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Jesus the Lord hath some precious jewels-these "fear the Lord, think upon his Name, and speak often one to another.". -But I fear, that the num

ber is small, the number who believe that Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh;* and I fear also, that some who profess to believe it, will oppose the prophetic letter-they will defend their unbelief with scripture texts. It is indeed begun—in my ears it sounds.

1st. "No man knoweth the day or the hour," &c. I believe this, yea I believe it fully.

1st. Jesus Christ was not then glorified.

2nd. The day-whether the new moon, or any feast day of the Jews;

3rd. The hour-whether "at midnight, or at noon, at the cock crowing, or in the morning."

But the year-the year, the year, remember reader, Jesus Christ did not mention that. If he had said the year, we should, that is, I should dwell longer on the text-as it stands, however, I have two remarks more to make.

1st. Our Lord did not say, that the time of his coming to reign on the earth, should not be known by him before hand, as "the Son;" for he knew that Glory would succeed his sufferings--he knew also, in God's glorifying the Son, was included ALL power in heaven and earth; and that he should

* The original text. 1 Epis. John 2 3 verse.

send forth the Holy Ghost in the last days to testify of his second appearing.

2nd. If we consider the opening of the book, that was sealed with seven seals, as done by the Lion of Juda, it will settle the sincere hearted at once, respecting the Lamb's present knowledge of the time of his appearing; and as soon as the mind is confirmed in this faith, the great point is settled; for, it being the prerogative of Jesus Christ to do as he pleases in heaven, and as to his power is joined his will to answer the prayer of faith, we have a right to believe, that in answer to this saving prayer, he will defend his people who say, he is coming in, (that is at or within the time specified,) 1847.

I anticipate unbelief from another quarter.

In addition to the above text, will be added, the 35th. verse of the 21st Chap. of Luke. "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."

Now, 1. What is coming? Answer: The kingdom of God—that is Emanuel's reign and glory.

2. "As a snare."-That them that dwell on the face of the whole earth, should be taken at unawares in the toils of his power.

3. Them that dwell-that "are settled on their lees."

4. On the face, &c. The face of the earth is its aspect-its real character-and all them that are of the world are not of the Father; but-"his secret

is with the righteous;" and before the Great Day of the Lord, his little ones, no doubt, will hear him calling them to retire from the world, and hide in their chambers. Yes, in the time of "the whole world's wondering after the beast," and saying "who is like unto this great Philosophy," the little ones of Jesus will be raised from the face of the earth, in spirit; and as to their persons, they will be separate from the beast, who at that awful time will be worshipped by "all them that dwell upon the earth," because they have rejected the Lamb, and their names are not written in his "Book of Life." The numerous allies of the Beast are to be allowed a time and space to fulfill all their abominations; and it will be a dreadful scene! But, Behold the end-"they shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God-and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever!"

There is another way of defending unbelief of these [tidings-even with the text given to us, who live under the "sixth trumpet and vial”— "Behold I come as a thief"I ask the unbeliever in the tidings-why the Lord will come so?Did he not say Watch? -A thief comes in

the night, however; and O ye Gentiles, who have rejected Christ, and rent his seamless garment— who have parted it among you, and cast lots upon his vesture-be it known to you, that in the night of your apostacy, he will come as a thief; and

you shall hear the great voices declaring "it is done."

I shall introduce two texts more, that are in use by unbelievers of these tidings. The first was spoken by our Lord to his apostles, whom he had chosen, on the day in which he was taken up into Heaven: "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Here the unbeliever rests he goes no farther-But the believer travels on to the next

verse.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me."-The Comforter was certainly to take of the things of Christ, and show them to his witnesses—and we may safely believe, that as "unto them it was given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, they were informed that the Gentiles were to come into the place of the Jews, and hold the ordinances of God's house for a given time—that when their times of probation should be fulfilled, then the Lord would come again, and restore the Kingdom to Israel. We have abundant evidence that one of them at least, knew the times and the seasons, after the descent of the Holy Ghost: I mean John, the writer of the Book of Revelations. It certainly was given to him by the Spirit of our ascended Messiah, by the Spirit of God the Father, to know the times and the seasons,

which, before the ascension and glory of the Lamb in Heaven, were "not for him to know."

The other text that I propose to mention (which is the last for this book) is Paul's declaration to the church at Thessalonica, "But of the times and seasons brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you"-1 Epis. 5. 1. A writer in the "Morning Watch," (published at London, England) gives a short, plain, and I think sufficient comment on the passage―he says that "Paul, though he had been only three sabbaths at Thessalonica,” (Acts 17. 2.) had sufficiently acquainted the Thessalonians respecting "the times and the seasons," as that day should not overtake them as a thief; they being children of the light and of the day; and being such, were not in darkness respecting the future.

The vision of Messiah's glory is certainly at hand, when "He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry;" and it is of everlasting importance to us, that we believe in, and wait for his appearing. 'Prepare my soul to meet Him!"

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H. LIVERMORE.

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