One can hardly imagine a greater contrast than that presented by the current views on this subject and prophecy. Christian ministers and teachers write and speak as though, ere long, the nations of Europe would be converted to God, and the whole world brought under the influence of the gospel, by the various agencies now in operation. Such views, however, are wholly unsupported by the Word of God. Indeed, the very contrary to this is there taught. In proof of which we might allude to the striking fact that Daniel, in his prophecy of the four monarchies of the world,—both under the symbol of the Image, and that of the Four Beasts-wholly overlooks the First Coming of Christ. His Second Coming (whether it be personal or figurative) is prominently dwelt upon; but the First Coming is wholly unnoticed. The introduction of Christianity, and its effects upon the world down to the time of the end, find no place in his prophecy. For this remark we are indebted to Auberlen, who well observes:- What strikes us as peculiar and startling in Daniel's representation of the four monarchies is, that the First Coming of Christ, His Church, and her influence on the development of the world, are left altogether unnoticed and unmentioned. The fourth monarchy, though Christianised for a millennium and a half, is not distinguished either from the preceding heathen monarchies as such, or from its own heathen portion; on the contrary, it is represented as the most terrible and as the most Godopposed of all kingdoms. God thus speaks of the world-power in its Christian period, without mentioning at all its Christianity, only its final adherence to Antichrist is spoken of. . . . The kingdom of God enters his horizon at that point where it begins to be a real and external power of the world; that is, at the Second Coming of Christ. But we may learn from this a very important lesson, viz., that, even during the Christian period of the world's history, the old character of the world is essentially existing; that the outward Christianity which the kingdoms of the world have adopted, for fifteen centuries, is very far from real Christianity; but that the kingdom of God is à hidden and suffering one, till the Lord Jesus comes again. Roos remarks— "The Roman empire was worldly as long as it was heathen; it has remained worldly, though it has become Christian."' "These remarks contain profound truth. They are true, whatever view we take of the Second Coming of Christ-whether we view it as personal or figurative. The plain fact cannot be denied cannot be concealed. The present despotisms of Europe will not quietly and peacefully give way before the spread of the kingdom of Christ. The ecclesiastical hierarchies of Europe will not gradually disappear before the steady march of liberty, truth, and righteousness. No! Destruction—sudden, violent, and tremendous-overtakes them in the midst of their career. The stone smites the image upon its feet, and breaks them to pieces! But this fact, instead of discouraging the servants of Christ, should lead them to redouble their energies in missionary work and home operations. We should work while it is called to-day, for the night cometh when no man can work."" The Future of France and the World; or, The Apocalyptic Beast in Connexion with the Antichrist of the Last Days. In Three Lectures by Presbyters of the Church of England. London: Hatchard and Co. 1859. THERE is not much that is new in this little work, but it is written in a Christian spirit, and we are sure that the following paragraph will commend itself to our readers: "Let us then, dear brethren, in reliance on God, and self-devotedness to His glory, keep our eyes attentive to the progress of events. Ere long we may expect to behold the Beast developing his real character, acquiring back his old heads, and forming his ten allied kingdoms. We are enjoined to watch the signs of the times, and when the fig-tree puts forth her leaves to know that summer is nigh. Some of the earliest indications that the last days have already commenced will present themselves in the Holy Land. How long will it be before to the ery of Italy for the Italians,' there will succeed the cry of Judea for the Jews?' The reinstatement of God's ancient people-the people so terribly scattered and peeled-in the land of promise in an unconverted state, might seem to harbinger peace; but it will prove the beginning of woes. The False Prophet will unite, in one accursed cause, powers before deemed antagonistic, Mohammedanism and Popery. The False Prophet will persecute to extermination the truth in Jerusalem. The two witnesses to the Saviour will seal their testimony with their blood in the city where our Lord was crucified. Dismal scenes will follow. Jerusalem will be as the carrion round which the eagles will gather. At last, however, the hour of deliverance will dawn. The Lord will go forth as a warrior to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives. The Jews at length will look on Him whom they pierced. The Stone cut out of the mountain without hands shall break the image to pieces and the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. "Above all, let us be living with our loins girded and our lights burning. It is something to have a clear knowledge of Scriptural truth in the head. An intellect instructed and enlightened by the prophetical and the other parts of Holy Writ is a comparatively rare and enviable attainment. But there may be knowledge without saving faith. There may be an intellect exercised in all the mysteries of an evangelical creed, with a heart unsanctified and algether untouched by love to, and faith in, Jesus. Let not our religion be of this cold, and heartless, and delusive kind. If it be nothing more, our knowledge may be profitable to others: but, as regards ourselves, it can only enhance our condemnation and aggravate our doom. It is something to know in the head that Christ is all in all; that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; that the natural man cannot perceive the things of God's Spirit; that the soul must be converted, the will changed, and the affections directed to the Saviour. But it is infinitely more to have the heart-experience of all this, by having ourselves passed from darkness to light. It is something to give to God's word that paramount supremacy which is due to it; and to know that through the word, the Holy Spirit, sought in faithful prayer, leads into all truth. But it is infinitely more to have sought ourselves the aid of the promised Holy Guide and Comforter, to have been ourselves taught from God in the study of His own book, and to have been made wise thereby unto salvation. It is something to hold even in the head, and profess with the lips, that Christ Jesus is the only sacrifice and atonement for transgressions; that the benefit of His bloodshedding and His merits reaches to all who fly to Him as their refuge; and that whoever believes in Him is justified from all things. But it is—oh, how infinitely !—more, to have ourselves taken refuge in Christ the ark, from the curse, misery, and power of our own iniquities; and to have ourselves surrendered body, soul, and spirit to Him as our Redeemer and Master. If our condition before God is not as yet the condition of those whose transgression is thus forgiven and whose sin is covered, to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, let us, without a moment's delay, fall prostrate before the Lamb of God, entreat His pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace, and take eternal life at His hands, a free gift, the purchase of His death, and walk henceforth in the light of God's reconciled countenance. "If, however, ours is the happy state of God's dear children, and we are one with Christ, and He with us, let us seek diligently, by prayer, by continual communion with God, and the study of His word, and by carrying His word with us, a living and all influential companion, into all the affairs of everyday life the doctrinal parts for our comfort, the preceptive as our rule, the prophetical to read aright the signs of the times-let us thus strive to have our faith strengthened and our hearts enlarged. We shall never be more happy than when, under the guidance of the good Shepherd, we feed in the green pastures, and lie down by the still waters, of the Scriptures of truth. To read the past aright, we must consult the Divine record. To descry the distant and future, we must carefully use the telescope of sacred prophecy in humble faith. Opening the inspired word in sincerity and simplicity, at the feet of Christ, we cannot fail to be taught. He reveals to babes what He hides from the learned and self-confident; and guides the meek in judgment. He will fulfil His part of the covenant with His believing people, by imparting to us comfort, peace, and victory over sin; and not only these blessings, but by leading us on, deeper and deeper, into the purposes of His providence and the counsels of His infinite wisdom. Ample spoil will reward ardent search in the mine of the revealed will of God. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed, belong unto us and to our children for ever."" The Faiths of the World: An Account of all Religions and Religious Sects, &c. By the Rev. JAMES GARDNER, M.D. and A.M. A. Fullarton & Co. THIS is one of the most valuable works of reference that has been published in our day. It is candid, complete, and ample. Our special object in bringing it before our readers is to notice the article on Millenarianism," which does great credit to the editor's fairness. Few authors or editors think it necessary to treat Millenarians with civility, not to say candour. Here we have one who has given us a statement on the subject, (both as to doctrine and history,) with which every Millenarian will be satisfied. The work deserves the support of the public, and, we doubt not, will receive it. The Revelation Unrevealed; concerning the Thousand-Yeares Reigne of the Saints with Christ upon Earth, laying forth the weak Grounds and strange Consequences of that plausible, and too-much received opinion. By an unfained Lover of Truth, Faith, Peace, Order, and Just Moderation. London: 1650. THIS is an Anti-Millenarian book, the contents of which are very curious:: Sect. 12. The 1 Paradoxe of Millenarisme. A Monarchical state of Christ Kingdome in a visible and worldly manner. 2 Paradoxe; The change of all worldly customes, and putting down all kingly power. 3 Paradoxe; A double judgement. Sect. 13. 4 Paradoxe; A threefold comming of Christ. 5 Paradoxe; A double resurrection. Sect. 14. 6 Paradoxe; A threefold Ascension of Christ into heaven. Sect. 15. 7 Paradoxe; The totall reduction of the ten lost tribes of Israel. Sect. 16. 8 Paradoxe; The Saints in their immortall and glorious condi tion medling with these earthly affairs of government. Sect. 17. 9 Paradoxe; The living Saints mortall, and yet sin-less. Sect. 18. 10 Paradoxe; The fulness of all temporal blessings, of riches, long life, &c. without any afflictions, under this Monarchie of Christ. Sect. 19. 11 Paradoxe; That so many thousands of immortall and glorious Saints raigning, the wicked Slaves and Tributaries should be able to raise war against them. Sect. 20. 12 Paradoxe; That the day of judgement should hold a thousand years. Sect. 21. 13 Paradoxe; A new determination of a double Hell, and the place thereof. Sect 22. Strange and improbable Consequents which follow upon this opinion and discourse. Conseq. 1 That in the Lords prayer we sue for this Monarchie, which yet was hitherto unheard of. Conseq. 2 That Christ in his second comming to judge the earth, should yet leave many wicked men alive. Sect. 23. Conseq. 3 That Christ who hath all power should descend from heaven to depute new Governours for his Church, and then withdraw. Sect. 24. Conseq. 4 The strange composition of this imagined government. Conseq. 5 All Saints, and yet faith hardly to be found upon earth, at our Saviours comming. Conseq. 6 If the Apostles shall sway that Monarchie, how doth it stand with the words of Christ? It shall not be so with you. Sect. 25. Conseq. 7 A disadvantage to the souls of Saints glorified to be fetcht down from heaven to continue 1000 years on earth. Sect. 26. Conseq. 8 Children of the Saints conceived and born in sin, yet true Saints. Sect. 27. Conseq. 9 No use of Ordinances, yet prayers heard. 1000 years. condition. Conseq. 10 Heaven dispeopled of all it's ancient inhabitants for Conseq. 11 The souls of Saints to be in so different and unequall Conseq. 12 That Christ should bring his Saints with him, and yet they on earth before him. Sect. 28. The opinion of the first Resurrection to be of Martyrs onely confuted. Sect. 29. Astedius his evasion concerning the single expression of this Millenary reign, reselled. Sect. 30. No necessity from the Text of admitting this strange Tenet of the reign contended for. Sect. 31. The safe and allowed construction of the text insisted on. 1 And first, not to believe any Kingdome of Christ but either spirituall, or heavenly. Sect. 33. 2 Not to think of any absolute freedome from sin or affliction here below. Sect. 34. 3 Not to expect any other comming of Christ, but that one to his finall judgement. Sect. 35. 4 Not to put the day of the last judgement far from us, nor yet punctually to determine the time of it." We subjoin the closing sentence of the work : "Let it be our care to be ever in a perpetuall posture of readinesse for that awfull and glorious comming of our Lord, and Saviour, whensoever it shall be; and to see that our accompts be set right for that great Audit; so shall we meet our returning Master with a comfortable and happy assurance, and hear from him that blessed Euge, Wel done, good and faithful Servant; Enter into thy Masters joy." Ertracts. Sennacherib. We put in parallel columns the following Inscription of Sennacherib, (lately deciphered,) and the passages of Scripture which describe his vaunting style. The translation was read at a meeting of the Asiatic Society, and is given in the Athenæum of 14th January last: It begins with telling his victory over Merodach-baladan, and over his allies, Edom and Susiana. Then the capture of Babylon, the plunder of all the treasures of Merodach-baladan, and the seizure of his followers, inIcluding his wife and his harem, who were distributed as spoil. He then relates the capture and destruction of eighty-nine large cities, and eight hundred and twenty small towns in Chaldæa. After which he placed Belibus, one of his followers, as a king in the place of Merodach-baladan. On his return from Babylon, Sennacherib conquered seventeen tribes, all named, and carried off to Assyria 208,000 captives, male and female, together with a vast spoil of horses and cattle, all duly enumerated. He erected a stone tablet in his royal city, detailing his conquests, and that he received tribute from the distant Medes, of whom his predecessors never heard. He then tells the improvements effected by him in his capital city, Nineveh. The building of a splendid palace is described; the re-establishment of the ancient canals for supplying the city with water, and the construction of new works. Also, the widening of streets and squares, the erection of gates, and other embellishments, until the city became " as brilliant as the sun.” "For he saith, By strength of my hand have I done it. I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathered eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped." Isa. x. 13, 14. "Now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps. Therefore their inhabitants were of small power."-Isa. xxxvii. 26, 27. "For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings ?"—Isa. x. 8. "My hand hath found the riches of the people."—Isa. x. 14. "Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly.”— Isa. xxxvii. 11. "Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their countries." -Ver. 18. "Have any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"-Isa. xxxvi. 18. I am prudent."--Isa. x. 13. "The stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks."-Isa. x. 12. The World's Old Age. “In the meantime, when we see a man old, weak, diseased, nature being decayed and infirmities abounding, we may judge that his death is not far off, though we know not when he will die: so, seeing the world come to that state and condition, so weakened and decayed as unto its principal end, that it is scarce any longer able to bear the weight of its own wickedness, nor supply the sinful lusts of its in |