Signs of the Times and Expositor of Prophecy [Himes], vol. 5
July 19, 1843
Vol. V.—No. 20. Boston, Whole No. 116
Joshua V. Himes
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
AND EXPOSITOR OF PROPHECY.
Terms.—$1,00 per Vol. (24 Nos.) in advance Office No. 14 Devonshire Street, Boston. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.1
J. V. Himes, J. Litch, and S. Bliss, Editors
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, 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 July 19, 1843, page 153.2
II. The only Millenium found in the word of God is the eternal state of the righteous in the New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.3
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 July 19, 1843, page 153.4
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. And HST July 19, 1843, page 153.5
V. There are none of the prophetic periods, as we understand them, that extend beyond the year 1843. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.6
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 July 19, 1843, page 153.7
Which shall we Believe?
There is at the present time a vast difference between the sayings of God and the sayings of the church: it is therefore no small question, “Which we shall believe?” For if the Lord has uttered the truth, we should believe him; but if the church is in the right, we should believe her; if the church contradict the words of the Lord, then both cannot be right. Let us hear them. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.8
Thus saith the Lord, Psalm 2:8, 9, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” HST July 19, 1843, page 153.9
The church saith, Not so—when the heathen are given to Christ they will not be dashed in pieces, but will be all converted and saved; the earth instead of then becoming a possession of Christ, will only be occupied by him spiritually for a time, and then is to be annihilated: and to be no longer his. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.10
Thus saith the Lord, Psalm 37:3, 9, 11, 18, 29, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein for ever. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.11
The church saith, Those who trust in the Lord will dwell, not in the land, but in some imaginary region somewhere above the clouds. That will be their inheritance, and not the earth. The earth is to end at the day of judgment, after which, the righteous will never dwell there. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.12
Thus saith the Lord, Psalm 89:3, 4, 28, 29, 34-37, “I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” HST July 19, 1843, page 153.13
The church saith, These promises are not to continue forever; but after the final judgment if there ever is one, they will be of no longer effect. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.14
Thus saith the Lord, Isaiah 33:20, 24, “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. And the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” HST July 19, 1843, page 153.15
The church saith, There will be no eternal existence in Jerusalem; and this language only denotes the great prosperity of the church during the millennium. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.16
Thus saith the Lord, Isaiah 51:3; 55:12, 13; 60:18-22, “For the Lord shall comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day: neither for brightness shalt the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.” HST July 19, 1843, page 153.17
The church saith, That this language is poetry, and highly figurative, and that instead of its being an eternal state, it will continue for only one thousand or three hundred and sixty thousand years. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.18
Thus saith the Lord, Isaiah 65:17-20, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days:” HST July 19, 1843, page 153.19
The church saith, That it will be neither a new heaven or a new earth, but that the millennial state is here described, during which there will be sickness and death, and consequently weeping and crying. It is also said by the church that there will be both infants of days, and old men, for there will be births through the whole of that period, and men will grow old and die. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.20
But the Lord explains why there will be no infants of days and old men who have not filled their days in the new earth. As such multitudes have died in infancy, if no infants of days are to be there, the enquiry would very naturally arise, if all who have died in infancy have perished, and are not to come up in the new earth in the morning of the resurrection? Therefore the Lord explains, that although while this world stands, multitudes of infants will die, and will be raised at the first resurrection, yet they will not be infants of days in the new earth. “For” (because) saith the Lord, “the child shall die an hundred years old,”—not in age or stature, but in the possession of all the Christian graces; so that they in the resurrection with all the saints will have come up into the new earth “in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” Ephesians 4:13, 14. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.21
It will also be the same with old men, they will be no longer decrepid with age. The lame man shall leap as an heart, the tongue of the dumb shall sing, the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint, the inhabitant shall not say I am sick. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.22
This will not be the case with the sinner. “But the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed,” he shall die in his sins, even if he is an old man, and shall never enter there. HST July 19, 1843, page 153.23
Thus saith the Lord, Isaiah 65:21-25, “And they shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.” HST July 19, 1843, page 153.24
The church saith, That this can have no reference to the eternal home of the righteous; for the heaven to which she points the hopes of believers, is an airy, etherial, imaginary something, situated at an infinite distance from us, where it will be all sky above, and all sky below: and the inhabitants of which will be etherial intelligences, floating like shadows on a moon-beam, or bubbles in the air. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.1
Thus saith the Lord, Jeremiah 23:16-18, “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word and heard it.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.2
The church saith, There are days of peace in store, and not evil. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.3
Thus saith the Lord, Ezekiel 12:22-25, “Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, the days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.4
The church saith, Not so, the days will be prolonged a long time yet, for the visions have all failed and will fail; they will not be fulfilled. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.5
Thus saith the Lord, Ezekiel 12:27, 28, “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.6
The church saith, Those words have no reference to these times, but extend far into the future. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.7
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.8
The church saith, That this kingdom was set up four hundred years before any of these kings had an existence, and that it will be given to Satan for a time, at the end of the millennium, and that these kingdoms instead of being all destroyed, will be all converted. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.9
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 7:9, 10, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame. and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.10
The church saith, That the judgment will not then set, but that only a great moral change in the condition of this world is denoted. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.11
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 7:13, 14, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.12
The church saith, That the One like the Son of man will not come for more than a thousand years after this period; and that his kingdom, instead of being an eternal, will be only a temporal kingdom. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.13
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 7:18, “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.14
The church saith, That the saints will possess the kingdom only during the millennium. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.15
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 7:21, 22, “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.16
The church saith, That the warfare of this horn will cease, and that he will not prevail against the saints for more than one thousand years before judgment is given to the saints of the Most High. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.17
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 7:27, “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.18
The church saith, That this is only a temporary state in this world, and to continue for only a limited time. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.19
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 12:1-3, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.20
The church saith, That this only has reference to the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, or to the ushering in of a temporal millennium. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.21
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 12:9, 10, ‘Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.22
The church saith, That the wise will not understand. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.23
Thus saith the Lord, Daniel 12:12, 13, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.24
The church saith, That Daniel will not stand in his lot till long after those days end; while many claim that they ended long since. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.25
Thus saith the Lord, Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.26
The church saith, That those only will inherit it who inherit in this life. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.27
Thus saith the Lord, Matthew 13:30, 38, 39, “Let both (tares and wheat) grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom: but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.28
The church saith, That for a long indefinite period before the end of the world there will be no tares to grow with the wheat. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.29
Thus saith the Lord, Matthew 24:29, 32, 33, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.30
The church saith, That there will be no signs by which we may know of the Lord’s coming, and that no man or angels will ever know any thing respecting it; neither the Son, until the event. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.31
Thus saith the Lord, Matthew 24:48-51, “But and if that evil servant 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; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.32
The church saith, That it is not only right to say in our hearts my Lord delayeth his coming, but it is right to preach it in high places and low places; and that those ought to be dealt with who intimate that the Lord is at the door. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.33
Thus saith the Lord, Matthew 25:1, 6, “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.34
The church saith, It will not be thus likened, and that no cry will be given previous to the Lord’s coming. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.35
Thus saith the Lord, Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” HST July 19, 1843, page 154.36
The church saith, That the gospel of this kingdom must not only be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, but all nations must be converted; and the end will not then come for more than one thousand years certain, and probably not for three hundred and sixty-five thousand. HST July 19, 1843, page 154.37
Thus saith the Lord, Luke 21:34, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.1
The church saith, That day will come upon us unawares if we do take heed. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.2
Thus saith the Lord, Acts 3:20, 21, “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.3
The church saith, That Christ will come in the destruction of all things, but that the earth will never be restored to its Eden state as Isaiah and the other prophets have spoken of. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.4
Thus saith the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 18, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.5
The church saith, There is no comfort in such contemplations, but rather “terror.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.6
Thus saith the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 6, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.7
The church saith, That the brethren will be in darkness, so that they also will be overtaken as a thief. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.8
Thus sailh the Lord, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7, 8, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.9
The church saith, That the Man of Sin will be destroyed one thousand years before the coming of Christ. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.10
Thus saith the Lord, Hebrews 11:8, 12, 39, 40, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea-shore innumerable. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.11
The church saith, That when these worthies died they received the promise immediately. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.12
Thus saith the Lord, James 5:8, “Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.13
The church saith, The coming of the Lord draweth not nigh; and there is no lack of patience—she can wait. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.14
Thus saith the Lord, 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.15
The church saith, We shall receive this crown when we die. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.16
Thus sailh the Lord, 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.17
The church saith, That to receive this, we need take no thought, respecting his appearing. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.18
Thus saith the Lord, Revelation 11:15-19, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.19
The church saith, When the seventh angel sounds, the dead will not be raised, nor those destroyed who have destroyed the earth, but all will then be converted and saved. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.20
Thus saith the Lord, Revelation 20:4-6, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years,“ HST July 19, 1843, page 155.21
The church saith, That there is no resurrection here described, and nothing that appertains to one. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.22
Thus saith the Lord, Revelation 22:18, 19, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.23
The church saith, That it will lead us into error if we follow the words of the book of this prophecy, and that the only safety is in taking her interpretation of these words. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.24
Thus saith the Lord, Revelation 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.25
The church saith, That there is no danger of the Lord’s coming quickly, and that his coming, is yet a long distance in the future. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.26
The above are a few of the many instances in which the belief of the church and the assertions of the word of God are in opposition to each other. The question then arises, whom shall we believe? Both cannot be true, and one must be wrong. It is therefore important that we know which to believe. If we take the opinions of men, and at last are found arrayed against the truth, we shall have no covert to flee to: but if we trust in the plain letter of the word of God and are then found in the wrong, we know that God will not discard us because we staggered not at his promises, but were strong in the faith; and fully persuaded that what he had promised he was also able to perform; but on the contrary, if we believe God, it will be accounted unto us for righteousness. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.27
Mr. Miller at Home.—The writer of the following, having formerly been a resident in Washington county, while there on a visit last week, took occasion to call on Br. Miller. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.28
“I found him fast recovering. His health has improved much in three weeks. He is now able to walk about his house. He thinks he will soon visit his friends. His mind does not seem to be at all affected by his sickness. His faith is strong. The time has not yet arrived, to which he has been looking, for the event which is to come in the dispensation of the ‘fullness of times,’ though he thinks it can be but a few months distant. He expresses deep sympathy for his fellow laborers, knowing that they have to contend with the powers of darkness, and a worldly minded church. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.29
“His house is the Pilgrim’s home. I had been there but a short time, when he manifested his hospitality by inquiring if my horse had been taken care of. We freely exchanged views on the prophecies, and conversed on the coming of our Lord. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.30
“I said to him, that I had not seen that high wall around his farm that I had so often heard of. He said that Mr. Tilden, who was present, would go with me to look for it. So we took a walk round the farm. There is some common stone wall, like that on all the farms in the vicinity. The land being stony and uneven, it is as cheap as any other fencing. Though his farm does not bear marks of neglect, I saw no recent improvements, except one common gate. The buildings are in good condition, and everything in order. It is worked by his sons—plain industrious farmers—who support his family, and pay him a small sum yearly for his personal expenses. His house, like a number of others in the neighborhood, is a good two-story house, with green blinds, the front and ends painted white. The furniture is plain, being all made for use, not for ornament. I saw nothing extravagant. In one room is a shoe-maker’s bench, used by one of his sons, who is a cripple. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.31
“Brother Miller occupies one of the lower front rooms, where he has his bed, a few common chairs, his old book-case and clock. In the other room is a portrait, painted some twenty years ago; a large diagram of the visions of Daniel and John, painted on canvass, some like the miniature one in the last part of his book. The most elegant article in the house was a Bible, presented by a friend in Boston. The farm with the improvements are the product of a great many years of hard labor and economy. Every thing connected with it seems to indicate that he believes what he preaches. He worked on his farm, studied the Bible, became convinced of the truth, and then declared it, fearlessly, to his fellow-men, (traveling, in most cases, at his own expense) and they have in return said all manner of evil against him falsely. HST July 19, 1843, page 155.32
“I have written the above, not to sound a trumpet, nor because the truth is responsible for the reputation of any of its advocates, but that the readers of the Midnight Cry, and all who are willing to know the truth, may have the means of contradicting the foolish falsehoods with which multitudes are willingly deceived. A. Spaulding.” HST July 19, 1843, page 155.33
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
“The Lord is at Hand.”
BOSTON, JULY 19, 1343.
The Tent Meeting at Rochester
The design of this meeting was, to awake an interest in that section of the country on the speedy advent of our Lord. Thus far, the object has been accomplished. We pitched our tent in the city of Rochester, on the 23rd of June, and continued our meeting in it, with some interruptions, till the 7th of July. Twenty one lectures were given on the encampment, besides our meetings of prayer, and Bible classes. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.1
The attendance from the city and country was large, and a very deep interest on the subject of the advent was manifested by all classes. Though we found many of the same difficulties to contend with, as we had elsewhere from prejudice, and false rumors, yet the honest hearted, and candid people of that vicinity gave us a fair hearing, which resulted in a deep conviction of the truth of our views on many minds. Very favorable reports have been made to us from Ministers and Laymen, some of whom have already embraced the doctrine, and design to proclaim it to the extent of their means. Some few have been converted, others have been quickened. One noted unbeliever in God and his word, has been converted to God and the truth. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.2
We have established a depository of the Advent publications at No. 17 Arcade, in Buffalo street, which is visited by many strangers who are enquiring on the subject. Some sales have been made, but by far the greater amount has been given away. it is not expected that the receipts will meet the expenditures. But it is necessary to the work, and should be sustained, for the present. “The Glad Tidings,” is published weekly, and scattered gratuitously in the city, and vicinity—also on board the canal boats going East and West. They have also been sent to Canada West. The paper contains mostly important articles before pulished in the “Signs of the Times,” and “Midnight Cry.” With such new matter as is called for. by the wants of the enterprise. Thirteen Numbers will be published, and if needed, more; otherwise a transfer will be made to the Midnight Cry. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.3
Having closed our tent meeting, brother Fitch and Barry, are now lecturing in Tolman’s Hall, in Buffalo street, and will continue the meetings for ten days, or more. The Lake winds, in that vicinity are quite unfavorable to the tent enterprise. We shall not pitch it again in that part of the country. Conference and camp meetings, however, will be held, as a substitute for the tent meetings. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.4
The heavy squall which struck the tent, parted fifteen of the guy chains, and several inch ropes. It was done in an instant. The windward side of the tent was pressed in toward the audience, and by the pressure of the wind, the leward side was raised up so that the audience passed out without an exception unharmed. The tent itself was but little injured, and is now in good repair as ever, and ready to be pitched again, when a place is decided upon. We intend, if time continue, to pitch it once more in N E. some time in September, in the vicinity of Portsmouth, N. H. when we shall expect to see a cloud of witnesses for the truth, from among the tried and the faithful. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.5
One word in relation to the western enterprise. It is regarded by all, as a most important field of labor. Thus far I have sustained it with my only remaining available means. I have not only done what, but all I could. Our other missions have been aided, this needs it. Shall I have help. I leave it with God to direct; and the stewards of his goods to do their duty. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.6
We shall visit Rochester again soon. We doubt not all will be done in that vicinity which can be; but some help must be afforded from abroad, to carry out the benevolent design. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.7
Boston, July 10th, 1843.
Joshua V. Himes.
Error must be so proved
A writer in the last Puritan, has an article on the question, “Can Millerism do any good?” In the first place the doctrine is assumed to be an error; then the writer goes into a labored argument to prove that error can do no good. That is begging the whole question. No one presumes that error can do good; and the doctrine of the Advent can only be useful as it is true. Let it be shown that the world is to be converted before Christ can come, and the pre-millennial Advent is proved to be erroneous; but this writer has not attempted to show a single point in which Mr. Miller has departed from the word of God, and unless such can be shown, he cannot be shown to be in error. Therefore the writer has entirely failed to show that his remarks are applicable to the subject. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.8
If some one would only prove that our views are unscriptural, and that the Scriptures on which we rely are not to be taken as they read, but mean the reverse; then the first step will be gained to prove the evil of promulgating the doctrine of the Advent but until this is done, all such labor will be in vain. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.9
As an evil of preaching the doctrine of the immediate coming of Christ, he says:— HST July 19, 1843, page 156.10
“The farmer, would he secure a luxuriant crop, must often break up his fallow-ground, weeks before he sows his seed, and then wait for the revolution of months before he reaps the expected harvest. Civil government, also, must be carried on; and, that it may be well administered, many and wide-reaching plans, requiring years for their execution, must be entered into. The world, too, is to be converted to Christ by the co-operation of human efforts; and, consequently, enlarged schemes of benevolence must be devised and accomplished. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.11
Now, if we believe the end of the world is immediately to occur, shall we be disposed to enter into all those wise calculations and precautionary measures, in relation to the future, which are necessary to the right discharge of our various duties to our families, to the Stale, and to the Church of God? Will a Millerite, if consistent with his principles, contribute of his property to promote missionary operations, in China? Will he exert himself to send tracts, Bibles, or messengers of salvation to Africa, South America, or the Islands of the sea? Will he enter with ardor into far-reaching schemes of national improvement? or even into the less extended plans of judicious domestic economy?” HST July 19, 1843, page 156.12
As we said before, if the world is to be converted, we ought to preach it. But if the coming of the Lord is at the door, we ought to make all our arrangements in view of that. It is therefore of the greatest moment that we know what God has predicted that we may act in unison with the will of God, and be instrumental in carrying out his plans. We believe that God has clearly told us in his word that, instead of the world’s being converted, the tares and wheat will grow together till the end of the world. Let that be disproved before we are censured for acting in view of that end. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.13
It is triumphantly asked if an Adventist will contribute of his property to promote missions, and send tracts, etc. to South America or the Isles of the sea? Why, the Adventists have done more to advance missionary operations the last year in proportion to their means, a thousand times over, than all other Christians in the country, and have probably been instrumental in the conversion of more souls. They have not used the American Board as their agents, but they have converted the heathen at home. Wherever this truth has been proclaimed, Sectarians, Universalists, Infidels, etc. have turned to the living Gcd. As for sending tracts to the Islands of the sea; advent publications have been sent by the hundred thousand broadcast all over the world, to the islands of the sea, and to every missionary station on the globe. They have been scattered over land and ocean, and the sailors who come into port testify that the coming of Christ is a subject of conversation all over the world. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.14
Again he says:— HST July 19, 1843, page 156.15
“Have revivals been promoted by the preaching of Millerism?” That revivals have been occasioned by it, is not disputed; but whether souls have been converted through its influence, is a question that may be decided far more correctly ten years hence than now; and, (with solemnity I would say it,) at the judgment far more correctly still. That many, in the time of revival, indulge hopes, which, in the end prove unfounded, is an unquestioned tact; that there may be spurious revivals, as well as spurious conversions, is now generally acknowledged by all judicous men; and that revivals, occasioned by the preaching of terror, and other means by which the sympathies and animal feelings, are powerfully wrought upon, are most likely to possess this spurious character, is as universally allowed. Revivals occasioned by such influences, considering the nature of our moral susceptibilities, and their influence in bewildering the operations of the intellect, may reasonably be regarded with suspicion, especially when decided error has been instrumental in promoting the excitement. There is awful reason to far that the purely Millerite revivals will not endure the scrutinizing decisions of the great Day. Men may be terrified into hopes, but they are not wont to be terrified into holiness.’ HST July 19, 1843, page 156.16
Would not this argument be equally good, if brought against all or any of the movements of the church, because forsooth, although men may have renounced their sins and turned to the Lord, yet the day of judgment may show that no good has been done? The same argument could have been brought with equal force agninst the primitive church, and doubtless was. No man can tell the full amount of good or evil resulting from any measure, till the great day shall reveal it. HST July 19, 1843, page 156.17
He speaks of preaching “terror” This appears to be the great secret of the opposition of our opponents; the coining of Christ is to them a source of “terror.” The only “terror” we preach, is the “terror” found in the word of God. We endeavor to give it in a plain and unvarnished manner as God has given it to us, without adding to, or taking from the letter of that word. If it is wrong to preach a part of the word of God because it produces terror, why not withhold the whole of it? Those who are afraid of such “terror” are like those of old who loved “deceits,” and called upon their prophets to “prophesy smooth things.” HST July 19, 1843, page 156.18
The most absurd idea we found in the whole article is one which attempts to account for the good that has been done, by claiming that the doctrine of Christ’s coming is a doctrine of the devil, and as the devil took this means to ruin souls, therefore it was a good opportunity for God to disappoint the devil, by converting thousands of souls with the very means that the devil was using to destroy them. He therefore thinks no thanks are due the wicked Mr. Miller and his deluded followers, but who will have the same reward they would have received had the devil been successful in carrying out his designs. The idea is too absurd to be replied to. Here it is. “That God may bring good out of evil, is readily granted; and it would be strange if he had not exerted his sovereign prerogative, and educed seme good from those erroneous interpretations of prophecy, now so loudly proclaimed. They are unquestionably the suggestions of the grand adversary of souls, as a device to carry on his destructive work; and therefore furnish a fitting field for God to exert his sovereignty in foiling his insidious designs. No thanks, however, to Mr. Miller, nor to his deluded coadjutors. They will stand condemned before the God of truth. They have played their part in the bewildering drama, and they shall receive their reward. But let us be wise. To advocate fanaticism, because God may overrule it for good, is a sin of great enormity. It is sinning, that good may come. It is acting on the Popish doctrine, that “the end sanctifies the means.” HST July 19, 1843, page 157.1
We envy not the heart of him who can ascribe such an amount of good to the agency of the devil. Such a sentiment shows the state of mind better than words can express. One who could thus write respecting the great cause of the revivals which have spread throughout the land the past year, would not have hesitated to have accused our Savior of casting out devils by the aid of Belzebub the prince of devils. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.2
Editorial Correspondence
Dear Brother Bliss,—I suppose I shall hardly be counted worthy of an Editorship unless I, at least, once in three months, appear in your columns. I confess I have been rather negligent since I left Boston, much more so than I had intended; as I expected then to have been at the West before now, from whence I designed to have kept our readers informed of the progress of the cause in that section. But Providence has ordered it otherwise than that those anticipations should be realized. I am yet in Philadelphia and vicinity, and am not likely for the present to get to the West. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.3
But we have most encouraging accounts from there of the progress of the second advent cause, especially in Kentucky. Our beloved brother Mellish from this city, writes us from Kentucky, that himself, in company with brother W. Scott, have commenced a mission in that state, and that the door is wide open before them in every direction, and the people anxious to hear. Brethren Cook, Porter, Roger, Stevens, etc. are in Ohio, and the cry is going abroad there. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.4
Brethren Allen and Oster, from this city, have gone into the lower part of Delaware, and are meeting with wonderful success. The Lord opens their way and revivals follow. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.5
Brother Brown has returned from the South, after having visited Washington, Richmond, and Norfolk, Va. He succeded in giving a course of lectures in the last named place, and considerable interest exists there. The way is open for some one to go on and go through that section. We are expecting Bro. Caldwell to return and go there. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.6
The way is opening in the vicinity of this city for lectures more than ever before, and the people in the country are exceedingly anxious to hear. The believers in the Second Advent in this city wax stronger and stronger. There has never been a time when they have manifested a more settled faith in the coming of the Lord in 1843. We do not fear to trust God’s Holy word, and risk all our interests on it. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.7
The enemies of the cause, I perceive, are now and then endeavoring to make out that the whole Second Advent cause is dead. But let them rest assured that it is not dead yet. Nay, more, that it never will die. It lives now, it will live until the Lord comes, and then it will lire forever. For in that day it shall be said, “Lo, this is 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.” My own faith was never more firm than now, and the longing desire of my heart is, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Yours in the hope of the gospel. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.8
Phila. July 10, 1843. J. LITCH. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.9
The Nations of the eastern world, according to the latest news, are still in the same unsettled state, ready, the moment the Lord shall take from them the restraining influences which now prevents an out-break, to imbue their hands in each others blood. From present appearances the affars of Ireland are fast coming to a crisis. The excitement on the subject of repeal has now become so intense, and general, that some efficient action must soon be taken, or the interest must die away unless the repealers are forced to extremities. The first blow that is struck must kindle such a flame, that the blood of thousands can hardly quench. It will not be merely a contest between a few thousands of disciplined troops on either side: but the whole power of mighty England will have to combat the millions of Ireland’s hardy and determined sons, who not again will submit to England’s iron yoke, till blood has freely flown, and thousands of them bite the dust in death. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.10
How soon this contest may begin, and which, if begun, must embroil all Europe in war, He alone can tell in whose hands are the nations of the earth, and who can turn them as the rivers of water are turned; and who, when the appointed hour shall come, will gather together the nations for the battle of the great day. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.11
Campmeeting at Boylston.—Brother R. W. Reed writes us that that meeting has been blessed to the conversion of some souls, and others have revived in them the work of the Spirit, and dedicated themselves anew to the service of God. On Thursday they had a precious season, in celebrating the death of the Lord as commanded to till he come. Brothers Flag, Mires and Eldridge were set apart for the ministry, by prayer and the laying on of hands. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.12
The devil, as is usual, when the sons of God present themselves before the Lord, came also among them, with a horde of scoffing professors and non professors, to whom it was sport to riot in the day time, and who made some trouble. The Lord forgive them, they know not what they do. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.13
Brother Reed went from B. to the Ashby campmeeting, where he says they had good congregations. He will go from there to East Fairlee, Vt. where those who wish his services will direct to him. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.14
Canada Missions.—We have overpaid on the Canada Mission, $13,21. We have translated the Synopsis of Miller’s Views, and some other important articles on the Advent, into the French language, which we are now desirous of publishing and sending them broad cast among the French population throughout Canada. Brother Hutchinson, located at Montreal, will aid us in their circulation as an agent, but the means must be raised by our friends in the States. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.15
Brother Barry, writes us from Rochester with date of July 10th, that God is still being glorified in that city. Brother Fitch was to tarry and preach there through the week. The prospect there for the accomplishment of good is very favorable. May our friends remember in their prayers these important fields of labor, and the dear brethren who are laboring with all their energies to awake Christians and sinners to the importance of being prepared for the coming of the Lord. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.16
A Campmeeting will be held at the head of the Bay, Stanstead E. C. Tents will be put up on the 17th July Amos Fox. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.17
An Illustrative Anecdote. It is related that Galileo, who invented the telescope with which he observed the satellites of Jupiter, invited a man who was opposed to him to look through it, that he might observe Jupiter’s moons. The man positively refused, saying, “If I should see them, how could I maintain my opinions which I have advanced against your philosophy?” This is the case with many. They will not look at the truth. They will not hear it, for fear that the arguments which they have framed will be destroyed, and they be obliged to give up their vicious indulgences. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.18
Look at This!—It is said if Christ does not come this year, the preaching of the Second Advent in 1843 will do a great deal of harm. But we wish to ask, which will be the most safe side to err? to look for it too soon, and prepare for it, or put it too far off, and have it overtake us unexpectedly, and in an unprepared condition. If there is any uncertainty, will not the expecting attidude be the safe one? If all men were prepared, it would be no matter when He comes; but this is not so. We ought to be always ready; but we fear all are not thus. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.19
Of being in Christ. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Nothing but condemnation to them that are out of him. Faith makes Christ ours. This consists in self-denial, and self-resignation. We must see our sins so far as to abhor ourselves; abhor ourselves so far as to deny ourselves; deny ourselves so far as to resign ourselves up into the saving arms of an only Saviour. They that do this are pardoned, sanctified, saved forever. HST July 19, 1843, page 157.20
The End of the 1260 Days
According to Daniel 7:25, the saints of the Most High were to be given into the hands of the Pope for 1260 years, when they were to take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end. This dominion we claim was taken away when the French government extended its power over the power of Rome, and the Pope became dependant on France. HST July 19, 1843, page 158.1
A sermon has been placed in our hands entitled “A Sermon delivered on the Annual Thanksgiving in Connecticut, Nov. 24; 1803. By Wm. F. Miller, A. M. pastor of a Presbyterian church in Windsor Conn.” In confirmation of the above opinion, we make the following extracts p. 38—41. “The French revolution, by the confiscation of Peter’s patrimony, has not only destroyed, in a great measure, the enormous wealth of Mystical Babylon; but has opened a door of toleration to Protestant dissenters, unknown under the Monarchy; reestablished the observance of the Sabbath, by law; and produced a ruler in the Roman world, superior in power to the Pope, making him a subordinate, fallen king, by vesting in the First Consul of France the power of nominating to office all the Bishops in France and her dependencies.—By this extraordinary change of power, the Pope is no longer the Viceregent of God upon earth, the Vicar of the Son of God, “superior to all human Judicature.” For, now, the First Consul v of the French Republic sits on his throne and judges him, dictating to him who shall be a priest, and who not; and breaking down, as far as the power of the French Republic extends, his horrid, persecuting laws, in religion, and kindly establishing a system of laws, respecting religion, which has placed it on the gospel plan, and wisely provides for its protection and support. It was the. French Monarchy, which confirmed the Pope in his pompous, Antichristian title, the Vicar of the Son of God; and made him superior to all human judicature; and the French Monarchy being destroyed, it is the Consular Goverment, which has cast the Pope down from his throne; and, by his own consent made him, in all the dominions of France, subject to the judicature of the First Consul. This is a fact, which admits of no denial. Thus, in this application of the Latin destruction of Antichrist, everything applies with great propriety. HST July 19, 1843, page 158.2
I shall, in this number, as a farther confirmation of this doctrine, only add the opinion of several learned writers of the first centuries, concerning the time of Antichrist’s first appearing in the world, according to the prophecy of Daniel and of St. Paul. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. “Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by your gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of Sin be revealed, the son of perdition: who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him whose coming is after the coming of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that, perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Does not this prophecy plainly doom the Papal nations to damnation? Let the reader compare and judge for himself. I shall only show how the ancients have explained the words, “Only he who now letteth, will let until he be taken out of the way.” Newt. Proph. vol. ii p. 111, 112. “Tertullian, who became famous at the latter end of the second century, expounding these words, Only he who now letteth, will let until he be taken out of the way, says, who can this be but the Roman state, the division of which into ten kingdoms will bring on Antichrist, and then the wicked one shall be revealed? And in this apology (alluding to what he had before said,) he assigns it as a particular reason why the Christians prayed for the Roman Empire, because they knew that the greatest calamity hanging over the world was retarded by the continuance of it.”—“Origen, the ablest writer of the third century,” confirms this application. “Lactantious, who flourished in the beginning” of the fourth century, describes Antichrist in the same manner, and almost in the same terms as St. Paul; and concludes, “This is he, who is called Antichrist, but shall feign himself to be Christ, and shall fight against the truth.” A shorter and fuller character of the Vicar of Christ could not be drawn, even by a protestant.”—Cyril, of Jerusalem, in the same century, alledges, “This the predicted Antichrist will come, when the times of the Roman Empire shall be fulfilled, and the consummation of the world shall approach. Ten kings of the Romans shall arise together, in different places indeed, but they shall reign at the same time. Among these the eleventh is Antichrist, who by magical and wicked artifice shall seize the Roman power.”—What an application before the event!—“Jerome, Austin, and Chrysostome flourished in the latter end of the fourth, or the beginning of the fifth century. Jerome says, Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God, either at Jerusalem (as some imagine) or in the church (as we more truly judge) showing himself that he is Christ and the Son of God: and unless the Roman Empire be first desolated, and Antichrist precede, Christ shall not come. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time, that is, ye know very well, what is the reason why Antichrist doth not come at present. He (the apostle) is not wiling to say openly, that the Roman Empire should be destroyed, which they who command think to be eternal. For, if he had said openly and boldly, that Antichrist shall not some, unless the Roman Empire be first destroyed. it might probably have proved the occasion of a persecution against the Church.”—“Jerome was himself a witness to the barbarous nations beginning to tear in pieces the Roman Empire, and upon this occasion exclaims, He who hindered is taken out of the way, and we do not consider that Antichrist approaches, whom the Lord Jesus shall consume with the spirit of his mouth.”—“Austin, having cited this passage affirms, No one questions that the Apostle spoke these things concerning Antichrist: and the day of judgment (for this he calleth the day of the Lord) should not come, unless Antichrist come first. And now ye know what withholdeth. Some think this was spoken of the Roman Empire; and therefore the apostle was not willing to write it openly, lest he should incur a premunire, and be falsely accused of wishing ill to the Roman Empire, which was hoped to be eternal.”—Chrysostome, speaking of what hindered the revelation of Antichrist, says,” when the Roman Empire shall be taken out of the way, then he shall come; and it is very likely: for as long as the dread of this Empire shall remain no one shall quickly be substituted; but when this shall be dissolved, he shall seize on the vacant Empire, and shall endeavor to assume the power both of God and man. HST July 19, 1843, page 158.3
“In this manner the most learned divines of the first centuries explained the prophecies, concerning the time of the coming, and the real character of St. Paul’s man of sin or the Roman Antichrist, before there were any real signs of his appearance; and while the Roman Empire, by its rulers, was thought to bid eternal defiance to the united powers of the whole world. Could they, in these particulars, have reasoned more justly, if they had lived after the coming of Antichrist? Are not these descriptions, some of them, written several hundred years before the coming of Antichrist, as accurate descriptions of his endeavoring to assume the power both of God and men, as could be given of the Bishop of Rome, at this day, when all these things have happened, by a learned Protestant? Can his real character, or the time of his first appearing, in the power of the Beast, be better described? For, when the Roman Empire, existing on the several hills of Rome, as its capital, ruling city, was taken out of the way, by the fall of the Gothic kingdom and the conquest of that city, by Justinian, the Emperor of Constantinople, then a door was opened for the appearance of antichristian corruption in the Western Church; and the love of power opened the passions of the old Romans and the ambitious kings of France, to cherish all the intrigues and infernal artifices of the Popes, till, in the end, for the sake of gratifying their ruling passion, they made the Popes real kings, in the character of the Little Horn, in Daniel’s prophecy. Dr. Doddridge, in his family Expositor translates the words, “Only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way,” in this manner, “Only there is one that hindereth, till he be taken out of the way.”—He then explains the meaning, “Secular powers at present are a restraint, but when that is taken out of the way, and different scenes in Providence open, these iniquitous principles, that are secretly fermenting, will break out in all their force.”—“And then the ungodly one shall be revealed, and appear as it were unveiled in all his native deformity; even he who shall bring the greatest infamy and the greatest misery on the Christian world.”—In a note, on the words, There is one that hindereth, he says, “Dr. Geddes very properly explains this of the Roman Emperor, who would not suffer ecclesiastical power to grow to an exorbitant height, while he held his seat at Rome. See Geddes’ Tracts, vol. ii. p. 10; and as many good modern commentators give in the same turn, so it is observable that Tertullian, Agustine and Chrysostome, all agree in saying, that Antichrist was not to appear till after the fall of the ‘Roman Empire.” HST July 19, 1843, page 158.4
As an evidence of the power of the Popes in the days of their prosperity, we give the following Bull of Pope Martin, p. 99. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.1
“We will and command, that, by this our authority Apostolical, ye exhort and admonish all the professors of the Catholic faith, as Emperors, Kings, Dukes, Princes, etc. That they expel out of their Kingdoms, Provinces, Cities, Towns, etc. all manner of heretics, according to the effect and tenor of the Council of Lateran. That they suffer none such within their Shires or Circuits, to preach, or to keep either house or family, either yet to use any handy craft or occupation, or other trades of merchandize, or else to solace themselves any ways, or frequent the company of Christian men. And furthermore, if such public and known heretics shall chance to die, (although not so denounced by the Church) yet in this so great a crime, let him and them want Christian burial. The residue let the aforesaid temporal Lords, etc. take amongst them, with condign deaths, without any delay to punish.” HST July 19, 1843, page 159.2
A letter from the London Missionary Society, to the Missionary Society of Conn. dated London July 12th 1805, contains the following paragraph respecting this change in the power of Rome. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.3
“When, therefore, those impediments are removed by the Providence of God, which for ages have obstructed the progress of the gospel; when facilities are afforded for the circulation of the holy scriptures, and the pure administration of its institutions, in countries where they have long been interdicted by the severest penalties, this state of things contains a providential voice, which instructs us in our duty,” and invites us to improve it. On these grounds the directors have proceeded in their measures relating to the introduction of the unadulterated religion of Christ into those nations on the continent which for ages were under the control of the Papacy, and more recently so overwhelmed with the principles of infidelity, as to be inaccessible to the exertions of Christians for that great purpose. For two preceding years, the Society has manifested the commendable desire of endeavoring to be instrumental in building on the ruins of the Papacy the divine edifice of pure Christianity; and as the most powerful means for that purpose, within their reach, was the circulation of the holy scriptures, they determined to consecrate a part of their funds to this object.”—See Conn. Evangelical Magazine, vol. iv. Nov. 1803 p. 193—4. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.4
Of the force of prophetic language he says, p. 82 HST July 19, 1843, page 159.5
“And the Wine-press was trodden without the City, and blood came out of the Wine-press even unto the horse-bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs”—If this is all a papal war; if it is all the effect of the force of truth, without any ambitious, devouring King, and his blood-thirsty armies, to prepare the way for its spread, by the sword, in breaking down the idolatrous and oppressive governments of the Antichristian world, and proclaiming a free toleration in religion to mankind; if it does not necessarily imply the slaughter of millions, then words have lost their signification. The modern notion of explaining all meaning in words away, by figures, is like the doctrine of the old school of “Hymenus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying, that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” HST July 19, 1843, page 159.6
Speaking of the tenacity with which men adhere to their old opinions, he says, p. 74, 100. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.7
“I am sensible, the prejudices of the present times will be inclined to deride all this; but the love of souls will be my consolation, if men will not be candid enough to compare what is written with God’s word. Ridicule is not, nor never was the sure test of truth. Had it been, Columbus, after all the contempt which he experienced from stupid kings and snarling courtiers, would never have found his way to America; nor Sir Isaac Newton have discovered the annual revolution of the Earth round the Sun, to the rejection of the foolish, vulgar, popular, absurd notion of the Diurnal revolution of the Sun round the Earth.—Well has Lavater said, “Thinkers are scarce as gold.” HST July 19, 1843, page 159.8
“The prophets of God, who have faithfully reproved the corruption of their times, have often been called the disturbers of the public peace. They have been an uneasiness to persons, who however corrupt they were, could not bear reproof. Thus, when Ahab met Elijah, he said unto him, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” In this way, the prophets who preach against the errors of the world, are treated as public enemies, seditious persons, and even as the cause of those calamities, which they foretel as the punishment of a perverse generation. Hence the hardened wicked rejoice in their destruction.” HST July 19, 1843, page 159.9
A call from Virginia
Dear Bro. Himes,—I am a subscriber to the “Midnight Cry,” and am fully persuaded that the views promulgated through its columns, concerning the “Second Advent” of our Savior in 1843 are correct. We have no preachers of that doctrine in this section, but I am fully persuaded that if an acceptable lecturer would come to Virginia, much might be accomplished through his instrumentality. Can you not prevail on some one to come. He would find a hearty welcome from many Christians. I myself would be willing to pay his expenses, and I have no doubt he would be sustained by many friends. I am constrained by the love of Christ thus to write you, and while I rejoice to hear of so many sleeping virgins being waked up through the annunciation in different sections of the country, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh,” I am anxious, to hear the “Midnight Cry” sounded among my brethren, neighbors and friends here. Do send a lecturer if possible. The Lord prosper your labors—and may we all look with desire for “the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.10
I remain yours, in hope of eternal life.
Lucy Carver.
Roanokes, Co. Va. June 8, 1843.
Extract of a Letter from I. C. Parks
Sinner, why will you longer let Satan delude you? His only object is to destroy your soul. He would fain have you believe that the doctrine of the Advent is false—that the world is yet to stand thousands of years—that we are to have a long millennium of peace and safety, and that then you and all will be converted to the Lord. He is whispering peace in your ears when there is no peace; and he would have you believe that if you live as you have done, you will be safe. But consider what you are doing and whither you are bound. If you serve Satan here, you must dwell with him forever. Be wise while you may. Let your remaining days be spent to the glory of God. His Spirit is now striving with you. Go to God as you are and he will cleanse you; though your sins be as scarlet, he will make them white as snow, and though they be red as crimson they shall be as wool. You will never have a more favorable time to prepare for eternity than the present. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.11
I believe we shall see but few more days in this world, and that what you do, must be done quickly. Now is the time to choose whether you will enjoy an eternity of happiness or an eternity of misery. You prefer to be happy, but that will not make you so, you must seek for it. I daily grow stronger in the faith of soon seeing the Lord. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.12
Yours in the daily expectation of beholding our beloved Lord and Master.
Fitzwilliam June 24, 1843.
Extract of a Letter from J. D. Poor
Dear Brethren, I take this opportunity to give you an account of my labors the past winter. I have never enjoyed myself so well in my life as I have during the past winter, in obeying the Spirit of God, and devoting myself and substance to give the Midnight Cry. I was convinced of the truth of the Advent near, by hearing Bro. Litch at Roxbury, last Spring, and had no desire to avoid my convictions of its truth. I have therefore devoted myself to this work. During the past winter I have traveled nearly seven thousand miles from place to place, lecturing and distributing publications in connection with bro. Brown of Rochester, N. Y. I have spent $500 in the cause—all that I had, and regret that I had no more to use for the Lord. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.13
I have called on the ministers in most places where 1 have been, some of whom heard the word gladly. At Ft. Defiance, Ind. Elder Tucker, a Presbyterian minister, embraced the truth, and a Baptist preacher of the same place when we left was in search of light, as was also a student from Oberlin. We did not stop long in any place, but obeyed the injunction “that he may run that readeth it.” At Marshall, Mich. we found a brother Bronson giving the “cry” with good success. At Jacksonburgh, we found a brother standing with the church all opposed to him; but the Lord was with him. A Methodist brother there was also converted to the faith. We lectured in the Baptist house at Chicago, Ill. and in the Court house. The Mormons and Catholics endeavored to raise a mob, but He that keepeth us neither slumbers nor sleeps. At Jacksonville, God blessed our labors. At Alton, Ill. saw bro. Clark, who was lecturing in that region and the people heard him gladly. At St. Louis, a Mr. Kinton, a Baptist minister, was lecturing on the prophecies, but not of our faith. He offered us his church, but we chose to lecture in the Concert Hall. The people were eager to hear, but had had their minds disaffected by false reports. They crowded into the hall which was filled to overflowing; then they commenced a noise, till it became a perfect Babel, which broke up the meeting. After that we gave several lectures under a large shed, but there was no more disturbance, but several conversions. We went down the river to New Orleans, stopping at different points on the route. In N. O. we scattered one thousand papers of different kinds. On our return to Cincinnati, we saw Brn. Pratt and Caldwell, and had a glorious meeting. Wherever I have been I have scattered papers and books, which I trust will hot be in vain. We went at our own expense, and gave away our publications, but yet they said it was a speculation. HST July 19, 1843, page 159.14
I soon expect to enter that world where our labors will be over, when they will all know the Lord from the least of them even to the greatest of them. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.1
Yours in the hope of soon seeing the Lord. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.2
one week’s record of murders
As a sample of what is constantly passing under our eye, we give below the catalogue of murders and suicides, collected and condensed from our exchange papers, from the 1st to the 7th of June last. It would seem that the land was full of violence, and that man had become man’s most deadly enemy. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.3
A. C. Hawsey, of Clinton, Ala., shot Rufus Brooks. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.4
Andrew Cambell of Van Buren, Ark., was murdered; by whom unknown. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.5
E. W. Trimble of Wheeling, was thrown overboard from a steamboat, by a deck hand, of whose sauciness Mr. T. had complained to the captain He was drowned. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.6
At Havana, in the market place, a mulatto disputed with a stall tender about a trifling sum of money. The mulatto siezed a knife and stabbed his opponent, causing his death. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.7
Fances M. Staples at Woodlawn, Ala., placed the breech of a gun in the ground, the muzzle against his head and blowed his brains out. He had gambled and lost $100, and a gold watch worth $80. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.8
Amelia Ent, of Raritan, N. J., committed suicide by hanging. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.9
At Batesville, Md., a negro murdered a John Smith. Supposed cause, the negro wished the situation of Smith, a miller, in the employ of the negro’s owner. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.10
Thomas N. McKants, of Columbia, S. C., murdered a Mr. Ladd 19th March. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.11
A negro and an Indian murdered a family consisting of three persons in Van Buren, Arkansas. Their object was plunder; about $1000 were obtained. They were arrested in the Indian country, and committed to jail; the population became so enraged against the negro, that he was taken out of the jail by force, tied to a tree and burned alive. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.12
A Mr. Vilar of New Orleans attacked a Mr. Rasseure. The latter drew a pistol and shot the first mentioned dead. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.13
In Rushville, Indiana, Philip Barger was murdered by his own daughter. Barger was an intemperate man, and frequently abused his wife in the most shocking manner. On the evening of his death, he had commenced violence as usual, and the daughter split his head open with an axe. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.14
The body of a French lady floated ashore near West port, Conn., supposed to have been murdered and thrown overboard from a steamboat in Long Island Sound. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.15
The above taken from an exchange paper is a sample of the morals of the most moral and Christian nation in the world. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.16
An Inch of Time. “Millions of money for an inch of time,” cried Elizabeth,—the gifted, but ambitious queen of England, upon her dying bed. Unhappy woman! reclining upon a royal couch, with ten thousand dresses in her wardrobe, a kingdom on which the “sun never sets,” at her feet,—all now are valueless, and she shrieks in anguish, and she shrieks in vain, for a single “inch of time.” She had enjoyed three-score and ten years. Like too many among us, she had so devoted them to wealth, to pleasure, to pride and ambition, that her whole preparation for eternity was crowded into her final moments; and hence she, who had wasted more than half a century, would barter millions for an “inch of time.”—American Tract. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.17
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
BOSTON, JULY 19, 1843.
Agents and Subscribers
We have been very indulgent to agents and subscribers in time past, being unwilling to drop a subscriber or dismiss an agent, however delinquent, while we had the means to sustain the paper. But the time has now come when all agents and subscribers must be punctual in the payment of what is actually our due, or we shall fail to pay the printer, which we shall not do; or stop our paper, which we shall do, when the means are not forthcoming to sustain it. When we have no means to sustain the paper, or other publications, we shall consider our work done, in this respect. But we do not regard our work done as yet. Let all delinquent agents and subscribers NOW pay up arrears, and we shall go on while we have need to publish the glad tidings of the kingdom at hand. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.18
Some delinquents have been stricken from our list, who owe for several volumes. If any of those persons wish their papers continued, they will inform us. If any mistakes have been made in stopping those who have paid, they will inform us without delay. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.19
Letter from William Miller
Dear Brother Himes,—This is the first time I have written for 6 weeks or more; the lime past, for sixteen weeks seems to me like a dream, and a painful one too. I do not complain, God is good, and although he afflicts us by pain, disease, and prostration of both physical and mental powers, yet he has the power to cause all these things to operate as means to help us on to glory. Blessed be his name, I find my present affliction has been not entirely lost. I hope it has and will prove a blessing. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.20
Before I was taken sick last winter, at times I was very much unreconciled to my lot, as I would call it, often thinking God had laid on me more than I was able to bear. I often murmured and complained, and often prayed that I might be permitted to retire from the turmoil and bustle of the world, at least for a few weeks. God granted my request, and I have been confined to my room four months, but how different from what I expected. I anticipated rest, but experienced pain; I expected to enjoy the society of my family and friends, but have been much of my time a burden to myself and them. Yet during the whole time of my sickness, my faith in the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ this year has been stronger than I ever experienced for such a length of time before. It seemed to me so plain, so clear, that to doubt would be as wicked as to doubt the existence of a Supreme Being. And although my pain in body was very severe, yet it was made quite tolerable by the strength I obtained through my faith in the blessed book of God’s word, and the promises therein of the glorious inheritance of the saints. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.21
It appeared to me at times, that the whole plan of salvation lay before me like a landscape, and I was enraptured with the sight. I have a number of times during my sickness felt as did Paul “to depart and be with Christ, etc.” But God has seen fit to continue me here as yet. My health is on the gain, and I think in a few days I shall be able to labor again in the vineyard, if a door should open. Perhaps none may want me now; no matter, I will leave that with my heavenly Father and the people. The opposition in this quarter is gaining in confidence and violence since the 23rd of April is past. But they begin to rejoice too quick. We have not yet passed 1843. I want to hear from you, not one word since brother Flemming wrote—do write. God will try our faith more than ever, depend on it; and although trials deep and sore may assail us, let us not waver, for the Lord will come and will not tarry. Yours, as ever, HST July 19, 1843, page 160.22
Low Hampton, July 5th, 1843. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.23
The 2300 Days. The Rev. F. A. Cox, D. D. LL. D. of England, in his lectures on the book of Daniel, page 187, remarks as follows. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.24
“These days are prophetic, that is they symbolize years; curiosity, therefore, is naturally eager to ascertain the chronology of this prediction. It is some clue to the commencement of the period, to remark that Daniel does not refer to the origin of the monarchy, but to some period afterwards, when it is become a settled government, because the Medo Persian Ram does not rise from the sea, but stands, already grown, upon the margin of the river. Cyrus and Darius were conquerors, but it was not till the seventh year of Artaxerxes, that the empire had attained its strength. The Medo Persian ram rose in the year B. C. 536, and continued to stand till B. C. 330: The date of the vision is therefore between these years.” HST July 19, 1843, page 160.25
The Israelite, a paper published at Jeffersonville, Ia. of May 20, gives the following notice respecting our beloved brother Chittenden. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.26
“Brother H. A. Chittenden, of Connecticut, of the Congregational Church, has just closed a course of lectures here, on the Second Advent. Our chapel was crowded to overflowing, and the profound and breathless silence with which the audience hung upon the words of the youthful lecturer showed that they were words of ‘truth and soberness.” HST July 19, 1843, page 160.27
Letters from post-masters, to july 14
Williamantic Ct; Weybridge Vt $1; BentonNY; Melain Village NH; Charlotte S C; Taftsville Vt; Guilford, Ct; E Livermore Me; Woodstock, Vt $2; N Bedford Ms $1; Derby Vt $1; Canton Ms; Charles-town NH $1; Dover NH $1; Falmouth, Ms; Braintree, Vt; Berlin Ct $3; N Castle Me $1; Plymouth Ms $1; Portsmouth, N H; Mechanicsville, N Y; Whately Vt $1; Derby Line Vt $1; Portsmouth N H: Sullivan NH; Long Plain Ms $1; Danvers Ms $1; Yorkville, SC $1; Belvidere Ill; Essex Vt $1; Norwalk Ohio $1; W Bridgwater, Ms; Corina Centre Me $1; Westfield Ms; Glastenbury Ct; San-bornton Bridge, NH $2; Glenville NY; Wareham Ms; Manchester NH; So Straflord Vt; Falmouth Me; Honesdale Pa; W Enosburg Vt; Chickopee, Ms; Washington NH; Corington N Y $2; Snow’s Store $1; Derby Line Vt$1; Acton Ms $1; Rouses Point $1; Sandy Hill NY; Milan NY $1; Richmond Vt $2; Rochester Vt $1; Bunker Hill, Ill; Glasgow Me; Kees Falls Pa; Vienna Me $1; Hart-ford Ct $2; Eastport Me $1; Brookline, Vt; Albany NY; Ware Ms; Orange Vt $1; St George Vt 1 doll. E Washington NH 3 dolls; Essex NY; Jamestown, O; Colebrook NH; Walpole Ms; Hartford Ct 1 doll. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.28
Individuals
Dr Lee 2, T L Tullock, J P Jewett 2, A Prison-ler; D Wright 2; C S French 1; C Wines. 10,balance 27,02; L Kimball, J L Paine 1, letter dated Feb. 8 just rec’d; Friend, by hand of Eld P. 32,50; L C Collins, J Shepherd, L W Hoit, 2 dolls, due; Richard Garland, 1; E Galusha, R E Ladd 5; R Meriam, Springfield Vt, 1; J Woods 3, N B Start, L Bolles, 1; J H Thompson 1; Wm Miller, T Wrightson, T M Preble 8; T H Barry, T Baker, J Litch 2; T L Tullock. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.29
Bundles Sent
Rochester N Y Depository; J V Himes 9 Spruce St N Y; Eld J E Jones, Pittsfield N H; R Meriam, Camden, Me; J Weston N Ipswich, NH; JVHimes 9 Spruce St N Y; W Meriam Camden Me; Rochester Depository: T M Preble Nashua N H. HST July 19, 1843, page 160.30