No. II.

THE following extract from the "Present Crisis," by Rev. John Hooper, Eng., will go to confirm Mr. Miller's view of this subject. There are many who seem indisposed to hear of the coming of Christ, who, we fear, do not know what manner of spirit they are of. Let such attentively read the following illustration, and examine themselves in reference to the advent of the great Redeemer.

EXTRACT.

It was a prominent characteristic of the primitive Christians that they loved (Christ's) appearing," and looked forward to it as the period that would consummate their happiness. Surely, if our affections were placed on the Savior-if he was to us the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely-if we 'had none in heaven but him, or on earth that we desired in comparison of him--we should desire his return-we should long to " see him as he is "-should pray, "thy kingdom come "--"Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot?" The observations of Mr. Drummond on this subject, in a speech which that gentleman delivered at the Eleventh Anniversary of the Continental Society, are so much to the point, that I cannot refrain from quoting them. "Let us suppose," says he, "for instance, a woman whose husband is a long way absent from her, perhaps in the East Indies. She is possibly very diligent in the management of his affairs, and conducts herself with perfect outward propriety, but always breaks out into a passion whenever any one speaks to her of her husband's return: 'Oh no,' she says, 'he cannot be coming yet; I expect to be much better off before he comes; I expect his estate under my

management to be much more extensive; if he were to come now, he would disarrange all my plans besides, what is the use of thinking about his coming -I may die first, and that will be exactly the same as his coming to me.' Let her asseverations of love and affection be what they man, you cannot believe otherwise than that her heart is alienated from her lord, and probably fixed upon another. Now let us suppose another woman in the same situation: see her constantly reading his letters, and especially those parts of them which describe the time and the circumstances attendant upon his return; hear her talking of it to her children, and teaching them to look forward to it as the consummation of her and their fondest wishes. Mark the silent scorn with which she treats a judicious friend who would try to persuade her that there was no use in looking out for his return, for that he had never mentioned the month, far less the day or the hour, when it was to take place. Though she may make no noisy protestations of love; though she may speak but little about him, except to her children, and to those whose hearts are tuned in unison with her own, we cannot for a moment entertain a doubt of the real state of her affections. Let us apply this figure to ourselves: and of this I am certain, and I wish I could make the warning ring through every corner of our professing land, that a dislike to hear of the coming of the Lord is a more decided proof of the affections of the religious world at large, and of every single member of it, being alienated from Christ, and, therefore, in an unholy, unsanctified, and unconverted state, than all the noisy protestations at annual meetings, all the Bibles and tracts circulated, and missionaries sent out, are proofs of the REVERSE."

No. III.

VIEWS OF THE CLOSING OF THE DOOR OF MERCY.

THE following is an extract of one of the articles* to which Mr. Miller refers in Letter IV., page 236. We have thought best to give it in this work, that all careful, inquiring, and candid students of prophecy may understand Mr. Miller's, as well as our own views of this solemn subject. We are more particular on this point because we have been misunderstood and misrepresented.

EXTRACT.

As there has been much inquiry of late on the subject of the closing up of the day of grace, or probation, we here give the scriptures on which this opinion is founded, with some remarks, and leave our readers to judge for themselves. Rev. xvi. 12— 21. The attentive reader of the foregoing passages will see that on the pouring out of the "seventh vial," a voice "from the throne" proclaimed,-"IT IS DONE." This was after the battle of "Armageddon." If it is after that, then the day of grace will continue to the end of the world, or till Christ comes. 1 Cor. xv. 23, 24: "Afterwards, they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father." On this passage, Prof. STUART, of Andover, makes the following remark:--"The apostle here represents the end as coming when Christ will deliver up his mediatorial kingdom, after he has put all enemies under his feet: this accomplished, his mediatorial work is done; his embassy is completed; his mission, therefore, comes to an end."+ Again; Rev. x. 7: "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel,

*Signs of the Times," No. 9, page 69 ↑ Biblical Repository for July, 1840

Art. Future Punishment.

when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." When the sixth trumpet hath ceased to sound, the seventh begins, and "in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall BEGIN to sound, the mystery of God [or dispensation of grace] shall be finished." It would appear from this, that upon the fall of the Turkish empire, which will take place on the closing up of the "sixth vial" and "trumpet," that the day of probation will close. Again, Rev. xi. 15: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." This most certainly closes up the gospel dispensation, and brings us to the glorified state; for we are to "reign forever and ever." This will take place when the seventh angel shall sound. Here we have this most solemn and momentous subject, as brought to view in the book of Revelation. There is one other passage that we quote, which has an important bearing upon this subject. Matt. xxv. 10—12: “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the DOOR WAS SHUT.” We learn that the preparation was made by the wise when the midnight cry was given: but the foolish deferred the matter until it was too late; for while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, “and the door was shut." Afterwards, the foolish virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.' This is the time referred to in Rev. xxii. 11: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

66

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. He which testifieth these things saith, SURELY, 1 come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."