Do not be offended at the reproaches to which the professed expectation of the coming of Christ exposes you, from all classes of men. It is the generation truth, that is, the one which is peculiarly important in this generation, and opposes the whole stream and current of men's opinions by the simple testimony of God's word, and therefore it is the truth every where spoken against. A well instructed Bible Christian will not be stumbled at this, and when he has carefully searched the foundations, and is perfectly satisfied that he has the word of God to rest upon, will hear with the utmost calmness the charges of the Millenarian epidemic, dangerous novelties, fanciful schemes, and a thousand other names by which men will endeavor to swamp all these truths without coming to the plain statements of scripture.
The most painful thing is, when the truly pious join in these things, and like Peter to his Lord, say, (Matt. xvi. 22.) Be it far from thee; but he who once himself has been thus prejudiced, and has seen in his own painful, past, personal experience, that prejudice has neither eye nor ear, will readily make allowance for such a state of mind, and by patient forbearing, and loving manifestation of the truth, commend it to the consciences of all men.—Bickersteth.