YEAR-DAY PRINCIPLE by M. E. Cornell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 23, 1864

YEAR-DAY PRINCIPLE

By M. E. Cornell

Interesting Extracts. No. 9.

BY ELD. M. E. CORNELL.

YEAR-DAY PRINCIPLE.

Dr. Elliot says, "We find it hinted at by Melanethon. And the Magdeburgh Centurators fully advocated the year-day principle, and applied it to the Papacy, as also most Protestants afterwards."—Horæ Apoc., Vol. iii, p. 260.

Prof. Stuart says, "It is a singular fact that the great mass of interpreters in the English and American world have, for many years, been wont to understand the days designated in Daniel and the Apocalypse as the representatives or symbols of years. I have found it difficult to trace the origin of this general, I might say almost universal, custom."—Hints, p. 77.

Again he remarks, "For a long time these principles have been so current among the expositors of the English and American world, that scarcely a serious attempt to vindicate them has of late been made. They have been regarded as so plain and so well fortified against all objections that most expositors have deemed it quite useless even to attempt to defend them."—Hints, p. 8.

Note. Nebuchadnezzar was made to eat grass "Seven times." Dan. iv, 32. A. Campbell says, "A 'time' is one revolution of the earth." Josephus says, "Nebuchadnezzar ate grass seven years."

Therefore the conclusion has been drawn, that those "seven times" were seven prophetic days, literally seven years. If this be correct, it is confirmatory of the year-day principle.

LOOKING FOR WHAT IS COMING.

The Portland Inquirer says: "This year brings with it uncommon apprehensions for the future. There is a fearful looking for some great events. Great events are coming on the earth: events big with human welfare."

The New Orleans Delta said: "That the great fight will be fought, that the world-battle is as inevitable as to-morrow, is no dream of dyspepsia, or threat of a lunatic. It is evident to any one that will take the trouble to open his eyes and look around him."

THE PRESIDENT A SPIRITUALIST.

"We learn, from a reliable source that our President, Abraham Lincoln is having private circles at his house. About the time of his election, we were informed by one of the leading Spiritualists of Boston, that he had evidence for believing that Mr. Lincoln was in sympathy with the spiritualist movement; but it was not till within a few weeks that we received evidence that was satisfactory."—World's Crisis.

THEY ARE CONDEMNED OUT OF THEIR OWN MOUTHS.

A spirit professing to be that of Burke says: "I don't want my son to believe all that comes floating on the spiritual ship, for I don't believe more than half of it is genuine." Banner of Light, Jan. 5, 1861.

"They will deceive us for their amusement. Where is the medium but what has either seen or felt this? I have both. But wise spirits, who are to us the revelators and executors of the divine will, designedly deceive us for our good." Banner of Light, Oct. 26, 1861.