Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-09-13


Probably no lesson OF the year has
presented greater dilliculsics in the way of
a consistent exposition than the one before
us this week. five fail in making clear
IS general meaning W. ball fail in com-
pany with excellent men and distinguished
-cholars. The best exposition Of the
prophetic parts of this passage, which has
lately appeared, will lie found in Bishop
MerriIi's book entitled Second Coming of
Christ
The lesson of this week begins with
substantially the same caution which
Jesus had given his disciples in the last
lesson. They are warned against rash
belief that Christ had re:appeared upon
earth. To the warning here given Mat
thew adds: therefore they shall say uni o
you, behold, he is in the wilderness; 90
not forth; behold. he is in the inner cham
ber; believe it not" He tells them that
his coming shall be with unmistaksble
signs, that they will see its approach as
clearly as when the Lightning darts
athwalt the whole sky. He tells them of
false prophets and false Christs whose
very purpose is the deception and over
throw of Gods people. The history of the
church in nearly every age has presented
a sad commentary on this prediction o
the Master. Again,in his teaching Chris,
repeats his former injunction: Take We
heed" lie has plainly forewaned them,
and he would have them fore armed against
the deceit which would ruin so many
Let the passage up to this point bc
understood rs referring to the destruction
of Jerusalem, and the events Immediately
following. Then the following passage
up to the 29th verse must be referred tc
the events connected with the closing uf
of the present order Of things--the end Of
the world. "But in those days" the
pronoun those points to days before haC
in consideration, and the disciples haC
asked about three things. as Matthew.
account clearly shows; namely, the de
tructiou Of Jerusalem, the second coming
of Christ, and the end of the world lie
had given answer on two of the points
named; now he proceeds to the other,
the last in order and in point of time. The
days of which he is now speaking arC
after the tribnlati0n connected with II
all of Jerusalem. The verse, that follow
are quite in keeping with every dcscripti iol
given in Gods word of the end ofthe world
We need not spend much time or though
over the coniectures abroad, as to whefhe
the language is that of symbol, or O
ctual descr ipion Of things to come, |
plainly marks Il breaking up and dssolu
ion of the present order Of things an
may as we'll be understood literally a
any way. One thought connected will
this picture of dissolution ought rot t.
escape US.
In the midst of commotion and genera
ruin God has care for his chosen ones
and the angels, always ready at bis bid
ding, are sent TO care for them, scattere
throughout the world, and bring them a
safely to himself. God can ailur to brea
up ani destroy ,hc universe. bu will nc
b'ook the loss Of one Of hi people
Chis' b wing given them, and us ind
i cations, or signs hy which Il ney could dis
cern tbo ming of each of the events c
which uer had inquired, now turns t.
them with his ftmilar method of teacf
ing by parallels and says, as We are ab
to foretell The approach Of summer hy II
y putting forth of leaves upon the fig tre
, (that process was douHtess going on b,
: fore their eyes,) so when ye see the sign
here mentioned kuow that the va-iou
y events foretod will follow immediatel,
y To give a consistent exposition of yer.
- 80, following out the plan here adopte
is the most difficult thing in the lessol
u Attempts have been made to do this /
= giving forced meaning to ths word gel
Grafton. Its usual meaning is race
y men; and so applied here it would mea
i ONE men living at the time Christ spal
IS these words. That all the things he fore
> told should take place in the lifetime
l the generation then living is manifest
IL not according to the facts as we unde
: stand them. To avoid this contradictio
: some have said that generation here meal
the Jewish people, and the force OF Il
u passage would then be; the Jews shn
not become extinct, as Il race, until 4
g these things be done. This would cerai
10 ly be an unusual use of the word gencr
l. ton, as would another meaning viii,
has been suggested, that is, the race
T. men under the present dispensatio
lie Some have tried 10 rid themselves of L
j. difficulty by criticism on the view Of t
], passage, here rendered "be done," ~
y, have said that its force is not that thu
nd will all be fully accomplished in the iii
or time of men then living, but rather th
IN they will begin to be done. 1t may
"S EtlIIy luCSllOuCu WuCluCl clCh ~ OtlllOls
At can be allowed here. Again, an effort b
ca been made to restrict the meaning of I
IT. term all, and apply it only TO all tho thin
y pertaining to the destruction of the temp
ay and the overthrow Of the jewish worsh
s. This is better than the explanations befo
of considered but hardly seems honest aft
or all Though if we understand the ov
ell throw of the Jews as the type of the Ell
ID. of the world there might be satisfacto
to ex planation wrought out on this pl
he The fulfllment of the first part of t
b, prophecy, which was in some esenso a sy
b; bol of tho later part, would be II pied
no and an assurance that all would be fulfill
Or in due time. And tmight in some sci
Oh be said that all was done when the fl
,re part was accomplished.
ed To my mind the passage was purpos,
nat left Obscure, that those who are m,
intent on knowing the times and seaso