Signs of the Times and Expositor of Prophecy [Himes], vol. 3
April 27, 1842
Vol. III.—No. 4. Boston, Whole No. 52
Joshua V. Himes & Josiah Litch, Editors. Office No. 14 Devonshire Street, Boston
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
AND EXPOSITOR OF PROPHECY.
Lectures on Prophecy—No. III
by james a. begg, glasgow.
The value of Scripture Prophecy as a light to the Church. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.1
Many excuse themselves from giving the required heed to the word of prophecy, by the plea that it is not necessary to their salvation. But oh what a low view this is of the Christian character and place—to disregard all that they suppose is not absolutely requisite to their deliverance from hell! I speak not at present of the principle which assumes, without examination, and therefore an ignorance of what Scripture prophecy may contain, that it can have no influence even on their final destiny. But I ask, Do those who talk thus, act in the same way in other matters? Are all their cares clustered around, or is their attention exclusively occupied upon, what they believe to be necessary for their salvation? How large a portion of both do they not, on the contrary, bestow on what is fit only to divert them from a true knowledge of themselves, and of the God whose revelations they despise. But to Christian brethren I address myself, and ask whether they have no other or no higher view of their privileges, and of the place they are called to occupy in the world, as followers of Him “who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame?” Is it a light matter that we should thus be prospectively furnished with instruction of what is coming to pass in the scheme of God’s providence? Is there no consolation imparted to the believer in his being shown the certain issue of what would otherwise appear doubtful or perplexing? in seeing the greatest triumph of his loved Savior result from what is most grieving to his own soul? Unless he has been very unfaithful to his trust, he knows, and has proved, that like every other portion of it, the “prophecy of the Scripture” was “written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4. They set before us the objects of hope; so that although we know that we are in a conflict, now victory’s shout rings by anticipation, in our ear, animating us in all our warfare. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.2
The knowledge of God’s purpose respecting the future, not in vague or indefinite form, but in the clearness of the word and oath of Him who cannot lie, has a most enlarging influence upon the mind; in aiding faith, even regarding the history of circumstances that are past. If the history of God’s providence be an aid to the understanding and believing the wonders of prophecy, not less true is it, that the latter sheds a reflex light upon the former. In the coming wonders of Israel’s yet undeveloped story, read by us in faith in God’s own Book, there is much to assist, as well as to interest and delight, in reviewing the way in which already they have been led. While looking forward to the fulfilment of God’s promises in their behalf, wonder rises above wonder, and our hearts expand in joy because of the Almighty’s coming interventions, and we go back with a truer faith, and with a higher tone of feeling, enter into their necessities, when, retracing his doings of old in their behalf. Nor is this effect without personal advantage. In seeing what God has done and is pledged still to do for them, if at all viewed in his light, we will be taught with what safety we may commit ourselves to the keeping and guidance of Him whose operations are thus attractively revealed. But prophecy is also a precious light, as it serves to give us needed warning. I speak not at present of the alarm it sounds to the unbeliever. I would rather remind you of that which I believe to be more the apostle’s aim in these Epistles. He intimates, to those possessed of precious faith, their need of the prophetic light; and, therefore, the warnings to which I refer, relates to dangers to them on the right hand and on the left. It is indeed surprising, as well as painful, to witness the indifference which prevails even to this aspect of Scripture Prophecy. This indifference, it is obvious, does not arise from any determined opposition to revelations concerning the future, in the abstract. There is no class of men who wholly reject these. There are indeed few, if any, who do not believe in a resurrection and a judgment. Even the avowed infidel, while he rejects other portions of the pre - intimations of God’s word, believes in substance, at least, to this extent. If he rejects the utterances of the ‘‘holy men of God,” who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, he will yet become a prophet to himself—he augurs his own portioning, a futurity of weal or woe, and would not be content to leave the present scene without an effort to lift, in some degree, the veil which seperates eternity from time. He is, in reality, a prophet, while be scorns the name, when it is connected with any but divine; he seeks visions of the future, but rejects the intimations heaven has given through Moses and other holy prophets, refusing even to hear the prophet like unto Moses, when through the cross he proffers to us the crown. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.3
In regard to the affairs of nations, and the destinies of the world, all are prophets—every one is watching and forming to the best of his ability, aided by the fallible guides of his adoption, some calculation concerning the future. And why, then, is the sure instruction of Divine Revelation rejected in some circumstances? Oh, my dear friends, this is indeed the dark feature of man’s indifference to, or rejection of, that blessed light to which we are called to give heed. It is just because it is God’s holy will that is there revealed—the purpose of him whose will is our sanctification. That this is the ground of the world’s enmity to that which sacred prophecy unfolds, is indeed obvious. It is the results which the prophets foretell, that excited the hatred of men hiving without God, and not the more fact of the words being prophetic. This would occasion them no uneasiness, but for their import. The man from whom comes forth the most bitter sneer at our ‘‘blessed hope,’’ derived from God’s exceeding great and precious promises, loves to hear from kindred spirits, prediction; promising prosperity to worldly plans, arid anticipating the realization of delusive hopes. His objection to God’s prophetic declarations and our delight in these, arises altogether from the fact that the Sacred Oracles plainly speak the direful doom which is soon to overtake the earthborn projects, the offspring of ungodliness. Their feeling concerning each one of God’s own true prophets, is like that of Ahab king of Israel towards Micaiah, the son of Imlah: “He never prophesied good unto me, but always evil.’’ And as Ahab had no objection to prophecy, merely as such, (for he had already ‘‘gathered together of prophets four hundred men,” and consulted them on the occasion referred to,) so the men of the world who are ever ready to say concerning the true prophet of the Earth, ‘‘I hate him, for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil,” listens, nevertheless, with pleasure, if not with acquiescence, to whoever promises peace and safety, with success to worldly projects for worldly ends. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.4
Although often disguised under more specious names, the objections of the speculative Christian to ‘‘the gospel of the kingdom” may generally be traced to a kindred cause. He is consciously feeding his hopes with prospects inconsistent with the declared purpose of Jehovah; and concerning these his darling schemes for the world’s amendment or entire conversion by means of man’s device, and for the purpose of giving effect to which he is actively engaged, he feels that true prophecy, rightly interpreted, never speaks approvingly, but only and always evil. It is so, indeed, my near friends; the utterances of all the holy men of God, to whom we are called to give heed, do frown upon any expectation of our world’s amendment, derived from anticipations of progressive advancement in unsanctified intelligence, or even the universal acceptance of the gospel, which being universally preached, shall yet be an awful witness against our race. Whatever hopes are based on these, must perish, and to whatever extent they mingle with other and better hopes of men, they must. work injuriously against those by whom they are entertained and in opposition to the truth of God. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.5
But if Jehovah ‘‘frustrates the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; “if He ‘‘turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish,” it ought to rejoice the hearts of the righteous that He ‘‘confirmeth the word of His servant and performeth the counsel of His messengers.” Isaiah 44:25, 26. And yet there is in every man an evil heart of unbelief, which will work unfaithfully if allowed. It is to this source we most trace all time tendencies which we witness even on the part of men who know and love the Lord, to cherish hopes, and form plans, and build theories in opposition to His revealed will. This, howev e r, is not only to the dishonor of the Most High, but also to their own loss. The hay, the straw, and the stubble, built even on thegood foundation, shall be all consumed. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.6
The apostle, in presenting the sure word of prophecy as “a light,’’ intimates that it is required because of the existing darkness. Yes, my dear friends, it was and is, a dark time—very dark in the sense referred to by the apostle. With such light on nameless important matters, it was and is truly dark in regard to the character and purposes of God, and the value of fellowship and communion with Him. What is our real position in this the most important of all respects? We are advancing in the knowledge of arts and science; and if moral purity were to be reached by steam boats or by railway, our age and our people might be considered as occupying a distinguished place. But what can we say concerning the manifestation of that life of faith which God desires and loves to see? Amid all the preaching and all the profession made, is it not true, to a melancholy extent, that even among those who bear the name of Christ, there is little love and obedience to God—little faith and trust in Him? this is indeed the world’s night,—and a long and dreary night of sin it has had, under the reign of the prince of darkness. The children of God, when walking in their father’s light, are deeply sensible of the darkness, and long for the light of the coming day. HST April 27, 1842, page 25.7
But for our encouragement and guidance, let us observe, and remember, that the apostle contemplates the certain dawning of a better day, which he holds up in prospect to us. Prophecy is a light shining for our benefit “in a dark place, until the day dawn.” The day for which we thus look and wait, is that of the coming and glory of Christ.—The day of our entrance upon the inheritance reserved in heaven, and “ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein,” adds the apostle, “ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness,” through manifold temptations.” 1 Peter 1:6.) Through these temptations, there is the preparation for the inheritance, after which there shall come the inheritance itself. Therefore it is, that our blessed Lord himself, when referring to events which shall at once be the signs of, and preparation for, His appearing, all dismal and alarming though they be, says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.1
In the conflict between light and darkness, it had indeed been a sad, sad thing, had there been nothing to inform us of the issue. But blessed be God, there is a record which speaks, in no doubtful language, as to both the progress and result.—He has given to us the word of prophecy, and he commends it to us, a sure word. It is the Old Testament prophecy, of which the apostle thus speaks in New Testament times—the prophecy of “old time” when Peter wrote. Hear him again in the 3rd chapter, saying, “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds, by way of remembrance, that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior.” verse 1, 2. Many a long year has elapsed since these words were penned; but our need of remembrance is not less, nor should the call to this be now less emphatically heard, whatever additional emphasis it receives from the fact that we are so much nearer the day, the approach of which these holy prophets all with joy foretell. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.2
The value of the light thus divinely imparted, is, however, still little appreciated, generally—the hatred or indifference to it, I lament to say, not being confined to the world, but extending to the church. Suffer me, then, to ask, Have you, my dear brethren, no need to have your pure minds now stirred up by way of remembrance, that ye may be mindful of the words which were so spoken before by the holy prophets, and by the apostles of the Lord, concerning events of stupendous magnitude, which may be nigh at hand? I pray you, bear with me, if I should seem unkindly apprehensive, in fearing that among those now hearing me, there may be many who little know the mind of God in this matter. “As the apostle is here addressing believers—those who are partakers of like precious faith—his injunction presents us with a refutation of the notion that Christians may sinlessly neglect what the prophets have foreshown. Although our title to the inheritance were ever so secure, this forms no reason for indifference about the question as to when we shall enter upon it. Well may we, therefore, re-echo the exclamation which stands at the very opening of the book of the Apocalypse, of Jesus Christ and his kingdom—that book of which there is such awful ignorance, and which is imagined to be so full of difficulties,—“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3. And ere the seventh angel poured out his destructive vial, the Savior’s watch-note is, “Behold I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.3
From the Christian Intelligencer. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.4
History of the Society of the Jesuits
Concluded from our last. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.5
The character given to their morality is from their own writers. Suarez, speaking of the love of God, says, “It is sufficient to love him a little previous to the moment of death.” Versguez says, that “it is enough to love him in the moment of dying;” Thitudo once a year; Henriquez, every five years; Scotus, every Sunday. They finally conclude, if we obey other commands, God will be satisfied if we do not obey the command to love him. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.6
Perjury is justified by speaking in a low voice, saying mentally, “I did not do the thing charged against me, on a day not mentioned in the oath.” The Jesuits have been notorious, it is said, for attempting the life of princes. Five conspiracies, it is said, were formed against the life of James I., before he had been King one year. The gunpowder plot, the object of which was to blow up the British Parliament, it is supposed, was contrived by the Jesuits. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.7
It has always been an object with them to influence rulers. If unable to do this, they have attempted their lives, or with great art made divisions so as to defeat every purpose not favorable to themselves. Innumerable assassinations and murders have been caused by tin Jesuits. Thousands and tens of thousands have been imprisoned in different establishments of the Inquisition, and the Jesuits have been the delighted spectators of those Protestants whom they have seen burnt at the stake. Offences against God, even the grossest violations of the moral law, the Jesuits, by their casuistry, have excused or justified; but for the least opposition to themselves, for a word spoken against the Papal Church, against any of its absurd ceremonies, or against the Roman Pontiff, multitudes have been cruelly tortured and put to death. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.8
Thus an offence against God they excuse; but an offence against the Roman Pontiff they punish with death. To accomplish their favorite object, no means, whether lawful or unlawful, are left unattempted. They always consider the end they have in view as good. And they contend that the end justifies the means. They have no scruples of conscience which prevent them from committing any crime, by which their interest may be promoted. Like their master, the adversary, they keep behind the curtain, and amuse themselves when they observe how successful they have been in making dupes of men in power. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.9
The Jesuit can join himself to a religious man of any denomination, test his sincerity, and favor him, if expedient, with a view to ensnare him. He can as readily join himself to a thief, a debauchee, or a murderer, and suggest hints to aid him in accomplishing his wicked purpose. They boast that they can afford comfort to all classes of persons; to the thief, the slanderer, the fornicator, the adulterer, the perjurer, and the murderer. All these transgressors have their excuses, and the Jesuits admit them as valid. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.10
The Jesuits often put on the appearance of great sanctity, and by some are thought to be the most holy and spiritual men in the world. They are believed to be strictly honest, because they restore or cause to be restored things of small value, which have been stolen. This apparent honesty in small things is only u cloak for great crimes. Their charity, which is manifested by the bestowment of small favors, is abundantly rewarded by those who think to purchase heaven by their liberality. When the Jesuits attempt to deceive by a show of superior piety, they in some things go a little beyond others. They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.11
The radicalism of the present day corresponds with the spirit and policy of the Jesuits. It is only another branch of the same system the adversary has adopted with a view to destroy the kingdom of Christ. Different parties, unknown to each other, may be employed by the same master for the accomplishment of the same purpose. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.12
With respect to the number of the Jesuits, in 1710, there were, it was calculated, about twenty thousand (19,948.) Since that time the number must have greatly increased. They became so numerous before the close of the eighteenth century, that the Society was suppressed, in 1775, by Clement XIV. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.13
So long as the Jesuits were useful to the sovereigns of Europe and to the Roman Pontiff, they were sustained, promoted, and caressed. But when their number and wealth became great, they aimed to control kings and princes, to obtain the direction of the education of the young, and to point out to the Pontiffs the course they must pursue. The potentates of Europe, including the Roman Pontiff himself, found that the Jesuits were above them, as masters, and were a formidable body. They with firmness suppressed the Society. But the Jesuits were not put to death; they were suffered to live in retirement, though not supported, as they had been, by the Roman Pontiffs and the sovereigns of Europe. HST April 27, 1842, page 26.14
The movements of the Protestant Church in the early part of this century, alarmed the Roman Pontiff, Pius VII., and induced him, in 1814, to restore the Jesuits to all their former privileges, and to call upon Papists to afford them protection and all necessary assistance. Though their General resides at Rome, they are every where in the world. “The Society,” it has been said, “is a sword, the hilt of which is at Rome: but if the hilt be there, the blade is every where, and that with so fine an edge, as to make itself felt before it can be seen.” HST April 27, 1842, page 26.15
The Papal Church is bound to protect the Jesuits, and the latter to do what they can to promote the interest of the former. The number of Papists in this country, according to their own estimation, is over one million, and the number of their priests in 1841, 545. How many of their number are Jesuits we know not, as they endeavor to keep themselves concealed. They have dispensations from the Pope, which allow them to assume any character—to become Protestant preachers, and reformers. As the Papists take away the cup from the laity, it may be that some of our most zealous reformers are either Jesuits, or influenced by them, by substituting water for wine; to effect gradually the same change in the Protestant Church. When water is once substituted for wine, it will soon be seen that water is not an emblem of the blood of Christ, and that to use it for such purposes is extreme wickedness. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.1
Let it be remembered, when the Jesuits endeavor to accomplish any purpose directly affecting religion, he makes the impression that he is more holy than others. Every one, at all acquainted with the history of the true Church, must be convinced, that just in proportion as she advanced, so her enemies will advance—and as she increases in knowledge so her enemies will increase in subtilty. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.2
The next number will close this history for the present. A Friend of True Liberty. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.3
From the Quarterly Paper. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.4
Roman Catholic Missions
“No danger of the spread of Popery in this enlightened age,” is the soothing opinion of not a few. So we think, if Protestants will do their duty. But as we fear that this want of fear may arise from want of information, we lay before our readers the following extracts. Do they know that the most extensive Missionary Society on earth is Roman Catholic? “The Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the Two Worlds,” organized about twenty years ago, having its seat of operations at Lyons, in France, is an association, of whose movements we could wish our readers were well informed. A valuable condensation of the “Annals” of this Society for the year 1839, may be found in the Missionary Herald for January and February 1841. To some of the statements, thus brought to light, we wish to call attention. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.5
The vastness of the organization deserves our notice. Its operations are bounded only by the limits of the globe. The scheme is truly magnificent. A central power—in France—is to be the heart whose pulsations are to be felt in the remotest extremity of the world. We do not wonder that the conception fires the minds of its own able executors, and leads them to speak in this glowing language: HST April 27, 1842, page 27.6
“The same nations which marched in company, seven hundred years ago, under the banner of Christ, to conquer the infidels, are now rallying for the mental combats of modern times; they will be joined by auxiliaries that their fathers never knew; the isles of Greece and the cities of Anatolia, take place in the ranks; and from the furthermost east, Pondicherry, Madras and Calcutta, answer to the call. Moreover, depressed christian communities unite with the countries that aid them, in sustaining the work; they experience the joy of giving, while the embarrassment of receiving is diminished; the proportion which their gifts bear to each other disappears in the fraternal blending of the whole. The newly converted Parias of Hindostan, save by retrenchment from their meal of rice, the alms which are destined, perhaps, to ornament an altar in the hut of the savage of Missouri. The penny of the Arab pays the ransom of the confessors who suffer in the prisons of Cochin-China. These are not visions of the fancy. Lately, one of the native chiefs of Algiers, called by his countrymen, “The Great Serpent of the Desert,” associated himself with nine neighboring shieks, to form the first band of ten in the province of Constantine. Thirty poor children, received into the asylum at Leghorn, offer the tenth part of their weekly income. The fishermen of Genoa contribnte, in advance, the uncertain product of their labors. And meanwhile, the same treasury that contains the savings of the servant and the day-laborer, receives also the price of the most honorable services; rich estates tax themselves nobly for its benefit, and we know what princely hands have rejoiced to drop into it a little gold. Seven hundred thousand persons thus perseveringly unite their sacrifices and their prayers. The Annals of the Propagation of the Faith, of which ninety thousand copies are printed in seven different languages, circulate periodically through this vast family, and keep up something like that unity of heart and soul which reigned in the “Upper Chamber” at Jerusalem. By these, as in ancient times, men who cannot understand each other, hear recounted, each in his own language, the wonderful works of God. Those whom sea and sky, nature and history, seemed to have separated forever, understand that they are brethren; a new sensibility circulates through all the members of the great Catholic body, and if one of them is wounded, all the others start. Not a drop of blood is shed upon the scaffolds of persecution, but the piety of the universe gathers it up; whenever the water of baptism bedews the face of a catechuman, the christian world counts one brother more; and a single instance of apostasy carries lamentation from pole to pole. Those engaged in the contest gather strength from seeing before them, as in an amphitheatre, a cloud of witnesses; and the shout of their victory wakes up those of the spectators, who had fallen asleep in the indifference of peace. And henceforth the most humble believers, in whatever lowly station Providence may have placed them, may follow with their eyes the progress of affairs of a thousand times greater dramatic interest than those of empires,—interests more durable than those of time; even the destinies of the gospel, the progress of civilization, the eternal salvation of the human race. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.7
The presence of Rome in our columns is the sign of success, the ark of the covenant in the midst of the camp. The voice of approbation which has come down to us from the seat of supreme authority, has been repeated by echo after echo in forty episcopal mandates. Among our new protectors are the great metropolitans of Dublin, of Munich, of Malines and of Naples, the two last of whom wear the Roman purple. Asia unites with Europe, by the voice of the archbishop of Smyrna; ancient Africa makes herself heard by the letters of the first successor of Augustine; and in the name of America, the bishop of Olinda applauds, from the distant shores of Brazil. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.8
Here is a centralization of missionary effort unlike any thing to be found in the ranks of Protestants. We are not desirous to sec our Boards of Missions merged into one mighty system, all kept in motion by one central power. We do not think a consolidation of effort like this compatible with pure Christianity. Popery, with her convenient pliability, her admission of principles condemned by the Gospel, and her grasping schemes of self-aggrandizement, may consistently adopt this mode of operations. And in the hands of the Papacy, especially if it be under the skilful guidance of the Jesuit order, this system may become a potent engine of incalculable evil. The grandeur of the scheme is almost bewildering, and we can conceive how ardently and conscientiously many a deluded votary of Romanism may enlist under the banners of this Society, with a zeal scarcely inferior in purity and in strength to that with which Xavier toiled in the ranks of Loyola. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.9
the spirit of this organization
May be ascertained from extracts like the following. Speaking of the amount contributed by Protestant societies, the “Annales” say:— HST April 27, 1842, page 27.10
“Nothing less than this rich revenue could pay the wages of its proselyting forces, from the English satraps who have enthroned themselves in the Antilles and in Hindostan, to the Methodist proconsuls whose ferrule domineers over the kings of the South Sea, and to the peddling Bible-men, who prudently confine themselves to the work of scattering corrupted copies of our holy Scriptures, along with contraband opium on the coasts of China. And in addition to all the rest, Protestantism has lately come to spread new snares, by scattering in all parts its disfigured Bibles and slanderous tracts. It may be said that all lies clothe themselves with immortality under the heavens of the East, which seem to smite men and things with an incapacity of change. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.11
the pecuniary resources of the society
“The receipts of 1839 amount to nearly two millions (francs). This sum, which exceeds the receipts of the preceding year by about 550,000 francs, is double the amount obtained in 1837, four times that of 1835, and six times that of 1833. Here is almost a geometrical progression, the known terms of which enable us to predict the future.” “The number of the faithful in various parts of the civilized world, whose wealth and religious liberty enable them to care for others, may be estimated at 100,000,000. The time must come, then, when the amount of their annual contributions will rise to 17,000,000 francs.” HST April 27, 1842, page 27.12
Extracts from Ben Ezra,—No. 2
A general Idea of the JUDGMENT of Christ, according to the Scriptures. These two words, Kingdom and Judgment, or King and Judge, in scripture phrase, and according to the universal understanding of all people, do not, neither can signify, the different things, but only one. A king and sovereign prince, received and acknowledged as such by all their respective subjects, is nothing different from a judge in whom resideth entire judgment, in respect to these their subjects: nor is their reign anything else than judgment. Not that every judge is entitled to the name of king, or prince, or sovereign; but every king, or prince, or sovereign, is entitled to the name of judge, which is in justice due to him, because he is so in reality. “Thou hast chosen me (saith Solomon, Wis. ix. 7. the wisest of kings, unto God) to be a king of thy people, and to judge thy sons and daughters;”—and in the 2nd Psalm 10th v. David says,” Be wise, therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.” And the same thing it is very easy to observe at a lmost every step in reading the Holy Scriptures. The very word Rex, (king) is evidently derived from the verb rego, which signifies to govern, to direct, to order, to command, to reward, to punish, etc. each of which acts doth presuppose the act of judgment. Accordingly all kings, sovereigns, or princes (be they individual persons or moral bodies) are just so many judges of their respective dominions, to whose well being and happiness they ought to attend, and watch over their protection and defence, appoint ing unto all and every one what they desire, according to their works. HST April 27, 1842, page 27.13
Now, forasmuch as the kings and sovereigns of the earth cannot by themselves judge every thing, natural reason, experience, and the necessity of the case, have, from the most ancient times, taught them to have recourse to that expedient, which Moses was counselled by Jethro, his father-in-law, to adopt; that is, to share amongst many “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness,” Exodus 18:21, a certain power of judgment to abide upon them, giving to every one that portion of it and for that certain time which might appear best: but upon the indispensable condition that they should all acknowledge their dependence upon the sovereign himself, from whom every one received the portion of judgment which he holdeth, that is, the power of judging within the limits of his jurisdiction. These assessors of judgment are properly the associates of the kingdom, those who along with the king do constitute the active kingdom, or the executive part of the kingdom, which is its principal part. This seems to be the true, simple, and clear idea of a kingdom or monarchy. And this appears in like manner (preserving the due proportions) to be the true idea of the judgment of Christ, which in the Scriptures is announced against the proper time. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.1
This judgment cannot be a passing thing, limited to some hours, days, or years, like that of one who, seated on the tribunal, doth give final sentence, after having examined and substantiated the cause of an accused person. This idea, confusedly taken up from a parable in the gospel, is by no means so just as not to call for a more attentive consideration. The judgment of Christ, though beginning in the day of his power, or the day of his glorious and majestic coming, must be a judgment permanent and eternal as Christ himself. As Christ in quality of king is to be eternal, his kingdom shall likewise be eternal, “whose kingdom shall have no end;” and so also in quality of judge shall be eternal, because judgment is essential to a king. Neither is it possible to concern a king or sovereign, as king or sovereign, without conceiving united with him, and residing in him, judgment; or the power of judging, of ordering, of commanding, of ruling, and of governing. Christ, when he came the first time, did certainly not come as a king, and consequently not as a judge; nor is there in all the ancient scriptures, nor in the gospel, nor in the writings of the apostles, one single won which persuadeth us, or in any way indicates the idea that he did, but on the contrary they do all indicate and persuade us of an idea in finitely different. To sum it all up in one word, (which certainly is worth a thousand,) our Lord himself doth assure us expressly, and with the greatest clearness of which the subject is capable; “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17. So that they are two most widely different things, to judge the world as a king or a judge, and to save as a Savior or Redeemer, those who believed on him, and trusted to him, and conformed their works to their faith, which is true belief, and without which there cannot be salvation. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.2
But when he shall come the second time, (which all who love him believe and eagerly hope for,) he will doubtless come as a king; “and it came to pass that when he was returned, having received a kingdom.” Luke 19:15. Consequently, he will come as a judge. “For the Father judgment no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:—and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” John 5:22, 27. In which power substantially consisteth the new and eternal covenant of God, as how the Father doth thereby renounce and wholly make over to the Son, and deposit in his hands all judgment, and this because he hath made himself man, and in his capacity as man,” and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”—“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.” Daniel 7:14. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.3
This judgment of Christ, the Scriptures present to us not only as most holy, most upright, and most just, but as highly magnificent, wonderful, and so full of all those perfections and excellencies, which no judgment of man hath ever, or ever could have possessed. Accordingly, it is said of Christ in the 9th Psalm, verses 7, 8. “The Lord hath prepared his throne for judgment; and he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.” And in the 95th and 98th Psalms, all the creatures, even the irrational and the insensible, are invited to make themselves merry, and to rejoice, not only be cause he cometh, but because he cometh to judge the earth. “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that therein is; then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord, for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”—” Make a joyful noise before the Lord the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth.” On the ordinary idea of the judgment of Christ and of his coming, I know not how there can be room for such mirth! Of such passages of Scripture might be quoted two or three hundred, for there is nothing more obvious in the prophets and in the Psalms: [but here the author breaks off, proposing only to consider the first ten verses of the eleventh chapter of Isaiah; which fine illustration how ever would be too extensive for the limits of the Signs of the Times.] HST April 27, 1842, page 28.4
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
BOSTON, APRIL 27, 1842.
The Midnight Cry in the Wilderness.—Rev. Mr. Barker, Baptist Missionary to the Shawnee Indians, has just returned to this city, and reports the effect of the doctrine of the Second Advent in 1843, on the Indians of his mission. About a year since a friend in this city sent a package of Second A dvent publications to the mission; and while the missionaries were conversing on the subject, an Indian who understood English overheard their conversation, and went away and reported it to the tribe. The effect was electrical. The news soon spread into the wilderness for hundreds of miles, and the missionaries were soon called on to give them a full account of the matter. Perhaps more hereafter. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.5
The paying subscriber.—One of our subscribers in connection with his subscription money sent us the following poetic effusion. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.6
Joshua V. Himes prints “Signs of the Times,” And keeps in old Devonshire street; Here’s money to pay six months, to a day, Please take it and send a receipt. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.7
Arrival of the Great Western
Sixteen days later erom Europe
It will be seen by the following items, that the difficulties of the Sultan are not at an end; and that lie is completely under the dictation of the allied powers of Europe. They make requisitions and demands on him, and he must comply. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.8
Turkey.—The Levant mails of the 11th and 21st March have arrived. The dates are—Ionian Isles the 3rd, Constantinople the 7th, Alexandria the 6th, Smyrna, Greece, and Malta, the 18th. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.9
From Constantinople the news is highly satisfactory. Several councils had been held by the Divan on the subject of the dispatches brought from Syria, by the British steamer Phoenix. The last, which took place on the 27th of February, lasted several hours, and was attended only by ministers and dignitaries of the highest rank. The precise result of these deliberations was not officially known, but it was believed that the Porte had attended so far to the expostulation of the great powers as to recal Omar Pacha, the Austrian renegade, whose rule in Syria had led to such baneful consequences. A son of the Emir Beschir, the fittest selection that could have been made on the occasion, will, it is said, be his successor. It is further stated that the requisition to the Porte on the part of England, France, and Russia, to withdraw the Turkish troops from the Greek frontier, is on the eve of being complied with. The prospect of the speedy termination of the dispute between Turkey and Greece, has, however, been rendered less probable by the conduct of the new Greek envoy, Mavrocordato, who has departed from the basis laid down by Sir Stratford Canning, and set up new pretensions on the part of his government. He had presented his credentials, but up to the 7th March they had not been received by the Sultan.—The European. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.10
The East.—Advices from Constantinople of the 2nd March continue to give an unfavorable account of the state of Syria. The Druses, influenced by an impression of hostility on the part of the British agent, had assailed the English and American missions, plundered and destroyed their establishments, and expelled the missionaries. Bishop Alexander not haying obtained his firman from the Porte, continued to reside at Jerusalem, in the capacity of a private individual. His recognition had been formally demanded by the Austrian internuncio, but with what success had not been ascertained. Meanwhile, he had laid the foundation of the new church at Jerusalem. The reign of the Turkish governor of Syria, Izzet Pacha, was fast drawing to a close.-Ib. HST April 27, 1842, page 28.11
Turkey.—Accounts from Constantinople have reached us via Vienna, down to the 9th ult. The Porte, in compliance with the joint remonstrances of the Ambassadors of the five Powers, had superseded the Austrian renegade, Omer Pasha, in the Government of Mount Lebanon, and committed the administration of the country to two native princes—a Druse and a Maronite.—N. Y. Herald. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.1
Under the head of foreign news the N. Y. Herald has the following:— HST April 27, 1842, page 29.2
The arrival of the fast packet ship Sheridan, on Saturday evening, and of the Great Western steamer yesterday, has put us in possession of very important news from England. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.3
So great was the interest felt, that nearly thirty thousand impressions were issued yesterday from this office. A dense crowd surrounded our doors from one o’clock till late in the afternoon. Our Extra was issued nearly two hours before that from any other establishment, and we were thus enabled to send that intelligence to every part of the country by the afternoon mails. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.4
This news is of vast importance. It exhibits England in the midst of a great financial crisis, the like of which has not been felt since 1798. Sir Robert Peel proposes to revolutionise her financial policy, as Mr. Pitt did at the close of the last century. The boldness of proposing an income tax—of laying a tax on the rich instead of the poor—is a measure of vast importance. It is curious, too, to observe, that the British House of Commons is engaged on the subject that is about to occupy the American House of Representatives—a financial tariff. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.5
Another important point in the news. The defeat of the British forces in Cabool, and the demand for more troops in the East, would seem to indicate that there will be little disposition to quarrel with this country. Several of the regiments now in Canada are ordered back to Europe or to India. Our negotiations with England will be now conducted with great advantage—and we have every reason to believe that the despatches to Lord Ashburton, by the Western, will instruct him to make matters as smooth and easy as possible. England has no disposition, no interest, no advantage to gain, by going to war with this country, or creating any hostile feeling here: we have no donbt every thing will be settled amicably. Be it so. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.6
India.—The news from India is usually exciting. Sir W. M’Naghten, British envoy at Cabul, has been murdered; the garrison of the place capitulated, and were subsequently cut to pieces after three days’ hard fighting in the fatal Koord-Cabul Pass; five thousand four hundred men, including a Queen’s Regiment (the 44th,) perished: the lady of the unfortunate envoy, and fifteen other ladies, the wives of British officers at Cabul, have been captured and carried off by the Affghans. Even previous to the last fatal catastrophe, such was the slaughter of officers, that on the death of Sir William M’Naghten, the office of envoy devolved on Mr. Pottinger, a lieutenant of artillery, who had become brevet-major in consequence of the enormous number of casualties.—The European. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.7
Extract from Sir Robert Peels speech on developing his new financial policy. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.8
I have proposed, with the full weight and authority of the Government, that which I believe to be conducive to the public welfare, and I now confide to you the duty which properly devolves upon you, that of maturely considering and finally deciding upon the adoption or the rejection of that which I have proposed. (Cheers.) We live in an important period in the annals of human events. There may be a natural tendency to overrate the magnitude of the crisis which we witness, or to increase the importance of those occurrences with which we are encompassed; but it is impossible to deny that the period in which our lot and the lot of our fathers have been cast—that period which has elapsed since the first out-break of the French Revolution—is one of the most memorable periods in the history of the world; and the course which we pursued during that period will attract, for ages to come, the contemplation, and I trust the admiration of posterity. (Loud cheering.) It may be divided into two periods of almost equal importance. First, 25 years of continued conflict, the most momentous that ever engaged the energies of a nation; and next, twenty five years of profound European peace, purchased by the sacrifices which we made for years in maintaining the contest that preceded it. (Cheers.) There will yet be a time when those countless millions who will spring from our loins, and who will occupy other parts of the Globe—with laws and institutions analogous to ours—speaking the same language in which we convey our thoughts and feelings—the time, I say, will come when those countless millions will view with pride and admiration the example of constancy and fortitude which this country will have shown, in addition to our glorious achievements by sea and land to uphold the public interests, and which enabled us by the example we set to other countries, ultimately to ensure the deliverance of Europe. (Tremendous cheering.) Our conduct will be m close contrast with that of those who preceded us. (Hear, hear.) I am now addressing you after twenty-five years of peace—I am exhibiting to you the financial difficulties and embarrassments under which we labor, in the confident hope and belief that you will, following the example of those who preceded you, look your difficulties in the face, and not refuse to make any sacrifice that may be necessary for the purpose of averting the evils of those financial embarrassments, and to sustain the honor and interests, and maintain the faith of the country. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.9
The Jews in Russia.—The Augsburg Gazelle of the 24th of March publishes, under date St. Petersburg of the 11th, the following ukase of the Emperor of Russia relative to the conversion of Israelites to the Christian religion:— HST April 27, 1842, page 29.10
1.—When Israelites shall conform to the Christian religion, the holy baptism must also be given to their children under 7 years of age. Nevertheless, if the father or mother alone become converts, the sons shall be baptised in the first case, and the daughters in the second. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.11
2.—The converted Israelites who shall enter into holy orders are to be exempt from the taxes to which they were formerly liable. Every convert without distinction of sex, will receive, on his or her conversion, from 15 to 30 rubles, and the children will receive one half of the allowance granted to their parents. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.12
3.—The baptised Israelites will be entitled to embrace a commercial profession, on declaring that they possess the required capital, and proving that they pay the gildes rates; they are to be likewise admissible into the corporations of tradesmen and manufacturers, and into the agricultural communities. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.13
4.—The settlement as well as the first agricultural organization of the baptised Israelites, on the domains of the crown, are to take place, agreeably to the laws regulating the establishment of Israelites in the government of Cherson. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.14
5.—Baptised Israelites admitted on the domains of the crown and on private estates, are to be exempted from taxes during several years, as is the case with regard to Israelites embracing the agricultural profession.—The European. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.15
Greece.—Every thing looks like a speedy war between the Turks and the Greeks with 30,000 men on each side. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.16
“The sea and the waves roaring.” HST April 27, 1842, page 29.17
The Late Storm.—The number of bodies thrown on the coasts of France, from Boulogne to Dunkirk, in consequence of the storm of the 10th instant, amounts, says the Courrier du Nord, to 150.—English paper. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.18
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you, your riches are corrupted.”—James. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.19
The failure of the long-established house of For-man and Hadow, East India produce brokers, was announced on Tuesday. Their liabilities are estimated at L100,000.—The European. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.20
“Ye have heaped together treasures for the last days.”—James. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.21
The commissioners appointed by the State of Louisiana to examine into the affairs of the exchange bank, reports Mr. Yorke’s (the late President) indebtedness to the institution at $232,055,09. Mr. Y. has of course gone to Texas.—Daily Mail. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.22
The Second Advent.—Rev. Mr. Fitch has been preaching to full houses and great acceptance at Chardon street Chapel, in this city, on the Second Advent. He commenced his lectures on Monday evening, the 11th inst., and closed them on Friday evening, the 15th., and was heard with increasing interest to the last, when many were unable to gain admittance into the Chapel. He was expected to have continued to lecture in this city several days longer, but was prevented by the ill health of his family. It is evident that there is a great and growing attention on this important subject, not only in this city but through the country. Many are determined to give it a candid examination, and daily conversions to the doctrine of the Advent near are being developed. Others are giving up their old views of a spiritual millennium: and the modern Pharisees; who have hither to endeavored to sneer down this doctrine, by pretending it was too absurd for serious refutation, are beginning to change their tone. The truth is, a large portion of the clergy are grossly deficient in knowledge of the prophecies, are too proud to acknowledge their ignorance, and are afraid to enter into any discussion of the subject for fear of exposing themselves. Those among them who have sufficient candor to examine the subject are, many of them, acknowledging their former error, throwing away old prejudices, and embracing the truth in the main point, although many do not fix upon the precise year of the Advent. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.23
North Carolina-. Bro. Thomas, of Charleston, N. C. in a recent letter informs us that some of the friends in that region enquire if it is not possible to get Bro. Miller, Himes, Litch, Fitch and others to visit them, and hold two or three Conferences on the Second Advent. One devoted bro. has offered $100, towards the expense, and others make liberal offers, to aid in the spread of the doctrine of Christ’s glorious appearing and kingdom. “Can you not come?” HST April 27, 1842, page 29.24
We would be glad to. If God shall open the way the corning autumn, some of us will at least try. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.25
“The Hope of Israel.”—A most rich and able article has appeared under the above caption in the April No. of the Methodist Quarterly Review. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.26
The object of the writer is to present the true nature of the Abrahamic covenant, and the promises of restoration to Israel. He takes the ground that the covenants and promises were not made to the natural seed of Abraham, but to Christ and all his people; and that they are to be fulfilled in the resurrection of the dead in the heavenly country, the new earth, and the city which hath foundation, whose builder and maker is God, the new Jerusalem. We have never read a more entire and perfect refutation of the long cherished notion of a return to Palestine of the natural Jews, as such, either before, at, or after the Second Advent of Christ. We wish we could give it entire to our readers. But we must for the present content ourselves with the following extract. HST April 27, 1842, page 29.27
“All are not Israel who are of Israel;” and many are Israel who have not the blood of Jacob in their veins. We call on Israel’s God as our God; we invoke his blessing, and expect the answer for the Christian church, the modern Israel, and heirs of the promises, as well as the name, of Israel. God is not the God of the Jews only; Christ is not the King of the Jews only; but of all the faithful: and what is a restoration to Palestine in the flesh to the faithful among the Gentiles? Let the natural seed have this Jerusalem: to the spiritual seed belongs the inheritance of the New Jerusalem, which has foundations, and Jesus her Lord. This is the spirit of prophecy. Let the natural seed take their inheritance in this world, even the kingdom of this world: to the spiritual seed belongs the kingdom of heaven. Give Palestine to the natural Israel, and they will possess what Abraham did not: he only pitched his tent there; he sojourned in Palestine with a promise. So his seed, Christ, sojourned with the gospel; and his spiritual seed live as pilgrims, seeking a city, and dying in the faith of a better country, and in the hope of a better resurrection; Israel’s hope according to the law and to the gospel. Give Israel all the world, and they could have it but a few days; they should despise it in the faith of the glory which is to be revealed in the celestial world to come. This is the spirit of the promises and of the prophecies; this is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and of his kingdom; this is “the hope of Israel.” HST April 27, 1842, page 30.1
Bring into one field of view the entire prophecies relating to “the hope of Israel,” and the doctrine will found upright in the resurrection, supported in all its connections by life from the dead; and unshaken by carnal views of divine favor to the natural seed of Abraham. To this the literalist objects: “The resurrection of the body is repeatedly used by the prophets to typify the political revival of Judah and Israel.”—Faber. HST April 27, 1842, page 30.2
We are also literalists, and as such we maintain the literal word of prophecy, respecting the resurrection of the dead; and as literalists, we protest against subverting the doctrine of the resurrection, and robbing it of its heavenly glory, to typify a scene of political glory in this transitory world: we protest against burying the holy doctrine of the resurrection, and of the New Jerusalem, under the carnal rubbish and dust of Jerusalem secular and political: for, if the Scripture passages concerning the resurrection, used by the literalists to typify the national return, and the political dominion of the carnal Jews, be turned from their literal interpretation, the Old Testament light of immortality is extinguished, its ray are quenched in the darkness and dreams of Judaism; its vital power is submerged in the dead sea of Sadducean unbelief: for the Old Testament does not speak of the resurrection, except it be in those passages which the learned, devout, and honored defenders of the literal interpretation usually quote for the political use and benefit of the natural seed of Abraham. They inadvertently rob the Pharisee of the staff of “the hope of Israel;” and they make a covenant with the Sadducees to overthrow the faith of the ancient Scripture doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. They are no longer literalists, when they turn plain descriptions of the resurrection into political types and figures of worldly glory; and when they interpret the prophecies which promise life from the dead, chiefly for the revival of the national glory, secular power, and wide dominion of the natural Israel. They are not literalists, when they turn away from the literal interpretation put by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament on the letter of the Old Testament: “They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise: “that is, heirs of the promised land, given to Abraham and his seed. Galatians 3:7. HST April 27, 1842, page 30.3
Prophets of the Reformation
The fanatics of the Reformation are truly described by the editor of the Christian Watchman, in the following article. We fully agree with him, that they were fanatics. The advocates of the second coming of Christ in this age, also agree with him in relation to them. His remarks thereupon, have no more application to us, than to his own party, who are looking for a Temporal Millennium, and conquest of the world by the church. Eds. HST April 27, 1842, page 30.4
Luther and the Fanatics.—The great reformation in Germany, like every other, was attended by outbreaks of fanaticism. New revelations, new theories respecting the millennium and the end of the world, new interpretations: of Scripture, and new projects for reforming the church and the world, sprung up like fresh crops of mushrooms, but most of them, like the prophet’s gourd, being the growth of a night, perished in a night. Among them was a company of enthusiasts, who professed to have the gift of prophecy among them. They had formed a party at Wittemberg, embracing a few individuals who made some pretensions to learning and influence. When Luther returned from his exile at Wartburg, the leading men of this party had a desire to meet him, expressing the strongest confidence that ho must a once believe their doctrine. Luther, knowing well the violent, hasty, self-conceited temper of enthusiasts, which is the same in every age, had no desire to meet them, but as they proposed an interview he could not well decline it He thought, too, that it might be a service to the cause of true religion to unmask the imposture, and accordingly the meeting took place, of which the historian gives the following account. HST April 27, 1842, page 30.5
Stubner, one of the pretended prophets opened the conversation. He showed how he proposed to restore the church and reform the world. Luther listened to him with great calmness. “Of all you have been saying,” replied he, at last, gravely, “there is nothing that I see to be based upon Scripture. It is a mere tissue of fiction.” At these words Cellarius lost all self-possession. Raising his voice like one out of his mind, he trembled from hand to foot, and striking the table with his fist, in a violent passion, exclaimed against Luther’s speech as an insult offered to a man of God. On this Luther remarked, “Paul declared that of the signs of an apostle were wrought among the Corinthians, in signs and mighty deeds.—Do you likewise prove your apostleship by miracles?” “We will do so,” rejoined the prophets. “The God whom I serve,” answered Luther, “will know how to bridle your gods.” Stubner, who had hitherto preserved an imperturbable silence, now fixed his eyes on the Reformer, said in a solemn tone, “Marlin Luther, hear mo while I declare what is passing at this moment in your soul. You are beginning to see that my doctrine is true.” Luther was silent for a few moments, and then replied, “The Lord rebuke thee, Satan.” Instantly the prophets lost all self-command.—They shouted aloud, “The Spirit, the Spirit.” The answer of Luther was marked by the cool contempt, and cutting homeliness of his expressions: “I slap your spirit on the snout!” said he. Hereupon their outcries redoubled. Cellarius was more violent than the rest. He stormed till he foamed at the mouth, and their voices were inaudible from the tumult. The result was that the pretended prophets abandoned the field, and that very day they left Wittemberg. HST April 27, 1842, page 30.6
This was good riddance of course, and a triumph of native common sense, and unshrinking adherence to principle, over fanaticism. The medicine was a somewhat harsh, but an effectual one, and thus “the reformation with one hand dashed to the earth the dusty decretals of Rome, and with the other it put away from it the pretensions of the mystics, and established on the territory it had acquired the living and sure Word of God.” Luther, though a man of humble piety and of a tender spirit, had none of that shrinking, supple, time serving, pious expediency, which would tolerate error because of its supposed religious influence. HST April 27, 1842, page 30.7
Opening of the Sixth Seal,—Revelation 6:12
BY thomas gray, jr.
“And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal.” HST April 27, 1842, page 30.8
I stood above the mountains, and I saw
The unveiled features of Eternity.
The affrighted earth did quake. The mountains reeled,
And heaved their deep foundations to the day.
The islands melted in the sea. The rocks
Toppled, and fell in fragments. Lightning shot
A fiery glare athwart the ruined world.
Chaos returned again. The extinguished sun
Hung black and rayless in the midnight air;
The moon became as blood. And one by one,
The everlasting stars of heaven did fall,
Even us the fig-tree shaken by the wind
Drops her untimely fruit. All light was dead.
The heavens—th’ eternal heavens themselves, that stretched
Shroud-like above the earth, were rent in twain,
And vanished like a scroll together rolled,
And men did vainly strain their aching gaze
Into the lurid gulf, that mocked the space,
The yawning space of the departing sky.
The city was a desert. Men aghast
Fled from their rocking habitations, out—
Into the fields, that gaped and swallowed them.
The prisoner spurned his earthquake-riven chain,
And flung in horror his freed arms to heaven.
And men did cast themselves upon the earth,
And men did their faces; and they prayed—and died,
The living and the dead together lay;
The frantic mother, and the perished child.
And men did grovel in the parching dust,
Crawling like serpents o’er their kindred dead.
The crowned head, the lowly and the proud,
The rich, the brave, the mighty, bond and free,
Trembled and hid themselves, and shivering crept
Into the dens, and mountain-caves, and rocks;
And in their mortal horror, lifted up
On high their hollow voices, and they prayed,
“Ye mountains fall on us—and ye, oh rocks!
Hide us—ay! crush us from the face of Him
Who sitteth on the throne, and from the Lamb,
For lo! his day of vengeance has arrived,
And who can hope to stand?”
HST April 27, 1842, page 30.9
THE CONVERTS SONG
1. Come, all ye sons of Zi-on, Who are wait-ing for sal-va-tion, Have your lamps trim’d and burning, For behold the pro-cla-ma-tion,
Saying, “All things now are ready For the poor and for the nee-dy; All my fatlings now are killed, And prepared on the ta-ble.”
2 Arise and get ready;
Hasten to the marriage supper,
While the Bridegroom is calling,
And poor sinners are a falling.
See the Lord of life descending,
And the judgment trumpet sounding,
For to gather all the nations
To the final judgment-day.
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.1
3 O what a happy meeting,
When salvation is completed,
And tribulation’s ended,
And the spotless robe prepared
For the bride to be adorned,
In the jasper wall be crowned,
Saying, “Worthy is the Lamb,“
In the New Jerusalem.
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.2
4 O, sinners, don’t be doubting,
While the sons of God are shouting;
Come and join the happy army,
And there ‘s nothing that will harm you.
If you follow Christ the Savior,
And break off your bad behavior,
And repent and be converted,
You may sing his praises too.
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.3
Hymn
BY A. I. Williamson.
My heart is full of holy fire,
And my thoughts are of Heaven above;
Where God’s right hand shall awake the lyre,
To measures of Lordly Love;
To measures of Lordly Love, my soul,
To measures of Lordly Love;
When thou shalt be found with the ransom’d whole
Oh!—One in the Heavenly Dove!
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.4
I breathe, methinks, in the balmy air.
Of that high and that holy place;
For the spirit is here that shall lead me there,
To the light of my Father’s face,
To the light of thy Father’s face, my soul,
To the light of thy Father s face:—
Few; few are the envious years to roll,
Between thee and that voiceless grace!
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.5
O! mighty, the thought in my bosom springs,
To its rest in the realms on high;
And now to look, down upon earthly kings,
How it strains the mental eye!
How it stains the mental eye, my soul,
How it strains the mental eye!—
Turn—turn to the star in yon glorious pole,
And keep watch for the opening sky!
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.6
He comes, who swore to believers true,
They never should call in vain;
And though hell should rise on thy misty view,
Keep faith with the spotless slain.
Keep faith with the spotless slain, my soul,
Keep faith with the spotless slain;—
Oh! He speaks to thee, in no shadowy scroll,
And he soon will be here to reign,!
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.7
To reign o’er all, in immortal youth,
Transfigured without decay;
From glory to glory, in truth—His truth—
A ruined Creation, away.
A ruined Creation away, my soul,
A ruined Creation away;—
Oh! farewell; then, to the regions of dole,
And welcome Eternal Day!
HST April 27, 1842, page 31.8
Extracts from Fitch’s Sermons.—No. 2
II. In the second place, I am to consider some things which Christ will do, when he comes to judge the world. It is possible that the interpretation now given may be thought too literal. If all the signs of Christ’s first coming were literally fulfilled, why not those of his second? HST April 27, 1842, page 31.9
1. He will raise the righteous dead, and the righteous only. HST April 27, 1842, page 31.10
Paul, in the 4th chapter of his 1st Epistle to the Thessalonians, says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. “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.” You perceive there is nothing said here of the resurrection of any but the dead in Christ. And that the wicked dead will not be raised at this time, appears from the twentieth chapter of the Revelation.” “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. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Here we have an account of the resurrection of the wicked. A thousand years after the first resurrection, when the righteous shall be raised, they, i. e. the wicked, went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city, and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. HST April 27, 1842, page 31.11
Thus it seems clear, that Christ, at his coming, will raise the righteous, and that they will reign with him a thousand years, and that the rest of the dead will not live until the thousand years are finished. HST April 27, 1842, page 31.12
2. Another thing which Christ will do at his coming, will be to change the bodies of the righteous living, from corruption to incorruption. This mortal will then put on immortality. The apostle Paul, in the same chapter of his epistle to the Thessalonians, from which I have already quoted, after saying that the dead in Christ shall rise first, thus continues—“then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them, to meet the Lord in the air; so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Thus all the righteous, with incorruptible bodies, will, at the coming of Christ, be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. HST April 27, 1842, page 31.13
3. The other thing which Christ is to do at his coming, is to burn the world. Peter, in the third chapter of his second epistle, says—This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: Knowing this first, “that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and sayiug, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep all things continued as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water, and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire, against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Lord is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slackness, but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, und the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” This is what Peter himself says repecting the burning of the world. But you will recollect that he tells those to whom he wrote, that the object of his writing this second epistle was that they might be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Savior. Do the prophets then say anything of this burning of the world which Peter brings to view? HST April 27, 1842, page 32.1
Isaiah says, “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.” And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch, it shall not be quenched night nor day, the smoke thereof shall go up forever. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read, no one of these things shall fail.” Several chapters of Jeremiah’s prophecies near the close,are taken up with a description of the destruction of Babylon, which like Babylon in the revelations, must mean the whole world of the wicked. In this we have the following. “Behold I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyeth all the earth; and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks,and make thee a burnt mountain. Again—thus saith the Lord of hosts, the broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire.” Amos says, “And the Lord God of hosts is he that toucheth the land and it shall melt, and all that dwelleth therein shall mourn.” God said by Moses—“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” HST April 27, 1842, page 32.2
SCOFFER’S REFUGE
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” 2 Peter 3:3, 4. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.3
Rev. T. F. Norris, again
Mr. Norris sir if thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace, thou would never have published these lines before you, but now safety is hid from thine eyes. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.4
Sir pleas prove what you have assirted lest youre bands be made strong and study youre bible before slandering Millrism any more wrote by one who soon exspects to meet his God, Yours with respect h w HST April 27, 1842, page 32.5
The above we give verbatim et literatim. It was sent to our address, post-marked Worcester, Mass. April 11. The man who wrote it cannot be a christian, for he robbed us of 20 cents, the postage on his communication and our article enclosed. Now we again repeat, Millerism is one of the greatest impostures ever inflicted on the superstitious, the honest and the ignorant, or himself is deceived, and the time is near at hand which will show it. We will not argue with bigots and men whose vision is so weak as to be bleared by this most wicked of all humbugs, because it trifles with the most solemn interests of humanity, waking in the minds of the credulous and timid, needless but most tormenting fears. We repeat there is not a single passage in the Holy Bible that can, without torture, be made to teach Miller’s doctrine of the Millennium or the end of the world, and how great is the guilt of the man who for a little disgraceful notoriety will thus solemnly impose on the unsuspecting and the sincere. We give him full liberty in the day of judgment, if he is not a deceiver and his doctrine a delusion, to reproach us with our wrong doings in opposing him. We will call upon ministers of all sects to guard their people against such a solemn mockery of God’s truth. We most conscientiously bow to the revealed word of God, and have spent thirty-five years in trying to enforce its truths on mankind and will, while reason and strength remain, use both the voice and pen in laboring to persuade men to receive its doctrines and obey its precepts. But the bigot or the impostor we will oppose with equal zeal, however solemn and devout he may be, or may seem to be, and how much good soever he may do or teach otherwise. We assure our readers his dreams about the millennium are idle and wicked. It would be casting pearls before swine or arguing with insane obstinacy, to attempt to confute the fooleries of Miller. Fools and bigots, when beaten can argue still. Wise men will not be deceived, and we pray God to shield good men from his delusions. Below is the article which gave our correspondent the horrors. Brothers Himes and Fitch are to be pitied for being so easily gulled by the interested Miller. Brothers, if God spares all of our lives until the end of 1843, we shall see who was non-compos-mentis, Norris, or those Miller beguiled in their simplicity. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.6
Olive Branch of April 16. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.7
New Publications
American Millenarian.—We learn that a new periodical with the above title, is about to be issued in this city, advocating the Pre-millennial Advent, and literal interpretation of prophecy. The first number will be issued about the first of May, and is to be published semi-monthly. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.8
Letters
From P. M. Topsham, Me—Cabot, Vt.—Glenns Falls, N.Y.—Atkinson, Me.—East Newport, Me—Holliston, Mass.—South Strafford,Vt.—New Bedford, Mass.—Charlton, N.Y.—Windsor, Vt.—Groton,Mass.—Marshfield, Vt.—South Hadley Canal,Mass.—Hanover, N.H.—Bangor, Me.—Athens, Me—Now Bedford, Mass.—East Newport, Me. Hampton, Ct.—Jamestown, N. Y.—Glasgow, Ky.—North Hadley, Mass.—Lynn, Mass. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.9
Abiel Chandler, Levi Fisk, Henry J. Grew,C. Wines, David Dutton, Rev. Thomas M. Preble, Moses Morse, Austin Flint, Randolph E. Ladd, Daniel Churchill, Hiram Harriman, Austin Flint, Daniel P. Pike, Joseph Blanchard, James Wolstenholme, E. H. Wilcox, Moses Palmer, Henry Frost, of Cornville, Me, Williams Thayer, D. Burgess, Nelson G. Howard, Mr. Miller, John Percival, Mr. Stanwood, H. D. Ward, Jocob Schlager, Jarius B. Davis, J. M. Thomas, Messrs. W. & C. B. Roberts, Greenville, S. C. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.10
Bundles Sent
One bundle sent to D. Burgess, Hartford, Ct., via, Springfield, Mass. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.11
Second Advent Library
The following works comprise the Library. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.12
1. Miller’s Life and Views.—37 1-2 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.13
2. Lectures on the Second Coming of Christ.—37 1-2cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.14
3. Exposition of 24th of Matt. and Hosea 6:1-3. 18 3-4 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.15
4. Spaulding’s Lectures on the Second Coming of Christ.—37 1-2 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.16
5. Litch’s Address to the clergy on the Second Advent.—18 1-4 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.17
6. Miller on the true inheritance of the saints, and the twelve hundred and sixty days of Daniel and John.—12 1-2 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.18
7. Fitch’s Letter, on the Advent in 1843.—12 1-2 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.19
8. The present Crisis, by Rev. John Hooper, of England—10 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.20
9. Miller on the cleansing of the sanctuary.—6 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.21
10. Letter to every body, by an English author, “Behold I come quickly.”—6 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.22
11. Refutation of “Dowling’s Reply to Miller,” by J. Litch.—15 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.23
12. The “Midnight Cry.” By L. D. Fleming. 12 1-2 HST April 27, 1842, page 32.24
13. Miller’s review of Dimmick’s discourse, “The End not Yet.”—10 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.25
14. Miller, on the Typical Sabbaths, and great Jubilee.—10 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.26
15. The glory of God in the Earth. By C. Fitch.—10 cts. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.27
The above works are now published in sheets as a periodical; and, as such, can be sent by Mail to any part of the U. S. Persons at a distance can have the whole, or any one, or more numbers of this work sent to their order. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.28
Signs of the Times
Is published weekly, at No. 14 Devonshire Street, Boston, by JOSHUA V. HIMES, to whom all letters and communications must be addressed. HST April 27, 1842, page 32.29
Terms,—One Dollar per Volume of 24 Nos. (6 months)
dow & jackson, Printers.
HST April 27, 1842, page 32.30