The Days in which We Live.
The opinions of learned men do not, of course, alter the truth, or effect the facts in the case; but it is interesting to know that they have held such views concerning the times in which we live. It corroborates the significant fact that the world is living in anticipation of great and eventful scenes. Macauley, the essayist, wrote, in 1831, "Many Christians believe that the Messiah will shortly establish a kingdom on the earth, and reign visibly over all its inhabitants. Whether this doctrine be orthodox or not, we shall not inquire. The number of people who hold it, is very much greater than the number of Jews residing in England. Many of those who hold it are distinguished by rank, wealth, and ability; it is preached from pulpits, both of the Scottish and of the English Church. Noblemen and members of Parliament have written in defence of it,—who expect 'that, before this generation shall pass away, all the kingdoms of the earth will be swallowed up in one Divine Empire.'"—Essays on the Jews. Dr. N. L. Rice, says, "The world is now rapidly approaching another great epoch, the most important in the history of our world." "We live in the eventful day." "The time cannot be distant, when great changes are to take place amongst the nations. It is our wisdom, therefore, both to examine carefully and prayerfully the prophecies, whose fulfillment is yet future, and to watch passing events which throw light upon these prophecies. It is a great misfortune to mistake the character of the age in which we live, and to fail to understand the signs which God gives, that his people may act with him their part."—Signs of the Times. Professor George Bush, says, "If we take the ground of right reason, we must believe that the present age is one expressly foretold in prophecy, and that it is just opening upon the crowning consummation of all prophetic declarations." These are the declarations of Christians. The Jewish mind has been brought to like convictions and anticipations. Rabbi Carillon, of Jamaca Island, affirms that "There is every reason to believe that the latter days are not far off; let us, therefore, be on the watch and in continual prayer." It is said by a European writer, that "Jews, who never before thought of a Messiah, begin now to say, 'These are the days of travail which precede his coming.'" Solomon Herschel, rabbi of the chief synagogue of the Jews in London, is represented as saying that his people, after close investigation of the subject, think with him, that the Messiah's advent cannot be delayed long. And it was announced in the public Journals in 1852, that there were then thousands of Jews in Jerusalem, all anxiously expecting the Messiah. And what divines have uttered as their learning of the Scriptures, statesmen and philosophers have also declared as their reading of the indications of events.