prophecy that Daniel was commanded to seal, was concerning the time for the end. It could be of no use to understand it until the end draws near. Then, however, it is to be unsealed, as necessary towards thoroughly furnishing the men of God unto the good works of proclaiming that "the hour of his judgment is come," and encouraging those whose redemption draweth nigh to lift up their heads and rejoice. Also, the knowledge of the event being at hand certainly conduces to sanctification. John xvii. 17; 2 Pet. iii. 11.

OBJECTION II. God has promised to answer the prayer of the humble and believing. If, therefore, there is any prophecy showing the time for the end, it might have been understood by praying for the spirit of understanding, and Christ could not have said, "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, neither the angels, nor the Son," &c. I answer, that Daniel, who was greatly beloved, prayed for this very spirit of understanding, and it was denied him; "to whom it was revealed that not unto himself, but unto us, he did minister." Christ, also, and Paul besought three successive times for things which were not granted.⁕ They desired these things, however, only if it was the will of the Father to grant them. So any sincere and humble believer will pray; and he has no more right to expect an unsealing of the prophecy before God wills to unseal it, than Christ had to claim that the cup might pass away because of his desiring it. God always answers our prayers, although he does not always answer them literally. If we ask for improper things, he withholds them of course, and gives us something else in their stead. He has never promised to answer improper prayers literally. If he had, what wretched beings even sincere and humble Christians would be!! for, owing to ignorance, how many improper prayers they make. See 1 John v. 14.

Objection III. There are doctrines in the Bible not

*Dan. xii. 8, 9; 1 Pet. i. 11, 12; Matt. xxvi. 39, 42, 44; 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.

understood in this world, which will be plain to the saints;—"we now see through a glass darkly," &c I answer, this may be true, and yet all the Bible was undoubtedly intended for the people in this world only ; -some parts of it for one class of minds, and some for another; some to be understood at one time, and some at another; and some to be received without being fully comprehended. Some doctrines may be profitable without being comprehended; but a prophecy respecting the time for the end could not. Even the mysterious doctrines such as the eternity of God—are put in the Bible to affect us in this world,—to give humility, reverence, and other becoming feelings. We believe, though we do not fully comprehend them. In another world we may know more about them; because, however, faith will be changed to sight, and the great Teacher will be with us;—in a word, because we shall have new and more glorious revelations; and not from reading the Bible over again there, or reflecting upon passages hitherto unintelligible, mysteriously written upon the mind then for the first time, as the result of one or two careless readings here many years before, without any effort to understand them. The revelation we have now is all of it intended for this world—to affect our hearts here, and prepare us to enter the gates of the New Jerusalem. It is the twilight, so to speak, preparing our vision for the dazzling light of the sun in glory.

OBJECTION IV. Our greatest theologians say that the prophecies cannot be understood. I answer, I. It is no new thing to find the high priest in infidel company. 2. "The wisest of uninspired men have erred on other subjects. May it not be possible that they have been in error on this subject also? 3. Those very persons who contend that we can know nothing about the time,' and that 'prophecies are not to be understood until after their accomplishment,' are perpetually, in their prayers, and sermons, and missionary publications, interpreting the prophecies! They predict, or say that the prophecies predict, a time of uni

versal peace and prosperity in the church and in the world. How do they know this if the prophecies are not to be understood until after their fulfilment? They say, moreover, that this universal peace and prosperity will continue for one thousand years, and that then there will be a declension by the influence of Satan, who will be loosed out of his prison, and go out to deceive the nations,' (see Rev. xx. 7, 8,) and then will the end come. They say, with perfect confidence, that the end is not yet.' Now, do not those who entertain these views not only interpret the prophecies, but also declare that the time will be known? If this is to be the order of events, it will not be difficult to know the time."

4. But it is not true that the greatest theologians have entertained this opinion. We might mention the names of Martin Luther, Dr. Gill, John Wesley, Cotton Mather, in fact, of the stars in the church, almost without an exception.

5. God has furnished us with the reason why so many do not understand the visions of all. Is. xxix. 10—12. "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes;the prophets and your rulers,—the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed. And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for I am not learned."

BOOK OF REVELATION.

As this book is a part of the Bible, all that has been said above is as applicable to it as to any other portion. In addition to this, 1. The meaning of the word revelation is an uncovering of what was hidden—it is something laid open. A sealed revelation is a contradiction in terms. In chap. x. 4, the things sealed were not to

be written.

2. The first verse says, God gave it "to SHOW unto his servants [not saints] things which must shortly come to pass."

3. The third verse says, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear, the words of this prophecy;" [it does not say, "of some parts of this prophecy."] How can a person be said to be blessed in reading who does not understand what he reads?

4. In ch. i. 4, 11, we are told this revelation was "to the seven churches," which were types of the seven states of the church to the end of time,and not to the glorified saints.

5. In the tenth verse of the last chapter, John is commanded, "Seal NOT the sayings of the prophecy of this book." This may either mean that no parts of the prophecy were at any time, in any sense, or in any degree, sealed; or it may mean that no parts were to be permanently sealed, each of the several parts being unsealed at the proper time; or it may mean that this prophecy was not to be hidden with John himself,—he was to write it for the church, while things sealed were not to be written. I incline to the last opinion, and think that, although in this sense the prophecy was not sealed, that is, so far as John was concerned,yet, in another sense, it was sealed, until the Providence of God at various times has unsealed one portion after another, according to the condition and wants of the church at those different times.

HISTORY AND CHRONOLOGY REFERRED TO IN PROPHECIES.

If God has given any prophecies showing the time for the end, (to be understood, as we have seen, before the event,) he has undoubtedly taken care that history should record all the intervening events foretold, and which must be known in order to understand when the time draws near. Indeed, the events fulfilling all the prophecies of the Bible up to this time have undoubtedly been recorded, either in the Bible itself, or in profane history; for only on such conditions could the

prophecy be of any use; and to suppose the contrary is to suppose that God would suffer his purpose in giving the prophecy to fail,—and is an impeachment of either his wisdom, goodness, or power.

For the same reason there is nothing really uncertain about chronology from that period where we must begin to have certain knowledge in order to understand the prophecies; or, in fact, about any of the chronology referred to or contained in the Bible. Those who maintain the contrary, must either maintain that such portions of the Bible have become obsolete, and might be left out; or that we have an uncertain light, instead of a 66 sure word of prophecy." "We will say nothing of the reflection which such a view casts upon God, who has directed us to the prophecies to guide! us; for what is it but tantalizing us, to give such a direction, if the prophecies cannot answer their de sign?" He, who dictated the Bible, has taken care that no errors should creep into it, which would make it impossible for those to interpret prophecies for whom the prophecies were especially intended. We can now see the wisdom of having here a little and there a little, and sometimes repetition. One part acts a check upon any mistake in the other. The only point in dispute, respecting chronology, as bearing upon the time for the end, is settled by Paul, in Acts xiii. 20, 21.

GOD HAS REVEALED THE TIME, SO THAT CHRISTIANS LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS MAY KNOW WHEN THE EVENT SHALL OCCUR.

I do not say that, previous to the last days, the time could be known; but simply that, when what are called emphatically "the last days " have come, the church living at that time, if it search diligently, shall be able to know with certainty that it is in the last days, and to discern about the time for the end. We infer this from the following considerations, in addition to positive proofs which shall afterwards be given. CONSIDERATION I. It has been generally supposed, in every age of the church, that the propheciesTM