words of our Lord, in giving the "signs" of his "coming and the end of the world," are, "Take heed that no man deceive you," that is, on this important point to be well understood. On the same and other occasions, Christ repeatedly informs us of many "false phrophets," or false witnesses, on the subject of his coming, just before the event; of much deception and many deceived, and "even, if it were possible, the very elect," in their saying, “Lo, here is Christ, or, Lo, there," &c.; and then most solemnly admonishes his people not to be thus deceived in the belief of such falsehoods of his coming, before he shall indeed come as the lightning from heaven.*

And, surely, this "sign" is already abundantly fulfilled. Many of the church have been thus "deceived" on this very point, and fatally too, as it is feared. And how much have we all heard of, "Lo, here is Christ," or, "Lo, there;" he is already come; rather than, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.” And how many are still so deceived on the "signs" of Christ's coming at hand, that they are even bold in their calculations of its being very far off,-more than a thousand years, and some of the leaders in Israel have placed the event more than three hundred and sixty thousand years off; so that the certain death of all the present human race first has been substituted as a part of the gospel, instead of the day of the Lord at hand, or the coming of Christ "quickly." Accordingly, to make the prophecies of Christ's coming to judgment harmonize with this putting "far away the evil day," how many have explained the Old Testament as having its entire fulfilment before the judgment, or during the Jewish and Christian dispensations. And how many, too, are yet explaining Christ's own most vivid, rousing, and clear descriptions of his coming "as the lightning," "in the clouds of heaven,' sending his angels," gathering "his elect," &c., as having had their primary fulfilment in the battle siege of Jerusalem by the Roman army. As sure, then, as Christ foretold his second coming, and these deceptions as one "sign" of its being "near, even at the doors," this " sign" is now fulfilled in the sight of all; so that we should "know," as Christ bids us, that his coming is thus "near."

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3. FORETOLD SPIRITUAL DARKNESS COME TO PASS. The present prevailing general and gross darkness on the prophecies of the second advent, is a foretold fulfilled sign. of the event truly near. The prophet said that "darkness" should "cover the earth, and gross darkness the people," in

*Matt. xxiv. 4, 23-26.

the very expression of saying, also, "but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."* Notwithstanding the present darkness which explains this last clause as fulfilled without Christ's second coming, he will then fulfil it, in shining gloriously and forever on all his people, as the risen "Sun of righteousness." Christ, also, in the parable of the ten virgins, on the subject of his coming again, foretold a state of so great midnight darkness just before it, that the wise, or his own saints, would be found asleep with the foolish or wicked, and to be awaked by a midnight cry, just in time suddenly to prepare to meet him in his then sudden coming. And, most certainly, this prophecy of "gross" and "midnight" darkness on Christ's coming, at hand, is now as perfectly fulfilled as it ever can be. For such darkness has prevailed on these repeated prophecies of the Lord's final coming, that even most of the churches have long understood them to mean anything else than that great event, and have felt that they were inexplicable, if not fulfilled in worldly things, or to be understood no faster than fulfilled. And how many of the same persons, too, have been so sound asleep on the coming of Christ at hand, that, though professing to follow hard after him, they have thought, said, or felt, no more of his near coming, than if the event were not foretold, and no more than we think of a temporal event at hand, when we are sound asleep at midnight, and without even dreaming on the subject.

4. FORETOLD DECEPTIONS FROM HUMAN WAR ARGUMENTS. The present very popular and general argument, that the prophecies of Christ's coming are fulfilled in human " wars," is positive proof of the same event now "near." Christ said, on giving these "signs," as requested, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, [not deceived, or moved in your faith,] for all these things [these deceptions, by hearing of wars,] must come to pass; but the end is not yet," or the Son of man is not come yet. The mere existence "of wars" and war "rumors" could be no signal sign of Christ's coming, from the fact that such events are too common, have been and will be, from Cain's day to the end of the world, to be an understood sign of Christ 66 at hand." And yet, popular arguments, drawn from such things, and gross general deceptions on Christ's coming, occasioned by such arguments, can be such a sign," as Christ said. In seeing this prophecy now astonishingly fulfilled, we have only to look into almost any of Matt. xxv. 1—10.

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*Isaiah lx. 2.

+ Mal. iv. 2.

our popular commentaries on the most clear, multiplied predictions and descriptions of the second advent, both in the Old and New Testaments, and see how those rousing prophecies are quite generally explained as primarily fulfilled in "wars;" yea, human "wars," past and to come; such as those of "Alexander," "Mahomet," "Constantine," "Titus," "Buonaparte," and other human wars yet to be waged against the papal church, and other combinations. And if, as individuals, we any of us place our finger on a particular prophecy, as one that clearly and primarily foretells Christ's coming, how soon are we sure to HEAR of wars and rumors of wars,' as an argument against so understanding that prophecy!

5. FORETOLD MANY OFFENDED FULFILLED.

The foretold "many offended," betraying, and hating "one another," now literally and extensively fulfilled, is further positive proof of Christ's coming near, "even at the doors." Although many, now held in reputation in the church, may be slow to admit the fact of this fulfilment, in their charitably considering the church in a less fallen state, we have only to look at the love of many waxed cold, iniquity abounding, popular gross offences prevailing, and many apparent unconverted men allowed to dictate in church matters, in order for us to see that "many" are "offended." And to see that in the church many are betraying and hating one another, we have only to look at the perhaps three hundred sectaries or schisms, into which the protestant church has sundered itself within about three centuries, since leaving the papacy, and also at their high walls of defence against the attacks of each other, together with their multiplied severe engagements for the victory, or in self-defence, by the pulpit, the press, or more private controversy.

6. FORETOLD "ABOMINATIONS,' NOW SEEN.

The foretold "abominations of desolations," now seen by many, and visible to all with the eye of faith, now "standing in the" church, or "holy place," proves the coming of the Judge very near. Ezekiel, Daniel, and Christ foretold this event, in perfect harmony with each other, and all gave it as an event just before, and to be closed by the coming of the Judge to settle the controversy.* I am aware of the opposite popular interpretations of these desolating abominations, as though fulfilled in the Roman army surrounding Jerusalem, in the siege of Titus, near eighteen hundred years ago; but as that interpretation is attended

*Ezek. viii. 1-18. Dan. ix. 27. xii. 11. Matt. xxiv. 15.

with many difficulties, I must still adhere to the rule of interpreting those passages by themselves; and this shows their fulfilment to be just before the resurrection of the dead; the destruction of the wicked not sealed for God and just before the coming of Christ, "as the lightning," with "his angels," in "glory. And to see that it is now more perfectly and extensively fulfilled in the church, or holy place," than in any former age, we have only to look at the various forms of popular abominable wickedness, still upheld by the church, which have been disclosed and severely rebuked by individuals and combinations associated for the purpose, within twelve or fifteen years past. And, surely, these things must be more "abominable" in the sight of the Lord, when sustained as they are by his holy people, than a heathen army congregated to massacre the hypocrites and Pharisees of Jerusalem, who must themselves have been more abominable than that army.

7. FORETOLD PRESENT SCATTERED POWER OF THE CHURCH. The present fulfilled scattering of "the power of the holy people," or church, is offered as positive Scripture proof of the glorious second advent now just upon us. Daniel, on inquiring how long it would "be to the end of" the resurrection "wonders," was told that all these things should be finished, when God "shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people." The church, or saints, it must be granted, are "the holy people," for none others are entitled to this appellation. And most surely their power, authority, or holy influence over an ungodly world, in constraining them to submit to the government of God, is now wonderfully scattered into hundreds of shreds comparatively, or conflicting denominations, with little of holy power about them, so that they have been unable to keep themselves from falling under the strong power or unholy influence of the rich enemies of God. It was not so in the apostles' days: the power or influence of the holy people was then combined, not scattered, and they were powerful, in mightily convincing sinners, and holding fast the true faith. And though, since then, the church has for centuries been apparently almost extinct, there has never been such a great show of her professed power, almost in all nations, as. at present, and, at the same time, such multiplied rendings of her body, now scattered or separated one from another. But the "watchman," and of course the holy people, "shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion."

*Matt. xxiv. 30, 31.

+ Dan. xii. 2-7.

8. FORETOLD INQUIRY ON PROPHECY ARISING.

The present spirit of inquiry of the church, and answer of many watchmen, on the prophecies of the second advent, proves its being at hand. It is foretold, among the events of the last days of darkness or night on this subject, that the people will inquire of their watchman, and say, "Watchman, what of the night?" and again, "Watchman, what of the night?"—or, where are we now in the period of this long darkness?—or, how long before the bright morn of the resurrection, or glorious rise of the Sun of righteousness? In answer to this question, it is foretold that the watchman will say, "Behold, the morning cometh, and also the night; and if ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come."* In seeing that this prophecy is now being signally fulfilled, as never before since it was given, we have only to consider the proof before us of the gross spiritual darkness now covering the holy people, and how silent they have been for ages about the expected glorious appearing of Christ; how they are of late waking up on the subject, in the eastern and western continents, and in various ways virtually inquiring, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" And see, also, how many watchmen there are, who, but a short time since, were as silent on the subject as the shades of midnight, and who are now saying, as it were, "Behold, the morning [of the saints' resurrection] cometh, and also the night" of final darkness for the enemies of God. And see how the number of such watchmen increases through the land, and how many of them are actually encouraging their inquiring people to continue their inquiries, and, through such instruction on the things of prophecy, to "return" from their wanderings, and "come” more fully after the Lord. It is true, there are many yet, who close their pulpits against the doctrine of Christ's speedy return, seeming rather to forbid the inquiries of their people on the subject, so that they feel constrained to go elsewhere to hear it, or to procure the written answers of other watchmen to their inquiries. Though I recollect not to have heard anything of this inquiry, nor answer to it, till 1832, by a then obscure watchman, over the signature of "W. M.," (since known as the William Miller, who, under God, has awakened so much public attention to this subject,) the number is now multiplied, and increasing rapidly, of those who inquire, and those who say, "Behold, the morning cometh," &c.

*Isa. xxi. 11, 12.