tions; and just in proportion as the opinions are doubtless more or less commentary fails to give the mind deferred to by the accustomed memof the Spirit, (and where is there one bers of his flock, yet we are sensible infallible ?) in that degree it super- how unpalateable many of his sensedes the authority of Scripture. timents must be to the great mass But the trammels imposed upon

of his ministerial brethren of every us by the society in which we move

denomination. We have been are often more firmly riveted, than greatly surprised at the remarkable, are the intellectual bonds of those and we may say uniform, indifference authors whom we consult: more es- or opposition to prophecy in general, pecially when we believe that circle and to Millennarian doctrine in parto be composed, generally speaking, ticular, evinced by Dissenters; beof the excellent of the earth, and to cause it is not very long since, that maintain views and principles su- the principal advocates of the perperior on most points to the mem- sonal reign of Christ were to be bers of other denominations. He found without the pale of the estabwho is possessed of independence or lishment, whilst the exceptions only originality of mind is nevertheless to the rule were members of the greatly checked by the fear of being Church of England. Those of the considered heretical perhaps, or at established clergy who are now led least a man of singular views and to embrace these views still find that at issue with all good men of his they constitute but a small minority own communion : yea, he may be of the whole body : but the dissentsuspected of disaffection to that ing minister who preaches them community to which he belongs, and stands almost literally alone—first in of an undue leaning towards some respect to his own particular deother body of christians, to whose nomination; and secondly, in regard sentiments his own perhaps more to the great mass of those who are nearly approximate. These things bound together by the common printherefore have a great tendency to ciple of dissent. We respect thereindispose a man against doctrines fore such individuals as Mr. Tyso, not entertained by the body with Mr. Anderson,* and some two or which he is associated; and it re- three others, who without in their quires great originality of mind in particular cases) being moved by the truly pious and humble-deep the desire to be the first to revive conviction of the importance of the these truths, and with the certainty views presented to them by the of becoming comparatively unpoputeaching of the Spirit—and great lar, do nevertheless decidedly comfearlessness of consequences, to stand mit themselves on the millennarian forward and conspicuously maintain question. truths, which the majority of per- God, (observes Mr. Tyso, in sons entertaining his own faith are the Conclusion of his work,) who predisposed to deny.

searcheth the hearts of all men, is The qualifications however just my witness, that the object of my adverted to are eminently possessed research has been prophetic truth. by the author of the volume before I have endeavoured to lay aside all

If we are correctly informed, prejudice, and to receive the kingMr. Tyso is the pastor of a dissent- dom of God as a little child. But ing congregation; and though his to err is a human frailty, and I can

tion ;

not flatter myself that I have given not glanced at; and when he does the true meaning of every passage stop to reason, it is usually with clear

have quoted, though I certainly ness, cogency, and conciseness. think I am right in the main.” The first point on which Mr. “Let every one, that is desirous of Tyso differs from the generality of obtaining a knowledge of revealed interpreters is the revival of sacrifices truth, take the Bible and read it as under the new Jerusalem dispensafrom God. If he has common sense

as he takes Ezekiel's dethere is no necessity for him to ask scription to be literally intended : other people,

- What saith the as do also Mr. Begg, the learned Lord?” and so receive his knowledge Editor of the Morning Watch, and through fallible interpreters and since them others who are converts traditions of men. Christ accused to the same opinion. Mr. Tyso’s the Jews of making void the law Work has engravings and plans through their traditions : let us fear illustrating this subject. lest the same charge should be Another point in which our Aubrought against us relative to the thor differs from the generality is, prophets.

that he places the conflagration after Mr. Tyso however has something the Millennium ; considering its bemore than the merit of ministerial ing supposed to occur previously“ is courage in this Work. He treats a fruitful source of many errors,” his subject with ability and with and an hypothesis only supported by originality. He appears to us to one text of Scripture, which he conhave tolerably succeeded in divest ceives capable of a different coning his mind of prejudice,--and also struction. On this point his views of the impressions which might have are more fully elicited in a reply to lodged in it from the perusal of other Abdiel, contained at page 328 of No. prophetical works : for he not only X; and from this it will be seen, differs from the anti-millennarian that though he postpones the great writers; but on one or two points or universal Conflagration of the advances opinions, which are equally world, he nevertheless believes that at variance with the sentiments of there will be a judgement by fire on the generality of millennarians them- the enemies of Christ at the period selves. The student of prophecy, of his premillennial advent. who desires to understand his sub- In regard to the remaining disject, will therefore do well seriously crepances between himself andothers, to weigh the statements and ex- his own words will best describe positions of Mr. Tyso ; nor should them.--" I am not sure that the we think it right indeed for any slaying of the witnesses has taken one to sit down satisfied with his place. I doubt whether the own views, whilst the conflict- seventh trumpet has sounded. I ing opinions of able and candid believe the seventh vial has not writers are passed over without con- • been poured out: and I think the sideration.

1260 years have not terminated.” The Work itself contains a sum- He adds—“ I think it very probable mary of the principal heads of that these events will take place millennarian doctrine, embodied in shortly : that there will be a dreadthe language of Scripture ; which ful convulsion of all nations and the Author generally leaves to speak that Christ will quickly appear to for itself. There are few texts take vengeance on his enemies and bearing upon the subject which are ito establish his kingdom on the

· earth.-Watch and pray, for ye whereas the Scripture saith, it · know not when the time is." shall be as one of the other parts.”

We add a few extracts concern- This error, Mr. Tyso says, arises ing the temple described by Ezekiel, from his having added the handand which are also characteristic of breath to each cubit, instead of to the the ability with which the author reed : making Ezekiel's reed six cugenerally handles his subject. - bits and six hand-breadths, instead

of six cubits and a hand-breadth. " Calmet, in the folio edition of 1732, has given a map of the land which is to be

" Whoever will take the trouble to inhabited by the restored tribes, according

compare the ground-plan of Solomon's to Ezekiel chap. xlviii. But, taking Ka

temple, as given by Calmet or Prideaux, desh-barnea for its southern boundary,

with that of Ezekiel, as delineated by instead of Meribah Kadesh, he has been

Poole, or in the foregoing pages, will obliged to place Jerusalem about forty

soon perceive that it is a very different miles farther northward than its proper

structure, scarcely bearing a resemblance. latitude: and even with this act of geo

Solomon's temple was 60 cubits long, 30 graphical violence, he has but just half cubits broad, and 30 cubits high. (1 Kings the space remaining for each southern

vi, 3, 4; 2 Chron. iii, 3, 4.) Zerubbabel's tribe, which he has allotted for each

was ordered to be 60 cubits long, and 60 northern tribe; whereas the Scriptures

cubits broad. (Ezra, vi, 3.) Herod's was represent them all equal in breadth (v. 8.)

100 cubits long. (Josephus, Book XV, That the southern boundary is not Ka- chap. xiv.) Solomon's was in a square of desh-barnea, but Meribah Kadesh, is 60 cubits. Ezekiel's is to be in a square plainly asserted by the prophet Ezekiel, of 500 cubits. There is no doubt but chap. xlvii, 19, and xlviii, 28. And this

Ezekiel's temple will be as much superior is a truth which is capable of mathematical

to Solomon's as 500 is to 60, or as the demonstration. Take any well-constructed

glory of King Messiah will surpass the map and divide it into thirteen equal

glory of King Solomon. Therefore, in parts, of forty-two and a half miles each.

this sense, the glory of this latter house Let the first be taken from Hamath, in

will exceed that of the former. P. 74. the north, and the thirteenth will fall at Meribah Kadesh, in the wilderness of Having treated of the vast extent Zin, near the Red Sea, which was to be and magnificence of this future temdemonstrated." Pp. 55, 56.

ple he adds : * The translation of these two verses “Some persons object to the literal from the LXX, is as follows: Ezekiel interpretation of certain prophecies, bexlvii, 19. " And the south side south- cause the things foretold are unlikely and ward, from Tamar, even the Palmy, unto incredible ! These persons may object to the water of Meribah Kadesh, lying upon history on the same ground. The amount of the great sea." Ezek. xlviii, 28.-" The gold and silver said to have been expended boundaries shall be from Tamar unto the

in building the temple of Solomon was one waters of Meribah Kadesh. The inherit- hundred thousand talents of gold, and a auce shall be unto the great sea." This thousand thousand talents of silver, must be the Red Sea, because it is south- (1 Chron. xxii, 14,) amounting to upwards ward. The Mediterranean is the great of 800,000,0001. sterling ; which, says Dr. sea westward, xlvii, 15.

Prideaux, was sufficient to have built the To this statement he adds a note,

whole temple of solid silver, t and greatly

exceeds all the treasures of all the monarchs stating, that Winchester has com- in Christendom. I Josephus says, mitted the same error in the map were stones in Herod's temple, twentyattached to his published Lectures; five cubits long, eight cubits high, and and also another, in making the about twelve cubits broad ; that is, thirty holy oblation upwards of 53

seven feet long, twelve feet high, and about miles, which is more than three eighteen feet broad: that Herod employed

1000 carriages to draw them, 10,000 extimes the size of the other portions; pert workmen to prepare them, 1000

" there

of Dean Prideaux, Vol. I, p. 5.

Jennings's Lectures, Vol. I, p. 33.

priests to superintend them; and the time a charge that they should keep the it took to build it was nine years and six whole form and ordinances thereof, months." (Book XV, chap. xiv.) The

and do them. (Chap. xliii, 10, 11,) Jews continued to beautify and adorn it for forty-six years. (John ii, 20.) The

That the people who returned with stones at Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain, Zerubbabel were ashamed appears are very surprising ; yet who doubts their from Nehemiah ix, 1-3; yet no magnitude ? One stone, which is broken, reference or allusion seems to have measures twenty-five feet in length, seven

been made to this revelation to Ezefeet in breadth, and three feet six inches in thickness. Mr. Maundrel informs us

kiel, either in a literal or spiritual that he saw, in a wall which encompassed sense. Moreover, Ezekiel was himthe temple at Balbec, one stone which was self commanded to take the seed of twenty-one yards long, and two others, Zadoc and with them officiate in the each twenty yards long, four yards deep, offerings and sacrifices. (Chap. xliii, and as many broad.* That the stones in Herod's temple were very large may be

18–27.) This Ezekiel did not, proved from Mark xiii, 1 ; Luke xxi, 5."

whilst in the flesh, that we are any Pp. 76, 77.

where informed ; and if it refer to To put the Reader in possession of the resurrection state of Ezekiel and the whole subject, it would be neces- the sons of Zadoc, there are direcsary to quote every word of Mr. tions which seem incompatible with Tyso's description ; for he writes that condition,-e.g. xliii, 18. And with great sententiousness, and though we have no objection to the therefore affords a reviewer very resumption of sacrifices as a comlittle scope for abridging or condens- memorative ordinance, abstractedly ing. We decidedly incline to the considered, yet it appears incongruliteral view taken by the Author and ous with the deliverance of the anby Mr. Begg ;t though we think imals from bondage, which is genboth these Writers sometimes push erally looked for during the millenthe literal too far. And there are nial dispensation, that being the difficulties also which lie in the way

time for the " restitution of all of the literal view of Ezekiel's tem- things” from the curse. ple, and of the revival of sacrifices, Such a revival of sacrifices apwhich (though we by no

pears also incompatible with the think them a ground for rejecting reasoning of St. Paul in the Epistles the plain declarations of God's to the Galatians and Hebrews. After word) compel us nevertheless to having been abolished, (or rather stand in doubt as to the meaning of fulfilled, by the exhibition of the many things.

antitype for the type : for the Lord It is remarkable, that at the re- came not to destroy the law but to turn from captivity the Jews did not fulfil, it would seem like a return set about to erect their new temple again to the “beggarly elements” on the plan revealed to Ezekiel dur- from which the Church has been ing that captivity. The Prophet delivered. The esteemed Author was specially ordered to shew to the candidly admits the force of the house of Israel, provided they were reasoning in the Epistle to the ashamed of their iniquities, the Hebrews ; but argues, that the whole pattern and forms and ordi- facts of the case, in that the nances and laws of this house, with Apostles continued to offer sacri

means

و

fices and observe Jewish feasts for we shall all be changed, in a moment, in thirty-seven years subsequent to

the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : the death of Christ, seems to prove

for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead

shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall that these things were not removed

be changed.” (1 Cor. xv, 51, 52.) These on account of the death of Christ. two 'resurrections will be a thousand years (P. 195.) He here however ap- apart. John saw in vision that the risen pears to confound the circumstances saints “lived and reigned with Christ a of their being virtually fulfilled by lived not again' until the thousand years

thousand years; but the rest of the dead " Christ our passover who was

were finished.” (Rev. xx, 4, 5.) Some sacrificed for us,” and their being persons object to this view of the subject ostensibly removed. There was no by saying: "The dead in Christ shall rise unlawfulness in the Jew conform- first, that is, before the living saints are ing to his own ritual, until God changed ; then they will be caught up to

gether with them “ to meet the Lord in signally put it away from him, more

the air," so that the two events will imthan in Christ coming to John's mediately succeed one another.' But the baptism. John also preached that same Apostle assures us, that the living the kingdom of heaven was at hand,

saints will be changed at the same instant

of time as the dead are raised ; viz, at the and the spiritual part of that dis

last trump, even “in a moment, inthetwinkpensation was fully manifested at

ling of an eye." Does not this language de- . Pentecost; yet the dispensation scribe with great precision the two events which it superseded was not re- as perfectly simultaneous, and without moved until some time after.

any lapse of time? But this is not all, We conclude this part of the

the word then does not imply that it must

be immediately. The word translated then subject by stating, that we have

is Ě TELTA. It is frequently translated afterless difficulty after all by taking the wards; and the same word is used to latter chapters of Ezekiel in a literal denote the time of an event at least sense, than in a figurative : and we eighteen hundred years after a previous

connected with the resurrection : only throw out the previous observations in the hope of eliciting

“ Christ, the first-fruits, (ĚTELTA) then,

or afterwards, they that are Christ's at the opinions of others on this inter

his coming." And at another place in esting subject.

the same chapter it includes a space of There is another point in which

four thousand years :

“ Howbeit that was Mr. Tyso differs from all inter- not first which is spiritual, but that which

is natural, and (ČTELTA) then, or afterpreters we have ever met.

It is,

wards, that which is spiritual." Seeing that the translation of the living it includes more than a thousand years in saints does not take place till the both the above passages, why may it not end of the Millennium ; though he

include one thousand in the passage under admits the dead in Christ rise pre

consideration ; (1 Thess. iv, 17 ;) especially as the Scriptures say,

“ The rest of viously. We shall exhibit the Au

the dead lived not again until the thouthor's opinions on this point in his

sand years were finished ?" Rev. Xx, 5." own words.

Pp. 138-140.
" At this period,
16 the Lord himself

According to this view the dead
shall descend from heaven with a shout, in Christ are perfected without the
with the voice of the archangel, and with
the trump of God: and the dead in Christ living, which is contrary to Hebrews
shall rise first," The first trump will xi, 39, 40. We cannot at all con-
usher in the coming of the Lord, and cur in this view, any more than in
raise the pious dead at the commence- his placing the last trump at the
ment of the Millennium : the second, or

end of the Millennium. The dead " last trump,” will change the living who are raised simultaneously with saints, and raise the wicked dead at the end of the Millennium.-" Behold I shew the changing of the saints 1 Cor. you a mystery, We shall not all sleep, but xv, 52 must, according to this view,

one