Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-01-17


sometimes allude to the minority, and at
others to the mgiority,--for you have evil
IDENTITY meant to represent the majority of
the church In all the above quotations-as
such phrases as "church generally" and
ten to one" great body" &c, abundant
iy prove. Besides, your book abounds in
mere assertions, which are so interviewer in
your discourses that the reader or nearer,
unless very attentive, would take them as
positive proof. For instance, in explaining
Daniel xii, 6: Chow long shall it be tothe
end ofthese wonders? You say it "means
to the end of the reign of the beast which
the world wondered AFTER" Rev. xiii, 8.
Again, Rev. x, 6: "There shall be time no
longer" This, you say, "means media
toriaL time," or that God will no longer
delay his judgments, or wait to be gra-
cious:" page Sc. Such assertions abound
throug hout your lectures.
shall close this objection, in a few re-
marks upon explaining 6gurative language,
which may not only apply to yourself but
10 others. On page 147, you attempt an
explanation of Rev. vi. Ply inclusive
" And l beheld when he had opened the sixth
seal, and 10, there was great earthquake;
and the sun became black as sackcloth of
hair, and the moon became as blood and the
stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a
fg-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she
is shaken of mighty wind; and the heav-
en- departed as scroll when it is rolled to-
gether; and every mountain and island
were moved out of their places: and the
kings Of the earth, and the great men, and
the rich men, and the chief captains, and
the mighty men, and every bondman, and
every freeman, hid themselves in the lens
and in the rocks of the mountains; and said
to the mountains and rocks, Fall on US, and
hide US from the face Of him that stitch
on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb: for the great day Of his wrath is
come and who shall be able to stand %
Earthquake here, you say, means " the
French revolution, and of course, this seal
opened about A. D. 1890" Here is anoth-
er assertion, and then an "of course"
coming after it, apparently as positive proof.
AS have just remarked, you have quite too
much proof Of this kind. But, to proceed,
sun means "kings or rulers"-nuoon, "the
queen"-stdrS, "inferior rulers"-hearens
claws and government of France"-n,oun
taius and islands, "large and small gov.
ernments." And so you go on and make
all refer to something which transpired in
the French revolution. Others make all
these verses refer TO the days of Constan-
tine, and the fall of paganism. Almost
every author has fulflment which best
suits his theory, and every one mast Needs
be right. And for aught see all have about
equal claims and, as you say, page 155, 81
dare not give preference to any," and hence
following your example concerning the
many explanations of the two witnesses
l condemn the whole. If by so doing
must stand alone and be called "singular,'
yet shall enter my solemn protest agains
all such explanations as yours and others
mentioned above. If this passage may be
explained away, and made to mean some
earthly revolution, then any other in tht
Bible may. Even that most solemn de-
scription of the day of Judgment, { as
conceive,) in 2 Peter iii, 10, &C., may al
be explained away-so may Math. xiv, anG
XIV. If there is any such thing as "hurt
ing" the Bible, such expositions are doing
it, and doing more to make Universalists
than to save souls, or honor God. l shall
now leave this objection, by quoting the
words of Adam Clark, in his preface tt
Revelation. "Shall have the reader
pardon, if say that it is my firm opinion tina
the expositions of this book have done grea
disservice to religion; almost every com
mentator has become prophet, for as sool
as he began to explain he began also t.
, prophecy. And what has been the issue
: Disappointment laughed at hopes car eer
and superficial thinkers have been led t.
despise and reject prophecy ITSELF"
AARON Angler
Waterbury, JAM, 1888.
} For the Vermont Telegraph.
} PEACE..-NO. XII.