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. PROPOSITION I. PAGE . 11 THE SCRIPTURES OFTEN SPEAK OF A SECOND, BUT NEVER OF A THIRD, COMING OF CHRIST. 13 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 66 two men "" in white apparel." 15 IV. The Apostles often speak of the second coming of Christ, as of a single event, and one familiar to their thoughts and expectations. 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 application to the Second Advent, is not without its significance. 19 Passages in the Scriptures associating, - 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. OUR SAVIOUR BOTH VARIOUSLY INTIMATED, AND EVEN EX- PRESSLY DECLARED, THAT HIS SECOND COMING (WITH ITS This appears from the following particulars in our Saviour's I. The repeated warnings to his disciples to be constantly watching II. The express declaration, that there were some standing before him, who would not taste of death till they should see his III. The special intimation that the Apostle John would not die V. The general character of replies to questions, and of other VI. The express declaration that the generation then upon the I. In passages directly asserting or implying that some of the 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 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 82 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- TURES. . 98 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- 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 --- |