Manasseh's captivity, terminated, according to different chronologists, within four, three, and one year of the same time. But, the two periods terminating with the same event, they must terminate in the same year; hence the variation in the supposed commencement of the one number is to be corrected by the other, because the other, being derived from the prophecy itself, must be true. The unavoidable inference, therefore, from these premises, would be, that by the year 1847, the Advent must have taken place. The year 1847, taking the commencement from the Passover, concluded early in April, 1848; and, the Advent not having taken place, many have remarked, that it was the necessary consequence of calculating from Scripture dates, which, it is added, the Father has kept in his own power! I must be permitted to reply, that no error has arisen from this circumstance. The least reflection also must prove, that Scripture dates, being revealed in the Word, cannot be among those times and seasons which the Father has kept in his own power; and, being revealed to us, are as sure as every other part of Divine revelation. These revealed numbers, moreover, let it be recollected, have been accurately fulfilled in the several periods which are passed, viz., the first termination of the 1260 years from the rise of Popery in the Christian Church, A.D. 533, to the first French Revolution, in 1793: the 1290 years, from the same period, to the Greek Revolution, in 1823: and the seven Times, or duplication of the 1260 years, as also the 2300 of Daniel, each concluding in the year 1847-8, when the Jew ceased to be a by-word among the nations, and the power of the persecutor had come to an end. In all of these cases revealed numbers have proved a sure guide. Whence, then, it will be asked, did the error arise? The

error arose from this, that a previous ingathering of Judah, in an unconverted state, into Judea and Jerusalem, must take place, which is the necessary inference from Zech. xii. 10; because, when the Lord shall appear for their deliverance, as there foretold, their repentance and conversion are foretold also. Had this formed a part of the argument it would have altered the conclusion; and this omission it was, and this only, which occasioned the error, that I take this opportunity of publicly acknowledging. But, who can venture to say, How soon the Lord may not come. The review of the signs which are to mark his coming, with which we have been engaged in the foregoing discourse, may well excite us to lift up our heads, looking out for the sign of the Son of man in the heavens, in the faith that our redemption draweth nigh. Here I thankfully acknowledge the great goodness of God, in having enabled and permitted me to bring forward, for so many years, the all-important truths of our Lord's speedy return in glory, in which I must believe that this generation is so vitally concerned.

W. W. P.

NOTE. It may be desirable here to remark that, although, at p. 248, I have distinguished between the two announcements, made by St. Matt. xxiv. 30, of the appearing of the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and of the coming which is next revealed, whereas the brother who preceded me has not made the same distinction, at p. 206, the two statements agree in representing the Son of man as the sign.

LECTURE VIII.

ISRAEL'S WELCOMING THE ONCE REJECTED MESSIAH.

BY THE HON. AND REV. LELAND NOEL, M. A.,

VICAR OF EXTON.

PSALM CXVIII. 22-26.

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

THOUGH the Jews are still a disowned people, hardened in unbelief, the Scriptures show that they are not cast away. "I say, then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid: for I also am

an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew." (Rom. xi. 1.) When they crucified their Lord, and so filled up the measure of their sins, God cast them out of their land, and made them to wander a reproach in all other lands; and ever since they have been an afflicted, oppressed people, and the face of their God hidden from them. But in all their long sorrows, the fruit of sin, they have never been forgotten (as God's keeping them and their land so distinct from all other people and other lands shows), and Palestine having no proper owner, and Israel not being lost among the nations, does not this tell us they are kept for one another, and that the land will yet have its own people again, and the people their land; and God give them to repent and believe, and at length experience all the mercy promised?

"In a small moment have I forsaken thee, and in a little wrath hid I my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.” (Isaiah xliv. 7, 8.) These words reveal to us that the Jews are still beloved, though forsaken; and therefore, notwithstanding all their unbelief and other sins, God will, for his own blessed name's sake, one day receive them back again. "Thus

saith the Lord, Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? Thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus saith the Lord, If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then will I cast away the seed of Jacob." (Jer. xxxiii. 24, 25.) “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an ephod; but afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord, and David their king." (Hosea iii. 4.) And St. Paul says, in Rom. xi., “And they also, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be graffed in; for God is able to graff them in again." It may seem impossible to us, that a people so scattered and lost should all be gathered again, and those so hardened against Jesus of Nazareth, be seen nationally seeking and welcoming Him; but that which is impossible in man's account, how possible with God! and not only possible, but attended with no difficulty whatever. "Thus saith the Lord, If it be marvellous in this people's eyes, should it be also marvellous in mine eyes?" (Zech. viii. 6.) God, who promises to bring His people back, is as wondrous in power as He is in