Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-10-21
THE END OF THE WORLD

Whtch u NoiuUe renting 10 the ffOpncCleS, |
in which the following excellent comments
may be found
"Plain as all this seems to nv mind. vet |
see many, aud some very sensible persons
too, greatly agitated about the end of the
world, which, many predict at the present
day, is to come in 1913. do not say it will
not for do not know this But do say,
that it would be well for the public to call
to mind the many predictions of the like ma
ture which have been wrecked and which
were maintained with as much learning, and
as much confidence too, as the present the
cries are. Specially would they do we'll to
call to mind the notable case of John Albert
Bengel, one of the best Greek Scholars and
Sacred expostors of the last age, and the
editor of the famous critical edition of the
New Testament, which bears his name
His piety and talents are beyond fair cues
ton, and sobriety, on all other subjects ex-
cept Apocalypse, was prominent trait of
his character. He spent the flower os his
life in pursuit Of the secret meanings of the
Revelation. He came TO full persuasion,
at last, that he had discovered them. He
announced them TO the world and in so do
only reason he has to doubt the disclosures
OF these seVro,s is that il was made TO so I'M
worthy person as himself IeI, In the full
confidence that the occult matters of the
Apocalypse had actually been revealed TO
him by the Holy Spirit, he published his
book. Most devoutly does he thank God
for the wonderful disclosures which it is de-
signed to make. The grand period as to
all the leading parts Of the great drama, ac-
cordng to his book, was TO be consumated
in A. ID. 1886. IL the face of the world
should not be entirely changed at that peri
cd, then, he says, the church must believe
that he has been mistaken. But that the
change would take place, he entertained not
shadow OF doubt.
So far, this great and good man. And we
have lived to see 1896, and the world is
still moving round the sun, and its busy in
habitants going on much as in the days Of
yore. We never once thought, at that pc
Rod, of the Btagclim revelations and can
not now discover the record OF them on the
page Of history.
Many a confident prediction, uttered by
other romdnoers in prophecy, has met the
same fate, and been wrecked on the rocks
whittier the mighty stream of time hath
borne thvna. Gaeii IL JouL,ieos tho Jeo.;.y
of many others also; and yet, all this does
not seem to diminish the confidence of those
who write theological Be it so II there
must needs be enthusiasts and Missionaries,
land so it would seem y why may not this
department Of exegetca theology exhibit its
due proporton'
Once for all, however, we may beseech
ton. will not reproach them with the
presumption of undertaking to expound a
book, which, of all others in the Bible, de-
mands the deepest knowledge of the original
Scriptures and of the prophetic idom, when
they have not well studied either. But may
not ask. how it came about, that when
Jerusalem was to be destroyed, the exact
! time was so carefully kept back; until
the very eve OF its accomplishment, from
!. the disciples Of Christi Mark tells us
= xiii. 3,) that the three favorite disciples
y went to him and asked him the question re-
speeding the time of its desolation. He tells
. us, Also that Jesus declared "ths time
: ". 32) to be uaknO,rn, not only to men, but
: TO the angels in heaven, yea to the Son him
y SELF 1t was only after the Roman ar
my was in Palestine md had begun Their
task, that the time was declared 10 John
; Rev. xi. ,.
|, But we may appeal to passage still more
" applicable to the present case, and which
: comprises more within its grasp. The anx
= ious disciples asked of the risen Saviour
: rhen he nomM restore the kingdom TO Israel
" 1t matters not what prticular thing they hac
} in mind, i. e, whether it was purely the spir
= itual kingdom of Christ, or the ecclesiasiico
= political kingdom which they had once beer
} expecting. The answer is one which shout,
/, be engraven on irontispiece and put upoI
y y the study door of every writer on the prophe
II cies, who INDUCES the expectation of bein.
able to point out the day and the hour of full
= flment 1t was this; it is not for yOu &
;. knoD the times or the seasons ,ohich theEdfI
- cr hath PIT IN his Own potcer, Acts. j. 6, 7.
e If now it was not for even apostles I,
? know these secrets, is it for every curiou
= = and specializing mind, that knows little in
y deed either Of history or eXegetical science
to tell US all about such matters Is it no
r presumption to engage in such an nndertak
l. ngl God has undoubtedly determines
upon the times and seasons, when all event
q that respect his church will take place.
as But it does not follow. that lie has reveale
M this matter to u.s. We are satisfied he ha
ID not. Why not leave to him the secret thin
H. which he claims as his own prerogative 2
in Why assume to ourselves position, whic
r he does not allow us to assume
IS. But alas! all the disappointments {
d. writers teeming with fancy and filled wit
ly confidence, in days that are past, seem
have made no serious impression on the lllS
class of writer's at the present period. A
soon as ruthless time mows down one pa
irl ierre of flowers with the scvfhe anOlhf