PREFACE. THROUGH the goodness and mercy of God, we are permitted, with many of our fellow-travellers on the journey of life, again to resume our labors in the cause of truth and righteousness, in this vain and perishing world. The wisest of men, on reviewing the varied aspects of life, gave expression to his feelings in language which embodies the convictions of thoughtful men of all time. "Vanity of vanities! all is vanity! What profit hath a man in all his labor, with which he toileth under the Sun? One generation goeth, and another cometh : but the earth abideth for ever." Once, indeed, in about thirty years, a number of the human family equal to the entire population of the world, which is estimated at eight hundred millions, pass beyond the reach of any evangelical efforts that may be put forth with the beneficent view of leading them to the exercise of faith, repentance, and obedience; and so many as are not saved, through the proclamation of the Gospel, are lost for ever. The preachers, the missionaries, the writers, and the professors of religion, are thus gradually removed from the scenes of their labors and trials. Hence the importance of the exhortation, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. Remove provocation from thy heart, and put impurity from thy flesh." How brief the period available to man for his vast work of personal preparation for a state of infinite duration, in the society of pure and holy angels, and the redeemed from among men, in the presence of God and the Lamb! Surely the thought should prompt us to appreciate the true value of time, lest it be trifled away, or passed in unworthy action. The work of turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, is as great and good as it is honorable; but something more even than this is required from the disciple of Jesus. To awaken conviction in the mind, may be the result of a single discourse, or of a brief interview; but to lead the convert forward in the pathway to perfection and glory, is still more arduous. Constant watchfulness is required on the part of those who are entrusted with the oversight of a church, in order that the young converts to the faith, as they are introduced into its communion, may be trained in a love of the truth in its simplicity and purity, and led to study the character and offices of Jesus, until their hearts become subdued and enraptured with the theme. To assist such laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, is one of the objects contemplated in the publication of this magazine. The subject of Christian Union is now engaging much of the attention of different parties in the religious world, and, at present, it is impossible to point out the direction which it may take. That there can be any permanent union except on the Bible, in its facts, commands, institutions, and promises, appears to us to be utterly impossible. Our attention, of course, during the progress of the volume, will be more or less devoted to this important topic. The movements of the Bible Union will be duly placed before our readers, and we shall be most happy to promote, by any instrumentality in our power, this great Christian enterprise of modern times. In commencing another volume of the Harbinger, we commit its interests anew to the hands of the brethren. With them must mainly rest its circulation and usefulness. We are, therefore, co-workers in this work of faith and labor of love. We should be much pleased to see the number of our readers increased, both in the church and the world; but the means to accomplish this result are somewhat difficult to lay down, and we prefer, consequently, to leave the matter to the individual enterprise of the brethren, some of whom have successfully exerted themselves, during the year, in enlarging our list of subscribers. We desire to give expression to our thanks for these indications of earnest support, which have not been limited to the United Kingdom, but have been exhibited by the brethren in Adelaide, Melbourne, Port Philip, and Sydney. It is almost unnecessary to observe, that as the diminution of subscribers, owing to death and emigration, is regular and constant, so should efforts to replace them be continually renewed. Having offered these remarks, we shall leave the matter with our readers, and anew buckle on our armour for another year, reposing, in unshaken confidence, on the prayers and support of the brethren, and the strength supplied from above to the most feeble and humble of the disciples of Jesus. J. W. Nottingham, January, 1858. JANUARY, 1858. THE British Alillennial Barbinger. PROPHECY-No. XX. PROPHETIC CHRONOLOGY. able to understand from the words of Jeremiah, the time when God was about to put an end to the captivity of his people. And so plain were the predictions concerning the first advent of our Saviour, that the whole Jewish nation were anxiously anticipating the hour of his coming. THE chronology of the Bible is still a | intrigues of a foreign court, Daniel was fit problem for the student of prophecy. The most patient, calm, and laborious research has hitherto failed to determine the true age of the Adamic earth; and many other questions in sacred chronology, have so far baffled the ingenuity of the most exact analytical calculators. The second advent of the Messiah, for example, has, with much assurance, been placed by evangelical writers, in almost every century of the Christian era. But time has fully demonstrated the insufficiency of their data, and the folly of their conclusions. Such vain attempts to be wise above that which is written, have led many to suppose, that the whole subject of sacred chronology is an enigma a mystery which can be understood only when prophecy becomes history; when the events themselves take place, or when we shall see as we are seen. and know even also as we are known. But this is evidently the other extreme. Whatever has been recorded by the pen of inspiration, was written for our instruction, and designed for man as he is. And hence we learn that the chronology of many prophetic events was well understood before their fulfilment. Even in Babylon, amidst the cares, the anxieties, and the political As usual, then, the truth lies between two popular extremes. The prophetic calendar is not a sealed book; nor is it an alphabet of simple signs and characters, which even the child may at all times fully comprehend. It is a light that shines in a dark place, but which an excited imagination may pervert into a thousand fantastic forms, of every hue and feature. It is not, therefore, a proper subject for dogmatical assertion; but for calm, patient, careful, and prayerful inquiry. Let us then, gentle reader, in this spirit, humbly approach the book of Daniellet us weigh and examine some of his chronological data—and especially, let us endeavour to ascertain the bearing and application of the prophetic numbers, contained in the following paragraph: "Then I Daniel looked, and behold there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half. And when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but understood not. Then said I, O, my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified and made white, and tried: but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." by other evidence. The close of each period, or rather the beginning of each following era, is distinctly characterised by the heavenly interpreter. With the first period ends the dispersion of the Jews; and consequently, their restoration to the land which God gave to Abraham, and to his posterity for an everlasting possession, is to be reckoned from this new epoch. "When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." 66 The second epoch is marked by the conversion, justification, and sanctification of many Jews. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried ; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." This is all in proper harmony with what is recorded in part of the second and third verses of this same chapter. The close of the second period seems, therefore, to bring us forward to the time of Israel's general conversion to Christianity, though some of them will still continue to reject the counsel of God, to their own shame and everlasting eontempt. then We have here three prophetic numThe third era is to be distinguished bers of very sublime import, in the for- by a very high degree of blessedness. tunes and destiny of the Jews. This is "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh evident, from the awfully impressive to the thousand three hundred and five manner in which they were introduced and thirty days." For then the many by the angel. The first seems to mark will be turned to righteousness the return of the Israelites to Palestine will the holy waters cover the whole -the second, their conversion to Chris-earth-then will Satan be bound—then tianity—and the third, the consummation of their evangelical labours, or the beginning of the Millennium. These are the three prominent points, around which cluster all the incidents recorded in the first division of this chapter; and hence, it is altogether reasonable to suppose, that in the reply to the question, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders ?" the angel would make some reference to each of them. But this is not a mere incident from antecedent probabilities. It is sustained will the church appear fair as the Sun, clear as the Moon, and terrible as an army with banners. Then will all nations go and say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the moun- To the house of the God of Jacob : |