induced us to refer to the history of the Bengelian system on the present occasion; for it led to a coincidence which is certainly very curious. It may be observed that the Memoirs of Bengel, already so frequently referred to, were published in the year 1831; and, of course, before the test which Bengel himself had suggested could be applied. The biographer, after speaking of Stilling's modifications of the scheme,

says:

"A middle way between Bengel and Stilling was lately tried by the Rev. Fred. Sander, pastor of Wichlingshausen, near Elberfeld, in his work entitled 'An Attempt at Exposition of the Revelation of St. John,' (Stuttg., pub. by J. F. Steinkopf, 1829.) This writer accords with Stilling that the messages to the seven churches foreshew seven periods of church history, but he rejects the notion of a second millennium; and, leaving the general system of apocalyptic periods as Bengel had settled it, he briefly states his opinion that the number 665, the duration of the papal power, commenced in the reign of Pope Alexander III., and in that year of his reign when his title became generally acknowledged, namely, A.D. 1177; and that it lasts to A. D. 1843; consequently that the millennial kingdom may be expected to commence in A.D. 1847, and not before."-p. 350.

We know not whether it is possible that the pastor of Wichlingshausen should have received a letter from any "Society of Prophetic Students," enquiring how he meant to get out of his calculations and predictions; but if he did, we hope he found some better explanation than Mr. Frere's, which seems to amount to this

-that though the things which he predicted would happen in 1822, and then 1847, did not occur at either of these periods, yet we may depend on his assurance that they will take place about twenty years hence. Whether the Students of Prophecy who applied to him will be satisfied with his acknowledgment, that he "found it necessary" to make a "second alteration" by "the further removal of this seventh vial," and that, having done so, the matter is quite set to rights, remains to be seen.

The foregoing remarks on Mr. Frere's works were, as I have stated, published in the year 1848, and not without hope that they might elicit some discussion, and explanation. They did not, however, as far as I know, attract the attention of either Mr. Frere or of the "Society of Prophetic Students." Perhaps they were able to explain everything to each other, to their mutual satisfaction; and when I began the reprinting of this Tract on Antichrist, I did not know that either party had published anything since the work of Mr. Frere which I had reviewed.

Indeed it is only very lately that the more recent work on Mr. Frere's System, to which I have already alluded (p. 54), has reached me. It is dated 1850; but within these few months I had made enquiry of Mr. Frere's publisher, whether Mr. Frere had published anything since the year 1848; and I was informed that

he had not a mistake very naturally arising from the fact which I have already stated, that the work is really and avowedly that of another person to whom Mr. Frere furnished materials with permission to publish them. I only mention this to explain why I did not know of it sooner.

It consists, however, chiefly of the text of the Apocalypse with a brief running commentary stating Mr. Frere's interpretation of such parts as he undertakes to interpret, or the editor thinks proper to select. Only one passage seems to be worth quoting in connexion. with the subject of the foregoing remarks.

It is that referring to the blessing on him who waiteth and cometh to the 1335 days in the twelfth chapter of Daniel; "that is," we are told, "who shall wait to seventy-five years from the termination of the 1260 years in the year 1792-3, or to A.D. 1867-8, when the Millennium will commence." p. 140. I copy the dogma as it stands without knowing how the certainty" which it expresses has been attained. Indeed I think the candid reader will forgive me if I confess that I have not very laboriously enquired.

66

THE END.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.