Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-09-10
NUMBER XII.


traced up to Elias, rabbincal writer, who
fourshed about two centuries before the birth
of Christ. 1t certainly obtained among the
Chaldeans from the earliest times, and it is
countenanced by Barnabas Ireneus, and other
primitive writer's, and also by the Jews of the
present day. But, though the theory may not
be very improbable, yet, as it has not the sane
ton of Scripture to support it, We are not bound
to respect it any farther than as a doubtful ira
dition."
We find that the most ancient of the fathers,
Justin Martyr, was an inveterate supporter of
the millennium doctrine; but we have abundant
proof, that it was never admitted by the entire
church from the writings, not only of ancient,
but of modern historians as wel-of the former
we mention-Eusebius and Iren9us; of the
latter, Dupin and Mosheim. Dionysius, bishop
of Alexandria, surnamed the Great and, ORR
gen, of all the fathers the most learned-both
opposed the doctrine on the subject in their
day. But, argue some, as "God spent six days
making heaven and earth, and rested on the
SEVENTH therefore the world will stand 5000
years, and the seventh thousand will be the
holy rest of Gods people" 'One day being
with the Lord as thousand years, and thou
sand years as one day.-II. Peter, 3: s." To
suppose that Christ shall come in His human
nature to this earth and here live, His whole
person visible for one thousand years before the
to some scriptures. His coming in His human
nature at the great Judgment Day is said to be
His second coming, or appearance 1t is ap-
pointed unto men once to die, but after this,
the Judgment: so Christ was once offered to
bear the sins of many and unto them that look
for Him shall He appear the second time with
out sin unto salvation.-Hebrew 9: 27-S."-
Here is the appearance of Christ at the day of
Judgment to complete the salvation of His
Church but how could this be His second ap-
pearance were He to appear in His human ma
ture for one thousand years. or the time of the
millennium which is to take place, if L under
stand the time, before the Judgment Day P
Whether Christ comes visibly In His human
nature, or otherwise, we believe He will come
in some way to destroy antchrists and Satan's
kingdom in this world, and then introduce the
millennium.
The year 1868 may witness the great change
of the affairs of this world and in view of the
possibility of the truthfulness of what is believ-
ed by many of t6o2day we tremble, sir, for this
land of ours. Think you not that at one time,
in the peaceful and happy past, when we felt
ourselves closely knit together by the strong
chains of love and union, that we were as peo-
pie better fitted to give a more suitable recep-
ton to the Holy One than we are at the present
hour? Not only our political horizon looks at
times very dubious, but to see our once united
and solid columns of protesting christians at
swords points falling to manifest that broth
erly love-" which should characterize all the
followers of Christ casts gloom over our once
bright prospects and joyous hopes;
These considerations, says "W. L. Z"
alluding to 's6S," being the eventfnl year,
.'should admonish us to meet our obligations,
and the relative duties that are expected of us.
What wholesome advice this: let US not fail
V. d. Ms--and all others to profit by these
wayside warnings, and whether we be sure or
not of Christ coming according to the expec-
tation of many, that we may constantly be on
our guard, that when with you or me life
sinks apace anddeah heaves in view, the words
Of His grace may accompany us through,
Got fearing or doubling with Christ on our side,
Be enabf to die shouting, ''the Lord will pro-
But, be it ours, as long as health and strength
hold good through the mercies Of God, to
strive to put down sin and all wrong, and so live
that the world may be the better for our having
lived In it: that our lives may be worthy ofim-
itation, that no tedious searching will have to
be gone through with to find our few virtues,
but may they be as the sands upon the ocean
shore.
As we are commanded to watch" let us
bear in mind that this little word of FIVE letters
is very comprehensive one. 1t surely does
ence and neglect; nor does it mean that we
shall put away reflection, reinquish expectation,
or suppress desire, but simply, Watch! u By
way of illustration, let me add the story of
poor peasant who lived ON the Welsh noun
tains. This poor peasant month after month,
and year after year, through quite lengthy pc
riod of declining life, he, every morning, as
soon as he awoke, would get up from his couch
and open his easement window towards the east,
l.. l.
honest hearted old man surely was no calculator,
or he need not have looked so long; but that
he was student of prophecy, his looking con-
vinces us that he was and that he was also
ready, or he would not have manifested such
haste. The old gentleman's s willingness is here
seen, too, or he would have preferred and look
ed another way and clearer than all, think it
proved, he loved, or he would not have looked
the first thing in the morning, showing that his
first thoughts were about his Lords coming
His Master did not come, but messenger did,
and took the ready one home Blessed is that
servant whom his Lord, when He cometh,
shall find watching. Luke, II: 43.''
SOUTH FORK. 0. III.
Feature of the Dark Conspiracy.
The Philadelphia Age calls attention to one
feature of the dark and damnable conspiracy of
I1Olt, ASuICy dilO tuC
mentality of Charles A. Dunham alias Sanford
Conover, convicted perjurer, to implicate
President johnson in the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. 1t says:
'Now here let us, for moment, pause on a
feature of this dark transaction which, perhaps,
has not attracted casual attention. Let it be
remembered that the attempt of Ashley and his
confederates to persuade the President to pardon
Conover, was made when they thought he could
be induced to implicate Mr.. johnson in the
murder of Lincoln. In plain English they ask
the President by his pardon to restore compe-
tency to witness who has promised them to
perjure himself anew and to testify against his
benefactor. Conover is to go before the I'm
peachment Committee to swear away the char
acter of the President with the President par
don in his hand. Such pardon would have
been great endorsement. 1t would have been
what, we believe, lawyers call an estople. Teste
n,eipso to Sanford Conover's TRUTH" Andrew
johnson could not have said word against
him. Happily for himself-happily for the
country-more happily for the cause of justice,
the President escaped this pitfall, and the con-
sequence thus far is that new conspiracy is
baffied, and there seems at last some chance of
public Indignation, drugged so long to sleep,
being thoroughly aroused. 1t is a subject of
vast interest of which we have presented but
one phase There are others quite as interest
ing In the mean time Conover goes to Alba
ny, and Holt is at large in Washington.
A NJ. Crane editor of the Winchester Jour