all definiteness from the symbols and expressions of Scripture-to confine the most solemn of its warnings and denunciations within a circle too narrow to include half of those for whom they are intended-to persuade us that that is past which is not only future but near, and so to hide from men the gulph which is yawning almost before their feet-this no doubt is one of the chief anxieties of the great enemy of souls. And he has fearfully succeeded. He has succeeded in perverting, when he has not been able to hide, the very light which is set to guide us through the night until the day-star arise.

No one, I suppose, who believes in the personal existence of Satan will doubt that he is able to tempt and to put evil thoughts into the heart. And if able on other subjects to deceive, he is able also to lead into wrong interpretations of the Word of God. He is acquainted with the facts that Scripture reveals as about to be, and he is frequently himself permitted (as when he was allowed to afflict Job) to conduct the train of circumstances which is to lead on the series of events to their appointed issue. It is not therefore to be wondered at, that, after having turned our minds into a wrong channel of thought, he should suggest such anticipations as should receive confirmation from the events which he knows are about to happen.

If, for example, we could now be persuaded to believe that the pouring out of the sixth vial on the river Euphrates indicates the weakening of the Turkish power, and that the way of the kings from the East being prepared refers to the return of Israel to their own land, and that the solemn reference to the appearing of the Lord is to be understood figuratively, and refers not to his personal advent, but some other manifestation of his power,-if we could be persuaded into such false expositions of the Word of God, we should find in events which are soon about to occur an apparent verification of our interpretations. It is true

that an apparent weakening of the Turkish power will take place by the separation of Syria from Turkey just as Egypt and Greece have been separated, and that might be esteemed the action of the vial on the Euphrates; it is true that Israel will return in unbelief to their own land, and that might be regarded as the return of the kings of the East; and the false prosperity which for a season will attend them after their return might easily be represented as the figurative coming of the Lord. We might even venture to predict the periods (for they are not far off) when these things are likely to be, and yet all would be delusion. The events are not the events which God has intended to indicate, and the very fulfilment of our anticipations would only lead into deeper darkness as to the real meaning of his word. Is it otherwise in the case before us?

There are many other grave and serious objections that might be urged against this work. It might be shown how entirely it fails in rightly dividing the Scriptures. It is really written as if God had made no distinctions in his word between the Jews, the Gentile nations, and the Church. The history of Christianity is confounded with that of the Gentile nations and the coming prospects of Israel, both when they return to their land in unbelief, and also after they are restored under the blessing of the Lord; all that they are to be in sin, and all that they are to be in millennial blessedness appears to have been unnoticed and unknown. And yet Israel is the very centre of the earthly arrangements of God-the turning point on which his dispensations hinge.

But I have said enough. He who, after considering the practical effects of this work, its failure in the very first principles of prophetic interpretation, and above all its rejection of the personal advent of the LORD, can yet consent to regard it with complacency, will be little affected by any accumulation of further evidence.

But I trust, that many will escape the snare; and that the very publication of this book may tend to excite an enquiry that may end in the attainment of truth. The very perplexities in which this subject has been so industriously involved may teach us its importance, for in a world like this, that which is most precious is likely to be most hidden. But if there be a little patience a little honest perseverance in using the Scripture, these mists of darkness will disappear, and truth will be seen in the clearness and simplicity which might be supposed to belong to a subject which the Word of GOD professes to REVEAL. 66 His testimo

nies are sure, making wise the simple."

ON ZECHARIAH XII. XIII.

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

ENQUIRY into prophetic Scripture is often regarded as hopeless, because of its difficulty. The very word— prophecy-has almost become synonymous with obscurity, in the thoughts of many, and doubtless our want of simplicity in writing and speaking on prophetic subjects, has greatly tended to increase the general impression, that the revelations of God respecting the future are involved in impenetrable darkness. There are few in whose minds this thought does not linger. And yet a moment's reflection would teach us that that cannot be darkness which God has declared to be light-" a light shining in a dark place, whereunto we do well to take heed:" nor is it possible that two thirds of Scripture (for nearly two thirds consist of prophecy) should be so hopelessly entangled and obscure, as to be practically a "sealed book," unavailable, therefore, for purposes of guidance or of instruction. It is far more likely that we, through our carelessness and mistakes, have perplexed subjects which, as revealed by God, are simple and clear.

It is not difficult to discover some of these our errors. "Right division of the word of truth" is insisted on in Scripture itself as necessary to its just exposition. But in this we have greatly failed.

Take for an example the different periods in man's history of which the Scripture treats. It treats of five very distinct periods. The first is that of man's brief continuance in Paradise-the second extends from Paradise to the flood-the third, from the flood to the second coming of the Lord-the fourth is the millennial period-and the fifth the new heavens and new earth wherein righteousness dwelleth.*

Now suppose that we fail in rightly distinguishing these periods one from the other; suppose we were to apply to human life now, the principles that would have been true of man in Paradise, who is there that would not see the folly and danger of the mistake? But the error is scarcely less, when we confuse the coming dispensation, i.e. the millennial with the present. To confound a period in which Satan is to be bound-Israel converted and made a national witness for God-nations converted and learning war no more- - Christ and his truth supreme; to confound such a period with one that is carefully and designedly marked in the Word of God by characteristics the very opposite to these, is an error scarcely less delusive than to suppose that man is now in Paradise. Yet this mistake has been continually made in the exposition of Scripture.

But again, subdivisions of some of these periods is also necessary. In the third, for example, which is that in which we are now living, the history, first, of the Jews-secondly, of those Gentile nations which were raised into supremacy when Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem-and, thirdly, of Christianity, or the profes

* The third period has this extended duration, because in it the Lord has never interfered so as to stop as He did at the flood and as He will again do at his return, the onward progress of human counsels. One generation has added to the results of another-link has been added to link in the mighty chain; but the chain has not yet been snapped by the hand of God, nor will it be till the hour of his return. "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of Man is revealed."

B