of these symbols by principles and rules that were known and applied during the interdicted ages, and are consequently necessarily erroneous; for God had again and again declared, "the vision is sealed, and the words are closed up till the time of the end."

Two obvious truths are here revealed: 1. The closing up of the vision down to a certain period. 2. As the sealing of the vision was only till that time, of course when that time should come the seal would be broken and the vision be understood.

If, therefore, the period when these sublime disclosures should be made was to be characterized as an age of vast enterprise, intellectual energy, and moral adventure; and if we live in such an agean age marked with unparalleled progress and discovery—we ask, with the profoundest reverence, may we not venture to inquire, and to inquire hopefully, for the meaning of these wonders?

Should it be demanded, why have not the erudite and the learned in ages past apprehended this interpretation of prophecy, we have already anticipated the inquiry: that God had sealed a knowledge of these wonders during those ages. But should the unassuming pretensions of the learned author of Armageddon be looked upon as a barrier to a candid investigation of this most deeply interesting

theory, we have only to suggest that great and ingenuous minds are too magnanimous for such uncandid evasion. As the gifted author himself has asked, "May not a child find a gem?" Was it not a poor peon of the mountains that first discovered the riches of Peru? But perhaps one material reason why our great country has hitherto never been dreamed of as the burden of prophetic truth, has been owing to the fact that most of the principal writers on prophecy have been Englishmen, who, putting one foot of the compasses down on Great Britain as the centre of creation, and describing a circle, have invariably left out the United States of America; somewhat after the fashion of a Chinese map of the world, which, after giving to the Celestial Empire almost the entire map, puts down Europe and America on a space no larger than a penny, calling them the "Barbarian Islands."

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We will certainly be excused for disposing of another class of captious cavilers. It has been asked with much emphasis, "What good, or what purpose, could the truth of such a theory accomplish?'' This inquiry, we will apprise you, is never made by the learned or the considerate; certainly not by one who reveres the truth of the Holy Scriptures.

What is the design of prophecy? Surely, wise and glorious accomplishments were intended by the Almighty in communicating to his servants the words and visions of prophecy. Doubtless, to inspire the hope of man for their realization, and to confirm the faith of mortals in the divinity of those truths by their fulfilment. But where will you find a broader field for such accomplishments, or a more glorious theatre for the fulfilment of prophetic truth, than in the providential rise and prosperity of a great nation that should be the exponent and example of popular freedom—a nation whose principles and progress should excite the admiration and arouse the emulation of the whole earth? Let men but behold, on this magnificent scale, a fulfilment of those sublime symbols and announcements that have staggered the philosophy of men, and baffled their profoundest learning from age to age; then indeed infidelity would seek annihilation for shelter, and its last refuge of lies be swept from the face of the earth.

We shall first consider the symbolic predictions of the United States.

THE TIME OF ITS RISE.

The rise of a great nationality is evidently predicted by Daniel, when "the power of the holy people," or friends of civil and religious liberty, shall cease to be scattered; when the wise nations should understand, and "many should run to and fro, and knowledge be increased." This glorious era was to be the period called "the time of the end." The rise of the United States of America synchronizes with that "time," and no other nation under heaven.

The chronological argument is purely mathematical, and we believe unanswerable.

The decree of Cyrus for the emancipation of Israel was published in the last month of the year 537 B. C., (about December 6th,) as is found by the coincidence of an eclipse of the sun, predicted by Thales the Milesian, that occurred B. C. 601, as well as the historic account of those ages. The crucifixion of Christ was on the 25th of March, A. D. 29, (Vulgar era,) as found also by an eclipse of the moon and historic records. And the destruction of the Jewish state began on the 21st of Nisan, A. D. 68. The 70 weeks of Daniel were to begin at the decree of Cyrus, and to end at both the other

named epochs. From the decree of Cyrus to the crucifixion, was 564 years and 109 days; and from the same decree to the last general Jewish passover, was 603 years and 129 days. These two lengths were embraced in the 70 weeks, and show the precise duration of those weeks, as exactly those many years and days transpired to reach the events predicted. This fact no one can deny. Now the ex

planation of the matter is simple: the 70 weeks are Hebrew weeks of years, or 490 years. But these are abbreviated weeks; that is, they require the addition of one or more kinds of sacred time to complete them. By adding the sabbatic days which would be in 490 years, we have 560 years. These are symbolic years of 360 parts; and as a symbolic year may stand for any Hebrew year of years, it may stand for the one of 364. Then we have the equation of time, as 360: 364-560 566%.

These 566% years are composed of 364 days each; and by reducing them to solar time of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 47 seconds to the year, we have 564 years and 109 days, as the fulfilment exhibits.

In a similar manner the other results will be found; but this example is a sufficient illustration of the principle of explaining sacred time.