contend, that whensoever that time shall arrive, the interpreter, who during the progress of the period in question shall venture to point out the date of its commencement, will be exposed to the charge of predicting the time of its termination. This circumstance, therefore, cannot of itself constitute any real objection to the Writer's interpretation. In fact, he entertains an opinion, which the following pages may more fully develope and explain, that the very disclosure, against the making of which this objection is directed, is purposely and graciously designed by the Almighty to be made, for the express object of supporting and consoling his Church under the peculiar circumstances of the Crisis, in which at the season in question it will be placed so that while the impious and the ungodly, unawed by His providences, and proudly disregarding His word, are blindly rushing on to their own destruction, and thus are awefully accomplishing those very prophecies which they reject and despise; the people of God, being forewarned by the Scriptures of the Crisis in which they find themselves involved, and foreseeing by faith the appointed termination of their trials, may possess their souls in patience, and confidently endure unto the end.

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THE Writer avails himself of the opportunity, which the reprinting of this volume furnishes, to introduce some slight corrections into the Chart, to insert in different places a few explanatory notes, and to make such small additions to the text, as he thinks, may occasionally strengthen or illustrate his positions. The sale, which the first edition of his work has experienced, and the many communications with which he has been favoured from different quarters in reference to the statements contained in it, encourage him to hope that his publication has excited a much greater interest, and has addressed itself more sea

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sonably to the present state of the public mind, than he could have anticipated. He is far indeed from intimating, that in the communications to which he alludes, there is expressed a general accordance with him on all the particular points of prophetical interpretation which he proposes for adoption. There exists, as he readily admits, a variety of views and sentiments, differing in several respects from those stated in his book, and, for the most part, not less discordant with each other. But amidst this discrepancy of opinions, he is gratified with the admission generally made - because it is an admission as ample and as encouraging as at present he could expect or wish that the case which he has submitted to the Public, is one deserving of serious consideration: while there is one point, on which an unanimity of sentiment appears extensively to prevail, namely, that the present Crisis is pregnant with very unusual interest; that events, which will affect in no ordinary

degree the state of the world and of the Church, are approaching with a steady and accelerated pace; and that under these circumstances the servants of Christ are now called in a more especial manner to the duties of Watchfulness, of Prayer, and of universal Holiness. These are the impressions, which the aspect of the times has made on the Writer's mind; which it has been his object in this publication to produce and strengthen in the minds of others; and which he is rejoiced to find, from the information that his work has elicited, are more widely spread and more deeply felt than he could antecedently have hoped.

The events, indeed, of almost every day tend more directly to increase and confirm impressions of this kind. Even since the first edition of this work was published, indications, of no doubtful character, have been given, as to the progress of that conflict which is now so openly taking place between the King

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doms of Light and of Darkness. * With respect to the ultimate issue of that con

Among the circumstances, to which the Writer here alludes, the three following may be stated.

I. The enactment of the Sanguinary Law in France, to which reference is made in a subsequent note in this edition, for punishing with death the profanation of the Consecrated elements. This Law, which has now passed both the Chambers with considerable majorities, affords a signal proof of the influence, designs, and objects of the Roman Catholic priesthood at the present time in that country.

II. The circulation by the Roman Catholic Prelates in Ireland of Pastoral Instructions to their people in which the use, the reading, the perusal, or the retaining of Bibles or Testaments as well as of religious tracts not sanctioned by that Church, is entirely, and without any exception prohibited.

III. The recent formation, on the other hand, of a Society for promoting Religious Inquiry in Ireland: the objects of which are to ascertain and make known the nature, extent, and influence of the doctrines and practices which prevail among the Roman Catholics in that country; to compare such doctrines and practices with the written Word of God; and to assist in forwarding public and private discussion on the differences between the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches, particularly on the right of the laity to the unrestricted reading of the Holy Scriptures.