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fcobe some very serious grounds in the sacred writings for the Jewish belief of the Messiah ' s appearance in a two-fold character ; first , as a sufferer ; and , secondly , as triumphant over his enemies . In a philosophical or rational point of view , the Millenium is nothing more or less than the goUen age of Christianity . We have probably had nearly enough of its brazen and iron ages . Nor is it by any means surprising that one extreme should produce another . Scripturally speaking , what may happen to the mystical Babylon of the New Testament , is no more than that which formerly occurred to the proud , over-grown , oppressive , and domineering empire ef the Assyrians . And this , as mere names cannot alter the nature of things , may occur again , and continue ad infinitum ; as long as the character of God and goodness shall stand in opposition to evil and oppression . The Divine gift of Christianity shall be wrested out of the hands of
its abusers ; and though it be admitted in Daniel , vii . a 7 . that the kingdom or power shall be given to the people of the Saints of the Most High , it is positively said , in verse 18 , that the Saints or worthies shall take the kingdom ; an
idea which implies force , or making war . Thus in a correspondent portion of Scripture , Rev . xxi . v . 18 . an angel takes up a stone , like a great mill-stone , and casts it into the sea , saying , Thus with violence , shall Babylon , that great city , be thrown down ; not with the foolishness of preaching , as too many . still dream ; nor yet like the walls of Jericho , by the sounding of
rams * horns : hut bv the ao-encv of vrrzt rams horns ; hut by the agency of great and mighty angels or messengers ; numerous armies , hailstones of fire , horses , and them that sit upon them . Here , if I thought Jewish authority would weigh against Christian prejudice , I would urge the opinion of Philo De Pram , et Pain . " For as the oracle saith
a man shall go forth , and warring against great and populous nations shall overcome them ; God sending help to the godly . This man shall extend his conquests for the good of the conquered , so as to be the strength of the empire , and the head of the human race / 1 ( Whitby ) —Here , by the Oracle , Philo
understands the Holy Scriptures . The reveries of the Jews in imagining their Mes shall rule all the world , are ridiculous ; but Christians cannot now escape censure , if they think the phrases " all nations ,, and all the kingdoms oi the
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earth , are to be literally understood when the scriptures speak of the general conversion which is promised and expected . It is Christendom only that forms the nations with -which the prophecies have to do ; and it is only those icings of the earth , generally called the ten kings who are to be subdued by the power of the Messiah , as a chastisement for their ' apostacy , and their alliance with the Antichristian interest , which
was only to prevail for a time . Granting that Christianity may still be propagated in a much greater proportion than ever it has been before , it must first of all be purified at home . When Christians have reformed themselves , they may probably reform others . Proselytes shall no longer be made by the spirit
of persecution . When the true greatness and liberality of the ruling powers , ia imitation of whafc we have lately seen on the Continent , ( though in the midit of every excess ) shall discourage and deprive sot dUant Christians from persecuting each other , and teach liberality and forbearance , even towards Tews and Pa *
gans , then shall missionaries cease to ga forth with mystery in one hand , and menace in the other . Then probably it may be that a man shall only be as a heathen and a publican , when he will not hear reason ; and not merely for his rejection of the rant of blind zeal , and the
whine of affected piety . In fact , manygreat events will by and by unite in recalling Christians to the use of their judgment , and a due regard for the sacred character , and attributesof the Deity-Among these I allude to the political restoration , or rather toleration , of the Jews , whom Christians have hitherto deemed
blasphemers- ; 1 allude to the nullity of all the calculations relative to the supposed destruction of the world and its inhabitants . Surely those much abused Christians who have long been ia the habit of calling down vengeance upon each other , will be much disappointed when they find that God neither comes down from heaven to avenge their quarrels , '
nor yet destroys his beautiful work of creation under their feet . Surely when they find this judgment deferred and protracted beyond the clue of all its contradictory-calculations , they will cease judging each other . Surely it is not too much to expect , that they may . then recollect that the Priestleys , the JLindseys , and all the great and good advocates lor peace and charity had long since warned
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Politico- Religious-Intelligence . 109
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1807, page 109, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2377/page/53/
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