leisure, can be roused up to pursue the investigations which are here but imperfectly commenced, and to expose any errors, or confirm any truths, which have now been suggested, this little book will not have been written in vain."

This quotation, and that upon the reverse of the title-page, seem to me none the less pertinent from their having been originally written with reference, not to the particular points discussed in the following Essay, but to others to which the same principles of interpretation apply.

It will be observed, that, in accordance with the motto, "To the Law and to the Testimony," this Essay is composed in great measure of quotations from the Scriptures. An Appendix is now added, consisting of extracts from distinguished theological writers, with some remarks. The authors, to whom I am indebted for these extracts, are Professors WOODS, STUART, and PARK, of Andover; Professor ROBINSON, of New York; Professor STOWE, of Lane Seminary; JOHN ROBINSON, the Father of Congregationalism; Dr. WATTS; Bishops WARBURTON and HORSLEY; and the well-known Commentators, LIGHTFOOT, GILL, MACKNIGHT, SCOTT, CLARKE, and BARNES.

November, 1849.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

PAGE

11

PROPOSITION I.

THE SCRIPTURES OFTEN SPEAK OF A SECOND, but nevER

13

15

I. Our Saviour often speaks of a future coming of his, but never

as though there were to be more than one such coming. 14

II. Our Saviour answered inquiries in respect to this coming. 14

III. At the time of Christ's ascension, the Apostles were assured

of his return by "two men " "in white apparel."

IV. The Apostles often speak of the second coming of Christ, as

of a single event, and one familiar to their thoughts and ex-

pectations.
16

V. The view taken by the Apostles of Christ's future coming, as

a single definite event, is further illustrated by their frequent

use of the word DAY, to denote the time of his coming or of

events associated with it.
17

VI. Even the repeated use of certain terms with specific applica-

tion to the Second Advent, is not without its significance.

19

PROPOSITION II.

WITH THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST THE SCRIPTURES

ASSOCIATE THE END OF THE WORLD, THE RESURRECTION

OF THE DEAD, AND THE GENERAL JUDGMENT WITH ITS

21

I. The Second Advent and the End of the World.

II. The Second Advent and the Resurrection of the Dead, with a

corresponding change of the living.

III. The Second Advent and the Judgment with its awards.

IV. The End of the World and the Resurrection.

V. The End of the World and the Judgment.

22

22

24

24

25

VI. The Resurrection and the Judgment.

PROPOSITION III.

OUR SAVIOUR BOTH VARIOUSLY. INTIMATED, AND EVEN EX-

PRESSLY DECLARED, THAT HIS SECOND COMING (WITH ITS

ASSOCIATE EVENTS) WOULD TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE DEATH

OF SOME WHO WERE THEN LIVING.

28

This appears from the following particulars in our Saviour's

discourses:

--

I. The repeated warnings to his disciples to be constantly watching

and ready for his coming.
28

II. The express declaration, that there were some standing before

him, who would not taste of death till they should see his

coming.

30

III. The special intimation that the Apostle John would not die,

before his coming.
34

IV. The association of his coming with events which were mani-

festly, fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem.

35

V. The general character of replies to questions, and of other

statements, respecting the time of his coming and king-

dom.

38.

VI. The express declaration that the generation then upon the

earth would not pass away before the fulfilment of certain

great events, of which his coming was one.

PROPOSITION IV.

. 40

THE APOSTLES EVIDENTLY EXPECTED, THAT THE SECOND

COMING OF CHRIST, WITH ITS ASSOCIATE EVENTS, WOULD

TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE DEATH OF SOME WHO WERE THEN

LIVING.

This expectation appears,

54

I. In passages directly asserting or implying that some of the

Apostles, or of those whom they addressed, would survive

until these events.

54

59

II. In passages expressing continuance until these events.

III. In passages in which the Apostles speak of their own times

as the last days, and find in them the predicted signs of these

60

events.

events.

.

77

IV. In passages which speak of waiting or looking for these

65

V. In precepts, exhortations, consolations, &c., founded upon the

nearness of these events.

67

VI. In passages guarding against or exposing certain errors, all

implying a general expectation of this kind.

VII. In such an indifference to worldly interests, to civil and

social institutions, and to outward religious forms, as an expec-

tation of this kind would naturally inspire.

VIII. As in the remarkable prominence given to motives drawn

from the nearness of these events; so, even more strikingly, in

the no less remarkable absence of motives (now so familiar)

drawn from the shortness and uncertainty of life, and the ap-

proach of death.

94

PROPOSITION V.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, WITH ITS ASSOCIATE

EVENTS, THE END OF THE World, the Resurrection of

the Dead, anD THE GENERAL Judgment, MUST HAVE AL-

READY TAKEN PLACE; AND ALL EXPECTATION OF THESE

EVENTS AS STILL FUTURE IS FORBIDDEN BY THE SCRIP-

THE PREDICTIONS IN THE SCRIPTURES OF THE SECOND

COMING OF CHRIST, THE END OF THE WORLD, the Resur-

RECTION OF THE DEAD, AND THE GENERAL JUDGMENT WITH

ITS AWARDS, MUST BE EXPLAINED IN A FIGURATIVE OR SPIR-

ITUAL, RATHER THAN A LITERAL SENSE, AND IN SUCH A SENSE

AS ADMITS AN APPLICATION TO WHAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN

99

PLACE.

POSTSCRIPT.

Answer to the Objection, "It is true that the Scriptures

teach a figurative Second Coming of Christ, which was near

at hand when the Apostles wrote, and which was connected

with the destruction of Jerusalem; but they also teach a

literal Second Coming, which was more remote and is still

future, a coming which will be personal and visible, at-

tended with a literal end of the present world, an actual res-

urrection of the body, and a visible and final judgment." 101