the power of man, but will be prepared to meet with something of intricacy and even obscurity in the detail of the plan, which the limited powers of the human understanding may not be able completely to unravel. They will perceive that a scheme of divine wisdom to be carried on through all ages of the world, and embracing an infinite diversity of times, persons, and places, must require means to conduct and unfold it, of which it is impossible that man should be a competent judge. Hence they will be led to examine the subject with humility and reverence. But whatever shade of doubt and difficulty may still hang over some particular predictions (concerning which the most learned and sagacious may continue to entertain some difference of opinion), it is nevertheless impossible for any unprejudiced persons to deny, that there is a prodigious mass of solid and uncontrovertible evidence to be collected from history in verification of the Scripture prophecies."

They are excellent remarks of a very able modern writer" Justice is to be exercised in judging of the opinions and statements of others. This constitutes candour. It consists in giving a fair hearing to their opinions, statements and arguments, and weighing fairly and honestly their tendency. It is therefore opposed to prejudice, blind attachment to preconceived opinions, and that narrow disputatious spirit, which delights in captious criticism, and will hear nothing with calmness that is opposed to its own views; which distorts or misrepresents the sentiments of its opponents, ascribing them to unworthy motives, or deducing from them conclusions which they do not warrant, candour accordingly may be considered

as a compound of justice and the love of truth. It leads us to give due attention to the opinions and statements of others, in all cases to be chiefly solicitous to discover truth, and in statements of a mixed character, containing perhaps much error and fallacy anxiously to discover and separate what is true. It has accordingly been remarked, that a turn for acute disputation and minute and rigid criticism is often the characteristic of a contracted and prejudiced mind, and that the most enlarged understandings are always the most indulgent to the statements of others, their leading being to discover truth."1 The only danger in this is, lest any thing of a doubtful and sceptical spirit should creep upon us. It is to be guarded against by deepest reverence for the word of God, and entire submission to all its plain statements.

2. Remember an important DISTINCTION BETWEEN

THE FACTS PREDICTED, AND THE TIME WHEN THEY SHALL TAKE PLACE. Respecting the facts predicted, we may attain a much greater degree of knowledge and confidence than we can respecting the time. The history of the interpretation of prophecy shews this. The most able expositors have anticipated events. Their works are not useless on that account, indeed, for the explanation of the event may be correct, when that of the time is wrong. I deny not also that it is our duty to search into the time and to state our conclusions modestly, especially as we

1 See that truly valuable work, The Philosophy of the moral feelings, by John Abercrombie, M. D. p. 57, 58, a book well calculated to undermine and overthrow many false principles of modern liberalism or infidelity.

2 This is remarkably the case with the writings of Mede and Cres

sener.

come nearer the end, when there are special promises of light and knowledge. (See Dan. xii.) But, as Gurtler justly remarks, “we should not rashly or confidently define the moments of future time, in which those remarkable works of God, which are to take place in the world and in the church, are to be accomplished. (Acts i. 7. Mark xiii. 32.) To hold the thing revealed tends to piety and comfort; the time of that which is future, if scripture shews any thing concerning it, it is right and proper to meditate upon, but accurately to fix the time before it arrives, is a fruitless attempt."1

The chief triumph of those who would discourage the study of prophecy, has been the failure of many who have specified particular times; and it may be asked, Why has God, who promised such a blessing on the study of prophecy, permitted this? Not merely to humble the pride of human wisdom, nor merely to make prophetical writers more cautious, but also with regard to his people, to try their faith in the clearly predicted event, notwithstanding the uncertainty of the time; and with regard to his enemies, who hate him and his word, that they might be stumbled and hardened; and so their wickedness manifested, and the divine justice in their everlasting condemnation be made clear.2

3. Do not be OFFENDED AT THE REPROACHES TO WHICH THE PROFESSED EXPECTATION OF THE COMING

1 See Gurtler's Systema, p. 55.

2 If the mistakes as to particular times of Mede, Lloyd, Allix, Jurieu, Cressener, and others, had deterred men from pursuing these studies or from availing themselves of their works, we should never have had the valuable researches into Prophetical times of Prideaux, Sir I. Newton, Vitringa, Bishop Newton, Woodhouse, not to speak of living Expositors.

OF CHRIST EXPOSES YOU, from all classes of men. It is the generation truth, that is, the one which is peculiarly important in this generation, and opposes the whole stream and current of men's opinions by the simple testimony of God's word, and therefore it is the truth every where spoken against. A well instructed Bible Christian will not be stumbled at this, and when he has carefully searched the foundations, and is perfectly satisfied that he has the word of God to rest upon, will hear with the utmost calmness the charges of the Millennarian Epidemic, dangerous novelties, fanciful schemes, and a thousand other names by which men will endeavour to swamp all these truths without coming to the plain statements of scripture. The most painful thing is, when the truly pious join in these things, and, like Peter to his Lord, say, that be far from thee; but he who has once himself been thus prejudiced, and has seen in his own painful, past, personal experience, that "prejudice had neither eye nor ear," will readily make allowances for such a state of mind, and by patient forbearing, and loving manifestation of the truth, commend it to the consciences of all men.

4. GUARD AGAINST HUMAN SYSTEMS. It is very

observable how much some men have been carried away by a favorite system, so as to think that it is entwined with every part of the word of God, and explains every difficulty. They seem to suppose, that one key will turn all the locks, and open every door of every room and every cabinet in that room. There are many locks in Scripture; outside locks and inside locks, and we must take the particular key which will open, first, the general lock, and then the one we want to have opened; or we shall only

wrest the Scriptures. But here is our comfort-the Bible itself contains the keys for its treasures, and the Holy Spirit will guide us (if diligently sought for) into all truth.

Each human system also is more or less connected with some error, and those who pursue prophetical studies, and hold the speedy coming of our Lord, have special need to be on their guard against those errors which the enemy has contrived to associate with that truth. Some of these errors are more serious than others, but the tendency of all error is to famish the soul. We may see hence persons holding the highest and newest flights of doctrine, and yet proud, censorious, dogmatical, severe, covetous, worldly, lovers of pleasure, and sunk in earthly lusts. O how offensive this must be to the pure, holy, and heavenly Saviour! It is a great preservative against such things, to keep constantly before us the spirit which our Lord commends in the beatitudes, and practical Epistles like those of St. James and St. Peter. To ask also for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, is the means to find rest for our souls.

If we are indebted to another for first views of divine truth, we are greatly in danger of leaning upon him, and being carried away with all his views. This is to lean on an arm of flesh, and not on the Lord, (Jer. xvii. 5.) and to refuse to follow the beautiful example of the Bereans, who went no farther with the Apostle himself, than a diligent search of the Scriptures justified. (Acts xvii. 11.)

5. BE NOT AFRAID TO SUSPEND YOUR JUDGMENT about more obscure and hidden things. Vitringa applies Isaiah xxxviii. 16. here, "he that believeth

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