MILLENNARIANISM UNSCRIPTURAL; OR A GLANCE AT SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT THEORY. Before adopting such a principle of interpretation, let us observe the BEGG. LONDON:WILLIAM CROFTS, 19, CHANCERY LANE. MDCCCXXXVIII. PREFACE. No man is pleased to be charged with failure, even as to an object which he had not aimed to accomplish. The Author, therefore, among other more obvious reasons, has this also for giving a brief explanation of his design in the following little Work: 1. He will first express what his design is not. It is neither to state, nor to defend, anti-millennarian interpretations of particular passages of Scripture, alleged by Millennarians to be favourable to their cause. When such happen to lie in the way of the general reasoning of the Author, he occasionally does so; but, strictly speaking, this forms no part of his immediate object. Neither is it to refute the arguments adduced by Millennarians, generally, in support of their Theory; but only briefly to shew the fallacy, or irrelevancy, of those particular arguments, or objections, which the Author supposed might possibly be urged against his own reasonings, as they appear in the work. 2. What the Author's object really is-It is his design to shew, that the consequences flowing, either directly or indirectly, from the Millennary Theory, are opposed to certain important truths and principles, distinctly recognised by Scripture; some of which are admitted by Millennarians themselves. In pursuing the course now marked out, it is assumed that the Reader will possess some knowledge of Millennarianism, in its general outline. The consequences to which he has just adverted, are such as the Author firmly believes flow, more or less directly, either from the positive allegations, or recorded reasonings, or concessions (sometimes, perhaps, inadvertent concessions) of Millennarians-—-—consequences, of incongruous, anomalous, prodigious, and even of a terrific character-consequences incompatible with the nature and design, both of Judaism and Christianity-consequences, in particular, seriously infringing, if not subversive of, the Mediatorial Economy - consequences repugnant to the explicit testimony of Scripture, as to the resurrection and judgment of the human race; the ultimate abode of the righteous; and the final doom of the world - consequences, in short, irreconcileable with express declarations of our Lord himself. Should any person condescend to notice this little Work, in the way of reply, the exposition of the Author's design, above given, will, of course, require, that such person should shew either I. That no such consequences as those imputed by the Author, legitimately flow, either directly or indirectly, from Modern Millennarianism; or, II. That those consequences do not constitute a sufficient reason for rejecting the modern Millennary Hypothesis; and, therefore, that the same person may consistently admit the consequences, and retain the hypothesis. |