The Tarboro' southerner., 1868-02-27

there is difference of 1868 years.
The ancient Hebrews had no regular
system of chronology, and no fixed
historical epoch and the three forms
of the Bible Hebrew, Greek, aud Sa-
maritan), which are Of the greatest
antiquity, present difference Of so6
years sin the time from the creation
to the deluge, as estimated from the
ages of the patriarchs at the time of
their sons birth. The use of the time
of Chrst's birth as a chronology ical era
was not introduced until 600 years
after his birth, and did not become uni
versal in Christeudom until the 18th
century. Tins, oven if the popular
idea respecting the commencement of
the Millennium were correct, it is ut.
terly impossible to tell when the 5000 !
years from the creation of men termi-
nate.
Professors Bush and Hammond think
that the Millennium has long since
passed-supposing that it began with
the great success of Christianity in the
4th OF 9TH century, and ended with
the capture Of Constantinople in the
18th! Amazing conclusion, say we,
that makes the most blessed period of
the worlds history contemporaneous
with its Dark Ages! Jurien fixed its
beginning at the year 1885, Bepgel at
1886, and Miller at 1913. The Sha-
kcrs, OF whom there are 6O00 in the
United States, hold that God is dual,
being an Eternal Father and Mother
drst appearing ca earth in Jesus OF
Nazareth AMI that the second appear
ing Of the CHRIST without sin uHto
sllyat;5n took place through Mother
Ann Lee IN l7IO. The Swedcloccgi~
ans, who number some 5000 in TIL,
country, and whose tenets are mostly
received by tie Spiritualists, of whom
we have four millions among us, main
tain that the last general judgment
occurred in 1857, when the Second
Advent Of the Lord, in spirit and
power, was exhibited in Emanuel
Swedenborg, who then established
their "New Jerusalem Church, which
St. John prophetically saw descend
ing from God out of heaven, prepared
as bride adorned for her husband"
The Mormons call them ewes Int
ter Day Saints" in reference to fun
damental article of their creed affirm>
ing the near approach Of the last day
The Millerites, or Second Adyeutists,
have stopped dressing in white and
stationing themselves in graveyards
aud on the tops of houses, waiting for
the appearance Of the Lord as they
used to do, but still exist as distinct
order, and hold that the second com~
ing of Christ is very near, though the
precise date is uncertain
In harmony with very many of the
most learned Bible scholars of the
present age and the last three centur-
les, we ourselves are firmly persuaded
that the close Of this Gentle dispensa-
tion and the commencement of the
Millennium are not remote. But we
beg leave radically to differ with Mr.
Baxter and his 40 confelerates in their
: views of a literal fu!6lment Of the
prophecies Of Revelation. 1t is one
Of the most obvious and unquestiona-
bic truths that the SacIe ed Scriptures.
from beginning to end, are repletc
with SMILES, types, metaphors, para
, bles, allegories, and Illustrative syn.~
bols, which are known to constitute
the most judic;ous, popular, i'm
Eresslye, and successful means Of in
struction. Nothing is so well adapted
as sensible object to flciiitate, strength
en-, and nestabllsh mental apprehension
But fgurativc language is especially re
qaisite IN prophecy, for the twofold
reason that bad men would have
grossly abused and perverted fore
knowledge Of particular events, while
on the other hand, Christians might
have united and cooperated for their
: accomplishment, and thus have invali
dated, with unbelieyers, the proof OF
the Divine Orr gin ofthe Bible drawn
from the fuIfilment Of prophecy.
As incontestable evidence of the cor
rectness Of our position, take ono or
two out Of humorous Instances that
might be aIduced; read from the
2Jll to the ,5Jth =. Of the zith CHI. OF
Na,J,, and from tie 15ln to the 22od
:. Of the 2ni ch Of Acts. S:. Pete,
assures Us i'll his IND i,pis. '. 2O,
that .'no prophecy of he Scripture is
Of any private interpretations" Aud
Sir Isaac Newton very truly and wise
ly remarks that "the prophecies we-e
given not to crafty mems curiosities.
} by enabling them to foreknow the fu-
) ture, but that, after they were fulfilled
they might be interpreted by the event
and afford convincing arguments OF
0 the inspiration Ct the Scriptures" "
! Hugh Miller, the most admirable Of