Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-01-17
For tie Vermont Telegraph
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
To wn. muller, Loyv-Hampton. N. KS

To WIN. Miller, Low-Hampton,N N. Va
[objection ID eoncluded.l
Brother Miller Unity is an important
rule in composition; and where this is
wanting, the writer may make many broad
assertions, say great many fine things, and
make the superficial reader or nearer sup
pose he has established his point and after
all no real evidence be brought to sustain
his position. When read an author who
can turn every circumstance into proof in
his favor, I always doubt the truth Of his
position. And when find person who,
when looking At an object at one time pro-
nounces it black, and then al another time
pronounees the same object 4rhite, must
conclude that either his optic nerve is a
little strained by long looking, or that there
Is radical defect in his sense Of vision
These remarks may seem a little severe
when applied, but still with all due defer.
ence to your age and talents, must say
never read an author to whom they will
apply with more propriety than to yourself
Others however may judge very differently,
and may yetbe convinced that the defect
in vision is my own.
With these remarks, l proceed, as was
proposed, 10 notice your proof from the
seven Asiatic churches, and especially the
Laodicean, that Christ will soon make his
second appearance, ] did design to remark
somewhat extensively upon your exposition
Of the FIRST six churches, bot having already
occupied more space on this objection than
at frIt designed, shall only notice your
proof that the churches represent different
periods Of ChrisI's church, and not literal
churches. -s...- s.,r. 49,.
You make much account Of the book Of
Revelation being called a prophecy: page
100. You say il is "arevelation OF things
which must shortly come to pass. Not
things that have been. Yet if Christ is
only giving admonitory advice to those
seven literal churches, then he is only re-
lating their characters as they then were,
and thus, far as these churches were con-
cerned, il would cease TO be prophecy and
the very first verse in Revelation would be
yiolated."' Again, after quoting, "Blessed
is he that readeth, aud they that hear the
word Of this prophecy" you say, "but who
will pretend that the three chapters in the
beginning Of Revelation are prophecy, il
we understand them as relating the charac.
ter Of seven literal churches in Asia only
None, none" Yes, brother Miller, altho
the character Of these "literal" churche:
may be related, yet am one who can exon
crate the Revelator from inconsistency, tho
he call il prophecy. suppose you would
call Malachi a prophet, and yet a grea
proportion Of his writings is relating thu
character Of the Jews as they then were
So Of most Of the prophets. These proph
cts however tell Of things to come-so doe
the Reyelator to these churches. "Fea
none Of those things which thou shalt sui
fer: behold, the devil shall cast some o
you into prison, that ye may be tried: an
we shall have tribulation ten days: bestho
faithful unto death, and will give thee
crown Of hfe.n-Rev. ii. 10. Is here n
prophecy1 Again, Sand he that over
eometh, and keepefh my works unto III
end, to him will give power over the "a
lions: And he shall rule them with rod {
iron; as the vessels Of a potter shall the
be broken to shivers: even as I received
my Father. Behold, win make them
the synagogue Of Satan, which say the
are Jews, and are not, bet do lie; behold,
will make them to come and worship befol
thy feet, and to know that have loved the
Because thou hast kept the word Of N
patience, also will keep thee from q
hour Of temptation, which shall come upC
all the world, to try them that dwell upc
the earh."-Rev. ii. 26, 81, and iii, 8,
Where is there anything in this book viii
oueht to be called prophecy" if the
expressions are not7 The ReYelator spea
in the present tense, or of things then pa
ing before Aial, and there are whole chapt'
where not one word is said about things
come, and vet you say, 8 they are daily {
filing and have been for 10 eenturies.n
DO not say that this assertion IS, or is !
true, for ! do not know. wetstein, an ca
erPo,itoT Of this book, has made nearly
whole q, il refer 70 things which took pl.
before, and al the destruction Of Jcrp
.ra - ttef rsss.5 80 Ha -