so that

world,] 45 years." The Papal civil rule has not yet been taken away or destroyed, these 45 years are his own addition.

And now I ask, intelligent and candid readers, what dependence ought to be placed on calculations so every way erroneous? It will be exceedingly evident to every man, who will go into the labor of a critical examination, that the whole chain of his reckoning is fallacious and visionary, and has no sort of foundation, except in the distorted imagination of its author. It seems almost a pity to destroy a calculation, which evidently has cost so much labor and time. But as that calculation is peculiarly fitted to mislead the minds of many people, and to render them extremely wretched, through unnecessary fears, it is due to truth, to Christianity, and humanity, to hold up the deception, to the view, and to the just reprobation, of the public.

But the errors in the chronological calculations of this book, are not its only faults, it is filled with other inconsistencies, equally manifest. Mr. Miller maintains, that, at his terrific resurrection and judgment, in 1843, the saints will be caught up in the air, and preserved, while the wicked will be burned up! But several important queries arise here. What are to become of infants, and idiots, and the insane. They are not sinners, nor are they saints. They certainly will not be burnt up, for they are not wicked, neither have they done any thing to merit so great a favor as to be preserved at that time. And then, again, what will become of the heathen? Millions of Pagans have never heard of God, or of a Saviour, or of the Gospel;

are

and therefore, have had no opportunity of becoming saints. Must they be burnt up, because they have been born in these unfortunate circumstances? Would it be just or merciful, not to allow them any chance to escape such a doom? But there is another still more puzzling question, Who are the saints? The question is not, who call themselves saints? But who among those that now live, are in reality the saints? I know it is taken for granted, in the book we are examining, and too generally in the community at large, that "the saints,' those who believe certain sectarian tenets, termed "orthodox," or "evangelical." But show me the least evidence in Scripture of the correctness of this application. There is not half the importance attached to sectarian belief in the New Testament, that there is in our own times! And there is another truth which should be understood and remembered. In all those passages of Scripture, which many people suppose relate to a day of judgment in a future world, it is nowhere said or intimated, that men will be saved or lost, in consequence of believing, or disbelieving any doctrine or sentiment. Let this always be borne in mind, for it will show us, that an honest difference in sentiment, is not a matter of such immense importance, as some would believe, that it is not a matter upon which our everlasting destiny depends ! But, who among the living are the saints, that are to escape, when it is supposed the world will be consumed by fire? Who are the saints in this community? Where is the man who will stand up, and say, conscientiously, that he is

worthy to be sainted? If we adopt the moral standard, as the criterion of saintship, then certainly, the saints will not be found altogether in one sect. For no man will assert, that all the moral, upright, public spirited, benevolent men in Christendom, belong to one denomination, or two! The truth is, the word saint, is an appellation that cannot properly be applied to any in this age; and those who assume it to themselves, exhibit a presumption and spiritual vanity, that is any thing but commendable !

But, fortunately for those whose fears are deeply seated, Mr. Miller's predictions have already been put to the test, and we can easily see who is wise, and who foolish. He says, that if his calculations are correct, on or before 1839, mankind will become exceedingly corrupt,"no laws, human or divine, will be regarded; all authority will be trampled under foot

Christians will be persecuted unto death, and dens and caves will be their retreat!" Now if these things have taken place during the past year, - if the Christians among us have begun

to hide themselves in the dens and caves of the earth, then we may believe that his wonderful prophecy will be fulfilled. But, certainly, there is at present very little indication, that such events will soon take place. I have heard of no Christians, who have been persecuted unto death," or who have any idea, as yet, of removing their residence to dens and caves! And as the premonitory symptoms of Mr. Miller's great day have failed to appear, according to his prediction, we may safely presune he is neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet.

The reader may inquire, if the construction, which Mr. Miller puts upon the prophecies of Daniel and the book of Revelation, is not correct, how shall we understand them? In replying briefly to this inquiry, I will give "mine opinion," requesting it only to be allowed such weight as it may seem to deserve. It should be borne in mind, that the Books of Daniel and Revelation are highly metaphorical in their character. He who overlooks this consideration, and understands their contents literally, will be led into the most gross inconsistencies. From the allegorical nature of these books, commentators very much disagree, in regard to their interpretation. In this respect, they are generally divided into two classes, viz : those who apply the prophecies of Daniel, of the Saviour and his apostles, and the book of Revelation, all to the destruction of Jerusalem, and those who bring them down to a later date. Of these two classes, the former, in my estimation, have altogether the weight of evidence and probability on their side. There is an abundance of proof to satisfy my mind, that those predictions refer exclusively to the overthrow and destruction of Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jewish nation! And this view, as I have already intimated, is supported by the most eminent commentators of different sects.

In regard to the 2300 days or years, it has been seen, that allowing they come down and terminate in 1843, there is not the smallest particle of proof, in history or Scripture, that there will then be a general judgment, or that the world will be destroyed by fire, or any thing of

the kind. But such, evidently, is not the proper application of those days or years. It is contended, by some commentators, that Daniel's 2300 days or years, refer to the four great monarchies of the world, of which he had previously been speaking, viz: the Babylonian, the Medes and Persians, the Greek, and the Roman. The question asked, was, how long shall it be before the sanctuary and the host, — referring to the Jewish sanctuary and host, shall be trodden under foot? The answer is, 2300 days or years. But at what era shall we commence these 2300 years? It is contended, with much plausibility, that it should commence at the founding of the Babylonian empire, of which the prophet had been speaking. This empire was established by Nimrod, 2234 years before the birth of Christ. Sixty-six years after the birth of Christ, Titus, the Roman general, surrounded Jerusalem with his armies, and commenced a siege, which resulted in the entire destruction of that city and people. Now add these 66 years to the 2234 years, and we have just 2300 years from the founding of Babylon by Nimrod, to the siege of Jerusalem. This construction of the 2300 years, appears to me much more plausible than that of Mr. Miller. But it will be evident to all who read the account, that Daniel himself did not understand when these 2300 years would end, and he applied to the angel for further instruction on this point. In answer to his inquiry, the angel says to Daniel, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people," &c. The evident meaning of this passage is, that 70 weeks from the time of the going forth of the