Note E.

"The Lord Cobham said both Christ and his Apostles were accused of sedition making, yet were they most peaceable men. But Daniel and Christ prophesied that such a troublous time should come as hath not been yet since the world's beginning ; and this prophecy is partly fulfilled in your days and doings, for many have ye slain already, and more will ye slay hereafter if God fulfil not his promise. Christ saith also, if those days of yours were not shortened, scarcely should any flesh be saved, therefore look for it justly for God will shorten your days.

"Then a doctor of law, called Mr John Kemp, plucked out of his bosom a copy of the bill which they had afore sent him into the tower by the Archbishop's counsel, thinking thereby to make shorter work with him; for they were so amazed with his answers (not all unlike to them which disputed with Stephen) that they knew not well how to occupy the time, their wits and sophistry (as God would) so failed them that day."-Fox's Martyrology, or Acts and Monuments, published in London 1641, folio edition, 1st volume. 733d page, 1st line. Let it be remembered that there are two great tribulations spoken of in various passages of Scriptures, the one is described as being "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be;" the other is described to be "such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." The one is the tribulation spoken of in the 21st verse of this 24th chapter of Matthew, viz. the persecution of Christ's Church by Rome, see also Daniel, vii. 21, also xi. 33, 34, 35; Matthew x. 21, to the end of the 25th, also 34th, 35th, and 36th verses; St John xv. 20; xvi. 22-33; Rev. i. 9; ii. 10; iii. 10; vi. 9, 10, 11 ; xi. 3, and following verses; xii. 7, and following verses to the end of the 17th; xiii. 7-10, also xv. 16, 17; xvii. 6.

The other is the tribulation spoken of in Daniel xii. 1, 2, (c And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time, and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

This second tribulation or time of trouble is that which commences at Christ's glorious appearing, mentioned in the 30th verse of this 24th chapter of Matthew, " And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and

they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

It is also mentioned in Rev. i. 7, " Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen."

It would appear that the treading of the wine-press of the wrath of God in Isaiah lxiii. 3, 4; Rev. xiv. 20; xix. 15: and the slaughter described in xix. 21, terminate this time of trouble. Also it appears likely that Isaiah xxiv. applies to it. Also the first part of the 14th chapter of Zechariah, also Zephaniah iii. 8, also Psalm ii. 9, and Rev. ii. 27.

And as this time of trouble is similar to that which took place when the world was destroyed by the flood in Noah's time (which was before there was a nation, as we hear of no nations till the time of Nimrod, and the building of Babel), so it would seem that it is not described in the same way with the other, that is the first tribulation, which is said to be such as was not since the BEGINNING of the world, even to that same time, that is, the persecution of the Church by Rome. It is probable that we now are in the interval between these two tribulations, the time in which they say peace and safety, immediately before the destruction cometh upon them. See 1 Thessal. v. 3, and this time when they shall say peace and safety is the time occupied by the great preaching of the gospel by the angel flying through the midst of heaven, and saying, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, &c. &c. Rev. xiv. 6, 7. This is the time when the signs of his coming are seen and understood by some.

Note F.

As to "false Christs," see Wolfe's Journal, and also history in various ages. As to "false prophets," the world has teemed with them. With regard to the passage, "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold he is in the desert, go not forth," see the following extract from a letter of Dr now living: "Now, what shall I say in reply to your inquiries about the German millenarians? Professor Young, in several publications which were extensively read on the Continent, had predicted that the millennium and personal reign would commence in the year 1818 or 1819, when he maintained the sixth thousand year of the world would end, and the seventh or sabbatical thousand commence. He had also intimated that our

Lord would appear in a country which he called Solyma, a second Paradise, surrounded by inaccessible mountains, which could only be entered by a strong pass easily defended. Into this country he would collect all his friends and preserve them in safety, while he was carrying destruction over all the earth besides. Solyma, according to him, is situated somewhere in the east. Those who believed the oracle determined to flee thither from the coming judgments; accordingly about 17,000 of them, chiefly from Wurtenberg and Bavaria, assembled, embarked with their all on the Danube, and arrived at the Quarantine on the Russian frontier. Here a kind of pest broke out among them and carried off some thousands. Arrived in Russia, they sent deputies to Alexander, who was in Moscow, requesting lands on the other side of the Caucasian mountains. He prayed them to bethink themselves and make up their minds to remain on the north of the Caucasus, where he would give them lands and could protect them. No! they must meet our Lord at his appearing. Well, he said, since you must go, I will give you lands on the south of the mountains, but I warn you I cannot afford you protection. About 5000 of them took warning and settled in the Crimea, Besarabia, and neighbouring provinces, and gave up all idea of Solyma. Other 5000 with their chiefs actually went beyond the Caucasus, and settled in five colonies in Georgia and in the Russian-Persian provinces. Here vast numbers were carried off by sickness, and a great many gave themselves up to immorality of every kind. Their leaders could no longer bear with their wicked practices, and left for Russia. Dr Henderson and myself met them in the heart of the mountains on their return in 1821. We had a good deal of conversation with them. They told us that if our Lord did not appear soon, it would be all over with his Church on earth. These men are now in Karan and Sarepta, completely cooled and cured of their folly. When in Georgia, I rode out and visited their colonies. I found them in a miserable state, the fever of the country in every house I entered. Disappointment marked on every countenance. They said our Lord had deceived them, had promised to come two or three years ago, and had broken his word and not appeared. When the war broke out between Persia and Russia, the Persians fell on three of their colonies and destroyed their property, and carried the people into slavery. Many of them have again returned to the colonies, but others have never been heard of; the women are likely in the harems of the Persians. Some excellent men from the Basle Missionary Society were sent to labour among them, and have been the means of converting many of them to Christ, and to rational Scriptural views of the pro

phecies, and I hope God may yet, after having brought them through fire and water, make them a blessing to those countries. I have no doubt He intended to set them up as a warning to others."-Extract from a letter from Dr

Our Lord says in the 26th verse, Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold he is in the secret chambers, believe it not." Here, then, is a warning which seems to be also given against false prophets or false interpreters of Scripture, for such we must suppose those to be who say such things, (for the full meaning of the term prophet see what is said concerning prophesying in 1 Corinthians, 14th chapter), and two deceptions likely to be propagated by these are here particularly referred to by our Lord. The one is exemplified in the case of the German Millenarians just quoted, who were led astray by Professor Young, the other, viz. if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the secret chambers, appears to point at those who teach that a spiritual coming is here meant, or one to cach individual at death, for to both these does the expression in the secret chambers apply. (Observe it does not say secret CHAMBER, but secret CHAMBERS, as taking place in more than one at once, and this remark is also applicable to the coming described in the parable of the ten virgins, for the same coming is meant in both cases, as is evident from our Lord saying, "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins," that is, at the time of his coming spoken of immediately before).

To the first error of supposing him to be in the desert, our Lord's direction is "go not forth;" but to the other error of supposing his coming here mentioned to be a merely spiritual one, or one to each individual at death, he says, "believe it not," and then goes on to declare how widely different his coming will be to that expected by either of these two classes. And let us remember that the signs of this his coming, follow immediately upon the termination of the great tribulation, which commenced at the flight of his church from Jerusalem, and without the intervention of the glorious times which many are unwarrantably expecting to precede "the bridegroom's coming with power and great glory to take his elect, the bride, to himself," as described in the latter part of the 4th chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Rev. xiv. 14, 15, 16, and in the 30th and 31st verses of this 24th chapter of Matthew.

Note G.

During the time of this great tribulation to the Church, our Lord observes in the parallel passage in St Luke, that "there shall be great distress in the land," (I suppose Palestine), "and wrath upon this people," (that is, the Jews); and he goes on to say in the 24th and 25th verses, 66 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory." But when the second tribulation comes the Jews are delivered. See Daniel xii. 1, 2, " And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." See Zachariah, 12th, 13th, and 14th chap

ters.

Note H.

As we find in the 7th chapter of Daniel 21st and 22d verses, that the little horn (that is Rome Papal) makes war with the saints and prevails against them, “ until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." See Rev. xi. 15, " There were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever." In the 17th verse, thanks are given to God, “because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned, and the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged,” &c. &c. So that the destruction of the Papacy and the casting of the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire are at the commencement of the day of judgment, which begins at Christ's coming as a thief in the night, or a flash of lightning, when the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the change of those of his Church who are alive and remain take place, and includes the marriage supper of the Lamb,