distant prospect at all look forward to, such a crisis as this? Oh no! And yet if words have a meaning, such a dreadful and annihilating crisis is here sounded from the throne of the Eternal in their ears! O that they had indeed ears, that they would hear! For this is what the great God hath made known and shall surely come to pass. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.2
In the 34th of Isaiah, after a vivid description of the fall of nations, it is said, “For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood.... and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance.” And even still more directly to the purpose is the sixty-third chapter of the same book, beginning thus, “Who is he that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me; for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury: and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in my heart!” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.3
When we read of such vengeance as this, inflicted by the immediate hand of that compassionate Savior himself, who when on earth went about doing good, and at last gave his life for the ransom of sinners, we see in the liveliest colors what a dreadful thing sin must be. And yet, in the face of such an immediate prospect of the day of vengeance, will men go on insulting the Majesty of heaven by a life of ungodliness, as if they could do it with impunity, “saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart,” and forgetting that when they shall thus say, “Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” We do not, in reading such things as these—namely, that the kingdoms we inhabit, and which surround us, shall become as chaff, and be carried away as by the wind,—we do not consider the force and power of Jehovah’s prophetic words. We are too apt to read and admire them as beautiful figures of speech; but we heed them no more, for any practical purposes, than we do the words of Shakspeare, when, upon the same subject, he says: HST April 24, 1844, page 90.4
“The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherits shall dissolve,
And like the baseless fabric of a vision,
Leave not a wreck behind.”
HST April 24, 1844, page 90.5
They fall on our ears, as upon the dull cold ear of death; as idle tales; as the warnings of Lot to the inhabitants of Sodom, when it is said, he seemed as one that mocked unto them. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.6
Pilate & Herod made Friends. Part 2
By Miss E. C. Clemens.
Dr. Proudfit—(alone in his parlor reading Prof. Bush’s letter to Mr. Miller.)—Here is an array of arguments truly formidable to the believers in the Advent. Seven, the complete number. Seven reasons for rejecting the doctrine of the speedy coming of the Savior. Yes, this must use them up decidedly. Here we have “the grounds on which the Advent question encounters the rejection and opposition of so large a portion of intelligent Christians.” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.7
[Enter Dr. Green and Elder White.] HST April 24, 1844, page 90.8
How are you, gentlemen, how are you? Here is Prof. Bush’s letter, in which I doubt not all denominations of Christians will find their opinions shadowed forth, or as the Prof. has it, “I think it not unlikely indeed, that a considerable portion of them may find their own sentiments accurately represented in mine.” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.9
Dr. Green. Yes, indeed, and I am happy to hear it. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.10
Elder White. On this great agitating question, union in the ranks of opposers is very desirable. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.11
[Enter Father O’Connor, and Rt. Rev. Bishop Black.] HST April 24, 1844, page 90.12
Dr. Proudfit. Gentlemen, we were just examining Prof. Bush’s letter, and should be happy to have your opinion of it. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.13
F. O’Connor. If he were in the church, we should not think him quite sound enough on some points. However, he doubtless finds it necessary to take the ground he does, to prevent worse error from creeping in. His expediency is doubtless very conservative in its tendency. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.14
Rt. Rev. Bishop Black. His sentiments find an echo in the great mass of Christendom. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.15
[Enter Rev. Mr. Evans and Prof. Brown.] HST April 24, 1844, page 90.16
Prof. Brown. I am happy to express my fullest approbation of the article. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.17
Rev. Mr. Evans. I consider it highly scriptural, and unimpeachably sound in the most superlative sense of those terms. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.18
Dr. Proudfit. The first reason why so large a portion of intelligent christians reject and oppose the scheme of the Adventists is, their views “strike them as intrinsically irrational and incredible.” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.19
All. Exactly! exactly! HST April 24, 1844, page 90.20
Dr. Proudfit. Mark you, my brethren, what an overwhelming argument the Prof. begins with.—The theory is to be rejected by all sane and judicious people, because it “stikes them as intrinsically irrational and incredible!” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.21
Rev. Mr. Evans. Yet the Adventists would not see the force of it—they maintain that it is not enough to insure its rejection because it is irrational and incredible. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.22
Dr. Proudfit. Well, well; we will see what the Prof. says further. “I am well aware that I am not planting myself upon ground that will bear the whole weight of my argument. It is not scriptural ground; and I am willing that you should give it no more weight than you probably will. I am far from holding that that which is merely rational is to be regarded as a test of that which is scriptural, but, contending as I do, that the speedy destruction of the world is unscriptural, I am at liberty to plead also that a prior objection weighs against it by reason of its being unreasonable!” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.23
The Prof. goes on to say that science disproves the theory that the earth is soon to be destroyed—for science teaches us that it has existed for a long period, and passed through many changes of a formation character, that it might be fitted up as a residence for man. Now is it rational or credible that when it it is so nicely fitted up. God will turn the inhabitants out of it and burn it? Of course not. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.24
Rev. Mr. Evans. But the inexorable, perseveringly stupid Adventists meet this by saying that it is just as likely that God will destroy the earth now, that is, renovate it by fire, as that he would let the natural consequence of sin affect its Eden state, or that he destroyed it by a deluge. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.25
They say too, that as its destiny is to be the future abode of the righteous, that the great preparations which have been made in its formation character and structure, will not be lost. It was once in a perfect state, and they say there is a promise of the restoration of all things. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.26
Dr. Proudfit. But the Prof. says, that in the belief of the mass of professing Christians, no such promise exists. There is to be no New Heavens and New Earth, for which Peter was so foolish to look, and say with the poor despised Millerites, it was according to his promise. Consequently, they do not believe in the theory. Besides, says our author, “the earth is not half peopled at the present moment.” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.27
Rev. Mr. Evans. The Advent people say, why did not Noah urge this, as a reason why the flood could not come at the time appointed. But I have been reading a new work of an Unitarian author of great celebrity, who advances some very valuable thoughts on this subject. Very justly ridiculing the idea that the earth has waxed old as a garment, and that as a vesture it is speedily to be folded up and changed; he says, “Notwithstanding all these predictions, the world still rolls on, exhibiting no signs of decay, nature is still unwrinkled by years, and flourishes in perpetual youth.” And he has sentiments in perfect harmony with Prof. Bush, for he says, “Is it at all probable, that the progress of the human race is to be broken off thus abruptly by the destruction of our planet, at the very moment, when, by the revolution of centuries, it has accumulated the means of accelerated progress; when it is now advancing more in one century than it ever has before in five,” shall the world thus expire in the ashes of a general conflagration? Incredible! absurd! This appealing to common sense sets the matter at rest. We are not superstitious enough to believe the earth is near her end—we leave that faith for the deluded. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.28
Dr. Green. Very powerful reasoning certainly. Well, Dr., what have we next. HST April 24, 1844, page 90.29
Dr. Proudfit. “The Advent views strike at the root of all missionary efforts, for the conversion of the world.” HST April 24, 1844, page 90.30
All. Exactly! exactly! HST April 24, 1844, page 90.31
Bishop Black. Our missions are doing wonders. What it we should give them up, to watch for the Lord’s coming; (aside—at the present rate, the world will soon all be Episcopalians.) HST April 24, 1844, page 90.32
Father O’Connor. Our missions, too, are going on from conquering to conquer. In China how glorious our cause succeeds. It carries all before it.—The most conspicuous buildings in Hong-Kong are a Roman Catholic Church and Monastery! (aside—and more money has been expended on them, than on all the buildings of all the Protestant missions in China. We have ten missionaries in China to one of the Protestants, and ours are increasing with glorious rapidity. All hail for the Church! One vessel carried fifty-two Catholic priests to Manilla last September, and there are at this moment, thousands of priests in the Phillipine Islands, who could be transferred to China, almost at a moment’s notice. This is the state of things, our enemies themselves being judges. The Boston Recorder mentions it as an alarming truth, and the church has great reason to chuckle to be sure.) HST April 24, 1844, page 90.33
Prof. Brown. The American Board of Com. for Foreign Missions, what a glorious conquest has been theirs; 30,000 converted in 43 years labor!! 100 missionaries sent out in the time: (aside—such great success indicates that the world will speedily be Congregationalist’s.) HST April 24, 1844, page 91.1
Dr. Green. Ay, the American Board; I can join with you there, as I have for a number of years been an honorary member of that institution. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.2
Elder White. The Baptist Board too, look at its doings. I have no statistics by me, but it is a well known fact that we are rapidly converting the world to our faith. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.3
Father O’Connor. Gentlemen, permit me to call your attention to the Propaganda—the college located at Rome. There it is that an education can be had. The course of study is ten years. Nearly all the languages in the known world are there taught. When the English opened China for our Missionary operations, forty Jesuits, newly graduated, with all the honors of the Institution, went into that field of labor, well versed in the Chinese. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.4
There we educate missionaries, and it is to be the great instrument of converting the world. The plan is briefly this:—natives from all quarters of the globe are brought there, and thoroughly indoctrinated in all the principles of the Church, and are thence sent back into their several countries, by which system, the whole body are bound together by “the strongest ties.” HST April 24, 1844, page 91.5
Dr. Proudfit. See the account of English Methodist Missionary Societies. In the West Indian Islands alone, 80,000 have been converted by their efforts; (aside—and it is unquestionably true that the world will be Methodists in the Millenium.) HST April 24, 1844, page 91.6
Rev. Mr. Evans. (Aside.) Father O’Connor bears the palm, as the Advent brethren say: they say that true Papacy is the little horn, and will make war, and prevail with the saints until the ancient of days shall come. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.7
Dr. Proudfit. To the next point, gentlemen. “The evidence of the Advent has failed to satisfy the public mind.” The Prof. says—— HST April 24, 1844, page 91.8
Prof. Brown. Those who are looking for the Lord say that it would not be as in the days of Noah, if the public mind was satisfied; they say that at the time of the end the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.9
Dr. Green. Oh nonsense! do not repeat such absurdities. What have we next? HST April 24, 1844, page 91.10
Dr. Proudfit. The Rev. Prof. says, “It cannot be expected that intelligent men will receive any interpretation which is not sustained by the original. The exposition of Mr. Miller rests mainly upon the reading of the English text of the Scriptures. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.11
Rt. Rev. Bishop Black. A very sensible and judicious remark. What authority, I ask, have these upstarts to teach! Who laid hands on them. Not one of them Episcopally ordained! and yet they attempt to teach. What unheard of presumption!—People who have been educated at all, have views in unison with the church! HST April 24, 1844, page 91.12
Father O’Connor. We maintain that there would have been much less error, had the Bible been guarded from the common vulgar eye, by the languages; translating it, has been a great aid to error. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.13
Rt. Rev. Bishop Black. I am, at times, almost ready to concur with you: still if the common people could be kept in accordance with the views of the church, no evil would accrue from the reading of the Scriptures. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.14
Father O’Connor. True, true. But all observation and experience prove the contrary, and therefore we decide to keep the Bible guarded, as formerly, from the common eye. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.15
Dr. Green. Preserving the Word of God guarded in the languages, is what the Millerites call the “sackcloth state.” They say the two witnesses, the Old and New Testaments, prophesied clothed in sackcloth. This is a specimen of their shocking perversion of the truth! HST April 24, 1844, page 91.16
Dr. Proudfit. But we were speaking of missionary labor. The Adventists certainly do not perform any of that; they forsake our ranks, and leave us to bear the heat and burden of the day, alone.—They go out and preach the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; get up excitements, and frighten people into religion, it is true; but they are not missionaries, for they are not recognized as such by Our Board. They have no authority, and are not sent in the same way as were those whom the Lord chose, and sent forth by two and two; consequently, while there are thousands of this class, engaged in the enterprise of “turning the world upside down,” they have not one missionary among them. Hence, their views “strike at the root of all missionary efforts, for the conversion of the world,” and are to be opposed by all orthodox christians. The next objection, we in part considered last evening. The Prof. says, that Mr. Miller’s calculation of times, all well informed students of prophecy will admit, are correct, but will still maintain that he has entirely mistaken the nature of the event. This is the head and front of his expository offending. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.17
Rt. Rev. Bishop Black. Dr. Jarvis, who has looked into these matters not a little, and is as learned as most expositors, says, that Mr. Miller is correct about the event, but nothing can be known definitely concerning the time! Now, who shall decide when doctors disagree? ha! ha! (aside—of course, he that is Episcopally ordained, alone, is entitled to the truth.) HST April 24, 1844, page 91.18
Dr. Proudfit. Nevertheless, Isaac Taylor Hinton, and a host of others;entirely deny the event. They say it is to be spiritually understood. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.19
Rev. Mr. Evans. Yes, and I am most happy to say that nearly all Christendom join in this belief. My valuable friend, George W. Burnap, in his “End of the World,” a discourse fresh from the press, and suggested by the “Miller Doctrine,” has the same correct and scriptural sentiment. He thinks it very ridiculous that the peace of the church should be disturbed by the thought of the coming of Christ, although he remarks, “the poet Milton, at one period of his life, had his great mind infected with this idea;” yet it is to be avoided as fanatical. He has a very ingenious and perfectly conclusive way of disposing of the judgment, which I would recommend to all who are troubled with superstitious fears and delusive fancies. He knows, as well as Prof. Bush, and all christendom, that the Adventists are mistaken in the event, and that mistake is enough to clothe them with infamy forever. He knows they are wrong; they say that “God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world.” It is appointed unto all men once to die, and after death, the judgment: and the Bible many times speaks of God as coming to judgment. Jesus says, “Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me.” Now, Mr. Burnap says, “when God, even in the ordinary way of his Providence, is represented as punishing the guilty, he is said to come to judgment.” HST April 24, 1844, page 91.20
Dr. Green. Not quite so fast, my good friend.—What does he do with such passages as these, found in the fiftieth Psalm. “The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the Heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is Judge Himself.” Is not the literal judgment here presented? HST April 24, 1844, page 91.21
Rev. Mr. Evans. Not at all, my dear sir. Our system completely disposes of that difficulty. Mr. Burnap says that this is a scenic representation of the Deity as Judge. He is represented as holding a court, to try and judge his (ancient covenant) people, Israel. The circumstances are given with great scenic effect. God is represented as coming to judgment with great pomp and magnificence, with thunder and lightning, and tempest. He calls Heaven and earth to be spectators to the august proceeding. He promises blessings to the righteous, and threatens the wicked after various charges. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. “Here it is evident to the intelligent student, on close inspection, that God has only benevolently dramatized the promises and threatenings of the law,” for the amusement and instruction of his creatures!! and nothing more is meant by it, “than the ordinary providence of God, rewarding the good, and punishing the wicked. And yet, this is the prototype of all the description of the Day of Judgment in the Bible.” Hence we see Mr. Miller is perfectly at fault respecting the event. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.22
Prof. Brown. I am not prepared to say that you are perfectly right. Yet the Bible is to be very spiritually and figuratively understood. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.23
Rev. Mr. Evans. The Bible is shorn of its difficulties, if these principles are admitted, viz:—“That prophetic language is in the highest degree figurative, and the Day of Judgment, Day of the Lord, are to be interpreted with great latitude of signification: (“Ye shall not surely die,”—serpent.) The day of the Lord is a day of calamity, or a season of suffering, the day of judgment is the time when the consequences of our actions overtake us; the end of the world is after the end of the existing state of things, and a New Heaven and a New Earth, is a better moral condition of the race. As Prof. Bush says, “Christ is to come spiritually, in the power of his Gospel.” These are the most approved Universalist sentiments extent, and I am most happy that nearly all of the Orthodox fully receive them, and reap great consolation therefrom. It is only in principles of interpretation allied to these, that it can be proved that the Adventists are wrong in the event for which they are looking. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.24
Dr. Proudfit. Very true. It is by spiritualizing, that we arrive at our truly gratifying conclusions. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.25
Bishop Black. Oh no! you must not do away with the judgment; that is an article of our creed. It is much safer to prove the Adventists have erred in the time than in the event, since they must be refuted some way. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.26
Dr. Proudfit. Prof Bush says, he does not enter into the detailed exhibition of the proofs of this position, viz., that the event is wrong, because nothing, in the nature of the case, can prove it to the mind of a literalist, since it is the common and prevailing belief of Christendom, that the end is far distant, it is not necessary that the proof should be formally stated. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.27
Rev. Mr. Evans. My friend, Mr Burnap, a devoted Unitarian, says, the reason why this fanaticism has taken such hold of the common herd is “profound ignorance of the language of prophecy.”—Many deluded persons, proceed on the unwarrantable assumption that “we have a sure word of prophecy, to which we do well to take heed,” being hopelessly blind to the fact, that when the apostle made that assertion, he meant the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, and was speaking only to the people of his time. All prophecy that concerns us is highly poetical, and in order not to have our imaginations excited; we thus make slight reasons, strong and impregnable proofs, the ground of expectation and cause of fanatic agitation; and we must avoid entirely literal interpretation (save when it suits our purpose) especially in bold oriental figures. of which the Bible is mostly made up. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.28
F. O’C. Undoubtedly; the church has decided to that effect. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.29
Dr. Green. I fully agree with Prof. Bush, whose opinion is nearly allied to that which the brother has advanced. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.30
Prof. Brown. Prof. Stuart, of our denomination, holds views which rapidly tend to the same result. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.31
Dr. Proudfit. Dr. Adam Clarke sanctioned the same reasoning. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.32
Elder White. Culver, and Chase, and Dowling, make admissions to the same effect. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.33
Bishop Black. The views of the church are uniform; yet to combat the new form of error the great champions of our cause, Jarvis and others, have found it necessary to take like ground; and spiritualize for the sake of accommadation. HST April 24, 1844, page 91.34
Rev. Mr. Evans. The instances in Scriptures where the Deity is described under human similitudes, and his various operations under human analogies are innumerable. A beautiful and striking instance of the skill of the Lord, in dramatising for the benefit of man, is found in this passage in Joel:—“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain, let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains, a great people and a strong, there hath not been ever the like, neither shall there be any more after it, even unto the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth; the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness—yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.—Before their face, the people shall be much pained; all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run, like mighty men, they shall climb the wall like men of war; they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks, and when they fall upon the sword they shall not be wounded. The earth shall quake before them: the heavens shall tremble, the sun and moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining; And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army; for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his scord; for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?” Now, on the first reading of this passage, it would seem to describe either the end of the world or some great convulsion of nature. But on examining it minutely, we shall find that scarcely nothing at all is really meant. It is a poetical license taken by the Lord, to excite the imagination of some men to expect some great and terrible event, and then, by a sudden gradation, bring the mind down to the realities of life, and teach it a lesson about being superstitious in building “airy castles” of terror and destruction! This highly poetical and figurative description is no more nor less than an account, in the bold oriental imagery of “the devastations of an army of locusts or grasshoppers, which swept over Judea, and devoured the earth entirely bare, so as to produce a famine where they had been!” HST April 24, 1844, page 91.35
Dr. Proudfit. Delightful! so like some of Dr. Clarke’s expositions! HST April 24, 1844, page 92.1
Dr. Green. Then blow the trumpet in Zion—sound an alarm in the holy mountain—let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand, “for the locusts and grasshoppers are coming!!” HST April 24, 1844, page 92.2
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, for the Lord is spiritually uttering his voice, before his army of locusts and grasshoppers!! Mark ye, my brethren, the beautiful descent from the lofty to the lowly-it is inimitably poetical and figurative in the extreme! HST April 24, 1844, page 92.3
F O’ C. (Aside—a very swift transition from the sublime to the ridiculous, according to the dictates of my common sense.) HST April 24, 1844, page 92.4
Bishop Black. Poetic descriptions in prophecy, are to be interpreted with great latitude of signification. This is in accordance with the views of the church. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.5
Dr. Green. The Adventists would say, that Bro. Evans erred, in giving very limited latitude of signification—make the words of the Lord of none effect. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.6
Prof. Brown. Of course, of course; they are simple enough to take the Bible just as it reads, and forget that it is only “intelligible to the intelligent.” HST April 24, 1844, page 92.7
Rev. Mr. Evans. By considering the highly figurative language of prophecy, a device of the Almighty dramatizing for effect, we prove conclusively that the event, which those looking for the Lord expect, will not come. A very striking scenic description is brought to view in the twenty-fourth of Matthew. At first view, one would suppose, from the startling imagery employed, that the end of the world was described, and the personal coming of the Son of man; but here is another instance of poetical license, where the Lord is lofty in predicting, but lowly in executing. The prophecy is much more striking than the event, which is the fulfillment of that prophecy, and this we may remark, is the case with all prophecy, so that the benevolence of God is the more striking. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.8
Dr. Proudfit. You consider, I doubt not, that the second coming of the Son of man was at the destruction of Jerusalem? HST April 24, 1844, page 92.9
Rev. Mr. Evans. Assuredly. These passages “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken—and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet; and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. “Peace and safety.” All the Lord meant by this hyperbolical burst of poetry, was the destruction of the Jewish state and hierarchy, and the establishment of his own religion; yet, many things (to one not skilled in this Neological scheme of interpretation) in the connection, would certainly lead to the inference that the end was described, and a personal coming, than which nothing can be wider from the truth. In the connection, it is said, that, “As the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be,” and Luke says, “For as a snare shall it (that day) come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Now the comparatively illiterate, who jump to conclusions without a regular train of (accommodation) reasoning, would pervert the truth after this way; “As it was in the days of Noah—the whole world was meant then—the destruction was universal, not confined to the Jewish state—the time was revealed—world warned effectually;—yet they knew not, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, of the rain that overwhelmed them. Poor souls! they (the Adventists) have not the advantage of the intelligent views of the great religious lights of the east—the learned system of exegesis, of the German students of prophecy. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.10
To be continued.
Advent Herald & Reporter
“The Lord is at Hand.”
BOSTON, APRIL 24, 1844.
All communications for the Advent Herald, or orders for Books or remittances, should be directed to “J. V. Himes, Boston, Mass,” post paid. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.11
Post Masters are authorized by the Post Office Department to forward free of expense all orders for, or to discontinue publications, and also money to pay for the same HST April 24, 1844, page 92.12
Subscribers’ names’ with the State and Post Office should be distinctly given when money is forwarded. Where the Post Office is not given, we are liable to misdirect the paper, or credit to the wrong person, as there are often several of the same name, or several Post Offices in the same town. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.13
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES on which the SECOND ADVENT CAUSE IS BASED
I.—The word of God teaches that this earth is to be regenerated, in the restitution of all things, and restored to its Eden state as it came from the hand of its Maker before the fall, and is to be the eternal abode of the righteous in their resurrection state. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.14
II.—The only Millenium found in the word of God, is the 1000 years which are to intervene between the first and second resurrections, as brought to view in the 20th of Revelations. And the various portions of Scripture which are adduced as evidence of such a period in time, are to have their fulfilment only in the New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.15
III—The only restoration of Israel yet future, is the restoration of the Saints to the New Earth, when the Lord my God shall come, and all his saints with him. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.16
IV.—The signs which were to precede the coming of our Savior, have all been given; and the prophecies have all been fulfilled but those which relate to the coming of Christ, the end of this world, and the restitution of all things. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.17
V.—There are none of the prophetic periods, as we understand them, extending beyond the [Jewish] year 1843. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.18
The above we shall ever maintain as the immutable truths of the word of God, and therefore, till our Lord come, we shall ever look for his return as the next event in historical prophecy. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.19
Note.—The above was written in the Jewish year 1843, which has now expired. According to the best chronologers the captivity of Manasseh, the commencement of the seven times, or 2520 years of Levit. 26th. was B. C. 677; also the captivity of Jehoiakim. the comnencement of the Great Jubilee, or 2450 years, was B. C. 607; also the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in the seventh of Artaxerxes, the commencement of the 70 weeks and 2300 days, of Dan. 8th and 9th, was given, B. C. 457; and also the taking away of Paganism in Rome, the commencement of the 1335 days of Dan. 12th, was about A. D. 508. Reckoning from those several dates, the respective periods can extend only to about the Jewish Year 1843. This being ended, our published time is now past; but as we can find no new dates for the events from which we have reckoned those periods, we cannot extend them beyond the time specified, which has been our only time; and yet our faith is as strong as ever, that at the end of those periods the Lord will surely come; while we can only wait for his coming such time as human chronology may have varied from the exact time,—continually looking for, and momentarily expecting his appearing. This we do in accordance with Habakkuk 2:3.—“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end” [of the prophetic periods] “it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry,” [beyond their apparent termination] “wait for it; because” [when they are fulfilled] “it will surely come, it will not tarry,“ HST April 24, 1844, page 92.20
Our Position
In the passing by of the Jewish year, our friends and the public will, and have a right to expect from us some exposition of the position we occupy. And this we are as ever free to give. It has never been any part of our purpose to withhold from the public any of our views respecting the future, or the difficulties which may be before us. And we therefore fully and frankly admit that all our expected and published time, has passed: the Jewish year, civil and ecclesiastical, in the which we expected the Lord, has expired, and the Savior has not been revealed; and we would not disguise the fact at all, that we were mistaken in the precise time of the termination of the prophetic periods. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.21
In view of the present time, it has been repeatedly predicted, that we should either extend the time to some new period, or throw away our Bibles and turn Infidels: but in this, those who have thus prophecied, have prophecied falsely—false prophets have arisen in these last days. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.22
We have never been able to find any other time for the termination of the prophetic periods than the Jewish year now past: nor do we now find any other. The only event we can find, from which to reckon the seven times; or 2520 years that the Gentiles were to reign over God’s people, is the captivity of Manasseh, which the best chronologers place B. C. 677, and since which the Jews have never been an independant nation. The only event we can find from which to date the great Jubilee, or 2450 years that the land was to keep its Sabbaths, is at the commencement of the 70 years captivity in Babylon, when Jehoiakim was carried captive, and which the best chronologers place B. C. 607. The only event we can find, from which to reckon the 2300 days, is the going forth of the decree to restore Jerusalem, from which the 70 weeks are dated, given by Artaxerxes Longimanus in the 7th year of his reign; and which the best chronologers pin down to B. C. 457. And the only event we can find from which to date the 1335 days is the succession of the supremacy of papacy, to that of paganism in the Roman empire, which the best chronologists place about A. D. 508. Reckoning the several periods from those respective dates, they can extend only to about A. D. 1843; and as we can find no new dates for the various events from which the respective periods are reckoned, we can find no new point for their termination; and therefore we can extend the time to no new period, unless some error can be shown in our standard chronologers. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.23
In the second place, we shall not throw away our Bibles or turn Infidels. We have not followed “cunningly devised fables” respecting “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;” but have the testimony of those who were “eye witnesses of his Majesty;” and in addition to that, “a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well if ye take heed” until the Lord shall come. Although our reckoning is out, yet as our chart has brought us so near the heavenly country that we are within soundings, we shall continue on, looking for the Lord such little while as human computation of time may have varied from an exact chronology—the same as any able seaman, when his reckoning is up, would continue on his course, till the blue hills of the expected country should break upon his view. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.24
We believe, as ever, that the visions of Daniel and John, as interpreted by all the standard Protestant commentators, reveal to us the most prominent events in this world’s history to the consumation of all things, and that history shows a literal fulfillment of all that has been predicted to precede the Advent, so that it is to be the next event, and speedily to be ushered in. We also believe that it is proved by the Signs of the times, predicted in the Scriptures as precursors of that event. We also believe that the several prophetic periods, which we have supposed would terminate about A. D. 1843, respectively commence at the several events from which we have reckoned them, and all terminate in the fulness of times, at the setting up of God’s everlasting kingdom; and admit that we have been as much mistaken in the date of those several events, or in the computation of time since their occurrence, as the vision may be delayed beyond the year of their apparent termination: In this mistake, however, we have erred with the standard chronologers and historians of modern times, who have been our authority on chronological points. HST April 24, 1844, page 92.25
Having passed the point of the apparent termination of the prophetic periods, we are placed in a position, which God foresaw his children would be placed in, at the end of the vision; and for which he made provision, by the prophet Habakkuk, (2:1-3,) when he says, “I will stand upon my watch, and sit upon my tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved,” or as it reads in the margin “argued with.” “And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time,” [the 7 times] “but at the end [of the prophetic periods] it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry,” [beyond their apparent termination] “wait for it; because it will surely come,” [in the fulness of the prophetic times, beyond which,] “it will not tarry.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.1
That this admonition has reference to the present time is evident from Paul’s quotation of it in Hebrews 10:36-39. “For we have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.2
We believe that we are occupying that period spoken of by our Savior, when the Bridegroom tarries—Matthew 25:5, to which the kingdom of heaven should be likened when “that evil servant [there having been an apparent failure in the time] shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,” and the Lord should come in a day they look not for him. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.3
We believe that we are now occupying that period of time spoken of by Peter, 2 Epistle 2:3, who when their “judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not,” were to “privily bring in damnable heresies.” These Peter says were to be, even as there were false prophets when the Scriptures were indited. As therefore, they of the house of Israel, said, “the days were prolonged and every vision faileth,” (Ezekiel 12:23) so must there have been a time, when there would be an apparent passing by of the time that the scoffers of 2 Peter 3:4, might enquire, “Where is the promise of his coming,” and flatter themselves that “all things continue as they were from the creation.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.4
We believe it was in view of such an apparent tarrying of the vision that the apostle James said, “Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord, Be ye also patient; establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh,” and “Behold the Judge standeth at the door.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.5
And we believe it was in anticipation of the passing by of the expected time that our Savior admonished us, in the 12th of Luke, to “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately.” To wait implies a passing by of the time; for till that we do not wait. Therefore our Lord adds:—“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.6
As our time has thus passed by—the civil year having terminated last October, and the ecclesiastical, with the new moon in April, we are now prepared to tell the world what we shall do—a question which has often been asked. We intend to hold fast the integrity of our faith without wavering; and not cast away our confidence which hath great recompense of reward. We intend to continue to comfort one another with the words of the coming of Christ, who will come and will not tarry. We shall continue to believe God’s word, in its literal acceptation: for not one jot or tittle of all that is written therein will fail. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.7
We shall continue, God willing, to proclaim, Behold the Bridegroom cometh! go ye out to meet him; and the hour of his judgment is come! and we trust we shall not fail to continue to cry aloud to the world and church to arouse themselves from their songs of “peace,” and to listen to God’s overtures of mercy. We intend to continue waiting and watching for the coming of the Lord, believing that it is just upon us; and we hope to continue faithful to the cause of truth, ever ready to confess or forsake any errors, when pointed out, or to receive any truth in accordance with the word of God. By so doing we believe we shall soon unite when the Lord shall come, in that response when “it shall be said in that day, Lo this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation,” those being blessed who wait and come to the end of the days. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.8
As our time has elapsed, and we have no other specified time in the future, but wishing to live and induce others to live in continual readiness and constant expectation of the Lord’s coming, we shall know that all who oppose us for so doing, have no sympathy for the Lord’s coming. With those who are looking for the Lord, or loving his appearing, we have no controversy. But with those who put far off the day of the Lord, say in their hearts my Lord delayeth his coming, claim that the vision has failed, or deny the promise of his coming, we can hold no Christian fellowship: for those who assume such positions, show that they have no love for Christ’s appearing; and teach men contrary to the admonitions of Christ and his apostles, that we should take heed to ourselves lest at any time our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkness, and that day come upon us unawares. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.9
A specimen of Elder Shaw’s Neology
DANIEL’S NUMBERS IN THE TWELFTH CHAPTER
“Time, times, and a half.” Daniel 12:7. This is a period of about three and a half years. From the time that Antiochus sent Appollonius, who took away the daily sacrifice, in June 168 B. C. to the time that Judas Maccabeus cleansed the temple in December 165 B. C. is this period to be reckoned. It is not three and a half years to a day, and the language is not designed to convey a definite period, but something near it. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.10
“From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 1290 days.” Daniel 12:11. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.11
Here we have the same period that is mentioned in verse 7, only this gives the definite number of days, while that is indefinite; from the time Apollonius took away the daily sacrifice in June 168 B. C. to the cleansing of the sanctuary by Judas Maccabeus in December 165. The abomination that maketh desolate was not set up till after the daily sacrifice had been taken away some months. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.12
“Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 1335 days.” Daniel 12:12. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.13
This period also commences with the “time, times and a half,” and with the 1290 days. But what took place at the period when the 1335 days would end? It is clear from history that Antiochus died about this time. He went to the east, was there defeated, set out to return and make Jerusalem the burying place of all the Jews; but died on his way. Was not the death of so great a persecutor, who threatened their entire ruin, a cause of blessedness and joy? Surely it was. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.14
Let us recapitulate. The “2300 days” cover the whole time of the oppression and persecution the Jews endured from Antiochus; commencing with the war and sacrilege of Menelaus, in 171 B. C. and ending when Judas Maccabeus cleansed the sanctuary at the end of 165 B. C. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.15
The “time, times, and a half,” is an indefinite period, amounting to about three years and a half: from the time Apollonius took away the daily sacrifice early in June 168, to the time that Judas Maccabeus cleansed the sanctuary, the last of 165 B. C. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.16
The “1290 days” express the same thing as the “time, times, and half a time,” and is definite, giving the exact number of days beginning at the taking away of the daily sacrifice, and ending when Judas cleansed the sanctuary. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.17
The “1335 days” also began at the same time of the two last named numbers, and extended to the time of the death of Antiochus, the terrible persecutor. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.18
The Elder, in the last Herald, affects to deny that he is tinctured with Neology, or the “new doctrine.” The above extract from his book will show that my charge was true. He takes the lowest Neological ground. The resurrection in Daniel 12:2, took place in the time of Antiochus. The end of the days when Daniel shall stand in his lot, verse 13, was when Antiochus died!!! HST April 24, 1844, page 93.19
This exposition can be found in “Stuart’s Hints,” in a more perfect form. And other portions of the pamphlet relating to the Millenium, which he says is past, can be found in Prof. Bush’s work on the Millenium. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.20
In the Herald of the 18th inst., the author gives the following very modest (!) notice of his work. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.21
That Pamphlet. “I have often been comforted while hearing of the conviction produced by reading my pamphlet, entitled “Christ’s second coming.” That little book has satisfied many wavering minds that Millerism was not true; and it has opened the eyes of many others who were firm believers that Mr. M. was right, and has shown them their error, and caused them to give it up. Some have told me that since they read Miller’s lectures they had never read any thing that weighed the weight of a feather against it till they read THAT PAMPHLET.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.22
“It should be extensively circulated just at this time. Let the wavering get it and read. And those who feel interested had better enclose a dollar, either to B. F. Carter, Exeter, or to the author at Franklin, and thus procure a dozen of them to sell or give away. It is a periodical, and can be sent by mail anywhere for periodical postage.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.23
N. B. We have procured a quantity of “that pamphlet,” for gratuitous circulation. Any person wishing to read it, can have it without money, and without price, at this office. HST April 24, 1844, page 93.24
Infidelity. A man is more or less an Infidel, as he rejects more or less of the written word of God. Consequently we regard all who reject the doctrine of the reign of Christ on earth; and his personal appearing, as so far infidels. Regarding as we do that these questions, sustained as they are by the literal reading of the Scriptures, cannot be despised by one who is a Christian, we cannot consistently fellowship those who deny these doctrines: for “what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel?” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.25
The Difference. Preach every thing connected with our views of the Advent, and leave out the immediate appearing of Christ, and all our opponents are as calm as a summer’s morning; but preach the immediate appearing of Christ, and leave out every thing else connected with our views, and they are all ready to exclaim against this “Millerism.” HST April 24, 1844, page 93.26
“STAR OF OUR HOPE.”
by n. billings.
Precistone.
1. Star of our hope! He’ll soon ap-pear, The last loud trum-pet speaks him near; Hail him all saints, from pole to pole,-How welcome to the faith-ful soul! HST April 24, 1844, page 94.1
2. From heaven angelic voices sound,
Behold the Lord of glory crowned,
Arrayed in majesty divine,
And in his highest glories shine.
HST April 24, 1844, page 94.2
3. The grave yields up its precious trust,
Which long has slumber’d in the dust;
Resplendent forms ascending fair,
To meet the Saviour in the air.
HST April 24, 1844, page 94.3
4. Descending with his azure throne,
He claims the Kingdom for his own;
The saints rejoice, they shout, they sing,
And hail him their triumphant King.
HST April 24, 1844, page 94.4
5. O joyful day, when he appears
With all his saints, to end their fears;
Our Lord will then his right obtain,
And in his kingdom ever reign.
HST April 24, 1844, page 94.5
Letter from brother S. Chapman
Dear Brother Bliss:—Permit me in a brief manner to describe the way in which the Lord hath led me since the date of my last (Feb. 3.) Agreeable to appointment, I visited the people in the north part of Richmond, (Reynolds factory,) and also in Exeter, in both which respectful attention was given to the word; backsliders were reclaimed, and many of the saints revived, and brought heartily in to the Advent faiths. A happy hand also was formed in each of those places, and the Midnight Cry, or the Advent Herald procured. While at Exeter, I was informed by brother I. Pierce, that he had obtained liberty for me to give a course of lectures at the native’s church in Charleston. I commenced at this meeting house at 11 A. M. Something like fifty persons came in during the day, appearing very suspicious of me and of my doctrine, and remained till late in the P. M. I talked to them in a familiar manner of their Savior, whom they truly loved, quoted his words concerning the flood, the destruction of Sodom. etc,, and showed them by such good authority that the destruction of the present world would be equally sudden and unexpected to the wicked, but that the righteous would not be thus “overtaken as a thief.” A large number came together in the evening, and listened attentively till 10 o’clock, at this time one of the brethren ventured to pray, after which another brother, full of caution, made a few remarks, and the meeting closed. At 11 the next morning, the house was well filled, and as silent as the house of death. I expounded unto them the 24 of Matthew, and “had a free time,” and the good Spirit not only dictated, but accompanied the word to the hearts of all; this was truly a melting season. When I sat down, their deacon and leader rose, bathed in tears, and in a most impressive manner, confessed his faith in the truth of the doctrine, that “Christ the Lord” was “even at the doors,” and exhorted his brethren, as they regarded their souls, and the souls of others, to indulge prejudice against it no longer, but to listen for their lives to the word of God; after him others continued to rise one after another in quick succession, all expressing their convictions of the truth of the doctrine, and an ardent desire for a preparation of heart to meet the event; from this time the work went on gloriously. I continued with them about two weeks, laboring day and night. The whole church received the doctrine in the love of it, and became the happiest people I ever saw, and as we might naturally expect, it resulted in the conversion of a multitude of souls, most of whom with the church are “looking up, and lifting up their heads,” etc. Praise the Lord O my soul. HST April 24, 1844, page 94.6
From C. I went to Carolina Mills, (Richmond) and spent a week with the advent friends in that place; this indeed is a happy band. From this place I went to Mansford Mills, so called, (same town,) where the people (as a general thing,) neither fear God, nor regard man, commenced on Saturday evening before a full house, was interrupted several times during my lecture, by scoffers, composed of various classes, viz., Universalists, professors of religion, and drunkards. On the Sabbath the rabble stayed away to make preparations for the evening; the house was well filled with attentive hearers. I addressed them for 4 1-2 hours on the return of the Jews, and temporal millennium; a good impression was manifestly made. In the evening the house was filled to everflowing; all the scoffers in the neighborhood turned out, having procured a young minister to be present and oppose the doctrine which I advanced. This personage sat directly before me and made quite a flourish in taking notes, supposing him however to be the Universalist minister. At the close of the lecture, he arose and requested the people to listen to him while he offered a few remarks in opposition to the views of the “gentleman” who had addressed them. Quite a number of the congregation responded aloud, saying, “that is right, we wish to hear you put down this stuff,” and he appeared to consider himself honored by such a response. He first declared, my Lord delayeth his coming, (at least) for a thousand years, and then began to smite his fellow servants, particularly Father Miller and myself. Besides many other false accusations and misrepresentations, he unqualifiedly asserted that the Rev. J. Dowling of Providence, had published a work in opposition to “Millers” views, which was unanswerable; and that no attempt had been made by Mr. M. or of his followers to reply. After the meeting, to my astonishment, they informed me that he was a Baptist minister, by the name of Wakefield, located within three miles of that place, professing to feed the flock of God with the bread of life. The Lord have mercy on the churches, lest being led by the “blind they both fall into the ditch” HST April 24, 1844, page 94.7
From this wicked place I went to South Kingston, and held a series of meetings with the natives, or colored people, at their new meeting house, which was kindly opened for that purpose The people came together here as in Charleston, for nearly two weeks, during which time the whole church became revived, and many sinners were converted, nearly all of whom, as in C. heartily embraced the advent faith; the good work in this place was not confined to the colored people. A most interesting revival is in progress at Brand’s Iron works, (Richmond,) where I commenced my labors in that state, in January last, and met with such opposition from Avery, the minister there. At a meeting of the band on Lord’s day before I left the state, it was thought that about seventy persons saw and testified to the goodness of God, most of whom also confessed their faith in the advent near. I left R. I. on Monday the 18th, ult, after revisiting nearly all the places where I had labored, and finding the disciples steadfastly minded, have also visited the friends in S. Killinly, Brooklyn, Hampton, and Abbington, and find the brethren firm in the faith. HST April 24, 1844, page 94.8
Allow me barely to add, that during the past week I spent most of the time in Hampton, where the sound of the midnight cry had scarcely been heard; the people come together in the P. M., for enquiry and conference, and in the evening for a lecture; the result was good; at least one soul was converted (a very clear case) several individuals, men of intelligence respectability and piety, having until now heard comparatively nothing. HST April 24, 1844, page 94.9
S. Chapman.
Pomfret, April 3rd, 1814.
An “Imposing Ceremony.”
“As soldiers watch the signal of command,
They learn to how, to kneel, to sit, to stand;
Happy to fill religion’s vacant place
With hollow form, and gesture and grimace.”
HST April 24, 1844, page 94.10
“Last Sabbath, the consecration of three new Bishops—the Right Rev. Drs. Quarters, Byrne, and McCluskey—took place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mott street, with all the imposing splendor of the Roman Catholic Church. The high alter was decorated with artificial flowers, and the tapers were wreathed with spiral bands of while roses and green leaves. Bishop Hughes, assisted by the Bishops of Boston and Philadelphia, performed the “imposing” ceremony; and, in addition to the clergy of the cathedral, many of the parochial priest hood and deacons were present, and took part in the proceedings. The introductory service having been performed, a grand procession was arranged, consisting of Acolytes in their red sutans, with white surplices; deacons bearing golden censors and boxes; the Bishops in purple gowns, having over them lace surplices and yellow silk stoles, embroidered in gold and flowers, and wearing their mitres, enriched with Jewels. The vestments of the priests of the Cathedral were all uniform with the above, and the stoles of the new Bishops were of white silk, lined with crimson, and embroidered in gold. The splendor of the whole was much increased by the magnificent vestments of the other clergy, which were of every shade of color. The procession, Bishops bearing the pix, surrounded by immense wax lights, approaching the high alter, and the priesthood took their stations within the rails amidst the solemn sounds of the anthem. The new Bishops, in rotation, having been anointed with the chrism, and performed homage, were enthroned, and the mitres were placed upon their heads, when they received the homage of the clergy, and the salute of their brother dignitaries. HST April 24, 1844, page 94.11
We notice the above as one of the passing events of the day, which shows that the “mystery of iniquity” is still working. But in all this ceremony, and folly, and nonsense, how little is there of the simplicity and spirit of the gospel of Christ. How miserably deceived are the multitudes who can believe that such an exhibition of mumery is worship acceptable to God. The whole is more consonant with the worship of a heathen temple than of Christian people; and it is a standing proof of human depravity that in this day of light and liberty, Rome should be able to extend and perpetuate her sway by such heartless forms and childish ceremonies. HST April 24, 1844, page 94.12
It is said that the splendor of this consecration was much increased by the magnificent vestments of the clergy, which were of every shade of color. Scarlet is the favorite color of the Pope and his Cardinals, in which they always appear on court-days and festive occasions. How strikingly the whole scene of ceremonies and gorgeous colors and splendid vestments reminds one of that graphic description which John, in Revelation 17:4, gives of the woman who was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand—full of abominations and filthiness of her fornications. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.1
New York Evangelist. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.2
Letter from England
Norwich, Feb. 12th, 1844. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.3
Dear Brother Himes.—I take the present opportunity of sending a few lines to you, as perhaps this may be the last one I shall ever have of communicating my thoughts and feelings to the dear friends of the Second Advent cause in America. My joys have been greatly increased of late, by the acquaintance of several Second Advent leturers from America, which are now laboring with me in England, some with whom you are acquainted. Brethren Barker, Bouten, Gunner, Dealtry, and others. Br. Gunner and myself are traveling together in Norfolk and Suffolk in the east of England. Br. Barker has spent a week or two with us; he is now on his way towards the south of England. Bro. Dealtry is at Liverpool and publishing a weekly paper, called the Midnight Cry. Br. Bouten and Burgessare on a mission at the north of England; they are now in Yorkshire, and send us word they are doing exceedingly well. The Second Advent doctrine is spreading rapidly, and taking deep root in many of the great towns in that part of England. They have many of the chapels thrown open to them. There have been many papers on the Second Advent sent to Yorkshire by Br. Hutchinson, which produced no small degree of anxiety for more light, in the east, where we are traveling. The church is waking up, ministers are coming out and giving the cry; revivals are breaking out most every day, hundreds sometimes profess to get converted in a week, and the devil seems in a terrible rage. It makes me think of the American Camp meetings. The doctrine of the Second Advent seems now to be the grand theme in these parts. The books you have sent us have so fully explained the subject, and so ably refuted all the arguments brought against it, that they have been in almost every society of christians until they have produced a general excitement wherever they have been. The call for light is universal. We have letters from every quarter, for lecturers and books, and we cannot comply with half the requests. We have given up all hopes of ever seeing any of your lecturers now in this country, but we thank you kindly for the books you have sent us, and I am also thankful to all the friends who have sent me Second Advent papers, at different times. I read them myself and then send them to others; and we are doing all we can to spread the truth and give the Midnight Cry in England, and we read what you and the brethren in America are doing, with the rapid progress it is making in many other parts of the world; I feel still encouraged to do all I can to cry aloud and spare not; my heart is warm in this blessed cause; my faith is still strong in the doctrine which I proclaim to others. I do not consider the vision run out until March, 1843, Jewish year; I do not know what reason we have to expect Christ before. When the time is all filled up we may expect him and not till then. I consider that any day after March 21 we may expect to see the Lord; these are my views, and the views of many of the Second Advent brethren in this country. Many of them think he may probably tarry a few months longer, to bring out the scoffers, and try the faith of men, but we all are agreed to wait for him until he does come, and be found in our work giving the cry, behold he cometh. The vision is for an appointed time, at the end it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, wait, for it will surely come, it will not tarry, Amos 2. Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.4
All who write to me must direct to R. Winter, at Thos. Housetel’s, King Street, Norwich, Norfolk. R. Winter. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.5
Daniel’s Fourth Beast
Of this, Mr. Habershon says:— HST April 24, 1844, page 95.6
The last of the fourth beasts has no given name to it; it was a nondscript, as if the animal nomenclature would be searched in vain, because no evil beast could be found adequate to represent the rapacity, tyranny, and other hideous qualities of the fourth empire. It is described as being dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly, having great iron teeth; that it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feel of it: and that it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it. How just and correct this description is of the ancient Roman empire, must be at once strikingly evident to every person acquainted with its history. It was essentially different in its arms, its arts, and its government, from all other nations. In its thoroughly incorporating with itself all the countries which it subdued,—in its subjecting them all to its own laws, citizenship, and polity, it may well be said to have devoured them, trod them down, and broken them into pieces. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.7
Connected with the growth of this stupendous empire, we do not, as in the three former Kingdoms, meet with merely one eminent name as its founder: the very mention of Rome, in the days of its commonwealth, calls to mind the recollection of a host of names associated with all that the world calls illustrious, splendid, and great,—and these, from the time of Romulus to that of Augustus, combined with the victories of seven centuries. An empire thus founded, seemed destined, to all human appearance, to stand forever. It was Satan’s proudest work: the whole strength and power which he possessed on earth, was collected and concentrated to bring it to perfection: and as such it was, and continues to be, the object of the world’s admiration. Thus was it dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly,—the mistress of the world, the ruler of nations, with the temple of Janus shut, having no enemy to contend with, proud not only in arms, but in learning and wit, ingenuity and art—and perfect in natural powers and accomplishments. Such was Rome in the reign of her first emperor, proudly called the Augustan age; such was the citadel of strength which Satan possessed, when it pleased God that he who was to destroy the works of this arch-enemy of the human race should be born. Such was the kingdom—the mountain, as it is figuratively termed in the former vision—of which the Savior of the world was born a subject; and out of, or from which, he, as a stone, have nothing to do with its honors, its grandeur, or any of its distinctions, was cut, or separated without hands! HST April 24, 1844, page 95.8
But the prophet goes on to say, that the monster had ten horns, and that these horns are ten kings that should arise out of that kingdom. When the Roman empire had stood for three or four centuries after it had thus attained its height of power and grandeur, having laid its foundations too deep and wide for any other known power of the world to move, its frontiers were, about the beginning of the fifth century, unexpectedly attacked by numerous tribes of hither to unknown barbarians from the northern regions; and from that time it began to crumble in pieces. Divine providence, meanwhile, as if to mock and humble the loftiest pretensions of man, and show how very little mere human nature can do to stem corruption, or maintain, even an appearance of dignity, permitted many of the emperors of this colossal fabric to degrade their nature even below that of brutes. For if a feeling of respect be cherished in reflecting on the characters of the Brutuses, the Fabiuses, and the Scipios of the Roman republic—men who, by the valor, wisdom, and abilities which God had given them, raised the empire to its pinnacle of greatness; no feeling but that of extreme abhorrence or pity can rationally be cherished, in reflecting on the madness, the brutallty, and the baseness of its Neros, Caligulas, and Domitians; nor, it may be added, can humanity itself avoid shuddering at the horrible persecutions that took place under its more refined tyrants, such a Trajan, Marcus Antoninus, and Dioclesian. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.9
After this terrific empire—which, with little essential alteration of character, had been ruled by a long succession of such tyrants—was finally, not indeed destroyed, but turned upside down by the repeated ravages of the Goths, Vandals, Huns, and other savage nations, the Western part of it, or Rome Proper, rose again from the desolations they had made, and now appeared in the divided form we considered in the last chapter; that is, in ten kingdoms. The territorial limits of the original portion of the Roman empire, and known by the name of the Western or Latin empire, were, towards the south, the Mediterranean sea; northward, as far as the Danube and the Rhine, the Western imperial city, was at the very lowest point of description in respect of its dependence on and acknowledgement of the emperor of the East, (for from thence must be dated the permanent fall of the capital,) we find this changed existence, from a whole to a divided empire, to have taken place in the year 484, as will be demonstrated in the next chapter. The ten kingdoms into which it was then separated, were as follows: 1. Ravenna; 2. Lombardy; 3. The duchy of Rome; 4. Naples; 5. Sardinia; 6. France; 7. Austria; 8. Spain; 9. Portugal; and 10. Great Britain! To the particular remarks made on these ten kingdoms in the last chapter, to which the reader is referred, it is unnecessary here to add more than the above list. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.10
Habershon’s Work, pages 157—161, 163—167, 170. HST April 24, 1844, page 95.11
The Importance of Prophecy
The voice of Prophecy being intended to serve as a guide to the church through all ages, it is unquestionably of great importance to ascertain, as far as possible, what portion of it really relates to the times in which we live, and to those events which are passing before our eyes. To this spiritual duty we are exhorted by the Apostle Peter, when he saith: “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.” We have, moreover, the example of a holy man of old, who inquired diligently, “searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” We likewise meet with a similar exhortation in Isaiah, where the question is put to the watchman, “Watchman, what of the night?” and what is repeated—“Watchman, what of the night?”—as is usually done when persons are in a panic, or when they fear the watchman man did not hear them the first time, (Isaiah 21:11, 12.) The exhortation is then given: “If ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come;” implying that it is of the utmost importance that the question should be answered: as much as if it had been said, “Do not go away without an answer: return, come.” “If you will inquire,” says Dr. Gill, “about the time of the night, and when the morning will come, inquire in good earnest; inquire seriously; search the Scripture; look into the prophetic parts of it—the several prophecies of the Old and New Testament respecting both the spiritual and personal coming of Christ, and particularly the book of the Revelation, which is a prophetic history of events that should befal the Church and the world, from the first times of Christianity to the end of all things; remain to be fulfilled;—carefully read aver those accounts, and get the best help you can from those who have made it their study to understand and explain the things written therein: whereby you will in some measure know what is to come to pass, and what is left behind.” HST April 24, 1844, page 95.12
Thus, whilst to the unbelieving world the future, with all the contingencies of human policy, is hidden behind a veil impenetrable by the human intellect, and which, unaided by the Revelation, it in vain endeavors to pierce, the Lord’s believing people, like the Israelites of old amidst the surrounding Egyptian darkness, “have light in all their dwellings:” for “surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7.) And in the opening of the book of Revelation, he thus encourageth the investigation and study of its contents: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.” HST April 24, 1844, page 96.1
Habershon’s Preface, pages 10—13. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.2
THE ADVENT HERALD
BOSTON, APRIL 24, 1844.
The Christian Herald.—This paper is edited by Elder E. Shaw and P. R. Russell, under the direction of an editorial counsel. It is the organ of the Christian Connexion in New-England. When Mr. Miller was introduced to New-England, about four years since, the editors then spoke respectfully of him, and of his labors. The junior editor became an advocate of the doctrine, and gave lectures in many places. He reported these lectures in the Herald. They were read with great interest, and led many to embrace the doctrine. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.3
The paper was also opened to correspondents, to speak freely on the Advent, and but little was written in reply. The general influence of the paper went to sustain the Advent doctrine, so far as the nature of the events were concerned, and the time of the Advent being near; and the result was, that many of the preachers and members embraced the doctrine. Many still adhere with consistency and firmness to the Coming of Christ, as being “now at the door.”—The exact time having passed, does not affect their faith. They are determined with others, if the “vision tarry.” to “wait for it, because it will surely come, and will not tarry.” HST April 24, 1844, page 96.4
Since the exact time has passed, the editors and correspondents of the Herald have come out upon them with great severity. They are called upon to “come back,” and take their places, and do as formerly. The manner in which this has been done, has produced great disgust in the minds of many. They still felt an attachment to their old brethren, and were disposed to live in peace with them; but they are now driven by the severe and high-handed course of the editors, and their associates, to stand up in defence of their rights as members of the connexion. They stand on the same ground which the connexion started upon, and they do not mean to be driven from it,—The right of private judgment—the Bible the only rule of faith and duty. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.5
The course of the leaders for the last few months has demonstrated, to all discerning minds, that they mean to rule. Nothing can be found more dictatorial or sectarian in any of the denominational papers of the land. It would seem as though they meant to shake off the last Advent subscriber from their list, and drive out from their church and ministry every honest and conscientious liever in the speedy coming of the Lord HST April 24, 1844, page 96.6
The severe denunciations against these brethren, by the Herald, will not daunt or terrify them. They will maintain the old ground,—and, while time continues, stand upon the word of God, and take the liberty to think for themselves. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.7
Keep it before the People
That as all our opponents since the 21st of March have proclaimed that “Millerism” is dead, and as we frankly admit that all our expected time has passed away, the point of difference, now, is in reference to the nearness of the Advent. While some deny entirely the personal coming of Christ, and others defer it 1000 years, we believe the time has arrived when He is to be momentarily expected; and that consequently what we do in reference to our own preparation and the preparation of others for that event must be done quickly: all our labors and plans are in view of that alone. If, therefore, while we continue our efforts to induce men to take heed to themselves and pray always, lest that day come upon them unawares, we are as heretofore opposed by the so called Evangelical churches and religious press, it will demonstrate that they have no sympathy with the doctrine of Christ’s immediate appearing. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.8
Remember,—That while all our opponents are agreed that the Advent doctrine must be put down some how, yet one portion of them admit that we cannot be far out of the way as it regards the time, but deny the event, while another portion of them who deny that any thing can be known respecting the time, admit that we are right in the event. And thus among them all, they give us the whole question. Dr. Jarvis admits we are right in the event; and Prof. Bush admits that we are nearly correct in the time. And yet, while we are fanciful and fanatical in all our opinons respecting it, those gentlemen are perfectly sound and enlightened in all their views. Does not this fact show that the sole object of our opposers in the opposition is to satisfy their consciences, that the Lord is not at the door. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.9
The Meeting at Exeter, was held in the Christian Chapel. We had a glorious gathering of the faithful and true hearted from the neighboring towns. We have never witnessed so much interest on the subject of the “blessed hope,” nor such strong faith as at this meeting. The spirit of love, and union, with deep religious engagedness in the cause of God, was unsurpassed. All seemed to speak from full hearts, and expressed their determination to look and wait, till the Lord should appear. God is with his people. They have nothing to fear. Let them lift up their heads and rejoice, their redemption is at hand. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.10
“The Adventists.”—We are very apt to judge others as we would not be judged by them. Had I been persuaded to adopt the views of Mr. Miller and those associated with him, I should have regarded the event predicted of much greater consequence than positive exactness in the termination of the period before its accomplishment. However, maintaining that the nature of the event was certain that the coming of the Lord was to be for the ‘cleaning of the sanctuary,’ I should have been sure that His second personal appearing had not taken place, and therefore, as there was to be a certain length of time to the ‘cleansing of the sanctuary,’ I should have been confident that it had not expired, ages since. Then, adopting the calculation on ‘the time,’ and its termination, I should have looked to 1843 with the greatest expectation. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.11
If Mr. Miller is right in the event anticipated as the cleansing of the sanctuary,” the rest of the calculation may prove as it may or must—it is less important. The importance rests on, what is the event predicted? Genius of Christianity. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.12
Notices
Advent Meeting in Low Hampton, N. Y. We shall attend a meeting in Low Hampton. in the Baptist Meeting House, (D. V.) on Saturday and Sunday, April 27th and 28th, with Bro. Miller, and others. J. V. Himes. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.13
Advent Meeting in Merideth, N. H. At the request of numerous friends, we shall, if the Lord will, attend a meeting in Merideth, or vicinity, where the brethren in that neighborhood may appoint. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.14
It will commence on Thursday, May 2, and continue over the Sabbath. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.15
Bro. Timothy Cole, of Lowell, will attend. Our brethren of the Advent, and Lecturers are invited to attend. J. V. Himes. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.16
Second Advent Conference. A Conference of believers in the speedy coming of Christ, will be held at West Troy, N. Y., commencing on Tuesday, May 7, (the Lord willing,) and closing with the following Sabbath. We invite all our brethren in the Advent ministry, who can conveniently be present, to attend, whether they are of great reputation, or like their divine Master, of “no reputation.” We are building a Tabernacle, and expect to have it in readiness for the Conference. Let there be a great gathering. S. C. Chandler. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.17
Chas. T. Gatlin.
Geo. James.
CAMPMEETING
If the Lord will, there will be a campmeeting held in N. Wilbraham, one mile north of the W Rail Road, on the land of Charles T. Potter, to commence on Wednesday, May 22, and continue over the Sabbath. The cars will stop at a place called Sodom, 12 miles east of Springfield, and conveyance can be had from thence to the ground at 6 1-4 cts each, where all who may wish to attend will find good accommodations and board on the ground at reasonable terms. Brother S. Hawley, jr. and other able preachers of the gospel of the Everlasting Kingdom, are expected to be present. Brethren Miller and Storrs are requested to attend, if convenient. We hope there will be a general rallying of the friends of Christ, with their tents, to this feast of tabernacles, and show to the world that while waiting for the vision we are not asleep, or become infidels, as was prophecied of us, but mean to labor for the salvation of souls until the Lord comes. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.18
R. E. Ladd, E. M. Smith, O. Powell, H. Munger, W. Ordway. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.19
New Works
Bush’s Letter, with Miller’s Reply, is now published, and for sale, as well as here, at the New York and Philadelphia offices. Price 6 1-4 cts. Mr. Miller’s answer is to the point. Our friends will not fail of perusing it. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.20
The Advent Shield. This is an important work, adapted to this crisis, containing elaborate articles from Prof. Whiting, and others, on appropriate topics; to be published soon. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.21
The Advent Message to the Daughters of Zion. This work is designed to meet the wants of a large class of inquires in the churches. It comprises a variety of appropriate articles from the pens of sisters Miner, of Philadelphia, and Clemons, of Rochester. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.22
Letters received to April 20, 1844
D J Robinson; Martha Lunt pm Rome; N Y $1; W S Miller $2; Rev Mr Smith by pm $1; pm N Haven Vt; J Frost by pm $1; J M Smith by pm $1; J Gleason by pm $2; R Garland; I E Jones; John Dean; pm N York city; J McClure by pm $1; pm Hartford Ct; Mary F Manter; J Billings $1; Miss E C Clemons 5 fo; A Chase by pm $1; C L Page by pm $1; J Weston jr by pm $1; J Marsh $2; J Friend $2; J Ramfall pm Durham’s salt works O; Shelden Peck by pm $1; M M George $20; L C Fuller $9, books etc; S D Barker; Mrs E Hull by pm $1; Geo Storer by pm $1; C Lothrop by pm $1; T M Preble $3; E S Blakeslee $2; L B Ransom $1; pm Stillwater N J; pm Jersey N J; J Campbell by pm $2; J Chamberlain by pm $1; J Marsh by Bro Porter $50; E C Drew; A A Sawin $1; pm Thornton N H 25 cts; pm Portsmouth N H; Sarah Goodale by pm $1; Mrs P S McCracken $10; L Wiswell $1; L Armstrong $7; This Smith with bundle of books; C Hersey; pm Smith’s Landing N J $1, pd to end of Vol 6; Mrs J Stevens by pm $1; Wm Shapley by pm $1; T W Pease $1; John Dean $1; E Spoul $5; Wm Cobbett $1; I H Shipman; F E Bigelow; Wm McKay by pm $1; Amos Willey by pm $1; Silas Parker by pm $1; pm Morrisville Vt; E Burnham; pm Lebanon Me; Miss J Latshaw by pm $1. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.23
Packages Sent
T Cole Lowell Ms; S Howland Brunswick Me, to be left at Stage office; E S Blakslee Prospect Ct; N Hervey Providence R 1, 78 Arcade; John Billings Claremont N H; E C Drew Pittsfield Ms; J V Himes 9 Spruce-st., N Y. HST April 24, 1844, page 96.24