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 the feeling of orthodox Protestants, when learning and common sense come together.

I have often, in former days, had the attempt made to place the Apocalypse on my neck as containing prophecies yet unfulfilled. The preceding method prevents success; and so does the following. It may almost be taken for granted that theological system-fighters do not read the New Testament: they hunt it for detached texts; they listen to it in church in that state of quiescent nonentity which is called reverent attention: but they never read it. When it is brought forward, you must pretend to find it necessary to turn to the book itself: you must read 'The revelation…to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass…. Blessed is he that readeth…for the time is at hand.' You must then ask your mystic whether things deferred for 1800 years were shortly to come to pass, &c.? You must tell him that the Greek 🇬🇷, rendered ' shortly,' is as strong a phrase as the language has to signify soon. The interpreter will probably look as if he had never read this opening: the chances are that he takes up the book to see whether you have not been committing a fraud. He will then give you some exquisite evasion: I have heard it pleaded that the above was a mere preamble. This word mere is all-sufficient: it turns anything into nothing. Perhaps he will say that the argument is that of the Papists: if so, tell him that there is no Christian sect but bears true witness against some one or more absurdities in other sects.

An anonyme suggests that 🇬🇷 may not be 'soon,' it may be 'quickly, without reference to time when:' he continues thus, May not time be "at hand" when it is ready to come, no matter how long delayed?' I now understand what and  meant when they borrowed my books and promised to return them quickly, it was 'without reference to time when.' As to time at hand—provided you make a long arm—I admire the quirk, but cannot receive it: the word is 🇬🇷, which is a word of closeness, in time, in place, in reckoning, in kindred, &c.

Another gentleman is not surprised that Apocalyptic reading leads to a doubt of the 'canonicity' of the book: it ought not to rest on church testimony, but on visible miracle. He offers me, or any reader of the Athenæum, the 'sight of a miracle to that effect, and within forty-eight hours' journey (fare paid).' I seldom travel, and my first thought was whether my carpet-bag would be found without a regular hunt; but, on reading further, I