The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-02
For iae Sgirii Of Tie Age.

aid preached ubont in these days: and very ditar-
ent opinions are entertained both with regard to
the period OF It's commencement, and what will be |
the state Of thirgs on this earth when it arrives.
The prophecies upon this subject aTo expressed
in lauguagc 50 IiguIatlvc,it may seem presumption
for any unlnspicd person 10 entertain any very
great assurance Of the correctness Of his own views
upon either branch Of the subject and, will add,
a my own belief, that il was never intended by
the Almighty, that any. except those inspired 10
write the prophesies, and probably not they, even,
should ever be able to discover beforehand the par
ticulars of the time, place, and circumstances OF
the fuIfmenl, oiany prophecy but that it Shouldn't
ter The lulhlmcnt be plain 10 every intelligent can
did reader, who should be well acquitted with the
occurrences alluded to rs fuilmenl, that such
were The events predicted: thus furnishing indub-
table evidence Of the inspiration Of the scriptures,
at Icas, those parts which consist in propheccs,-
10 give one example. We read in Daniel the
prophecy, that, ''rom th3 going forth of the COM
mundmenl to rebuild JcrusaIum, there should be
seven weeks, and threeScore aud two wceks,when
Messiah should be cut off, but not for himself -
Now there were three commandments Tor rebnlId-
in. Jerusalem: one lay Cyrus, one ny Darius, and
one by AhasucruS; or otherwise called ArtaraXzos
LonginanuS. From which Of these commandments
to begin the computation no person could tell, ill
the prophecy should be fulfilled by the cutting Off
Of the Messiah: and no u,malion is given, when
The Messiah should be born, or how old he would
be when cut OIL There was nothing 10 aid con-
lecture on which commandment. 10 rest, I'LL the
lime hid expired, if rCckOned from the lr.,o or that
made by Cyrus, when ii became sure, that ii was
not the true tine from which to begin the reckoning
But after the crucRxion Of our Saviour, none could
doubt as to the time of computation, or the idcn,i
e 'r,ll, lIrl
| like he Jews. SO, with regard to the time Of the
second advent Of Christ, there is ground for much
doubt, in reference TO the time when the several
periods commenced, which are mentioned by Dan
| lei in his prophecies; and by John in the Reyca-
ton: to wit the SEQ days; the 1890 days: The l.,
335 days: the AZ monlhs: and the 1850 days.
Besides, it Is not 10 be expected, that the Chrc
nology Of past ages has preserved perfect aCcur-
Ncy with regard 10 the fractions of years, Nor do
we know the exact effect of the various changes in
the computation Of time in all past ages.
Now, with lespec, to this subject, am not dis
posed to enlist in my sort Of litigation will only
express my opinion, which Is worth nothing unless
il grcorI1 with scripture.
First then, " it'll regard 10 the time of the second
advent of Christ, believe it is rot Ear distant Nnd,
among the uncertainties in which believe, shall
no, attempt to correct the computation made by any
one, by fixing different period, Nor do believe
il any one exact period any more for lis being liy-
ed upon by clposors' prefer Judging Of the pc
rind hy the signs Of the times. believe the Wis
ion Of John, of the angel flying through the midst
Of Heaven hearing The everlasting Gospel to every
People, Nation, aud l.annuage, has been fulfilling
for many years past, while the Gospel has been
going 10 such various paris Of the world in the Ian
aunge Of each nntcn where it comes; and prohab-
lv thn nI la In In Ia thn in
hubilrn,s Of the earth. all TINT will then be on the
earth, though the Gospel, before the second ad-
vent Of Christ; 50 ,!t al will be without excuse
who do rot submit 10 his righteous reign. The
progress Of this work has been greats bat reason
~ from the past, several years more VIII he oc-
cupird in completing this spcah Of Tie Gospel
know it i said by some, that the Gospel hlS, at
ddlilrcnt times, been preached TO all nations
have M evidence that this Is the fact, with regard
TO all the nations nOw on the earth, This, cx-
ncct viii be the case, before the second advent
february or April 1873 as" lnt time dl lfr; grcd
and glorious day, the second advent, TO unite THEN
computation of time with the signs of the times
aai not be so pntirulGr but give at least eight oi
ten years within which that day may be expected
Furthermore, there is no prophecy more fall
thu, that of The return Of the Jews To their own
land Whether this viii be n return to Palestine
Thought, To some hrccr place or territory, which
shall become then own land, ! would express No
opinion. Eat have no doubt tina, this return nl
the Jews viii prcccdn the second advcn, of Christ
and the signs u! the times Ndmonish US, thu, TIN,
return viii snnn commence. The Jews have long
been snndln, witness to The truth Of pioplcc,
being scattered over all the earth. Their return
Hlost probably Will occupy several years. And
hnw greatly will this he accelerated by the US, nj
steam, 10 poprl The boats, and cars upon which
they will be transported See Isaiah 18Th 2h'.Go
yG swift messengers TO nation scattered and neal
cl, To people terrible from their beginning hIhcr.
To, nation melted ont and irodden down, whose
land 'hc TivGs have spoiled" What can this be
In, prophecy, that the steamboats, md rail car.
shall be the means of carrying the converted Jew.
10 their own land, with a velocity worthy Of pro.
phcc record
Secondly, wi'h regard to the state Of things on
this earth after the second advent Of Christ, my
orinion differs widely Gom that expressed by sorr
others. lind nothing in scripture, taking all paris
together, warranlng any belief, that this earth i.
To be hnrn up or burnt over, I'll after the sernnd
resurrection, and The coming Of the day Of jndr.
neni. Still my Views upon this snhlocl Afford no
encouragement ,ur the impenent, 10 remain in
that state. For believe there will he none of
thousand years during which Christ will rcisn ON
The earth, What do not Icpen, and turn to God
VIII perish under some terrible udgtnrnt Of the
Almighty. The scriptures may have presented il
IN prophecy, yet clothed in too much figure for n,
10 decphcr desire, however. that the has, chm.
Ter of the Prophet Zochariah may be read and con-
s'dered. ! know su;nc Commentators have cy-
p'and that MS relating 10 the destruction Of Jeru.
s''cn. but have never read my account Of the
destruction ct Jerusalem, which appears 10 NO
any like II fnilnent of the prophecy in tia, last
chapter. ! incline 10 the bccr, that the second
advent of Christ il described in that chapter: thai,
Jciush'cm, there nlcniioncdf means tho whole
Church militant, and tim, those ihnre mentioned
~ fighting against jciusalum arc the enemies Of
The Chnfch, oil the impeneni on earth they aIl
being treated ~ IN army fighting on the siic Of
s7lan. The thee following verses Described how
| the Lord himself shall 90 forth and fght against