EVIDENCES FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IN 1873: OR THE MIDNIGHT CRY.

"Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."

PUBLISHED BY NELSON H. BARBOUR

SECOND EDITION.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., 1871.

Those desiring books, address DAVID T. COOPER, 72 Mount Hope Ave., Rochester, N.Y. Price, single copy, 25 cents: $1.80 per doz. $12.00 per hundred.

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PREFACE.

In presenting the following pages to the consideration of those who are waiting for the coming and kingdom of our Lord, the writer is not unmindful of his utter inability to do justice to the subject he has attempted to handle. Notwithstanding he has held these views in the main as here presented, for many years, he has held back, hoping and praying that God would raise up men more capable, and better prepared to bring these things before the world in a less objectionable way, and one more likely to command attention. But as he humbly believes that God has given him some little light on the prophecies which has not been proclaimed to the world, and which has an important bearing on His people at the present time, he dares therefore no longer refuse to sound the alarm. N.H.B.

CONTENTS.

The Time of the End 3

Definite Time 15

The Parable of the Ten Virgins 20

Views held in 1843 39

The Chronology 50

The Appointed Time 69

The Judgment on the Papacy 82

The 2300 Days 92

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"THE TIME OF THE END."

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased."

This language of the prophet implies that time will have an end. Not that the earth will ever cease its circling course around the great central orb, but that time allotted to mortals, like all human, earthly things, will end. God hath measured and fixed its bounds and declared its end, from the beginning. And having "declared it," he has revealed it: for "surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets." And if revealed, it "belongs to us and to our children."

Time is a measured or definite portion of duration. An end, if the extreme point or conclusion of a series, says Webster. Therefore "the time of the end" must be a series of points, or ends. And this definition is in harmony with the events associated with this phrase, wherever it occurs, in the book of Daniel.

It is the time during which God is closing up the prophetic periods. Some terminating at its commencement, others scattered along through, and still others, reaching to its consummation. Thus the language, "time of the end" is full of meaning. And events, to a few of which we shall refer in brief, point to the present for its fulfillment.

But first, I would have the reader so connect the present with the past, that in one comprehensive view, the whole of the world’s history, from Eden lost, to paradise regained, may pass before him.

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After which I promise, by stubborn facts, which none can question, to prove that we are living in the little space of time mentioned in our text, and marked out as one of preparation, for both God and man; and ending, ends the sweet story of the gospel.

Come, then, and for a few brief moments look at the dim past, through the telescope of inspiration; and like a vision, time’s picture, with all its long forgotten years, shall pass before you.

I warn you, the vision will be one of sorrow, death and woe. For scarcely had man, fresh from the molding hand of God, tasted of the sweets of life, ere death began to feed upon him. But as the picture, except a few brief sands of time, is all behind us, hope gives us courage; and the contrast adds new luster to the brighter future.

The line through which the promised Seed, the world’s great Life-giver should come, numbers ten human lives, from Adam to Noah’s flood: and measures a thousand six hundred and fifty-six years of primeval history. So God informs us. But I will not stop to give the proof, since chronology is reserved for a future chapter.

At the flood, the human race reduced to a single family, sad consequence of sin, begins the second act in the great drama of man’s probation.

Noah, the father of the new world, is followed by a line of patriarchs, twelve in all, whose united ages, lapping more or less, measure off six hundred ad fifty-nine years more of the stream of time-beginning at the flood, and ending with Jacob down in Egypt.

At Jacob’s death, the twelve tribes of Israel received the scepter, and became a nation, God’s chosen people. And as they pass before us we see them crushed to earth by hard Egyptian bondage, their children slain, their hopes cut off. And yet in this their darkest hour, God hears their cry, delivers

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them from bondage, and with a mighty hand brings them in triumph through the sea.

"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song: I will sing unto the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously; the Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." This song will again be heard from the sea of glass at our deliverance. Rev. xv.2,3.

From here we follow them through the wilderness into the promised land, under their judges and kings, down to their captivity in Babylon; which, from Jacob’s death, makes a thousand two hundred and seven years more to be added to the past.

Here the four great empires, human institutions, aptly represented by the image of a man, complete the picture.

Babylon, the head of gold, or lion of the prophet Daniel’s vision, is the first, and holds universal sway for seventy years. As the conquerors of Judah, they require of them a song. But their tongues refuse: for how can they sing the song of Zion in a strange land? Their harps hang idly by the willows, and the voice of weeping is their only answer.

There is a Lion soon to come, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah," at whose command the glad songs of Zion shall again be heard, until the echo of those golden harps shall ravish every ear.

The second universal empire of the image, Medo-Persia, fills up two hundred and ten years more of the prophetic page, and the world’s history. After which, "a mighty king stands up"; the great Alexander, who overruns the Persian empire, and with an army of a few thousand men, scatter their hosts of millions like chaff before the wind.

Here the third kingdom, Greece, has its origin, and for the short space of one hundred and seventy years controls the scepter of the world. After which the "legs of iron" exalt themselves: and Rome, the fourth and last of earth’s universal

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kingdoms, stands up against the Prince of princes. "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."

Rome, in its imperial or pagan form, holds the world in its iron grasp six hundred and ninety-three years.

Early in this period, in the days of Augustus Caesar, the long promised Messiah makes his advent, and as the "man of sorrow" bore our sins upon the cross. His second coming, which is as certain as was the first, will be in different form; now he is to come as "King of kings, and Lord of lords."

As the reckoning of time began with Adam, so at the end of four thousand one hundred and twenty-eight years, it began again with the second Adam, as the year one of the Christian era.

But the world’s history still went on unbroken. Imperial Rome numbered its full term and then papal Rome, or "the abomination that maketh desolate," was "set up."

If you would find the age of the human race at any particular year during the Christian era, add the last number we have given to that year, and you will find it; but in adding up the world’s chronology, leave it out.

The "abomination" once "set up," had power to continue forty and two months prophetic, or one thousand two hundred and sixty of our years; when its dominion should be given up.

This leaves us five thousand nine hundred and twenty-five years from Adam, or at the close of the year 1797 of the Christian era. In this chronology we follow Jewish time, or from spring to spring. Therefore, the year 1797 ends not till the spring of 1798, by common reckoning.

In 1798, as we all know, the papal power was broken. And we are told by inspiration, that when broken, it should be consumed and destroyed unto the end. The gradual consumption of its dominion since then has completely answered to the prophetic language.

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Thus we have the world’s history in epitome:

The time before the flood, . . . . . . . . . 1656 years.

Patriarchal age, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 659 "

Israel, to their captivity, . . . . . . . . . 1207 "

Captivity under Babylon, . . . . . . . . . . 70 "

Medo-Persia, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 "

Grecia, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 "

Pagan Rome, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693 "

Papal Rome, .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1260 "

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Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5925 "

from Adam to the beginning of 1798 of the Christian era, which leaves but seventy-five years to complete the six thousand; and with the seventh, we are taught, begins the new Eden, or Millennial state of rest.

And now this little span, called in prophetic language "The time of the end," is nearly finished, and unless God shall reverse the hour-glass in a new dispensation, the stream will cease to flow. But "to those who look for him the second time," there is a promise of a new birth and glorious future.

If I keep my promise, I shall now prove that we are indeed in the little space of time, during which

"MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO."

The present century has developed wonders in this direction, of which Philosophers of past ages never dreamed.

When John Stevenson, the English Engineer, first proposed the building of a railroad from London to Manchester, he advanced the idea that passengers and goods might be carried at a speed of eight miles an hour. And so extravagant was this idea then thought to be, that his friends urged him to moderate his views, if for no other reason because the English Parliament would never entertain a scheme so visionary. And before obtaining his charter he was compelled to limit his ambition

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to a speed of four, or at the most, five miles an hour. Since then, passengers have traveled on that same road at seventy miles an hour; a speed that outstrips the hurricane, and leaves it far behind. And now the face of almost every land upon the globe is thickly interspersed with iron rails; long trains of cars go hurrying by, loaded with thousands and tens of thousands of human freight, rushing hither and thither, "to and fro," as if their lives depended on their speed. Darkness cannot stop them, or sleep reduce their numbers.

I have watched them as the trains approach the depot, on a dark and stormy night, when the torch in front seemed like a globe of fire. The jostling of the cars, the rush of passengers, the steam and smoke, and screaming whistle, must have been a wondrous vision to the prophet Nahum. And yet his description is as accurate as though he had lived and seen it with his mortal eyes.

"The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways, they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings."

Who can read this language of the prophet, and not feel the full assurance that he speaks of railroad cars? What other vehicle has ever met a single feature of the picture here portrayed, and what one is not answered by the railroad car? Then it is God’s preparation day. He is speaking in these great signs, and they that hear his voice shall live.

INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE!

The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? "Gird up now thy loins like a man and I will demand of thee, and answer thou me." Job 38.

Let us now compare ancient with modern times; the knowledge of the past, with that of the time when God said knowledge

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should increase; and see if we cannot answer questions which made the prophet lay his hand upon his mouth.

"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?"

Have we not carefully marked out a path, with lead and line, and built a highway there, over which if not to walk, at least to send our words, our hopes and fears and inmost thoughts?

"Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all."

We have indeed perceived its breadth, measured its sands, and weighed it in the balance.

THE DWELLING PLACE OF LIGHT.

"Knowest thou the way where light dwelleth?" Recent developments with the spectroscope, that new and wonderful instrument that makes light almost talk, has not only answered this question in relation to our solar system, but that answer is extended to the remotest star, and nebula, whose distance is so vast, that light which had started with lightning speed, e’re the Almighty had asked the question of the astonished prophet, has but just reached our distant world.

By means of this instrument, we will question this messenger from that far-off world.

But first, we pass it through a triangular glass, or prism, to separate it from its companions, or else speaking all together, confusion will ensue. It then passes through the spectroscope and also an elongated slit in a piece of paper, to a screen, suspended in a darkened room, where, if we but listen, it will tell the secret of its birth. Little stranger, we would know of thy nativity, thy origin, and the object of thy being.

I sprang from hydrogen, and more than half suspect oxygen to be my father; but of this I am not sure, for you must know that marriage among the elements, is governed

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by quite different laws from those our Maker gave to you. With them the strongest, with imperial will, selects his bride at pleasure; and if perchance he comes in contact with a form more to his liking, he leaves his first, and following the stronger affinity, takes to himself another bride. But they are not susceptible of sin, and suffer neither sorrow, shame, or death.

I have heard that some gross minds among your race, lowering themselves to the level of inorganic life, follow our laws, and set aside the higher ones which Heaven ordained for them. But as they hide themselves from us, I only speak from hearsay; and trust you will forgive this slight digression. For if stones will preach, when men keep silent, why may not rays of light?

From this union of the elements we, their offspring, start into life, and without one moment’s waste of time, enter on our mission, Heaven ordained, of which we learn the object only at the hour of death.

In my joyous flight, I crossed the track of myriads of messengers like myself, and many a flaming orb. But we never stop to dally, or hold converse; for motion is our very life, and hence to stop is death. Thus with inconceivable velocity as years and centuries rolled away, I hurried on, never for a moment swerving from my course until I felt the influence of your atmosphere; then I knew my end was near, and bent my course to this my resting place. And now the hour of dissolution is at hand, I can unfold the mystery of my being.

Death, to us sunbeams, is but a change of life; for you must know what God pronounces "good" can never die. And so we pass a round of being through many a change and vast. Sometimes as life-sustaining heat we act our part; anon, as chemical affinity, we inspire the very union between the elements, of which I spoke at first, and thus become the agents of a new

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birth unto ourselves. Again we take the form of God’s thunder-bolts, which one day will hurl destruction on his foes. We sometimes sleep for ages; all things rest; even God himself ceased from his labors.

When last I came to earth, for I am not so much a stranger here as you thought at first, I lay for ages dormant in its bowels, locked in a carbon dungeon; you call it coal, and cold enough it was, and cheerless, until one happy day the earth gave forth a mighty throb that burst my prison doors; bright streams of liquid lava set my very soul on fire; my chains fell off, and I was free again. The first-born of created things, e’er time began, was I.

And now the moment of my change has come, and in that change I shall impart warmth, life and joy, to plant or animal as He ordains. And you, too, if obedient to the will of Heaven, may soon be changed, and put on immortality; when in the countless ages, perhaps we will meet again. And with immortal powers you then may learn that light has many a truth, and deep, as yet unseen by mortal eyes. Are your companions from the same origin? I quickly asked. The little traveler gave no response, but faded from my sight. I placed my hand upon the screen and felt the warmth, and knew his words were true. And more, I learned, that however freely they of themselves converse, they never tell the secrets of another. And so I question each in turn; some from the same distant star, others from the infinite abyss of nebula, or chaotic worlds as yet unformed and void; and still others from our own bright sun, whose flight, between that orb and us, we count by minutes, not centuries. Their answers were the same, whate’er their source. One quickly said, I spring from iron; others, nickel, cobalt, copper, carbon, sulphur, sodium, &c. Thus we learn that God’s great universe of worlds, however distant, are all made of common stuff, familiar to our touch, of which our world is but an epitome, and man an epitome of this

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If you ask how this instrument compels each ray of light to tell its origin, I answer, that by throwing its likeness on a screen, we find that light produced by burning, or incandescent carbon, gives a picture-a spectrum-composed of bright and dark lines, arranged in a way peculiar to itself, and as easily recognized under all circumstances, from that of hydrogen, phosphorus, gold, or any other element, as is the likeness of your face from that of other human beings. But you will understand this ray of light, passed through the spectroscope, has told us only part of what it can be made to say by other means. The present generation of savants have learned that light is the vibration of matter, caused by the union, or closer contact, sometimes called combustion, of the elements; while the old theory of its imponderable existence, is obsolete as is that of the earth being the center of the universe.

This vibratory motion, imparted to an all-pervading "ether," is subject to the laws that govern sound; and so the poet’s fancy of "the music of the spheres" is now a fact. Thus God’s great book, "the ordinances of heaven," like that of revelation, is unsealed, "and he that runs may read" from both at pleasure. We also learn the movements of worlds, once called "fixed stars" because their distance was so great no instrument could mark the slightest motion in a hundred years; but now we count the miles they pass per minute, in which they widen or reduce the great gulf between them and us, and in language a child can understand.

Suppose a bugle to be played in perfect time, by one standing on a train of cars, and moving from you at a rapid rate; each succeeding note would lag behind, and reach the ear a little out of time. If, on the other hand, the train was coming towards you, each note, having a shorter distance to travel, would fall too quickly on the ear; and so we should know which way the train was moving if we had no eyes. And with proper instruments to measure sound, could tell the speed

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at which it moved. So it is with light; the vibrations are too wide apart to be in time, if the star is moving from us; too near together when approaching.

As there is a limit to musical vibrations on both extremes, beyond which noise ensues, so too, it is with light; for if the motion is too fast, or more than six hundred million times a second, the rays of light fade out, and change to those of chemical or decomposing power; if too slow, or less than four hundred and fifty million times a second, the effect upon the optic nerve ceases to be light, and then we call it heat.

I will not stop to tell you how to count so fast, but you may try the lowest one in music first, and when, with unaided human tongue, you master this-it’s only sixteen times a second-you then may try the higher ones of light. It is thus we get a glimpse of the place, and way, and origin of light.

DARKNESS.

"And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, that thou shouldest take it to the bounds thereof, that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof."

Little did Job know that darkness had a "place" as fixed as the eternal hills, aye, more fixed, for they turn with the earth upon its axis: while that cone of darkness, the earth’s shadow, whose base is the diameter of the earth, and apex stretching far beyond the orbit of the moon, changes not with the rolling earth, but stands eternally the same, with "bounds" as sharp and changeless as though it were cut out of solid blackness, and softened only for a little space by our atmosphere. What we call day and night, is only being rolled into this darkness and then out again. Thus "the light is parted, that scattereth the east wind upon the earth."

How wonderful is Jehovah’s word; and facts as they unfold themselves to our finite minds speak volumes of its truth.

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Wisdom dwelleth at his right hand! Happy the man who hears her voice, and walketh in her ways.

"Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven, and canst thou set the dominions thereof in the earth?"

What knew he of eclipses, and their cause? Or of the law of gravity, by which the sun maintains dominion and holds the earth and planets in their place? What must he have thought of this? "Canst thou send the lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, here we are?" And yet, far as they traverse every land, through mountain gorge, or beneath the ocean bed, and like the humblest servant, say in very deed, "Lo, here we are."

Time would fail to tell of half the progress in art and science, invention and discovery, of the present day. For truly knowledge has increased, as God foresaw and said it would. And more than this, the door of wisdom’s self is flung ajar, the Book unsealed, and the entrance to God’s word made easy. The mysteries which holy men and angels desired, but failed to see, are now freely offered to our gaze; and if his judgments are measured by the light we have, may God have mercy on this generation, so soon to stand before his bar.

The end is even now begun, and we are living in that little space marked out as one of preparation for both God and man. If we shut our eyes against the light, and watch not for the landmarks, by which "the wise shall understand," it will not change His plans nor stay the coming wrath; no more than does the desert bird, who hides its head beneath the sand turn back its foe. A few short months, which will not stop, and we shall stand in presence of our Judge, with no veil, not even one of earth, to hide us from his gaze. Now, while mercy lingers, those who seek may find a refuge from the storm. May He who made us, gently lead us to the shadow of that Rock.

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DEFINITE TIME.

Is the time of the second advent of our Lord a proper subject for investigation?

It is well, before entering upon such investigation, to know that we are not treading on forbidden ground. For "secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed, belong unto us and to our children for ever."

If the time for the appearing of our blessed Savior is not revealed, then it is one of God’s secrets into which, if we attempt to pry, we shall reap condemnation to ourselves.

"Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven; neither the Son, but my Father only." "Watch, therefore, for ye know not when the time is." These, and similar scriptures, have deterred many an earnest searcher after truth from investigating the prophetic periods, and if they were designed for that purpose, it is well that we take warning. But before drawing back, it is also well to be certain we are not mistaken in their meaning; least we turn aside from the path in which God would have us walk, for some imaginary obstruction, and so fall into darkness.

God tests His people in many ways. There are apparent contradictions and difficulties which seem as real as were the mountains on either hand of Israel, and the sea in front; yet God said, "Speak unto the people that they go forward."

The Bible is a strange book; seen from the standpoint of the world, it is foolishness; but the power of God unto salvation to them that believe.

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If I bring scripture, of which there is an abundance, to prove we are to know the time, while these appear to teach the contrary, it does not lessen, but rather increases, the difficulty.

The time was when such as the following were hard to reconcile. In speaking of "the tares and wheat," or good and bad, our Lord says, "let both grow together till the harvest," which, he informs us, is the end of the world. In another place we read of a time when "all shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest."

Adventists have got beyond such difficulties, and see harmony, not discord. As we progress in this highway of knowledge, the sea retires, and the dry ground meets our feet at every step. Difficulties which seemed like mountains in our path, vanish away; and the real object of our dread often proves only a beacon light which God had kindly given to help us on our way.

Let us then, with honest purpose, search for truth; "knowing this first, that all scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable." "For they who seek shall find," "and unto them ‘tis given to know the mysteries of God’s kingdom." "While others seeing cannot see; and hearing, cannot understand."

The Great Teacher taught by parables; and humbly walking in his steps, we too will try to show the harmony existing here, by an illustration.

A mighty king sent forth his armies to destroy a wicked city. Willing to spare such as would repent of their rebellion, he sent his herald with this proclamation: My engineers are about to undermine this great city, which is soon to be destroyed; let such, therefore, who would save their lives be on the watch; for when we have tunneled to the citadel a white flag will be hoisted; then know the coming desolation is at hand. When the excavation for the powder is completed, a red flag will be seen. Then you who desire deliverance, may look up, and lift up your heads, knowing that your redemption draweth nigh. When the magazine is full charged,

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the slow match laid, and everything in readiness, a black flag will appear; from which time, in just seven days, the torch will be applied, and all within the city perish. Therefore sleep not, but watch; and when all these things shall come to pass, fly to the eastern gate, where means will be provided for the escape of those found ready. Watch, therefore, for ye know not when the time is. Watch! What for? says one, why for the explosion, to be sure! O no! Why watch for that? It will be as the lightning, which shineth from the east even unto the west, and every eye shall see it; watch rather for the flags.

But tell us, Engineer, when shall these things be? I cannot, for no one knows how long it will take to tunnel the citadel and prepare the excavation. Of that day knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven; God only, reads the future. "But what I say unto you, I say unto all: Watch!"

Days, months, and years went by. The citizens became absorbed in careless pleasures, and forgot their danger. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, and all things continued as before. ‘Tis true a few who loved the king repented of their rebellion and ceased to lay up treasures in the city, but invested all they had outside the walls. These failed not to watch and pray for deliverance.

As time went on, the white flag, and then the red, was hoisted up, for a little, and soon disappeared. The pilgrims who were on the watch, and saw the signs, lifted up their heads which had been hanging down, and with shouts of joy disturbed the quiet of the city. Men called them fools and evil prophets, to make so much ado about a common flag; and some doubted if they had seen one, and even if they had, it could easily be accounted for. It was a common piece of bunting, run up with ropes. But they heeded not their scoffs, for well they knew by these same things which men accounted for so easily, that the king had not forgotten

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them, and the time was hasting greatly for their deliverance. Their hopes grew stronger, and their vigilance increased so much the more, least they should miss the black flag when it came to view; and so, by not enduring to the end, lose all.

After a long weary waiting, their eyes were greeted by the welcome sight. Now their hearts leaped for joy! for they knew the time, and could see the day approaching; and as they fled for refuge, earnestly entreated others to join them, and seek safety from the coming wrath. A few there were who listened, and by forsaking all they had, were just in time to save their lives. But others heard with scorn, or pity, and wondered the pilgrims could be so foolish as to fix the time, and think that they could read the future, when the herald had said, long years before, that no man knew the time, not even he himself. Nor could the wisest, among the citizens, gain the slightest clue.

When asked if they had watched, some said they had watched for the explosion; but they could see no use in watching for that which no man could ever know, or at least not till it was too late to be of any benefit. They thought the language of the Herald obscure; they had been good, and meant to be better, and if the city should ever be destroyed, which was doubtful, they had no fears of it coming in their time, at least.

When told by the pilgrims that the very reason they were to watch, was that they might know; and that the Herald had said, "If therefore thou shall not watch I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shall not know what hour I will come upon thee," they seemed the more surprised at the foolish way the pilgrims had of construing language.

These men who would not watch, nor believe those who did, perished alone in their blindness. For when the time had come, the pilgrims had all fled, as had the Christians of old, from the fated city of Jerusalem.

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GOD’S SECRETS.

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." "Shall I hide from Abram that thing which I do?" said God, when about to destroy the cities of the plains.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets to his servants, the prophets." "God hath appointed the day in the which he will judge the world by that man whom he hath ordained." "Those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children."

In appointing the day, he has done something, and yet he will do nothing but he revealeth it to his servants the prophets.

From these declarations of the Almighty, we learn not only that the day is appointed but it is revealed, and therefore belongs to us.

God has always warned the world of coming judgments. And those who have rejected the warning and been lost, have done it willfully.

The old world was not left unwarned, and yet our Lord says, "They knew not until the flood came and took them all away. So shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man."

Sodom could not fall without a warning, but Lot seemed to them like one who mocked. "So shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man."

Jerusalem was destroyed because they would not hear the warning. "They shall lay thee even with the ground, says Christ, and thy children with thee; because thou "knewest not the time of thy visitation."

When God has promised to do nothing but he revealeth it to his servants, shall we believe those who tell us that he will come upon this world unwarned, and leave his children in the dark? I tell you, Nay; "ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day overtake you as a thief." "Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?"

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AN EXPOSITION OF THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. -Mt 25.

"Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom."

The parables of our Lord are usually in the present tense, and represent the whole gospel dispensation. "The kingdom of Heaven is likened to a grain of mustard seed, &c." But this parable is an exception to all others. "Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened"; it is not now, but at some future time it shall be likened to ten virgins. Therefore, as it represents the end, when the bridegroom comes, and they that are ready go in, and not the beginning of the gospel dispensation, it is now being enacted, at the present time, or it is altogether future.

This is self-apparent and needs no proof; and I will here state that I do not ask the reader to give credence to any argument that may be advanced in these pages in favor of the coming of the Lord in 1873. Give them your earnest consideration; and if they are of God, they will command your faith-not yours who draw back and would not have it so. If you love not his appearing, and feel in your heart that if you could you would delay his coming, your eyes are sealed; and no power excepting love can open them. "The wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand."

This is a natural sequence, true in all things. For instance, the man who loves the science of geology, will

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find means to become familiar with it. He can read many a truth in God’s great book of nature, which is close sealed to him who loves it not and therefore shuns it. The same rocky page, spread out before them both, is a blank to one; or perhaps, having a taste for some other science, he sees its structure or elements; the other reads a quite different story. Both may be true; and yet each one sees those truths he loves to see, and only those.

These things being so, it is not difficult to know why "the wise shall understand," and the wicked not. Where their treasure is, there will be their eyes, their ears, their hearts, and understanding. Hence there is but one standpoint from which to see these truths. Gain that position, and you will not fail. For I tell you truly, that the prophecies and signs of the coming of the Son of God, "to wipe away the tears from off all faces," and restore this sin-cursed earth, before the close of 1873, are of such a nature, so simple, and to the point, that you cannot question them; when once your eyes have been anointed with God’s eye salve. Re 3:18.

Great discoveries are great in their simplicity; and men wonder they had not seen them sooner. So with these things which God has in reserve for this present generation.

"Close up the words and seal the book, even until the time of the end," was God’s command. But now they are freely offered to the "wise."

If you would become "wise," the way is very simple. I will tell you how. Ask in the name of Jesus, and ask in faith, that God will change your heart, and make your love the appearing of His Son.

You cannot but wish to know, if the judgment is indeed so near; then ask, and, if your prayer is answered, and you fail of seeing these evidences, after a careful and full examination of the subject, you may put them down, and safely too, to be of men. God has said

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"Write the vision and make it plain." And rest assured that when the time comes for its fulfillment, be it now or in the unknown future, it will be written plain; so plain "that he who reads may run."

THE SIGNS.

In the 24th of Matthew (Mt 24), our Lord says, "Immediately after the tribulations of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven; and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.