Men do not act in this way on any other subject in which they are deeply interested. Geology, for example, is not neglected because of the various and contradictory systems of its investigators.

To mistake the date of the second advent is no reason for neglecting the signs of the times. I believe I may say that, without exception, all the dates fixed upon by prophetical students have been remarkable periods, although the actual second advent has not yet come.

One great objection to many minds against inquiring into prophetical dates is our Lord's declaration, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man; no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark xiii. 32). Had we no subsequent revelation, this passage would be decisive against all inquiry into the date of the second advent. Our Lord, however, made that declaration when He was "in the days of His flesh." Since His ascension to glory He has received a new revelation, which removes the obscurity: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass." In that Apocalypse there are some dates which give precision to the dates mentioned in the Hebrew prophets, besides other statements which contribute to the same result. It is, therefore, obviously a mistake to argue that we cannot now know prophetic

dates because they had not been revealed when Christ was on earth.

Much confusion has been created by assuming that parallel predictions are precisely similar. Thus the fourth empire of Nebuchadnezzar's image has been identified with Daniel's fourth beast, as if the latter included the two legs of the former. Whereas the truth is, that Daniel vii. gives one leg, and Daniel viii. the other. Various predictions, again, are assumed to be synchronous, which are not precisely so, although they may cover substantially the same period. For example, the 1260 days of the little horn in Daniel vii., and the 1260 days of the first beast in Revelation xiii.

I hope I am not presumptuous in thinking that I have avoided those errors. Some mistake is unavoidable, because of intended obscurity in the details of unfulfilled prophecy. Some, also, because of the unsettled state of comparative chronology. The measure of dubiousness has, however, been clearly ascertained, and there is now a substantial agreement respecting chronological dates amongst all good scholars.

The solemn and stirring events of our own day are arousing a wide-spread attention to the signs of the times, and the number is increasing of those who long for more light. It is a great responsibility to interpret

the Word of God. If we misinterpret, we substitute our own word for God's Word. Although mistakes are unavoidable, every interpreter should be able to say that he has done his best, and has earnestly sought for Divine light. It is now forty-one years since I first believed in the Personal Reign. Throughout that time I have employed all the means in my power to ascertain the truth. Until five years since, I did not feel able to fix a date. Those which had been adopted by various writers appeared to me not to have sufficient evidence. About the period referred to, a comparison of our Lord's words in Luke xxi. 24, with Revelation xi. 2, led me to apply the conquest of Jerusalem by the Saracens as the commencement of the Mohammedan 1260 years, and that date produced a harmony of prophetic dates to which the following pages bear witness.

Another matter has not obtained sufficient attention. The 12th of Daniel gives " a time, times, and a half," as the period when Jerusalem was to be delivered. It then speaks of 1290 days, to be reckoned from the time when the desolating abomination should be set up, and then of 1335 days as the commencement of the period of blessedness. Now, by comparing this statement with the 20th of Ezekiel respecting the purification of the Jews, and the 5th of Micah for that of the Gentiles, I have been enabled (I trust) to put into their right place

many prophecies which have been hitherto either unexplained or misunderstood.

Should the present tract be favoured with an adequate circulation, it will (D.v.) be followed successively by five others:

1. On the manner of the restoration of the Jews.

2. On the manner of the purification of the Gentiles. 3. On the millennial reign.

4. On Ezekiel's temple and the division of the land. 5. On the final glorious consummation of all things. They are blessed subjects of Divine revelation. They constitute the fulness of "that blessed hope."

O Lord Jesus! let Thy blessing rest on this effort to set forth Thy glory, and the hope of Thy coming.