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CONCERNING THE

COMING AND KINGDOM OF CHRIST,

COLLECTED FROM THE BIBLE,

AND FROM THE WRITINGS OF MANY ANCIENT AND
SOME MODERN BELIEVERS.

IN NINE LECTURES;

WITH AN APPENDIX.

BY JOSHUA SPALDING,

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT THE TABERNACLE IN SALEM.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

A PREFACE, CONTAINING A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE RECENT RISE
AND PROGRESS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE ADVENT NEAR,

BY J. V. HIMES AND J. LITCH.

Take heed to yourselves, lest that day come upon you una-
wares.-JESUS CHRIST.

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BT885 $6

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TO ALL THEM

"THAT LOOK FOR REDEMPTION IN THE WORLD,"

THE FOLLOWING LECTURES

Are humbly Dedicated,

BY THEIR BROTHER AND COMPANION,

THE AUTHOR.

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EDITORS' PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

WHATEVER is calculated to illustrate and make more clear and interesting the word of God, to correct long cherished, and, as we fear, fatal errors, we hail as helps in the great and important work of arousing a slumbering church and perishing world to look and prepare for the speedy coming of the Lord. We believe the following work eminently calculated to do this, and hence a sense of duty constrains us to send it forth into the world anew, to lift up its voice and arouse the sleepers of the age. It was first published in Salem, Mass., in 1796. But with its author it passed away, and has long been, except by a few, forgotten.

We look upon this publication as the day-star of returning light to the American churches on the subject of the near coming and king. dom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The mists of error in which the church had then for about a century been shrouded, relative to the millennium, began to disperse, and the light of Scripture again to dawn upon the world. Daniel had long before predicted that "at the time of the end" " many should run to and fro, and knowledge should be increased." The time of the end was from the end of the 1260 years of papal rule, which happened in 1798, to the end itself. As that period began to dawn during the French Revolution and onward through the reign of Buonaparte, an interest was excited on the fulfilment of prophecy such as had never before been felt since the apostolic age. Very many of the most eminent divines of the eastern world believed the coming of Christ near, and that the great wars of that day were either the battle of Armageddon, or precursors of it; and not a few were drawn forth to write upon the subject. But, forgetting the instruction of the Savior, "See that ye be not troubled, for the end is not yet," when that storm had passed by and an almost universal peace was again restored, they were disappointed, and LOST CONFIDENCE, NOT IN THE WORD OF GOD, but in themselves as interpreters of that word, and retreated from the field. But it was not so, however, with all; for some have nobly maintained their ground until the present time, that the prophetic Scriptures were nearly accomplished, and that the millennial glory will soon be ushered in.

*For proof of this point, see "ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC," by J. LITCH.

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