tion of the following apparent concurrence of evidence. First, referring to Daniel vii. 25. The time, times, and dividing of times, or 1260 years for the duration of the power of the little horn, being dated from the year 606, when supreme power was conferred on Pope Gregory III., the 1260 years will expire in 1866.

Again, chapter viii. of Daniel describes, under the vision of a ram, a he goat and a little horn, the united kingdom of Media and Persia, the kingdom of Grecia, and an Antichrist to spring up out of or among the ruins of this latter kingdom. The question is then put, "How long shall be the vision?" and the answer, as given in the Septuagint, is, "Until 2,400 prophetical days or years, and then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Our translation, however, renders it 2,300 years.) Dating these 2,400 years, as given in the Septuagint, from the commencement of the vision, or the union of Media to Persia under Cyrus, 534 years before Christ, and the prophetical 2,400 years will expire in 1866.

Again, in the last chapter of Daniel, it is said, verse 12, "Blessed is he who waiteth and cometh to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days," or years: a period this, therefore, of gospel blessing and privilege. Let us date, then, from the promulgation of the reform doctrines by Luther, shortly after the Augsburg Confession was presented to Charles V., viz., in 1531, and let the prophetical number 1335 be divided into 335 years for the proclamation of gospel truth, and 1000 years for the triumph of truth during the Millennium, in this way the 335 years, added to the date 1531, gives again the year 1866 as the period of the Millennium.

Between the year 1844 and 1866 the author predicts the rapid growth of Papal power and the revolution of the European kingdoms, and their forming themselves into republican governments on the ruins of monarchical.

Now, other expositors have come to similar conclusions with respect to the prophetic numbers; little more, therefore, need be said on that point, as the subject has already been discussed to satiety but certainly the closing inference with respect to the growth of the Papal power, the revolution of European kingdoms, and the formation generally of republican governments, is not a little extraordinary, and being found in a work which was published two years ago, can

not fail to strike all candid men as a singular coincidence.

In all prophetic interpretations a prominent place has always been assigned to France and its sovereigns; now, on the present occasion, the power which has so rapidly overrun Europe, shaking and subverting its most ancient thrones, certainly broke out in that kingdom, the grand theatre of political convulsions. The first, second, and third revolutions of France have so much in common, that the attention of statesmen and popular writers has been intently fixed on points of coincidence: these points, however, are most abundant between the second and third revolutions-that is, the revolutions of 1830 and 1848. The following are not a little curious:

deputies, who decide that they will assist at the banquet of the 12th arrondissement. 11. Taking of Abd-elKader.

12. Ordonnance of the

prefect of police, published on the 21st of February, opposing the banquet. 13. This ordonnance leads, on Monday evening, to tumultuous assemblages, at which the journals are read and loudly commented upon. These assemblages form a sort of preface to the revolution which breaks out on the following day. 14. The people revolt

against this ordonnance, and the power falls into the hands of the insurgents. 15. The combat lasts

on

16.

Tuesday, and finishing on Thursday. 17. The people gain the victory over the royal troops. 18. The gendarmerie first take part in the conflict, and yield. 19. They are disbanded. 20. The inviolability of

the Sovereign, proclaimed in the charter of 1814, is treated with derision. 21. Charles X. falls from the throne at 74 years of age; 22. In July, the month of the death of the Duke of Berri.

23. He abdicates in fa

vour of his grandson, the Duke of Bordeaux, aged ten

years.

24. The Duke of Bordeaux is presented as King. 25. He is refused, the people declaring that it is too late.

26. Aprovisional govern- 26. A provisional govern

ment established after the revolution.. 27. The royal family are

obliged to quit the

soil of France, 28. Which they do by short stages, attended by several thousands of the royal guards, agreat number of friends and faithful servants, and three commissioners of the provisional government, the greater part of whom wept profusely when the time of separation came.

29. They adopt England as their place of exile.

30. Charles X., on setting

his foot on the shores of that country, shed tears of joy.

31. Impeachment of the ministers of Charles X.

32. The head of the family dies in a foreign country.

ment established after the revolution. 27. The royal family are obliged to quit the soil of France, 28. Which they do precipitately, without

even the necessaries of life, being obliged to disguise and to conceal themselves, in order to escape the fury of the people of the country through which they pass, without defence, abandoned by their relatives, and even by their favourites.

29. They adopt England as their place of exile.

30. Louis Philippe, on

landing there, exclaimed with, joy, "Thank God, I am on English ground." 31. Impeachment of the ministers of Louis Philippe.

32.* #

21. Louis Philippe falls from the throne at 74 years of age;

22. In February, the month of the death

of the Duke of Orleans.

23. He abdicates in fa

vour of his grandson, the Count of Paris, aged ten years.

24. The Count of Paris is presented as King.

25. He is refused, the people declaring that it is too late,

1767, John Quincy Adams, 1829.

Now it will be seen by this that Jefferson was born just eight years after his predecessor Adams; Madison eight after his predecessor Jefferson; Monroe eight years after Madison, and John Quincy Adams eight years after Monroe. Another curious fact to be observed is, that Adams was just sixty-six years old when he retired; Jefferson was sixty-six; Madison was sixty-six; Monroe was sixtysix; and John Quincy Adams, had he

been elected to a second term, would have been sixty-six. Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July.

Now it may be important for the less literate portion of our readers to state, that the day on which three of these five republican Presidents expired, viz., the 4th of July, was the anniversary of the ever memorable Declaration of Independence, made the 4th of July, 1776. May we not exclaim with the prophet, "Whoso is wise, and they will understand these things; prudent, and they shall know them?"

WORLDLINESS OF PROFESSORS. SIR,-As the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, it is yours to make a noble stand in defence of spiritual, self-denying religion; and against that worldly, self-indulging Christianity, which is now so popular in many quarters. As the CHRISTIAN WITNESS you have done much, and for this the churches owe you much; but you have still much to do: abuses still abound, and must be rooted up. As the CHRISTIAN WITNESS you have an ear, quick to hear what is spoken of and by the churches in every corner of the land; an eye, quick to mark their movements; and a word, quick to thunder in their ears the language of reproof if they are wrong, and to cheer them on if they are right.

Now to my task. You have often been a faithful and true WITNESS against the worldly conformities of professors; there is scarcely a point you have not touched upon. You have bewailed the decay of our churches, and the deadness of their members; you have traced out the causes of these evils, and pointed to their remedies: but, we repeat, much remains to be done; and this, what follows, will make abundantly clear.

This town, with its suburbs, contains 200,000 souls, or more; among whom we (the Independents) have in all five churches. These churches are mostly not in a prosperous condition; yet their pastors are devoted, earnest, and faithful men. A natural question is, Why are they not prosperous? Leaving others, we shall point out one faithful source of the want of zeal and spirituality so mamifest among professors here. We allude

to THE LOVE OF PROFESSORS FOR WORLDLY AMUSEMENTS.

It is a well-known fact, that not only members of our congregations, but of our

churches, and their families, are often seen at the concerts of Jullien and others, both at the Town Hall and elsewhere; as well as at private balls and entertainments of a very worldly character. This is less true of the humbler and less-influential, than of others-private members and officers of the churches, not to omit students of theology and stated ministers (the latter not belonging to the town, perhaps, but still well-known in it). This is the fact, too notorious to be denied. But we will be just. We find at these places of amusement, not the most spiritual professors, but such as excuse themselves (sometimes on Sundays, and generally, or always, on week nights) from the house of God, because-they have no time!! It is hard to repress indignation at this. As we said, these things are not owing to the pastors, some of whom are most anxious and publicly urgent upon this very matter. But they will go some secretly, if possible; others, by stumbling upon some excuse, seek to pacify a reproving conscience, and faithful friends; while some openly and boldly defend themselves. Thus the ways of Zion mourn, and those of the world rejoice. They tells us there is no harm in concerts, i. e., as such. But we have nothing to do with abstracts, but palpable realities; and we believe there is harm in attending concerts, and such like, as seen in its results to professors, and to nonprofessors too. This is denied; but to those who deny, let us put a few questions, which let them answer as in the sight of God, and at the bar of conscience. Are not concerts and the like eminently the amusements of worldly men? Do you not there come into needless contact with worldly men and manners? Do not worldly men mark professors, and justify their own excesses, by the lesser excesses of Christians. Do not concerts and such like unsettle the minds of the children and servants of professors, and efface good impressions, when those professors, with their children and servants, attend them? Do these things promote or prevent spirituality of mind? and how is he fitted for devotion who returns from the ball-room, &c., at four or five o'clock in the morning? Are not Christians forbidden to do what makes their brother offend? to conform to the world? Do not such things grieve the most devoted servants of the Lord Jesus? Are they not a cause of triumph to the world? Do they not lower the character for consistency of those who are chargeable,

both in the esteem of the world and of the church? Do, or can, they promote, in any sense, the physical, intellectual, moral, or spiritual welfare of any? or is it not a mere sensual gratification? Does it tend in any way to recommend the gospel, to increase its influence? and is it done to the glory of God? But enough. It is for the WITNESS to exhibit the churches as in a mirror, that their beauties may be seen and copied; their defects avoided or removed. Here is a mirror in which many may see themselves; it is a faithful portrait. If its features become the saint, they who own them need not be ashamed of them; if they be deserving of imitation, let them be known; and if not, still let them be known.

Who can wonder that the Spirit is withheld, that sinners sin on, that the church is feeble, that the means of grace are neglected, when the assemblies of the world are loved and followed, its pleasures supreme, and its principles carried out by the professing people of God? Who wonders to see the garden of the Lord neglected and desolate, when its wall is broken down, and it is confounded with the wilderness? Well would it be, if professors, instead of giving time, health, and money, and their hearts, to public amusements, would look upon poor forsaken Zion, and weep, and work, and pray for her; if they would look upon themselves, and seek, by self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer, to grow in grace; and if they would look upon their perishing neighbours, and aim at their conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ. EBENEZER. Birmingham, February 18, 1847.

held by a large body of students belonging to the greatest Dissenting community in Scotland, and which we have much pleasure in laying before our readers, as it may possibly serve as a guide to others under similar circumstances:

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN STUDENTS' MISSIONARY SOCIETY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

Programme of the Social Meeting to be held in Mr.
Johnston's, on Thursday Evening, Dec. 23, 1847.
Chairman-The President, Mr. R. S. Scott.
Assisted by Mr. Goodburn, Vice-President.
Tea and Coffee.

Minute of last Meeting and Business.
Psalm cxxxiii.

Introductory Address by the Chairman. Mr. Easten.-"On the Influence of Religion on the Welfare of Civil Communities."

Mr. Donaldson." On the Influence of a Missionary Spirit."

Paraph. lvi. 5th, 6th, and 7th verses. Mr. Duncan Miller.-"On the Duty and Advantage of Studying the Scriptures."

Mr. M'Neile." On the Influence of Faith on the Intellectual Character."

Service of Fruit.

Half-an-hour for Conversation.

Paraph. xi. 1st, 2nd, and 5th verses. Mr. James Ronaldson.-"On the Importance of Personal Piety."

Mr. Finlayson." On the Condition and Prospects of the Calabar Mission."

Paraph. xxiii. 12th verse to the end.
Chairman's Remarks.

To conclude by singing the 5th and 6th verses of the 4th Hymn, after prayer by Mr. James Donaldson.

An interval of a few minutes between each Address.

We were likewise, about the same time, furnished with the following, to show us that the case on which we had animadverted was not the rule, but the exception. We have equal pleasure also in laying that before our readers. Meetings so conducted are calculated to promote friendship, to diffuse knowledge, and to advance the interests of society :

SOIREE IN THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Rev. Professor Symington, of Paisley, will open the Meeting with praise and prayer.

Rev. W. H. Goold, of Edinburgh.-Address:

"Congregational Duties."

Psalm cxxii. verses 6-9-(all joining)-Tune, Torwood.

Service of Sweetbread.

Mr. A. Laurie, of Greenock.-Address: "Missionary Enterprise."

Psalm lxvii.-(all joining)-Tune, St. Lawrence. Mr. J. Keith, of Glasgow.-Address. Prayer and the Benediction.

Church Doors open at Seven. Chair to be taken at Half-past Seven precisely.

Tickets of Admission, 1s.; Juveniles under 14 years, 6d.

SACRED MUSIC.

ON whatever side we look we behold multiplying signs of a worldly spirit in every section of the church of Christ. The godly simplicity of former days is fast passing away. The spirit of Puseyism-the spirit of Popery, is not necessarily confined to the Established Church. It may find chambers swept and garnished among Independents, Baptists, and Methodists, and other unendowed communities; and there is reason to fear that, among them all, it has already found a resting-place. The substitution of the form of godliness for the power of it-the substitution of ritual for spiritual religion, is natural to man; and the Almighty power of Divine grace alone can repress its habitual rising. Our object, however, on the present occasion, is, not to discuss the general subject, but to introduce the following letter, for which room could not be found till now:

SIR, Some time ago you furnished your readers with some just and caustic remarks on the performance (sacred and profane) enacted in the school-room at Stockport, in Cheshire; and looking up to you, as thousands of us do, as the guide of public opinion on matters of religious doctrine and practice, I trust you will not deem it impertinent in me enclosing you the Programme of a Religious Performance which is to come off on Sunday next in a neighbouring sanctuary, on occasion of the "re-opening" of the organ. The Performers are all well known in the fashionable world. The bills placarded on the walls, in most of the towns and villages in the neighbourhood, announcing the "Performance," measure nearly two yards by thirty inches, and, of course, are printed in enormously large type. It is not many months ago since the said organ was "opened," as it was called, accompanied by the same ceremonies which are to grace its "reopening." On the occasion of its opening I saw one of the large bills (quite as large as on the present occasion) stuck up in the bar of the Royal Hotel in this place. What would our Puritan forefathers say to such exhibitions as these? Would they not, think you, disown their degenerate sons? There is, moreover, a growing tendency in the West Riding churches to exhibitions of this description, or what will

soon land them all there-I mean the objectionable practice of hiring ungodly men to sing the praises of Jehovah in the sanctuary. In the church with which I stand connected there is a paid staff of singers, who have no connection with religion at all, except officially-that is, at the rate of so much per annum according to their several abilities to show up what certainly ought to be the most spiritual part of the worship, and therefore not in the hands of hirelings. Surely we will not need hirelings in heaven to sing for us the song of Moses and the Lamb! If so, then let each worshipper cultivate for himself and for herself as much music as will at any rate enable them to sing in harmony with the divine requirement, "with knowledge and with the understanding also."

I am, Sir, &c.,

IOTA.

The following is the Bill, slightly abridged, which deserves to be carefully scanned:

RE-OPENING OF THE ORGAN AT THE INDE

PENDENT CHAPEL, CLECKHEATON.

The public are respectfully informed that on Easter Sunday, April 23rd, 1848, Three Sermons will be preached in the above Chapel as follows: in the Morning at Half-past Ten, and in the Evening at Half-past Six, by the Rev. ENOCH MELLOR, M.A., of Halifax; and in the Afternoon at Half-past Two o'clock, by the Rev. JAMES CREED, of Airedale College. A Collection will be made after each service to defray the debt incurred by the Erection of the Organ.

On the Afternoon of Easter Monday,

A GRAND SELECTION OF SACRED MUSIC

Will be performed, in which the following Eminent Vocalists will take a part:

Mrs. Sunderland, Miss Wood, Miss Smith, Misses
Thornton, Bentley, and Wood; Mr. Milnes, Mr.
Baines, Mr. Haley, Mr. Naylor, Messrs. Charles-
worth, Watson, Bentley, and Hopkinson.

The Chorus will be full and efficient.
Mr. R. MELLOR will preside at the Organ.

PROGRAMME-PART I.

Organ Duett, "The Horse and his Rider."
Chorus, "We praise Thee."

Air, "Rejoice, O Daughter of Jerusalem."
Chorus, How excellent thy name, O Lord."
Air, "What though I trace.'

Chorus, "Cry aloud and shout."
Recitative and Air, "Eve's Lamentation."
Chorus, "Glory be to God on high."

Air, "Lord, remember David."

Chorus, "O Father, whose almighty power."

Air, "With verdure clad."

Chorus, "The Heavens are Telling."

Duett, "Hear what God the Lord hath spoken."
Chorus, "Hallelujah."

Organ Voluntary.

PART II.

Recitative and Air, "Comfort ye my people."
Chorus, "And the glory of the Lord."
Air and Chorus, "O Thou that tellest."
Chorus, "For unto us a Child is born."
Air, "He was despised."

Chorus," Behold the Lamb of God."

Recitative and Air, "But thou didst not leave his soul in hell."

Chorus, "Lift up your heads."

Air, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."
Quartett and Chorus, "Since by man."
Air, "If God be for us."

Chorus, "Worthy is the Lamb, Amen."

Miss Wood, Miss Smith, and Mr. Baines, will assist in the services on the Sunday.