The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1877-05-23

19lels Of .tlssil aud
Turkey, and the surrounding nations and
provinces, is vastly important. The ex-
pected war has, at last, commenced III
earnest, and extensive preparations are
made for a successful issue. The cause
and objects of this contest arc exciting a
deep interest in the world. Our news
papers are giving some attention to the
subject, and the probable results OF this
war politically in Europe, and its COM
mercial bearing in the United States. Ii
may be interesting, at this time, to the
public community, to give some historl-
cal account of these warning nations, and
OF the origin, progress and present status
Of these parties, and from this draw some
conclusions, relative to the cause and OBJ
iects of this ominous war.
lind in Dr.. Cummings "Signs of the
Times, past, present and future" consld-
cradle material suited to my purpose. I
use some Of his statements as q text, and
place my comments on them. He con-
siders our age significant, and that the
passing events are fulfilling of prophecies,
specially uttered by Daniel and by St.
John the Revelator. DR.. Cummings was
a minister of an independent Church in
London, was a p~rofuse writer, and made
plausible hits as an Interpreter of proph-
ecy; but does not claim plenary inspira-
ton, in giving the world his views. He
wrote his Signs of the Times, in the
early part of 1850, and says, the year
1854 reflects on every page the scenes
f~oreshadqwed 1000 years ago. Gle
down a fundamental IDEA in his sppBspu
ton of prophecies to the occurring facts
of their fulfllment; viz: That God has
invariably given signs and warnings IN
His word Of every great and startling
epoch of His providential government;
even giving precise dates, numbers and
exact cycles. To prove this, he gives
the chronological cause OF Noah and the
food; and of the captivity Of the Israel
ties and their dcliverance from Egypt,
embracing APO years; and such like in
stancies of the Jews, set forth previously
in prophetic language, wherein a day
represents a year. The prophetic period
of 1860 years referred to i'll the Scrip
lures, he says, denotes the Gmation of
the great Apostacy, from Apostolical
Christianity, which overcast the horizon
Of the West.
The language Of Daniel, VII, 25, he
upplies to the prosecuting power Of the
Romish Hierarch, and that it began
rGr.,y when Iustin:an, the Emperor, in
$50, ave the Pope spiritual jurisdiction,
land civ power; and armel it with au-
thority, With the sword, to enforce the
rescripts aad laws of this pretended au-
thority. H, states that the two dates,
532 and 1850 bring Us down to 1902,
when successive judgments began to fall
upon the Western Apostucy and the
Papal power. From that date to Mas
(say, about Tsp, when this book was
written the PapM nations Of Europe
have been scourged, and Romanism
wasted down to q SHE'LL. This statement,
We think, is rather strong, and admitting
it be mainly true, the Catholic world will
not allow themselves to believe it.
We advance now to another date, bor-
dering more closely on the object, I had
in view, in preparing some items of gen.
eral information for the props. the, popn-
lar educator of the masses Of the people.
Another prophecy Of Daniel, our author
applies to the duration of the MoAametan
power, which, at tue time Ct his writing.
occupied the attention of many persons
in relation of Eastern questions; and I
add Still more so now. This duration of
power he puts at 1900 years. 1t began
43O years before the birth Of Christ,
which era was the noe tide glory Of the
Persian Empire, under the splendid
progress of Nerxes. Daniel is made to
look along the line of centuries, to the
epoch Of initial decay, and 10 predict,
that from the date 1890 years. its de-
cadence would begin. This advancing
period is to land us to 1920, A. D., when
- l.