and Dan. x. 6. On that day he gave his preachers a mouth; and whoso heard them, heard him; and whoso heard him, heard the voice of the Spirit. (John iii. 8.) If we proceed in this manner to render Scripture its own interpreter, we shall presently see what is the import of this grand type of the last vision. It is found in the twentyeighth chapter of St. Matthew, and in the second and tenth of the Acts; at the latter end of the weeks. I would only further observe, that a principal intention of the types and prophecies is to continue the revelation of God's will to all ages of the church; that the church may not merely possess the common faith, as before stated, but that she may be warned of particular temporary danger, (Jude 3, &c., 1 Tim. iv. 1-6, Rev. various places, 2 Pet. iv. 17), and instructed in particular temporary duties. "Now all these things were our examples." "All these things happened unto them as types; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (1 Cor. x. 6, 11.) But, for some reason or other, the present age has shut its ears to this kind of special admonition to the particular generation to which they belong; and, therefore, when a man of Mr. Cooper's authority and estimation brings forward admonition of this kind, I would not have the subject hastily dismissed, but thoroughly examined, root and branch. In order to impress and confirm the admonitions of Mr. Cooper, I again quote an author who lived long before the event. In 1742, Mr. Samuel Johnson, in his work on Scripture Prophecies explained both literally and typically, vol. ii. p. 139, having distinguished between the forms of the one Antichristianism working from the first to the second advent, observes, that Antichristianism, properly so called, will push men on to violent and continued opposition to Christ and his Gospel, ост. 1825. and make them endeavour to root out the being of Christianity, and the very name of Christians. And therefore these two (the apostacy from the Gospel, and the opposition to Christianity), may be considered, in some sense, as two distinct heads of the wild beast, though for the main, indeed, they are the same. Now, these seven heads, or divisions, as thus explained, may serve to give us a clear, though frightful, idea of Antichrist the Great, in whom will be found the sum of all that overflowing wickedness that reigned in the antediluvian world; of all the idolatrous practices among the Heathens; of all the great apostacies of the Jews; of all the refined arts and policies of the Church of Rome; of all that deceivableness of unrighteousness by which Mahomet so widely spread his imposture; of all that dissoluteness, profaneness, and corruption, that is so visible among mere nominal Christians; and, lastly, of all those false doctrines, lying wonders, and counterfeit miracles of Antichrist that Satan himself, by God's permission, can enable him to propagate and perform. See the LXX. version of Dan. vii. 24. Now, though there is little doubt to be made that IREneus received what he has delivered, as above, concerning Antichrist, partly by tradition derived from St. John, or some other Apostle, yet one main ground of his opinion and doctrine in this point might be this passage of the LXX. from whence he seems to have deduced a great part of his character of Antichrist, which so fully expresses the sense I have given of the seven heads of the wild beast." Respecting the ten kings, he further observes, "that they will not be properly kings, but commanders in an army. The short space of time that is here denoted by an hour, (Rev. xvii.) and signifies one single month, is a time sufficient to answer the purpose of God in the final and sudden destruction he will hereafter 3 c bring upon Papal Rome by means of Antichrist the Great. These nominal kings are to rise with Antichrist, and exercise their power during some short time of his reign, which agrees very well with the notion of general officers." “Further, it is expressly foretold, (Rev. xviii. 9, 10), that at the destruction of mystical Babylon, or Rome, the kings of the earth shall bewail her and lament for her, standing afar off. Now, here the kings of the earth plainly denote the then reigning Popish princes, and therefore cannot be the same with those that shall be instruments of her de struction." "Antichrist, at his coming, will find every thing prepared to his hand, the most loose and unsettled principles among Christians, a great apostacy from the faith, a stupid indifference and unconcernedness about any religion, very mean and unworthy notions respecting that which is revealed, and a general decay of Christian piety and charity; all which, and the like, will powerfully dispose men (and much more than they are aware,) to receive and embrace the anti-Christian delusions. "I shall conclude these observations with a judicious remark of the late learned Dr. Wells, in his note on Rev. xi. 2. Having intimated that the times of the personal Anti christ may be determined by the times of the mystical Antichrist, as being some way correspondent one to another, he proceeds thus: Agreeably to this supposition, the number of forty-two months, or, which comes to the same thing, of 1260 days; as it mystically denotes the duration of the mystical Antichrist to be 1260 mystical days, i. e. 1260 years; so it may also literally serve to determine or denote the duration of the literal or personal Antichrist to be 1260 literal days, or forty-two literal months, that is, three (literal or common) years and a half. Hereby may be well reconciled the expositions both of the ancients andˇmoderns concerning the duration of Antichrist, which have hitherto, I think, been thought altogether irreconcilable; for the duration of the personal Antichrist may and will fall in with the last three years and a half of the mystical Antichrist."" In hopes that these remarks may excite diligent attention to the important passage in Daniel, on which Mr. Cooper founds so serious and so timely advice, I have put together my present thoughts on the subject, wishing to see something more satisfactory from others than I can produce myself. AMICUS. THE POOR-HOUSE PENITENT.-PART V. THE next day was the Sabbath of the Lord. It was the day on which we commemorate more especially the resurrection of our adorable Redeemer from the grave. Mrs. H. after receiving the pledges of his dying love at the sacramental table, hastened to workhouse, unconscious of the death of Mary, yet expecting such was the case. Finding the door of the sick-ward closed, she gently tapped, when the nurse admitted her into the gloomy cham ber of death; for such it was now become. All was silent and solemn. The inhabitant of the lifeless form now stretched on the bier had fled, and winged its way to that unknown region from whence there is no return. Mary was no more! The covering that withheld her face from view was removed. Her countenance was placid and peaceful. Her features were interesting even in death, and bespoke happiness. On inquiry, Mrs. H. was informed she had passed a severe night, and had not long been dead. At her own request the Scriptures were read to her in the night, and she felt happy in the prospect of death.-At this moment one of the aged females came up, and, addressing Mrs. H. with weeping eyes, said, 66 Ah, ma'am! poor Mary has great reason to be thankful that you were ever sent to this house, for the good you did her soul. Dear creature! she suffered greatly all the night, but she was earnest in prayer: her lips moving in prayer to the last moment. I trust she is happy." Then, turning to an aged woman near, she exclaimed "Ah, granny! what a sight this was! one so young cut off, while we are spared who are so much older, and have lived in sin, forgetful of God! we ought now to prepare." The other, alas! still wedded to the world, unconscious of her own state, and indifferent to the concerns of her never-dying soul, replied, with the greatest unconcern, She had had so much trouble in the world, she had no time to think about eternity.". "The world!" rejoined the other, "what have you to do with the world, who are just going out of it?" Mrs. H. then spoke to the elder one, and remarked, that every thing conducive to her comfort was provided; that it was the eleventh hour with her; that she should earnestly seek the Lord while he was to be found, and gave her a tract" To the Aged," to read. While thus engaged, Mrs. H.'s attention was fixed on hearing a rumbling noise on the stairs, and, turning round, the door opened; when there entered two men with a shell, destined to contain the remains of Mary; into which the corpse was soon placed, and carried to the dead-house: from whence, in the course of a day or two, it was removed, and consigned to its native dust. There will her bones remain till "the trumpet shall sound," and she too "shall come forth and stand in her lot at the end of the days." In closing this account of Mary I cannot refrain from adverting to a few points, which to my mind convey evidences of a change of heart, and cause me to exclaim, "Is not this a brand plucked from the burning?" 1. Her deep and abiding sense of her exceeding sinfulness.-Nor were these feelings the mere language of the lips: her heart had been touched by Divine Grace; and her constant cry was, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Seldom has Mrs. H. seen such unaffected sorrow and contrition of spirit, such deep self-loathing, such hearty repentance, such earnest cries for mercy, as were constantly manifest in the experience of Mary. Her sins had been great, but her sorrow for them was proportionably severe. Always weeping on account of her transgressions, and bowed down on account of her iniquities, she could look but with faint hope for pardon to the Saviour of sinners. Viewing herself as the chief of sinners, she was always fearful whether mercy could be extended to one so vile. 2. Her hope, feeble as it was, was placed alone on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the mercy of God through him.-She did not conceive, because her sufferings were great, or the sorrows of her heart poignant, that therefore God would accept her. No; what little comfort she enjoyed, was from beholding the love of God in Christ Jesus; and all her dependence, all her hope, was fixed on him. Christ was exactly the Saviour she needed; and she went down to the grave trusting altogether upon him for pardon, acceptance, and eternal salvation. 3. Her gratitude to her kind instructors shone beautifully in the experience of this afflicted girl.Hence she was constantly blessing and praising God for sending his servants to tell her the way of salvation. Her heart overflowed with thankfulness towards them; and one of her dying requests was, that her grateful sense of their kindness might be conveyed to them. In short, the artless simplicity, the unaffected humility, the patience and submission, the godly sorrow, and humble faith in the mercy of God in the Son of his love, strikingly apparent in this poor girl, all united to justify the conclusion, that she was made the subject of Redeeming Grace and Dying Love; nor do the visitors hesitate in expressing their conviction, that she is now in the presence of Him who loved and gave himself for his people. ALPHA. ON GRIEVING AND QUENCHING THE HOLY SPIRIT. From an old Author, with a few additions and alterations. Ir is the high dignity and prerogative of all believers in Christ, that the Holy Spirit is given to dwell in them, as their Comforter and Sanctifier. How careful, therefore, ought they be to avoid every kind of sin, and to abstain even from the appearance of evil, lest they grieve the Heavenly Guest, and provoke him to depart from them! For, though God will not take away his Spirit totally, or finally, from the faithful, yet his influences may in a great measure be suspended, not only with respect to common gifts, but also with respect to special grace. When you find something within you moving and urging you to duty, but you neglect the incitement, and hang off, and do not act under present impulses, you are verily in danger of quenching the Divine spark which has been enkindled in your breast. When you give way to carnal sloth and laziness, and go through your secret devotions in a careless, slight, and formal manner; you despise the rich consolations of the Holy Ghost, as if they were not worth asking for with any earnestness of desire. When conscience tells you to be bold, and to manifest your true character before every company; and you begin to shrink in the hour of trial, lest you should be accounted precise, or righteous overmuch; you treat the blessed Sanctifier with grievous indignity; as a servant dishonours his master when he is ashamed to wear his livery. If you dissemble or conceal your graces, and do not give vent unto your love to God, and zeal for his church, from the fear of being taunted and scorned by wicked men; then you are guilty of quenching the Spirit. When you are displeased at the success and growing excellencies of your fellow-Christians, and labour by detraction and defamation to darken the lustre of their gifts and virtues, you commit a deep and atrocious sin. Many would gladly make a monopoly of religion, and shine alone. They are pleased when God is glorified by themselves, but grieved when he is glorified by others. They hereby work against the Holy Ghost; and strive, with malicious envy, to weaken that which he cherisheth, and to destroy that which his own power hath produced. Further: if you transgress wilfully or deliberately, or upon a small temptation, or against great light, or against many mercies, or against many solemn vows and covenant engagements; you pour a foul contempt upon him, and may expect that your perverseness will be followed by a long night of perplexity and despair. When you have often confessed your sin to God, and have as often professed to be grieved for offending him by it; and yet will commit the very same sin again; you vex his Spirit exceedingly, and have just cause to fear lest you should fall into the state of those whose consciences are seared as with a hot iron. The Israelites in the wilderness seemed deeply humbled on account of their murmurings, when the vials of Divine wrath were poured out upon them; but as soon as the judgment was withdrawn, they were ready to break forth afresh into the most obstinate rebellion. And what did God say concerning them? "They have tempted me now these TEN TIMES: let me alone, that I may consume them as in a moment." A smaller sin often repeated amounts to as much as a gross and heinous transgression. conscience, and stir up a controversy between God and the soul. "Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour." It is one of the characters of an heir of glory, that "he speaketh the truth in his heart." Oh! my beloved brethren, how ought you to tremble at the thought of doing "despite unto the Spirit of grace!" He is keenly sensible of the least injury, and will not put up with your provocations against him. If you wilfully grieve him, he is sure to withdraw his presence from you; nor will he repeat the tokens of his favour till he has visited your iniquity with scourges. Therefore be careful to give him good entertainment. Cherish his motions and breathings; obey his counsels; follow where he leads. Take heed of neglecting duties to which you are strongly urged, and of committing sins contrary to clear light and conviction. Guard particularly against the sins of the tongue. Avoid all trifling conversation, all foolish talking and jesting, which are not convenient. Light words weigh heavily in God's balance; and it is impossible that his blessed Spirit should long dwell in that heart from which they proceed, and by which they are suggested. Abhor the way of lying, and let nothing ever tempt you to add to the truth, or to diminish from it, in the least degree. He who misrepresents the most trivial fact; who curtails, or embellishes, or exaggerates, just as it may suit his purpose, in order to make his statements more plausible and complete; will assuredly bring guilt upon his Again: beware of contracting idle, slothful, and inactive habits or your mind will be in a gloomy, uncomfortable state, and you will be harassed with ten thousand doubts and fears. The stagnent pool is always muddy, and full of worms; but the fast-flowing rivulet is clear, sweet, and refreshing. Finally: as you value the renewing and consoling influences of the Holy Ghost, keep aloof from the turmoil and distraction of worldly company. "Come out The from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." You must entirely renounce their habits, their pursuits, and their pleasures, or you will never enjoy real peace. You must withdraw from "the places of public concourse," from the haunts of fashionable amusements. Heavenly Dove, if I may so speak, always keeps at a distance from such tumultuous scenes. Oh, then, be much alone, in the calm retreat of the closet; and when you kneel within your chamber, or when you frequent the solitary walk, endeavour to banish from your mind all vain, disquieting, and impertinent thoughts; and He will descend from heaven to bless your retirement: he will come, like the dove of Noah, with the olive-branch of peace, to assure you that the flood of Divine wrath is subsided, that the storm will be followed by an eternal sunshine, and that God will be angry with you no more. "Oh that the Comforter would come, Nor visit as a transient guest, And keep possession of my breast, Ορθόβελος. |