From Horne's Introduction, Vol. IV.

"Much of the obscurity, which hangs over the prophetic writings, may be removed by perusing them in the order of time in which they were probably written; and, though the precise time, in which some of the prophets delivered their predictions, cannot, perhaps, be traced in every instance, yet the following arrangement of the prophets in their supposed order of time, (according to the tables of Blair, Archbishop Newcome, and other eminent critics, with a few variations,) will, we think, be found sufficiently correct for the right understanding of their predictions.

According to this table, the times when the prophets flourished may be referred to three periods, viz. 1. Before the Babylonian Captivity;-2. Near to and during that event;and, 3. After the return of the Jews from Babylon. And if, in these three periods, we parallel the prophetical writings with the historical books written during the same times, they will materially illustrate each other.

PROPHETIC PERIODS.

THE SEVEN TIMES, OR 2520 YEARS.

THE first of the prophetic periods, which are considered as main pillars in the calculations of Mr. Miller, is found in Leviticus xxvi. 18-28.

The objections urged against this are, 1. That it should not be considered a prophetic period at all. 2. If it be so considered,-as the seven times occur four times in the text,-it should be understood as a period of four times seven times. 3. Admitting it to express only one period of seven times, which, understood prophetically, would be 2520 years, why should the period begin B. C. 677?

1. Why consider the seven times of Leviticus a prophetic period? Answer. That is the first meaning we should think of attaching to the text. If the word times did not occur in other parts of the word of God, when chronological arrangements are spoken of, there would be some show of propriety in demanding the reasons for so understanding it in this case. But when we read of the seven times in the history of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. iv., in which case only one signification has ever been supposed; and of the time, times and half a time, repeatedly spoken of in the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments; and of the times of the Gentiles, Luke xxi. 24; and of the times of the restitution of all things, Acts iii. 21; and of the dispensation of the fulness of times, Eph. i. 10; and of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in his times he shall show, 1 Tim. vi. 15, &c., &c.; the text in Lev. is at once recognised as one of a most numerous and important class. The text is a part of the last communication which "the Lord spake unto Moses in Mount Sinia, (xxv. 1; xxvii. 34,) and was specially designed for the warning of "the

children of Israel," when they should "come into the land which God gave them". -a portion of truth which brought before them, in a most impressive manner, conditionally, their future history as a nation.

And this, if any doubt might exist, would confirm the idea that the text was intended to be understood chronologically. "And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins." "Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins." "And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins." Lev. xxvi. 18, 24, 27, 28.

"But does not the text mean to express that God would punish them in measure according to perfect justice?" That is a truth which it could hardly be necessary to assert. None could doubt that his administration would be according to perfect justice; and to punish them seven times might be as perfectly just as to punish them for any other period.

If any class of expositors should be called upon to give special reasons, they should do it who understand the text in any other sense than its obvious, chronological sense. Besides Mr. Miller, Prof. Bush, Rev. M. Duffield, and Mr. Campbell, and others in our country, understand the text to contain a prophetic period, which they all understand figuratively to be 2520 years-as it must be understood in the nature of the case. Among the European writers, Mr. Philip (I think that is the name) understands and applies the period exactly as Mr. Miller does. I refer to him because he could have no knowledge of Mr. M. (See "Morning Watch”—a rare work in this country.)

2. "If the seven times be understood as a prophetic period, does not the text contain four of those periods?" I may be excused for inserting a quotation, which shows at once the carelessness and “igno

rance upon questions which every man may decide who can read his Bible, which are so characteristic of many who fill the most important stations in the modern church. It is from the pen of the editor of the Protestant Banner, published in Philadelphia-a most efficient antagonist of nominal popery. The writer had made a display of his powers on that side of the question of " Millerism" so honorable at the present time, in which he had shown from "Mr. Miller's own terms," as he called them, that the seven times could not run out till "A. D. 9403," and then adds,

"It will be in vain for any advocates of Millerism to evade this conclusion, from the premises which they assume; they dare not tell us that the seven times here spoken of are merely a repetition of the same period, because it is emphatically stated after each separate enumeration of the different judgments,-which are impending,—that they shall be punished seven times more, if they do not hearken."

Such a Protestant would not, of course, claim that kind of infallibility which might correct the written word; and if the reader will turn to the verses under consideration, it will be seen the word "more" occurs but twice at all; only once when the seven times are employed in stating their prospect of continued punishment, which is the first time the period is named, (v. 18,) and once when the measure of their punishment is compared with their sins-the only clear case of such comparison, (v. 21,) the second time the seven times are used. I am sorry that so many of our able opponents are willing thus to expose such an utter want of every essential qualification for scriptural discussion, as to take such a position, and then" dare the advocates of Millerism" to take that view of a text which every one, who is at all acquainted with the Bible, must see at once is the most consistent and obviously correct view of it," that the seven times here spoken of are merely a repetition of the same period," with the exception, perhaps, of the second case referred to

above. I have yet to see "the advocate of Millerism," who is so ignorant of his Bible and so regardless of its contents, as to "dare" to make a statement like the above by the Rev. Mr. B

66

Surely, it can be no strange thing to suppose that God may have made "a repetition of the same" thing in the revelations he has given us of his designs and will, especially when the matter is one of such moment to the recipients of the revelation. God saw fit to make known to Pharaoh the seven years of famine by a repetition" of dreams, which Joseph dared to tell the monarch were “one;" and, in explanation, adds-" And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established of God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." Gen. xli. 32. In the predicted subjection of the Jews and other nations to the king of Babylon, we have "a repetition of the same period" four or five times by different prophets, (Isaiah xxiii. 15—17; Jer. xxv. 11, 12,) and I do not know that it has ever been considered an evidence of any particular form of courage to suppose this "repetition" to speak of only one period of “seventy years." So invincible were the prejudices of Peter, and so important was it that he should understand the truth in the case, that there was a repetition of the same" thing, three times, Acts. x. 9—16. John is remarkable for "a repetition of the same period:"the forty two months, or its equivalents, are named fives times, Rev. xi. xii. xiii.; and the one thousand years are named six times certainly, chap. xx.; and yet I believe there are very few who suppose that the repetition, in each case, refers to more than one period.

66

The mystery of the seven times is, therefore, explained by the very natural and scriptural supposition a repetition of the same period."

of "

One important feature of this prophecy, however, appears to have been overlooked. The language implies, and the history of the Jews proves, that these predictions of national judgments were conditional; not